On Colliery Ventilation

Abstract

In assenting to bring before the West Riding Geological and Polytechnic Society the subject of Colliery Explosions in connection with the sad occurrence at Lund-hill, in this neighbourhood, on the 19th February last, I cannot but feel deeply the important bearings of the question, and its peculiar claim to be brought before this Society—whose province it is to promote or encourage any means by which mining operations may be harmonised with the advancing steps of progressive science; to dissipate the miasma of uneducated prejudice, and to present the standard of practical wisdom and truth. I have ventured to put forth my humble ability, well knowing that if I only elicit the interchange of a moderate amount of sentiment, on the part of those members of the Society whose practical acquaintance with the subject so eminently qualifies them for its discussion, and so discharge the battery of thoughtful speculation and reflection which the Lund-hill calamity has been the means of most naturally creating, I shall have done some service to the cause of humanity, as well as of practical science as applied to mining operations; and so have acquired ample reward for, and justification of, the step which I have reluctantly taken in appearing before you to-day. It is not surprising that a catastrophe by which nearly 200 of our fellow mortals were instantaneously swept out of life into the stillness of death, should have induced the expression of various opinions and the propounding of various schemes of improvement through ...