Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-14
LIGHTING A COAL MINK.

Successful Experiment in the Use of
Electric Lamps Underground.
On Sept. 6, for the first time, the int
rior Of an anthracite coal mine was lighted
by electricity, says a Shenandoah (Pa.)
special to the Philadelphia Record. The
experiment was witnessed by delegations
from the British ASS ociation for the Ad-
vancement of Science, the American AS
ISOLATION formed for the same object and
the American Irstit- to of Mining RIgi-
neers. Many to scientists were ac-
cOmpanied by their wives and daughters,
the entire party numbering over 400.
The experiments were conducted at
Indian Ridge cOlliery. The breastin which
the electric light was called upon to play
the principal part is known as No. 1, and
is on the east gangway of the north dip.
1t was selected on account of its near
ness to the shaft, the distance between
the points being 125 yards. The root is
solid, aHd the breast hiss long been used
as a travelling way for man and beast.
1t is about go feet il height, is 40 feet
broad, and the distance from the opening
to the face is SO yards. The pitch of the
vein is Is degrees. The veins in the work
icg have pitch OF from 20 so degrees.
This breast was also chosen to give the
visitors a view of the wonderful MAN.
has a thickness OF so feet, though only
30 have been worked. Wooden steps,
made for the occasion, led from the gang
way 10 the breast. in which q substan-
tial platform had been erected. The
breast was furnished with six arc lights
and the engine house with one, p, ided
by the Armour Light and Heat Conn ny,
sf Pennsylvania, under the super vision
of r. W. Near, the General Superintend-
mt cuoicfnH ~ n Is q nauf1 Of tho
Reading Company. The power was fur
nished by a tiVe-hOrse power engine,
which was driven to its utmost capacity.
This made 1000 revolutions per minute,
and was about 500 feet from the lamps
1900 feet of wire were used. All portions
of the lamps likely to be handled were
/ insulated with rubber. The induction
| from this cause was great, and the speed
| Of the dynamo was considerably increased
/ to counteract this. The same results
/ could have been obtained on the surface
/ from 1000 revolutions which required
! 1900 at a depth of little more than hun
I dred YARDS. No phOtometric tests were
/ taken on account OF the atmosphere. The
/ lights used were CT 3, Co0-candle power.
! The Erst experiment was made on the
! right Of shaft shortly before midnieet.
! The electrician entered the mine on Tfars-
! day morning, andremained here until next
| night. That night an immense crowd of
/ miners, with their wives and sweethearts,
/ assembled at the head of the shaft. The
| cageman refused to allow any one to de-
! scend, as he had received orders to this
/ effect, but the crowd increased to such an
! extent and manifested such an earnest
desire to see experiments worthy of a long
/ journey by distinguished scientists, that
I the order was rescindedj ust as strap
| ping Irish woman exclaimed: S'BegOrra,
we'H 60 down tonight If we have to
1 step here till morning" From Z o'clcc k
| until almost midnight 6 solid stream OF
| people poured into the mine and waited
4 patiently until tae thing went Oh. During
the preparation the appearance Of the
breast and It's surroundings was highly
| picturesque. At the opening stood a
1 crowd of hundreds; the in tense blaoknssl
| Of the place WAS relieved by the htiul
! fRne of a deZen miners lamps; st the
face of the breast, fifty yards distant, snd
at an angle OF Is degrees, twinkled like SC
1 MANY stars the miners lamps worn by the
electricians. Hundreds patiently waited
and waited tor hours, while hundreds
! more made excursions through the un.
| deTgrOund city.
Finally without warning the six lights
sprung to life and shOwered their brilliant
radiance upon the dazZled eyes and won.
dering faces of the startled crowd. Every
foot of the huge opening became visible
relieffrOm the surrounding surface; every
crack, assure and seam was plainly Yisi.
bic. What in the light of miners lamp
looked like solid coal, was now seen to be
comprised of alternate benches of Goa
and slate; even the difference be-
tween slate ''bOney" and Goa
could be distinguished under the
rays Of the electric light. The sight was
magnificent. There was an air Of gran
deur; the sOlidity of the surrounding!
was the marked feature. The roof gilt
tered in a glory hitherto only attributed
to it in Imagination, and it was a mingled
sigh Of wonder, cOntentment and relic
that the crowd heaved when the lights
were extinguished and the test was con
sidered satisfactory. Nothing was lef
undOne for the satisfaction of the visitors
and to say that they were pleased with
their first visit underground would be t.
place a mild construction upon their ex
pressiOns Of delight regarding all the!
I