614 
should be gently handled and carefully attended to, kept in 
the best possible order, and that they are not intended to be 
made a substitute for proper ventilation. Objections have 
been made by working colliers to some safety lamps for the 
small amount of light produced and the inability to see their 
work fairly, and thus, to make good wages, induces colliers 
when either thoughtless, or otherwise satisfied that there is 
no Fire Damp near, to unscrew the top of the lamp. Rules 
and regulations backed up by fines, and now lately by 
liability to imprisonment, have been insufficient to stop this 
tendency, and to prevent the occurrence of numerous acci- 
dents which have resulted from it. Hence it is that much 
attention has been bestowed on the methods of locking the 
lamp, to prevent the removal of the wire gauze. It will be 
readily conceded that good rules and strictly enforced 
discipline among the workpeople are just as indispensable as 
a perfect lamp, in the prevention of those accidents, often so 
cruel and so sweeping, which hurry away in one common fate 
the provident and innocent with the reckless and the guilty 
In some Safety Lamps as the Clanny, Morsler, and the 
Morrison, it may be said that their is no temptation for the 
men to pick the lock, or to unscrew the top, because they 
have what they want, they have already plenty of light. But 
inasmuch as safety in a dangerous place ceases with the 
fracture of the glass, our colliery managers have been gene- 
rally averse to their use in fiery mines. 
If a light, producing a white heat, such as a lamp or candle 
be used in the mine, no matter whether in the intake or the 
upcast air course, an explosion is liable to happen. If the gas 
ever becomes ignited the flame will follow so long as there is 
gas sufficient to support combustion either with or against 
the current. Much has been said and written upon the 
cause of colliery explosions, yet under the best known 
management they do occur. The very name of " Safety 
