118 MIOT1^^G INDUSTEY. 



The construction of the cage employed at the Savage mine for this purpose 

 is illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 on Plate VII. 



The bottom of the cage is a simple platform, 5 or 6 feet square, accord- 

 ing to the size of the compartment, formed of wrought-iron bars firmly joined 

 together and covered by a floor of wood, provided with pieces of track iron 

 on which to receive the car. The two sides of the cage, above the platform, 

 which are next the guides in the shaft, are formed of a simple but stout frame- 

 work of iron, 7 or 8 feet high, joined at the top by a central cross-bar connect- 

 ing them, above which is a stem or vertical rod of iron by means of which 

 the whole is attached to the hoisting cable. The two sides of the cage, be- 

 tween the frames, are open for the admission or exit of the car, men, or mate- 

 rial with which the cage is loaded. 



The cage is guided in its movement in the shaft by two vertical strips of 

 wood, or guide-rods, 4 inches by 6 inches in size, attached to the lining of the 

 shaft, one on each side of the cage, and extending from the surface to the 

 bottom. 



Attached to the cage on each side, near the top and bottom, are iron 

 flanges, f. Fig. 1, commonly called "ears," so made as to embrace the wooden 

 guide-rods already referred to. The mode of construction of these flanges is 

 very simple, and may be easily understood by reference to the figure. The 

 wooden guide-rods are in general use and have replaced those of iron that 

 were formerly employed in some places. They are better adapted to the 

 action of the "safety catches" described in a following paragraph, and per- 

 mit an easier movement of the cage while allowing sufficient play to prevent 

 the cage from binding or sticking fast, an accident which is sometimes liable 

 to occur whenever the shaft or the guides are a little out of line, and which is 

 likely to be followed by serious consequences. 



Some of the cages in general use are constructed as simply as possible, ^ 

 with the only end in view of providing a suitable platform for the support and 

 transportation of the car or other load. Others are constructed in diiferent 

 mines with various appliances to insure safety, so that in case the cable or 

 winding apparatus should break, the progress of the cage may be arrested 

 wherever it may be at the moment of the accident, and so preserved from fall- 

 ing to the bottom with its load. The various devices applied for this purpose 



