1805.] Smith on Metal Mining. 67 



could then increase the power of the blows till the last layer was 

 added.* 



At present, violence is often used from beginning to end ; and there 

 are different opinions as to the proper use of it. All agree that the 

 hole ought to be wiped out with a swabstick or wet rubber to remove 

 all grit. Some put the powder in a case or cartridge, and others a 

 mere covering of brown paper. Capt. John Webb took a patent for 

 a case with a wadding of cow hair as a foundation for the tamping. 

 This soft material seems a move in the right direction. 



In many places, it is directed that the first blows shall be given 

 with wood, and sticks are provided for the purpose, but the men pay 

 no attention. In other places, copper rods have been tried. The 

 commissioners recommend the use of bronze tamping rods. Lord 

 Kinnaird has had one used for a year, and has found that it wears 

 well, and is safe. It may be supposed, however, that we must not 

 even use these on the bare powder or with much grit. 



If the tamping filled up the hole entirely, the powder could not be 

 ignited ; there is, therefore, a fuse inserted, made of a slowly burning 

 mixture. This must be in a tube strong enough to bear against the 

 pressure of tamping. If the tamping material is hard, it may break 

 the tube, which is made sometimes of canvas and tar. 



Before beating the tamp, it is needful to clean the mouth of the 

 hole with a wet substance, a swab-stick to remove all loose particles 

 of gunpowder : neglect of this is often fatal. 



To tamp properly, one man is sufficient : he holds the rod with one 

 hand and strikes it with a hammer in the other. In doing this he 

 feels his way, and if any hard substance intervenes he can take pre- 

 cautions. When one man holds and another strikes, as in boring, such 

 violent blows are given that there is great danger, from a want of 

 sympathetic action between the hammer and red. This habit is for- 

 bidden. In some places this or the neglect of wooden rods is punished 

 by the refusal of relief from the club in case of accidents. 



Now the fuze is lighted and the men rush off into corners. They 

 wait anxiously for two minutes ; sometimes there is no explosion and 

 their labour is lost. If they have prepared three holes and only two 

 go off, they are much chagrined. The rule in some, if not all mines, 

 is that no man shall go near a hole in this uncertain state until next 

 shift. This rule is valuable ; strange chances prevent the timely ex- 

 plosions, and many a man has been blown back who rushed too hastily 

 forwards to seek an explanation of a delay which, after all, he had 

 merely imagined as he was standing alone in his dark corner. 



We remember seeing an instance of this haste. We were explod- 

 ing some gun-cotton, a dozen men were near, and when above the 

 usual time was past, several rushed forwards. The cautious men 

 were not among the workmen ; some called out, " Wait longer," ann 

 well it was, because after waiting nearly double the usual time, the ex- 

 plosion occurred. Why was this? Some interruption in the fuze; 

 some of the mixture, perhaps, a little moist, or containing less powder, 

 so that it burned more slowly than usual. 



* See. Capinin Boyn's evidence. 



f2 - 



