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colliery manager has his own particular method, which 

 he no doubt considers best. The ponies are regularly 

 groomed, and their shoes are kept in good order 

 which is very necessary for the preservation of their 

 feet. 



PIT STABLES. 



Pit stables are constructed on many different 

 systems, much necessarily depending on the geo- 

 logical formation of mines. The following method, 

 however, is one which, when thoroughly under- 

 stood, can scarcely fail to commend itself to mining 

 engineers generally. 



The stables are kept scrupulously clean, being 

 well swept out morning and night. They have swing 

 bars instead of fixed divisions between stalls, and a 

 flooring of cement. Over the floor of each stall there 

 is a pitch-pine board, with about an inch of space 

 between the deals, on which the ponies lie. These 

 boards fold up on hinges to allow the floor to be 

 thoroughly cleaned beneath. The urine passes 

 through the interstices in the boards, and is carried 

 away by a channel in the cement floor. When the 

 ponies are at work, these folding boards are left up, 

 so that all beneath is thoroughly dry when they 

 return to stable. The pitch-pine boards enhance the 

 cleanliness and sanitation of the stables, and the 

 feet of the ponies are kept in a much sounder con- 

 dition, as they are always standing dry. With moss 

 litter or sawdust, running thrushes and cracked heels 



