566 
peculiar circumstances which its own position and winning 
may disclose. But there are general principles which have 
reference to all collieries, and which must in some degree 
enter into their individual management, in order to their safe 
and economical progress. And it is to these principles, as 
coming most directly under the province of the West Riding 
Geological and Polytechnic Society, that the observations of 
this paper are addressed. 
If the subject were not one requiring the most diligent 
application of intelligent and educated skill, the duties of 
the mining' engineer would be divested of much of their 
present importance ; and little might be said in reproach of 
the systems (or, perhaps, more consistently speaking, of the 
want of system), which we find to exist. But it needs no 
argument to demonstrate the requirement of much practical 
wisdom and ingenuity, to cope successfully with the 
numerous difficulties which surround the operations of an 
active colliery ; and so to conduct its working, as that under 
all the various circumstances which attend the miner, he may 
not jeopardise his own, or the safety of his fellow-workmen. 
For it too frequently happens that all are dependent on the 
risks which attend upon the conduct and operation of each 
individual workman in the mine. 
The duties of the mining engineer, or practical manager 
of a colliery, seem then to comprehend scientific qualifica- 
tions of a two-fold character ; and which, for the sake of 
clearer definition, we may express as being mechanical and 
meteorological. 
Into the former, or mechanical department, as related to 
the physical operation of getting and drawing the coal, it is 
not our purpose here to enter, — but rather to dwell upon the 
latter division of the subject, which bears more directly on 
the ventilation of the mine and the personal safety of those 
who labour in it. 
