The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-12-21
VENTILATION OF MINE
SIMPLE CHEAP METHODS
LITTLE INGENUITY AND ME-
cHANlcAL SKILL IS
REQUIRED.
tMlning and Scientific Press)

(Mlning and Sclentlnc fressl
Mine ventilation is most important
Metal mines are usually well ventilat-
ed throughout the main workings, pnt
distant drifts, raises and dead-ends
generally fail to get sufficient fresh
air. In most cases these poorly ven
tilated places may get fair snare OF
fresh air If the circulating air currents
are not cut off or short circuited. Inc
remedy lies in placing doors at pro-
per places so as to cause the ar 10
pass along to the most remote WORK
ings of the mine instead of taking the
shortest way out to the surface, as IL
naturally will If not diverted. When
natural ventilation fails, blowers or
fans of some description are generally
utilized to send the pure air where
needed. At some mines the water
blast is used effectively and may be
employed at any mine where suitable
conditions exist The essentials are
few inches of water that can be al
lowed to fall into a vertical box or
pipe 10 or ~ inches In diameter
through a height of 80 feet or more
The water entrains air as it falls and
this air is collected in a closed cham
Der above the water level and at the
foot Of the pipe. From here 1t is con-
Quoted by pipes into the mine work.
ings. An arrangement such as de-
scribed will send a good volume of air
through an S-inch pipe to working
face several hundred feet distant
When the water costs nothing the ex-
pense of ventilation by this method is
merely the cost of the simple equip
ment at the surface and the pipes
leading into the workings
Utilize the Wind.
Where water is not available for
use as above described, cheap ventil-
alton may be secured by several other
methods; for example, the placing of
wind sail on light wooden frame
at the surface so constructed that a
current of pure air may be sent into
the mine through a pipe by the force
of the wind blowing against the sail.
The sail should be triangular in shape,
feet broad at the top and 6 feet long,
converging to funnel shaped opening
at the bottom, which is secured to the
top of the pipe. The sail should be so
arranged that 1t can be turned to face
the wind. A strong wind directed in
this manner will serve effectively to
ventilate many hundred feet of mine
workings.
An Old Device,
Another device is the stove or fur
mace, built at the opening to the mine
and so arranged that the supply Of
air must come from the workings
through a pipe carried to point neal
the face OF the drift or bottom of the
shaft This device exhausts the foul
air from the mine, current of pure
air from the outside flowing through
the workings to replace the impure
air passing out through the pipe
There Is no better material for ventil-
alton pipe than galvanized sheet iron
which, though more expensive in first
cost, will not corrode, and therefore
is more economical than plain sheet
iron, A box pipe made of lumber will
answer the purpose, but it must be
made tight its entire length, particu-
lar attention being given the joints
Drain Helps Circulation.
A tightly covered drain beneath the
floor of the adit or drift, has been
successfully employed for ventilation
while serving at the same time as an
exit for water, In this case the flow
of the stream Of water facilitates the
passage Of air. Any miner with lit
tie ingenuity and mechanical skill can
make any of these arrangements at a
little cost of labor and materials. and
the result will well repay such ex-
pense, as he can then work in fairly
pure atmosphere and there will be a
minimum of lost time in clearing the
workings of smoke and gas after the
blasting