1196

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 29, 1914.

Notes from the Coalfields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Progress of Ebbw Vale Company—Barry's New Tips—
Railway Support : New Clause Refused.—Senghenydd
Fund : New Trust Deed—Pithead Baths Ballot—A
Fireman's Report.

The Ebbw Vale Company, in laying the memorial stone
of their new offices last Monday, marked a .distinct stage of
progress. Mr. Brailsford, the chairman, stated that the
number of employees is now 12,000, with a weekly wage bill
of over .£20,000, making a total for the whole year of
£1,158,000. Enormous increase in the volume of business
and in the staff rendered the accommodation of the old
offices altogether inadequate. The town of Ebbw Vale has
grown up around the company’s works, as also the village
of Cwm lower down the Valley. Work has been carried out
on that site since 1780, when the coal and iron ore cost only
Is. 6d. per ton to be placed at the furnace top. There are
collieries, iron works, steel works, and galvanised iron works,
and the freehold and leaseholds cover an area of 14 square
miles. Five blast furnaces give an output of 5,000 tons per
week, and the iron and steel plant are thoroughly moder-
nised. The output of coal is 1,800,000 tons per annum, and
that of steel about 185,000 tons. The capital is £1,219,000.
The latest dividend was at the rate of 10 per cent., and the
three preceding years showed dividends of 10 per cent.,
3 per cent., and 2£ per cent.

Sir Charles Allen and Mr. J. W. Beynon, two of the
directors, with Mr. F. Mills, managing director, were pre-
sent; but Mr. D. A. Thomas, the other director, was only
then arriving in Liverpool from his three months’ tour in
America, and, therefore, could not attend. Mr. Beynon
said that Ebbw Vale was still growing; and Mr. Brailsford
contrasted present conditions with what existed 22 years
previously, when he joined the board. In 1892, he said, the
clerical staff was between 50 and 60, and to-day it numbered
180. At that time the total number of the company’s
employees was 4,500, and the total wages bill only £380,000
per annum. He mentioned an interesting fact, namely,
that the offices now* occupied were really the company’s shop
in the old “ truck ” days. The new offices will have a
frontage of no less than 325 ft., and a clock tower rising to
a height of 70 ft. The work of building will be carried out
by the company, with their own staff. In addition to its
huge area of property in the Valley, the company owns four
wharves at Newport, importing 350,000 tons of iron ore
annually, as well as between 50,000 and 60,000 tons of pit-
wood for the collieries.

There has been unexpected delay in delivering the iron
Work for the new coal tips at Barry Dock, but construction
has now commenced, and when the five are completed the
shipping power will be increased by 1| million tons per
annum—basing the estimate upon what has been accom-
plished by the new tip on the Mole.

The Great Western Company’s Bill for extending railway
facilities to collieries in the Neath Valley, two new lines
being constructed, has been approved by the House of Com-
mons committee. On Monday the very important question
raised by the Mining Association came under consideration.
That association submitted a clause for protection of colliery
owners; and Mr. Bam, K.C., who appeared on their behalf,
argued that all they sought was to be treated fairly. At
present, by the interpretation of the law as established in
the Howley Park case, the railway companies were in a
favoured position. They could stop an owner working his
minerals if thev feared danger to the line; and could do so
without paying compensation. Coal owners were to support
and protect the railway companies’ property, and to bear the
loss. The clause that was asked for would make the com-
panies liable to pay for that support and protection. The
Parliamentarv Committee, however, decided on Monday that
the colliery proprietors must remain under the common law,
and they rejected the proposed clause.

Mr. D. A. Thomas (chief of the Cambrian Combine) on
Monday arrived in Liverpool, after three months’ absence
in the United States and Canada. As previously stated, he
has been engaged in negotiations for the acquisition of a
large territory near the Bocky Mountains on the Peace Biver,
where, in addition to coal, it is expected that oil may be
found. A huge amount of capital is involved in the enter-
prises with which Mr. D. A. Thomas has associated him-
self across the Atlantic ; but whilst talking generally, both
as to the coalfields in the United States and as to his bigger
undertakings in the far North, he is, in reality, reticent as
to the precise nature of his commitments or intentions.

Discussion continues concerning the Senghenydd Fund
Trust, especially that provision which is intended to provide
for the exhaustion of the fund in relief to the present
beneficiaries, and have no surplus remaining at the expiry
of all the interests. A meeting was held in Cardiff on
Monday specially to give opportunity for members of the
committee to express their opinions upon the draft trust
deed, the committee having previously negotiated with the
holders of the two principal sections of the fund, who con-
ferred with them as to the draft. In consequence of this
consultation, the Lord Mayor of London’s collection and
that of the Miner’s Federation have been handed over to
the central body in Cardiff on the terms contained in the
draft trust deed. Emphasis was laid upon the fact that the
money had been subscribed primarily for the relief of
Senghenydd sufferers, but the meeting had to consider a
condition which accompanied the subscription from the
Powell-Duffryn Company concerning allocation of an ulti-
mate surplus in hand. Mr. W. B. Hann, on behalf of
that company, stated that the trust deed as it now stood
did not meet his company’s suggestions. It left a possi-
bility that the latest survivors would receive a very large
sum of money. Other objections to provisions were raised
by other gentlemen present—such as to that of commuta-
tion, and that (under the scheme outlined) it might be
possible in time to come that the ultimate survivors would
be receiving £5 or £10 a week; but Mr. Evan Owen (who
is secretary of the Miners’ Permanent Provident Fund) said
he doubted very much whether they would be able to pay
10s. to a widow and 5s. to each child right up to the end
of requirements. It was ultimately decided to have a
report from a qualified actuary showing what sum could be
paid weekly to the dependants.

Conditions in the Bedwellty Village have already become
serious owing to shortage of water, and on Monday a depu-
tation waited on the council to urge that immediate action

be taken to remedy the evil of defective supply. From May
12 to 15 not a drop of water came to the place; and since
then the service had been only intermittent. Colliers have
had to go to work on three mornings without a drop of tea
for breakfast; and children had been sent to school unwashed
and without any drink.

A ballot is to be taken in the Dowlais Valley area on the
question of pithead baths ; and it is urged that the system
would be of special advantage to the men employed there,
because hundreds of them, owing to lack of houses, have to
travel to and from Neath daily. A meeting in advocacy of
the idea was held last week, having been summoned by the
local lodges of miners, and a lecture was delivered with
lantern illustrations. The colliery owners are to be
approached with application for aid in furthering the
movement.

A fireman in the employ of the Ebbw Vale Company was
summoned at Tredegar on Tuesday for knowingly making a
false report upon the examination of his district. The
workmen, noticing that there was no fireman’s mark show-
ing that the district had been examined, made request to
the manager that they might see the report; and the book
contained an entry that the workings had been examined.
As a matter of fact defendant’s light went out, and he had
sat down until found by a search party. He was committed
for trial at the quarter sessions.

The members of the council of the Monmouthshire
Colliery Officials’ Association decided last June to award
two prizes for the best two papers contributed to the society’s
Journal, as follow :—One prize of £5 for the best paper on
any subject, open to all members ; one prize of £3, open to
firemen only, the subject being “ The Duties of a Fireman
under the Coal Mines Begulation Act, 1911.” Up to the
present the secretary has not received one contribution.
Entries are to be in by July 1, 1914.

Northumberland and Durham.

Miners' Relief—Beehive Ovens to be Closed—Improvements
at Newfield.

It is rumoured that the Grove Head iron mines in Wear-
dale are to be restarted after many years’ stoppage.

It is stated that when a certain colliery manager near
Durham provided the money for the drinking of his health
on the occasion of his marriage, it was found that the whole
of the foreshift men were teetotalers. However, they smoked
his health with some excellent cigars.

James Bell was fined 5s. and costs for having refused to
allow himself to be searched for matches in the Easington
Colliery, and Martin Brady, of the same colliery, was fined
20s. and costs for smoking a cigarette in the air lock of the
upcast shaft. Martin said he could not read the notice-
board prohibiting smoking.

The annual report of the Northumberland and Durham
Miners’ Permanent Belief Fund states that the number of
fatal accidents to members during the past twelve months
was 254, as against 240 the previous year; and the number
of non-fatal accidents was 49,000, as against 45,000 the
previous year. The membership of the society is given as
209,589, and the income from contributions £205,438. The
total income of the society was £225,957, and the expenditure
£225,008, including £207,323 paid out for relief. The accu-
mulated funds of the society amount to over half-a-million
pounds.

Mr. Arthur Stoker, who, as already stated, is leaving
Byhope Colliery to take up an appointment as one of H.M.
inspectors in the Manchester district, was presented with a
handsome inscribed hunter watch by the members of the
staff, and Mrs. Stoker received a gold watch bracelet. Mr.
Welsh, late of Silksworth Colliery, has commenced the
duties vacated by Mr. Stoker.

Mr. Austin Kirkup, agent for the Lambton and Hetton
Collieries Limited, made the presentations of certificates and
medallions to the successful students of the New Herrington
Colliery ambulance class at a gathering in the New Herring-
ton Hotel. Dr. A. D. Kelly, who has acted as tutor to the
class, was presented with a fine mahogany inlaid bureau
from the company, and an electric side lamp from the
students. Mr. John Minto, secretary of the class, was pre-
sented with a fountain pen, and his brother, Mr. William
Minto, was presented with a handbag, for services to the
ambulance movement in New Herrington.

It is stated that the coke ovens at Tanfield Lea Colliery,
owned by Messrs. Joicev, are to be closed down. The Tan-
field Lea coke yard has been working half-a-century, and
at one time comprised over 200 ovens of the “ beehive ”
type, but latterly only 80 have been working. The closing
of this old coke yard is, of course, typical of the changes
which have taken place since the introduction of the more
scientific and successful by-product oven.

The Select Committee of the House of Lords, presided
over by Lord Lamington, on Tuesday further considered the
Ashington Urban District Council’s Bill—a measure pro-
moted for the purpose of securing powers to the District
Council to establish a gas undertaking. The Bill is opposed
by the Ashington Coal Company Limited. Further evidence
was given in favour of the Bill. Mr. Arthur Valour, civil
engineer, giving evidence, stated that it was quite impos-
sible to get an adequate supply of gas from the existing gas
works on the colliery premises. The case for the opposition
was then opened with the evidence of Mr. E. O. Sotheran,
agent of the Ashington Coal Company. He stated that in
Ashington there were 2,481 houses belonging'to his company.
The other premises numbered 2,763. Of the 5,244 houses,
3,989 were wired for the purpose of electric lighting. With
the exception of a main country road, the whole of the streets
were maintained by the coal company, which also provided
the water supply. The company’s men lived rent free. Mr.
Bobert P. Sloan, representing the Newcastle Electric Supply
Company Limited, and the Northern Counties Electric
Supply Company, stated that the coal company were pre-
pared to give an undertaking to supply any house with gas
manufactured by the company themselves at a cost of 4s. 6d.
per 1,000 ft. The Bill was further considered on Wednes-
day. The committee at the close passed the preamble of
the Bill, subject to the approval of the Local Government
Board with regard to the borrowing powers, and this
approval is understood to have been already given.

A conference of railway workers was held at New Shildon
on Sunday, when delegates were present from Leeds,
Middlesbrough, West Hartlepool, Darlington, Newcastle,
and Tyne Dock. The conference was strictly private, and
more than usual caution was displayed by the delegates in
keeping the proceedings secret. However, it is understood

that the proposed electrification of the mineral railway
between Shildon and Middlesbrough was under discussion,
and that a programme in readiness for the changed condi-
tions of working was drawn up.

Changed methods in bringing coal to the surface is the
reason given by Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company
for giving all bank hands employed at their Bobson Fit
at Newfield, between Bishop Auckland and Willington, 14
days’ notice. It appears that the Bobson Fit and that at
Byers Green have now been holed into each other, and that
the coal is taken underground to Byers Green, and thence
drawn to bank, instead of being brought to the heapstead at
Newfield. A similar method is to be employed in conveying
coal taken from the Challies Drift, which belongs to the
same firm, and is situated at the west end of Newfield. This
is to be brought to the surface, and then sent to Byers
Green by way of the old Bobson Drift.

‘Not unnaturally the Northumbrian miners are much
disappointed that Lord Willoughby de Broke has with-
drawn his Bill for the abolition of the three-shift system in
the county. Mr. Cairns, financial secretary of the North-
umberland Miners’ Association remarks : “I am afraid he
has not the fighting instinct in him, or he would not have
withdrawn it, but would have let it go to a division.” Mr.
Hogg, treasurer of the Association, takes a more cheerful
view. He says that the satisfactory thing about the Bill is
that it will have the effect of keeping the agitation alive.
He hopes that Lord Willoughby de Broke’s Bill will show a
revival of the Shaftesbury temper and disposition towards
the working classes.

Cumberland.

Ambulance Competition.

An ambulance competition of the mines and quarries
centre for the challenge shield was held at Lowca on Tuesday
m the presence of a large number of spectators. The directors
of the Workington Iron and Steel Company provided tea for
the visiting teams and their friends. Dr. Morrison, county
medical officer, conducted the test, the competing teams being
Moss Bay and Farkhouse Mines, Aspatria A and Lowca A.
Mr. W. J. D. Burnyeat presided over the demonstration,
and said he was sorry his father, who had been expected
to preside, was prevented from doing so by a severe attack
of influenza. An increased interest and improvement was
noticed even by the lay mind in these competitions, and he
thought this would be confirmed by Dr. Morrison. After
the demonstration, Mr. T. F. Martin moved a comprehensive
vote of thanks, which Mr. James Bird seconded. Dr.
Morrison said the contest had been a very close one, and
consequently there was some difficulty in deciding which
was best. Some were very good in theory, in fact, stuck too
much to theory. Some had their instruction book off by
heart. What to do in case of accident was the object.
Others had practised a great deal; they knew what to do,
and did it. The present system seemed to him somewhat
unfair, and he hoped the committee would in future see their
way to give marks to each individual of the team, as well as
for the team combined. It was an honour to compete in the
final at Whitehaven, and he had rejected teams that were
able to compete. The winner was the A team, Lowca ; 2nd,
Aspatria A; 3rd, Farkhouse Mines; 4th, Moss Bay Mines.

Yorkshire.

Ambulance Finals—The Misuse of Safety Lamps—The Loss
of an Eye—Progress at Rossington—Housing at Bentley
—Resources of the Coalfield : Deep Winding and Sub-
sidence.

Beference to the housing needs of the South Yorkshire
coalfield was made last week at the conference of the National
Housing and Town Flanning Council at Hull. Mr. Aldridge
drew attention to the development of the coalfield, where, he
said, no town planning scheme was being prepared. It
seemed to him to be a crying shame that a great new
colliery area, with probably 40,000 miners working there
within 10 years, should be developed without a clear grip
being placed on the district. In such cases leading, persuad-
ing, and possibly compelling local authorities might be of
very great value.

Great interest was taken on Saturday last in the Yorkshire
ambulance competition, when the final for the Wood Shield
was contested in the Corn Exchange at Doncaster. There
was a large attendance of colliery officials and ambulance
men, and the company included the Mayor of Doncaster
(Councillor F. Stirling), Mr. T. H. Mottram (H.M. Chief
Inspector of Mines for Yorkshire and the Midland district),
Mr. Bobinson (H.M. inspector, of Leeds), and many others.
At the conclusion of a close contest the results were declared
as follows :—Winners of Wood Shield and gold medal, Gar-
forth Colliery, 205J points out of a possible 319; 2nd,
Manvers Main, 196 points; 3rd, Woolley, 194 points; 4th,
Allerton By water, 160 points. At the conclusion of the
contest, the Mayor of Doncaster presented the winning team
with the shield and medals, and spoke of the value of
ambulance work in such a large colliery centre as Doncaster
has now become.

A foolhardy action on the part of a miner, named Thomas
Hutley, employed at the Yorks Main Colliery at Edlington,
led to his appearance before the Doncaster magistrates last
Saturday, charged with a serious breach of the Mines A.ct.
The prosecuting solicitor stated that on May 15 last, defen-
dant lost his temper and threw his safety lamp at a stone
wall in the pit. The lamp was smashed, and the naked film
exposed. The incident took place in the return airway,
which was always highly charged with gas, and the
defendant’s action endangered the lives of hundreds of men,
for it was calculated to cause an explosion. Defendant,
who did not appear, was ordered to replace the lamp and pay
a fine of £5 and costs.

Judgment in a case of importance to colliery proporietors
was delivered in Doncaster County Court last week. Charles
Gallagher, formerly a miner at Maltby Main, sued the
colliery company for an award for the loss of his eyesight,
which he attributed to accidents in the pit last August or
May. Six years ago applicant lost the sight of his left
eye whilst at play; some years before this he had undergone
an operation upon the lenses of both eyes. In May of last
year the roof fell in at Maltby Main, and injured both his
legs, and in August last, whilst assisting two men with a
heavy girder, he heard a crack in his head, and suddenly
went blind. The arbitrator (Dr. Tinsley Lindley) found
that the applicant was totally incapacitated through the
accident, and gave judgment against the colliery company,