Ventilation in Metal Mines; A Preliminary Report

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921. Excerpt: ... VENTILATION IN METAL MINES-A PRELIMINARY REPORT. By Daniel Harrington. FOREWORD. This paper on metal-mine ventilation, by Daniel Harrington, mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines, deals with the second of a series of related investigations in metal mines regarding primarily the health of miners. In this day, care for the health and morale of miners can no longer be considered as a charitable or even a humanitarian matter, but must be regarded as one affecting the economic situation in the mining industry, for in many cases it determines whether mines can be operated successfully or at all. If miners in poorly ventilated places are able to work only half of their laboring hours by reason of their poor condition or morale, necessarily the cost of production in those places rises, and for most mines the cost of underground work is the chief item in the cost of producing ore. In this brief paper Mr. Harrington has indicated, among other features, how the introduction of good ventilation into the working places has enabled miners to do more work and has thus reduced costs. The related metal-mining subjects dealing with the health and efficiency of miners, in the order of their being taken up for investigation by the Bureau of Mines, are as follows: 1. The effect of various kinds of mine dust in relation to miners' pulmonary diseases and the preventive measures suggested. 2. The atmosphere in which miners work in metal mines, its contamination from various sources, the effect of different contaminations, the methods of ventilation used and the need of improved ventilation, and the recommendations suggested. 3. Humidity of the atmosphere in metal mines, the effect of high humidity on the health and the working efficiency of miners, and how conditions may be imp...