Eebrttary 28, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

447

A meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade Concilia-
tion Board, with Lord Balfour of Burleigh
as neutral chairman, was held in Edinburgh
on Tuesday, when a claim by the miners for 25
per cent, increase was argued. At the close of
the meeting, which lasted five hours, Lord
Balfour intimated that he would consider his
decision.

reputations extend beyond the limits of their
particular spheres of activity; thus mention may
be made of Prof. T. W. E. David (Antarctic),
who accompanied the Shackleton Expe-
dition ; Mr. D. B. Dowling (Canada), whose,
work may already be regarded as a fait
accompli, to be found in the volumes recently
issued by the Canadian Conservation Com-
mission and the Canadian Department of
Mines*: Mr. E. F. Pittman (New South
Wales), who has also published a valuable
monograph on the coalfields of that colony ;t
Mr. H. H. Hayden (India); Mr. J. P.
Howley (Newfoundland) ; Mr. P. G. Morgan
(New Zealand); Mr. B. Dunstan (Queensland) ;
Mr. W. H. Twelvetrees (Tasmania); and Mr.
H. P. Woodward (Western Australia). The
report on the coal resources of the South African
Union has been undertaken by the Mines
Department.

The fastidious few who look for finality in
such a report are foredoomed, of course, to
disappointment. When the extent of the coal
supplies of a settled and diminutive country like
Great Britain is still largely a matter of con-
jecture, notwithstanding the laborious enquiries
of a Royal Commission, it cannot be hoped that
the last word may now be said on the coal
resources of virgin territories such, for in-
stance, as China, Siberia and the Congo.
Nevertheless, a true plane of discussion
can be attained by introducing the variable
factor of economic value as opposed to “ spot’’
value; thus, to take the extremes, it is of
infinitely greater interest to the human race
to prove the addition of a million tons of
workable coal to the Hainault or South
Staffordshire coalfields, than to learn that in
the ice-fettered regions of the far north or
south a million times that quantity lies exposed.
The modern economic geologist, however, may
be trusted to preserve the proper balance,
although territorial ambition and patriotism
may lead to some little exaggeration.

From a purely geological standpoint, the
members of the Congress may, with considerable
profit, attempt the difficult problem of corre-
lating the different coalfields, and they would be
rendering a great service should they succeed in
securing some uniformity in the nomenclature
of the various horizons. Infinitely the most
important feature of this investigation, however,
is its bearing upon the future. Without accurate
data of this character, speculations in regard to
output, consumption, and the future of industry,
and schemes of development and conservation,
cannot be logically founded. It will thus be
seen that the discussions at Toronto have an
interest for all of the countless many enveloped
in the coal circle.

For these and others the executive committee
have drawn up a most attractive programme of
excursions, which has already been outlined in
our columns.f One excursion goes as far east
as Cape Breton, and another as far west and
north as the Yukon. According to present
information, our own Government is sending
only one representative, and he will only be sent
to Toronto; so that if he desires to take part in
the excursions he will be called upon to bear the
expense himself. Other countries are treating
the matter less diffidently; but this official
indifference may be discounted, if British mining
engineers and geologists fill the gap. As
we have shown, the Congress has an interest for

* An Investigation of the Coals of Canada, with
Reference to their Economic Qualities. In six volumes.
Ottawa. 1912.

1912^^ Resources of New South Wales. Sydney,

J Colliery Guardian, August 30,1912, p. 445.

It is evident that the geologists
The Coal of Canada are leaving no stone
Resources of unturned to promote the success
the World, of the Twelfth International

Geological Congress, which is to
be held at Toronto in August this year. In this
work the very capable committee appointed at
the Stockholm Congress are obtaining the
assistance, not only of the Dominion and Pro-
vincial Governments, but of scientific societies
such as the Royal Society of Canada and the
Canadian Mining Institute. To the mining
engineer—and, indeed, to the commercial com-
munity as well—this Congress must possess a
special interest, for, as we pointed out some
eighteen months ago, its principal feature will
be the presentation of a monumental report on
the “ Coal Resources of the World.”

At the date of our former article, enquiries
had been sent. to the most distant quarters of
the globe, inviting particulars of coal deposits,
their accessibility and character, the inspiring
genius being that which presides over the
energetic Geological Survey of Canada. The
fruits of these enquiries are promised in a
set of three quarto volumes, and an atlas of
70 maps in colours, edited by the Survey and
published by Messrs. Morang and Co., of Toronto,
at a price of 25 dols. If we take as criteria the
huge report on the “ Iron Resources of the
World,” issued for the Stockholm Congress, and
the reputations of those contributing to the
forthcoming report, the latter should, indeed,
prove one of the most fascinating and valuable
publications ever offered by a scientific order.

The difficulties in the path of such an enquiry
are truly appalling, and it is a testimony to the
judgment of the responsible committee that their
model scheme of classification has been found to
be adaptable to all the countries whose aid has
been enlisted. No less than 52 countries will be
dealt with at length, 15 are covered by short
articles, whilst 25 colonies are included in the
reports of the motherlands, the areas embracing
both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and all
the more temperate zones that intervene.

As we believed would be the case at the
outset, it is the geologists who have proved
successful in collating all this information, and
many distinguished names appear in the list of
contributors. For Great Britain we have Dr.
Strahan, the assistant-director of the Geological
Survey and president of the Geological Society
of London, whose work in the difficult South
Wales coalfield has obtained for him inter-
national recognition, whilst no one probably
knows so much about the coal resources of the
United States as Mr. Marius Campbell, of the
United States Geological Survey; the coal
resources of the German Empire will be dealt
with by the members of the Royal Prussian
Geological Survey; those of Belgium by M.
Renier, chief of the Geological Department
of that country; and many other eminent
geologists are contributors. The British colonies
have always proved a happy hunting ground for
the geologist, not only on account of the scope
which they afford for research, but also by
reason of the economic value of their mineral
deposits. The Congress has here obtained the
assistance of many capable investigators, whose

many besides the professional geologist; it only
remains to add that full particulars are obtain-
able from the secretary of any geological society
or survey, or from the secretary to the Congress,
at the Victoria Memorial Museum, Ottawa.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade has been exceptionally good'
during the past week, especially for household qualities.
The milder weather has considerably lessened the demand,
but all reports show a large number of orders still
unexecuted. Public orders have increased. All classes of
manufacturing coal continue in good demand, particularly
small nuts. The seaborne market is quiet, but still no
cargoes of either Durham or Yorkshire available for open
sale. Prices are unchanged, but firm and steady.

The market at Newcastle is quietly steady, and prices are-
on the up grade. House coals are dearer.

The Durham coal trade is steady, with a somewhat firmer
tendency.

The colder weather has given an impetus to the demand,
for Lancashire house coal, and manufacturers continue to
take full supplies of screened coal. Shipping is rather dull,
and slacks are more plentiful.

The West Yorkshire coal trade is fairly active in all
departments.

In South Yorkshire steam coal prices are rather firmer#-
and a better demand has been experienced for house coal.
Coke is rather sluggish.

Orders for Derbyshire house coal are coming to hand
more freely, and fuel for industrial purposes continues in
active demand.

At Cardiff traffic congestion is still the momentous ques-
tion. Steam coal prices, however, have hardened, and.
prospects are good. Small coals are very scarce.

The Scottish coal trade is rather busier in all branches.

IHD1AH ARD COLOH1AL ROTES.

India.

Mining and Geological Institute of India.—This institute
held its annual dinner in Calcutta on January 31, the
president, Mr. A. S. Thomson, occupying the chair. The
chairman, in giving the toast of the Government of Bengal*,
stated that the rules under the Mining Settlement Act for
the provinces of Behar and Orissa and Bengal had been
drafted, and would shortly be published for criticism, and
he hoped the Jharia Water Supply Bill would soon be
introduced. He alluded next to the disadvantages of the
coalfields being located in two provinces, and followed
this by urging that the boards and committees formed
to settle matters appertaining to mining should not be-
duplicated. Whilst the Act provided that there should be
a mining board for each province, it might be arranged
that the personnel of each should be identical. Mr.
Thomson also referred to the bad state of the roads in the-
Raneegunge coalfield and in the neighbourhood of Asansol,
and to the difficulty of obtaining transport licences for
explosives. Sir William Duke, who replied, said the parti-
tion of the Governments had been prompted by wider con-
siderations, and, so far as he could judge, it had come to
stay. The duplication of the mining boards would not
he thought, cause difficulty, and these impediments in the -
way of a joint board, such as already existed for educational
purposes. The Hon. Mr. P. C. Lyon proposed the health
of “ The Mineral Industries of India,” Mr. William Wanklyn
replying. The latter referred feelingly to the death of the
late Mr. Pickering, and to the movement which was set on
foot some little time ago in connection with a memorial.
He understood that the amount received in India in connec-
tion with that movement was nearly .£800. Mr. C. T.
Ambler proposed “ The Guests,” Mr. A. Topping respon-
ding, while Mr. G. F. Adams proposed “ The President. ^
Over Rs.500 were subscribed at the meeting towards the
Pickering memorial.

Earlier in the same day the annual meeting of the
institute was held at the rooms of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal. The following office-bearers were then elected:—
President, Mr. A. Thomson; vice-presidents, Messrs. R. J.
Browne and C. T. Ambler; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. H
Haydon; hon. sec., Mr. H. H. Reynolds; members of
council, Messrs. R. Mitchell, T. Adamson, J. S. Kean, F..
Owen, C. H. Richards, G. H. Tipper, P. Bruhl, H. D. Coggan,
Glen George, R. G. M. Bathgate, R. Barrowman, E. S.
Bennertz, C. H. McCabe, G. Miller and W. A. Lee; ex-officio
additional members of council, Sir T. H. Holland, Mr. W.
Miller, Mr. H. G. Graves, Mr. S. Hislop, Sir R. P. Ashton
and Mr. G. F. Adams.

Mr. Thomson, on taking the presidential chair, delivered
his address, in which he referred to the future of the
Raneegunge and Jherria coalfield, and to the coming of
deep mining. In the former field, working near the outcrop
was coming to an end, and the output of the Jherria field
must drop. Although he did not share the views of the
pessimists who restricted the life of the field to 20 years,
he recommended co-operative boring for the purpose of
estimating the available resources. In regard to the»