Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military AcademyMercur, James
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Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy
Mercur, James
Defensive (Military science); Military engineering; Offensive (Military science); Siege warfare
=58.= The first is accomplished by forcing air through pipes,
which may be of tin, wood, or common hose, leading to the point where
ventilation is required. The air is forced in by the use of the miner’s
bellows or other apparatus already described. This method is simple
in its application and places the fresh air where it is needed, but
drives the foul air back into the galleries occupied by other miners.
It is the only practicable method of ventilating single, long, narrow
galleries and branches.
=59.= The second method may be applied to a system consisting
of a number of galleries connected by transversals, by so placing
an exhausting fan as to draw the air out through one gallery, while
by light wooden or canvas doors and screens the other galleries are
so arranged that the fresh air, entering from the exterior, sweeps
through the galleries occupied by the miners, and escapes through the
unoccupied gallery leading to the fan, carrying the gases with it.
In this method a single large gallery may be ventilated by using a
canvas partition placed near the top or on one side, so that the fresh
air will go in on one side around the end of the partition and back by
the other side to the fan.
This method has the advantage of carrying the gases away from the
galleries occupied by the men, and supplying fresh air throughout those
which are occupied.
The exhaust may be produced by a fire constantly burning at the foot of
a shaft instead of by a fan.
The method is, however, complicated in its application, and can seldom
be used for military mines.
=60.= The third method, or assisting natural ventilation, is
carried out by cutting numerous cross-galleries connecting those which
are near each other, by making air-shafts and bore-holes connecting the
galleries with the surface of the ground, and, when practicable, by
placing the openings of the shafts and galleries at different levels.
This method will serve for a few men working leisurely in preparing
countermines before an attack, but is entirely inadequate during active
mining operations.
=61.= By the use of masks covering the face, and supplied with
fresh air either through hose or from a reservoir of compressed air
carried with him, a miner may work in galleries in which the air is
irrespirable. The advantages which may frequently result from the time
thus saved justify providing apparatus of this kind for use in mining
operations.
MINE-CHAMBERS.
=62. Mine-chambers= to contain the charge of explosive are
preferably nearly cubical in form, and if not charged at once, or if of
large size, must have sufficient lining to support the roof and sides.
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