DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 75

pulled with two small cords by a boy before,and pushed on by a boy behind.

It has before been stated in what mannerthe coal-seams alternate at different depthsunder one another. When the shaft is sunk farenough for the first stratum, the working ofit is proceeded upon, but only in a partialdegree, as it is found necessary, to intermix thecoal from the different deposits before theyare sent away for consumption. Having workeda passage in several directions, and establishedthe rudimental basis of a mine on the oneseam, the shaft is carried down to another,and so on through the whole course; at thesame time staples are sunk in different direc-tions from the workings of one seam to theworkings of another. These. are a kind ofsmaller shaft, or well, for the purpose of facili-tating the works of the miner, and to regulatethe currents of atmospheric air, so that it maytraverse all parts with ventilation : in conse-quence of this the staples are generally at thehead of a working, or otherwise close to a

An ingenious plan has lately been introduced into a minenear Cheney Row, by Mr. Patterson, an engineer. Bythis plan several horses are dispensed with, and thesledges are worked to certain distances by means of ma-chinery affixed to the steam-engine on the surface.