Mohave County miner., 1911-11-18
Warren District Mines.

the mines of the Warren district have
been fortunate as compared to the op-
orators of other sections of the world
and of the country. This is especially
true in regard to noxious gases in the
workings, which in many mines is a
difficulty that is almost impossible to
overcome, and is still others is at best
a serious problem. II is true that
there have been many times when the
mines of this district have had troubles
of this kind, but it has never been gen
eral or usual, it has been the excep-
tion and not the rule. Just at this
time the Copper Queen com pany has
been having such trouble, is now hav-
ing it in the Lowell shaft, but has
practically conquered the difficulty
and expects to have it removed within
the next two months. The present
trouble followed the fire in the Lowell
shaft, which broke out about ten
months ago. An active campaign
against it is being conducted and the
end is now in sight, with men victor
Gus once more.
At the present time the gas in the
Lowell shaft is caused from burning
sulphides, following a fire which Is
now under control. There is no long
er any timber burning, but there are
sulphides that are smoulding and are
throwing out gas and fumes that are
dangerous and serious in their noxious-
ness. After the fire the workings
where it occurred were cut off, and
water is now being poured upon the
sections where the sulphides are burn
ing or smouldering and giving forth
their fumes. When the workings
were opened the noxious gas was found,
and then came the question of dispos-
ing of it. Several methods were tried.
and then set of oxygen helmets and
the outfit for operating them were
brought from Dawson and put in oper-
alton. Wearing these, men were able
10 go IU~n into the gas affected work.
ings, and the work of wetting down
the burning ore could be pushed.
This has been done and good headway
has been made. The gas is not nearly
so strong and prevalent as it was, and
the statement given TO The Review is
that within two months the workings
will probably be entirely free from gas,
so that mining in those sections can be
actively continued on the same lines
and to the same extent as before the
fire in the Lowell shaft occurred. The
gas that is now giving trouble has
distinct and decided odor, so that there
is no danger of its creeping upon work
men unannomnced and catching them
unawares, overcoming them before
they know it is there. Besides this,
none are sent into the workings where
the gas is prevalent except those who
are wearing the oxygen helmets, 50
there is no danger from the gas, and
object of combating it is to enable the
company to resume operations where
they had to be abandoned.
The present trouble with gas in the
Spray, which is now almost obviated, !
has been one of the most serious diff !
culties that either of the companies !
have had tn combat here. The fire |
started in az abandoned stope and was
held to that stope. Their timberings
were burned out and the fire spread |
into sulphides from which the gas was
generated. From this abandoned |
stope the gas spread to two other |
Slopes and finally reached the shaft on |
the 800 level working up and out of |
the shaft. When this occurred it was
found advisable to stop sending |
men down in the cage at the Spray. |
The time they would be passing |
through the gas was so short that it |
would not injure the men but there
was always the danger of getting
caught and stopping in the gas infect
ed zone. Such an accident did occur
below the level of the gas to cage
which was carrying timbers down to
the lower levels aud had no men on it.
The gas which formed from the
burning sulphides was damp and had
an effect of destroying bolt heads and
bolts in the timbering and this made
it still more dangerous the use of the
cage and was an added reason for the
discontinuance of its use for lowering
men. In order to combat the gas il
became necessary to employ vigorous