On the afternoon of August 9, Earnock Colliery, near Hamilton, belonging
to Mr. John Watson, of Earnock, was the scene of an interesting
ceremonial which may well be said to mark a new era in mining annals.
In proceeding to win the rich mineral wealth of his estate, Mr. Watson
determined that, in respect of fittings, machinery, and general
appointments, it should be a model, and he has been highly successful
in giving practical effect to his aims. Among other things, he early
resolved to, if at all practicable, substitute the electric light for
the ordinary mode of illuminating the workings, and after investigating
the various systems, he decided on giving that of Mr. Swan a trial.
Accordingly, since April last, Messrs. D. & E. Graham, electrical
engineers, Glasgow, have been engaged fitting up the Swan incandescent
lamp, with modifications, to adapt it for safe use in the mine, and on
Tuesday the inauguration of the new light took place in presence of a
large company of leading gentlemen from Glasgow, Hamilton, and the West.
Arrived at the colliery about half-past one o'clock, the visitors were
received by Mr. Watson, and after a brief space spent in inspecting
the three magnificent winding and fan engines, the Guibal fan, and the
framework for screening the coal, they were conducted by Mr. James
Gilchrist, manager, down into the workings in the ell seam at a depth
of 118 fathoms. Here at the pit bottom, in the roads and at the face,
twenty-one Swan lamps were burning, giving forth a brilliant, steady
flame, the luminosity of which, while sufficient to supply the desired
light, had none of the disagreeable intensity associated with most
systems of electric lighting. Besides the pear-shaped Swan lamp, in
which the glowing or incandescence is carried on _in vacuo_, there is an
outer lantern, the invention of Mr. David Graham, consisting of a strong
glass globe, air-tight, protected with steel guards. Each lamp was also
connected with two different forms of Graham's patent safety air tight
contacts and switches for cutting off and letting on the current, the
effect of which, it is believed, would be to render the lamps quite
safe, even in the presence of explosive gas. At first the intention
was to employ the fan-engine to drive the dynamo-electric machine or
generator, but this was departed from, and an engine of 12 horse-power
was erected in the workshops on the surface for the purpose. From the
generator the electric cables, two in number, are conducted along the
roof of the workshops over ordinary telegraph poles to the pit-head at
No. 2 shaft, and thence down into the workings. From the ridge of the
workshops to the pithead, a distance of several hundred yards, the
cables consist of ordinary copper wire, three-eighths of an inch in
diameter; inside the workshop and below ground, to allow of their safe
handling, they are composed of insulated wires, while on the way down
the shaft they are inclosed in a galvanized tube. Near the bottom of the
shaft, branches are taken off to supply light to the principal roadways
and to the haulage engine-room, the main cables being carried into one
of the sections of the mine a distance of half-a-mile. After a careful
inspection of the lamps at the pit bottom, the party were photographed
in three groups, with the aid of the electric light, by Mr. Annan, of
Glasgow, who may well be credited with the distinction of being the
first to exercise his skill in the bowels of the earth. They were
then led to the haulage engine-room and into the workings, where they
witnessed the effects of the light. At the latter point, while, of
course, the visitors were at a safe distance, a shot was fired, bringing
down a large mass of coal. Having spent fully an hour below ground, the
party returned to the surface.--_Colliery Guardian_.
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