February 6, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 313 satisfactory to learn that every driver in the pit can show a clean record. So pleased is Mr. Maurice Deacon with the success of his scheme that he has decided to extend it so that there shall be included in its scope all horsekeepers and corporals—in fact, anybody concerned with the ponies. It is felt that this scheme might with advantage be emulated by other colliery proprietors in South Yorkshire, especially in view of the revelations which are constantly being made in the local police courts. A meeting for the distribution of the prize money under the Dinnington Colliery scheme for kindness to ponies was held at that colliery last Saturday, when £45 was distributed to 190 drivers and others. The head horsekeeper and the saddler received 10s. each, under horsekeepers and corporals 5s. each, pony drivers 2s. 6d. each, for the six months that the scheme has been in operation. Mr. Jas. Searston (manager of the colliery) presided at the meeting, supported by Mr. A. Thompson (agent) and many other officials. A proposal by the four railway companies serving the Humber ports—the North-Eastern Railway Company, the Hull and Barnsley Railway Company, the Lanca- shire and Yorkshire Railway Company, and the Great Central Railway Company—to introduce new charges for the extra cost and delay involved in the ship- ment of small quantities of alternate parcels of coal, has called forth a strong volume of protest from the coal exporters, shippers, and the collieries’ agents at the Humber ports of Hull, Immingham, Grimsby and Goole. A meeting has taken place between the heads of the four railway companies in question, and the coal traders and the latter are continuing to strenuously oppose the suggested charges. At the annual meeting of the Humber Coal Exporters’ and Shippers’ Association held on Friday of last week, Mr. E. J. Adderley (manager at the Humber ports for Messrs. William Cory and Son Limited,) was re-elected president and Mr. R. Moor by (Anglo-Continental Coal Company) was re-elected vice-chairman for the ensuing year. In connection with the sinking of Lord Fitzwilliam’s new colliery at Greasborough, near Rotherham, a most unusual discovery has been made. In sinking the upcast shaft it was found that a previous shaft had existed in the very same place. It had been filled with soft material, which interfered temporarily with the work. The downcast shaft was commenced, and a similar discovery was made, for exactly in the centre of this shaft, which is 18 ft. in diameter, another shaft, 9 ft. in diameter, had existed. It is not known for certain as to when the shafts were in use, but it is not unlikely that they were connected with the “ Bell pits ” of many years ago. The Midlands. Housing Scheme—Canals. The housing question in the Cannock Chase district has been considered by the Cannock Urban District Council, and the chairman pointed oat that the houses promised by the Littleton Colliery at- Huntington, the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery at Hednesford, and probably the Mid-Cannock Colliery at Cannock, would, together with the ordinary annual building, meet the require- ments of the Council. The contract had already been laid by the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery, and the houses would be completed during the year. The various colliery building operations would give about 300 houses. It was stated at the Council meeting that the Council’s surveyor had submitted a building scheme, the cost of which would not permit the houses to be let at less than 6s. per week ; but the Stafford Council had houses at 3s. 9d. per week. The following resolution was passed : “ That having regard to the prevalence of overcrowding in the district, this Council is prepared to exercise its powers under the Housing and Town Plan- ning Act, and, if needs be, they are prepared to submit a building scheme for approval of the Local Govern- ment Board.” The local authorities at a meeting at Birmingham on the 29th ult. passed a resolution advocating the appoint- ment of a waterways board to acquire and improve the canal system of the country, the local authorities to contribute towards the cost. Mr. Harry A. Mundle, B.Sc., who has for about 18 months been manager of Messrs, the Walsall Wood Company Limited’s Walsall Wood Colliery, near Walsall, has been appointed agent and general manager of the Earl of Shrewsbury’s Brereton Collieries, near Rugeley, Staffordshire. He succeeds the late Mr. E. Greenhow Sutherland, who recently died at West Rain ton, county Durham. Scotland. Electric Winding—Baths as Coal Cellars—Coal Exporters at Dinner. At a meeting of the East of Scotland Branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, held in the Royal Hotel, Dunfermline, on Fridayevening, the discus- sion was resumed on the paper read by Mr. James Gillespie, of the Pumpherston Oil Company, Mid- Calder, on “Electric Winding at Collieries.” In the course of a supplementary statement the author said that the Ilgner system of winding, which was in opera- tion at a colliery near Breich, owned by the Pumpher- ston Company, might appear to be somewhat com- plicated. Because of its several commutators there might be the fear that it would develop into a “ spoiled child ” on account of excessive attention. He could assure them, however, that this particular set ran with such, regularity as to almost induce the belief that the science of machine design had reached finality in this direction. On the invitation of the Pumph'erston Oil Company the members of the branch agreed to visit the winding set in operation at Breich Colliery. Messrs. Moore and Co. are meanwhile busily engaged in putting down another incline at their Dalkeith Colliery in the Lothians. The expectation is that this will provide for the employment of an additional body of men. A fine of £15 was imposed by Sheriff Brown at Ayr Sheriff Court, on Tuesday, on Matthew Morrison, colliery manager, Kilwinning, for various contraven- tions of the Coal Mines Act. At one pit separate raising and lowering apparatus was not kept at each of the two shafts ; there was not sufficient space at the bottom of the pit where hutches were handled, and the roof was not properly supported ; there was not a suit- able appliance for the destruction of horses in the pit, and there was not a sketch plan of the mine. At another pit the apparatus for raising and lowering persons was not provided with a detaching hook, and there was not an indicator to show to the person working the machinery the position of the cage in the shaft. The Middle Ward District Committee of the county of Lanark held an enquiry at New Stevenston on the 29th ult. into the housing conditions of the wording classes in the Holy town, New Stevenston, Carfin, and Ne warthill districts. There was a difference of opinion as to whether baths should be provided. Mr. William Neilson said he had been told the miners who had baths used them as receptacles for holding coal. Mr. Hall Nicol, a builder, declared that he had provided some of his properties with baths, but he would not do so again, as he found that they were not made proper use of. In one case he found coals in the bath, and in another bath the feathers of a bed were stored. Mr. Thomas Russell, of Stewarts and Lloyds, said the baths which were provided in the institute at Clydesdale Steelworks were more frequently used by Polish than by British workmen. It was generally admitted that the class of house likely to meet most favour with the working classes was of the cottage type as distinguished from tenements or rows, and that there would be the greatest demand for room-and-kitchen houses with scullery. Single houses were advocated for aged or young couples who had no need for larger accom- modation. The annual dinner of the Scottish Coal Exporters’ Association Limited was held last week at Glasgow, under the presidency of the Right Hon. the Lord Provost of Glasgow (Mr. D. M. Stevenson), who acted in his capacity of chairman of the association. Mr. C. Carlow, proposing “ The Scottish Coal Exporters’ Association,” said in his opinion the state of supply and demand just now indicated that they would have fairly good trade in 1914. Few people understood what the effect had been on the working of coal of the legislation that had been forced upon the colliery owners within recent years. The enormous increase in working costs entailed by this legislation was a very serious matter indeed, and when he told them that Is. per ton on the output of coal from the Fife Coal Company’s collieries meant 25 per cent, on the ordinary shares, they would at once appreciate the importance of what he had said. He did not include costs due to increased wages. He hoped the coal trade would get through the year without serious difficulties, but he feared the worst. He did not think the coal exporters were aware of the great difference that existed between working the coalfields in England and working the Scotch coalfields. In Yorkshire they selected an area of, say, 15,000 acres and made plans as to how to work the coal, whereas in Scotland—in Fife- shire more than in any other county—they sank their pits and had to go where the faults permitted them to go. Mr. Carlow pointed out that the Scotch coal exports had only increased 3 per cent, between 1907 and 1913, while the exports from Great Britain had increased more than 15 per cent. He was quite aware of the growing competition on the part of Germany in the coal trade. The chairman, in responding, made reference to the negative result of the efforts of the coal exporters to get the Clyde Trust to reconsider the decision come to to increase the rate on export coal to 3d. per ton. Mr. W. F. Russell submitted the toast “Allied Interests,” and said the cost of coal had increased too much of late, and he was afraid that in the competition for orders they might be left behind by other nations. Germany’s exporters were increasing year by year, and the colonies were producing coal now, and if working costs in this country increased at the present rate the collieries in Scotland would be seriously handicapped. From the time of the passing of the Mines Eight Hours legislation, the production per man had steadily decreased,’ and that, combined with a great deal of broken time, had very seriously added to the costs of working coal. It is stated that the Admiralty have just concluded an extensive contract with certain of the Scottish oil companies for a large quantity of liquid fuel. The latter have been extending their plant to meet naval requirements. Kent. The Deal Gas Company are considering the advis- ability of erecting gasworks in the vicinity of Tilmanstone Colliery, but they have not yet obtained the necessary Parliamentary powers, and there is likely to be considerable opposition to the scheme, especially in view of the fact that a company is already formed for the purpose of supplying electricity for power and lighting purposes in East Kent, and who have powers for the whole of this district. At the present moment there are three borings in progress along the coast line between Deal and Folkestone. Arrangements are in hand for a boring to be put down at Farthingloe on land belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, on the main Dover- Folkestone-road, to test the extent of the iron ore deposits proved at the various collieries and sinkings in the district. At the same time coal exploration will be carried out. It is understood that a new boring will also be started near the Eythorne-Shepherdswell road, the work of boring being in the hands of a Belgian boring contractor. In the course of sinking at Snowdown Colliery to the 2 ft. 6 in. seam (Barfrestone section) an unknown 18 in. seam was struck last week, and proves to be very hard coal of excellent quality. There is no record of this seam having been passed through in the boring. Alteration and additions to the screening plant are practically completed, together with the washing plant. Dean Forest. Rescue Station. Having failed to obtain relief from the clause in the Coal Mines Regulation Act, which compels the establishment of a rescue station in every coalfield, the coalowners of the Forest of Dean have combined and acquired a large and suitable building in the Cinderford district, which is now being fitted up as a rescue station, and brigades of men are being formed to train for ambulance and rescue work. The local companies have been put to considerable expense in making this provision, and the maintenance of it will necessarily be a rather heavy charge. It is contended that as the Forest pits are so immune from the disastrous occurrences which happen in the “ gassy ” and more dangerous mines in other localities, the services of the trained rescue brigade which is being formed in Cinderford will not be required at all, except possibly fur duty in other districts. The working of the concern will be in the capable hands of Mr. W. D. Meredith, manager of Lightmoor Colliery, who has undertaken the secretarial duties. HORTH STAFFORDSHIRE INSTITUTE OF miiG AMD B5ECHAMICAL EMCIMEERS. A general meeting of the members of this institute was held on Monday evening, at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, Mr. Hugh Johnstone (president) occupying the chair. The president proposed that an expression of the members’ sympathy be forwarded to the relatives of the late Mr. J. C. Cadman, a past president of the institute. He said Mr. Cadman was one of the oldest, if not the oldest member of the institute, and he always took a deep interest in all their doings. The resolution was carried, the members standing in silence. The following gentlemen, who had been previously nominated, were elected as:—Member : Mr. Stuart Barber, Florence Colliery, Longton. Associate Mem- bers : Mr. C. A. Maguire, Birchen wood Colliery, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent; Mr. Walter Sylvester, Stanley Moor, Bagnall, Stoke-on-Trent. Electricity in Mines. Mr. Robert Nelson, H.M. Electrical Inspector of Mines, read a paper entitled : “Electricity: The con- tinuation of a recent paper addressed to Colliery Managers.” Mr. Nelson’s previous contribution to this subject was read before this institute in January of last year, and was reported in the Colliery Guardian of January 31, 1913. Mr. Nelson stated : The primary object of the paper the author had the privilege to submit to the North Staffordshire Institute just 12 months ago^ was to suggest that a colliery manager need not, in general, have an extensive knowledge of the theory of electricity in order to enable him to deal intelligently with any electrical question that may come within the scope of his duties. It is intended in the present paper to resume consideration of the use of electricity with small, if any, regard to theory, that is to say, from a severely practical stand- point. It will, however, be taken for granted on this occasion that a little is understood. For example, what is meant by the continuous current system of distribu- tion, and by the one-, two- and three-phase alternating current systems of distribution. And further, some familiarity with the use of simple electrical apparatus such as cables, switchgear and motors will be assumed. The three-phase system of transmission and distribu- tion possesses clear advantages over the one- and two- phase systems, and no decided disadvantages by comparison with them. The decision as to the best system of transmission and distribution for colliery work rests, in fact, between the three-phase system and the continuous current system. As regards the trans- mission of power by cables apart from its conversion into mechanical power by motors, though with the same voltage of transmission, the cables of a continuous current system cost about 30 per cent, less than those of a corresponding three-phase alternating current system,^ the former system is one of limited range only. Continuous current, at any rate for colliery work, must necessarily be transmitted and distributed at the pressure at which it is generated, but the difficulty of sparkless commutation at high pressures limits the pressure of generation to but little above the limit of medium pressure defined in the General Regulations for Coal Mines, namely 650 volts. Hence, if the necessity arises * The Transactions of the Institution of Mining Engineers, vol. 45, page 156. f In the case of three-phase working an overall power factor of 0’6 is assumed.