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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* vu taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X V 12X m 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hes been reproduced thenks to the generosity off: Harold Campbell Vaughan Mamorial Library Acadia University L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grflce A la g6n6rosit6 de: Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library Acadia University The images appearing here are the best qualifv possible conc'dpving the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. 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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commenyant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui cornporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microf:che, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols Y signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre ffilmds i des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, ii est film* A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ±1 A- [PLOSIONS IN NOVA SOOTIAN COAL-MINES. A PAPBR RSAD BEFORE THE FEDERATED INSTITUTION OF MINING ENGINEERS. BY pDWIN GILPIN, JuN., A.M, F.G.S., F.R.S.C., etc., Deputy Commibsiokek and Inspector op Mines. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, Septehbbb 5th, 1894. ifiXOERPT PROM THE TKANBACTIONB OP THB FEDERATED INSTITUTION OP Mining Engineers. LONDON AND NEWCA8TLE-UP0N-TYNK : .VNDHEW REIU .Vc CO., LIMITED, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. 18tf4. All Ri.ght» of PublioatiOH or Tran»latwn are Reserved by The Federated Institution of Mining Enginerr*. 1 I All Rights of Publication or Translation are Reserved by The Federated Institution of Mining Enyineers. KX PLOSIONS TX NOVA SroTLVX COAL-MrNRS. Uy KDWIN (ill.l'IN. .Irv., A.M.. I'.d.s.. I'.li.S.C. irrc. Uki'ity ('o.MMIS.-^IO.VKIt .AN'I) I.NSPKCTUI! ill' MlNi;<. K At present coal-iiiiiiiti'i is c; •icil on in Nitvii Scotia in three widely separutcfl districts. Tiie ucolouical horizon however of nil is the same, the nn'ddle or productive division of the C'arhoidferous. Theeoals fi'oni tlusc districts vary somewhat in their irenerai ehiiraeler. The CajK' IJreton seams areeni'losed in strata Inddini,^ many beds of sand- st(me with shales, ari'iiaceous and ar'jillaccoiis. pi'i>uiii:iliiy in lai^c part formed from the re-woii Fixed cailinii ,")S-7l Ash ;v2o The generally higher percenta,i,fes of ash in the Picton and Ctnnberland coals may be conneiited with the presence of the indnded lx)ds of shale IMitoiI. CumbtTliiuJ l-lll r4« 2!)-10 33-(!9 t'.O't!;? r>st-3."> IKU r)-,-)0 T f 2 KXin.osroxs is nova scorrAV ("Oal-mfn'ks. already ivforred to, an comparod with tlio small ash ponvutajjes of thr (';i|k' Breton coals associated with a larLTi'i- proiiortioii of sjiiidstoiic-lM'ds. The lessiT thickiu'ss of (he ('a]K.' Hrctoii (\»il-iiicasnn's ami the more liiiniiiiii- ons nature nf the comIs may lie cdntrasted with the frir-hnrnini: I'liiiiu'- teristifs of the western coiils inehi leil in measures <.f much unaNr thickness. The onicial records of coal-mininir in Cii|K.' Rreton iro hack tothi year ITSTi. From that date to this theannn.il production haslieen compiuMtively pmall, anumntinL' for the year l>ii)3 in round nundiers to l.diio.oim tons of coal. Ihiriii'.' this Ioiilt jx'riod the deepest shaft and workiiiirs have eiiualled a Vertical dejith of ahout 7(M> feet. Gas has seldom heeii met in (|nai\tities larL'e eiioii'/h to cause troiihle. One accident only re'|iiir«> record in this comiexion. The mines in this district were for many years dam]i aloiii: the outcrop workiiiirs, and can at this dat" lie fairly called dusty in part of one mine t»idy, attainini: a vertical depth of almiit 7("t leet. The reirularity of the scams, the overlyiii'-' water-saturated sandstoii'S. the thin cover, all. comhinetl with ehuMires of water-level elVeeteil Ky shafts, appear to have resulteil in an almost complete discharge of j-.i- from the seams as far as they have iK'eii worked. Tiiefe have lieen a niiml>er of cases of iL'tiition of iras in (^ape Hivinn. only one of which wonld lie classed as an explosion, the remainder 1m in,' of trifliiiir extent due to small local collections of iras or to remissii.-- ; in sweepiiii: the workimrs thorou'.dily with the air. The explosion ;n question took place at the Sydney mines, on May 21st. 1S7S. Tln' work ef openinir out the suhmarine operations was heinir piislied. From the |i(- bottoin an enLniie-platu- ran to the iiorili-easf. and an enL'ine-ileep ';, ni l)oen jiut down ahout 1,(»M() feet to the sotith-ea.st to a landinir. Fri m this ]x)int a pair of levels had Ix'cn driven southwardly for ahout l;io fe' i Ix'yoml a cross-cut which ran from the low level up throuirh a few rooin:^ that had heen driven jtarallel to the levels. There was also a tiea-l Itetweeii the levels within a few feet of the faces. It apjKMUN thai a canvas door stood at the mouth of the iip|H'r of the two levels and foreiil the air-split for tlieer level hy the overman and a deputy carryimr o|K'n lieiits. ail 1 a severe explosion ensued killing five men. The hodies of the over- I'KS. Intairesof (li,.(\.,|^. Ilstdllc.lHMls. The Mif moiv Ititiiiiii,,. [■(■-iiiiniiiii: cIliimc. <'f iiiiicli mvattr p) Itack to thr vcjir •OCIl l'()lllji;il';|tivilv 'to 1,(MMI.()(M) (oii^ |ii<] workiiiLTs Ikivc •Mom Imvii mn in 'Ii'iit only rf.juiiv> 't wciv fur iiiiiny liis dill" 1.C f;,irly I'.'il (li'|itli (iC ,ili(iiit iifati'd simlstiitirs. r-lcvd cirfctcil liv f I'n toll. ■ n'lii.iiiiil.r 111 iii_' * or to ri'iiiissiir«s Tilt' cxiilosioii ill •'^"><. TllC UOl'l^ (if •I. From (lie [.i(. 1 »'ni:irK'-(l.'c|v I, ,,1 I laiKlinu'. Kn 111 for about l;^o \'r>'\ m<:h ii fo\v rooiii^- was also a lici'l ft apIK?aiN thai a levels and form! lie low level, anl idle, part of the e pit, layinj: the [tlaoe was entered 'iiiir OIKMl lieiits. lies of the ovei- Kxrr.osroNs i.\ nova scotian toal-minks. 8 man and di'itnty weri' found alionl Oo feet from tlic face and not iniieli btu'iied. At this point the eoal was not coked, nor were the props distnrlH'd. In the lower level. Iiowevei', there was evidence of ;rreat heat and s iolenee ; the exp'osioii eonld he trai'ked out alonir the low level into the dee[>, wiiefe part continued across into the north deep workin;,'s and ]iart towanls the [»it-l)otlom. When it is reniendH.Ted that these levels I'rom the south-east deeiis were in only I'M feet beyond a ci'oss-eut j^'oinj,' to the rise and were connected by a head at their face, it is presum- able that the manai^einent minimized the risk of '_fas accuinulalini:". There was probably, jiidLrinix from the position of the lani[)s and bodies, i;as lyini; back to a distance of (JD feet from the face in l)oth levels, and probably about l!,?.")!) cubic feetofair containinir <:as as calculated by the manaLTcr. ^Ir. It, IJrown. It woidd appear that the ijiiiition or,<,Ms in the iippei' level Ihuned into the ^as in the lower level, and. beariuLT diisi and air with it, alfordtd an opportunity foi' the violenee of the explosion. Tiie workin.trs are referred to liy the insi>eclor as dry, and the roadways as (k'ep in dust. The manai,'ement considered that althou^'h dry, the mine wonlil nut hv considered as dry and (bisty in a ilanj^erous sense. This view would seem to be partly borne out by the fuet that the enkini,' of thu coal and props did not extend for over ir)i> feet from the fivv of the low level. The management consider that, dnriiii^ the many years this seam has been worked, dust has played no part in any of the small explosions of gas which have occurred from time to time. In IMctou county, the chief coal-mining interest centres around the main seam which lies at an angle of about 17 degs. and is bedded in the great mass of shales already referred to. The comparatively open char- acter of the coal, lying in dry surroundings, and broken by numerous faults has made it a gas-drainage channel for a large area. This constant exudation of gas from the outcrop of the seam, some 40 feet in thickness, is reiiortcd to have been long known in Indian tradition, and at a distant date the ignition of tlie gas has caused a local fusion of a kirge body of shale overlying part of its outcrop. The word Pietou is stated to be the Indian equivalent for explosion, and may l)e comiected with this fire. The gas exuding under the still water of the river crossing its outcrop could be ignited. Under these circumstances it will be seen tliat the operations in this seam begun in 1827 l)y miners accustomed to the thin seams of the North of England were attended with unusual difliculties. Little reliable ir.„rmation can now be secured as to the cause of the early explosions and fires in the Albion mines. II t! 4 KXI'LOSIOXS IN NOVA W'OTIAN niAI.-.MINKS. Systematic n|KT!iti()iis were coiiuiu'iiccd in lSt-27. On I)(ctiiilM i j'.iii, \h:V2. tire was discovcnMi in the pit, and it was foiiiiii iicccssnv i,, \\no(\ tlic workinirs. 'I'liis !irr was rstahlislicil t(i lir of iinciiiliarv nrj^rin, luit till' LHiilty parties wiv mcmt iliscovi ivd. In ls;;i, tin. niiiif raii-tu fiiv from u fiviliT iijnitcil liy a .-liot ; in Is;'.!"., a iicavy cxiilosiiiM killnl SfVciMJ mrn : in ls;!s. ilnrini: llic sinkini: of \o. •_' pji. an i'\|.li.s;ciii kiilcil tlifiT mc rcmai'krl Ik !•.■ that all sliafts Mink in ih,. L;ft'at sliali-lnd ovii'lvini,' tlic main xain izaw olV iras. Finally, in ls;V.t, a Uvi\vv of iras li^lilfd liy a sliot fr\ tire to tlir vua\ and in spit*' of cvcit cITctft llir pit lAplodcd with i^fi-af, violfiicc dnrini: tlic niirlit. So intense was the lieat of the flames in the shaft that ilic hoist iiiLr-cliains, etc.. wei'»! melted. This lii-sl ranj^e of workinj,' was tlim iihandone<]. Other shafts wefe then sunk to the dip. In I.S(;2, in'L'hl wairlmi, n iirnited ^ms and three men were killed. In isdT. these shafts wciv \n<\ h\ a tire from an i'_'nited feeder and lilled with water. In isC'.i, a new shaft called the Ford pit was sank fiirllur to thr ilip. strikiiiLT the coal at about '.too feet. As it was lieinLT holeil aronuil ijp siiaft -pillar it can<,dit fire anil had to he Hooded. This pit wa.s re-won ami successfully worked until IS'id, when an t'Xplosion took place killini,' fun v- four men, and it has reinaint-d practically closed since that date. There is little information availalde about the earliest of these lin- and explosions, Prior to 18(;i> the workinjrs were damp, except in sound: the workintr-plaees in the lowt-st deeps, as water followed the miners frmii the ontcroji. The ventilation by fiu'iiaces with upcast shafts not cNcntl- ini^ ;'.()(! fell in depth was unaiile to sweej) the hiiire (dianibers in tl:i< thick ctial whicli were constantly accnmulatinir fias. It is probable ilmi the iinjK'rfections of the ventilation by allowim: vitiated air to mix wiih the gas si.'tisibly diminished its inflainmaliility. It is stated that on <'i;r occasion the iras came olT so stroiiLdv that on removiii'' it bv a heavv l.ill of water it fire(l at the boilers on the surface some Ao feet from the shall. The writer aj»itends a copy of tht.' sjiccial rules in force at these iniiir^ ill the year IWlii, which are of interest as showini,' a state of all'airs in contrast to the practice of the present day and ;!:■; showinj; that then, ;i- now, the use of '_Miniiovvder was intimately connecteil with fire. The Ford pit after a lifetime of ai)oiit ten years was the scene of i violent explosion already referred to. In this case tlie side of the |iii ii; which the ex jjlosiou occurred had been rejMUted as free from all l)Ut trace- of ga.s at one or two points, up to an hour Itefore the entry of tin colliers (the testinjjf was done with (Jlanny lamps, and the faces dated iiv the examiners). KS. |l nirctiilM r :';)t||^ IiiikI rifctssiiv i„ ["'■••M'li:il'_\ iiri.jiii_ till- mill.' ,;|||m1|| f '■\!'l<'si.,ii kill,,l ll'it. Mil r\j,Ios:„|| liiiflH MiiiL in ill,, •t lire Id till' (•,,,,] !• vinlciirc (||irii|._r I'' sliiift tli.it iln, ivoi'kiiii,' Was ill, II inVlii wat.'liiii. ,1 • sllllftS WCIV |ci<( irtlicr i(» the ili'i,. ii'lcii iiroiiii'l ill. It Wiis iX'-Wdii ainl lai'c killiiii,' fnriy- at fxc't'jd ill sonic (it tlu' iiiiiRTs fmni hafts not cmvuI- iliaiiilKTs ill this is jicolialilr iliat I air to mix uidi ited that on dnc t hy ii lica\ y lall ; from the shall. c al tlicsi' iiiiiio ito of alfairs in ri^' that then. a« lire. > the sccno of a If of the pit ill II all ImL trac( - e entry of thr faces datfil ],\ KXI'fiOSlONS IN NOVA .SC(»TIAN COAIi-MINKS. Tlic first explosion took phice at oVhxjk in the nioriiintr, and l)Ie\v olT ilie fun-dril't rover. The rcsciUM)!' bodies and the restoration of tlie Ventilation were lieili'i sileerssfiiily carried on wlieii the presence of tire was (h'tected,aiid shortly after a series of explosions rendered it necessary to close the shafts and seal the laiidiiiLrs with water. All attempts to accoimr for the immediate cause of the explosion are necessirily conjectural, as all were lost who had entered the sirtinii that was the seat of the explosion, and the tire ])revented a complete explora- tion after the first explosion. 'I'he chief points, however, that were ohserved hy the exploring- parties were that the llanie of tlie explosion had not reached within several hundred feet of the shuft-hottoin, that iminense volumes of (hist had been Mown towards the sluift, anen liirlit always kept there, killed the lamp-man, and showed traces of an explosion hack to the shaft, or contiMry to the direction whence the ex- plosive wave had ori'/inally come. The shaft and approa<'hes were all wet, and iras was unknown in its vieiiiily. At a distance of ahoiit '■><•() feet from the shaft-hotLom the workiii'/s were dry and dusty. Then' a|)pears to he little lioi'l liiiK' il was (l('i'iiiiL: ilir di'atli of tifiy-ti\c p rsoiis. Tliis I'Viilosion is lulirvcd to li i\r lir.M i violciil I'ViT known in ilu' liislory oi' coal-ininiiiL'. Altr several davs' work tlie opeiiiiiL's wei'e sealed. Altoiit Iwo years l.ili r ihi mine was reo|iened. and Inus U'eii workinir siieeessfiilly sinee. The expln- sioii prt'sonialily I'esnlud from some body of i,'as heiiit: dniwii upon tin fiiniaee lire from itie rise-workiiiL's owiiiLT to h denm^'emeni of ili. ventilation, as several men wlio were in the workiii'-'s near the point ulici'e till' tire starteil escaped aftei' the explosion. The pit wasilamp and iiui dusty. ^.">s, tliere was an explosion of j.'as in the main levels wliieli were in faiili'd irroiind. This explosion killed two men and woiindt I M'Veral others, and was entirely a <;as explosion as the levels were makiii'j' LMs. and it was vi ry wei out to the shaft-lKitlom. A similar li^ihter explosion oeeiiiTcil in 1m; I. At tlie Intercolonial colliery during:- the latter part of the year L^'.'- a tunnel, 1,U0() fiet lon<:, was driven from the ;i,i'i||._r ill,, n ll,l\r l.r,..| ,,n,. 'IlillillL'. All'!' .ViTS l.iirr ll,,. "••r. Thr r\],l,,. "I'MWII ll|Mlll ill, 'iiiii:<'mfiii 111' li,, "' 'Ik' |"lillt Ullr", 'il-*'l;illl|i ;i1m| iin! Ill ('('fliers i.r ./IS llOllM )|;|\'.. ll, , I, li"ii Act. ii \\,is »n ill iiiiv u.iv III t'SH irascoiis. .\i .' «»f saf('ty-l,iiii]i. and the unioiiiii the siinijiil' ii;;lit(r the yi'ar Is'.i:' L't't Icvf! ill ll,. explosive iist'ii tilt' lowiT pail n heavy feeders jtreparatory to KXI'LOSIONH IN NOVA S('»)TrAN COAr.-MlNKS. 7 entering,' the tiiiuiel in the seam. The shots were fired to^^ether hy I'lt'ctrieity, a sharp cxphtsioii tj)ok jjlaee followed liy the iirnili(tii of the feeders. 'I'lio coal took lire, and after elVorts were uiisiiceessfiilly made to put out the lire, (hims were hiiilt, and work soon after resniiird. Hiu'h eiKjiiiry as could he made showwl that the shots wrw projM'rly taiiijcil, etc. It would ap]M.'ar that as the shots liail n<»t a solid liackimj: of rock, they hlew out and fired pis. The shot-lirer had reported the place tit to liiv shots in. The coininissioii ap|K)inted some time hefore hy the (loverii- meiit of Xova Scotia to L'ni|iiire into the (jiiostion of explosions reiMirled that the prct^aiitions usually adopted in reifard to testini.' f<>i' irii^* when •iunpowdor is used should not In; omitted in the case of rohurito or iicadia flamcless explosive (a lociil explosive |iossessini,' a iiiirh dei^'i'et of safety). In this ease consideriiii'ust Sth, 1. **',);•. A small mine had heeii in operation for some years and dip works were I M'i nil' extended on tin- pitcii of the seam to meet tlie tunnel — already referred lo as the seal of an explosion caused Ity rohurite. Owiiii^ to unusually dry Weather the siijiply of water for the colliery hollers jrrew scanty. First, the workiiiii' of the nii'ie was ahandoiied, and then as the supply of water i,'rew smaller, tlie steam was shut ott' the S(;liiele fan, and recourse had to natural vtMitilatioii. This was of course not counted on as effect ive as the seam was very pissy, hut no daugi'r was feared as tlie mine was closed and would not he entered apiin luitil the ventilation was restored. Naturally the mine filled with pis. On the day referred to, a heavy thunderstorm |iassed over the jiit, a discharp' of liuditninu; injured several huildiiii;-s I'lose lo the pit, and iti'uited thei;'[is iii the mine causinu' a heavy explosion. The discharlo^ioii bndse my of the stoppings, and t !iat the fMrnaee in the thinl seam drew lms i'l'imi iii. upjtor seam upon the lire. I'resumal)ly the elfeet of the ex|ilosi()n \va> in- creased by dust.alth(iUL''h the mine would not be elasseil as dry and dn-iy. In the eastern part of the I'ictou district the ^fclVan seam is woikid bv tile Vale eoHierv. On Kebruarv jsth, lss,"(. iiii explosion occnrivd eausin'j' the death of ihirteen men. It uas claimed by the nianaucnieii; that it was caused by dust alone from a iilown-out shot. .Vfiei a wvv careful enipury it appeari'(l most probalde that it wa.s due to a small 1'" 1\ of jras and I'Xtended by dust. Th<; writer (piotes the report of the deimiy inspector. Mr. Maddin, in whose ciiari,'e tiie euipiiry was ])laced. The seam which ilips at a heavy anirle Wiis opened by a slope which lia 1 W'U for some time workinir tlirouudi the l,HO() fi-et levels, and was bein-' Bunk for ■'. new liti. 'I'he sinkimr was down about ."mmi feet bidou li^- 1,H0U feet level. While sinkinir, hiick slojKis are ilriven on each side ei |\'E8. staiidiim' aliiMii -ji, point, iiiiil ill iiii lis. Tin's ii(vi,l(:i[. [■llisivcly flir ,.|1V|.(. I viciiiitv, aii.l th,. ^i-') fvvl U;is, ,1,1 Oil. in tlic thinl -.■im wluTi' a til',. 1.,,] Jt'Wd lo liiuc iiM-ii "I'vrral pillms h;,,! 'I styllic caiiii' iiilii I was foiiiiil I.. i,r k ol" ii<> 'j:vvi\ ,lii!i. lire of ilir inirriur IS Iti'lievcd that ili^ (' WHS found in til, »l< j)la('(' wliirli ,1,.. '"., to Iliatcliu ;. •'••^ I'liili oil'. Mild iiM OfiLritl of Ihr liiv i- 't'forc the cxiilosiuli xplosidii lirokc Diy di-cw iras frc.iii liir I' t'X'iilosioii \\;i> in- ' iis diT and dii,>iv. iin scam is workr.l 'Xplosioii oci'iinvil the liiaiia'.i('iiirii; lot. .Vftcr a \v!v II' to a small Un^lv >orL of till' dtjiiiiy s pliioi.'d. ii Hlopc which li.ii Is, and was liiici: '<> feet I. clow ill.' 1 on each side nf KXn.OSIONS IX NOVA .SCOTIAN COAL-MIXKt!. 9 the main Hh)(»e in tlie foUowin^f manner : — llea()0 feet level, there wefc two check-doors which, when shut, sent the air direct to the dip, Imt when ojicned allowed most of the air to take a short (.'lit to 'ic fan. These iloors were placed to allow tiie timlier to be taken from the sIojh!. and to be carried to the head of the shoots to be lowered to tlie workiiiLT-placos in the level below. Men were eiiLra'^ed in this work at, the time of the e.\[)losioii, and it is believed that some deraiiijement of the ventilation at this point allowed fills to acciiniulate in a head in the sinkins,', in which a miner iiiiiiied Foley was workin'4 abont Kit) feet from the face of t\\v sinkiii;;"; and that the restoration of the air-current, which wa.s stroiiij and sharp, forced the j^as upon Foley's lamp. He was burned to a crisp, while the men nearer the face were almost untouched by tire. The timbers in the slopes from tiie head in which Foley worked down to the face of the sinking gave unmis- takable evidence that the exjjlosion came from above, while the timber up llie slopes from Foley's head for tuo feet to the 1,800 feet level gave like evidence that the explosion came from below. .:Vt the 1,800 feet levels the check-doors were destroyed, and signs of the explosion found fur about KiO feet from the slope. Tin; stoppings all along the slope were blown out. and the slope Inidly wrecked, i)ut at no poiiitdid the explosion extend over a few htiiulrcil feel to the right and left of the slope. The floor of the nKiin slope in the sinking was damp, but there was much dust on the timbers in the slojie, and the coal gave oil" a good deal of dust under a vertical pressure of aboiii l,i'0(> feet. The explosion found the mine iit the lieight of the winter in its driest condition. When the water which had gathered at the fiux' of the sinking was removed a shothole was found. A very careful examination into the matter failed to produce any evidence that the hole had been charged. The explosion had followed the line of least resistance, viz., directly up the slope to the open air, and resembled one at the bottom of a shaft. In the absence of the explanation all'orded by the fact that on previous occasions the accidental neglect in shutting the doors on the 1,;J00 feet level had caused an accumulation of gas in the sinking, and by the fact that at the time of tiie explosion the doors in question were more or less open, it might lia\e been reasonably uryed that it was u dust explosion. '■■Mai*-ni# j i m .-- !(• KXPLOSIOXS rv NOVA SCOTIAN COAL-MIXKS. On I'Vltniary i>lst, 1 Sill, an explosion acroiiipiiiiit'd by liLuvy loss o' life took place at the Sprinii'liill mines, Cuinberlanil coUMty. A; this point three seams are worked l)y three slopes : all the workings iiad l)n n eonneeted hy tnnnels, but those leadin*: iitto the north seam hail lorui- nately turn built ofl' K'lbre the explosion. The seams dip at an aiiuii' uf about L'7 de^s., and are opened l)y sloix-s. with levels at CDnviiiinit distan'vs apirt. From the levels places are driven to the rise on the full pitch of the seam, and horizontal bonis turned away. The tuli< ;(iv I'aisrd and lowered, between the bord-inoiiths and the !evel. on platf" ms worked by couiilerbalanees. The seat of the explosion was in the No. (i and Xo. 7 balances of ilie 1, '.»"•! feet west level of tlie east slope, at the face of the workiuL' of lliis section. These balances, about ()(•(» fci't in leiiirth, extend on ilic lull pitch of the seam from llu.' l,i)no to the l,;;o(» feel levels, and take tlir mal from the usual liorizontal bonis or work inL,^-pI aces. These balances were connecteil with the l,r?(>0 or stony-level, ami wnv ventilated by air from the lower level, whicli was divided between ilir balances and unitini,' at the 1, :?(>() feet level ventilated the workinirs aliDW tiiat level, and passed to its outlet beyond the faces of the workiiii< above the SOO feet level, 'i'he air was provided by a downcast- fan. uml aplK'in'dto be ample for the extent of workiiiirs. IJepeated exainii:.- I inns ap]KMrcd to indii'ate ih it the explosion started from a point ai'nui the ceiiii'e of \(i. 7 balauc' iilie t'lU'thest in lialance) and to have i:'oMr ii|i and down the balance, wreekiiiL;' the workinu'-places brancjiimr oil' fi-nm ii. .Mso to have penetrated into .\o. t'l balani'e throU'^ii the lower working- places in it, which had lieen woi'keil throu.di into \o. 7 balance, ainl in ;i si.nilar manner to have wrecked that and the workin^''-i)laces branclii!!^' olT fn)m it. .\.s the connexions between the top of the balanci' and il.'' 1.:Hhi feet level Wen' I'omparat ively small, the force of the explosinn extended but a few feet thntuih them into that level. 'I'he o|ienin'is inio the l,!tUn fi'et level beini: laru'er, the explosion was felt severely at the fnui of the balances, and the two levels were wrecked into their faces a ilistanee ofabont loo feet, and towanls the slope for a distance of al)out 1,000 feel. The foi'ce of the explosion was sliji;htly felt at the bottom of the slope. and did not atlnict attiMition at the surface, except by a moinentai'v at,'itation oftlu' fan at the east slope and a sli^-Jit putV of air at the we-i slo|x.' in the uuiierlyiiiLr seam, wliieh was coimei'ted by a tniuiel with ilie east slope seam, a few feet from the top of t!ie .Vo. (i and 7 balaneis. The explosion ijrniled some Ciinvas-bnitti(!e and boanls in No. tl balance, but this lire was exlinguksheil without difliculty. t< i:s. ''V ln'iivy loss „• <"""'"ty. Ai iliis ^■"'■'f the ('Xiijosiiiii lie ojicniiiu's inio •I'lvlyat the I'omi I" faces a dislaiirr Ixillt l,;)(l(t I'lrl. Ill of tllc slojir. Y a iiiouit'iitarv air at (lie ^ve^l -iiniiel with ilh mil 7 l»alaiic(s. No. (i halaiiee. EXPLOSIONS IN NOVA SCOTIAN C'OAL-MIN'OS. 11 The workings of the No. 7 bahinco wore naturally very dusty, and were systematically watered, an ample supply of water being led through them by pipes from a large pump standago or lodgment on the upper level. The water that made on the 1,300 f<;et level was used for watering No. T and 7 balances. The watering was effected by jiutting a valve on the pipe in each working-place in No. 7 balance, so that a coal-box, hold- ing a barrel, could be run under it and filled, and the orders were that it should be thrown on the roof and sides of the working-places. Water was also allowed to run into the bords, and the shot-firers were instructed to see that the vicinity of the shot to be fired was damp. The amount of wat !■ available, and the directions for its use, should, in the writer's opinion, have kept the stationary dust well damped. The reports show that the workings in No. 7 balance were free from gas on the morning of the explosion, and the available evidence points to the fact that there was no lying gas up to the time of the explosion, as the brattice-men who had completed their special work in other parts of the slope were killed by the explosion in the lowest bord of the balance on their regular rounds for the jmrposc of testing stoppings, brattice, etc. Evidence was given to show that the levels had been making gas for some time, but the ventilation was good, and no accumulations were permitted. From the evidence produced, the directions to the shot-firers, night- men, brattice-men, etc., were adeipiate, and properly carried out. There appeared in some instances to have been latitude allowed by sliot-lirers to miners in respect to charging holes before they were examinetl. Fn the writer's oiiiiiion, when the supervision of sliot-lirers is considered necessary, no hole should be charge(l before it is measured by the sliot- lirer and the amount of [lowder used should be subject to his opinion. The writer is the more inclined to this opinion in reviewing this matter, as the evidence tended to show that the "flaming" shots referred to in the investigations were in some instances contributed to liy a want of attt^ntion in placing the hole and the charges of powder. In the No. 7 lialance locked lamps were used, except by the cage- runner in the counterbalance, who was allowed to use an o2)en light. The author does not know that this in any way contributed to the explosion, but it may be conceived that in the case of an explosion driving before it and beyond its own sphere of ignition, a mixture of dust and gas, an open light might be instrumental in starting a second exjilosion. It is further to be remarked that the men employed, who are furnished with locked lamps, are naturally inclined to be sceptical as to their value if they know that within a short distance open lights are iiermitted. 12 KXl'LOSIOXS IX NOVA SCOTIAN COAI.-MINKS. From tlic! I'viik'iu'c; tiikoii it ai)pcari!il tliiit tlio iniiimu:t'r, Mr, Swii'i. \\\\i) Wiis killed by tlu- explosion, liis nssistaiit, the iiiKlerirroinul inaiiau'i r>, iind other otlieials were caivfiil ami attentive, ami that daily reports and ilii.i!< rcj>orts were used. In the Xo. 7 l)alane.e. when the Itords were lirst started, the cdal \vi> worked to its fall lieiu:lit, liavinu' a bench of about 4 feet, then a siniic baml, and above that about :i feet of eoal. After the bonis wei'e drivtu in a short distance, the fall coal and stune were left in and the licuili milv was worked. This I'oal was not worked with jiowder, but as the lac advanced it was necessary to blow down from 1'2 to IS inches of the stuni, to make room for the tubs to iret near enough to the face to jtermit of iluii beiuL: loaded with coal. The stone was blown down in the low sidr nf the bonis, over the rails, and stowt' 1 in the hii^h side. A mw of iiiojis alomr the middle of t.;e bonis held the rest of tlu; stone up. There wis coiise (uently little siDi-tiriuu'' done in the iialance workings. Tln' sidiii is al)ont i' feet thick, a coarse samlstoiie, with streak?- of coal soimtiiin'- •2 inches thick. It was shown in i'\ idence that usually the holes foriiir sliots in the stone wi I'e bored in the coal streaks and were in some (mms jiartly in stone and partly in i-oal. It was sliown that on the day of the explosion a shot was to be tiivil in this stone in the No. ;'. bonl in Xo. 7 balance, and that Thos. Wilsdii. the shot-tin'r, left the bottom of the s1o|m' about a ipiarter past tw.lv o'clock, savim: he had to '^^o (o No. 7 balance. The explosion occiinnl shortlv before one o'clock, a time havine- elapsed, in the opinion of tlir witnesses, sutlicient to have alIowe found, with those of the men workini: in the bonl, near the entniiii' m the ])lace. Tin' shot in the stone had been tired. This, coupled with ilir direction of the course of the explosion, showed with reasonable certainty that it liad its ori'jiu in the lionl, and that the shot lired by WiNoii w,i> the direct cause of the explosion. The sUL'Lreslion was made by .Mf. .Mudilen. the deputy ius[K'ctor. uln was at hand at the time of the ex]>losion, and reiidereil valuable aiil in iln' rescuiuL: and exploriuir parties, that the inunediate seat of the expln>iiiii was to be somrlit in the stone itself, .\fter examinim:' the bonis in ipiestion with liim, the writer is of opinion that his su,ir;j;estion olTers the rea(lie>t explanation as to the soiu'ce of the cata.stn»lihe. The bord is 1 1 feel wide, auil the sloiie is carrieil liy a row of pj-np- in the middle. These pni|is were set by the miners as they advanced iln face, to hold the stone, which was not of a specially strong character, cmi- ■r, Mv. Swii'i. uho nil inaiiiii,r,.r>. a,,,! rcpi)Hs ami clici.i^- ftfil, the cdal u-|s tci't, llicn a sioiif nmh wcix' i\n\\\\ 111 till" liclli-h niilv ; lint as tlic far,' idles of tile st(i:i(. fo l»i'niiit oCiluii- II the low side of A Vow of |iroi,s t' nj). Thrl'c Wis illTS. Till' SKillr of coal SOIllrtillK'^ tlif liolrs for riir rcri; in soiu'' iM>r> ot was to lie tilVil lat Thos. Wilsun. lartcr past lu-lw Xplosioil ociMlllii] lie oiiiiiion of ihr )iiit, to liavc iiiaclr Ill's body \v;i^ r tlic oiitraiuT id , ooilpk'd with ihf SOIialtlL' rrrlaillly -'il liy Wilson u,i- y iiis|K'cto!'. wl.d aliiahk' aid lo ilir L of tlu' fXpIosiiill t)onls ill (|ncstiiiii ilTcrs ilk' I'cadii -1 ;i row of |iiM|i> i:i ry adsaiicnl ilir ij; clmractLT, coii- EXl'LOSrOXS IN NOVA HCOTIAN COAIi-MINKS. 18 scHiiieiitly, as the stouo was not blown down until it Ixcamo troublosoint; to move till! tuba, tlicrc were always pi'ops alonir the side of the shots, and l)etwccn til'! shots and the face. The effect of these props was to partly confine the shots to the low side of the bord. As the stone was in layers, and had streaks of coal in it, exaniiiiatiou showed that it was more or less fissured across the bord, and linni,' on the [irops, th'.' natural effect of the shots iieinir to blow in alonij; the layers, to comjiress the props, and to cause the stone to bau' between the jirops and the liiirh side. That this effect was jirodnccd is shown by the fact that Iari,'e quantities of iliis stone fell in the workinu's of \o. 7 balance, the props beiiiiT knocked out by the explosion altliou<,'h very short, and partly sujijiorted by the stone stowed in the liiirli side. The hole that was fired in No. ;? bord, was, so far as could be estimated, from '2 hvt ',) inches to '•\ feet lonir. The end of the hole was in stone. The change of powder appeared to have tilled 18 inches of the hole. The shot threw down about three-fourths of the stone it was desiji'iied to disloilue. and left the balance split by the heel of the shot, and a prop near the back of the hole. There was a lype in the stone on the low side of the bord, which may have helped to lessen the desired effect of the shot. The weight of evidence appeared to be that there had been an over- cliai'ti"e of powder. It would ap[iear that the expansion of the layers of the .stone afforded space for the accumulali"ii of yas, which would not be readily dislod,<;'ed by the air-current, and an niinsual opportunity of accumulation, owiiiu' to the fact that the pit was idle the precedinj,' day. That the shot j^-ave evidence of haviiiu' been a more or less llaminn' one ; that it ii;nited the gas lodg-ed in the roof stone ; that this combination of j^as and powder ilame actinir on an atmosphere charired with a small per- centajjje of till- faces of till' levels, |tiist No. (I and 7 lialaiices. Tlieir l;iin]is Liiniid well, altliouirli they were themselves alTei-ted. These facts jioinl. in i'ik writer's opinion, rather to tlu' coinparatively slow proti'ress (tf ;i diwi- supiKM'ted explosion than to the sndden clip of an ignited inllaniinalij. body of iras and air. The evidence of finoch Cox, who worked in No. 1 hord. on ilir >a]ii' balance, supports this view, lie testitied that some tinu' previous to lii. explosion a sliot was tired in this stone that tilled his workinu-plaec unJi flame, and ignited the gas in the stone, so that it reiiuired sonii' i ll'mt to extinguish it. It is fair to state that tlie management declare ihtv iiiwr heard of this, and that it was never reported to them. The mine had Ik'cu curefnlly examined on the ])reviiiiis day liy ihr deputy inspector, and two days before a committee of the nan iml examined this mine and were (piitc satisfied with the ventilation and ih- precautions taken to keep the workings damp. These notes give a brief account of the principal exjilosions thai liiw occurred in our coal-mines. The writer has a ])ersonal knowledL'c nf ,,.1 the mines, and has been able to empiire persinially into the facts cdnin .ul with most of them. So far his experiiiice has in'iMi that no ex|iln-i,iii in Nova Scdiia can lie aiti'iliiitcd to cnal-dnst alone, iml a nundirr of ilhiu have had theii' area and their (k'striU'liveiies> to life materially iniT'-a-d by coal-ilust. Si'i;ci.vn lUi.Ks IN I'oia K in I'mkh' Co. iiri v-i'olu vi:a1!> auo Oslo). INSIIUI rioNS. Ituli' 1. - 'I'lic (iVi'iiiKiii. and at Irast mii' nf his (Icpiilics (ir iis.-isianls. -h.i . exiunino all the Imi'ls anil other wiprKiii^'-iilace^ i-\cry iiinrnii);,' li'furt' tin' cnili'i'- irndiiwii. Tlifv >hall meet the eol'iicr-i and other wuiUnieii at the lioltmu "i liu' shat't. and if they have fiaiiid any uras or other eaii^e of daii).'er in any of the Imii!-, shall i-aut ion the colliers heloiiirini.' to siieh iiords and irive them such iiisi nii'ii"ii> as they deem iieeessaiy. Utile 2. — W'hiUt the |iii is at wofk an oveiinaii or deputy >hall ahvay-- he pieM'ti' at caeh faco of the works, vi/., one on the north and I'lie on the south siile, >o i!i:it ill case of an alarm of lire or any other aeciilenl the overman or dejiuty shall ahvay- he at hand or wit hin call. Kiile ;!. — When the day'> woi'k is (inished the overman or his deputies >]\:i.'. remain in ttn' mines foi- ili,' purpose of L'oinj: Ihrouirli every Imrd and eariuli^ i-xaniinin;.' them after t he colliers have ieft.-o that no hlower or ;_'as may he KM liiiniin^', or any lire eoneealed amongst the fallen coal. JINKS. 1 (lislt)(lLrc I he |,|,,|„, V to .!;•() SllMi-l;l i,n,, TlK'ii- lumps l.iiiiinl ' filftS poilll. ill |i„, Itro^'ivss of a di;.,. i,U'"iU'tl illll;iliiii|;,l,l,. 1 liord, (111 ill, siiiii iiuc previous to [];.■ \vorl AOO (ISl(l). ■s or assisiaiits. -h.i': Il.L' t cful-o till' im:!!'!'- at the linit.im nf liu' '1- in any nf iho linnl-, ii:ni such iiisi nn'i ;Mti> liall always lie jiic-t'ii' 111' M>iitli siili'. Ml Ihat inli'juity sliall alway- 111' lli< ilrjilltii'S >]i-A.l y lidiil aiiil cai.i'aliv M' 111' L'as luav i'c 111 I EXPLOSIONS IN NOVA Sf'OTIAN rOAL-MINRS. 15 ]>„li. 4._Kvpry Imnl shall lio fiirnisliod witli ,1 firo-biickpt marked witli tlic nninlicrof tlic liovil, a coarse baj,' for bcatiiii,' nut iras. and a tub or open-headed i'a>k t,- -Every l">id shall at all times be fiirni.-hed with a safety-lamp, which shall be exaniined by the overman at least twice a week, and in ease of any injury hciii',' (lone thereto, mme than enmmon wear, the cost of the laini> shall be ehai'L'-cd to the colliers, in whose care it is placed. Rule 7. — Any eollier meetin;^' with a cutter or tissiire which yields gas, or with anytliinu' umisiial in his bord, shall imnicdiatcly report the same lo the overman or deputy. ]>„lo s. — Xo eollier shall be allowed to put in more than one shot or Ijlast at a time, into any beneh or fall, without permission from the overman. Hiile 0.— After blastintr either a i'all or bench, th(> coal .shall bo turned back, so that no tire may be concealed iuuon!.'sl the loose coal, and before the colliers leave their bords they shall be ean^fu! that no blowers or iras are left bnrniiiL'. l!ule lit. — No eollier shall work in any lii}ry bord unless there are other colliers workiii'j' in the adjoinini: bords at the same time. iiiile 11.— 'J'Ik! coal shall not be blasted or a naked light used on any ]iretence whatever in any bord or working-place in which the overman has forbidden gun- powder or naked lights to be used. Rule 12. — Every person employed in the pits on passing through any air-door or trai)-door shall always close it after him. Itule i;{. — Xo person shall unscrew his safety-lamp (where such are used) except- ing when .and where he is ordered or directed to do so by the overman or his deputy, liide I't. — When a blower or body of gas is t'livd by a shot or otherwise, which cannot be at once extinguished by the ordinary means, notice shall be sent without delay to the overman or deputy ; and in the meantime the colliers from the adjoin- ing liords shall be called in to give assist anec. Rule 15. — On the arrival of an overman or deputy at the fire, all the colliers and (II her persons who maybe present or sent for shall act under his orders, and use every exertion to earrj them into efleet. Uule 1(). — The extinguishing-engine shall be kept in a proper house near the pit-top, and a bell of not less than L'S lbs. weight shall be hung upon the i>it- fr.ames at No. 1 shaft, with a rojie leading to the bottom of the shaft, for the purpose of making signals from below without loss of time. Rule 17. — The overman or deputy on his arrival at a fire shall, if he considers it necessary, cause the bell to be rung for the extinguishing-engine, and to give notice to the manager, or deputies, or other persons who may Ik; on the surface, whose duty it is to be present, that they m.ay immediately go down. Rule IS. — In all cases of fire a most determined effort must be made with tlie extinguishing-engine; beyond this it is impossible to frame any rules that will apply generally. The manager and his assistants must then decide what further measures to adopt. llulo lit. — The overman or the deputies who shall have gone through all the bonis after the workmen h.ave left the mine shall report personally to the manager, the general state of the works, and particularly whether the cannon, buckets, water 16 niscrssioN— K.xriiOsioxs in nova sroTiAN coai.-mimis. fiihs, etc., lire ill] ill rc'iilincxs for ixny cmcriJ'i'nc.v, ami in case tin' tiiaiiMj:ir shall 1)1' iiliscut tliry shall t'liiiT ilu'ir iT[iiirl in wriiiiif,' in a Imhi1< Ki'|it in il il,-. f,,i thai |iiiv|Hi-i'. iJiilc IM. Nil ili|iiil_v shall at any I iiiii' whilst on (hitv in i he jiils. ijiinii'.' W' \\<. ill'-' liiiiiis. !i'a\i' his aii|i(iiiiliil station niitil irlicvcil h_v another (li'|iiiiy, ic ui,,,iii lu' shall ic|inii till' slate nf the wurks nn^ln his chari'c, loL'i'thri' with a'lv ;ii»irn,. li.ins lu' mix have rt'ccivcil finni the civci'inan, iiiilc'Jl. Ai all tinits. whi'thrr ihrrris any apiiaivnt ilaiiL'i'r W.'U as llii'Wmk^ I liriii.,.',\i . ; anil any pcrsdn nr j-lcri inLr. nr in any way i'\ailin'_' Ihian, shall, if tin- iiiiiia,',!' lliinl.s |iiii|n'i, lie ilisnii~si'il I'liini I hr siivici'. ¥'■> d Tlic rilKsiOKXT sail! that XoVii Scotiii. aitpciiri'd to liavr siilTriv.i scvii'clv iVoiii (Xpldsioiis. Some of the iniin's ii|p|K_'!ir('(] to lie vnv \\(li'r >vi imil in liavc liiTii ihc nH>-;t fi'r'|iir!ii caiisr of iu-iiition. aiii] in oni' casr fii^iTs nf ^'as wiM'c iuni'tcil I»y iMliiiri';!'. The rcpoi'I of the Woyal Coinini-sinn u\\ FiXplosions tVoiii Coal-ilust in .Mints IkuI focnssi'd ojiinion on ihr sniijir!. and tlk-ir ri'coininciulalions invtilwd further Icirishition, wliich it \v;;s iiniiortant sliould !)»■ hasrd upon facts — so as to secure a niiixiiiiiini of sal'tiy without ])lacinir unnecessary liindraiiccs or restrictions upon tlu' iiiiiiini.' iiiilustry. The exiH'riiiieuts of tlie Kxplosives (Committee of the N'oiili nf Kui^laiKl Institute of Miniuir and Meclumical Eii<;inoors were liki ly in tlu'ow much litrht on the relative safety of the various new explo^ivi^. The first report of this conunittee was now in the press and would slinnly lie pidtlished in a form ol)tainalile hy all iueuil)ers of 'I'he I'Y'derated iii-ii- tniion of Milliner I'jiL'iiicers. 'I'he explosion attrihuteil l»y Mr. (iilpin m rohnriie a]i]ieai't(| to ha\ e heen caused liy the i'j.'iiil ioii of uas wlnii a si am of coal was cut into hy a stone-drift. This was a very interest Iiil;' e\|iiii- sion if il wei'e clearly estalilished. as it appeared to be hy the aecdiiiil. tliat it was aoiually due to rohiirite tired liy electric fuze. Mr. if. iJiiKi-WiruKU wrote lliaL the cireuiustanee mentioned in Mr, Gilpin's paper was reported to him. and. as far as he could recolKc!. iu' was informeil thtit the shots were liiH'd in very hrokeii strata which was full of 1,'as. The conclusion he came to at the time was thtd the sIh'Is were placed in holes where there was actually i^as, so thtit to all iiitiiil- and purjMKses they were untaiii])ed shots. He miirlit mention that the robnrite used was luamifactureil in Canada from inu-redieuts supplied I'V the Iioburite roinpauy. (»ai,-mim;s. ><• I III' iii;ili.i'_'i'i Kt'l'l in the .ill: lie |i:U, ihii'Mij \\,,:1,. lltT (lc|.lllV, In Ml,,, III liiT with ;i'i_v iiiMni,'- i.i.'1'i' or imi, ill,. f,,|,.. lest ivhiNal ;, ii, iIhh Ih' Unik^ I hini-.'lv, <; •li:lll, if I 111' 111 lll;i.','V 1 to llllVr SIllTrl'r.i (i to lie MTV L'lW I mil altriluii' miv npOWllii" Sn Iliiil tn one CllSi' fccliT- 111 •ill ('()inini~~;iiii mi ion on lllr Slll'jrc!, ion. wliicli it \v;;> niiixiniuiii of sil'iiy ! npon tlif iniiiiiiL' tcr of tlic Xiirih of oers won; likdv in Ills lll'W ('\[illl>ivi'>. s and woiiM slitirily \w l'\'(1fratc(l Iii-ii- 'd Ity Mr. (lilpiii 10 of o'as wiicn a m an; s- inlcivstiiiL'' I'Njili'- iL' liy tlu' accdiiiit. nicntioncil in M:'. t'OUlil IVOollri-l. i!i' Strata wlnCli wis was that the sIh'Is tliat to all iiitini^ int'iition thai tiif dieiits siiiipliotl I'V nisrussioN— KXin.osroNS in nova spotian coat.-minep. 17 Mr. K. OiLi'iN, Jan., wrote that in Xova Sootia they liad not yet trrapiiK'd diivctly with th<; dnst probU-in, prcfi-rrini,' at present to seek safety in exehision, as far as i)ossihle, of eXj .osives. All the dusty mines are ^'assy, and in most no exiilosives are used, llohurito was u!i(h)ultted!y the Ciiuse of the explosion referred to as occurrin;^' when a coal-seam was cut by a stone-drift. A full account of tliis explosion and sub-eipient cxLiiio-iiishment of the lire has been written by Mr. V. Vvr/ic, the niaiiaijer of the colliery.* The writer e mioses a copy of the Miniiii,' Ileirulations of Nova Scotia bearinj? on the use of explosives : (8.) Anv explosive sliiill only lie iiscii ii> tlu; r iiic uii(it'i-;.'n>unil as follows: — {,!.) It shall not be stofi'ii in the niiiic. (^.") It shall not hi' tiikfti into tlu! miiio, cxcopt in ii case or iMiiistuf pmitiiiiiin.it not inori' than six iioiiiiils. (c.) A workman shall not have in use at one time in any one place more than one of any sneh eases or eaaistefs. {,!.) It sliall not he taken intoor he in the liosseseiMiiive (lays in any sui'h mine ; namely : — (1.) Kither in those cases of stone-work or sinkiiiL' of shafts in which the ventilation is so inaiia;.'eil that the return air from the ])laee where the ex|ilosive is useil passes into the main return air-eourse without passiiij,' any place in actual coiiise of woikiii.u' ; or (2.) When the persons ordinarily employed in the mine are out of the mine or out of the jiart of the mine where it is used. (■?.) Where a mine is divided into separate districts in such manner that each district has an independent intake and return air-way from the main air-course, and the main return air-eourse. the provisions of this rale with respect to exiilosives shall ajiply to each such district in like manner as if it were a separate mine, (c.) -V compi'ieiit person or persons shall lie employed for the purpose of lirin'^ all shots durin;_' three months after any intlammahle .iras has been found in any such mine or district of a mine, or under the provisions of sul> .seetion ((/). He shall, before tiriii;,' any shot, carefully examine the place where it is to be filed and the places adjoiniiii;. A shot shall not bo tired after the tlrst of .January, I8it2. except Viy or under the direction of a competent person appointed for the purposi' and holding an underi,'round manap;ev"s, overman's, cu- shot-firer'.s certificate Provided, however, if at any time the in.speetor of mines, toj^cthcr with any persons experienced in the composition or use of explosives, who he may as^iocia.e with himself for the purpose, shall vei)ort that any explosive is free from daiiirer, the Lieutenant-doveruor may, by Order in Ccameil, determine that the restrictions of sub-section ((/) of this section shall not apply to such explosive, and in such cases such explosive may be used .so lonj,' as said Order in Couiuil remains in force. The Commissioner may. upon representation made to him in writing by the owner, agent, or manager of .luy mine, that the finding of inflammable gas in three * Trdnsiictiomt i\f thr .Vixv/ rii'i'tia Mhihuj Suridij. vol. i., part 4, page 44. n IM IHScrSSIOX — K.MT.OSKINS IN NOVA SroTIAN COAI.-M I S KS. cciiisciMiiivi' I lays, filln'liil t" in tliis rule, in any -iiicli iiiim" is rxiTpi iinKil, aii 1 iKut llu- iiiiiu' is il,iiii|i, :tiii| iii>l ilry smil iliisly, ciui-i' an rxaiiiiiialioii In lie in.i.li' i.f .in!, iiiiin- ly tl;r iii-| i(ir. ainl may nr<\iv that ilif ii f any f\|i!i.-iv(' is n\: .m',,)-,- UM'liT tlii- rule ciiily ii' inllamiiKiMi' L'as is I'mmi in I w.i r,,M»i'iaii isr ijay- nii ,1:1- rp to the iircsi'iit time tln'sr sixciiit nilis li;iV'' litrii t'diiiul in 1. id i,, iiKTiMsiMl aiiciition to \c!itilalit)ii, v\r. 'I'lir rui>liii;Nr ihrii saiil tlial lie hail pltMsiirt' in iii«i\iiiu- a Vii;( ul lliaiik- Id Mr. (iil|iin U.M.-MI\KS. \''l'|ilin|l;l!. ;llll l|,:it I t" !"■ Mlll.lc ..f ,ii|.l| q'ln-ivf i, (il,; .Mi,,rv ■c'llliv.' ,|;iy, ,,„,iri;- I I'iiiiihI to |