Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-08-24
MINE

With the deeper working Of our
mines, and consequent increase of heat
and imperfect ventilation, the question
of how best to remedy these difficulties
naturally presents itself. Various meth
DDS Of inducing currents Of fresh mir
from the surface TO the depths of the
mine have been adopted, and most re-
Gently Roots patent fan or blower has
been introduced, and found to be the
most efectual as far as air pumping ar
rangemeuts are concerned. Most OF
u principal mines are adopting them.
This new style of fan or blower collects
n larger volume of fresh air than any
other, and forces it down through large
pipes of wood, galvanized iron, tin or
other suitable material into the tunnels,
drifts, wines and breasts of the mine,
being carried by means Of the piping
aforesaid into new drifts and places
where no current could be introduced
BY any other available means, until con-
nection could DO made with some other
drift or convenient shaft. The best
method for permanent, thorough and
efectual ventilation is, however, most
frequently lost sight of in a mistaken
idea of economy, and also through in
judicious engineering. No mining Su-
p~erintendent should project and proceed
to open q new and important drift or
level in a mine without first taking into
consideration the best, speediest, and
most effectunl means Of ventilation
therefor. For instance, II winzc is now
being ~excavated to connect the 900-toot
level Imperial drift from the Imperial
Empire shaft with the 7O0.foot or lower
level Of tho old Imperial mine, 200 feet
above. This winze is being ~excavated
from both above and below, and when
the connection Is made, q yoluminous
current and plentiful supply Of good
pure air is insured by means Of the two
shafts, although some hundreds of feet
apart, the current Of air drawing down
one and passing out at the other,
thus circulating freely throughout the
mine in every part where n Drift con-
meets with another. This same winze
can be continued down the back wall OF
the ledge and made to intersect with
any future level which may he run from
the new shaft below the present lower
level, 900 feet from the surface. A con-
Meeting drift is also run between the
700.foot levels of the old Imperial aud
Alpha shafts, thus giving a good cur
rent Of ventilation in another direction.
Our mines wherever their workings are
within feasible distance Of each other
should be made TO connect for rcntila-
ton purposes alone, aside from onve-
uience, or any other consideration, and
q perfect system in that line thus fol-
lowed out. Various e%xpedients have
been resorted to in the older mining
countries, such as placing mir boxing at
the sides or corners Of shafts, thus
making the raising or lowering of the
cages or tubs available in producing
currents Of mir, or the shaft compart-
ments have been so completely isolated
from each other by means Of q close
partition that q current Of air passing
down one would be drawn through one
portion of the mine and circulating by
means of connecting drifts return and
pass out at the other compartment.
This latter way of doing ia very feasible
and effective, yet the drift or winze
connection with the various workings
of the mine is the all important idea,
and in the end will be found by far the
most perfect, efficient and e]nconomical
mode of ventilation.