VICTORIAN STATE COAL MINES. 379- 



does the rest. The first portion of the revolution, until the 

 coal is emptied out, is very slow; the speed for the remainder 

 of the revolution is much faster. The tippler comes automati- 

 cally to rest in a position to receive the next skip, when the 

 cycle is repeated. 



The time taken for a complete revolution is 13 seconds. 

 The coal is passed over jigging screens and a jigging- chute, 

 and is effectively screened and picked before it reaches the 

 railway trucks. 



This description of No. 3 main shaft would not be com- 

 plete without reference to the excellent accommodation for the 

 miners, in the way of change-rooms, bath-rooms, and drying- 

 rooms. 



The change-rooms are six in number, and are so arranged 

 that four are always locked, and only those two in connection 

 with the shift coming off are open. Pilfering is thus reduced 

 to a minimum. The bath-rooms are fitted with plunge baths, 

 shower baths, and wasli basins. The floor is of concrete, and 

 an ample supply of hot and cold water is provided. The 

 drying-room is divided into three compartments, one for each 

 shift, separated from each other by trellis work. Four-inch, 

 diameter steam pipes are arranged in four horizontal rows in 

 each compartment, and the miners are always sure of dry 

 clothes to go to work in. An average of 640 miners use the 

 above arrangements daily. 



In addition to No. 3 main shaft, there is another main 

 shaft, No. 5, the workings from which have developed up to 

 1000 tons per day. At present, old-fashioned gravity screens 

 are being used for screening, but the erection of a modern 

 self-acting tippler is being urged, and this would compare 

 favourably with anything of its kind in Australasia. Steel 

 hopper bins, with a total capacity of 1000 tons, are being 

 erected as an adjunct to the tippler. 



The shaft is 150ft. deep, 19ift, long, and 15Jit. wide. 

 Two skips side by side are put on each cage. 



The pit bottom arrangements in this shaft are such that 

 the loaded skips are put on the cages on one side of the shaft 

 only, the empties all being taken off from the other side. 



The coal is brought to the shaft bottom by a "main and 

 tail rope haulage/' and a self-acting* incline; 20 skips form a 

 rake on the former, and 12 on the latter. 



Near No. 5 shaft is situated No. 6, which is used for 

 pumping, lowering timber and ventilation. The pumping 

 plant consists of IGin. horizontal engine, with pumping gear, 

 all set on massive concrete foundations. 



