The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-04-09
Communicated.


much has been written on coal
dust and gases. Singular ideas
are entertained about the removal
of gas at the working face, the
terms employed indicate absolute
Ignorance of the principle involved;
and especially at the operators
meeting at Washington such as
they thought there was to much
fresh air and Mine Bosses nothing
like plenty of air to move gas,
sweep the face, drive the gas out
and so on.
A little technical knowledge of
what takes place when air at a
velocity is projected on the work.
ing face, would render these terms
not only inappropriate, but ALSO
lutely inapplicable. 1t is possible
TO remove gas from the entrees
without removing it from the room
and break through as the case may
be. Do the state air Inspectors
ever visit the later7
So in rise place the air is pro-
jected onto the face simply gravi-
tates and lifts the gas towards the
roof. We admit that the moving
current of air will mix with the
gas by agitation; but the mechani-
cal movement produced is only
effective SO long as the current OF
air is moving at Il high velocity
from the narrow side of the brat
tice on to the face, but the return
current on the wide side, of the
room is so languid, that mechan-
icel mixing classes as the velocity
reduces when the air and gas simp-
ly stratitieS. Now on travelling
from face out by or in travelling in
by the gas is met with in such
dangerous quantities as to show
that the supposed effective agita-
ton only takes place i'm mediately
at the face.
| will not at present argue the
question whether wide places
should be ventilated by taking the
air up the wide or narrow side OF
the brattice, but for the present
will content myself with the facts
that have been presented. Iflarge
quantities OF air have to be used
for the removal of gas we may rest
assured that the normal or proper
quantities has not been properly
applied. Mechanical mixing by
agitation dates back to the old, old
days when the men used to take of
their jackets and wisk them
through the air of their working
places. to artifcally remove gas. or
drive it back until the shot was
fired; but these days ought to be
past and practices of these kind
strictly forbidden by wise acts
made by the state, and Inspect.
ors see that such are carried out.
or d heavy fine inflicted on Oper
ators and bosses especially when
they boast of model mines and
machinery which l think can be
proved inadequate.
However little may be claimed
Tor increased safety in the modern
working of mines there still re-
mains much to be done in perfer
ment OF men better educated in the
operation Of natural laws for the
removal of the accumulation of pas
What is dangerous accumu)ation
OF gaSY ! have asked this question
before and no one seems to take If
up, is SO little known about it or
are the miners afraid to Dammit,
themselves, I am a miner and ax.
change of views would be benifical
TO all miners. In reply 10 the
above when gas shows Dor inches
from the roof it is then in danoar-
Gus quantities and ought to be re
moved at once. 1t is calculated
that 1000 cubic feet Of fire damp
or q IL 4 when ignited alone EQUALS
force of (25,OUO II. P. Horse
Power), now cubic foot of pas
gives rise to "a 200 units of head
ara each unit of heat represents
force ~ pounds a thousand feet
OF gas is supposed to weigh AZ lbs
then 40 lbs X 24,OOx772-33. 900
about %, 900 III. p :, the reason of
TINS calculation is to impress those
working mines of gases nature the
responsibility resting on their
shoulders. Then take fer instance
a room 40 feet in and 30 feet wide
ana D feet high with no break
through and full of an explosive
nature If lgnited what would he
the result, well 40x3Ox5-6OOO
CUBIC feet which-27O. 0OOx24. OOOx
. n2-33, 900 force 454, 77S.1sl 1T.
z which is Tremendous if it can
ne grasped- I would like to state
l In n