of the Mines of Cornwall and Devon, 315 



The captains take different departments of duty in such mines as 

 are sufficiently extensive to require it. The principal or managing 

 captain has the superintendance of the whole, and gives his attention 

 to every thing that may demand it, either underground or on the 

 surface. 



'Most of the other captains are employed in viewing and controling 

 the operations of the miners, and are called underground captains ; 

 they regularly visit different parts of the mine for this purpose, by 

 night as well as by day, relieving each other in turn. They assist 

 the managing captain in valuing the various prices of work to be 

 offered to the men, and enforce the due performance of the 

 contracts made with them. Their opinion is most important on all 

 questions relating to the operations to be pursued, whether for dis- 

 covery or for the best means of working what is already discovered ; 

 and they possess generally so much knowledge of practical mecha- 

 nics applicable to mining, as to be able to direct in all common cases 

 what is necessary to be done in the erection or repair of much of the 

 machinery employed. 



A grass captain or dresser is appointed, who has charge of the 

 processes going on at the surface, and who regulates every thing 

 relating to the preparation of the ores for sale. 



The captains are assisted in other departments by an engineer 

 who often superintends the engines of several mines, and by clerks 

 to keep the accounts. They have likewise under them a pitman^ 

 who looks after the pumpwork in the shafts, and the underground 

 machinery in general, a timberman or binder^ who takes care that 

 the ground is properly secured by supports of wood, and that the 

 casings and ladders in the shafts are well put in, and kept in good 

 repair. 



The establishment of a mine likewise includes often a material 



2r2 



