March 13, 1911.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

585

COflLBSINIKG IH BRITISH COLUMBIA.

According to the annual report of Mr. W. Fleet
Robertson, provincial mineralogist for British Columbia
for 1912, 2,628,804 tons of coal (not including the coal
used for making coke), valued at 9,200,814 dols., were
raised, as compared with 2,193,062 tons, valued at
7,675,717 dols., in 1911, and 264,333 tons of coke, valued
at 1,585,998 dols., as against 66,005 tons, valued at
66,005 dols. Both returns, however, are below those
for 1910, the consequence of labour troubles in the East
Kootenay coalfield, in 1911, and at the Canadian Col-
lieries, on Vancouver Island, in 1912. No less than 75 per
cent, of the total output is mined by three companies—
the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company (950,706 tons), the
Canadian Collieries, and the Western Fuel Company.
The combined output of the Island Collieries was
1,558,240 tons, whilst 206,257 tons were produced in
the Nicola and Princeton Valleys of the coast district,
and 1,261,212 tons in the East Kootenay district. Of
the gross raisings, 1,263,427 tons were sold for con-
sumption in Canada, 858,981 tons were sold for con-
sumption in the United States, and 108,157 tons were
exported to other countries; 396,905 tons were used for
making coke, 240,304 tons were used under colliery
boilers, and 175,744 tons were lost in washing and sorting.
It is interesting to note that the consumption of coal in
the coastal region declined in 1912 by 246,289 tons, due
partly to the introduction of Californian oil-fuel.

During the year Mr. Robertson made a trip to the
much talked of Groundhog coalfield, near the headwaters
of the Skeena, Stikine, and Nass rivers. In a report on
the trip, he says the coal-bearing formation, as far as it
is at present indicated by prospecting, covers an area of
about 75 miles in a north-west and south-east direction,
with a width of about 40 miles. Only in the southern
end of the field has any serious attempt been made to
prove by development the extent and nature of the
seams. Mr. Robertson estimates the total area at
about 2,000 square miles. The seams vary in thickness
from 3 to 8 feet, with some possibly thicker, and those
exposed are much broken and dirty. The value of the
field, from a commercial view-point, may only be
determined by boring in the flatter-lying and more
undisturbed localities.

The volume also contains a report by Mr. C. F. J.
Galloway, on the Peace River coalfield, which lies east
of the Rocky Mountains and west of 120th meridian.
The cretaceous measures here have been known for many
years to contain coals of good quality, and the projected
development of railways invests them with importance.
Analyses of samples made by the Government analyst
show that the coals are most high-carbon bituminous
coals of high grade, of an altogether exceptional quality
for Western America. The following analyses are
selected:—

Thick- ness of seam.		HygiO. com]-,us water- matter.		Fixed carbon.	Ash. Sulphur.	Split vol. ratio.
Ft. in.  2 11		... 2’2 .	. 15’6 ..	. 80’6 ..	. 1’6 ... Nil ...	8*84
1	4	... 2’9 .	. 15’6 ..	. 79’4 ..	. 2T ... „ ...	8’15
2	8	... 1’6 .	. 15’9 ..	. 77’4 ..	■ 5’1 ...	,,	...	8’93
1	8	... 1’3 .	. 18’6 ..	. 77’4 ..	. 2’7 ... „ ...	8’18
0 10		... 1*0 .	. 14’5 ..	. 70’6 ..	. 13’0 ... ,, ...	9’43

The regularity of the measures and their freedom from
disturbance is remarkable, and the low ash content in
most of the samples, taken as they were from outcrops,
shows the exceptionally clean nature of the seams.
Only three of the samples showed any coking quality—
and these only fair. Within the next few years there
will be a number of points on the Peace River in direct
railway communication with the outside. The principal
market will undoubtedly be on the Prairies, but the high
quality of the coal will enable it to compete far afield
for railway consumption—to say nothing of the steam
navigation on the Peace, Athabasca, and other great
rivers and lakes of the Mackenzie basin.

In the coalmines of the province, in 1912 there were
22 accidents, which caused 28 deaths ; this gives a fatal
accident rate of 3’93 per 1,000 employed, as against 2’32
in 1911, but it is less than the decennial average, 4’87.
Falls accounted for 21’43 per cent, of the accidents,
mine-cars and haulage for 32’14, and explosions of gas
for 25’00 ; and Mr. Thomas Graham, the chief inspector,
considers that 75 per cent, of the accidents under these
heads were avoidable. An explosion of gas at the
Diamond Vale collieries on March 7, 1912, caused seven
deaths. This was a mixed-light pit.

Much progress in mine-rescue work has been made
during 1912, and the number of oxygen apparatus
in the Province at the end of the year was 88, or one
for every 81 persons employed. They comprise the
following :—49 2-hour Draeger apparatus ; 30 4-hour
ditto ; six 2-hour Fleuss (Proto) and three 1-hour Fleuss
(Salvator) apparatus. The Government are erecting a
station at Nanaimo.

MD OTHER MTES>

Mr. John Burns received at the Board of Trade, on the
5th inat., a deputation from the Commercial Committee of
the House of Commons, which called' attention to several
questions of interest to the trading community, particularly
to the desirability of amending the Patent Act of 1907, and
the cost of appeals against railway rates. Mr. Burns, in
reply, said the Board of Trade, though without any powers
to regulate railways, had been instrumental in bringing
about a number of concessions, and had succeeded by a
friendly intervention in removing a number of grievances
which had been brought before it. He invited the members
of the deputation to send him any instances of oppression
or difficulties, and he would do his utmost to have them
removed. Regarding the Patents Act, he would be deceiving
himself as well as the deputation if he held out any hope
that a Bill could be passed this session to re-establish in its
integrity the Act of 1907.

President Wilson, in the United States Congress at
Washington on the 5th inst, asked for the repeal of the
provision in the Panama Canal Act, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade of the United States
from the payment of tolls. On the following day the
Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives, by 17
votes to four, favourably reported the Bill repealing the
exemption of American coastwise shipping from paying the
tolls. The Bill is expected to come up in the House of
Representatives next week.

Messrs. Joseph Kaye and Sons Limited (Lock Works,
Leeds) inform us that they have just received further orders
from the British Navy for 4,468 of their patent seamless
serrated oilcans, fitted with their patent seamless spouts,
making a total of 60,048 of this particular pattern alone,
to be distributed next month (April) to the different
dockyards.

The Black Diamond (Chicago) states that the option on
the New River Company’s coal properties given to a London
syndicate expired on February 16. On February 17
President Gross, of the New River Company, sent the
following notice to the stockholders :—“ Referring to the
option on the stock and bonds of the New River Company,
which was given to George Dobbin Penniman, and which
provided for the payment of 600,000 dols. on February 16, I
would state that the deposit was not made.” The same
journal states that Messrs. Penniman, Morgan Davis, junr.,
F. B. Enslow and P. O. Milloy subsequently arrived in New
York from London. It was stated that the deal, which
includes an option of I3 million dols. on properties in West
Virginia, would probably go through, but the parties in
England required further time for consideration.

At an ordinary general meeting of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers in the meeting hall of the institution
on Friday evening, March 20, at eight o’clock, the following
paper will be read and discussed:—“The Chemical and
Mechanical Relations of Iron, Tungsten, and Carbon, and
of Iron, Nickel and Carbon,” by J. O. Arnold, D.Met., F.R.S.,
professor of metallurgy in the University of Sheffield, and
A. A. Read, M.Met., F.I.C., professor of metallurgy in the
University of Wales.

Messrs. Wright’s Forge and Engineering Company
Limited, of Tipton and London, are at present busy with
orders for their various patented specialities for the heating
and purification of feed water. Among work at present in
hand and recently supplied are the following orders for
Midland firms alone:—The Victoria Tube Company Limited,
Great Bridge, a heater softener using soda only; Smith,
Stone and Knight Limited, Birmingham, a heater softener
using lime and soda; the Albert Sheet Iron Company
Limited, West Bromwich, a heater softener using soda
only; the Cannock Chase Colliery Company Limited,
Walsall, a heater softener using soda only; Walter Somers
Limited, Halesowen Forge, near Birmingham, a large
heater softener using soda only, and having the settling
and filtering tanks in duplicate.

The Miners’ Safety Explosive Company Limited, intimate
that they have made arrangements with Mr. R. H.
Longbotham, of Ings Foundry, Wakefield, for the sale of
their explosive ammonite, detonators, &c., in the counties
of Durham and Northumberland from April 1 next.

The South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth
Collieries Limited, of Pontefract, have placed with Simon-
Carves Limited, an order for extension of their existing
by-product coke oven plant. The firm have also received
an order from Messrs. Turner and Co., of Liverpool and
Calcutta, for an installation of coke ovens and by-products
recovery plant to be erected at their collieries in India.

Notice is given that the Worthington Pump Company
Limited have made application for the restoration of the
patent granted to Otto Hildebert Mueller for an invention
entitled “Hydraulic Air Compressor or Pump,” numbered
18866 of 1910, and bearing the date August 14, 1909, which
expired on August 14, 1913, owing to the non-payment of
the prescribed renewal fee.

Several of the new Sheriffs are intimately associated with
the coal trade. Mr. C. P. Markham, of Ring wood, Chester-
field, Sheriff for Derbyshire, is chairman of the Staveley
Coal and Iron Company and the Parkgate Iron and Steel
Company, and a director of the Brods worth Main Colliery
Company, the Bullcroft Main Collieries, the Yorkshire Main
Colliery Limited, the Burton Ironstone Company and the

Loddington Ironstone Company; Mr. Francis Priestman, of
Shotley Park, Sheriff for Durham County, is chairman of
the Priestman Collieries Limited and a director of the
Ashington Coal Company ; Mr. C. E. Charles worth, of
Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough, Sheriff for Yorkshire, is
chairman and joint managing director of Messrs. J. and J.
Charles worth Limited ; Mr. J. H. Maden, of Rockcliffe House,
Bacup, Sheriff of Lancashire, is a director of the Astley and
Tyldesley Coal Company ; Mr. J. J. Jones, of Fronheulog,
Cefn (Brecon) is a director of the Lewis-Merthyr Collieries,
as is the Hon. H. C. Lewis, of Hean Castle, Saunderafoot
Sheriff for Radnorshire.

SPMTMEOOS COTBUSTWI IB COALMEN
A Digest of Evidence before the Committee.

(Continued from page 533.)

Mr. J. UPTON.

Evidence was given on August 13, 1913, by Mr. John
Upton, a stallman employed at the Bentley Colliery.
He said he was at one time a deputy at the colliery, but
made the change for pecuniary reasons. Witness con-
sidered that, since a fire in a shaft pillar might take a
considerable time to extinguish, because of the ground
not being crushed to a solid mass, the best course when
a fire broke out was for safety to withdraw the workmen
coal-getting on the other side of the fire. If the top was
fairly firm they could proceed to dig out. Sometimes
they got the fire' in the roof coal, and sometimes in the
floor. When they had it above they could close it in,
because they were nearer a stronger top ; but when it was
below they preferred to dig out because of the coal above.

Witness said it was his experience that when a pit
stood it was more likely to cause fires that when the face
was advancing. Where they had a fire inbye, generally
the conditions were different, as there was usually a
cavity in the vicinity of the fire in the goaf. Certainly the
men would have to be withdrawn from the whole district.
He would not withdraw the men until he was certain
there was fire or approaching to such by the smell or a
little smoke issuing. He could tell the smell before the
smoke appeared. On the occurrence of gob stink he
would make a search for the fire. If it was only a faint
smell he would simply watch it for a day or two, until
there was fire. On a smell of gob-fire an inspection
should be made. The deputy would have to make the
inspection first, and if he was not satisfied he could call
the official above him.

Witness said he had worked in Nottinghamshire, at
Kimberley, and had been in five fires at Watnall, in the
hard coal top. They both dug out and stopped up, but
the Nottinghamshire top was quite different from the
Yorkshire top. He attributed these fires at Watnall to
the working place not advancing quickly enough at
times. They got them in districts that were set down.
They had one right in the top at the coal face at the
Watnall Colliery. That was set down for an indefinite
period, a matter of some months. The fire occurred
6 or 7 yards from the coal face in the goaf. Witness
said the fires round the shaft pillars at Bentley were due
to opening out a pair of headings close together.
He should never attempt to open out a colliery in
Yorkshire under those conditions. They endeavoured to
put brick stoppings in the thirls between the putting
road and the opening-out road, and all those brick
stoppings had to be removed in course of time. There
was not a large amount of gas, but there was just a little
show of gas pr ’.ctically all the time. In his experience,
where they had no falls, he had never found a cap at any
time in any fire hole—only a faint cap. He had never
found gas right at the seat of the fire. Witness said he
did not favour the adoption of a continuous face. He
preferred smaller districts—a matter of 10 stalls. There
would then be the intake in the centre and the return
on each side. Where they had 13 to 2 per cent, of gas,
the men should not be allowed to fill out, and the district
ought to be entirely closed down till the fire could be
got under control and then dealt with. But he considered
stowing up was the shortest and the safer method. Of
course there were fires close to the wayside that must
be dug out, perhaps a couple of yards from the pack
side. But if it were in the goaf, a matter of 40 or 50
yards, and it was half-way between roadways, it could
be stowed up, and it would answer the purpose well. In
fact he had never known one break out after being
stowed up. They could keep them under control until
it was entirely squeezed out, if it was a matter of
half-way between the roadways and the goaf.

In reply to Mr. Rhodes, witness repeated his belief
that shaft pillar fires had been brought about primarily
by the wrong method of opening out—by cutting up
round the edge of the pillar narrow roads which caused
air to circulate between one road and another, and the
grinding action being set up as the workings leave the
pillar. He was of opinion that the question of fires
round the shaft pillars could be dealt with, and did not
present any difficulty if the mine was laid out properly
in the first instance. He would simply go out with the
main levels through the shaft pillar, and would never
put a road in the shaft pillar that could really be dis-
pensed with. He would do all his opening out beyond the
shaft pillar. He would open out from the main road
through the pillar by longwall, and stow up the sides of
the pillar with three-yard sand packs. Sir Arthur
Markham said that what he (witness) was recommending
was exactly what they had done at Bullcroft.

Witness thought that system would be equally suit-
able where they were stripping a fault. He believed the
best method was always to have the airway or roadway
a little from the fault side. Some collieries adopted this
in a district: to run the airway right on the rib side and