?4 



NA TURE 



[November 28, 1901 



THE USE OF THE WIRE SA W FOR 

 QUARRYING. 



PROF. C. LE NEVE FOSTER has conferred a great 

 benefit on the Welsh mining industry by directing 

 attention to a new method of slate-mining recently tried 

 in the Pyrenees. At I.abasscre the wire saw is em- 



as an appendix to Prof. Le Neve Foster's annual report 

 to the Home Office for the year 1900. The investigation 

 clearly shows that slate might be worked in many quar- 

 ries in North Wales by the wire saw method with con- 

 spicuous advantages. There would be lessened blasting, 

 fewer falls of ground, less waste of good rock, reduced 

 cost of working, less cost of explosives, a saving in the 



ployed to make horizontal cuts across the inclined beds of I cost of unproductive work, a saving in the cost of re- 



slate, severing off great blocks without blasting. Believing 

 that a similar system could be employed with advantage 

 in North Wales, Prof Le Neve Foster recommended that 

 Mr. G. J. Williams, H.M. Assistant Inspector of Mines, 

 should study the question on the spot. The Home 

 Secretary having acceded to this suggestion, Mr. Williams 

 has drawn up a very valuable report, which is published 

 NO. 1674, VOL. 65] 



moving rubbish, no need of quarrying worthless rock in 

 underground workings, and the cost of examining and 

 securing the roofs and pillars would be done away with. 



The helicoidal wire saw has been employed for quarry- 

 ing marble in lielgium and in Italy for some years. It is 

 an endless cord, composed of three hard wi res twisted 

 together, which is made to travel along by mac hinery and 



