Hot Deep; Cold Air

Deepest gold mine in the world is the Robinson Deep in South Africa's Witwatersrand, whence comes more than half of present world gold production. The Robinson Deep has sunk an inclined 3-mile shaft to a vertical depth of 8,380 ft. At that depth miners sweat, stagger and topple in a temperature of 104DEG, a humidity of nearly 100. Working efficiency is less than 30%. With gold prices soaring and money to spend, the company asked Willis Haviland Carrier, Newark engineer, to plan the world's biggest air-conditioning plant. Last week, with plans drawn up and a signed contract in his pocket, Mr. Carrier announced that equipment would be shipped in December, installation begun in January.

When the plant is finished three 750-h.p. motors will drive 400,000 cu. ft. of dried air, chilled to 35DEG, down the shaft every minute. It is expected that temperature will be reduced 8 to 12DEG in the main shaft, 5 to 7DEG in the branch workings, and the dry air will soak up 1,500 gal. of water every hour. Initial cost: $500,000.

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