March 28, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 659 BOOK NOTICES. Land and Mining Surveying. By George Lionel Leston. London: Crosby Lockwood and Son. Price 6s. net. The term admitting of so many interpretations, it is important to note than Mr. Leston speaks of surveying “ as applied to collieries and other mines,” and intends his book for “ students, colliery officials and mine surveyors.” In his preface the author lightly refers to a question that has within the past few months excited much controversy. He thinks “ There can be no doubt but that the best way of acquiring a knowledge of surveying is to be actually engaged in it,” and holds a poor opinion of the teaching imparted in schools and classes; the intention, apparently, is that practical work and this book should collaborate in providing the student with all that is necessary to obtain a proper understanding of his profession. It is not necessary here to examine the soundness of this doctrine—which, even as a matter of opinion, is perhaps too sweeping—except in so far as it applies to Mr. Leston’s own work, and we think that the intelligent and painstaking student will undoutedly derive great assistance from it, whether the lack of academic instruction be, in his case, the result of choice or necessity. The book contains 15 ^chapters, the headings of which are as follow:—(1) The Surveyor’s Chain; (2) Office Work; (3) Chain Surveys; (4) The Miner’s Dial; (5) Plotting Underground Surveys ; (6) Surveying with the Fixed Needle, &c.; (7) Levelling; (8) Dials with Tele, scopes; (9) Mathematics required in'Surveying ; (10) The Theodolite ; (11) Surface Surveys with the Theodolite; (12) The Correlation of Underground and Surface Surveys; (13) Trigonometrical Levelling, &c.; (14) Railway Curves, &c.; (15) Colliery Plans, &c. Some little space is occupied in .describing various types of instru- ments ; for the great part, however, the author has applied himself to a practical demonstration of methods, and there is a salutary absence of “ catalogue ” illus- trations—far too common in books of this class. Nevertheless, there are no less than 210 illustrations. In his last chapter, Mr. Leston expresses regret that the Coal Mines Act, when instituting what amounts practically to a uniform scale for colliery plans, did not go further and compel a uniform method of representing the underground workings. This chapter will be found one of the most useful in the whole work. That this adjective can be applied to the whole work also we have no hesitation in saying, and, although there are already several excellent works on mine surveying, Mr. Leston’s book does not suffer in comparison with them, nor is it redundant. Mine Gases and Gas Testing. By J. W. McTrusty. Wigan: Thomas Wall and Sons Limited. . Price 2s. 6d. The matter of this book, which is written by the lecturer to the Warwickshire County Council, appeared originally in the Science and Art of Mining. The first thought is that there must be a great opening for such a book, and we suppose there is such an opening; yet there is little in Mr. McTrusty’s book (which also deals in somewhat cursory fashion with fires, explosions, coaldust and breathing appliances) that has not been also dealt with, in much the same way, by others. Indeed, the most useful section of the book, to our mind, is that which contains the appendices, giving the various orders and circulars issued by the Home Office. Generally speaking, for practical purposes the book might have been considerably condensed. At the low price of half-a-crown it should certainly have a good sale. Railway Consignment Notes and their Conditions. By B. O. Bircham, B.A. London: Butterworth and Co. The object of this book is to set forth in plain language and in a small compass the meaning and legal effect of the conditions contained in consignment notes for the carriage of goods and animals. Many traders will find it of assistance, especially when dealing with questions arising under the “ owner’s risk ” clause. There are tables of statutes and cases, and an excellent index. Percentage Compass for Navigators, Surveyors, and Travellers. By John C. Fergusson, M.Inst.O.E. London: Longmans, Green and Co. Price 2s. 6d. (on sheet unmounted), and 3s. 6d. (mounted on linen). This is a practical application of Fergusson’s percentage unit of angular measurement to the magnetic compass-dial, and converts it into a simple and accurate range-finder, reducing all problems in plane trigonometry to simple arithmetric. The percentage unit expresses the amount of divergency of a course from the cardinal points of the compass, in terms of a percentage of the PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Kelly’s Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers of the World, 1913. 27th edition. London : Kelly’s Directories Limited. Kelly’s Customs Tariffs of the World, 1913. London : Kelly’s Directories Limited. "The Journal of the Monmouthshire Colliery Officials’Asso- ciation” (Vol. 11, No. 5); "Bulletin de la Societe d’Encouragement Nationale” (Tome 119, No. 2); "The Journal of the South African Institution of Engineers ” (Vol. 11, No. 8), March, price 2s.; "The Journal of the Franklin Institute ” (Vol. 175, No. 3), March price 50 c. ; "The Engineering Magazine” (Vol. 44, No. 6), March, price Is.; "Mines Department of the Union of South Africa, Statistics for the Month of January 1913 ”; "Minist&re de 1’Industrie et due Travail, Service des Accidents Miniers et du Grisou, Siege d’Experiences de Frameries, r Temperatures Atteintes par les Tamies des Lamps de Surete en Milieu G-risouteux,’ ” par Emmanuel Lemaire (Extrait des Annales des Mines de Belgique, Tome 18, No. 1); "The Journal of State Medicine” (Vol. 21, No. 3), March, price 2s. " Transactions of the Institution of Mining Engineers ” (Vol. 45, Part 1). At Barnsley last week, William Henry Brook, by- workman, Barnsley, was summoned under Section 72 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, for interfering with an electrical apparatus in the mine used for the purpose of re-lighting safety lamps. On February 20 defendant’s lamp went out, and he deliberately broke open the box containing the apparatus and relighted it. It was stated that this was the third case of this sort this year. A fine of 20s. and costs was imposed. length of the base-line from which that course is run' The compass may be read, at a glance, in both percentage units and in degree units. As a means of rapid calculation and a saving of valuable time, the importance of Mr. Fergusson’s card and rules can scarcely be exaggerated. Elements of Hydraulics. By Mansfield Merriman New York: John Wiley and Sons. London: Chapman and Hull. Price 4s. 6d. net. This is intended as a text-book for secondary technical schools and aims at a presentation of the subject without the use of higher mathematics. There are eight chapters dealing with hydrostatics, theoretic hydraulics, flow from orifices, through pipes, in conduits and rivers, the measurement of water, hydraulic motors and pumps. The author’s style is eminently concise, whilst the general get-up is in consonance with the productions of these publishers—that is to say, it leaves nothing to be desired. Investors’ Book-keeping By Ebenezer Carr, F.S.A.A.; and How to Check your Stockbroker’s Account, by an Accountant. London: Effingham Wilson. Price Is. net. This is one of Wilson’s “ legal and useful handy- books.” The title speaks for itself, and it should prove useful to innumerable investors who now feel the lack of some guidance on the points to which it particularly applies. Business Prospects Year Book, 1913. Edited by Joseph Davies and C. B. Hailey. Price 10s. net. Cardiff, London and Newcastle-on-Tyne: The Business Statistics Company. So far as the coal trade is concerned, the editors have not a difficult task this year. Their prognosis is that “ all collieries will find full employment and a ready market for their maximum output; prices of coal will be higher than in any year since 1907, and possibly since 1900; profits on capital invested in colliery under- takings will be exceptionally large.” Apart from the speculative interest which this book possesses, the statement of facts from which the deduc- tions are drawn have a distinct practical value. The whole gamut of commerce is covered from coal to rubber. The “ Mechanical World ” Pocket Diary and Year Book for 1913. Manchester and London : Emmott and Co. 6d. A wonderful production for the money. In the present edition the sections on gas and oil engines and on suction gas producers have been re-written. Several new sections and tables have been added. The “Mechanical World ” Electrical Pocket Book for 1913. Manchester and London : Emmott and Co. 6d. A companion volume to the above. In this case there are new sections on measuring instruments, magnetic circuits, magnetic materials, alternators, alternate current motors, supply factors, motor control, fuel in central stations, electric motor applications, and depre- ciation. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. Any of the following publications may be obtained on application to this office at the price named post free. Report on Accident to a Gasholder at Ilkeston, Is. 0£d. Exports : Manufactured and Partly Manufactured Articles, Return, id. Labour Gazette for March, 2d. National Insurance : Draft Regulations, March 11,1913, Hd. Bills : Merchandise Marks, lid.; Land Values (Scotland), lid.; Regulations of Railways, Id. Gas Undertakings: Local Authorities’ Return for 1911-12, 8d.; ditto, Companies, Return for 1911, Is. Id. Foreign Trade for February, 6d. Census for England and Wales, 1911: Vol. 5, Index to the Population Tables, 3s. 5d. Workmen’s Compensation Schemes: Regulations, lid. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last Whits pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Barking, March 31.—For the supply of about 6,000 tons of bituminous slack, for the Barking Town Urban District Council. Christiania, April 5.—HM. Consul at Christiania reports that tenders are invited by the Norwegian State Railways authorities for the supply of 86,000 tons of best quality locomotive coal (Shireoak, Langwith, Kiveton Park, Lambton, Hetton, Sherwood, &c.), and also for delivery at Bergen of 2,000 tons of smokeless double- screened Cardiff coal.* Darwen (Lancs ), March 31.—For supply of rough gas slack and nuts for one year, to be delivered at the gasworks siding in Corporation wagons, for the Gas Committee. Douglas (I.O.M.), March 31.—For the supply of one cargo of about 190 tons of good steam coal, double-screened, suitable for the engines of the cable tramways, for the Corporation. Dronfield, April 1.—For the supply of 1,000 tons of best screened gas coal, and 500 tons of best washed nut?, to spread over period ending March 31, 1914, for the Dronfield Gaslight and Coke Company. Edinburgh, March 31.—For supply of gas coal, yielding a satisfactory quality of coke, for delivery at their Granton works over a period of about 12 months from July 1, for the Edinburgh and Leith Corporations Gas Commissioners. Edinburgh, March 31.—The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the City of Edinburgh invite tenders for the supply of coal for the Electricity Supply Department. Frank A. Newington, engineer. Engineer’s Office, Dewar- place Station. Edinburgh, April 9.—For the supply of coal, for the Leith Harbour and Docks Commissioners, from May 1, 1913, to May 1, 1914. Edinburgh. April 1.—For the supply of coal for the Governors of George Heriot’s Trust, for the year to April 15, 1914. Havant, April 3.—For the supply of 1,500 to 2,000 tons of good gas coal, specifying the same, and particularly the following : Best Durham, best Yorkshire (screened and unscreened), for the Havant Gas Company. Isleworth, April 2.—For supply of coal, best steam, also small Welsh and Midland slack and coke for ensuing six months, for the Guardians of Brentford Union. Konsberg (Norway), April 10. — H.M. Consul at Christiania reports that tenders are invited by the Kons- berg Arms Factory for the supply and delivery of 200 metric tons of steam coal, 200 metric tons of coke and 25 metric tons of smithy coal. Leith, April 9.—The Leith Harbour and Docks Com- missioners invite tenders from colliery owners or masters for supply of coal required by them from May 1, 1913, to May 1,1914. Letterkenny, April 6. — For the supply of such quantities of gas coal, for the Urban District Council, as may be required, for the financial year ending March 31, 1914. London, April 21.—For supply of coal for the electricity department for one year from April 1, for the Battersea Borough Council. London, April 24.—For supply of coal and coke for public baths, depots, and offices during 12 months commencing July 1, for the Lambeth Borough Council. Morecambe (Lancs.), April 5.—For the supply of 10,000 tons of gas fuel, for the Corporation. Newport (Fife), April 2.—For the supply of cannel, gas coal, screened and unscreened), treble, double, and single nuts, per ton, delivered at the railway siding, for 12 months as from May 15, for the Corporation. Newmilns, April 1.—For supply of gas coal for the Corporation gasworks, to be delivered at Newmilns railway station in quantities as required during year to May 15, 1914, for the Town Council. Spalding, March 31.—For supply of 50 tons of coal for steam purposes of any of the following best steam coal —viz., Shirebrook, Shipley, South Normanton—for the Guardians. Trinidad, April 7.—For supply of about 7,000 tons of patent fuel to be delivered in Trinidad in June and September 1913, and January 1914. Forms from the Crown Agents for the Colonies, Whitehall-gardens, S.W. Tunbridge Wells, March 31.—For the supply of coal during a period of 12 months from May 7, for the Corpora- * Specifications, particulars,