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ventilation ; not that we advocate new and complex modes 
of working or ventilation, or more ingenious or curiously 
constructed safety lamps. We consider these as mere trifles 
in comparison to the vital question. The colliery interest 
and trade of South Yorkshire is an increasing one, and 
is likely to become more so when fully developed. As 
yet it is in its infancy, and it is essential to its 
success that the mode or system of working should be on 
the most improved, simple, efficient, and economical 
principle ; and as the ultimate object in working coal 
is to get as much out as possible, then the question 
arises, — Which is the safest and cheapest mode of working 
and ventilating a colliery ? We think it is quite possible 
for danger to be warded from a mine by superior skill 
and untiring vigilance in carrying out the best methods 
already known. We have, for instance, the Pillar workings 
of the North, and the Longworks of the South or Midland 
Counties. Very similar in many important points, these are 
the two principal systems, the others are only modifications ; 
but in Yorkshire, as well as other places, we incline to the 
opinion that the defective or worst parts of these systems 
only are adopted in many collieries ; more especially when 
we consider that method characterised recently as the 
most dangerous, most wretched of all others, and which 
we believe is now almost universally condemned by mining 
engineers, viewers, &c. : we refer to the practice of 
conducting the return air over the furnace as one part of 
it. And we think that any proprietor, engineer, or viewer 
who persists in retaining that dangerous and highly repre- 
hensible system in mines — generating gas, which by the 
clearest evidence is proved to be unsafe, is not only bold but 
reckless of both property and valuable lives, and all such 
ought to be held responsible for any loss that may accrue to 
either from any such events, which could not be accounted 
BBB 
