66 Original Articles. [Jan 



the pit." " Why did he fall ? " " The rope broke when he was about 

 30 feet from the bottom." " Another man that helps will take you 

 down, and use a new rope." An old hemp rope, much mended, had 

 been used. We did not go : if the most skilful man around had 

 made such a blunder, what woidd the second do ? If we swing in a 

 basket 400 feet above the earth, we shall see that the man who holds 

 us has not only some education but some common sense ! 



On this point we must say a word. We imagine that in these 

 days, information goes from place to place instantly, but it is quite 

 curious to hear the Cornish people speaking with fear of cages, such 

 as are used in the coal districts, and of the Northern people equally 

 dreading skips and ladders ! We require men who know both plans, 

 to give their opinions. It certainly is most fully done viva voce. 

 Bigotry is not confined to religions. It is hard to say what class of 

 men have least ; we are all very liberal when dealing with subjects to 

 which we have not attended much, but very severe burners of heretics 

 when our own notions are assailed. If we had power to decide on the 

 plan to be adopted for entering all mines, we coxdd not do so from the 

 evidence, but should say, " If men can be lowered and raised for 

 seventeen years without any one injury, is it much to require that 

 every mine should have its work done equally well ? Take your own 

 plan, but give us this result." 



Work in the Mine. — When a shaft is sunk vertically, the miner 

 tunnels forward, keeping on the same level. He makes long galleries. 

 Mines of copper, tin, and lead are often found in extremely hard rock. 

 The hardness and the rate of progress vary exceedingly. The rock 

 is bored by long tools resembling chisels, struck with hammers about 

 81bs. in weight. One man holds the borer, and another strikes. 

 This is laborious work, and the position is often very cramped. The 

 borer must be frequently turned round, the rock is ground to dust, 

 and as such is drawn out. The hole is filled with blasting-powder, 

 then covered with some soft material and beaten down or tamped. 

 If this were not done, the explosion would displace nothing, the 

 entrance must resist as much as the rocky sides. 



Some persons beat down the powder without any cover to it ; 

 many accidents occur in this way. Frequently, the powdered rock or 

 dust from the bore hole is used ; sand or dry clay also. Capt. 

 Phillips recommends clay, and it is certainly softer than sand. All 

 agree that large pieces of grit or spar are dangerous. When we 

 strike gunpowder with a hammer on sandstone, an explosion follows 

 readily. It requires no powerful blow. This is much easier when on 

 stone than on an iron anvil. To use sand, and to beat this with iron, 

 seems to invite explosion. A fine soft clay will not, as far as we 

 know, cause the same, and the fine powdered killas, as soft as flour, 

 spoken of by Mr. Puckie, may be as safe. Hemp, tow, or cotton are 

 also used. 



It may be asked, is it needful to strike the first layer of tamping 

 at all ; is it not enough if the upper part be firmer, whilst the powder 

 itself may only be slightly pressed by the soft tamping material. We 



