July 24, 1914, THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 203 remains a feature of the slack market. While best sorts are selling moderately, other qualities are not in good request. In regard to gas coal, it is reported that some contracts have been made at a reduction of from 6d. to 9d. per ton, but generally owners are holding out for previous rates. Leicestershire. COAL. The general conditions of trade at the collieries in this district are showing a steady and consistent improvement. For some time past there have been many complaints on the part of those responsible for the management as to the seriousness of the costing sheets, in view of the restricted output by the reduced working days per week. Happily, this unpleasant position is rapidly being altered by the gradual extension of the working week. Business taken all round is expanding better than anticipated, and the pits generally are now working from four to four and a-half days per week. The demand for the best house coals shows a continuous increase, and is now distinctly good. This revival in the demand during the hot summer weather is doubly welcome by all sections of the trade, because it tends to equalise the trade and the output during the quiet period of the year. The demand for manufacturing fuel is also excellent, and although the larger output enables merchants to keep better pace with the demand, there are no surplus stocks on hand. Indeed, on the contrary, *there is a great shortage yet to be made up before supplies reach a normal level. The demand for kitchen cobbles and nuts for the London district is growing day by day, and the trade is now getting on a very satisfactory basis. A large proportion of this increase is due to the laying-in of stocks at lowest summer prices, and the efforts of merchants in this direction are meeting with a very satisfactory response. Although there have been some considerable despatches of coal to eastern ports during the week, the shipping trade is still very flat, and the tide of depression seems to turn very slowly. Steam coal of the best quality is in very slow demand, and prices are very weak, inclining to irregularity due to special causes. Yet the stocks generally are very small. The prices which generally obtain at the collieries in this district are as follow:—Best household coal, 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. per ton at pits ; seconds (hand-picked), Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton ; deep screened cobbles, Ils. 3d. to 12s. 3d. per ton ; deep large nuts, 10s. 6d. to Ils. per ton; bakers’ nuts, 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton; small nuts, 9s. 3d. per ton; deep breeze, 8s. 6d. to 9s. per ton; peas, 7s. 9d. to 8s. 3d. per ton; small dust, 2s. to 2s. 3d. per ton; deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers, 9s. to 10s. per ton; steams, best hand-picked, 9s. to 9s. 6d. per ton; steams, seconds, 8s. 3d. to 8s. 9d. per ton; cobbles for kitcheners, 9s. 3d. to 9s. 9d. per ton. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. The coal trade generally throughout the Cannock Chase district is in much the same condition as last week, and there is no change of consequence to report. The collieries are not fully employed, some working from three to four days a week and others about three-quarter time. There is a fair amount of coal, principally of the better qualities, in stock on the colliery sidings. There is not much change in prices. The enquiry for coal for domestic purposes con- tinues quiet, and there is no improvement in the demand for manufacturing sorts. Railway and canal sales are quiet, and there is not much business doing at the landsale depots. Birmingham. COAL. The outlook is rather brighter this week. Inroads are being made on the stocks of household coal which have been accumulating in Warwickshire. There is a little weakness in slacks and peas, but there will be no further decline, and things will soon improve. Some of the pits are going on from three to four days a week. Prices are unchanged as follow:— Prices at pit. Current L'st week's Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 17/6 17/6 18/ Do. seconds deep 15/ . 15/ 16/6 Do. best shallow 13/6 13/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 12/9 12/9 13/ Best hard 14/6 14/6 14/ Forge coal 10/6 10/6 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ 8/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. ' hand-picked 15/6 15/6 16/ cobs 13/ 13/ 13/9 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 10/6 10/6 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 9/6 Small (do.) 8'1 8/ 8/6 IRON. There was not much business passing at Thursday's market. Apart from small parcels, consumers have satisfied their requirements for this side of the holidays, and great hesitancy is still apparent in placing any forward contracts. The drastic curtailment of production of pig iron in the district enables smelters to resist any further reduction of prices, but the position is very unsatisfactory, the profit margin being bare. Northamptonshire brands make from 47s. 6d. to 49s. 6d. South Staffordshire common forge is quoted at 48s. and upwards, and the quantity of material coming on to the market is now so comparatively small they are not inclined to compromise with offers at cut rates. Part-mine realises about 50s., best all-mine forge 85s. to 90s., foundry 92s. 6d., and cold blast 125s. Derbyshire forge qualities make 51s. to 52s. delivered. Most finished branches are weak, but no further unstability has developed. The amount of business negotiated since the quarterly meeting has been small, however, and little improvement is to be anticipated before the autumn. Best bar makers have enough business to occupy them in the immediate future at the <£8 10s. basis. Unmarked bars move off very slowly, and the regulation quotation of <£610s. is not adhered to in many cases. Makers of low grade bars are hard hit by the dumping of cheap Continental material. The home quotations of <£6 2s. 6d. to <£6 5s. are considerably above the prices at which consumers are able to obtain regular deliveries of German bars. The sheet trade is quiet. Some fair orders for galvanised sheets are forthcoming from time to time, though the balance of unemployed capacity is now a big one. Leading makers are firm in adhering to <£10 17s. 6d. to £>11 for 24-gauge corrugated f.o.b. Liverpool. There is very little buying in South Staffordshire black sheets. The reduction in steel plates announced last week has had no effect whatever in stimulating business. Only the smallest orders are being placed against pressing consumptive demand, speculative buying being entirely neglected. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal pits are not working any more regularly than has been recorded during the past week or two—many of them, however, are still putting in four days a week, but stocks show a slight increase since last writing. The enquiry from the inland districts is still very dull. Ship- ments for the time of the year are fairly satisfactory. Slacks are in good demand. Steam coals are selling well, and the pits are kept at full work; there is not much to be seen in the way of stock. Prices at pithead. Current ■L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 15/6 Rubble 15/9 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ 14/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 10/ Large 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/ Small 8/ - 8/6 8/ - 8/6 10/ -10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. COLLIERY ACCIDENTS. Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery Disaster. The coroner’s enquiry was renewed on Wednesday at Hoyland Common with regard to the deaths of the 12 victims in the explosion which occurred at No. 4 pit of the Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery, Tankersley, on Whit- Saturday. The coroner (Mr. P. P. Maitland) who had sat on five previous days, addressing the legal and other representa- tives, remarked the proceedings had now reached the stage when any of the colliery witnesses who had yet to be called might be found partially or wholly responsible for the disaster by neglect, and such neglect might be so serious as to be criminal. Therefore he should insist that no questions which would tend to incriminate the witnesses should be put, and he asked that repetition of questions might be avoided. The important witnesses would be examined by him, and any further questions must be only put to adduce evidence. If there were any expert wit- nesses they should not be subjected to cross-examination and their opinion should assist the jury. They would also have the evidence of colliery officials who carried out the work of investigation, and their opinions would further help the jury. If an effort was made by advocates to shake these opinions, the jury might become involved, and would be in the position of not knowing exactly what had been said. Replying to Mr. Neal (for the'company), the Coroner said he preferred the term further examination to that of cross-examination, and he would allow questions to expert witnesses to obtain evidence which he had not obtained.* Further examination would be allowed within reasonable limits. The Coroner intimated he should call Mr. Nelson, H.M. Electrical Inspector of Mines, and Mr. G. B. Walker, the managing director of the colliery. He wanted an inde- pendent witness on the question of responsibility. Robert N. Car swell, mining student, who at a previous hearing said he was authorised to inspect the electrical machinery, explained he saw the coal cutting machine after the explosion. The switches were “on,” indicating the machine was at work when the explosion occurred. He had previously stated his inspection was confined to an external examination. Chas. Drinkwater Ashcroft, underground electrician, said he did not consider it to be a sufficient inspection to look at the machine only from the outside. Asked his opinion as to the cause of the explosion, witness said it could not have been caused without an accumulation of gas. From what he could make out it had been caused by the bottom of the machine being damaged. By Mr. Mottram (H.M. inspector of mines) : He had no intimation before the explosion that the ventilating fan was about to be stopped. Albert CMrway, foreman electrician, said it was his duty to inspect the coal cutting machines and keep them in repair. There were four machines in No. 4 Pit (where the explosion occurred), and he believed all had been out of the pit for the purpose of being overhauled during the last three months. The machine in question was returned about May 2, and it was then in excellent condition and flame proof. The armature was changed on May 12 or 13. Wit- ness explained that he went down the pit with a rescue party after the explosion. He found the switches of the coal cutting machine were “on,” an indication that it was running at the time of the explosion. Witness was questioned as to the stoppage of the fan, and said he had not known it to be stopped with men in the pit, though it had been stopped on Sundays w’hen deputies ’were about. In reply to Mr. Mottram, witness said either himself or Carswell would make a thorough inspection of the machine. Judging by the state of the machine as you saw it when it came out of the pit, do you think it was in a fit working condition?—Witness : No, sir. Whose duty was it to keep No. 2 machine in a fit working condition?—The machine man, mine, or my assistant. Witness expressed the opinion that once a week was reason- able for an inspection of the machine. Carswell did nothing else but go round inspecting the machines. In answer to the Coroner, witness said he regarded a thorough external inspection of the machine when working as sufficient. Is it never advisable to examine the machine inside?— Witness : Only when it is taken out of the pit for a thorough inspection. Why should not the machine be stopped running and examined in the pit?—If you are going to take the bonnet off and pull the armature out—which means an internal examination—there is more danger of injuring the electrical parts than there is in running the machine. If you make an internal inspection of a coal cutter it is asking for trouble. Witness was asked for his opinion as to the cause of the explosion, and replied that he would not like to say that it occurred at the machine, though it was defective. The Coroner : What other possible cause, apart from the machine, have you noticed?—Witness : I have noticed none. By Mr. Pope (for the Home Office) : He could not say that the machine was defective at midnight prior to the explosion. By Mr. Neal : He had never known an electric cutting machine to be found actually responsible for an explosion. Tom Fearnley, under-manager of the No. 4 Colliery, where the explosion occurred, explained the operation of the ven- tilating fan, which was driven sometimes by a gas engine, and at others by steam power. He had never to his know- ledge been in the pit when the fan had been stopped prior to this occasion. The pit was well ventilated, and he had never known the fan stopped when men were working at the face. Mr. Neal said there had been a previous instance—May 16—and he thought there might be others. Asked whether it was his duty to see who was responsible for the stopping of the fan on May 16, witness said he knew nothing about it until told of the incident after the explosion. At this point the inquest was further adjourned until the following day. Yesterday (Thursday) Fearnley, the under-manager, was further questioned by the Coroner. Regarding the changing over of the ventilating fan, witness explained that it had been changed about twice a week since Christmas last. The deputies were instructed not to allow men to remain at the coal face when the fan was stopped. After the recent strike, orders were given for the fan to be changed on Saturday afternoons at 1.30, and the day deputies were informed of this fact by witness. Referring to the inci- dents on the day of the explosion, witness said he was in the pit at the time. He was engaged with other men taking a haulage rope down, and would be about 150 yds. from the pit bottom. He expected the deputy would have stopped men going into the pit after 1.30, when the fan was stopped. He also expected the coal cutting machines would be stopped at 12.30, and the deputy Slack would order the men w’here to work after that time. The Coroner pointed out that Slack, in his evidence, stated that he did not know the fan was going to be stopped. Witness said Slack had verbal orders to that effect after the strike. Witness added he had received no complaint of any defect in No. 2 cutting machine. Asked his opinion as to the cause of the explosion, witness said he thought when the fan was stopped there was an accumulation of gas at the top end of the coal face, but he could not tell the cause of ignition. He had seen the defect in the coal cutter since the disaster. He also suggested a spark might have come from the cutter wheel. He admitted he had seen sparks come from the cutter wheel, but he had never heard of an explosion from that cause. He agreed that coal dust played an important part in the matter. On resuming after the luncheon interval, Jas. Wm. Bailey, whose brother and father were killed in the explo- sion, was recalled, and explained that two bolts (produced) were found in his brother’s trousers pocket. Fearnley was further questioned by Mr. Neal, and said he had no doubt that he gave Slack instructions regarding the stopping of the fan. He agreed looking back now there were better ways of conveying instructions, and also that greater precautions might be taken to see that the men were not at the coal face when the fan was stopped. A notice was now placed in the box hole every week before the fan was changed over on a Saturday. Replying to Mr. F. Hall (Miners’ Federation), witness said he was aware some of the men working on Saturday afternoons had been working on Friday night. It was done to avoid Sunday working. The deputy, Lewis Slack, recalled, adhered to his previous statement that he did not know that the fan was going to be stopped at 1.30 on that day. He denied that he had been informed that the fan would regularly be changed on Saturdays at 1.30. Witness said he had seen the fan had been changed when he had come out of the pit. The Coroner pressed witness if he would deny the state- ment of Fearnley informing him of the changing of the fan, and he said he did not remember it. The Coroner : You won’t deny it?—Witness : I won’t deny it, but I don’t remember him telling me. Jas. Sellars, deputy, stated he remembered Fearnley tell- ing another deputy and himself about the fan being stopped on Saturdays at knocking-off time. Wm.' Clayton, day deputy, said he did not receive any instructions regarding the stopping of the fan on Saturday afternoons. He had about 24 men working at the coal face in another district—the No. 4 Pit—to that in which the explosion occurred. The Coroner : If the under-manager says that he gave you an order (about the fan stopping), would you say that he was not speaking accurately?—Witness : I have not the faintest recollection of such an order. Questioned with regard to the cause of the explosion, witness said there must have been some gas accumulated, and the machine was defective. The enquiry was adjourned until Tuesday next. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, July 14, is as follows :—Abo, 701 tons; Antwerp. 2,912; Amsterdam. 748; Alexandria. 4,814; Ancona. 3.495; Bandholm, 2,173; Bergen, 10; Bremen, 1.914: Cronstadt. 23,986: Drontheim, 153; Gefle. 1,572; Genoa, 2,706: Ghent. 580: Hamburg. 4.401; Hobro. 1.245; Harburg. 2.200: Harlingen. 1.301: Libau, 1.000: Landscrona. 1.332; Marseilles, 668; Novorossisk. 5,137: Oxelosund. 1,752: Oran, 1,339: Pernau, 1,469: Port Said. 4,211: Rokkola. 1.073: Rouen. 6.584; Reval. 5.263: Rotterdam. 3,754: Riga, 5.544: St. Petersburg. 18.769; Stettin. 2.316; Stockholm. 601: Stanesund. 1.350: Trelle- borg. 1.598: Uddevalla. 725: Wyke Fohr. 209: Wyborg. 1,208—total. 120.813 tons. Corresponding period July 1913 —total. 116.466 tons.