204 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 23, 1914. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. The Editor is not responsible either for the statements made, or the opinions expressed by correspondents. All communications must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender, whether for publication or not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi cations. As replies to questions are only given by way of published answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped addressed envelopes are not required to be sent. FLAME V. ELECTRIC SAFETY LAMPS. Sir,—Your correspondent, Mr. Hailwood, seems to me to be pulling the leg of colliery managers when he asserts that flame safety lamps will give greater light than electric. He cannot get more than 1-candle power for 10 hours straight on out of any make of flame-lamp of miner’s size without using a reflector, even with constant pickering; whereas I can promise him IJ-candle power for the full 10 hours without any diminution of light or interfering with the lamp. Further, this electric lamp cannot be opened lighted, nor could it be fired if it was open, the spark from the terminal being so slight. I am not saying that you cannot detect danger sooner with flame lamps ; that is not the point I want cleared up. J. Playfair. Westgate-road, Newcastle, January 21, 1914. THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS. Sir,—In your number of January 9 there is an article on the Report of the Board of Mining Examinations. This article is in some ways misleading in that con- clusion may be drawn that examinations under the new Act are more formidable to the candidate than those held previously. This may be correct in some centres, but does not apply to all. I do not think the average percentage of passes at Wigan and Manchester during the last few years under the old conditions was even as high as that under the new Act general throughout the country (^.e., 24*4 per cent.). I know that over 90 candidates sat for first-class certificates at Manchester in December 1911, and only 12 of these were successful, giving a percentage at most of 14. What happened in South Wales and Scotland can be gathered from these figures. One Interested. [Our correspondent is wrong in basing an argument on the results at Manchester in 1911. The percentage of passes in the first class in that year at Manchester was as low as 14’6, but the next percentage (Sheffield) was as high as 25’4. In the same year the percentage at Cardiff was 54’9 (23’7 in 1912), at Edinburgh 39’7 (11’7 in 1912), and at Glasgow 29'5; at Wigan in 1911 31’4 per cent, of the candidates passed in the first class, as against 23 9 in 1912. In the second class at Wigan no less than 70’7 per cent, passed in 1911, as against 30*6 in 1912. It is impossible to controvert the Board’s main conclusion that, taking the whole country, only 24’4 per cent, of the whole of the candidates who presented themselves for examination in 1912 obtained certificates, whereas 37*8 per cent, obtained the same certificate in 1911—in other words, the percentage of passes was considerably less. The exceptional figures for Manchester provided one of the chief arguments for uniformity.—Ed. C.G-J] CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES. Belgium, Rates for the transport of German coal on the Belgian railways are to be increased by 2d. per ton from April 1. The charges for the export of large quantities of coal at Antwerp are to be increased 50 per cent. The output of pig iron from Belgian blast furnaces during the past year is estimated to have comprised 28,230 tons of forge pig, 94,720 tons of foundry pig, and 2,404,120 tons of steel pig—a total of 2,527,070 tons, as compared with only 2,199,250 tons in 1912. France. The Societe Generale des Agglomeres K. L. (Procedes J. Call) has been formed in Paris with a capital of 1,€00,000 fr. The headquarters are 21, rue du Faubourg, Montmartre, and the directors are MM. P. Kabbe, Tiitout, Cael, Mamet and Porteret. The Coal Trade.—Our Paris correspondent says:—With the contracting season in full swing, the situation of the French coal trade has firmed up considerably. The collieries anticipating a further reduction of output are finding no difficulty in renewing their contracts at last year’s prices, and are the more firm in their attitude since there seems a chance of things going even better. The slump in colliery shares has been temporarily stopped, with the renewal of activity in the speculative market in them on the Lille Bourse, following on the final dividends declared at the end of the year, which, on the whole, are regarded as satisfactory. From the investor’s point of view, however, the income value of the securities even at present prices is not yet tempting as compared with the opportunities offered in other directions. Lievin is one of the collieries whose standing is most satisfactory under present circumstances. It is one of the most important in the North of France, exploiting some 5,000 acres of territory between Bethune and Drocourt, with 15 workable veins varing from 1 metre to 1 10 metres in thickness, lying just over 30 metres apart. There are 10 workings, and two being opened up. The coal is of two qualities—a good industrial splint, and a gas coal of from 28 to 40 volatile. No coke or fuel is made, and the output, which shows a fair annual increase, amounted to 1,949,566 tons last year, 22,000 tons above that of 1912. The company publishes no balance- sheet, nor profit and loss account, simply stating the amount written off, which last year was 2.399,572 fr., but the financial situation seems fairly sound, although the book value of the property investments, 75.907,878 fr., might be criticised as rather high, seeing that above ground there are no installations beyond the washing plant. In common with its neighbours, a very substantial increase in output is required before the dividend can be improved. It must not be forgotten that at present 60 per cent, of the net working profits of the collieries is deducted for taxation, social benefit schemes, &c, and that these promise to increase. It is precisely the unpromising outlook in these respects which is keeping French colliery shares depressed. Fresh drafts of men are leaving for the army, and this year, with the three years’ service now in force, these will not be replaced, as in the normal course, by time-expired men, who are being kept with the colours for an additional year. To this must be added the eight hours day, which is confidently expected to pass the Senate at any moment. Furthermore, French collieries are feeling, to a greater extent than other countries, the steady falling-off in the working efficiency of the men, in spite of modern mechanical improvements, while the average output per pit in the north of France increased from 205,231 tons in 1910 to over 240,000 tons last year. The improvement is entirely due to additions to the workings and the increase in the number of men sent down. In France the per capita output has fallen from 205 tons in 1906 to its present level of 170 tons. Going further back, we find that the decline has been going on steadily since the eighties, while wages have been rising. Thus in France labour represented 4 33 fr. per ton raised in 1897, but last year it was 7*45 fr. The average daily wage for under- ground labour is now 5 58 fr., but the miner profits by a host of benefit schemes, with practically a free cottage furnished and stocked, both house and garden; and he is now threatening to strike for a retiring pension at 50 years of age. There is reason to fear that this strike may come about. Prices at present are on the basis of 24 50 fr. for large through coal, 19 50 fr. for 4 cm. smalls, and 18*75 fr. for 2 cm. smalls. As there is a working agreement between all the big collieries of the north of France these prices rule for all descriptions. These prices are almost certain to stand, and may even go slightly higher, for there has been a great falling-off in the expected Belgian competition. Recently some considerable quantities of Belgian splint was placed in the east and north of France, but stocks in Belgium have been much reduced, and the local demand is proving equal to the output. The subjoined tabla shows the comparative pithead prices of the mines of the north of France, with their nearest com- petitors in Belgium and Germany during the last six years in the first half of January each year. The coals compared are 20/25 per cent. “through” French coal, ordinary “ through-and-through ” German coal, and long flame Belgian smalls:— rance. < J Fr. Germany. -T Essen. Fr. Sarre. Fr. Fr. January 1914 20*50 ... 15’45 ... 16’00 ... 16’00 „ 1913 20*00 ... 14’50 ... 16’00 ... 18’00 „ 1912 18*50 ... 13’20 ... 14*75 ... 13*50 „ 1911 18*50 ... 13’45 ... 14’75 ... 13 00 „ 1910 17*50 ... 13’45 ... 14’75 ... 13’00 „ 1909 17’50 ... 14*05 ... 14’75 ... 14*00 The comparative prices of furnace coke for the same period were as follow :— France. Germany. Belgium. January 1914 Fr. ... 26’00 Fr. ... 21’25 Fr. ... 22’00 „ 1913 ... 26T9 ... 21’87 ... 27’00 „ 1912 ... 21’43 ... 20’62 ... 22’00 „ 1911 ... 22’10 ... 20*62 ... 22’00 „ 1910 ... 21’50 ... 18’75 ... 19’50 „ 1909 ... 21’50 ... 20’62 ... 19’50 As regards the French denomination “ through,” consider- able ignorance exists outside those immediately concerned in the trade as to what the classification really means, especially as it is subdivided into 20/25 per cent., 30/35 per cent., and “large through” nominally about 50 per cent. The percentage is supposed to be that of lumps and pieces, but when pressed for a definition, the collieries claim the formula that the percentage is of pieces over 4 centimetres in diameter, in some mines it is even 2 centi- metres. This, of course, is a pretty wide classification, but owing to the minimum of handling between the mine and the consumer the 20/25 comes out better than even a large imported through. The differentiation between the three grades, however, is very vague even, one might safely suppose, in the minds of the collieries themselves, for it often happens that the 30/35 comes out inferior to an average 20/25, or again equal to an average large through, yet it costs 1 fr. a ton more than the former, and 2 fr. less the latter. The 20/25 is the most preferred by the French industrial consumers, and, as a rule, sets the standard of prices. Exports and Imports.—'The following table shows the exports and imports of coal during the 11 months ended with November last:— Imports. Exports. T913. 1912. 1913. 1912. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Coal 16,883,800 ... 14,492,900 ... 1,2'3,869 ...1,771,019 Coke.......... 2,817,200... 2,516,100... 211.613... 188 074 Briquettes... 981,200 ... 1,025,200 ... 1^8,997 ... 179,985 Germany. It is stated that Mr. Hugo Stinnes has acquired the Heraolea collieries in Turkey, which have hitherto been worked by a Belgian company. A competition is being organised by the Verein Dautscher Maschinen-ingenieure, of Berlin (80 Lindenstrasse S.W.), for the best paper on the sulject of “The Recovery and LTtilisation of the By-products of Coal and Lignite.” A prize of £100 will be awarded to the author of the paper selected by the judges. Ruhr Coal Market.—No improvement is discernible, as yet, for though a slightly-increased activity is displayed in the iron industry, it has not begun to react on the coal market. So far as gas coal is concerned, business is not actually bad for the time of year, but great difficulty is found in disposing of the output of coking coals, nor is the demand for house coal altogether satisfactory, whilst that for industrial coals is quite inadequate. The prospects in the coke market are very bad, for though the demand for small broken coke, for heating purposes, has increased, blastfurnace coke receives little attention and stocks are growing—so much so, indeed, that it is believed a further restriction of the output will be necessary. Exports continue large, but even here there is less business doing, especially with Holland and Belgium, and the German coastal districts are taking smaller supplies owing to the cheaper offers of English coal. In South Germany the situation has improved to some extent, particularly for house coal, so that it has no longer been necessary to stock the whole of the oncoming shipments. Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—There is no sign of any change for the worse, and the pits are still unable to satisfy their customers promptly. Although the local iron industry is not very flourishing, a ready outlet for the surplus thus available can be found in other directions—in fact, the export trade to Russian-Poland and Austria-Hungary is greater than can be properly dealt with. In the northern markets the position is still favourable, but there, and in the capital, the competition of English coal is growing, so that prices have to be lowered. In the home market all kinds of industrial coals find a ready sale, and coking coals cannot be raised fast enough, whilst the demand for gas coal is satisfactory for the time of year. The coke market, too, retains its satisfactory character, the output being disposed of without difficulty, so that no stocks have been laid by. Official Coal Prices Essen Exchange.—The Syndicate has issued the following list of prices per ton ex pit:—-Gas and open-burning coals: Gas coal through-and-through 12 50-14 5 mark?, open-burning gas coal 12 25-13 25 marks, open- burning coal through-and-through 11*50-12 marks, large coal 14-15*50 marks, semi-screened 13*50-14 50 marks, washed nuts I./II /II. 14*25-15 marks, IV. 13 75-14*50 marks, nuts slack 0*20/80 mm. 9-10 marks, 0*50/60 mm. 1050-11*25 marks, slack 8-1075 marks. Bituminous coals: Through-and-through 12-12 75 marks, best mixed 13-13*50 marks, large 14-14 50 marks, washed nuts I./II /III 14 25-15 marks, IV. 13 75-14 50 marks, coking coal 12*25-13 marks. Lean coals: Through-and-through 11*25-12*75 marks, same mixed 12*25-13 25 maik% same improved 13 25-14 75 marks, according to percentage of large, large coal 13 75-16 25 marks, washed nuts I/II. 15 75-19 marks, III. 16 50-20 marks, IV. 12 25-14 75 marks, anthracite nuts I. 20*50-22 marks, II. 22-26 marks, through-and-through slack 10 25- 1125 marks, slack below 10 mm. 7 25-10 marks. Coke: Blastfurnace coke 15-17 marks, foundry coke 19-21 marks, broken coke I. and II. 21-24 marks. Briquettes 11*50-15 marks according to quality. South Wales Institute of Engineers.—An ordinary general meeting will be held at the Institute on Thursday, January 29, 1914, at 2.30 p m., when the president-elect, Mr. Henry T. Wales, will take the chair and deliver his inaugural address. The following papers will also be open for discussion:—“Machine Mining in the South Wales Coalfield,” bj G. D. Budge and W. E. Jayne ; “ The Sinking and Equipping of the Bedwas Colliery,” by E. L. Hann ; “ Notes on the Fourth Report of the Explosions in Mines Committee,” by James Ashworth (member), British Columbia. The following paper will be taken as read:— “ A Proposed New Method of Making Large Arches in Mines,” by John R berts (Wigan). The annual dinner will be held the same evening at 6 o’clock, at the Royal Hotel, Cardiff. A council meeting will also be held the same day at 1.45 p.m.