i: oo 3 



IX. A co7Hj)u) alive Statement of some of the dj/ferent FefitnreS 

 in Pillar Work and Wa^-going Work, 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 



I TAKE the liberty of soliciting you to insert in the Phi- 

 losophical Magazine, the accompanying statement. — The 

 s^'stem of working coal-mines by Way-going iwrk, must find 

 a' friend in every humane man, and every honest man; — with 

 the former, because it renders a coal-pit free from explo- 

 sive matter; with the latter, because it pi-events that shameful 

 waste of property occasioned by Pillar wor/i, at present used 

 in coal-mines. Shouhl llie statement annexed not be suffici- 

 ently convincing to the jnoprietors of coal-works, 1 am ready 

 at any time not' only to defend the system of Way-going isiork^ 

 but to give additional proofs of its utility, if necessary. 



I remain, gentlemen. 



Your most obedient servant, 

 Alnwick, Northumberland, A Friend to the Pitmek. 



Nov. 21, 1823. 



To Coal-Otviicrs and Coal-Workers. 



PILLAR WOKK. 



All the collieries on the 

 Tvne and the Wear are work- 

 ed on this principle. 



For each and every ton of 

 coal brought to bank, two ton 

 of coal are left unwrought, I'or 

 j:>illars to sup))ort the roof, 

 which two ton arc nearly all 

 lost, as but a snuill projior- 

 tion can ever afterwards be 

 brought away ; and tliat por- 

 tion which is subsequently 

 obtained is greatly deterio- 

 rated, in consequence of the 

 pressure from above having 

 deprived the coal of its mois- 

 ture and hydrogen. 



No coal being raised to 

 bank except what is hewn ; 

 there is, and must always be, 

 a very large proportion of 

 small coal produced by the 

 constant action of the pick. 



WAY-GOING WORK. 



In all England only between 

 twenty and thirty collieries 

 are worked on this principle. 



No coal is left ; all is brought 

 to bank as soon as it is won. 



Ciu'viiig only is required ; 

 therefore, there is almost no 

 small coal whatever. — None 

 when they curve in the Thill. 



A creej) 



