Miy 22, 1914.

TH® COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1127

inspectors’ reports would see that in the report of
Mr. Pickering—he did not know whether it was the last
one the gentleman wrote—he referred to the new coal-
field in Yorkshire, and called attention to the low level
of the land, to its not being very much above the sea
level, and that unless some different means of mining
could be found, the present generation, or those that
came after it, would have a more serious state of things
in Yorkshire to deal with than one had in Lancashire
to-day. That was a very important point. In such
cases subsidences of the land would be serious, so that
if the cost of a remedy were even greater than that sug-
gested by Mr. Paton, his view was that the work would
pay for itself again and again. There were three or four
collieries he watched from time to time, and he knew
that in some cases a great deal of money had been spent
in keeping up the level of the land at the surface, and
in others big dirt heaps were formed, adding in no way
to the beauty of the landscape. In some cases as the
dirt came out of the pit it was taken straight away and
spread on the land. That was done quietly in three or
four places in Lancashire, where there were men who
had a little philanthropy as well as anxiety to make
money; and they kept the neighbourhood more beauti-
ful in consequence. When one rode in the train one
saw tracts of water and heaps of dirt here and there,
and he often thought how much nicer it would be to
have the level of the land maintained. A good deal
might be done that way, and if it had been done in the
past it would have more than paid for itself. If they
could do this stowing underground, and maintain the
level of the land above, he saw a great many ways of
paying for hydraulic stowing. He quite agreed with
Mr. Paton as to bad creeping floors. With this system
he could not see why they should creep very much if
the spaces were carefully filled up one bit at a time.
Another thing was the question of timber; it must
materially reduce the cost. It was not a question of
stowing now, and bearing the cost now; if they looked
a long time ahead they would be getting advantages
from hydraulic stowing. Unless the thing was out-
rageous or altogether impracticable, it seemed to him
the initial cost was sure to be repaid.

Mr. Vincent Bramall (Pendlebury) said he did not
quite understand whether Mr. Harrison had one of the
Pendlebury collieries in mind, but his firm were level-
ling a lot of ground, and doing it without the use of
waste material. He would, however, hesitate very much
in the case of the Pendlebury mines to resort to
hydraulic stowing. The moisture and heat were great
in deep mines, and if they got a large amount of
humidity with a temperature of 90 degs. and more, he
did not think the men could stand it. Mr. Paton did
not mention the temperature or the effect on the men.
Then there was the commercial aspect of the case. He
understood that the percentage of profit on the whole
of the German collieries in one year was 6 per cent., and
only 3 per cent, if they took the average of five years.
Again, in the Midland collieries the seams were 6 and
7 ft. thick, and if they only made that profit they would
prefer to destroy the beauty of the land and never mind
the stowing. He thought the system was highly scien-
tific and very interesting, but in the case of very thick
seams, until it was the only course that could be taken,
and where the seams were under a town, he did not
think in ordinary cases it would be a commercial
success.

Mr. Wordswtorth said he did not quite agree with
Mr. Bramall as to deep mines, and their unsuitability
for this work, for he understood from Mr. Paton it had
been used in mines 700 yds. deep in Germany, wherein
the temperatures were like those of English mines. If
the system prevented subsidence there was no question
about it paying.

Mr. F. N. Siddall, H.M. inspector of mines, remarked
that in South Derbyshire and Warwickshire the seams
were very thick, and from one-third to two-thirds of the
coal was as good as the Trencherbone. Yet a good deal
of it had to be left in the ground, for the owners were
faced with a difficulty of this description—that there
were only %bout 20 yds. (one could not say exactly)
between them and a very large water bearing area.
They could not let that water in. If they did they
would lose the whole of their colliery. Now if hydraulic
stowing could be done in mines so situated it would be
a great convenience to the colliery company, and increase
the output of the coalfield. But in that particular case
a system would have to be found by which no subsidence
whatever took place, if the coal was to be won. Other-
wise they would have to leave three-fourths of the coal
in the ground; and that was a great consideration. He
would like to ask Mr. Paton if there were any means of
establishing hydraulic stowing where they could not sink
another shaft to the rise.

Mr. Paton, answering Mr. Siddall, said if the seam
had a rise of one in 50 they could have the hydraulic
stowing. With reference to a large water area being
near the workings, he pointed to the case of coalfields
only 200 ft. below the Biver Clyde, and in some cases
even less. The land was level between the water bed
and the coal; it was soft, sandy, light material, yet
hydraulic stowing had stopped all leakage. In the
Derbyshire mine referred to he was pretty certain, if
there were a reasonable amount of intervening strata
between the water-logged area and the seam in ques-
tion, hydraulic stowing would meet the case. The cost
of stowing might rise in some cases, but, on the other
hand, something was being got which now was lost,
and the coal could be got without the water coming in.
As to the question raised by Mr. Bramall, he could only
say that his knowledge’ was that of an engineer,

and not that of a mine manager, so that as regarded
humidity and temperature he was not able to give an
expert opinion. At the same time, he submitted that
with hydraulic stowing they improved their ventilation,
because they got back a greater proportion of the air they
sent in than they would do otherwise. He wished to
say also that it was applicable to thin seams as well as
thick ones. The thick seams, he granted, were the
seams where there was the greatest demand for it, but the
thin seams called for it also, and by its means subsidence
was avoided. As to the timber, in some German mines
the saving of timber covered the cost of stowing. More-
over, “ creeping ” was deleted by its use, and all anxiety
regarding subsidence was. ended. In the course of
further remarks, Mr. Paton said that in Germany they
had worse coal to start with than England had to finish
with. Certainly they had a poor coal, but they made
up for poorness in quality by scientific engineering.

The President said he supposed that when water was
introduced in connection with the stowing, it did lower
the temperature of the mine, and, to a certain extent,
counteract the effect of the humidity.

Mr. Paton said that was the case. There was a
refreshing effect from the stowing, and a much better
ventilation.

The President said they quite agreed on the theo-
retical part of the subject, but if anyone had actual
records of the effects of hydraulic stowing on tempera-
tures and humidity it would be well to have them.

Mr. Paton said he had no definite data of that kind,
but would try to secure some.

Mr. Bramall expressed the opinion that though the
temperature' might be lowered one or two degrees, it
would only be for a few hours.

The President reminded members that the discussion
could be carried on by correspondence.

New members, federated, were elected as follow :—
Mr. John Threlfall Caldwell, colliery manager, New
Kendah Coal Company Limited, Chora, via Raneegunge,
E.I.R., India; Mr. John Lloyd Jones, manager, Votty
and Bowydd Slate Mines, Blaenau Festiniog, North
Wales; and Mr. William Hugh Johnson, colliery
manager, Willow Lodge, Abram, Wigan.

Mr. Sydney Alfred Tamblyn, 8, Plasturton-gardens,
Cardiff, was elected an associate member, federated.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLIERY
MANAGERS.

Annual Meeting at Newcastle.—Mining Legislation
Criticised.

The annual meeting of the National Association of
Colliery Managers was held in Newcastle on Thursday
of last week. During the afternoon the Finance Com-
mittee, Parliamentary Committee and Council held their
meetings, and in the evening Sir Francis Brain presided
over the early stages of the annual general meeting.

The result of the election of officers was announced
as follow :—-President, Mr. Samuel Hare, Howlish Hall,
Bishop Auckland, agent to Messrs. Bolckow Vaughan
Collieries Company Limited; vice-presidents—Mr.
George Gibb, Rutherglen, Glasgow; Mr. J. Unsworth,
Scot-lane Collieries, Blackrod, Ghorley; Mr. J. R.
Wilkinson, Oakley House, Barnsley; Mr. E. S. Williams,
Brynbedw, Forth; Council members'—Kent, Mr. 0. H.
Taylor; Lancashire, Mr. Richard Landless; Midland,
Messrs. R. Laverick and J. Strachan; North of England,
Messrs. A. C. Kayll and W. Severs; North Staffordshire,
Mr. J. R. L. Allott; North Wales, Mr. J. Hampton;
Scottish branches, Mr. R. McPhee and Mr.T. Stevenson;
South Midland, Mr. C. Dickinson; South Staffordshire,
Messrs. A. Hall and D. E. Parry; South Wales, Messrs.
J. P. Gibbon and Mr. J. Kane; South Western, Mr. D.
Morgan; Yorks., Messrs. S. Gill and F. H. Waterhouse;
treasurer—Sir Francis W. T. Brain.

Sir Francis Brain moved the adoption of the report
and balance sheet as submitted by the Council. These
showed the present membership of the association to be
1,413 as compared with 1,319 last year, with 12 branches,
as compared with 11 last year. The finances of the
association were sound despite an extraordinary high
expenditure, and the balance in hand was given as over
nineteen hundred pounds. Sir Francis said the organis-
ation could be congratulated on having had a very
successful year. They had made their influence felt,
and exerted it in the right direction. The past year had
been one of great difficulties so far as the coal trade
was concerned, and if ever the Association of Colliery
Managers had justified its existence it had done so by
its actions during the past 12 months. That they had
finished their task should not for a moment be supposed,
as they were more like beginning than finishing and he
was afraid there was going to be no end to their task.
Every year their responsibilities seemed to be increasing,
and the necessity for a strong and useful association,
such as theirs had proved itself to be, was more than ever
apparent.’

The report was seconded by Mr. G. H. Winstanley
and carried.

Sir Francis Brain then introduced the new president,
Mr. Samuel Hare, to the meeting, and, in doing so,
remarked that the Northern branch had shown great

wisdom in nominating Mr. Hare to that office. Many of
them knew and appreciated his worth, and had seen the
sturdy work he had done for the association, more
especially during the past three or four years. He him-
self could speak very gratefully of their new president,
as he had often been glad for the help received at his
hands when in very difficult positions—he was one of
the gentlemen to whom he always looked for help when
in a difficulty. Apart from personal references, Mr.
Hare had, during the past year, proved himself an able
administrator, and had rendered very real services to
both the owners and the managers, who probably owed
more to him than they were aware of. He was particu-
larly pleased to know that, during a year when great
judgment and discretion would doubtless be needed,
they would have the guidance of a man who would do
what was best in the interests of the mining community
at large.

Mr. Samuel Hare took the chair vacated by Sir Francis
Brain amidst cheers so hearty that it was some time
before he could proceed with his presidential speech.

President’s Address.

The newly-elected President said he wished to first
thank them for the great honour they had done him in
electing him to be president of that important associa-
tion. It was an honour which he had not sought, know-
ing he could not claim to have reached the standard
which he suggested at the last annual meeting should
in future be aimed at in the election of the presidents
of the association.

When considering what the subject of his address to them
should be, he decided that, as there was one subject at the
present time which entirely overshadowed all others in the
minds of colliery managers of this country, it would be
advisable for him to deal with it. He referred to the effect
of recent mining legislation upon the members of their
association. The work of a colliery manager up to the
present time had been, in spite of its arduous nature, of a
most interesting character. There could be no sameness
about it, seeing that the conditions of a mine changed
considerably, almost daily, and there had always been a
great deal to learn and a large number of interesting and
important problems to solve. Latterly, a great change had
taken place and principally through the effect of recent legisla-
tion. A manager was now so hard pressed and his time so fully
occupied in trying to comply with the various onerous pro-
visions of the new Mines Act and Regulations that his life
was hardly worth living. Many people seemed to think that
colliery managers objected to all mining legislation, but that
was a great mistake. Every manager, worthy of the name,
welcomed any suggestion for improving the safety of the
mines, so long as it was of a practical character and could be
carried out at a cost which was not prohibitive. Some
people appeared to think that such matters ought not to be
taken into account where life was at stake, but it would be
just as unreasonable to state that all vehicular traffic should
be entirely stopped in the streets of London (which, in his
opinion, was much more dangerous than most of the mines
in the country) in order to reduce the large number of
accidents which happened daily. If the cost of getting coal
was not to be considered, then what would be the fate of
the iron and steel trade of this country? Already, he was
told on most reliable authority, it was impossible for our
steel makers to compete with foreign makers owing, princi-
pally, to the high cost of the material required in the
manufacture of steel. Again, it was well known that the
manufacturers of pig iron were either losing money or only
making ends meet, although they were obtaining their coke
at a price much below the actual cost of production, the
effect of which was that the loss to the colliery owner in
that district was in most cases fully equal to the profit that
was derived from the by-products obtained in the manu-
facture of the coke.

He was fully convinced that they had now arrived at a
point when “ halt ” must be called to every movement,
either in respect of large additional expenditure in connection
with improving the safety of mines or in connection with
the demands for higher wages and better conditions of
employment by the workmen. So far as he could see, the
principal objection of colliery managers to recent mining
legislation was that much of it was unnecessary and that
some enactments, instead of being likely to effect a reduction
in the number of accidents, were more likely to result in
increasing them; and that, in addition, some of them seemed
to have been invented merely to irritate and insult managers.
Time would not allow him to mention them all in detail but,
as examples of the first class, he referred to the clauses
dealing with weekly pays and provision of baths. In his
opinion the weekly pays had not been a benefit to the work-
men in that district, but had seriously increased the
thriftlessness of a certain section of them, and had caused a
large increase of week-end work to the clerical staff at all
the collieries. As examples of the second class, he gave
those clauses dealing with stoppings and signals. As an
example of the third class, he referred to the obligation
placed upon managers to countersign all reports within so
many hours of their being made. In his opinion, that was
neither more nor less than a’gross insult to every manager
in the United Kingdom, and he considered that every possible
means should be adopted to obtain the repeal of that clause.
At a colliery with which he was connected, the manager was
required to countersign no fewer than 170 reports daily, and,
although it was seldom that a report stated that there was
anything out of order, it was necessary for him to carefully
look over the whole of them and countersign them. That
was a great waste of valuable time, and a manager of a large
colliery, with great responsibilities resting upon him, could
ill afford it. Some people, including some legislators, seemed
to forget that in a mining disaster the man who was the
worst hit was the manager, and that, consequently, he was
not likely to run any more risks than he could possibly avoid.
If he were not under ground at the time of the accident and
killed, he would most certainly be the first man among the
rescuers. It was reported in the press that before a party
of rescuers went down the pit after the Senghenydd explosion,
they retired into a room and each of them wrote a farewell
letter home. Under similar circumstances he had done the
same thing more than once, and he had no doubt that
many of them there had had a similar experience. Any
person of ordinary intelligence would appreciate what that
meant, and would be bound to admit that those men who