478 



ten-inch wood pipes, with a funnel head turned downward 

 (D and D a, enlarged view), to receive the carburetted gas. 

 Thus would all the foul air of the mine be drawn by the 

 furnace from the works, and from thence transmitted with 

 the current to the surface. 



I should like to say a word or two upon the goafs, but as 

 it will be apparent to you that they may draw off the greatest 

 part of the gas, if not the whole, on the same principle, so 

 as to render the works safe, I shall desist ; and observe that 

 there certainly appears to me a great want of principle in 

 the working of many mines which might be enumerated, even 

 in this part of the country. 



I therefore venture to hope that the necessity of sinking 

 more shafts, in such districts as the Newcastle and northern 

 collieries, would, in a great measure, be obviated by the 

 introduction of air-courses connected with the works, as I 

 have already explained; which air-courses and shafts, if 

 brought into operation, will have, I presume, in a great 

 measure, if not completely, equal power to shafts brought to 

 the surface. 



Finally, as the system I venture to suggest, if brought into 

 general use, must eventually preserve the lives of thousands 

 of our countrymen, it cannot be unworthy of the deepest con- 

 sideration of the Society ; and the fear, therefore, of incurring 

 a little introductory expense should not deter our enlightened 

 coal-owners from adopting the system now proposed. 



Considering the great expenditure of the northern mines 

 generally, the carrying of shaft after shaft from the surface 

 would quickly involve an expense more than the value of the 

 produce of the mine, and have the effect of closing the 

 works altogether. 



The Rev. William Thorp, B.A., next proceeded to 

 describe the chief features of a New Safety Lamp, which 



