Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-19
Ventilation of Mines.

In pursuing this subject we have thought
proper, while the nearly fatal accident from
an explosion in 4 mine near the MarySvllIe
Buttes is fresh in the minds OF our readers,
to throw in chapter upon
GASES IN MINES.
Had the four unfortunate men, who were
so severely injured by that explosion, been in
possession Of the information herein com!nu
nicated, that accident might never have &C.
CURED. The two gases to be chiefly guarded
against in mines are 'carbonic acid and
slight carburetted hydrogen" or hire damp.
Carbonic acid is heavier than air, and will
hence seek the lowest places III mine, or
shaft. It supports neither combustion or lie;
hence its presence may be readily ascertalned
by lowering lighted candle, before descending
where its presence is suspected. II the can
die goes out, life cannot exist there, and the
deleterious gas must be expelled before de-
scenGing. This gas is produced to greater
or less extent in all mines, BY the respiration
of the workmen, the burning Of candles, ex-
plosion of powder, etc. -,
Light carouretted hydrogen, or "tire damp"
is lighter than common air. Its specific grayl-
" is .999. barely light enough to admit OF It's
ready diffusion through the atmosphere, but
no, sufficient to cause It to move upward,
through it, and float away. ltspresencc may
be readily known BY the nauSeouS suttocatng
sensation which it produces. 1t IS not dan
gcrous to respiration until 1t constitutes l-5
of the entire volume of atmosphere. Al this
point the amount Of oxygen is insufficient to
support life, and the lamp ceases TO burn.
But the most dangerous property connected
with this gas, and that which renders 1t so
dreaded bv miners, is its tendency to explo-
sion, when mixed in certain proportions with
common air, and in that condition brought IN
contact with fame When it is mixed with
air in the proportions of LILO to l-l5 Of the
whole volume, it burns gradually, but without
explosion. Its presence may be recognized
bv an elongation of the flame OF the lamp or
candle. The elonGation is barely perceived
when the proportion is $50. and gradually
increases, until the proportion reaches Lilo.
When it reaches lilo, the inflammation Is gra-
dually propagated through the entire gaseous
mass-oftentimes running Oft from the flame
in ball or globe Of ire, and continuing IN
straight direction towards the point OF escape,
or creates, accumulation of gas. The late
Gas explosion, under the Masonic Temple, in
This city, was 4 case similar to the one we are
supposing. 1t will be recollected that the
person striking the match noticed as 1t were
a ball of fire, start from the lighted match
and run towards a certain pnint-the locality
of the leak-at which it suddenly exploded,
bursting in fragments the heavy plate glass Of
the doors and windows. At the point where
the match was lighted, the proportion of gas
was probably about l-l4th; nearer the leak
it must have been greater, probably about
l-l2th. or perhaps l-llth; of course, when
the fame reached the locality an explosion,
more or less riolent. must have ensued. The
proportion which will produce the most yio-
| lent explosive force, is from 18th 10 18th.
| When the proportion exceeds that point the
! explosive power is less, until it reaches lid
when the mixture will not burn at all. 1t Is
somewhat remarkable that nothing but
fame, or an electric spark will produce the
above results. Hot iron, when plunged into
the mixture, is without effect.
Speaking OF the non-exploSive qualities OF
this gas, under certain conditionS-and we
may here remark that the common illuminat-
ing gas, in general use, is almost identical
with the fire damp" Of the mine-reminds
us of circumstance which took place in Bos
ton at the time of the first introduction Of
gas into that city, and when its nature was
not so well understood by the masses us now.
The gas company had erected large gasom-
eter on that portion of Washington street
called the ''neck," which was even then
populous neighborhood. The people of that
vicinity demonstrated on the ground Of dam
ger from an explosion, particularly from the
possible contingency Of stroke of lightning.
The gas superintendent was summoned before
the Common Council TO "show cause" etc.
Among other questions he was asked what
would be the result if the gasometer should
be penetrated by stroke of lightning. The
SUPERINTENDENT very quietly answered, that the
most probable result would be that the cleo
trio spark, although on the gigantic scale
supposed. would be etfectually extinguished,
bv such intrusion! Certain it is, that when
unmixed with atmospheric air, few suostan-
ces are more antagonistic to hire than lnham-
able gases.
To return from this digression-the gas of
which We are speaking escapes from the mud
of swamps and stagnant water, and is always
more or less abundant in all coal mines. 1t
oftentimes rushes from seams in the rock and
coal with such force as to produce slight
kissing sound. We are told that the men at
work in the mine, already alluded to, at the
Narysyille Buttes, had noticed the entrance
M this gas into their tunnel for several days
nreyiouS to the explosion. They had even
amused themselves with setting it on fire as
il issued from the seams in the rock. And
vet did not think Of the danger that might
arise from its collection. In coal mines 1t Is
most frequently found issuing from the seams
of rock which lie between the veins Of coal.
It is usually noticed in greatest abundance,
near faults, threads and other irregularities
in the rock or coal.
The presence Of one or both the gases al
luded to may always be found in all unfre-
| quented mines and shafts, especially in the
neighborhood Of coal and mineral springs.
| It is one Of the most important and indispen-
| sable requirements that the miner should be