330 



COALFIELDS AXD COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



to be made accordingly, and tliey have a label on them accord- 

 ing to the degree of angle they are made to suit. These jig 

 cages (Fig. 207) are horizontal platforms to carry one skip at 

 a time^ mounted on a wedge-shaped under carriage properly 

 braced. The skips are kept 011 the platform by a finger catch. 

 A wooden chock is bolted to a sleeper a little way back from 

 the entrance to a bord, which, when placed across the rail 

 nearest to it, rests against another bolt, and thus blocks a 



Fig. 207. Jig Cage. 



skip from running unchecked into the jig. This chock must 

 always be left in position, as accidents 5 sometimes of a fatal 

 nature, have been caused by neglecting to do so. If the chock 

 is found out of place, the man in charge is fined or prosecuted. 



In the levels, alternate sleepers are made long, so that 

 they reach right across the gutter; this is because the water 

 softens the coal, and the weight of the skips passing over the 

 rails, if supported entirely by short sleepers, would spread 

 the coal out. 



When running skips on to platform cages at the lower 

 levels, as there are no chairs to support the cages, there is a 

 certain amount of spring in the rope to be taken into considera- 



