502 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 7, 1913. form of a compressed cake. As already pointed out, the by-product plant is designed on Koppere* direct recovery principle, whereby the ammonia is recovered directly in the form of sulphate without necessitating the use of scrubbing apparatus. It might be interesting here to point out that Koppers was the first to bring the process for the direct recovery of ammonia to a successful issue. The original patents taken out by him covered both what is now known as the hot or dry process, in which the temperature of the .gas is maintained above the point of condensation of aqueous vapour, and the low-temperature process, in which the gases are cooled to atmospheric temperature. After careful investigations and exhaustive experiments, Koppers found that the low-temperature process possessed so many advantages over the hot process, that he imme- diately discarded the latter and adopted the alternative method referred to. The hot process has been taken up by other firms with more or less success, but that the Koppers low-temperature process has proved most remarkably successful is evidenced by the fact that in the short space of six years plants have been ordered to deal with the gases from the huge total of 25 million tons of coal per annum. This is the process which will be in operation at Cargo Fleet. The gases of distillation are conducted from the ovens to a series of cooling apparatus of the multitubular type, where they are cooled to atmospheric temperature, thereby ■effecting the condensation of tar and aqueous vapour. They are then passed to exhausters, by which they are driven forward to the tar extractors, in which the last remaining traces of tar are effectually removed. After leaving the ■extractors the gases are passed through superheaters, where the temperature is raised to such a degree as to permit of the gases being delivered direct into the ammonia satura- tors without condensation taking place. The heat required for superheating is obtained from the exhaust steam derived from the steam engines driving the exhausters. No tar is deposited in the saturators, and the salt produced is of first- class quality and is snow white. After passing through the saturators the gases are conducted to final coolers where they are cooled to the required degree for the efficient extraction of the benzol vapour contained in them. The benzol is washed out of the gases in scrubbing apparatus by means of creosote oil in the usual way. After the extraction of the benzol a portion of the gases is returned to the ovens for heating purposes, whilst the remaining portion is conducted to steam boilers. OBITUARY. Mr. Thomas Bell, ex-chief inspector of mines for the Durham district, died at his residence in Avenue Victoria, Scarborough, on the 27th ult., in his 83rd year. He was a native of Durham county, became a mining engineer, and was viewer at different collieries in that county, including the Belmont Colliery, where he served under Sir George Elliott. He next went to a colliery near Chesterfield, owned by Mr. Emerson Bainbridge. Whilst at Chesterfield he was appointed a Government inspector of mines, and for a time he was attached to the West Lancashire and North Wales district. Within a few years he was removed to Durham, and subsequently was appointed chief inspector for that district. During the 25 years he was in the service of the Government Mr. Bell took a prominent part in connection with a number of colliery disasters. On retiring on a pension about 16 years ago he went to live at Scarborough. Mr. Bell was an honorary member of the North of England Institute. He acted frequently as an arbitrator in disputes Teferred to the Board of Trade. The death took place at his London residence, on the 27th ult., of Col. James Robert Bain, at the age of 63. He had been in failing health for some time, and death succeeded an attack of influenza. The deceased gentleman 'Was son of the late Sir James Bain, Provost of Glasgow, who for some time represented Whitehaven in Parliament. He commenced his career in the flrm of Bain, Blair and Patterson, proprietors of the Harrington Ironworks and Collieries, in the early seventies. In 1880, with his late lather, Mr. J. D. Bain, his brother, and Mr. J. S. Simpson, the Whitehaven Collieries were leased from the Earl of Lonsdale, and from then until he was laid aside by illness •Col. Bain took an active part in the management. He was a justice of the peace, and for many years chairman of the Whitehaven Bench. In 1900 he was returned to Parliament in the Unionist interest for the Egremont division of West •Cumberland, and sat until 1906, when he did not seek re-election. He leaves a widow, but no family. The death occurred at Hanch Hall, Lichfield, last week, of Mr. Stephen Stokes. The deceased had reached the advanced age of 87, and had been in failing health for a long period. Mr. Stokes was chairman of the East Cannock Colliery Company. He leaves a family of three sons and two daughters. We regret to announce the death of Sir William White, the great naval architect, which occurred on the 27th ult. at the Westminster Hospital. Sir William White was only 14 years of age when he entered the dockyard at Devonport as “ shipbuilders* apprentice." He took a course at the Royal School of Naval Architecture, and in 1870 became professor of naval architecture at the school. He joined Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. in 1883 as organiser and director of their warship building yard at Elswick. On the retirement of Sir Nathaniel Barnaby, Sir William was invited by the Admiralty to become Director of Naval Construction and Assistant Controller of the Navy. He held the post until February 1902, when he resigned on the ground of ill-health. On recovering his health Sir William joined the firm of Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson as director and consulting architect. With them he acted for five years. He was the first naval architect to be elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 1909 he went with the British Association to Winnipeg as president of the engineering section. He was president-elect for this year. Mr. John Daniel, manager of the International Colliery, Abercrave, fell dead on February 20. Mr. Daniel was at one time manager of the Ammon Colliery, and had also been connected with G- *aun-cae-Gurwen and the Cawdor. He was 52 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children. THE LOHDOH COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 6. The London coal trade for the past week has varied considerably. The prevailing milder condition of the atmosphere has lessened the number of orders and diminished the demand for all household qualities, but the delivery trade continues brisk, from the fact of so many orders remaining on hand unexecuted from the preceding sharp frost of a week or more ago. Colliery orders also have not yet been completed, so that the present lull in the flow of fresh trade is hailed on all sides as a good oppor- tunity of overtaking the arrears. The earlier part of the week also was freighted with a genuine fear lest the Midland Railway difficulty might lead to a strike on the part of some of their employees, and possibly extend to a greater development with all other railway companies. The coal traffic usually in cases of this kind is the first to feel the effects of a strike, as the passenger traffic and perishable goods must perforce take the premier consideration. A good number of orders, especially for manufacturing purposes, have been lodged in anticipation of this trouble, but happily the difficulty appears, to a large extent, to be averted. The attendance on the market has been fairly good throughout the week, and, although the business doing has been moderate, there has been a good deal of interchange between merchants and factors. The seaborne market continues firm, and the number of vessels arriving in the Thames keeps up to its usual average; 33 cargoes were reported on Monday's market, and 13 on Wednesday. The strength of the market, however, was not tested, as no cargoes of the principal recognised qualities were offering (Wallsend or seconds), but a few Yorkshire kinds were dealt with. The price at which the best Sharpton Main coal was dealt with did not transpire, but West Yorkshire was again quoted at 14s. to 14s. 6d. per ton. All colliery prices are firm, and quotations are unaltered. Stocks are reduced very considerably at the colliery end, and also at the various metropolitan depots, so that, looking forward to the Easter stoppage, there is very little disposition to make any concession in regard to pit prices this month. The extraordinary demand for slacks and small coal continues, and factories are eagerly buying up any parcels offering at moderate prices. Steam coals are also moving freely. Welsh qualities are reported quiet, and all gas cokes are more plentiful and prices somewhat weaker. Market quotations (pit mouth) : Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations. Current Last week's Yorkshire. prices. prices. Wath Main best coal 13/ 13/ Do. nuts 12/ 12/ Birley cube Silkstone 11/6 11/6 Do. branch coal 15/ 15 Do. seconds 11/ /, 11/ Barnsley Bed Silkstone 1 12/6 12/6 West Riding Silkstone 12/ 12/ Kiveton Park Hazel 13/ 13/ Do. cobbles L 13/ 13/ Do. nuts 12/ 12/ Do. hard steam 11/ I 11/ New Sharlston Wallsend 14/ 14/ Wharncliffe Silkstone coal 14/ 14/ Do. Flockton Main 13/6 13/6 Do. Athersley house coal 11/6 11/6 Newton Chambers best Silkstone 15/ 15/ Do. Grange best Silkstone 14/ 14/ Do. Hesley Silkstone 13/ 13/ Do. Rockingham selected 13/6 13/6 Do. Rockingham Silkstone 13/ 13/ Derbyshire. Wingfield Manor best 12/ 12/ Do. large nuts 11/9 11/9 Do. small nuts 9/6 9/6 Do. kitchen coal 10/ 10/ West Hallam Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Do. London brights 11/ 11/ Do. bright nuts 10/9 10/9 Do. small nuts 9/6 9/6 Manners Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Shipley do. brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Mapperley brights 12/ 12/ Do hard steam 11/9 11/9 Cossall Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 1, 11/9 Trowell Moor brights 11/6 11/6 Do. do. nuts 11 / 11/ Grassmoor Main coal 12/6 X1/ 12/6 Do. Tupton 11/ 11/ Do. do. nuts 12/ 12/ Current Derbyshire—(cont). Clay Cross Main coal................. Do. do. cubes ................... Do. special Darbys............... Do. house coal................... Pilsley best blackshale ............. Do. deep house coal ............... Do. hard screened cobbles ......... Hardwick best Silkstone ............. Do. Cavendish brights............. Do. cubes ........................ Nottinghamshire. Clifton picked hards ................ Do. small hards.................... Do. deep large steam .............. Annesley best hards ................. Do. bright cobbles ................ Linby best hards..................... Do. bright cobbles.................. Digby London brights ................ Do. cobbles ........................ Do. top hards ...................... Do. High Hazel coal................. Best wood hard steam coal............ Do. bright cobbles ................ Hucknall Torkard main hards.......... Do. do. cobbles ................... Do. do. nuts....................... Do. do. High Hazel H P. ... Do. do. London brights Do. do. large nuts Do. do. bright nuts Sherwood H.P. hards Do. hard steam.................. Do. brights ... ................ Do. cobbles ....................... Do. large nuts .................... Warwickshire. Griff large steam coal................ Do. screened cobbles ................ Do. bakers* nuts .................... Do. loco Two Yard hards ............. Do. Ryder nuts.................... Do. do. cobbles .................. Nuneaton steam coal................ Do. screened cobbles ........... Do. nuts........................ Haunchwood steam ................ Do. screened cobbles......... Do. nuts .................... Wyken steam coal ................ Do. screened cobbles .......... Do. nuts....................... Exhall Ell coal spires................... Do. large steam coal.................. Leicestershire. Snibston steam....................... Do. cobbles-....................... Do. nuts .......................... South Leicester steam ............... Do. cobbles or small hards Do. nuts ................. Whitwiok steam....................... Do. roasters .................... Do. cobbles ..................... Do. nuts......................... Netherseal hards .................... Do. Eureka..................... Do. kitchen.................... Ibstock kibbles ..................... Do. large nuts .................... Do. bakers* nuts .................. Do. Main nuts...................... Do. hards ......................... Granville New Pit cobbles............ Do. Old Pit cobbles ............... North Staffordshire. Talk-o’-th*-Hill best ............... Sneyd best, selected ................ Do. deeps........................ Silverdale best...................... Do. cobbles ..................... Apedale best ........................ Do. seconds...................... Podmore Hall best.................... Do. seconds...................... South Staffordshire (Cannock District). Walsall Wood steam coal, London brights.............................. Do. shallow one way............ Do. deep nuts.................. Cannock steam....................... Coppice deep coal ................... Do. cobbles ....................... Do. one way........................ Do. shallow coal .................. Cannock Chase deep main.............. Do. Deep kitchen cobbles ... Do. best shallow main ......... Do. shallow kibbles ...... Do. best brights.......... Do. yard cobbles.......... Do. yard nuts ............ Do. bakers* nuts............... Do. screened hards............. Last week’s prices. 12/6 12/ 11/9 11/ 12/6 10/6 10/ 12/6 11/6 11/6 12/ 11/ 12/ 12 11/3 12/ 11/3 12/ 12 13/ 14/ 12/ 11/3 12/3 11/3 11/ 14/9 12/3 12/3 11/3 12/ 10/6 11/3 11/3 11/9 10/9 11/ 11/ 13/6 11/6 12/6 10/9 11/ 11 10/9 11/ H/ 10/9 11/ 11 12/6 10/9 10/6 10/3 10/6 10/ 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 17/ 12/6 10/6 10/ 10 9/6- 10/ 9/6 11/6 10/6 13/6 14/6 14/ 15/ 14/ 13/6 13/ 13/6 13/ 13/ 12/ 11/6 11/ 13 12 12/ 12/ 17/ 12/ 14/ 13/6 13/ 13/6 12/6 10/3 11/ prices. 12/6 12/ 11/9 11/ 12/6 10/6 10/ 12/6 11/6 11/6 12/ 11 12/ 12/ 11/3 12/ 11/3 12/ 12 13/ 14/ 12/ 11/3 12/3 11/3 11/ 14/9 12/3 12/3 11/3 12/ 10/6 11/3 11/3 11/9 10/9 nl, 11 13/6 11/6 12/6 10/9 11/ 11/ 10/9 nl, H/ 10/9 11/ 11/ 12/6 10/9 10/6 10/3 10/6 10/ 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 10/6 17/ 12/6 10/6 10/ 10/ 9/6 10/ 9/6 11/6 10/6 13/6 14/6 14/ 15/ 14/ 13/6 13/ 13/6 13/ 13/ 12/ 11/6 11/ 13/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 17 12/ 14 13/6 13/ 13/6 12/6 10/3 11/ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcos and Co.’s Report. .Friday, February 28.—There was a fair enquiry for sea- borne house coal to-day, but no cargoes on offer. Monday, March 3.—There were no Durham seaborne house coal cargoes on offer to-day, but Sharlston Main and ditto unscreened met with a ready sale in small quantities. Wednesday, March 5.—The seaborne house coal market remained unaltered to-day, no cargoes of Durham or Yorkshire on offer. Prices:— Feb. 28. Mar. 3. Mar. 5. Best (Durham) ............. — ... — ... __ Seconds do................. — ... — ... __ Sharlston W.E. York ....... — ... — ... __ No. of cargoes............ 20 ... 33 ... 13