The Coal Mines, their dangers and means of safety: to which is added the Report of the South Shields Committee appointed to investigate the causes of accidents in Coal Mines, with plans and appendix; together with extracts from the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Parliamentary Committee on...

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THE COAL MINES, THEIR DANGERS AND MEANS OF SAFETY: TO WHICH IS ADDED THE EEPOBT OF THE SOUTH SHIELDS COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES, WITH PLANS AND APPENDIX; TOGETHER WITH EXTRACTS FROM TH* MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON COAL MINES, IN 1852. etc., etc., etc. WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY JAMES MATHER, ESQ., CHIEF SECRETARY OF THE SHIELDS COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS IS COAL MINES, ETC. LONDON PUBLISHED BY LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. MDCCCLXVIII. ON SAUCHIE FIRE-MINE, CLACKMANNANSHIRE TO GOLDSWORTHY GURNEY, ESQ., OF BUDE. This mine, on fire for upwards of twenty-four years, has now extended over an area of twenty-six acres. It has been a subject of great and general interest from its commencement, and has occupied the attention of many eminent men from time to time.

Several official reports have appeared on the matter, drawn up with great talent by men professionally employed to make inspection and advise thereon. These reports, with plans, documents, and legal evidence carefully obtained,* we have not failed to consult in elucidation of the original condition of the mine, and the production of the fire ; and have examined the best living evidence on the practical points and condition of both, to aid us in arriving at a just and correct conclusion. The history of this burning mine — the origin of the fire — its extent — the danger of a general conflagration of the adjoining mines, and the difficulties in the construction of works to arrest its progress, as detailed in evidence, are matters of the deepest interest to the scientific miner. It is necessary for the objects of this report, that these points, as well as its existing condition, be examined.

Sauchie Fire Mine is situated about 2_\ miles N.N.E. of Alloa, in the Barony of Sauchie, Clackmannanshire. In the winter of 1827, it was observed that in the Westmains Park, over certain parts of the waste of the nine-feet seam of the South Sauchie Colliery, the snow melted sooner than in other parts of the district ; near to which place, about the same time, smoke was descried to ascend from the surface. It was not, however, till the beginning of February, 1828, that it was discovered an extensive fire was in existence in the waste of the nine-feet seam, and from evidence then obtained, it was deemed that the fire had been certainly burning upwards of two years, f and it was even surmised had been smouldering in the waste nearly ten years previous to its discovery. This waste was worked in the end of the last and beginning of the present century, t It appears that about the year 1810, the Devon Iron Company sunk a pit 18 feet deep, 400 yards S.E. of the new Sauchie Engine Pit, for the purpose of obtaining " the valuable bands and balls of ironstone" in the roof of the Sauchie nine-feet seam.