West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-12


adopt it for use. In recent number
of the Scientific Amerfcas, it is de.
scribed as follows:
IL consists Of pair of balances.
each having at the beam receptacle
containing given quantity Of hydro
gen gas; the receptacles are duly
counterbalanced. The moving parts
of the two instruments are electri.
cally cor nected; and when properly
adjusted, any motion of one balance
will instantly affect the balance of
the other instrument no matter how
far apart the instruments NAV be To-
Gated. Thus, one instrument NAV
be placed within a coal mine and
the other in the Superintendent of
hce. Should an inflow of FIRE damp
occur in the mine, the beam Of the
balance will instantly turn, carrying
warning signals and alarm wherever
wanted, together with information TO
the Office showing the degree of
change in the atmosphere Of the
mine. Ample time thus will be af.
iorded, whether in night or day, TO
secure the salty of the miners; and
the condition of the mine, whether
safe or dangerous, will at all times
be indicated by the instrument. The
general adoption of this admirable
inventson will put an end TO those
APPALLING horrors of the coal mine, by
which so many lives are now annual
~ sacrificed, and 80 many families re-
duced to misery.
VENTILATION OF MINES.
The most important feature of
mine management is that Of ventila.
ton. The mine must be ventilated
to supply fresh air to those working
therein, and to remove or expel nox.
ious and inaammable gases. Ven.
tilation is accomplished by causing
a current of air to circulate through
the entire mine. The shaft at New.
burg, as are all such shafts, is devid.
ed into two departments or air pits
from surface to bottom. The one
being the down cast, the other the
upcast pit. The one extends above
the surface by being boarded up, some
30 or rs feet che other ends with the
surface or mouth of the shaft The
roads or headings in mines ire laid
out in pairs, and the pillars between
them are cut through at intervals so
as to communicate one with the
other. AS the work progresses.
other roads are cut through, and so
to the end. The current Of air forced
in the down cast pit, thus comes
through the mine with which it is
connects, crosses over at the first
open cut (Which must be the last one
made and passes back tho other
heading and out the up cast pit
The current is produced by fans or
other mechanical devices when the
mines are OF any extent or by nature
in mines of little extent, as in the
Newburg mines. The difference in
the tempature of air, as between the
surface, and the top of the high
wooden air shaft above mentioned,
makes the former HEAVIER and the lat
ter lighter and thus forces it down to
one, and back out through the other.
The Inspector Of mines it would
seem, from the testimony taken be.
fore the coroners jury, recommended
that fan be put in the Newburg
mines. Another method Of produc.
ing circulation of air is by fur.
mace at the bottom of the upcast pit.
The heat from the furnace rarefei
the air and produces a current through
the up cast pit. 1t seems that fan
is preferable as its velocity or resrve
power can be better regulated, though
a furnace operates more successfully
in deep extensive mines.
TIE LAW PROTECTION.
With all theses devices and ingeni.
Gus contrivsnces, and the wond rful
progress of science in detecting
remedies, disasters occur. The care.
less, the negligent, and the ignorant
disobey the teachings OF science, and
to remedy this as far as possible the
law lays down certain rules to be
observed in the working Of mines,
and prescribes penalties for any in.
fraction Of the same. The Legisla.
ture Of our State, in 1888, passed
laws in relation to this subject, and
provided for the appointment OF
MINE INSPECTOR.
lie is appointed by the Governor
lie must be a mining engeneer. DOS.
sess a knowledge Of working coal
4