9i2

tHE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 24 1914.

had just bought an area, and it was estimated that the
traffic from that enterprise alone would give the railway
about £80,000 a year of revenue. With tbe other
collieries he had mentioned, the traffic (of which 70 per
cent, 'would be profit) would much exceed the present
capital of the company.

With reference to the water trouble at Tilmanstone,
the electrical pumps and accessories were on the ground,
and on Wednesday they were got to work when the
water had risen in the pit to within some 40 ft. of the
inset at 1,140 ft., where the stationary pumps were
installed for dealing with the junction water. The
general impression was that the water came from a
pocket, and up to the end of the week they had lowered
the water by about 250 ft., and it was estimated that
10 days would see the workings dry again. This water
can only affect the seam now being worked because
when they sank to the deeper seams, as they would do
very soon, they would go through over 20 ft. of bind,
and then, it was understood, they would be quite
immune from any water in the deeper seams.

In connection with the cementation process which is
being used for the sinking of the pits at Stonehall
Colliery, three boreholes have now been put down, The
work is being carried out by a Continental firm.

Dean Forest.

v Home Office Prosecutions : Provision of “ Keps.”

At Littledean Petty Sessions last Friday, the Lydney
and Crump Meadow Colliery Company was summoned by
Mr. Henry Walker, one of H.M. inspectors of mines, for
that on March 23 they were guilty of an offence against
the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in that keps
for supporting the cage when at rest at the surface
level, where mineral is usually unloaded, were not
provided at No. 3 shaft of the colliery named. In a
second summons, Mr. Joseph Hale, the company’s
manager, was charged with neglecting to provide keps
for supporting the cage whilst at rest, at the colliery
mentioned in the first summons. Mr. Frank Treasure
defended both the colliery company and Mr. Hale, and
said he would plead guilty to a technical offence.

Mr. Walker said the Act which had been contravened
came into force in 1912. He went on to say that no
keps had been provided as required.

Mr. Treasure told the court that the Act had cast a
great burden on colliery owners in regard to the provision
of a number of requirements, and a very large amount
of money had been spent in meeting the requirements of
the Act, and in regard to other collieries these keps had
not been provided. Unfortunately, a fatal accident had
occurred there, causing attention to be drawn to it. As
soon as the company got to know what they must do
they set about doing it.

Mr. Jos. Hale’s view was that the shaft did not lend
itself to the use of keps, but following the accident the
pit was stopped nearly a week in order to fit them in.
He pointed out that as an argument against an heavy
penalty the company would have to pay heavily through
the Compensation Act.

He appealed for consideration for the veteran manager
at the colliery, against whom this was the first charge
in a very long life spent in colliery pursuits. He pressed
it on the Bench not to order a conviction against Mr.
Hale at any rate. After considering the case in private
the chairman said the colliery company would be fined
£10, and costs 10s. 6d. The other case would not be
proceeded with.

At Ooleford Police Court, on Tuesday, David Buck,
of Parkend, Pontypool, acting as agent for the British
Bedash Colliery Company, was summoned by Mr.
Henry Walker, H.M. mines inspector, for offending on
14 different instances on various dates in January and
February last against the Coal Mines Regulation Act
at their Crown Colliery at Moseley Green, near
Blakeney. There was a similar charge against Philip
Evans, the colliery manager, in respect of these same
complaints.

Mr. Lincoln Reed, barrister (instructed by Messrs.
Lindon, Moore and Cooper, Newport), appeared for the
defendants, and said that, having had the advantage of
a discussion with Mr. Walker, and subject to the
approval of the Bench, all the summonses could be
dealt with together. He added that Mr. Walker was
prepared to withdraw all the summonses against Evans
on payment of costs, and as regards Mr. Buck it was
suggested that to one summons there should be reason-
able and adequate penalty, and with regard to the other
13 a nominal penalty only together with all costs.

In the result the Court imposed a fine of £5 and 8s.
costs in the first case, with Is. and 8s. costs in each of
the other 13.

Evans’ costs were £2 9s.

Scotland.

Hints on Electrical Plant—Gas Ignition from a Spark—
Miners and the Storage of Explosives—Students1
Annual Meeting.

Mr. A. B. Mnirhead, electrical engineer, Glasgow, has
been appointed president of the West of Scotland
branch of the Association of Mining Electrical
Engineers. The other officials are :—Vice-president,
Mr. J. B. Thomson, colliery manager, Hamilton;
treasurer, Mr. D. Landale Frew, Glasgow ; auditor,
Mr. H. A. McGuffie, Glasgow; secretary, Mr. David
Martin, 45, Hope-street, Glasgow.

At the annual meeting of the West of Scotland Branch
of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, held
in the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, a practical
paper on “ Some Hints for Colliery Electrical Plant ”
was read from Mr. J. Akers, Natal. The author said he
felt that the time and money spent in efforts to ensure

efficient armouring and earthing throughout would be
better utilised in making the insulation proof against
these devices, and in providing extra copper at lower
pressures. As a rule, it would be much safer on small
installations if earthing were not resorted to until
it was found possible to get a sufficient difference of
potential between each piece of apparatus and earth to
cause danger. In many mines in the west of Scotland
much could be said for the unarmoured unearthed
system. Other industries offered attractions and less
onerous conditions to skilled electricians who had not
had time to succumb to the fascination of mining
work, with the result that men competent to keep the
earthing right were hard to retain. ’ Further, a demand
often sprang up for a certain class of coal that the
manager might not at the moment be working with his
machines. If he could get cables in promptly he might
be able to shift a machine from another section and so
take advantage of the turn in the market. With unarm-
oured cables a few hours would suffice to remove them
and reinstal them again, whereas with the armoured
system where a number of boxes had to be cut out,
cleaned and re-connected, and the armouring bonded and
tested, the turn in the market might be ended by the
time the work was finished. Far too much, in his
(Mr. Kerr’s) opinion, had been made of the risk of fire
on unarmoured systems through defective jointing.
Dealing with the supply of switchgear, the writer
suggested that the association should form a committee
to pass and approve such apparatus. Wherever possible,
concluded Mr. Kerr, machines, motors and switch gear
should be standardised, thus enabling spares to be
stocked, and allowing repairs to be quickly carried ont.
Such a system had this advantage that, having the
characteristics of fewer pieces of apparatus to study,
men could more quickly locate and repair faults, and
better guard against the possibility of breakdowns
occurring. Some men seemed to think that the colliery
was run for the electrical installation, and not vice versa.

A curious accident occurred in one of the sections of
No. 1 pit, Bannockburn Colliery, Cowie. While
preparing a place for a prop in the Wallsend coalseam a
spark from a pick wielded by Patrick Conlan, a brusher,
ignited an accumulation of gas, and the man was burned
about the face and arms. The fire was got under with
some difficulty.

Notice was posted by the Wishaw Coal Company at
their Broomside Colliery, Motherwell, on Saturday, that
No. 1 pit and certain certain sections of No. 2 pit would
be closed down on Monday. The company purpose
working a rick coalfield on the Jerviston estate, at the
northern end of the town, and preparations are being
made for sinking pits there.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, on Monday, Francis
Adam, William Ballantyne, Alexander Williams and
Archibald Brown, miners, and James Milligan, brushing
contractor, were charged with having contravened the
Mines Act in Douglas Park Colliery on April 7 or 8.
Adam and Ballantyne admitted having taken a quantity
of gelignite explosive into their working place without
authority, and the others pleaded guilty to storing
explosives underground and failing to return them at
the end of their shift to the authorised place of storage.
Each was fined by Hon. Sheriff Stodart 30s., with the
alternative of 10 days’ imprisonment.

At the annual meeting of the Scottish Federated
Institute of Mining Students (Western Branch), held in
Kilmarnock on Saturday, Mr. Jas. Black, of Airdrie,
was in the chair. In his remarks Mr. Black referred to
the useful work carried out by the society, and claimed
that the new method of appointing junior and sub mines
inspectors was largely due to their efforts. A paper by
Mr. Wilson on “ Sinking Through Difficult Surface at
Shettleston Colliery ” was discussed, and a paper by
Mr. John F. K. Brown on “Oil Shale Mining” was
submitted. Mr. G. M. Chalmers exhibited and gave a
demonstration of apparatus for conveying and automati-
cally tipping mine debris, and an address was delivered
by Mr. John Cuthbertson, F.E.I.S., on “ The Responsi-
bility of the Individual in Mining.” At the close of the
meeting the party visited the Ayrshire Coalowners’
Association’s Central Training and Rescue Station,
where they were met by Mr. Dunn, of Caprington and
Auchlochan collieries, and Mr. Borland, secretary of
the Ayrshire Coalowners’ Association. A team of men
in training were present, and a detailed demonstration
and explanation of the apparatus was given, under the
direction of Mr. M‘Cormack, the instructor.

Mr. William Adamson, M.P., the general secretary of
the Fife and Kinross Miners’ Association, has issued a
circular and memorandum appealing for subscriptions
on behalf of a convalescent home for Fife miners. In
his circular he points out that Mr. James Currie
Macbeth, the association law agent, has offered a sum
of £500 provided that nine other sums of like amount
are guaranteed. Since that offer was made Mr. Charles
Carlow had agreed to give £500 and a third gentleman,
whose identity is not disclosed, has offered a third £500.

The burden of maintaining the home when erected will •
be borne by the miners themselves, but it is hoped that
the cost of erecting and.equipping the home—estimated
at £10,000—will be raised at once as the result of this
appeal.

Immingham Coal Exports.—Tbe export of coal from
Immingham during the week ended Thursday, 16th inst.
showed a serious decline, owing to the colliery strike in the
South Yorkshire district, the official returns giving a total
shipment of only 12,852 tons foreign, compared with 24,423
tons during the corresponding week last j ear. The figures
to the various ports were: To Alexandria, 4,2*5 tons ;
Harlingen, 929; Havre, 760 ; Lemvig, 603 ; Oxelosund, 1,800 ;
Riga, 583 ; Stockholm, 1,545 ; and Trelleborg, 2,247. There
was a further shipment of 880 tons to London.

MIM MD COLONIAL ^OTES.

Africa.

The Effect of the Railway Strike.—Statistics published by
the Chamber of Mines in respect of the January operations
show a decline of just 100,000 tons in the coal outputs of the
four Provinces as compared with December. The selling
price per ton at pit’s mouth was, however, higher all round,
and the aggregate value of the production declined by not
more than £ 15,223. The Transvaal sold 389,505 tons in
January, as against 468,931 tons in the preceding month,
whilst the production of Natal declined from 231,410 tons to
204,970 tons. Orange Free State and Cape coal pits felt the
upheaval in much lesser degree. The output of the former
Province was actually higher at 17,073 tons, whilst the
fluctuation in the Cape’s output was unimportant. Of the
63 productive collieries of the Union, 29 were situated in
the Transvaal, and of these 29 the Middelburg area claimed
15 and yielded £67,014 out of a total of <£88,388. The
average selling value per ton at pit’s mouth for all Transvaal
coal was 4s. 6 46d., as compared with 4s. 4’5d. in December.

Australia,

Goal Trade with Chile.—Mr. P. E. Quinn, the New South
Wales Trade and Immigration Commissioner to the United
States and Canada, recently furnished the Premier of New
South Wales with a report on the probable effect of the
opening of the Panama Canal on New South Wales’ coal
trade with Chile. Mr. Quinn says that while there seems
no immediate danger that, consequent upon the opening of
the Panama Canal, Australian coal will be displaced by the
products of the coalfields of the eastern States, there is
danger that other factors may lead to the loss of this
market so long held by New South Wales coal. The great
oil-producing corporations are now engaged in systematic
preparation for the capture of the Chilean fuel market. In
the trade with the west coast of South America the
Standard Oil Corporation has already engaged a consider-
able fleet of oil steamers. The General Petroleum Company
recently launched four oil-carrying steamers for the west
coast trade in South America, and the same interests are
constructing a number of other steamers for this trade.
The General Petroleum group holds an option on the Union
Oil Corporation, which is operating several steamers in the
same trade. The competition of the powerful oil corpora-
tions for the Chilean fuel trade will necessarily result in
cheapening oil in Chile, and will probably end in the ,
practical exclusion of Australian coal. The coal interests
in Chile are mainly mercantile, and seem unlikely to be
able to withstand the attack of the oil interests.

Canada.

Canadian Mining Institute.—Our Toronto correspondent
says: The Canadian Mining Institute held its 16th annual
meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Montreal, at the
beginning of the month, commencing on the 4th inst. There
was a large attendance of members, including a number
from the United States. The president, Dr. A. E. Barlow,
of Montreal, in his opening address congratulated the
members on the prosperity and growth of the institute,
which now numbers 1,029 members, the list having been
increased by 113 during the year. As a means of stimulating
the ironmining industry, he advocated the granting by the
Government of a bonus on iron ore.

Mineral Production.—The preliminary report on the
mineral production of Canada during 1913, by John
McLeish, chief of the division of Mineral Resources and
Statistics in connection with the Department of Mines,
was presented. It showed a total output valued at
144,031,047 dols., as compared with a production valued at
135,048,296 dols. in 1912. The production of coal was
15,115,089 tons,* valued at 36,250,311 dols., as against
14,512,829 tons, valued at 36,019,044 dols. in 1912. The
year was marked by an increased production in Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta, and a decrease
of the output of Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
In the latter province the decrease was due to the con-
tinuance of the strike in the Vancouver Island mines.
Nova Scotia shows an increase of 188,839 tons, Alberta an
increase of 903,800 tons, while the production of British
Columbia was decreased by 494,548 tons, and that of
Saskatchewan by 16,167 tons. The exports of coal were
1,562,020 tons, valued at 3,961,351 dols., as compared with
exports of- 2,127,133 tons, valued at 5,821,593 dols. in
1912. The imports of coal were 18,201,953 tons, valued
at 47,949,119 dols., as compared with 14,595,810 tons,
valued at 39,478,037 dols. in 1912. The apparent con-
sumption of coal during the year was 31,685,456 tons,
as against 29,934,800 tons in 1912. About 42 8 per cent,
was from Canadian mines, and 57’2 per cent, imported.
The total output of oven coke was 1,517,133 tons, made
from 2,147,913 tons of coal. The total quantity of coke
sold or used by producers was 1,530,499 tons, valued at
5,547,694 dols. In 1912 the output was 1,406.028 tons, and
the quantity sold or used by producers 1,411,229, valued at
5,164,331 dols. The by-products, including ammonia
sulphate, tar and gas, recovered from coke ovens in 1913
had an approximate value of 866,150 dols. Exports of coke
in 1913 were 68,235 tons, valued at 308,410 dols., and the
imports 723,906 tons, valued at 2,180,830 dols. In 1912 the
exports were 57,744 tons, valued at 252,763 dols., and the
imports 628,174 tons, valued at 1,702,856 dole. At the end
of 1913 there were 1,720 coke ovens in operation and 1,325
idle.

* Short tons throughout.