272 
PROCEEDINGS 1849—1858. 
shaft, which was usually placed at the lowest i)art of the pit. 
The currents of air having thus swept through the working parts 
of the mine would collect all the fire-damp in the lateral 
cavities or goafs, along with any accumulations that might be near 
the roof of the mine, and carry them to the discharge shaft on the 
most elevated side of the workings. He considered the extra outlay 
necessary to provide this up-cast shaft would be compensated by the 
fewer passages necessary to trap and split up the air so as to ventilate 
the whole of the mine. On the conclusion of Mr. Carter's paper, 
Mr. E. W. Binney, F.Il.S., of ]\Ianchester, contributed a paper on 
the mixed use of Davy lamps and naked lights in coal mines. He 
stated that it was a common practice for lamps to be used on the 
opening of a seam of coal in driving fast places, and where pillars 
had been robbed or worked back whilst naked lights are in use over 
the greater part of the mine. The ignorance of the pitmen of the 
knowledge of fire damp appeared to be of a most alarming character. 
As an instance of this, he stated that it was the practice of clever 
practical men to try a place for gas by a naked candle, and as the 
flame tapered up, cut it ofi' with their hands. Although some men, 
doubtless, were very clever in escaping being burnt in doing this, 
their skill must be considered as that of thoroughly reckless men. 
Mr. J, Brackenridge, at the next meeting of the Society, contri- 
buted his observations on the best mode of working and ventilating 
mines. He had intended to read it at the previous meeting, but was 
unable to be present. His principle was very similar to that of 
Mr. Carter, but he gave rather better definition to his views. He 
considered that in opening every new mine a way should be driven 
from the pits' mouth to the furthest and highest extremity intended 
to be worked, and that there the up-cast shaft should be placed. 
From that point the actual working of the coal should commence, and 
should be worked back until the whole of the seam was got. Mr. 
Brackenridge was convinced that a mine worked on these principles 
would lead to a saving of the expenses to the coal proprietors, and he 
had entire confidence that those lieart-rending scenes of destruction 
of property and of lives which they had recently had so much cause 
to lament would in a great degree be averted. At the conclusion of 
