THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1081 May 15, 1911. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Companies. D. Mackh (Mannheim) (Deutscher Kaiser) ...................... Anton Fulda (Frankfort-on-Mainj... Piepmeyer and Optenhorst....... Adolf Harloff (Cassel) ___________ Winschermann and Co. (Mulheim Ruhr) ....................... Julius De Gruyter (Duisburg- Mannheim) .............'................. Stoeck and Fischer (Bingerbruck- Mannheim)................... Stachelhaus and Buchloh (Mill- heim-Ku hr-Mannheim) ........ Gottfried Kleinschmidt (Frankfort- on-Main) ..................... Gebriider Koch ling (Ludwigshafen) K. A. Disch (Mayence) ............. H. Paul Disch (Duisburg)........ C. G. Faber (Mayence) __......... Adolf Thomas (Mayence) ........ G. Reitz ....................... Th. Schur maun Sbhne .......... Karl Geldner (Mannheim) ....... Dieckmann and Muller.......... F. W. Liebrecht ...................... Wirsing and Dortelmann........ C. Trefz (Mannheim-Stuttgart) ___ Gebriider Mellinghoff............ S. Bergmann (Fiirtli) ............ Ullrich, Muller and Volt ........ Heuneiibruch and Hau maim ..... Van den Bergh ................. Jean Balthazar.................. Battlehner (Mannheim).......... Rudolf Hannesen................ Krauss-Buhler (Mannheim)....... Hold and Leo (Offenbach) ....... G. Engels and Co................ Barlen (Duisburg) .............. W eber-Duisburg (included in Winscliermann and Co.) ............ J. Ouverkerk................... Kampf and Hollender............ W. Klusmann ............................. Jos. Schurmann................. Gerhard Miihlenbeck............ 1903. 1913. " Tons. Tons. 268,400 375,760 263,000 — 244,400 . 342,160 222,000 , 310,800 207,000 . 289,800 200,000 . 280,000 186,800 . 261,520 184,000 . 257,600 182,800 . 255,920 173,000 . 242,200 134,400 . — 115,800 . :: 162,120 112,000 . — 110,200 . 154,280 89,600 . 125,440 84,000 . 117,600 78.800 . 110.320 78,401 . 109,760 77,400 . 108,360 74,400 . 101,160 74,200 . — 70.600 . — 69,400 . 97,160 68,200 . 95,480 62,800 . 87,920 60,600 . 84,840 60,000 . 84,000 57,600 . 56,600 79,240 56,000 . 78,400 55,000 . 77,000 52,600 . 73,640 51,200 . — 50,800 / 71,120 50,000 . — 59,000 . 70,000 50,000 . 70,000 50,000 . 70,000 9.231.600 . .. 12.924.240 Total....................... Of the nine firms that have gradually been eliminated from the list since 1903, six firms (H. A. Disch, C. G. Faber, Geb. Mellinghoff, Battlehner, Barlen, Kampf and Hollender) have been taken over by the house of Mathias Stinnes, who have acquired the allotment of a seventh, the firm of Anton Fulda. Another firm, that of C. Trefz Sbhne, has been absorbed by the house of Hugo Stinnes, whilst the firms of Weber and Winscher- mann have been amalgamated. It may be added that since April 1913 a number of small firms, fearing that the renewal of the Coal Syndicate would not provide for modifications in the constitution of the Kohlenkontor enabling them to find employment for their boats, have come to terms with some of the collieries. Thus the firm of F. W. Liebricht has been amalgamated with the Gutehoffnungshutte, the firms of Winschermann and Co. with the Gewerk- scbaft Konig Ludwig, and the house of H. Paul Disch with the Concordia Company. At the beginning of 1914 the largest adherents— namely, the’ Syndicate, the two Stinnes, the Harpen Company, the house of Raab, Karcher and Co. (which is controlled by the Gelsenkirchen Company), and the firms of Haniel, Thyssen (Deutscher Kaiser) and Boechling — possessed altogether a participation of 5,541,000 tons, or 60 per cent, of the total. At the beginning of 1914 this total (including the recent acquisitions above referred to) had risen to 9,455,880 tons, or 73’2 per cent., illustrating the ever-growing tendency towards concentration in the Ruhr coal industry. In 1910-11 the Kohlenkontor distributed 5,262,012 marks amongst the adherents, in 1911-12, 6,646,752 marks, and in 1912-13, 7,916,097 marks. In 1910-11 a dividend was paid of 40 pfennigs per ton(4,431,168 marks), and interest at the rate of 5 per cent, on the holdings (830,844 marks); in 1911-12, the dividend was raised to 65 pfennigs (7,200,648 marks), the rate and sum of interest remaining the same; in 1912-13, the dividend was at the rate of 70 pfennigs per ton (8,400,756 marks), the interest at the rate of 5 per cent, absorbing in addition 900,081 marks. In the two last years, however, there were deducted from the dividends and interest paid, calls of 10 per cent, on the original capital. It should be added that the profits so distributed are those arising only from the traffic in Ruhr coal, and do not include those made from other trade in which the adherents may engage. The increase in sales has obviously had the effect of increasing the value of the original holdings, and each of the original foundeis’ shares now stands at 140 per cent. The expansion of some of the firms associated has been phenomenal ; thus the house of Mathias Stinnes in 1903 possessed a fleet of 49 barges of 46,518 tons capacity, but this had risen by 1913 to 80 barges and a tonnage capacity of 80,000 tons. The firms of Hugo Stinnes and Raab, Karcher and Co. have also largely augmented their fleets, the former now possessing 30 (37,000 tons) and the latter 39 (57,000 tons). Messrs. M. Stinnes. in addition, possess two tugs of 3,100-horse power, Hugo Stinnes three tugs of 4,700-horse power, and Raab, Karcher and Co. six of 6,000-horse power. Other firms with considerable fleets are the following: Haniel and Co. (two tugs), J. de Gruyter (15 barges and four tugs). Geb, Doutel (nine barges) ; H. P. Disch i 10 barges and four tugs) ; Winschermann and Co. (23 barges) ; T. Schurmann Sbhne (26 barges and five tugs); Stachelhaus and Buchloh (12 barges and five tugs.) Notes from the Coalfields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. South Wales and the Laying up Scheme—Pit Prop Charters —Mining Education in Monmouthshire—Conference on Pithead Baths—April's Export Returns—Senghenydd Fund—Medical Examination of Workmen. Of deep concern to coal exporters is the decision of the shipowners’ conference, held in London last week— that the International Federation be asked to establish a system of compensation to encourage the laying-up of tonnage in times of exceptional depression. This is a first step towards limit- ing that competition in freights which is of so much vrlue to the coal trade; and, once put into operation in times of “exceptional depression,’’ the existence of the system would enable it to be applied in maintaining a pre-determined rate of freight in all directions. It is “ the first step that costs.’’ Much argument was adduced; and the question in South Wales, where so much of the “ tramp ’’ tonnage is owned, has been debated earnestly, for already a very real and by no means contemptible number of vessels are practically laid up. More than a hundred vessels lie idle at Genoa; a strike of officers on Spanish vessels has stopped many more from sailing or chartering; and yet rates scarcely meet expenses, the longer voyages being least favourable. It is probable that when the local Shipowners’ Association have the question formally discussed, there will be general agreement as to the wisdom of laying up. Upon the establishment of a compensation fund, there is scarcely such a prospect, for the value and cost-working rate of the vessels vary infinitely, a new boat making money where an older one. would lose, or (on the other hand) an old boat which has been bought at a low figure making profit on a rate that better craft could not touch. For the first four months of this year, the working of Swansea Harbour shows a deficit of £14,239, as compared with £10,112 in the corresponding period of last year. Pitprop carriage, terms were considered by the Baltic and White Sea Conference in London; and a resolution was passed approving the drafting and issue of a compulsory charter party for pit props. One speaker described present conditions as dishonourable to those who enforced them, and unfair to the shipowner who had to carry them out; and said that they gave a dishonest merchant unfair advantage over an honest one. The Monmouth County Council is still troubled with the question of mining instruction. It had been decided by the Education Committee to correlate their procedure with that of the Treforest Mining School of the coalowners, but at the meeting of the County Council last week, Mr. Alfred Onions, treasurer of the federation, said that as the coal- owners proposed to go to Crumlin in their county, he wished to know whether any authority outside the council could take part in, or administer, secondary education. Considerable discussion followed, there being strong opposition in certain quarters to the council abandoning its original idea of estab- lishing their own secondary school for mining education at Crumlin; and to the idea that the coalowners should make a branch of their Treforest institution at Crumlin. The report of the Education Committee dealing with mining instruction was, therefore, referred back; Mr. James Winstone, who is a vice-president of the federation, there- upon withdrew his motion to consider the position of mining education in the county. The antagonism to Monmouthshire Council’s attitude in respect of the mining school at Crumlin found fresh expres- sion at the meeting of the Abertillery Trades’ and Labour Council on Monday, but more important is the fact that during a meeting of the Monmouthshire Education Com- mittee on Tuesday the subject once more came forward, with the result that the recent decision was reversed. Mr. Win stone, vice-president of the Miners’ Federation, who is a member of the Council, submitted a motion that the com- mittee proceed with their proposed mining school at Crumlin in accordance with the resolution of September 26, 1911. His proposal was seconded by Mr. A. Onions, treasurer of the federation, but opposed by Aiderman Jones, who said that the difficulty was that they could not get students to attend; and he was not in favour of wasting the ratepayers’ money. The coal owners had already put a school at Tre- forest, and they wanted to put one at Crumlin; and the education committee, he said, could not hope to find money enough to put as good a place as the employers proposed to do, seeing that they had only the education rate to deal with. One of the speakers, Mr. Cook, of Blaenavon, said that the whole question was : Should education be under public or private control? Mining education under public control meant safety first and output afterwards; but under private control it was vice-versa. The recommendation was carried by 16 votes to three. Upon the question of pit head baths, it has been decided to have a conference in Cardiff, on June 13th. A meeting of the organisation committee was held on Thursday, attended by the wives of a number of miners’ leaders; and it was agreed that the conference should consist of the wives of clergy and ministers, of medical men, lady teachers, lady representatives on public bodies, with check-weighers and others; and that each colliery committee should be invited to send three women representatives. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, the Mayor of Swansea, Mr. D. Davies, M.P. (of the Ocean Coal Company, and founder of the National Memorial Association against tuberculosis), will also receive invitations. This gathering represented only East Glamorgan, and other districts are to take similar action, Swansea’s fixture being May 18. April’s record of the South Wales coal trade is not at all satisfactory, for the five ports show a total decrease in ship- ments of 213,000 tons as compared with the previous month, and of no less than 462,000 tons as compared with the corres- ponding month last year. Patent fuel and coke also show a decrease. The subscriptions in aid of sufferers by the Senghenydd explosion amount to a ictal of £126,155, of which £51,731 was collected by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, and £44,665 by the Lord Mayor of London. A trust deed has been pre- pared which provides for investment and distribution, and this was submitted on Monday to a meeting of the Cardiff __________________________________________ Committee. They resolved that it should be printed and circulated to the members, who adjourned for a fortnight in order that the scheme should be duly considered. The fund will be managed under actuarial advice upon a basis pro- viding for its exhaustion in due course, weekly payments being made to widows, payments in respect of children to specified ages, and other dependants being provided for. A feature of the trust deed is that it establishes the absolute right of the particular beneficiaries to this money; there having been much discussion on this point arising out of the wider terms of older trusts. Among the trustees are Lord Merthyr, Lord Plymouth, Lord Tredegar, Sir W. J. Thomas, Mr. D. A. Thomas, Mr. W. Brace, M.P., and Mr. Onions (treasurer of the Miners’ Federation); and there is a large executive committee, mainly composed of gentle- men engaged in the local coal trade. Mr. Watts Morgan, miners’ agent, informed a meeting of Rhondda miners on Monday that a case was being taken by the federation to the House of Lords, in order to determine what were the rights of employers as to medical examination of men who claimed compensation. He knew of one case where a man had been examined eight times in two months; and still the employers refused to pay. It is desired to remove the bashings in Senghenydd Colliery which have shut off the “ fire zone ” since the explosion; and the miners’ agent has been accorded per- mission to descend the pit and see what has been done preparatory to removal. An inquest at Llanelly directed attention to a practice amongst colliers of fixing detonators with their teeth, a man having been found near the colliery shed on Thursday morn- ing dead, having his face partially blown away. The check- weigher deposed that deceased had informeci him he was accustomed to press the detonators on the safety fuse by means of his teeth; and witness had warned him of the grave danger. It was stated that the ordinary practice was to fix with pincers. A verdict of “ Accidental death ’’ was returned. Lord Merthyr has issued contradiction of a report that he is resigning his control of the Bute properties in South Wales—which include the Cardiff docks and railway, with large mineral areas inland. Glamorgan Council students were examined at Ponty^ pridd on Saturday for colliery firemen’s test, and over 250 presented themselves. At New Tredegar on Saturday Councillor J. Evans (manager of Abertysswg collieries) presided at a meeting where 150 certificates were presented for rescue and fire- men’s examinations to students who had attended the classes at Aberbargoed and New Tredegar. Mr. C. M. Kitto, superintendent of the Rhymney rescue station, was presented with a gold watch and chain for his services to the students. In connection with the Ebbw Vale undertaking, it is announced that the steel works will be temporarily closed; and this intimation affects between 2,000 and 2,500 employees. No reason is assigned; but lack of order is said to be the cause. An incident of South Wales interest at the meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute was the conferment of the Bessemer medal upon Mr. Edward Riley. So far back as 1853 to 1859, Mr. Riley was at Dowlais, being chief chemist to the company ; and he there was occupied in early experiments con- nected with the Bessemer process. He was one of the patentees of the Thomas and Gilchrist process for lining converters. Mr. Illtyd Williams (who is on the general engineering research committee of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers) has been chosen vice-president of the Iron and Steel Institute; also Mr. William Evans and Mr. Williams. The frequent references which are being made to the Trade Union Triple Alliance—miners, railwaymen and transport workers—give special interest to the fact that the joint committee will meet in London in about a week’s time. Another month or six weeks will elapse before, the next important step takes place; and it will then take the form of a conference of delegates from all the unions. Draft terms of a working agreement are being drawn by the preliminary committee, and details will come under discussion at the conference. Northumberland and Durham. A Signalling Device—Aged Miners' Flomes for Haswell and Hedworth—Shortage of Water Supply—Coal Handling Facilities at Dunston—The Under-Managers' Association. Messrs. Skipsey and Urwin, of Scotswood, have invented a signalling apparatus to meet the requirements of the Coal Mines Act. The apparatus has neither springs nor wheels, and is really an adaptation of the old rapper. The “Simplex,’’ as the device is called, is an upright box about 11 inches wide, containing a groove in the centre of which a pointer travels vertically. On one side the numbers are marked and immediately opposite the meaning of the signal. Thus, the pointer registers simultaneously the number of raps and the meaning—also half raps. The signal is can- celled on the engineman applying steam at the commence- ment and at any part of the “ wind.” The apparatus will' permit of duplicates being worked from the master apparatus. The signal rapper is now working at the Scotswood Fire Clay Pit. Saturday was a red letter day in the history of the Durham Aged Miners’ Homes Association, for foundation stones were laid in 16 new homes at Hedworth Boldon Colliery. The 16 cottages are built in a semi-circle, and are connected by a verandah. The stone-layers were :—Sir Lindsay Wood, Bart.; Aiderman J. Wilson, M.P. ; Mr. C. S. Carnes, of Whitburn Hall; Mr. J. Summerbell (for the Boldon work- men); Mr. J. G. Addison, the Grange, Boldon; Mr. W. J. Hartshorn (for the Boldon Co-operative Society); Lieut.- Col. Vaux, Grindon; Messrs. J. Oxley, J. Redhead, C. McDarmont, J. Lowther, I. Robinson, James Carhill, J. Wilkinson, R. W. Knox, and the Rev. J. R. Croft, South Shields. Mr. Wilson said they had been given 15 acres of land by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and no less than £4,000 by the Harton Coal Company, for the provision of the homes, gifts which they could place to the credit of Sir Lindsay Wood. That ceremony marked the beginning of 230 homes yet to build, and at present the number erected was over 500. Sir Lindsay Wood was given a very hearty reception, and said there was no movement of such a high character, and he was proud to be associated with it. In 15 years the movement had raised £63,000, and of that sum