May 1, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 967 square inch per minute, the material being dry; with a pressure of 173 lb. and a speed of 600 ft., the work absorbed was 34,000foot-pounds (dry); with lubrication, the work absorbed at the speeds above mentioned was 14,000 and 92,000 foot-pounds respectively, the pressure in this case being 291 lb. per- square inch. The report adds, in regard to the general behaviour of “ Ferodo ” bonded asbestos, that “ these materials appear to be of great value because of their’ heat-resisting qualities and the very constant value of the coefficient of friction under very varying conditions, also the very small wear which takes place. From the results obtained it is clear that hydraulic compressing improves the wearing qualities of the material.” Turning now to “ Ferodo ” fibre, the results of the tests are given in Table II.:— TabiA II.—“Febodo” Fibre. Pressure. Lb. per sq. in. Value of coefficient of friction. Speed in feet per minute. 600 .... 2,900 5,500 16 0’73 0’64 — 27 — — 0’56 29 0'70 0’63 — 39 — 0’64 — Particulars of the work absorbed are as follow:—27 lb. pressure, speed 5,500 ft. per minute, 80,000 foot-pounds per square inch per minute (dry); 29 lb. pressure, speed 600 ft. per minute, 12,000 foot-pounds (dry) ; 39 lb. pressure, speed 2,900 ft. per minute, 72,000 foot-pounds (dry); 160 lb. pressure, speeds 600 and 2,900 feet per minute, 10,000 and 70,000 foot-pounds respectively (lubricated). As regards the general behaviour of “ Ferodo ” fibre, it is stated that this material has a very high coefficient of friction and can be run at considerable pressure and speed, yet at the same time the wear is very slow. The general effect of an increase in temperature is to raise the coefficient of friction, and this also follows upon an increase of pressure and speed ; further, the value of the coefficient of friction when lubricated was satisfac- tory, and the work absorbed was high under such circumstances. The coefficient of static friction was established as :— “ Ferodo ” bonded asbestos, 0'33; “ Ferodo ” fibre, 0'43. A comparison is shown of pressure on and work absorbed by these fabrics and various other materials tested under similar conditions. “ Ferodo ” fibre, at 60 lb. pressure, absorbed 39,000 foot-pounds per square inch per minute at a speed of 1,000 ft. per minute ; “ Ferodo ” die - pressed bonded asbestos, at 60 lb. pressure, 18,000 foot - pounds ; Standard “ Ferodo ” bonded asbestos, at 50 lb. pressure, 15,500 foot-pounds; the nine competitive materials, undei’ pressures ranging from 10 lb. to 40 lb. absorbed from 3,100 to 10,800 foot-pounds pei- square inch per minute at a speed of 1,000 ft. per minute. The pressures last cited were the maximum possible owing to the breaking up of the test pieces, which were cut from the sheet and had raw edges all round; although the samples of “ Ferodo ” fabrics were cut out in an exactly similar manner, it will be observed from the tables that pressures up to 176 lb. per square inch were employed before the test pieces commenced to give way. In addition to the tests made by the National Physical Laboratory, the following data has been arrived by other scientific authorities:— Hardness numeral for Ferodo bonded asbestos under above test, 20'1 (Brinnel ball test). Results of tensile tests (Kirkcaldy):— Elongation in 25 In. Dimensions. Ultimate stress. Material. Size. Ar0a ^PeP Lb. Lb. ' Ferodo bonded asbestos...... 2 in. by 0’25 ... 0’5 .. 2,029 ... 4,058 Ferodo fibre ... 2’06 in. by 0’26 ... 0’536 ... 2,020 ... 4,039 From tests in regard to rates of elongation, it was found that with stresses of from 200 to 800 lb. per inch of width, the percentage of elongation ranged for the respective fabrics between 0’45 and 1’81 and between 0'44 and 2’9. The Wolf Safety Lamp Company, Sheffield, have recently had repeat orders for Wolf alkaline lamps from the Earl of Rosslyn’s Collieries, Dysart (where lead accumulator lamps of another make are being discarded) from the Cadzow Coal Company, and from Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company. They have also received orders for nearly 1,200 Wolf-Patterson flame lamps from Messrs. James Dunlop and Co., in addition to many smaller contracts. Among other recent commissions the Sherwood Colliery Company, Mansfield, have, after prolonged comparative tests of various makes, placed an order for 1,600 Wolf alkaline lamps. There will shortly be three collieries in the Midlands within a few miles of each other, using, in the aggregate, 5,650 Wolf alkaline lamps. SILVER “CEAG" LAMP FOR ROYAL PRINCESS, We give a photograph herewith of the silver “ Ceag ” miners’ electric safety lamp which was presented to H.R.H. Princess Alexander of Teck during her visit to South Wales. The lamp is in solid silver, and is an exact copy of the standard collier’s “ Ceag ” lamp. It is an exact duplicate of the one which took the first prize offered by the Home Office for the best miners’ electric safety lamp. It was supplied by the “Ceag” Electric Safety Lamp Company Limited, through Messrs. Haslam and Schontheil Limited, of Cardiff. It bears the following inscription:— To Her Royal Highness The Princess Alexander of Teck, from the Inhabitants of the Rhondda as a memento of Her Royal Highness’ Visit to the District. 24th April, 1914. The Welsh collieries take a special interest in the “ Ceag ” lamp, as this lamp was used successfully after the Senghenydd disaster, and a large proportion of the leading collieries in South Wales have adopted—or are about to adopt—same, for general use in their pits, e.g., Powell Duffryn Company, the Cambrian Combine, Tredegar Company, &c., &c. The presentation lamp referred to is provided with the latest type of “ Ceag ” alkaline accumulator, as specially desired for this occasion. MINING AND OTHER NOTES, Messrs. Wailes, Dove and Co. Limited inform us that owing to the rebuilding of their present premises at Cardiff they have taken larger offices at Channel-chambers, James-street, Cardiff. An action was recently commenced in the case of Pettigrew v. the Darngavil Coal Company whereby the colliery proprietors were put to a considerable expense in compensating a veterinary surgeon for injuries sustained whilst attending to pit ponies, and similar liability would attach to colliery proprietors in respect of professional or business men whose services may bring them within the precincts of a colliery. As the contingency can be insured against at a nominal premium it may be worth the consideration of colliery proprietors whether it is not better to insure rather than carry this risk themselves. Mr. J. Whitehouse, the manager of the Village Deep Mine, South Africa, is at present in this country. He is staying at the Langham Hotel. Messrs. W. H. Bowater Limited, of Birmingham, inform us that they have just appointed Mr. Percy Sylvester, until recently with Messrs. Settle, Speakman and Co., and Mr. A. H. Judd, of Bradbury, Son and Co. Limited, to represent them as joint managers of their London business. Amongst recent orders secured by the Turbon Patent Fan Company Limited, Llanelly, are two 80 in., one steam- driven and one motor-driven, for the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company. These are claimed to be the largest fans in use in Australia for induced draught. Another recent order was for a double inlet mine fan for the Chillagoe Company’s new colliery at Mount Mulligan- Orders have also been received from the Brisbane Tramway Company, and the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation, Balmain, within the last few weeks. The Australian agents for the Turbon fans are Messrs, the Austral Engineering Supply Company Limited, of Sydney. Mr. Frederick Napier White, of Swansea, senior inspector of mines for the Newport district, who died January 30 last, aged 45 years, left estate of the gross value of £4.649, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £4,385. An explosion took place on Monday in a coalmine at Eccles, W. Virginia. It is thought that there has been heavy loss of life, as it is reported that 260 miners were in the mine at the time of the explosion. The explosion occurred when a full force of men were at work 600 ft. below the surface. A rescue crew was organised and succeeded in dropping down one shaft to the bottom, where two men were found both badly burned and were brought to the surface. It is believed that both are fatally hurt. Rescue work is being continued, but it is feared that the loss of life is considerable. The council of the Institution of Civil Engineers have made the following awards for papers read and discussed during the session 1913-1914:—A Telford Gold Medal to Mr. F. W. Cowie (Montreal) ; a George Stephenson Gold Medal to Mr. F. E. Wentworth-Sheilds (Southampton) ; Watt Gold Medals to Mr. Thos. Clarkson (Chelmsford) and Mr. Henry Fowler (Derby); and Telford Premiums to Prof. E. G. Coker (London), Mr. W. A. Scoble (London), Mr. Wm. Willcox (London), and Mr. S. P. W. D’Alte Sellon (London). Coal Trade Benevolent Association.—The twenty-first annual festival dinner was held at the Hotel Cecil on Monday evening. Representatives from all parts of the country were present in large numbers. During the evening the secretary (Mr. W. J. Collins) announced that a most liberal response had been made to the appeal for donations. The total amount received was LI,200, which included £100 from the Earl of Plymouth, the president. Among those supporting his lordship were Mr. H. C. Rolfe (chairman of the association), Mr. T. K. Fox, next year’s president, and, among others, Lord Airedale, Sir Clifford Cory, Sir William E. Garforth, Col. R. S. Williamson, Mr. G. C. Locket, Ac. The president proposed “ The Health of his Majesty the King.’’ On proposing “The Coal Trade Benevolent Association,” the president observed that no doubt that everyone in that hall that night knew perfectly well what the objects of that association were. At the festival dinner of the association in 1905 he was the guest of Lord Aberdare, who was in the chair. Since then he believed the association had been completely reorganised, and that, following on a time when its usefulness was hampered by certain conditions, under its new organisation, it had been enabled to fill a place of much more value and much more usefulness. Therefore, it had received a far larger amount of support than it received before. It was only in combined effort that success in the trade could be assured and carried on. During the first quarter of this year the relief distributed amounted to £787, as against .£602 during the same quarter last year. The expenditure last year amounted to some £1,726, and it was essential that the membership should be increased if their expenditure should be met. During the current year they had got to face an estimated expenditure of £2,000. In making the appeal which he felt he ought to make in occupying the chair that evening, it would be an appeal to all those interested in the great coal industry—not only colliery proprietors, but — he spoke for himself — royalty owners and friends who had no direct interest in the coal trade, but who were largely dependent upon that great industry for the occupations which they followed.— Mr. H. C. Rolfe, in responding, referred to the excellent work of their chairman of last year, Mr. W. G. Phillips, and his predecessors. The work of the association progressed and increased in usefulness, but it wanted further support. The coal industry in its vastness was second to none, and was the backbone of their commercial prosperity and manu- facturing greatness. Surely then its benevolent fund should rank in proportion. — Mr. G. C. Locket proposed “ The Branch Associations,” which now, he said, numbered 13. He commended the policy of selecting chairmen from the branches, as it showed that the intention was to extend their influence in the provinces.—Col. R. S. Williamson, responding, referred with pleasure to the fact that many new branches had been formed, and with strong local com- mittees they bade fair to become prosperous centres of the association. Other branches were in contemplation. An inaugural meeting in connection with the Liverpool branch had been arranged. The Association of Coalowners and Merchants at Liverpool had pledged their unanimous support, and a strong branch was anticipated in that im- portant city. He referred to the work done at Bristol and Reading in appreciative terms.—Mr. T. S. Fox pro- posed “ The Visitors.”—Sir Clifford Cory, in respond- ing, said tlat perhaps the most difficult problem for philanthropists was how to administer their charity. Charity began at home. Let them take care of the coal trade, and let the other trades take care of themselves. He saw by their report that last yaar they had a reserve fund of £15,000. He saw that their receipts had risen from 1890 to 1914 from £50 to £5,000. Last, year there were 86 cases in receipt of regular relief. When there was a great disaster like that at Senghenydd there was no difficulty in raising sufficient money to meet the needs of the case, but, as Lord Durham said the previous year, the association was not for manual workers, who had their unions, but was for those who were unfortunate in the normal course of the working of their great Industry. A point to be noted was thatjbenefits were not restricted to members.