1258

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 5, 1914.

A public presentation by the workmen, officials, and staff
of the Great Clifton Colliery was made in the Infants’
School on Thursday to Mr. James Wilson, on his retirement,
after being under-manager of Clifton Colliery for 30 years.
The present to Mr. Wilson consisted of a marble clock and
a purse of gold, with a gold brooch for his wife.

The new coal conveyor which has been recently erected
on the Workington Dock by the Workington Iron and Steel
Company was started last week by Sir John Bandies,
M.P., and a large and representative gathering of men con-
nected with the industries of the district witnessed the load-
ing of a steamer with steam coal. The new coal conveyor,
dsigned by Mr. Cecil Walton, and constructed by Messrs.
Turnbull and Company, Heaton Junction, is intended to
replace the two existing coal hurries. The new conveyor
has a guaranteed minimum capacity of 400 tons per hour,
but has actually attained a speed of 650 tons per hour in
practice. It consists of a steel belt, composed of hinged
trays, which conveys the coal from a hopper on shore, and
delivers into an anti-breaker attached to the seaward end of
the conveyor belt. The anti-breaker is formed by an endless
series of collapsible trays, which when filled with coal auto-
matically descends and delivers the coal on the bottom of
the ship (or any other desired point), thereby reducing
breakage to a minimum. The conveyor belt and anti-
breaker can be raised or lowered to suit height of tide and
depth of ship’s hold, and is suitable for coke, ore, or other
similar material. The machine is also capable of travelling
longitudinally a distance of 120 ft., so that vessels can load
at any point within that radius without changing berth.
The conveyor is driven by a 60-horse power Bobey locomotive
type of boiler and engine.

At the luncheon which followed, Sir John Bandies men-
tioned that the idea of the conveyor was suggested some 18
years ago by the late Mr. George Scoular. The cost of the
conveyor had fallen largely on the Workington Dock and
Harbour Board, which really meant the Workington Iron
and Steel Company, as far as the finding of the cash went,
but they had been assisted by the London and North-
Western, the Cleator and Workington, and the Durness rail-
wav companies. The Mayor of Workington (Mr. B. E.
Highton) said the conveyor was one of those things which
Workington had long stood in need of. He was sure they
would all join with him in expressing the wish that Sir John
would go one better, and provide them with a dock which
would give them 30 ft. of water at Workington, and bring
in 20,000- or 30,000-ton boats. That would complete their
happiness. Mr. J. A. Haynes, manager of the Cleator and
Workington Junction Bailway Company, said that he had
been associated with the coal conveyor since its initiation
bv the late Mr. Scoular and himself some 16 years ago. The
old hurries were very antiquated, and they were doing a
great deal of injury to the coal trade of Workington and
the surrounding ports. What had stood in the way was
this : The Dock and Harbour Board did not feel themselves
justified in shouldering the whole of the financial burden.
The railway companies were called in. and the late Sir
Drank Bee,’ for the London and North-Western Company,
subscribed £1.000, and Cleator and Workington a like sum,
the Durness Company, however, contributing a third of that
sum as their share. Mr. Ernest Bouch. of the Bravton
Domain: Mr. J. Hadwen, of the Allerdale Colliery Com-
pany: and Mr. P. Wedgwood, of the St. Helens Colliery
Company, all expressed their hopes for the success of the
enterprise. Mr. W. Graham, of the Moresby Colliery Com-
pany. believed that the coal conveyor would have the effect
of delivering the coal in better condition to their customers
in Ireland. He was of the opinion that it was one of the
best means of loading coals that there was in Great Britain.
It was far superior to anything he had seen at Garston and
Blyth. Mr. Joseph Ellis, managing- director of the Working-
ton Iron and Steel Company, said his view—and he had been
in the district for 40 years now—was that the district was
onlv iust beginning to look up. The development in the
coal district, with the richness of its by-products from its
coal, and the development of the iron ore fields, with their
splendid pure ore, were going to make West Cumberland
one of the best districts in the country. It was going to be
the best steel—the non-phosphoric steel—and the best iron
__the iron with the least sulphur in it—that would
be the most in demand, and West Cumberland was going
to be the district that would supply them. West Cumber-
land would be able to command the best market in the
world. The combine had been working away now for seven
years underground, and had been spending tremendous
sums, and within the last two months they had proved one
of the finest coalfields on this or anv other coast. They had
just got into a working seam of coal which was no less than
14 ft. thick, and which extended from Harrington to the
Derwent. He believed that within a very few years they
should be turning out a tremendous ouantitv of coal in the
district, and that West Cumberland would be. largelv
benefiting from it. There was no cloubt that the iron.and
steel, coke, and bv-nroduct industries would be nut in a
position which they had never occupied before. He hoped
the district, and everybody connected with it, would rise to
the occasion and do their best to make it a big success. Sir
John Bandies, referring again to the coal seam at the Lowca
Collier*’. said that if everythin" went on as they anticipated
it mi"ht mean that they should be obliged to put down a
colliery at Moss Bay.

Yorkshire.

Coal Reached at Barmboro—Record at Bullcroft—Explosion
at Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery :. Eleven Killed—
Explosive Stores : The Renewal of Licences.

- The chief event of the past few days has been the reaching
of coal at the fine new colliery which the Manvers Main
Company have sunk at Barmboro, a few miles from Don-
caster. The original estimate was that the Barnsley seam
would be reached at a depth of 550 yds. ; to be precise it was
last week entered upon at 505^ yards. Sinking operations
have been in progress for some 10 months, under the direc-
tion of Mr.W. Bunting, who was also associated with the
sinking of the Yorkshire Main and other new collieries of
the Doncaster coalfield. The downcast shaft was driven in
advance for draining purposes, leaving the upcast to be sunk
at a high and uninterrupted rate. The Barnsley bed is a
little over 6 ft. in thickness at the point where the shafts
have been sunk, and the work of heading the coal will
probably be commenced in about six weeks time. The down-
cast shaft is to be continued to the Parkgate seam, which
lies at a depth of 800 yds. from the surface. The downcast
shaft was started four months earlier than the upcast, and

is now 480 yds. down. The new Barmboro colliery is upon
the estate of Mr. D. J. O. Montagu, of Melton Park, and
some 2,000 acres of coal have been leased. The upcast shaft
is 18 ft. in diameter, the downcast 16 ft. The colliery is
splendidly fitted up, and equipped with the best and latest
machinery. It is designed to cope with a daily output, when
fully developed, of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons, and to give
employment, eventually, to some 3,000 hands. Most of the
coal traffic will pass over the Dearne Valley railway line.
There is a big problem associated with the Barmboro pit,
viz., that of housing its workers. There are, it is understood,
stipulations forbidding that the charming little village of
Melton, one of the prettiest in Yorkshire, or the estate itself,
shall be interfered with by the erection of colliers’ cottages.
This looks like causing a great difficulty. Provision will
have to be made for thousands of families, and the question
is in which direction will they go. Only 40 houses are to be
allowed upon the Melton estate. These, presumably, will be
for the chief officials of the colliery. The bulk of the workers
will probably look in the direction of Mexborough for accom-
modation. In this, and in other ways, the coming of the
colliery promises to give a great fillip to the building trade
and to other industries.

A record has been established at Bullcroft Colliery, near
Doncaster. It is only some 2-J years since coal was won at
the colliery after a great trouble in sinking, owing to the
great volume of water encountered. Yet for the week ended
May 16 the official figures for the output are 24,097 tons.
This output, accomplished in so short a time, is said to be a
record. The best performance in an eight hours’ shift was
slightly over 1,700 tons. Every week, under favourable
circumstances, the colliery is turning out between 23,000 and
24,000 tons, which speaks well for the rapidity with which
it has been developed.

Eleven men were- killed and two injured in an explosion
which occurred shortly after one o’clock on Saturday after-
noon at the Pilley (No. 4) Pit of the Wharncliffe Silkstone
Colliery Company Limited, Tankersley, about six miles south
of Barnsley. The explosion, which is believed to have been
due to firedamp, took place about a mile and a-half from
the shaft, whilst a batch of 15 men were at work in a section
known as the Athersley Whinmoor seam. Several hundreds
of men had been brought out of the pit after completing their
morning shift, and the mine was virtually shut down for
the Whitsun holidays. The first news of the accident was
received from the engineman at the bottom of the shaft, and
immediately everything was done by the officials in charge
to rescue the men who were known to be below. The
Wharncliffe Bescue Brigade was quickly organised, and went
down into the pit. Among those who descended were Lieut.-
Col. Walker, a director of the colliery company; Mr.
Dearnley, under manager; Mr. Slack, and Mr. Merritt,
engineer. It was seen that the explosion had caused some
damage to the workings, but the work of the rescuers was
little impeded. The two injured men—J. Disher and Patrick
Mycock—were attended to, and were able to walk to the pit
bottom. The 11 dead men were found within a distance of
about 100 yds.

Mr. P. P. Maitland, the West Biding coroner, opened the
inquest on Monday morning in the small gymnasium adjoin-
ing the colliery. Among those present were Mr. B. Nelson,
H.M. chief electrical inspector of mines; Mr. T. H.
Mottram, chief inspector of mines for the North Midlands;
Mr. G. Blake Walker, managing director of the colliery;
Col. Walker; Mr. S. Boebuck and Mr. W. Dixon, of the
Yorkshire Miners’ Association. Evidence of identification
of the bodies was taken shortly. It was stated that while
nearly all were terribly disfigured, there had been no
difficulty in identifying them; indeed, as they were brought
to the surface the colliery officials themselves had readily
recognised them. Having completed the necessary evidence
of identification in all the cases, the coroner adjourned the
inquiry for a month.

A strong complaint with regard to the neglect of colliery
companies to renew their licences under the Explosive Act
was made before the Barnsley magistrates on Wednesday.
The Bound Green Colliery Company, Worsbro’ Bridge, were
charged with having on their premises a quantity of
explosives, the store not being registered. The defendants’
representative explained the offence was due to an oversight.
The chairman (Mr. T. Norton) said in future cases the
Bench would be more severe, but in that instance a fine of
20s. and costs would be imposed.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Re-opening of a Kimberley Pit.

Considerable interest has been aroused in the Kimberley
district of Nottinghamshire by the announcement that the
Lodge Colliery, Kimberley—better known locally as “ Billy
Hall’s Colliery ”—is to be re-opened by the Manners Colliery
Company, Ilkeston. The colliery, which is near the side of
the Great Northern Bailway, between Kimberley and New-
thorpe Common stations, has been closed and dismantled for
upwards of 20 years. The shafts are now full of water, but,
as far as can be ascertained, they are in a good state of
preservation. The water has encroached to within 40 yds.
of the surface. There are two shafts, and they extend to the
Kilburn seam, a depth of 270 yds. It is the intention of
the company, after getting the water out, to work the
Kilburn and Low Main seams, whilst the Black Shale may
also be worked. If the opening proves a success, the Manners
Colliery Company intend getting the majority of miners down
the Lodge shafts in order to save men travelling a long dis-
tance to workings at another colliery. When coal getting
is commenced, work will be found for many miners at Kim-
berley, Awsworth and Newthorpe.

The Midlands.

A meeting of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage
Commissioners was held on Wednesday at Dudley.
Aiderman J. Hughes, who presided, said the Bill promoted
by the Commissioners had passed a committee of the House
of Lords, and after a few more formalities had been observed
would become an Act. So far as the work of the Commission
was concerned, the district was now in a very favourable
condition. One pumping engine had been entirely shutt
down, and another was working only four strokes a minute.
The quantity of water pumped last month showed a reduction
of 4,000,000 gallons per 24 hours as compared with that for
the corresponding period of last year, representing a
considerable saving to the Commission.

Kent.

Progress at Dover and Snowdown.

It is officially stated that the new seam of coal struck at
Shakespeare Colliery, at a depth of 1,620 ft., is 2 ft. in
thickness, and not 3 ft., this corresponding, within an inch
or two, with the borehole results tabulated by Mr. Drancis
Brady, when he put the original borehole down. The coal
is of excellent quality, bright and hard, and burns with
satisfactory results. It is intended to proceed with the
sinking in No. 3 shaft as far as the 4 ft. seam, which is
expected to be met at about 2,200 ft. The next seam—
according to the boring—will be that at 1,810 ft., which is
2 ft. 9 in. in thickness. The work of coal getting will run
concurrently with the sinking to the lower seams. No. 2 and
No. 3 pits at Shakespeare Colliery are now sunk to the same
level, and a connection is being made. As soon as this is
accomplished it will be an easy matter to deal with the
water. Dor this purpose a pumping station is being con-
structed at the bottom of No. 3 pit, and a test boring is to
be put down from this point to the thick seam, to prove
the strata, before proceeding with the sinking.

With reference to the Snowdown Colliery it is proposed
to drive the roads through the shaft pillar in order to com-
mence working the lower seam, known as the Snowdown
Hard, at 2,240 ft. The intention of the management is that
the coal winding which is now proceeding from No. 2 pit will
be transferred to No. 3 pit, and No. 2 will then be sunk to
the Snowdown Hard. It will then be possible to open out
rapidly when the second shaft is in the hard seam. It is
understood that the depth of No. 2 pit is 1,744 ft.

Scotland.

Congratulations fo’t Mr. Walker—Housing at Bellshill—Coal
Mining and Other Industries—The New Explosives.

The joint excursion under the auspices of the Mining Insti-
tute of Scotland, the Scottish branch of the National Asso-
ciation of Colliery Managers, and the Scottish branches of
the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers has been fixed
for Saturday, June 27. In the event of the weather being
fine the party will sail to either Ailsa Craig or Arran, but
should the atmospheric conditions prove unpropitious the
said will be up Loch Dyne to Inveraray. A special train and
steamer are being chartered for the occasion.

At a meeting of the Scottish branch of the National Asso-
ciation of Colliery Managers, held at the Boyal Technical
College, Glasgow, on Saturday, it was agreed, on the motion
of Mr. George Gibb (Messrs. James Nimmo and Company),
seconded by the branch president, Mr. Bichard McPhee
(Messrs. Wm. Baird and Company Limited), to forward a
minute of congratulation to Mr. William Walker, chief
inspector of mines for the Scotland division, on his appoint-
ment as deputy chief inspector of mines at the Home Office.
Deference was made to the fact that Mr. Walker during the
past few years had displayed considerable tact in seeing
carried through the new regulations relative to mining in
Scotland, while testimony was borne to the amount of
encouragement and sympathy which, consistent with his
official position and onerous duties, he had extended to
colliery managers throughout the country.

In mining circles throughout the whole of Scotland extra-
ordinary interest is being manifested in the test prosecutions
which the Home Office have brought against Mr. Henry
Bowan, Cowdenbeath, and other officials of the Dife Coal
Company, for an alleged breach of the Mines Act. Proof
has been fixed to be led before Sheriff Umpherston in Dun-
fermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday and Thursday, July
1 and 2.

It- was announced at a meeting of the Scottish branch of
the National Association of Colliery Managers, held on
Saturday in Glasgow, that, with the recent numerous addi-
tions to the membership, the branch now stood in the fortu-
nate and happy position of being the strongest, numerically,
of all the branches of the association throughout Great
Britain. Mr. Bichard McPhee, branch president, in making
the announcement, said he would endeavour during his
regime of office, which has just begun, to maintain the high
position of the branch.

The Housing Committee of the District Committee of the
Middle Ward of Lanark held a local enquiry last week
into the housing of the working classes—particularly
miners—in the Bellshill district. Mr. W. H. Telfer, general
manager of the Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company, who was
examined, gave details of the rent paid by their workmen for
houses at East Parkhead rows and Douglas Park row’s. None
of these, he explained, had a water supply inside, or were
provided with water closets. Some of the houses were
damaged by mineral workings, and four or five were empty
on that account. Happily, the ground was expected to
settle within the next year. There were presently no pro-
posals by the company for the introduction of water. He
did not, he said, favour individual baths for individual
houses. On the other hand, he supported the erection of
central baths rather than at collieries. Mr. Joseph Sullivan,
a miners’ agent, who was also examined, spoke to the con-
dition of matters existing at the various miners’ rows in the
locality. He showed in one case where colliery houses
erected about 80 years ago had neither coal nor wash houses,
while there was no drainage, and only a dry closet in the
middle of a triangle. In another instance witness spoke to
the sanitary conditions at a particular row being so
“ atrocious ” that he could only describe them in the open
air. Dealing with Bellshill itself, witness thought it was
fair to state that the colliery owners were not the only
sinners in the matter of bad houses. He said there were
about 150 houses in Bellshill, apart from the miners’ rows,
that ought to be closed in respect that there were not proper
sanitary conveniences.

An interesting presidential address on “ Coal Mining and
its Delation to Other Industries ” was delivered at a meet-
ing of the Scottish branch of the National Association of
Colliery Managers, held in the Boyal Technical College,
Glasgow, on Saturdav by Mr. Bichard McPhee, Bothwell,
general manager for Messrs. William Baird and Company
Limited, the newly-elected president. At the outset Mr.
McPhee remarked that coal mining in this country was an
old industry, dating back for a period of 700 years. In the
early stages of mining coal was worked entirely from the
outcrops, and only to such depths as natural drainage
allowed. At the present time, however, only a very small
quantity of coal was obtained in this way, nearly the whole
of it being got through vertical shafts. These were of
various sizes and depths, according to the position of the
seams, the quantity of coal available, the output desired,