72 ' Sociti:j jar ineveiiting Acc'ukhLS in Co:tl jM'iiics. 



has pointed out any adequate mode of destroying, or of pre- 

 venting the generation of, the inflanunable gas ; or of so com- 

 pletely ventiUiting- the pits, as to secure them from its dreadful 

 effects. They are not, therefore, in iJossession of sufiicient in- 

 formation, fidly and exactly to specify ail the circumstances 

 which are necessary to l)e attended to, in {>romotinir the disco- 

 very of any general measures of correction for the evils kmented : 

 and they are compelled to add, that thsv must look to a more 

 extensive support than thev liave hitherto received, to enable 

 them to hold out such encouragcu'ent to scientific and practical 

 men, as may stimulate their attention to the subject : for, not- 

 withstanding the general approbation which their designs have 

 obtained, and the liberal subscription which they have received 

 from the noble and respectable individuals who have counte- 

 nanced the Society, their funds do not yet impower them to 

 offer a piemium, suitable to t'le object, for the best j)roductiou 

 that may be procured. They still, however, flatter themselves, 

 tliat as their proceedings shall be further disclosed, tliey will 

 obtain a more ample suj)poit, Avhich may give efi'ect to their 

 views." 



The Committee have published in their Report a valuable 

 communication made to the Society i)y Mr. Buddie, a gentle^ 

 man of great celebrity and intelligence as a viewer of coal mines, 

 detailing the nicans adopted in some extensive collieries under 

 his inspection. 



The only mctliod at present followed to prevent accidents by 

 exjjlosion is by ventilation of the several passages and worivings 

 of the mine — that is, a mechanical a|)plicution of the atmospheric 

 {iir to remove or sweep away the inflammable gas as it is ge^ 

 nerated in the workings, or as it issues from the several fissures 

 which the workings intersect in their j)rogress. To assist in 

 this operation a furnace is somC'times employed in the pit, sup- 

 plied with atmospheric air drawn down one shaft, and made to 

 circulate through different v\ iudings till it reaches the ascending- 

 shaft. In other cases ventilation is maintained by means of a 

 horizontal hot cylinder fixed in a fin-nace of brick-work on the 

 surface. The- cylinder (any old one of a steam engine) being 

 completely enveloped in flame, by rarefaction induces the air 

 of the mine in a regular current up the shaft, with \\hich one 

 end oi it is made to communicate by Jneans of a flue, and dis- 

 charges it into another flue at the other end of tlie cylinder. 

 The shaft of cour.se is covered over, that the current through the 

 cylinder may not be disturbed in its direction. The flue at the 

 outci- end of the tube is for the purpose of discharging the in- 

 flananable air at such a distance from the furnace as may pre- 

 vent any possibility pf its being inflamed, It is a cuviotis fact, 



