Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-08-31
MORE SAFETY IN MINING
SHAFTS Required.

depth is Increased, adding more sets OF
tin,bers at the bottom. These timbers
are generally about twelve inches
square, aud back Of them, reaching
from one set to the other, are stout
planks or suitable timber split out for
the purpose, and known US tagging.
The division ,imbers which cross the
shaft, dividing it into compartments,
are not Of course Jagged between, there
being no side wall of earth or rock to
support in that direction, and thus n
can freely look through or pass through
from one compartment to the other, ii
he chooses. The long narrow guides,
placed at Two sides Of each compart.
ment, fitting into corresponding grooves
or guides at two sides Of the cage,
cause it to glide uuswervingly in its
proper position AS it p,sses up and down
the shaft, yet should one Of these guides
by sons unforeseen accident become dis.
placed, or the cage by some means get
crowded aside in such n manner as to
throw it out Of the influence or control
Of the guides, it is easy to see the
chances for an accident. A gridiron
placed on its side and held up rdgewise
is a very fair illustration OF those sets
Of shaft timbers in passing them, either
up or down, the four sides Of the cage
just clearing them by only an inch or so.
A miner or any other person p 'ssing
up or down one Of these set timbered
shafts requires to stand steady and
straight, for should he by temporary
f.iutuess, dizziness or other cause OF
unsteady standing happen to swing or
reel aside in the close pitchy darkness
far enough for the sharp edge or corner
of one Of these big square timbers to
catch him, he would be ut once irresist-
lilly torn violently down and crushed
over the edge of the cage, his mangled
body passing aside between the timbers
to fall with the greatest facility to the
bottom of the shaft, after perhaps
having a foot and a haud torn off as in
the case Of the unfortunate miner in the
Imperial Empire shaft, a few months
70, or his head torn of as in the case
Of the boy miner in the Savage shaft
recently. The horrible accident in the
Yellow jacket shaft, not many weeks
ago, is also fresh in our memory, where
II timber being sent down or u cage, &c
cideutally catching on one Of these side
,imbers staid there, stuck across the
shat. 10 such a manner that when the
same cage came up, a few moments
later, with the forem,n OF the mine and
two other miners upon it, this impossible
stick Of timber causel the breaking Of
the cable, aud the cage with its precious
human freight was dashed to the bottom
of the shaft, hundreds Of feet below.
These are only a few among many in
stances we could euumcrate Of accidents
occurring in this style Of mining shaft.
Now, the point we desire to make in
the foregoing remarks is this: Had
those shafts been lined or sheathed
with boards securely nailed on the in-
side Of the shaft compartments, thus
covering up this ~griiiron like series OF
timbers, presenting a smooth surface
for the cage to pass, these terrible acct.
dents which We have mentioned could
not have happened. Shoulders Of men,
sticks Of timber, nor anything else can
catch against II smooth surface. Such
lining or sheathing as we speak Of, even
we're it planed or tongued and grooved,
would not be II very terrible expense
eutailed upon numerous stockholders,
aud the cost should be weighed as
nothing where human life is ut stnke.
The closely curbed or plank timbered
shafts, Of course present Il comp"ra-
lively smooth surface, aud are accord
iugly less dangerous to life and limb.
In the matter Of ventilation, too, 4
great advantage is gained By having tue
partitions between the compartments
made close, AS thus II current Of fresh
air is constantly induced down one COM
par,ment 10 the bottom OF the shaft, to
pass up another, thus creating a con.
slant free ventilation. Aside from this
important consideration, however, we
hope some day to be able to record that
all Of these set timbered shafts nre
properly lined or secured in some such
manner rs we have indicated.