477 



possibly could, so important a subject, I now leave it for 

 your consideration ; and will, in the next place, trespass a 

 short time longer upon your indulgence, in bringing under 

 notice the principle I wish to advance for the ventilation of 

 mines in our more immediate neighbourhood, and in so doing 

 I shall confine myself to the Oaks or Ardsley Main Colliery, 

 near Barnsley, where the late dreadful explosion took place. 



There will be observed on the plan of the mine alluded to 

 (Plate XL, Fig, 2) lines in the board-gates, which are 

 shown in crimson; from these lines it must be understood 

 that the principle will be applicable to any part of the mine, 

 and may be carried to any point. 



In commencing I would lay a drain, as shown on section 

 in crimson lines (A), three bricks in height and one in 

 breadth, covered with flag and mortar to keep air-tight; 

 these are then laid and wrought in a funnel shape, to the 

 incline flue of the furnace, as shown on section (B). This 

 plan will be readily understood. At a distance from the 

 shaft (say, when the air is likely to become charged to any 

 extent, as will be observed on the section) blow down a cavity 

 or receptacle, say three yards in height, with an incline to 

 the wind (C) ; so that as the carburetted hydrogen gas, 

 being so much lighter than the atmospheric air, is carried by 

 it and comes in contact with the incline and elevation of the 

 receptacle, the air would be again pure, and traverse its 

 course onwards until brought into contact with another re- 

 ceptacle, which would again remove the gas from the air. 

 Thus, according to the distance the air has tp travel, and the 

 gas in the mine, the cavities or receptacles would be formed. 

 If the section is observed, a drain to each receptacle will be 

 seen, composed of large drain tiles, which must be made and 

 constructed so as to allow one end to overlap, say one inch, 

 and to be secured with mortar instead of brick ; and from 

 the drain to each cavity or receptacle I should have eight or 



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