Welsh Journals

PIT-HEAD BATHS THE question of paramount importance for the miner is the effectiveness of the means employed for drying and keeping safe the clothes. Con- cerning the superiority of one or the other of the two methods seen, there is a difference of opinion, although it is agreed that the clothes are well dried by either method. We saw," one member of the party writes, two different ways of keeping and drying the clothes. One of them is as follows — There are two or three beams running from one end of the hall to the other, about six feet from the floor, and running parallel with these beams are benches. On every six inches of the beams there is a staple which has a number. Right above the lower beams there are other beams, these being about twenty feet or more high. On the top beams there are a lot of small fixed pulleys about fifteen inches apart. Over each pulley there is a chain, at one end of which there is a wooden surface, about four inches by six, on it being five or six hooks on which clothes can be hung. The clothes can be pulled right up to the top, and the other end of the chain is fastened to the staple, and the owner of the clothes of course keeps the key to the lock. The other method is as follows: Every workman has a cupboard which has a door that locks. Every workman has a number which tallies with the number on his locker. The hot air which passes through the cupboards dries the clothes. I ought to add that the bottom of the cupboard is made of wire bars." The same writer adds: Now I have described the two methods of drying and keeping the clothes, yet I am undecided as to which is the better. Of the two the Chain System is the healthier, but again the locker is more concise and private. But as to the matter of safety, one is as good as the other, for each person has his own key." Another writes thus:- With regard to the drying of the clothes, I must admit that I was rather doubtful myself before I saw it, but now I am thor- oughly convinced that it is perfectly safe, as the room is heated to a high temperature by hot-water pipes, the clothes being hung up to a height of between twenty and thirty feet. This is called the Chain System,' while the other is the Locker System,' which I consider quite as good as regards drying. Personally I prefer the open system for drying the clothes, because in my opinion it is cleaner and healthier. We have heard a lot of talk from time to time about the danger of clothes being stolen. Either of the systems is, I consider, quite safe, as in (Continued) each case they are locked up, and there is a caretaker present day and night. Each man has a number and a lock and key. and the attendant knows the number of every man, and no one can interfere with another's clothes in any way, except the person with the key." This writer is very enthusiastic in his advocacy of pit-head baths. One writer expresses the opinion that In appear- ance the locker arrangement is alright, but upon close inspection of these lockers, I have no hesitation in saying that it is a very unsatisfactory system, being most difficult to keep clean and giving off a very unpleasant smell." Another says, referring to the same method, that it is not half as good as the first way we examined, that is, hanging up the clothes by means of pulleys; it makes the room stuffy and unhealthy to be in, in fact you could smell it some distance off. I disliked that way very much, for there was no fresh air getting to the clothes at all, and I think it is a great mistake to keep working clothes from fresh air." Opposed to this is the view of another writer who says The Locker System is the best. The reason is that the division between the different cupboards prevents insects from hopping or crawling from one bundle of clothes to the other. 'He realises however that it has its defects, and adds that he would like the lockers so constructed as to have two different places for the clean and dirty clothes, which are now kept in the same compartment." This defect is the ground of one observer's objection. One box," he reports, I had working clothes after the bath, and in the same box the miner had to put his clean clothes while he was working, and the locker gave off a filthy smell due to the sweat on the dirty clothes." Another objects because the dust from the working clothes at the top was falling on the clothes beneath, owing to the lockers having wire bottoms, for the purpose of allowing the heat to travel right through to the clothes at the top." From the above extracts it is clear that there is a divergence of opinion as to which is the better of the two methods. The majority of those who undertook the tour of inspection are in favour of the Chain System,' although all recognise that both methods are equally effective in drying the clothes. Several of the reports contain favourable comments upon the enforced practice of taking home working clothes every week-end. to be washed. We understand that. in the collieries visited, fines are imposed if this rule is infringed.