376 Mr. Buddie's Narrative of the Explosion 



of the workings in the Bensham Seam of this colliery, and have likewise had explained 

 to us by yourself, the under-viewer, and overmen of the colliery, the state of the work- 

 ings and waste as left by the explosion, and herewith beg to make the following report in 

 answer to your queries. 



1st. The practicability of restoring the colliery to as safe a working state as it was be- 

 fore the accident, or the possibility of placing it in a safer state. 



Having enquired very minutely into the state of the ventilation previous to the acci- 

 dent, we are of opinion that it is perfectly practicable to restore the ventilation to a 

 similar state. We find that the principle of ventilation practised at this colliery has been 

 — that all the air from the workings which is considered not liable to be so charged with 

 inflammable gas as to become generally explosive, is taken through and works the fur- 

 naces, and that all the air from the pillar workings, or those parts of the mine where the 

 air is liable to become generally inflammable is carried by pipe drifts into the upcast shafts, 

 at such a height above the furnaces, as not to be subject to ignition from them ; and to 

 carry off the gas from some of the wastes of the districts worked out, and abandoned, the 

 inflammable air is discharged by iron pipes into the atmosphere, without communicating 

 with the workings of the mine. We consider this principle of ventilation to be well 

 adapted for a seam producing such great quantities of inflammable air, and we do not 

 think we can suggest any improvement upon it. 



In carrying this principle into operation, it appears that only one of the upcast shafts 

 has been provided with a pipe drift, all the inflammable air of the mine having been con- 

 veyed by pipe drifts into that up-cast shaft, and all the air passing up the other up-cast 

 shaft being carried through the furnace ; having made the fullest enquiries as to how far 

 this mode of carrying off the inflammable air may have effected the proper ventilation of 

 the mine, we are of opinion that the want of a pipe drift to the A Pit shaft has not hi- 

 therto lessened the safety of the mine. In the future working of the colliery it is proba- 

 ble that it may, however, be advisable to provide that up-cast shaft with a pipe drift like- 

 wise, and, it is scarcely necessary to add, that when this is requisite, it can be so pro- 

 vided. 



2d. If you are of opinion that the colliery can be restored to a safe working state, you 

 will please to point out the means by which you think that object can best be effected. 



In answer to the first query we have stated our opinion that the colliery can be restored 

 to as safe a working state as it was previous to the accident, and that we cannot suggest 

 any superior mode of ventilation. Not being called upon to give our opinion regarding 

 the plan to be hereafter adopted in working or lighting the mine, our answer to this ques- 

 tion will therefore refer only to the means we should recommend to restore the ventilation 

 to the same state as it was previous to the accident. 



We would advise, in the first place, that the workings should be completely and effec- 

 tually separated into two divisions— one to be ventilated by the G Pit down-cast, and the B, 

 Pit up-cast, and the other division ventilated by the C Pit down-cast and the A Pit up-cast. 

 That when this division is completed, the restoration of the ventilation should be effected 



