198 Description of a Machine for raising Coals 



SIR, 



This is to certify, that Gilbert Gilpin has'invented a me- 

 thod of raising coal and ore from the mines by means of 

 chains working in grooves, formed by folding wooden bar- 

 rels spirally, with wrought iron tire, so as to leave a vacancy 

 between each fold for the lower parts of the circumferences 

 of those links of the chains which work vertically to move 

 in, and thereby cause uniformity and safety in motion ; four 

 of which machines we have now at work at our mines at 

 this place, one with a cylindrical barrel, and three formed 

 of frustums of cones, which machines are (to the best of 

 our knowledge) superior to any hitherto known or in use, 

 and will produce the effect at a much less expence. 



(Signed) T. W. and B. Botfield. 



Old Park Iinn Works, 

 March 6, 1807. 



To C. Taylor, M,D. Sec. 



SIR, 



Messrs. T. W. and B. Botfield inform me, that they 

 sent the certificate in respect to the macliine for raising coal 

 and ore from the mines, to you yesterday. 



You will please to observe, that of the four machines noiv 

 in use, two only work with two chains each, and they are 

 both formed of frustums of cones; the other two, the one 

 with a cylindrical barrel, and the other a frustum of a cone, 

 have each a chain at one end, and a patent flat rope at the 

 other. We are induced to adopt the latter plan to do away 

 by degrees the prejudices which miners and colliers have im- 

 bibed against chains, from accidents which they have been 

 witnesses to in the common way of working. Though the 

 causes of similar accidents are entirely done away by the new 

 method of working, some little of the old prejudice remains ; 

 a thing not to be wondered at when we consider the unin- 

 formed state of this description of men, arising from a life 

 spent in the dark recesses of mines ; and, as it were, cut off 

 f om ihe rest of society. 



From the uniformity and safety of the new method, their 

 prejudices against chains are, however, rapidly wearing 

 away, and I have no doubt that in a few years they will 



evtn 



