July 24, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

213

Yorkshire.

Revival of Doncaster Coal Exchange Project—Doncaster
Infirmary—An Important Subsidence Case : A Conse-
quence of Heavy Pumping.

The likelihood of the establishment of a coal exchange for
Doncaster is again being mentioned. Enquiry shows that
the idea has by no means been lost sight of, and that it
is merely a matter of time. To establish a successful coal
exchange, it is pointed out that railway companies, coal
exporters, and all interested, have to be in the same frame
of mind, and that the next thing to do is to select a suitable
day for the transaction of business, so as not to clash with
existing coal exchanges in the West Riding. Wednesday
is spoken of as the most suitable day for the projected
Doncaster exchange. Those interested in the project told
our correspondent that it was hoped the Doncaster exchange
would be established and in full swing by next spring.
A meeting of gentlemen interested—colliery representatives,
coal exporters, and railway officials—will shortly be held to
discuss the matter. As a number of the collieries at present
use the Danum Hotel for their monthly meetings, there
is felt to be not much doubt but that in time this place
will become the head quarters of the exchange.

This is the season of the Hospital Sunday demonstrations.
In the speeches made in the Doncaster list, repeated refer-
ence is found to the obsolete character of the present Don-
caster Infirmary, and to the absolute need, in view of
the collieries around, of a newT institution. Speaking at
the Carcroft Miners’ Demonstration last Sunday, Mr. Albert
Guest, who is an official at Bullcroft Colliery, said they
never knew what might suddenly come about in a great
colliery district such as Doncaster had become, and what
were they going to do with only 65 beds in the infirmary.
The men at Bullcroft had decided to make four collections
a year, which would raise 1-200, but half of this they were
sending to Leeds Hospital, which they preferred to Doncas-
ter, as it was better equipped. Cottage hospitals were a
mistake, except in places which were a long distance
from a main hospital.

The fund for the erection of a mission church at Moor-
thorpe, in connection with the South Kirkby Parish Church,
has received a gift of £800 from the Carlton Main Colliery
Company, who have also given a site.

A case associated with the Doncaster district, but one of
general interest to colliery proprietors throughout the coun-
try, was decided at the West Riding Assizes last Saturday.
The Askern Coal and Iron Company Limited, Askern,
Doncaster, were sued by Mr. Alfred Stubbs, of Lake View,
Askern, for damages caused by subsidence.—Plaintiff had
two houses near Askern Pool, and alleged that the pump-
ing operations incidental to the sinking of Askern Colliery,
established a stream from Askern* Pool under his property,
and so brought about the subsidence. It would cost about
£300 to repair the houses.—Evidence having been given to
this effect, remarkably interesting scientific testimony of
great import to those concerned in the South Yorks coal-
field, was forthcoming from Mr. P. E. Kendall, Professor
of Geology to the University of Leeds. He stated fie had
had 20 years’ experience of subsidences due to colliery
workings, and was well acquainted with the Askern area,
which he had visited for geological study. Eor colliery
purposes he recently made a re-survey of a very large area
to the west of Askern, and of Askern itself. In the course
of this he discovered that the Government maps were very
seriously in error, and he had submitted a private report
correcting the areas as being very material to colliery
workings In regard to the geological succession of the dis-
trict, he stated that around the Askern pit, as he feared
the Askern Colliery Company would find to their cost,
the country was excessively faulty. He had found four
faults in open section to the north of the nit, and upon
the south side there was an enormous fault, which was
one of the largest in the district. Having regard to the
extremely shattered nature of the country, it was highly
probable that there were faults between the pit and the
lake. A discharge from the pit of 3,500 gals, of water
per minute meant an enormous discharge, and in his opinion
the cause of the subsidence under the property was the
withdrawal of silty material in consequence of the flow
of water drawn from the pool, and the surrounding strata.
Mr. Stanley Robert Kay, of the firm of Mammatt, White
and Kay, who advised the plaintiff, said the buildings were
founded upon a concrete raft 18 in. in thickness, extending
under the whole of the buildings, resting upon a foundation
of silt and alluvial deposit. The gable end was further pro-
tected by being built upon a row of piles which were driven
down to firm ground at a depth of about 16 ft. He had
had the ground taken out at the south-eastern corner of
the property for the purpose of an inspection, and found the
piles sound and intact. The concrete, however, was 3 in.
out of level, and had subsided to that extent. This con-
crete could not have subsided from any other cause than
a loss of support, which could only have been brought about
bv an actual abstraction of solid matter. He could conceive
of such damage being the result of mere shrinkage due to
the abstraction of water from the silt. As a matter of fact
the silt was saturated with water at the time of the damage
as water from the pool had not ceased to flow to the pumps.
During the summer of 1911 large pumps were installed nt
the Askern sinking, and 5,000 gals, per minute were pumped
dav and night for a considerable portion of the period
between August 11. 1911, and the latter part of January
1912. By the middle of August Askern Pool was nearly
drained away, and naturally the surface water in the
pool would flow to the pumps in the sinking pit.
The water began to come back to the pool when-
ever pumping operations were suspended owing to
breakdown in October, and when pumping was finally dis-
continued the water gradually resumed its level in the
nool. In witness’s opinion the flow of water from the pool
to the numns took with it solid matter in suspension, as
a considerable quantity of solid matter was pumped out
with the water. The presence of springs in the pool n^ar
to plaintiff’s nronertv was an indication that considerable
faults or breaks in the strata existed in the neighbourhood,
and these would tend to create a quick flow of the water
to the numns owin<? to the broken nature of the ground.
He had measured the water above the island in the nool
off plaintiff’s property, and found that it had sunk 15 in.
during the pumping. The fact that it was now permanently
at that lower level proves that solid matter was removed
in the flow of the water. Why plaintiff’s property should
show such great damage and the adjoining property none,
witness accounted for by the deduction that the outflow
from the pool to the pumps took place largely in certain

directions where the resistance was least, one of which
directions would very probably be on the lines of faults
disclosed by the springs adjoining plaintiff’s property.—
It was stated, during pumping operations Askern Pool was
completely dried up.—The colliery company called evidence
to show that the ground on the plaintiff’s property was
of a boggy and peaty nature, and among their witnesses
was Mr. Francis Armstrong, Professor of Mining to the
University of Sheffield. He stated he was assistant general
manager to the Askern Coal and Iron Company at the time
of the alleged damage. He did not think they ever pumped
more than 2,500 gals, per minute. He did not suggest the
pumping had nothing to do with the fall in the lake, but
thought it affected the water by intercepting a part of the
supply which kept the lake full.—Judgment was given for
the plaintiff, the damages being an agreed sum of £250.
Stay of execution was granted.

The two actions against Col. John Reginald Shaw,
of Cant ley Hall, Doncaster, son and administrator of the
late Mr. John Shaw, Welburn Hall, York, who died
intestate possessed of a large holding in the South Kirkbv.
Featherstone, and Hemsworth Collieries (Limited), was
decided on the 15th mst., by Mr. Justice Warrington in the
Chancery Division. The plaintiffs were the deceased’s
daughters, the Hon. Mrs. Devereux, of Tregoyd, Three
Cocks, Brecon, and Viscountess Garnock, of Claxton Hall,
York, who each claimed <£10,000 debentures in the colliery
company, which they said their father promised to put in
trust for each of them.—Judgment was given in favour of
defendants with costs.

How the negligence of a Carcroft miner nearly resulted
in a gob fire was told at the Doncaster West Riding Police
Court on Saturday, when J. Richards was fined £5, includ-
ing costs, for a breach of the Mines Act at the Bullcroft
pit, Skellow, on June 26.—Wm. Anthony, stallman, said
there had been a fall of roof in defendant’s stall prior to
June 26, and in order to remove this it was necessary to
hit out into the solid coal, leaving only the fillett to tem-
porarily support the roof. This also had to be removed
eventually, otherwise it became overheated, and resulted
in a gob fire. On June 26 witness met defendant leaving
the pit. Richards said he had completed the removal of
the fallen roof, but on examining the place witness found
a pack built in front of a large piece of coal, the heat of
which was 97 degs. He reported the matter to the deputy,
and he informed the manager.—Evidence was given by
Ernest E. Bryan, deputy, to the effect that defendant was
in charge of the stall, and, therefore, responsible for the
“ pack,” which had evidently been built to hide the coal.

The matriculation examination for the degree in mining,
at the University of Sheffield, will be held on September 8,
1914. Intending candidates should apply for information
to the registrar before August 22. The mining diploma
(day) course commences on October 1, 1914. The certifi-
cate (Saturday afternoon) course commences on Septem-
ber 19; and the mining teachers’ course on September 26.
The courses in electricity applied to mining commence
on September 19.

The case of the Corporation of Wakefield against the
Lofthouse Colliery Limited was again mentioned to Mr.
Justice Astbury in the Chancery Division on Friday last,
on the motion of plaintiffs, for an injunction to restrain the
company from working their mine under a reservoir of the
plaintiffs. Mr. Micklem, K.C., for the plaintiffs, recalled
that the motion had stood over for some time. He under-
stood that the defendants had not yet been able to furnish
the plaintiffs with their evidence, and they had asked for
another week. His lordship allowed the motion to stand
over for another week.

The inquest on the body of Josiah Hunter was resumed
at Shuttlewood on Wednesday. Deceased, employed on an
electric coal cutter in the Oxcroft Colliery, near Bolsover,
was found dead in front of his machine on July 7, and the
medical evidence was that death was caused by electro-
cution. At the earlier sitting it was not known how Hunter
came to be struck down by the current, and an adjourn-
ment was made for investigation and the attendance of
Mr. Nelson, H.M. electrical inspector of mines. Isaac
Whitehouse, underground electrician at the colliery, stated
that a test of the trailing cable had revealed two faults in
the insulation and the fact of the earth wire being broken.
These defects, he said, would have a tendency to cause the
current to strike back to the machine and communicate
itself to the steel rail deceased was laving. He had
examined the cable bv passing it through his hands on the
morning of the accident, and had tested the earth wire
for continuity on June 6. Witness suggested the cables
being tested at least once a week, but agreed that a daily
test was more desirable, and said thev were now testing
daily. Mr. Nelson submitted that if the earth conductors
were not tested for continuity every day it was not, in his
onmion, taking due precaution. A coal cutter attendant
with a simple apparatus could, he said, make the test in half
a minute. In recommending a verdict of accidental death,
the coroner said the jury could, if they desired, add a rider,
and intimated that Mr. Nelson, in the event of a rider
being added, suggested “ that more effective arrangements
should be made to test the continuity of the , earth con-
ductor.” Mr. Elliot Smith (representing the Midland Coal
Owners’ Indemnitv Association) strongly objected to anv
rider being nut into the months of the jury by H.M.
inspector. The coroner and iurv then waived the formal
recommendation. It was stated that the inspector’s sug-
gestions would also be carried out as soon as it was
possible to purchase the apparatus.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

New Rescue Station at St. Helens.

At the annual meeting of the Wigan and District Coal
Merchants’ Association, last Thursday, the following chief
officers were elected :—President, Mr. R. 8. Beattie; vice-
president, Mr. W. Monks; secretary, Mr. J. H. Wadsworth ;
treasurer, Mr. R. Abbott. The report of the past year’s
work was very satisfactory, showing increases in regard
to finances and membership.

On Wednesday of last week, Mr. John Heaton, junr., of
Wigan, formally opened a miners’ rescue station at Coppull.

A new mining rescue station was opened at Sherdley, St.
Helens, on the 13th inst., in the presence of a number of
collierv owners and managers, Mr. Chas. Pilkington, of
the Clifton and Kearsley Collieries, Manchester, performing
the opening ceremony. The station is the first of a series
of sub-stations to the famous Howe Bridge Rescue Station,
and in the rescue teams of miners from the St. Helens

and Haydock district collieries will receive special training
in life-saving science, under condition specially devised to
fit them for emergencies. Sergeant Wilde, of Howe Bridge,
is in charge as instructor, and already a team of eight
men from Sherdley Colliery have been given a course of
instruction, these men giving an exhibition of their skill in
the foul-air laden galleries, by the aid of the patent “ Proto ”
breathing apparatus. In conjunction with the rescue-train-
ing gallery there is a first-class equipment for bathing and
restoring the “ students ” to a comfortable state again after
their lessons in uninviting and foul-smelling miniature
colliery workings. Part of the equipment, and an important
auxiliary, is the fast motor ambulance which contains
various valuable appliances for rendering aid after explosion,
and which will transfer the rescue parties with the apparatus
rapidly to any desired areas. The St. Helens Committee,
who have supervised the erection of the station, were under
the guidance of Mr. Lionel Pilkington, chairman of Messrs.
R. Evans and Co., and Mr. A. J. Orchard, manager of
St. Helens Collieries. Sir T. R. Ratcliffe-Ellis, who was
to have performed the ceremony, was unable to be present
owing to indisposition.

The marriage took place on Saturday last, at Walkden
Parish Church, of Mr. Stanley N. Bewicke, who has been
placed in charge of Lord Ellesmere’s new coal wharves
and depots at Clifton, with Miss Eda Birbeck, daughter of
the late Mr. Charles Birbeck, a Walkden colliery contractor.

North Wales.

Presentation to Mr. James Darlington.

On Saturday last, at Chirk, an interesting function took
place on the occasion of a presentation to Mr. James
Darlington, J.P., managing director of the Blackpark
collieries, and chairman of the North Wales Coal Owners’
Association. The presentation, which was made on behalf
of the subscribers, by Messrs. Barnes, Quinta, took the form
of a dressing bag, pieces of plate and a cheque for £180, in
recognition of Mr. Darlington’s public services in the
locality, extending over about 40 years, especially in regard
to the question of education, the North Wales Coal Owners’
Association, the North Wales Permanent Relief Fund, the
Oswestry and District Farmers’ Association, and the
Denbighshire Standing Joint Committee and County
Council.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Glanders at a Notts Colliery—Nystagmus and Melancholia.

A serious case of glanders has occurred amongst the
ponies in the High Hazel seam of the Digby Company’s
Colliery at Gedling, near Nottingham. Over 40 ponies have
been certified as suffering from the disease, and they will
be destroyed. The High Hazel pit has been closed, and
between five and six hundred men are temporarily out of
work. The most regrettable feature of the affair is that
an ostler in the pit, a man of 33, named Henry Harveston
Flood, who had lived at Arnold, a village near by, has died
as the result of becoming infected with the disease. The
inquest on Flood was held at Arnold, on Monday afternoon,
July 20, and after hearing the medical evidence, the jury
returned a verdict that death was due to glanders. Mr. H.
Dennis Bayley( managing director of the Digby Company),
expressed the company’s sympathy with the widow, and
stated that everything that was possible was being done to
prevent the disease spreading. In his evidence at the
inquest Mr. Bayley said the first case of glanders occurred
exactly a week ago. Mr. Cockburn, the veterinary surgeon
to the colliery, had the horse turned out of the pit and the
veterinary surgeon to the County Council was called in.
On Thursday the horse was certified as suffering from
glanders and destroyed. He pointed out that the Top Hard
pit was quite free from the disease. It is several years since
any previous case of glanders occurred at a colliery in the
district.

An important compensation case came on for trial before
his Honour Judge McPherson at the Alfreton County Court,
on Monday. The applicant was Frederick Bradley, a Shir-
land miner, who brought an action to recover compensation
from the Blackwell Colliery Company Limited, in respect
to his condition of melancholia, alleged to have resulted
from miners’ nystagmus, sustained whilst working at the
respondents’ Shirland pit. Dr. Fleming stated that appli-
cant, who had worked for the respondents for many years,
was certified by Dr. S. O. Bingham, of Alfreton, to be
suffering from miners’ nystagmus. Applicant received com-
pensation from the company from that date, at the rate
of 14s. per week, up to January 29 of this year, after
which date the payment ceased altogether. He hoped to
prove by medical evidence that this nystagmus was but a
symptom of a much graver condition which the applicant
was now suffering from. Dr. Raymond Bingham, Alfreton,
said he saw the applicant in May. 1912. when he was
suffering from miner’s nystagmus. He noticed in addition
to the oscillation of the eyeballs a ranid movement of the
evelids. Later when he called, applicant had developed
neurasthenic symptoms, and became depressed, morbid, and
refused to see people. Then he got into a melancholic con-
dition, suffering from insomnia and loss of appetite, and
remained in that condition for several months. Dr. J.
Court, of Staveley. said he examined the applicant on
March 17, and again on the previous Thursday. At that
time there was no oscillation of the eveballs *nd no tremors.
TTp had never known a case of insanity to follow nvstagmns.
Dr. Shufflebotham said that in his opinion applicant’s
present condition was the result of nvsta^mns. The defence
was that applicant’s present condition had no connection
with the nvstagmus. of which he was eured. Dr. Leary,
Alfreton. stated that he had seen applicant many times,
but he should never have thought he was suffering from
melancholia. Tn his opinion applicant was fit to do light
work. Dr. Geo. H. Pooley and Dr. Gilbert Mold, of
Sheffield, both stated that applicant’s condition had no con-
nection with his neurasthenia. His Honour said the
evidence for the applicant had failed to satisfy him that
Bradley’s condition was the result of nystagmus, and the
applicant had failed to show that such a result was known
to science. He gave judgment for the respondents with
costs.

The Midlands.

Members of the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining
and Mechanical Engineers visited the electrical construc-
tion works of Messrs. Siemens Bros, at Stafford on Monday.
They were received by officials of the firm and conducted
over the works, where some two and a half hours were spent
in an interested inspection of electrical apparatus in course
of construction. Special atteniton was paid to electrical