738 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 3, 1914. In Italy, where the production of coal is quite insignificant, the coal consumed is almost entirely of British origin, nearly 86 per cent, of the coal imported for consumption having been obtained from the United Kingdom in 1912; this proportion shows a decline of 5'5 per cent, compared with that of the previous year, and of over 9 per cent, compared with 1909. The actual quantities of the imports into Italy from the United Kingdom do not show such large differences as are suggested by these percentages, there having been larger supplies from other countries. The imports from Germany increased from 435,000 tons in 1911 to 876,000 tons in 1912. The consumption of British coal in Italy averaged 8,423,000 tons annually in the five years 1908 to 1912. The aggregate quantity of coal of United Kingdom origin consumed annually in India and the British self-governing Dominions averaged less than half-a- million tons in the years 1906 to 1910, and declined to 315,000 tons in 1912; with the exception of Canada, the consumption in these countries is almost entirely met by coal of native production. In Canada the home produc- tion is largely supplemented from the United States, more than half the consumption in the Dominion in the years 1909 to 1912 having been derived from that source. The exports from Canada amounted in 1912 to about one-seventh of the imports, and in 1911 to about one- tenth. The proportion of imported coal consumed in New Zealand, where most of the imports are of Australian origin, averaged over 12 per cent, of the total consumption in the years 1906 to 1910, and nearly 16 per cent, in 1912. Returns have been obtained, as in previous years, showing the total quantity of coal brought to London by railway, canal and sea (coastwise). The total quantity brought into the area within a radius of 15 miles from The total production of the United States in 1912 was 7,771 million gallons, as compared with 7,713 million gallons in 1911, and with a yearly average of 6,045 million gallons for the quinquennium 1906-10. The oil- fields of Russia yielded 2,337 million gallons in 1912, an increase of 63 million gallons on the output of the previous year, but less by 87 million gallons than the quantity produced in 1910. The quantity exported from Russia has, in recent years, been one-sixth to one-eighth of that exported from the United States. Particulars are also given in the tables showing the production of petroleum in recent years in Germany, Austria, Roumania, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Canada, British India, and the Dutch East Indies. Particulars for Trinidad, where considerable advance in the industry has been made during recent years, are included for 1910. The combined output of these countries, excluding Trinidad, was 2,103 million gallons in 1912, being 56 per cent, more than the exports from the United States. In the report of the United States Geological Survey, relating to the production of petroleum in 1912, the aggregate world’s output of petroleum in 1912 is estimated at 12,286 million gallons. NEW EXPERIMENT STATION AT PITTSBURC. Plans for the proposed 500,000 dol. experiment station of the United States Bureau of Mines, to be located in Pittsburg, Penna., have been approved by the commission appointed by the United States Congress for that purpose. The Federal Government now owns the property upon which will be erected a group of buildings, especially designed and adapted for the carrying on of the mine safety work and other investi- gations in which the Bureau of Mines is interested. Congress, a year ago, in the Public Buildings Bill, ing and spanning what is known as Panther Hollow— and thus connecting the Bureau of Mines buildings with the Carnegie Schools,—will be two buildings over- the roofs of which will pass the roadway from Forbes-street to the Carnegie School buildings and Schenley Park. Between the main group and the power and fuel group will be the entrance to a series of mine shafts. One of these will be used as an elevator to carry heavy material and passengers from the lower level to the upper; another will be for tests of hoisting ropes and similar mining appliances; another will be an entrance to tunnels extending under the buildings and in which mining experiments, such as fighting mine fires, will be conducted. The portion of Panther Hollow above the power buildings will be arranged as a miners’ field, the slopes of the ravine being utilised as an amphitheatre which will accommodate 20,000 spectators who may assemble here to witness demonstrations and tests in mine rescue and first aid. The main or mining building will contain the administrative offices, and those of the mining force. In it will be an assembly and lecture hall, a library and smoke and other rooms for demonstrations and training in mine rescue and first aid. The mechanical building will be for experiments and tests of mining machinery and appliances, and the chemical building for investiga- tion and analyses of fuels, explosives and various mineral substances. The buildings now used by the Bureau of Mines as an experiment station at Pittsburg were loaned to the Bureau by the War Department as an emergency measure when the Bureau was created. The War Department has suggested that it now needs these buildings and it is felt the Bureau cannot retain possession much longer. The buildings are very old irr i Ml life gl Charing Cross in 1912 was 16,083,198 tons, as compared with 17,231,836 tons in 1911 and 16,716,957 tons in 1910. Rather more than half this quantity was brought by sea (coastwise), and nearly the whole of the remainder by rail, the amount brought by canal being insignificant. A statement is given of the amount of coal, coke, &c., shipped coastwise from ports of the United Kingdom, and of the amount of coal shipped as bunkers on vessels clearing coastwise. The quantities of coal shipped coastwise in 1912, as cargo or as bunkers, were smaller than in either of the three previous years, the decreases reflecting—as in the falling-off of the quantity of coal brought to London, shown in the previous paragraph— the effect of the strike on the movement of coal within the United Kingdom. France, Italy, and Germany are the principal customers of this country, and larger quantities are being taken by Russia than formerly. The exports of coal from the United States are still sent mainly to neighbouring countries, especially Canada. Of the coal exported from Germany over 90 per cent, is sent to neighbouring Continental countries. Japanese coal is exported principally to China, Hong Kong, and the Straits Settlements. The greater part of the exports of coal from British India is sent to Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and the Dutch East Indies. The principal customers for Australian coal are New Zealand, the Straits Settlements, Chile, and the United States and its dependencies in the Pacific. The statistics of lignite production show that the principal producing countries are Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The output in 1912 amounted to 79,634,000 tons in Germany and to 25,861,000 tons in Austria; particulars for Hungary for 1912 are not available, but the production in 1911 was 8,024,000 tons. The output in 1912, compared with the average for the years 1906-10, was more by 600,000 tons in Austria and by 17,000,000 tons in Germany. Statistics are given of the production of petroleum in Russia and the United States, and of the exports of petroleum from those countries, for a series of years. authorised a new home for the Bureau of Mines, to cost 500,000 dols. It is now expected that Congress, in its present session, will make a specific appropriation so that construction work may begin. It is hoped that contracts may be let by July 1. The director is hopeful that the buildings may be completed in the fall of 1915, when they will be dedicated with suitable ceremony, including a second National Mine Safety Demonstration, similar to that held in Pittsburg in 1911. The Commission which has approved the plans con- sists of J. A. Holmes; D. C .Kingman, Chief of Engineers of the United States Army ; and O. Wenderoth, Super- vising Architect of the Treasury. The State of Pennsylvania has appropriated 25,000 dols. for co-opera- tion in establishing this experiment station, and has appointed a State Commission consisting of James E. Roderick, Chief Mine Inspector; Dean W. R. Crane, of the Mining Department, Pennsylvania State College; and W. H. Oaverly. This latter commission has tentatively approved the plans. The buildings, which will constitute the experiment station of the Bureau, will form apart of a most remark- able and unusual group of monumental edifices devoted to educational purposes. On one side the Bureau’s buildings will face the great group of structures of the Carnegie School of Technology. On another side is the Carnegie Institute, in which are the art gallery, museum and library. Near by is the imposing pile of buildings of the University of Pittsburg. Other near-by build- ings are the Memorial Hall, Pittsburg Athletic and University Clubs and the Hotel Schenley. The site consists of nearly 12 acres of land, part of it on the higher level of the city streets and part of it on the level of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which will furnish adequate facilities for passengers and freight traffic. The group consists of three main buildings. The central building of the group—the mining building— will be three stories in height, flanked by two main buildings, one the mechanical and the other the chemical building. In the rear of these and enclosing a court will be the Service building. Beyond the Service build- and are entirely unsuited to the needs of the Bureau of Mines work. It is said that the investigations have been seriously handicapped by the inadequacy of the structures now in use. Hull Goal Export!.- The official return of the exports of ooal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, March 24, 1914, is as follows:—Abo, 781 tons; Amsterdam, 877; Antwerp, 314; Barcelona, 992; Bremen, 848; Copenhagen, 157; Christiania, 1,356; Drontheim, 62; Ghent, 847; Hamburg, 12,516 ; Harlingen, 672 ; Karrabeksminde, 1,297; Libau, 4,352; Landscrona, 2,776; Marianople, 4,626; Nakskov, 1,635; Oporto, 1,226; Porto Vecchio, 3,720; Rotterdam, 816; Riga, 1,620; Reval, 2,764; Stettin, 2,029; Stockholm, 604; Svendborg, 508; Santos, 4,942; Stege, 1,052; Trieste, 154; Tuborg, 1,179; Ystad, 331 ; total, 55,053 tons. Corresponding period March 1913, total 75,277 tons. North of England Institute.—A general meeting of the members of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers will be held in the Wood Memorial Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, at 2 o’clock to-morrow (Satur- day). The following papers will be open for discussion :— “Notes on Coalmining in the United States of America, with Special Reference to the Treatment ef Coaldust, and Haulage by Electric Locomotives,” by Mr. Samuel Dean. “Notes on a Naw Process for the Washing of Coal at the St. Nicholas Pit of the Societe des Charbonnages de 1’Esperance et Bonne Fortune, near Liege, Belgium,” by Mr. Leo Dorey Ford. “ Stonedusting at Bentley Colliery : Report to the Doncaster Coalowners’ (Gob-fires) Committee,” by Mr. Robert Clive. “ The Automatic Distribution of Stonedust by the Air-current,” by Mr. H. W. G. Halbaum. ‘ Notes on Gob-fires and Blackdamp, &c.,” by Mr. John Morris. “ A Westphalian By-product Coking-plant which also supplies Town Gas,” by Mr. Leo Dorey Ford. The following paper will be read or taken as read :—“ Notes on the Utilisation of Exhaust Steam for Collieries, Iron Works, &c., and the Cost of Electric Current Generated,” by Mr. W. C. Mountain. A mine signalling apparatus will be exhibited, described, and demonstrated by the British Electrical and Manufacturing Company. New mine- surveying instruments will be exhibited, described, and demonstrated by Messrs. E. R. Watts and Son.