694

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

March 27, 1914.

the erection of a new hospital for the district, in con-
nection with his silver wedding and the coming-of-age
festivities of the Marquis of Ticbfield. He has further
given to the urban council for the Ashington district
the freehold of 22 acres of land which have been used
for some time on lease as a public recreation ground.
At the neighbouring village of Pegswood, his Grace has
promised to erect a number of cottages for aged mine
workers’ homes.

The three shafts at Ellington Colliery have now been
completed sinking, and the master sinker, Mr. Geo.
Herrington, was entertained to dinner at the Portland
Hotel, Ashington, in honour of the accomplishment.
Mr. Hunter, manager, occupied the chair, and presented
Mr. Herrington with a gold watch, and a gold ring for
Mrs. Herrington. The sinking, he said, had created a
record, for they had cut on an average over 80 fathoms
in six months, and in one year they had used 3^ million
bricks. The whole work had been carried out without
fatality and without any very serious accidents, largely,
owing to Mr. Herrington’s capacity.

On Wednesday, at Newcastle, the Hackworth Coal
Company was fined £2 and costs for a breach of the
Explosives Acts. The evidence showed that 20 lb. of a
high explosive were stored in a wooden shed near the
shaft of the Prosperous pit, Backworth. No certificate
existed for storage there. The representative of the
colliery said that the pit had been closed down for some
time and, when it was reopened, the workmen placed the
explosive in the shed without the knowledge or authority
of the manager. Mr. Otto Levin (chairman) said the
Bench considered it a very serious case, and that
defendants had made themselves liable to a fine of £20
and also to the forfeiture of the explosives.

Cumberland.

Coal Find at Lowca.

After drifting operations, the Workington Iron and
Steel Company Limited have proved the Main Band
seam on the extensive royalty at Lowca. The result
has been anticipated for some time, but none the less
the news is very welcome, not only to the shareholders
of the company, but to all interested in the development
of the industries of West Cumberland. The original
royalty held by the Harrington Company, in addition
to a considerable area of land royalty, extended along
the coast from Lowca to Harrington for a distance of
3 miles seaward beyond high-water mark. When the
combine took over the Harrington Colliery they secured
a further extension of the sea royalty from Harrington
to the mouth of the Derwent at Workington, extending
north, seaward, for 3 miles, the area on the west being
bounded by the royalty belonging to the Earl of Lons-
dale at Whitehaven, and they also obtained the land
royalty giving approach to this area. The original
Harrington royalty consisted of two pits sunk to
the Six-quarters seam to a depth of about 100 fathoms.
No. 7 had been worked for the Bannock and Main Band
seams, on the dip side of which is known as the Micklam
fault, a dislocation of the strata throwing down the
measures to the north-west. From the No. 9 pit, which
is the downcast shaft, the Six-quarter seam has been
worked in a northerly direction along the dip side of the
fault to an extent of some 400 acres under the sea. The
areas worked by the Harrington Colliery were 100 acres
in the Main Band at Harrington and 400 acres in the
Six-quarters seam at Harrington, the last 400 acres being
in the old Workington Colliery, flooded by the sea in 1837.

The Main Band is one of the best seams to be found
in the Cumberland coalfield. It is a fine seam of
excellent quality and cheap to get. At Harrington it
was about 6 to 7 feet in depth, but at the old Working-
ton Colliery it was from 8 to 10 feet thick. The Six-
quarters seam is about 3] ft. in depth, and the Little
Main is about 2J ft. thick. The normal dip of the
Cumberland coalfield is to the west and the north-west.
Where this is not affected by faulty ground it is fairly
persistent. In the old Workington Colliery the dip was
to the north-west. Immediately behind the large
downthrow fault the measures rise for a short distance
to the west, but upon getting away from the influence
of the fault, as has been proved by the new
winnings to the north and vest, the strata are dip-
ping to the west, which has already brought the
Main Band seam within .workable limit under sea for
a considerable area. Should these favourable con-
ditions continue on a further proving of the ground,
it is the intention to win the Main Band seaward. The
undersea portion of the coalfield is practically virgin
royalty, the portion lying to the dip side of the Micklam
fault, which forms the bulk of by far the largest portion
of the area, being cut off from the old Workington
Colliery by the large fault which forms a natural barrier
against the old drowned workings. The intention is
that this portion of the royalty shall be worked from
the Harrington Colliery. That area is estimated to
contain sufficient coal in the various seams within
workable limit under sea to yield a large output for the
next 100 years. For the development of this enormous
area of coal, it was at first thought that it might be
necessary to sink a new colliery at Workington, and
that may still be necessary. Having regard, however, to
the direction the fault is taking, it would appear that
the present position of the Harrington Colliery is
probably the most suitable for the purpose.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Miners’ Ilelief.

The annual report of the board of management of
the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent Belief
Society shows that on December 31, 1912, the society
had enrolled 60,157 members ; at the close of 1913 the
members numbered 62,231, showing an increase of 2,074.
The ordinary revenue of the society has produced

£69,383 15s. 6d., and the expenditure has amounted to
£56,509 13s. 6d. The available balance at the close of
the year was £176,918; on December 31, 1912, it was
£163,917. During 1913 there were 14,587 new cases of
accident, and of these there were 3,141 in which only one
week’s relief was paid. In 1912 there were 13,119 cases
of accident, and 2,610 in which only one week’s relief
was paid. During the year 68 deaths have resulted
from accidents. The table of statistics in connection
with these fatalities is as follows:—Number of
deaths, 68 ; number of single men (or widowers) leaving
no dependent relatives, 27; number of widows 38,
number of members leaving dependent daughters
treated as widows (two cases) two—40; number of
children 83, number of widowers leaving children (one
case) two—85. The foregoing figures show that 40
widows (including two dependent daughters) and 85
children have been placed on the funds, and during the
year 829 widows and 838 children have been in receipt
of annuities from the society. The board regret to
record the death of Mr. Daniel Dix, J.P., of Wigan, one
of the honorary arbitrators of the society since 1896, and
that of Mr. Henry Kirkpatrick, J.P., of Tyldesley, who
was appointed an honorary arbitrator of the society in
1889. It was with great regret the board received, near
the close of the year, the resignation of Mr. Wm. Clark,
J.P., of the chairmanship of the board of management.
They have elected Mr. John Dean, J.P., the next senior
honorary member, to fill the position of chairman.

Yorkshire.

The Fault near Armthorpe—Dearne Valley Light Rail-
way—Doncaster s Coal Exchange—Progress at Hat-
field—Miners' Relief—Housfs and Town Planning
Conference.

It is reported in connection with the colliery which
Sir Arthur Markham intends sinking at Armthorpe,
near Doncaster, that the engineers are not satisfied
with the result of the boring upon the present site, and
are arranging to put down a new bore about a mile
further eastward. The original site was just at the back
of Sandall Beat Woods, one of the pleasure grounds of
Doncaster, and satisfaction is felt that the pit is likely
to be removed further away. The change of site is
believed to have something to do with the fault, of con-
siderable downthrow south, which is known to exist
between Armthorpe and Bentley. Armthorpe Colliery
is the one that will eventually work the coal under the
Doncaster racecourse, which the Corporation leased to
Earl Fitzwilliam at a royalty of £25 per foot thickness
per acre for 1,500 acres. It was generally expected the
Earl would himself sink a colliery at Doncaster, but
some time ago he re-leased the minerals to Sir Arthur
Markham, as well as those underlying the estates at
Cantley, which adjoin the Corporation estates. The
fact that a borehole is now to be put down elsewhere
will delay the period before the coal under the Don-
caster Corporation’s property comes to be worked, and
the Corporation wall not wait longer before they can
draw their maximum royalties.

A good deal of interest has been taken in the South
Yorks coalfield in the nine days’ sitting of the Light
Railway Commissioners over the application of the
Urban District Councils of Wath, Bolton, Womb well,
and Thurnscoe for power to construct a light railway
so as to more efficiently link up. the colliery areas. The
gratifying news has been received that the scheme has,
in general, been approved by the Commissioners.
Power is given for a light railway from Barnsley to
Stairfoot, West Melton, WombweU, and Wath ; also from
Sandy mount, Wath, to link up with the Mexboro and
Swinton trams, and a branch to Low Valley from
Wombwell. The Order will contain the powers neces-
sary to enable the promoters to generate electricity for
the undertaking.

In reference to the suggested coal exchange for
Doncaster, it is stated if one was established in the town
buyers would attend it from Hull, Grimsby, and all over
South Yorkshire. Those who favour the idea point out
that with regard to Barnsley, the 4‘ King’s Head,” where
the coal market has been held for the past 40 years, is
now being demolished for conversion into a bank. Those
who used to assemble there now meet at the Queen’s
Hotel, but if an exchange were established at Doncaster,
the centre of business would soon shift. Up till a few
weeks ago, they state, the South Yorkshire Coal owners’
Association embraced the Barnsley collieries as well as
the new pits around Doncaster. But now the Barnsley
people have formed a coalowners’ association of their
own, which they are calling the Barnsley Coalowners’
Association. As to whether the Doncaster Exchange
will be put up on a business footing for the start, and
have its own secretary or officials, or whether it will just
quietly come into being without any formalities is at
present not known.

In connection with the Hatfield Main Colliery, near
Doncaster, where the cementation process has been
adopted and sinking has been rather slow, it is now
reported that the worst of a rather anxious time is past,
and that the task yet before the management presents
no exceptional difficulties. The Hatfield district, it
appears, contains a tremendous quantity of water, and
had the cementation process not been resorted to, then
that of freezing would most assuredly have had to be
undertaken. The Thorne Colliery is only a few miles
removed from Hatfield and the experiences there are
fresh in the memory.

The annual report of the West Riding Miners’ Per-
manent Relief Fund shows a further decreased member-
ship and a loss on the year of about £2,000. The report
states that on December 31, 1912, the society had a
membership of 16,010. At the close of 1913 the number
was 12,245, a decrease of 3,765. The ordinary members’
contributions amounted to £11,474 7s. 2d., a decrease of

£67 18s. 7d. The revenue of the society amounted to
£13,317 9s. 9d., and the expenditure £15,495 Ils. 4d.
The available balances at the close of the year amounted
to £46,095 3s.

The society paid in benefits the sum of £13,416 9s. 6d.,
compared with £16,381 4s. 5d. in 1912. There were 23
separate accidents during the year, resulting in 26
deaths. As a result of these deaths 16 widows and 36
children became recipients, as against 25 widows and 54
children in the previous year. The non-fatal acccidents
during the year numbered 3,389, as compared with
3,474 in 1912. Seventy members were admitted to
permanently injured allowance, as compared with 96 in
1912. The amendment of rules, arising out of the
adoption of No. 2 scheme at the general meeting of the
society on June 18 last, came into operation as from
August 2.

Once again the housing and the town-planning
question for the large area comprised in the new South
Yorkshire coalfield is looming largely to the front, and
further efforts are to be made to avoid the mistakes of
other colliery districts in the older fields. Interest has
been revived in the matter by the application of the
Doncaster Corporation to extend its borough bounds.
Last Friday night an important housing and town-
planning conference was held at the Memorial Hall,
Doncaster, and it is understood another one is to follow.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Students' Association—Proposed Mining Exhibition.

There was a good attendanceof members from various
parts of Notts and Derbyshire at a general meeting of
the Nottingham and District Mining Students’ Associa-
tion, which was held at the University College,
Nottingham, on Saturday evening, when the subject of
gas testing came up for discussion. The president, Mr.
C. Chandley, of Nottingham (who is mining lecturer to
the Notts County Council), wTas in the chair. Mr.
Willis Beckett, of Ilkeston (hon. secretary), announced
that Prof. McMillan, Dr. Shaw, Mr. A. H. Simpson, Mr.
F. Hancock, and Mr. G. T. Lees (secretary of the
Mansfield Rescue Station) had consented to become
vice-presidents of the association. Prior to the discussion
the members inspected two different types of gas-testing
boxes, explanations of the working of which were given
by the president. During the discussion the view was
generally expressed that a knowledge of gas-resting was
distinctly useful to all men employed in mines. One
member contended that stallmen-in-charge, motor-
men and pit-sinkers should pass an examination in gas
testing. He was fully convinced that boys were not
sufficiently trained in the use and care of safety lamps,
and he considered it necessary in colliery villages, where
there was little chance for boys obtaining employment
except in mines, that lads between 12 and 14 years
should be taught something while at school in relation
to coalmining.

The Nottingham International Exhibition, which was
to have been held this summer, is not to take place—at
any rate this year. Whether it comes off at all depends
upon the readiness of local people to find some £15,000
or £20,000 towards the enterprise. If they do, then the
exhibition will merely be postponed until next year.
Mr. J. T. Haslam, the executive commissioner, still has
hopes, however, that success may be evolved out of
apparent failure. Briefly, his suggestion is that the
constructional work which has been done should be
utilised this summer for an exhibition dealing with
mining, and that the big exhibition should take place
next year. For the first, he would only require £10,000
to be raised locally. “ I am perfectly certain I could
make a profit of £20,000 on this international mining
exhibition,” stated Mr. Haslam to a Press representative.
“ It would illustrate mining from earliest times and in
all countries. Working mines would be in operation,
and processes of handling and transporting coal by land
and sea would be shown. The exhibition would also
take in the allied industries, such as gas lighting and
heating, and so on.”

The Midlands.

Coal-cutters and “ Sylvesters.”

Mr. H. J. Deane held an enquiry recently at Measham
recently relating to the death of Charles Allen, a
miner of Measham, who met his death through an
accident whilst working a coal-cutting machine at
Measham Main Colliery. Deceased was working with
two other men in the Stanhope seam. The machine had
only been working two or three minutes when it shot
backwards in a sideways direction as soon as the teeth
engaged the face of the coal. Herbert Brown, one of
the men working with deceased, said he steered the
machine at the time of the accident. The Sylvester
chain was being used on the machine. The inspector
said in all his experience he had never known a Sylvester
chain to be used before, and he would see that it was
not used again. The Coroner, summing up, said he was
still without an explanation as to how the accident
really happened. The chain may have snapped or the
prop slipped, allowing the machine to jump backwards.
The method of working the machine was, in his opinion,
not quite satisfactory, and he did not see what real
advantage there was in having a Sylvester chain instead
of a hauling rope. The jury returned a verdict of
“ Accidental death,” and added that no blame attached
to anyone.

Kent.

The Sale of Stonehall Colliery—LocaljUsers of Kent Coal
—Town Dues on Miners’ House Coal.

With reference to the sale of Stonehall Colliery full
particulars have now been published. The estate is
dissected by the main line of the South-Eastern and
Chatham Railway so far as the surface is concerned.