The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-09
WRIT for tbs ADvoct I
THE MINER. !
Air

Air.
Air is the element in which weilive.
Air is invested with properties similar
to other matter forming the ma
terial world; that is, it possessed the
essential qualities Of matter, such Oh i'm.
penetrability, inertia, weight, and eias-
ITCHY. It enveloPs the whole terrestrial
globe, and rises into space above the eSrth's
surface, upwards Of fifty miles. need not
say that it is an elastic, gaseous fluid this
much is perfectly understood by ever BODY
with any understanding at ali. All. we
have said, possesses weight; that lit is
powderable like solid matter. Fot this
reason il presses towards the earth hy the
action Of gravity. The force it effects on a
superficial foot of the earth's surface
amounts to nearly one ton, OF about $fteen
pounds per square inch. This press.lre-
owing to the perfect fluidity Of air. -acts
equally in every direction. 1t Ikesses
downward, upward, laterally, and oEliuue-
", with equal facility, and with the, same
amount Of force AT the level Of tie sea
the air presses with greater force shau it
does on the tops Of mountains because the
superior column of air is less aboiie the
mountain than above the level Of tie sea.
The pressure Of the air-owing to its Elastic
nature-is not in direct proportion Ito its
depth. The density Of air is directly as the
pressure it is subjected to that IS q: cubic
foot of air with barometer at thirty Inches
which measures the air at fifteen rounds
per square inch, weighs over five hundred
aud twenty grains, while cubic foot ,of air
under a pressure of seventy and h half
pounds per square inch weighs slightly
over two hundred and sixty grains The
atoms of air are SO infinitely minute that
they may be crushed into the finest and
most minute Of the pores contained in
solids and liquids. The most denae sub
stance known is proven to be porous, and
for this reason may be supposed TO be
charged with air or some other CONVENIENT
gaseous fluid. This is proven to he the
case by the development of deep mines !:
the excavations Of these liberate fram the
pores in their vicinity sometimea large
quantities Of gaseous fluids peculiar Ito the
strata which they intersect. The Goa mines
have their peculiar gases so have Aetallic
and other mines. Near the surface the air
presses deep into the soil, and theSe sup
ports animal and vegetable life defending
on it for nourishment, Owing to lsndos.
matte action, an interchange Of air takes
place at and near the surface. This NAV
be termed the ventilation of thel soils.
The roots Of vegetables thrive best :n eel :
tain soils which offer greater facilities for
the circulation Of air in them than others
do. Good Providence has maGe this
bountlful provision il behalf Of lifeiin the
soil-both animal and vegetable. lin the
water to great depths does the air fdrce its
way through its pores There it supports
the life Of the fnny tribes of the ocedn. and
Of the marine plants. The same SOFT of in
terchange goes on in the ocean Ind all
waters as goes on in the soils that is. the
ocean and rivers give off foul air and are
supplied with infIsiOns of fresbi The
waters on the face Of the earth. and
under the earth for that matter. NAV he
said to be ventilated The waters Iof run.
ming rivers are better ventilated than the
still water Of lakes and the waters Of a
stormy ocean, better than those Of placid
sea. The waters Of a cascade are better
ventilated than the waters of stream. In
the sunni er, trout ascend the waters Of
streams they take tour in fresh icountrv
air for the good Of their health. Ia ponds
and stagnant pools the water is Cot well
ventilated, and for this reason you find no
hsh with an atom of common sepAe about
them to become voluntary residents of such
hlthy places. Such places are to th2 m what
such places sewers and coal mines dark.
dismal cellars, are to us. loads, aid asps.
and lizards, and eels, and snakes. hDd am.
phlblous reptiles inbabit such places
But pour a rapid stream Of eoo1 water
INTO such places as the foul torpid lake or
POuuS ~ ana tneh you will see sporting
'neiG tne trout ana other hsh thai like to
revel IN the fresh water Of mountain or
country stream. This, as it rusbas along
in its bed, facilitates the exchange IF gases
for fresh air; and, by plunging into the
Id Iake OF Pond' Purges 1t Of its impurities
The fish travelling up stream to recruit
their energies, stop in the pond for while
II me pond is ventllated-and 9njoy the
lull. Going out into the stream ito them
is like going into the fresh air to us: Were
not the stream to ventllate the pond in
these instances, were it to skirt instead of
pass through; the sensible fish, travelling up
stream, would avoid a residence next door to
tan yard or other filthy place. If the
poor fish have so much regard for
ventilation, should not the miner, ideep in
the bowels Of the earth, far away from the
light of day and the pure air have las great
regard for the same thing? In the
mines OF Ohio, Of Illinois, Of Iowa and
all the Western States, non. ventilation is
the rule, and ventilation the execution that
,s as FAR as artificial ventilation Is concerned
TINS is the case, and no provision Is made h.
government that such Mines shall 10 Won't;
lated: Ot Pennsylvania the sa,be tS;nr
may be said for seyen-eighths of the mines
at work "'"eS
The miners have had bill PASSED. bv the
Legislature, the provisions of which, if ado.
quately carried out, may effect mitch good !.
but the inspectors eyes must not be shut
up in their pockets to do their drty effect.