476 



draught rushing down the shaft, which denotes the consump- 

 tion of the vital air of the mine and the production of the 

 deleterious choke-damp, the loss of life often exceeds that 

 caused by the actual explosion. It therefore must be obvious 

 that air-courses (constructed as shown on section) would be 

 adequate to carry off all gases. With the current along the 

 air-courses it is beyond the reach of human power to cause 

 an explosion, and these air-courses may be constructed to 

 meet any principle of workings, and to any degree ; always 

 having a proportional elevation from the works, with an 

 incline from the cupola or furnace, as shown on section. 

 It may be objected to as a matter of expenditure, but let 

 it be fairly examined. It is well known that there are 

 intermediate beds of coal, which, by getting, to form the 

 air-courses and places for the furnaces or cupolas, with 

 the incline, would more than pay the cost of driving ; and 

 allowing that it would only pay that expense, and taking 

 the most unfavourable strata, (for instance, the Haswell or 

 Jarrem), the expenses to be incurred would be in sinking the 

 shaft at the extremity of the drifts, which, taken at an ordinary 

 price, say £4 per yard, would amount to £150 or £200, which 

 would carry the improvement into any of the northern mines. 

 And again, consider the facilities that are given for working; 

 the advantage it is to the workmen to have pure air instead 

 of gas to consume; the extent of the mine (for the most 

 extensive might be worked as well as the smallest) ; besides 

 which there would not require half the doors or superintend- 

 ence; so that I assume the improvement cannot be fairly 

 objected to on account of expenditure. 



When we look at the awful loss of life even in Jarrem, 

 which, in twenty-eight years, amounted to 140, I should (as 

 adverted to before) blow down from the drift sufficient of the 

 roof to allow of boring a five-inch hole, or two, if necessary, 

 to carry the gas from the present goafs. 



Having brought before you, in as limited a form as I 



