WINZES AND RISES.
These two kinds of openings for connecting two horizons in a mine differ only in their manner of construction. A winze is sunk underhand, while a rise is put up overhand. When the connection between levels is completed, a miner standing at the bottom usually refers to the opening as a rise, and when he goes to the top he calls it a winze. This confusion in terms makes it advisable to refer to all such completed openings as winzes, regardless of how they are constructed.
In actual work, even disregarding water, it costs on the average about 30% less to raise than to sink such openings, for obviously the spoil runs out or is assisted by gravity in one case, and in the other has to be shoveled and hauled up. Moreover, it is easier to follow the ore in a rise than in a winze. It usually happens, however, that in order to gain time both things are done, and for prospecting purposes sinking is necessary.
The number of winzes required depends upon the method of stoping adopted, and is mentioned under "Stoping." After stoping, the number necessary to be maintained open depends upon the necessities of ventilation, of escape, and of passageways for material to be used below. Where stopes are to be filled with waste, more winzes must be kept open than when other methods are used, and these winzes must be in sufficient alignment to permit the continuous flow of material down past the various levels. In order that the winzes should deliver timber and filling to the most advantageous points, they should, in dipping ore-bodies, be as far as possible on the hanging wall side.