The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-11
The MINER.


Of the unnecessary dangers to which mi
ners are daily subjected, it is my purpose Il
speak 10 this paper These are to the mi
ner what shoals and hidden rocks are to The
mariner; shoals and rocks that NAV b.
avoided only Ivy those possessing an aocu,
rate knowledge of their location. So With
the miner if he become acquainted with tht
location and extent Of thOss dangers, whicl
Turk in bis path; for he can theo approaot
them With Watchful eyes, aad instead of al
lowing them to steal on him unawares, car
be ready to ward off an impending bIov
that may b. fatal to himself and comrades
FIRST, let US call attention TO the mode O
ascending and descending slopes and shafts
Here We zee men conigning tbemselves
without a thought to the links Of chain, Of
to band Of iron, or to rope, and TO !
steam engine and engineer. If a linn
breaks in the chain, or if the rope Inaps as
sunder, or the tensile strain of the iroF,
band gives way. they are Precipitat@d to the
bottom Of the shaft or slope. The same
thing will happen If the crank pin, or I'M
deed any Of the connections between tho
steam piston and the winding drum were al
break. The lives Of those men hanging II
a shaft, depend as it were on thread a
times. The mere slipping Of bolt or d
the starting bar in the engineers hands
will launch them into eternity. Let me tell
you that the cross head, the crank aud
crank shaft, and drum shaft, and spider
too, are very often made of very inferioI
cast iron. These are not often thoroughly
examined, while they retain their places an,I
perform their work. The ropes seldom arl
noticed as long as they continue to pull I'd
the coal from the lower levels, and tbeil
strands hold to each other. No one think
Of looking at a chain or at the connecticut
attached to the hosting cages. Without
the least thought of danger, do men cOnsigrl
their lives to the above sources of danger!
and the owners Of cOlleries do not think 81
to have properly qualified persons to inspect
those items, on which so much depend; s.,
much of benefit to themselves and so mucH
Of safety to the men, who toll daily without
50 little grudge on their behalf, as we'll a!
their own.
Pass to The travelling roads that conduct
you by flights Of stairs hundreds of fee. Il
the lower levels, which sometimes are iDt
elined at an angle Of 80 degrees. These nevej
have hand ratings attached to them, ana
men and boys ascend and descend them.
carrying their tools and what besides is mel
cessary for their daily use. If an injure!!
step is ever discovered, it is more by aces
dent than BY any systematic examination
that is ever practised 10 discover flaws.
At some of the largest of the cOllieries
here, where large numbers Of wOrkmen ara
engaged, are underground steam pumpst
The pipes conveying high pressure steam
from the boilers above to the eng les belOwi
are most generally laid down by the side Of
the slope; sometimes IexPosed, and sonnet
times protected by felt covering, to prevent
the steam from condensing. These pipeA
are arranged in such manner, so that i!
any leak take place in the pipes, the stead
discharged will escape into the air that i
descending the slope for the ventilation q
the slope. The heat is also radiated int4
this air which adds to it's capacity for bold
ing gases or vapOrs in suspension. Then a
at many places large portion OF the Ell
hahst steam is allowed to escape into tbs
ingoiDg air current. As there has none 4
these steam pipes burst or broken as yeA
and belUbed into the drifts or shafts Iargl
volumes Of steam, in sufficient quantity II
sufocate the men and boys in mine, tht
possibility of such an accident does nCs
seem to be anticipated; or if it we're, thOst
steam pipes. carrying steam at seventy a
one hundred pounds pressure per squark
Incl, would be. likely to be removed to ri.
turning or to an eXhsusting air PASSAGE
which removal would prevent the pUssibilitf
Of such an accident occurring. shouls
not fancy being in coal nine whose al
was heated beyond the natural heat of ths
mine, by those steam pipes; or l should ncl
like to be there we're one Of those pipes II
break and fiji the mining atmosphere WITH
steam enough 10 produce asphyxia. II
would be a repetition of II; riley and d
Avondale. If steam pumps are to be used
underground, why not EN- Ioy other passat
ges than those conducting air to the Mines
in which to lay down the steam and exhaust!
ing pipes. Even the steam pump itsel!
would be more safe in the rs,urninO aii
passage than in the intaking air passage
While speaking thus Of underground stesrt
pumps. we have not the slightest intentioA
Of detracting from their excellence US maj
chimes, or Of speaking in any way condemE
atory against their use; but would recont
mend that caution be used 10 connection
With them. and that the safety of the me4
working in their vicinity be treated wifi
some consideration. These dangers we hav3
already spoken Of are unnecessary dangerei
and should have no existence. I
Another far greater danger than these, Il
The imperfect ventilation of the coal mine ID
connection with the removal Of explosive
gas The mines Of this and ADJOINING
counties are very imPerfectly ventilated. gI
could mention mines discharging their ain
With gas enough in solution to almost renal
der It explosive. In ventilation of coa5
mines, the first duty Of the MINING ano;tI
neer Ould be to find out by some meaS,i
how many cubic feet Of carburretted HYDRO
gen gas is generated during the space Of onf
minute; and then for every three cubic faoI
of the gas be finds to be given off, ninetvl
even cubic feet Of air should be supplied
BY ventilation, in order to dilute it suf6
,iently 50 as to render the mine atmosphere
Iafe a. well Is resPirable. There Is nd
LANCER Of explosion in a coal mine wberd
be gas is kept below three per csnt. iuthd
Il 0unOut y
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