January 3, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 23 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ addition to the instruction to the Minister of Marino at St. Petersburg to obtain a supply of 23,000 tons of, .... best Welsh coals for the port of Sebastopol, it was p^ruar .... reported that merchants in St. Petersburg purchased March ... about 80,000 tons of Yorkshire and Scottish coals for • April .... the Russian State Railways at 14s. Id. and 12s. 9d. f.o.b. .............. ........ respectively. Large quantities of coal were also shipped * juiy to the German coaling depots in the Mediterranean and ! August ... elsewhere. These transactions had a marked effect on .... the market and at the beginning of the month best November steams sold at 18s. for prompt and 18s. 3d. for forward December shipment. A strike on the North-Eastern Railway, J though it lasted but a short time, nevertheless gave a considerable stimulus to the Welsh trade. Vessels 1909. 1910. Tons. Tone. 2,097,853... 2,095,417.. 2,095,492... 1,839,703.. 2.355.609.. . 2.127,424.. 2,116 879... 1,981,132.. 2.325.690.. . 2,182,796.. 2,092,092... 2,454,643.. 1,981,043... 2221,429... 1.849.297.. . 2.010,297... 2,000,353... 2,146,827... 2.140.539.. . 2,152,324 .. 2 213,085... 1,962,994... 2.140.577.. . 2,067,270... ___________ ___________ 1911. 1912. Tons. Tons. 2,080 213... 2 434,907 2 156,398... 2,450,603 2 204,710... 699,238 1.900.977.. . 476 391 2.381.123.. . 2.545,999 1.875.768.. . 2,047,l?0 1,756,083... 2,801866 1,863 173... 2,387.934 2.172.636.. . 2 387,536 2,186,051... 2,793,364 2.236.608.. . 2,614,539 2.333.943.. .* ----- ___________ ___________ 25,368,509.. .25,222,257... 25 147,693.. .23,639,508 * No return to hand for December. northward bound were diverted to the Bristol Channel ports, and this caused a substantial reduction in freights, 9s. to 10s. being accepted for Genoa, as against 14s. paid in November, whilst similar concessions were obtainable to other Mediterranean ports. To South America also 17s. to 18s. was accepted, as against 23s. 6d. to 24s. paid in the previous month. Quite a number of shippers had to pay heavy demurrage charges, owing to their inability to obtain loading berths. In consequence of the national strike in March last, many collieries had been obliged to ask for an extension of time into 1913 for the completion of contracts they had entered into, with the result that there was very little free coal on the market. Shippers, in order to get their vessels away before the holidays, paid very heavy prices for coals, and in the few days preceding Christmas, as much as 19s. 6d. was given for best colliery screened. Even at that figure sellers refused to give a guarantee as to loading. Superior Admiralty seconds realised 18s., ordinary seconds 17s. 6d., and other qualities 17s. per ton. Equally good prices were obtained for delivery during the months of January and February. Just before the holidays commenced it was announced that the French Admiralty had placed an order for an additional 50,000 tons of best double screened steam coals with Messrs. Lysberg Limited. The coal to be supplied is Nixon’s Naviga- tion, and as the contract was a c.i.f. one, delivery having to be made at the Toulon Naval Harbour, it was impossible to ascertain the precise figure paid, but it was believed to be equivalent to about 19s. f.o.b. There was an excellent demand for small coal, and as much as 15s. to 15s. 6d. was paid for bunkerings, 14s. 6d. for ordinary qualities, and 13s. 6d. to 14s. for cargo sorts. The Belgian State Railways came into the market for supplies over the succeeding six months, but the only orders secured by Welsh firms were for coals unobtain- able in Belgium, and they did not exceed about 125,000 tons. There was considerable pressure for Monmouth- shire coals, and prices ruled high, Black Veins being 17s. 6d., Western Valleys 17s., and Eastern Valleys (best) 16s. 6d. f.o.b. Cardiff. The Egyptian State Railways asked for an additional 160,000 tons, and an unconfirmed report stated that one order had been placed with Messrs. Morgan, Wakley and Co. at Is. to Is. 3d. per ton more than was paid for similar coals in October last. In that month the Egyptian authorities We repeat the total exports from the Channel in each month of the year in order to show the increase or decrease as compared with the corresponding months of 1911- Tons. Increase. Tons. Decrease. Tons. January .. 2,434,907 ... 354,694 ... — February .. 2,450,603 ... 294,205 ... — March 699,238 — 1,505,472 April 476,391 — 1,424,586 May .. 2,545,999 ... 164,866 ... — June .. 2,047,130 ... 171362 ... — July .. 2,801,866 ... 1,045.783 ... — August .. 2,387,934 ... 524,761 ... — September.... .. 2,387,536 ... 214 900 ... — October .. 2,793,364 ... 607,313 ... — November.... .. 2,614,539 ... 377,931 ... — The following table shows the exports from each of ■ the chief V Velsh ports for each month from January to November: — Port Talbot. Cardiff. Newport. Swansea. Tons. To’ns, Tons. Tons. January 1,614,769 ... 365,349 ... 165,270 . .. 275,030 February . 1,636,765 ... 404,426 ... . 139,627 . .. 260,667 March 403,580 ... 96,544 ... . 61,383 . .. 129,444 April 341,789 ... 91.474 ... . 15,066 . .. 25,619 May 1,764,427 ... 364,696 ... . 158,324 . .. 243,704 June 1,340,011 ... 329,176 ... 133,597 . .. 228,077 July 1,770,649 ... 426,212 ... 216,820 . .. 370,475 August .... 1,560,446 ... 363 111 ... 153,491 . .. 301,940 September. 1,596,602 ... 352,982 ... . 154,588 . .. 268,115 October 1,855,548 ... 424,147 ... . 187,631 . .. 307,273 November . 1,702,814 ... 391,308 ... . 175,177 . .. 321,360 The following shows the quantities of coal shipped coastwise from the Bristol Channel to various ports of the United Kingdom and also the quantities shipped for bunkering the vessels in the years 1911 and 1912 :— Total cargo. A Total bunker. r 1911. 1912. 1911. 1911. Tods. Tons. Tons. Tons. January .... 320,814 ... 444,001 ... 16,850 ... 21,594 February 319,831 ... 472,948 ... 24,375 ... 25,389 March 395 908 ... 96,689 ... 23,190 ... 9,062 April 355,815 ... 158,356 ... 20.537 ... 13,031 May 396.230 ... 549,041 ... 20,608 ... 21,644 June 355,529 ... 354,625 ... 19,840 ... 16,977 July 369,202 ... 414,743 ... 20,155 ... 23,265 August ... 320,980 ... 328,417 ... 18,752 ... 22,583 September 393,959 ... 329,281 ... 20,925 ... 20,322 October ..., 451,831 ... 327,326 ... 22,205 ... 22,027 November 367,913 ... 286,613 ... 19 983 ... 19,833 Below is a table giving the average declared price per ton of coals shipped from the chief ports in the Channel during the year:— increased of late, but are still insufficient to meet the needs of that market. Exports are also extensive, particularly to Holland and Belgium, North Germany also being an important buyer. The coke market is in an equally satisfactory condition. Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—The Coal Convention has decided to raise prices from January 1 by 50 pfennigs for industrial grades, and 30 pf. for dust, whilst the State mines are charging 40 pf. more for coking coals. The supply of railway wagons is improving, but still leaves much to be desired. Industrial, house, and coking coals are all in very active request, and in the latter case there is difficulty in meeting the demand. In the export trade, preference is given Austria-Hungary, and buyers in Russian-Poland are complaining of neglect. The coke market is very busy, the demand for blastfurnace and foundry coke exceeding the output capacity of the ovens; and other kinds are also receiving attention on the part of buyers. Coal Syndicate Report for November.—Total amount of coal raised 7,652,816 tons (7,460,085 tons in November 1911), j or 317,215 tons (309,266 tons) per working day. Calculated • distribution 5,890,472 tons (6,156,630 tons), being 244,165 tons (255,197 tons) per working day, or 92'84 per cent. (97'22 per cent.) of the participation. Total distribution by the syndicated pits 7,456,695 tons (7,653,003 tons), or 309,086 tons (317,223 tons) per working day. Deliveries, including local sales, miners' house coal and supplies to pits' own ironworks: Coal 4,584,287 tons (4,977,627 tons), or 188,530 tons (206,327 tons) per working day; coke 1,688,986 tons (1,552,896 tons), or 56,300 tons (51,763 tons) per working day; briquettes 333,863 tons (338,332 tons), or 13,839 tons (14,024 tons) per working day. Fatal Accidents in Prussian Mines During 1911.—According to the statistics recently issued by the Ministry of Crmmerce and Industry, the total number of fatalities occurring in Prussian mines during 1911 amounted to 1,417 (1,354 in 1910), 1,176 (1,149) being in coalmining, 70 (81) in lignite mining and the remainder in ore mines. The proportion of killed per 1,000 persons engaged was 1'929 (1'862)*, in comparison with an average of 1*965 for the decennial period 1901-1910, and 2'485 for the period 1891-1900. In respect of coalmining, this proportion was 2095 (1'975), and in lignite mining 1'686 (1'299), on the whole; but in the Dortmund district the proportion per 1,000 fell from 2’240 to 2'220. With regard to the causes of the accidents, it is stated that, in spite of the general application of systematic timbering, falls of roof and coal still remain the principal cause of danger to the miner. This cause was accountable for the death of 495 persons (511) underground ; whilst 130 (111) were killed in shafts, 210 (225) in staple shafts and inclined haulage ways, 90 (85) in horizontal haulage roads, 34 (33) by explosions, 28 (34) by chokedamp, 74 (47) in shotfiring, 1 (1) by inrushes of water, 4 (5) by machinery, and 94 (82) in other ways not specified; total 1,160 (1,134). The fatalities in open-cast workings numbered 34 (32), and above ground 223 (188). The number of firedamp explosions officially reported was 37 (41), 6 (11) being attended with fatal results to 30 (33) individuals. Eight (9) of these explosions occurred in rock-blasting, 14 (16) in development work in coal seams, 14 (14) during coal-getting, and 1 (2) in other parts of the mine. The direct cause of the explosion in 1 (1) instance was the use of matches; in 1 (0) to the unauthorised ____________________________________________________________________________ Cardiff. Newport. (----------------------------------------A----------------------------------------f---------------------------------------------A------------------------------------------ Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Jan. Feb. Ma»*. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Large steam ......... 15/0 ...16/3 ...17/5 ...17/1 ...17/2 ...16/3 ...16/2 ...16/0 ...16/1 ...15/11...16/0 ... 14/8 ...15/5 ...15/6 ...16/5 ...15/8 ...15/3 ...14/10...15/0 ...14/9 ...15/3 ...14/11 Through-and-through 13/0 ...13/4 ...12/10... — ...14/3 ...12/9 ...12/1 ...11/3 ...12/10...12/6 ...12/4 ... 11/5 ...12/2 ...12/8 ...10/10...11/9 ...11/4 ...11/4 ...11/2 ...11/8 ...11/7 ...10/9 S“aU....................__ 8/2 ••• 9/2 ...11/1 ... 9/7 ... 9/5 ... 8/5 ... 8/11... 9/1 ... 9/1 ... 9/2 ... 9/2 ... 9/4 ...10/1 ...10/6 ...11/8 ...10/7 ...10/2 ...10/5 ...10/4-...10/2 ...10/5 ...10/5 Large anthracite....'19/6 ...23/7 ...24/0 ... — ...26/6 ...21/8 ...27/6 ...24/7 ...25/9 ...21/5 ...26/0 ... — ... — ...23/9 ... — ... — ...29/4 ... — ... — ... — ... — ... — Household ............. 16/7 ... — ...17/7 ... — ... — ...16/7 ...17/3 ...12/5 ...16/10...13/9 ...13/1 ... — ... — ... — ... — ... — ... — — ... — ... — ... — ... — Port Talbot. Swansea. ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________ _______________________ Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Jan. Feb. Msr. April. Mav. June. Joly. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Large steam ........ 15/3 ...15/9 ...15/11...15/11...17/5 ...17/0 ...15/7 ...14/9 ...15/4 ...15/2 ...15/4 ... 14/6 ...14/6 ...15/5 ...18/7 ...16/2 ...15/8 ... 14/U...15/3 ...14/9 ...15/6 ...15/0 Through-and-through 10/4 ...10/4 ...10/7 ...11/2 ...10/2 ...10/1 ...10/9 ...10/7 ...10/9 ...10/10... 10/9 ... 9/10...10/2 ...10/6 ... 9/10...10/5 ...10/3 ...10/3 ...10/4 ...10/3 ...10/3 ...10/3 ®ma11.................... 7/1 ... 7/10... 8/0 ... 9/5 ... 8/7 ... 7/11... 8/2 ... 8/6 ... 7/6 ... 7/10... 7/11... 7/7 ... 8/0 ... 8/9 ... 7/10... 8/4 ... 8/10... 8/5 ... 8/6 ... 8/6 ... 8/9 ... 8/2 Large anthracite.... 14/4 ...17/5 ...22/0 ...16/10...18/9 ...15/5 ...17/2 ...16/4 ...14/10,..16/10... 15/11... 17/4 ...17/7 ...18/2 ...18/6 ...17/3 ...16/9 ...17/3 ...17/5 ...17/7 ...17/6 ...18/5 Household .............. 15/0 ...15/0 ... — ... — ...14/10... ■— ... — ... — ...15/6 ...15/3 ...15/4 ... — ... — ... — ... — ...15/0 ...18/1 ... — ... — ... — ...17/6 ... — asked for tenders for over 300,000 tons, but the figures sent in were so high, that they decided to purchase only half their requirements. By their ill-considered action they will now have to pay an extra £8,000 or £9,000 as the result of the advance in values which took place between October and the end of December. House coals were advanced 2s. per ton on December 1, but for No, 3 Rhondda bituminous 17s. 6d. was taken. Small, however, realised 14s. 6d. to 15s. No. 2 large sold at 15s. 9d. to 16s., and small at 13s. 9d. Large purchases of patent fuel were made by the Austrian Naval Depart- ment, and best brands for prompt shipment fetched as much as 23s. per ton. Exports. The shipments from the Bristol Channel for the 11 months ending November 30 amounted to 23,639,508 tons, as against 22,813,750 tons for the same period in 1911, being an increase of 825,758 tons. The following table gives the foreign exports for each year from 1909 to 1912 inclusive:— G0HTIHEHTAL M1H1HC HOTELS. _________________ i Germany. j Coal Trade in South Germany. — Since the supply of | wagons in the Ruhr district has improved, the shipments to the Upper Rhine have increased, though not to an extent commensurate with the requirements of the market, craft being scarce and freights high, whilst the fog on the middle J reaches of the river has hung up traffic a good deal. Stocks have therefore had to be drawn upon still further, and even ’ then it has been impossible to cope fully with the demand. Bituminous nuts II. and III. for house coal are getting exhausted, and small industrial nuts are scarce. Broken coke is available, but the pressure of orders prevents early delivery. I Ruhr Coal Market.—Business is very active, there being no falling off in the demand for industrial coals; and coking coals cannot be raised in sufficient amount. House coal is in active request, and gas coals are being sent out in large i quantities. The consignments to South Germany have opening of a lamp; in 11 (10) to defective lamps; in 9 (7) to the flame striking through the lamp gauze through care- less handling; in 2 (1) to a similar cause through high velocity of the air-current, and in 2 (3) through other influences; in 10 (18) cases to shot-firing. There were three cases of men being gassed, but no instance of purely coaldust explosions. _______________________________ In February next the Royal School of Mines at South Kensington will open a new department in connection with mining science dealing with the technology of oil. Details regarding the length of time to be devoted to the ordinary course in oil technology are not yet complete; it is probable, however, that the future curriculum will call for at least one year's specialisation for general mining students, while a complete course of study projected for oil engineers and geologists will, when adopted, demand a four-year course, including six months in the study of drilling plants and six months practical work in oilfields.