August 7, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 319 THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 6. The London coal trade has rapidly assumed a brisk tone since the return from the holidays. Very little, however, has been done at any of the collieries this week so far, and the amount of tonnage coming forward has been small. But factors and merchants who have stocks on hand in loaded wagons found no difficulty in disposing of them at enhanced prices, and hard coals and smalls of all kinds, especially D.S. nuts, were in strong demand. The “ war spirit ” is largely in evidence, and as Wednesday was the first market day this week, considerable excitement was everywhere noticeable, and more particularly as to its influence upon the coal market. News of the stoppage of the export trade at many ports, and the holding up of steamships, has led to a conviction that in the next few' weeks an overwhelming quantity of all kinds of coal will find its way to all the home markets; but, on the other hand, all the merchants are inundated with orders from the general public, and are abso- lutely unable to deal with the plethora of orders sent in. The bulk of the merchants report a fair stock of coal in hand, and the delivery trade is now at its height. The War Office, however, have laid hands on a large number of the horses and vans and the motor lories, and this, coupled with the enormous withdrawal of the “ Reserve ” and “ Terri- torial ” men, has had a telling effect upon the depot work. Colliery prices are all withdrawn, and for the time being only hand-to-mouth prices are available; in every case, however, the prices are higher. From the colliery point of view there seems to be another serious problem to face in the near future; not only the shortage of men, but the shortage of timber for pit props, etc. On Wednesday’s market, when the buying and selling was at its height, the bell rang, and everyone uncovered to hear a short speech from Mr. G. C. Locket, J.P., the chairman of the Coal Merchants’ Society. He stated that the society had had a meeting, and decided under the present circumstances it would be unpatriotic to think of advancing public prices. He admitted that all the merchants had been bombarded with an unprecedented number of orders, and some from householders who never consume more than eight or 10 tons in the whole year, and yet they had rushed in and ordered the whole eight or 10 tons at once. He would recommend that only those orders should be entertained where cash is paid down over the counter, and to urge householders to be content with enough to last over the next month. The announcement as to continuing “ lowest summer prices ” during this remarkable pressure was received with an ominous stillness, but the allusion to tl^e patriotic sentiment, and to the folly of bolstering up the attempt to obtain higher prices, was received with immense enthusiasm. During the course of his remarks he admitted that every merchant was well provided with stock; the main difficulty was the cartage and delivery, besides which, he felt sure that, with the export trade practically suspended, there would soon be an overwhelming quantity of all kinds of coal available for the London area and all the borne markets. The railway com- panies have given notice that they can no longer take any further consignments to the usual re-labelling stations, but that all coal so labelled will be kept at the colliery sidings until final destinations are forthcoming. The ordinary marshalling, or wait-order, stations are already terribly con- gested, and it is understood that the Admiralty transport department will require all the available area and facilities for the rapid movement of troops, etc. The control of the railways by the Government has not been a surprise to any- one. Collieries relying upon the export trade, especially from the Humber ports, will undoubtedly soon have to reduce their output, or close down. Gas coals are moving freely. Manufacturing qualities are firm, and prices are ruling higher. Thirty vessels were returned officially as entering the Thames for Wednesday’s market, but the cargoes were all sold. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, July 31.—Owing to the uncertainty of the present situation, business in seaborne house coal cargoes was at a standstill to-day. Cargoes 23. Wednesday, August 5.—No business was reported done on the seaborne house coal market to-day, no cargoes being on offer. No rise in the retail price is at present antici- pated. Cargoes 30. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 6. Dublin. Since business was resumed, merchants are experiencing a difficulty in coping with orders which are coming in, as there is almost a panic amongst consumers at this side. Some of the firms have withdrawn their price lists this week, but the advances made in most instances are not more than Is. per ton, although Scotch coals are now Is. 6d. per ton higher. Quotations are about as follow:—Orrell, 27s. to 28s. per ton; Abram, 27s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best Whitehaven, 25s.; Pemberton Wigan, 23s.; kitchen nuts, 22s.; Orrell slack, 21s.; steam coals, from 23s. per ton. There are large supplies in most of the city yards, and the various industrial concerns are also well stocked. The collier vessels arriving in the port during the past -week amounted to 60, as compared with 53 the week previously, chiefly from Preston, Ayr, Gars ton, Manchester, Newport, Ellesmere Port, Troon, Point of Aire, Whitehaven, Saundersfoot, Widnes, Partington, Llanelly and Working- ton. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was nearly 36,000 tons. Belfast. The quietude in the coal trade has given place to alarm as to the supply and probable increase in price, and merchants are now busily engaged in fulfilling orders which, in the ordinary course, would not have been forthcoming until later in the autumn. There has been no general advance in prices, although Scotch steam coals are now dearer. Quotations are about as follow:—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house coal, 23s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 16s. to 17s. per ton; Scotch slack, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; navigation steam and Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Further advances in steam coals are anticipated at an early date. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Troon, Point of Aire, Maryport, Saundersfoot, Garston, Newport, Silloth, Irvine, Partington, Glasgow, Workington, West Bank, Neath Abbey, Preston, Ayr and Ellesmere Port. LETTERS TO THE EDITORS. The Editors are not responsible either for the statements made, or the opinions expressed by correspondents. All communications must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender, whether for publication or not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communications. As replies to questions are only given by way of published answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped addressed envelopes are not required to be sent. INERT DUST. Sir,—As the writer is a coal miner and not a potter— and certainly has had more practical experience of mining than he has of pottery manufacture—he con- siders it more expedient to deal with the subject under discussion from the view of the effect it will have upon mines and miners. Be it noted that the writer does not object to the treatment of coaldust, except when the suggested treatment is not efficacious, and the possible and highly probable indirect results may be infinitely worse than those such treatment proposes to obviate. In the opinion of Mr. Hill, the writer is wrong in every particular, even in the simple calculation of the number of grains there are in 7 cwt. of fullers’ earth, but he (Mr. Hill) does not attempt to show even in this simple case where the writer is wrong. Mr. Hill remarks there is a vast difference between the injurious effects of silicate of alumina and fullers’ earth, but he adduces no facts to illustrate this difference. The writer is of the opinion that pure silicate of alumina of equal fineness will be less harmful than fullers’ earth, which is practically a silicate of alumina with excess of silica; the excess silica not being combined with alumina. But Mr. Hill categorically states that fullers’ earth is not a silica-bearing dust. In view of the fact that the source of his knowledge on these matters (the Fifth Report) states that the fullers’ earth experimented with contains 58 per cent, of silica, either Mr. Hill or the Experimenting Committee is wrong, and, as the writer has, more or less, analytically confirmed the figure given by the committee, he must say that Mr. Hill’s statement is not correct. The great similarity between shales and fullers’ earth becomes quite evident when it is remembered that in Mr. Hill’s previous communication, he concluded that the writer was referring to fullers’ earth when he (the writer) mentioned an inert dust containing 58 per cent, of silica. Had Mr. Hill been at all conversant with the literature of the subject upon which he was writing he would have been quite aware of which shale dust the writer was in particular referring to. Further, if Mr. Hill had carefully read his copy of the Fifth Report he would have gathered that the Consulta- tive Committee thought so little of the “known suitable and convenient remedy ” that they would not commit themselves to an opinion thereon; and the Experiment- ing Committee only put it forward as a tentative pre- cautionary measure. The chairman of the Experimenting Committee said that there is no evidence of silica-bearing dusts being harmful, but in the recently published report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines and Quarries the chairman of the Commission admitted that whilst dusts in which silica is not a constituent are innocuous, silica- bearing dusts are deadly. Does the difference in chairs alter the deadly charac- teristics of these dusts? E. O. Simcock. Hanley, Staffs, August 4, 1914. OBITUARY. The death has taken place at Newry, of Dr. Richard John Anderson, Professor of Natural History, Geology and Mineralogy at University College, Galway. Mr. E. Hall, of Heaton Moor, Stockport, who was for 18 years the cashier for the New Moss Colliery Company, passed away last week at the age of 64 years. The decapitated body of Mr. S. J. Wormaid, of Zion House, Morley, the local agent of the Earl of Dartmouth, was found at a level-crossing on the London and North- Western Railway near the Morley station recently. Mr. Wormaid was 49 years of age, and succeeded his father, Mr. Hercules Wormaid, now of Bessingby, near Bridlington, about four years ago, both as Lord Dartmouth’s agent and as mining surveyor. On the 31st ult. the death took place of Mr. A. P. Noel, the well-known Cardiff coal exporter, who was seriously injured in a motor-car accident near Bridgend a few days before. Mr. Noel was a very well-known and popular figure on the Cardiff Exchange. He started as an office boy with Mr. D. A. Thomas, and by sheer ability worked himself up until he was taken into partnership in the firm of Thomas and Davey, who are the shipping agents for the Cambrian Colliery Company. He was also a director of Lysbergs Limited, Amaral, Sutherland and Company, and of the Chargeurs Fran£aises Steamship Company. He was 48 years of age, and leaves a widow and two sons. Mining Institute of Scotland.—A general meeting of the Mining Institute of Scotland will be held in the rooms of the institute, 39, Elmbank-crescent, Glasgow, to-morrow (Saturday), at 3 p.m. The papers by Mr. Archibald M. Russell on “ Sinking and Equipment of Blairhall Colliery, Fife,’’ and by Mr. John Gibson on “ Mining Economics : Some Notes and a Suggestion,’’ will be discussed. A demon- stration by the inventor of “ The ‘ Williams ’ Firedamp Indicator or Methanometer’’ will be given. A paper on “ The Rosehall Signal Indicator ’’ will be read by Mr. Janies Black, and one on “ Fan Testing, with Special Reference to the Measurement of Pressure,’’ will be read by Mr. Thomas Bryson. MINING AND OTHER NOTES. The Board of Trade some time ago appointed Mr. A. A. Hudson, K.C., to enquire into a draft order for the inclusion in the schedule to Part II. (Unemployment) of the National Insurance Act of persons engaged in saw-milling, whether that trade was carried on in connection with any other or not. At the enquiry a technical objection was raised by counsel for Scottish employers on the grounds that the Act could not apply to a portion of a trade. Mr. Hudson upheld the objection, and discontinued the enquiry. The matter came before the Courts on the application of the Attorney- General for a rule nisi calling upon Mr. Hudson to show cause why he should not proceed with the enquiry. The rule was granted, and in a Divisional Court of the King’s Bench it has been made absolute, the Lord Chief Justice observing that in the opinion of the Court Mr. Hudson’s duty was to deal only with the facts of the case. During the half-year ended June 30 last, the Gas Light and Coke Company made 15,411,624 thousand cu. ft. of gas, as against 15,107,888 thousand cu. ft. in the corresponding half of last year; 554,185 tons of coke and breeze (619,147 tons); 9,789,275 gals, of tar (10,091,649 gals.); and 280,768 butts of ammoniacal liquor (302,332 butts). There were 938,104 tons of coal carbonised (1,039,102 tons), whilst the quantity of oil and spirit used rose from 5,504,682 gals, to 8,619,000 gals. Coal, oil and coke cost £920,393, as against £881,573. Mr. Daniel Kemp has been appointed to succeed Mr. J. W. Reed as general manager of the engine works depart- ment of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, Jarrow. The following other appointments have also been made :—Mr. A. MacFarlane has been appointed chief assistant to Mr. Kemp, and Mr. Wm. Brown outside manager. Mr. R. Fullerton, recently of Clydebank, has also been appointed an assistant manager in this department. The above appointments have been made owing to the immediate retirement of Mr. Reed from the works. In the Chancery Division on the 30th ult., Mr. Justice Warrington gave his reserved judgment in a petition presented by Wetcarbonising Limited for the revocation of a patent No. 10370 of 1912, granted to J. E. Jameson and others for improvements in the treatment of peat and the like. The patent, said his lordship was attacked on two grounds—first, want of utility; that was to say, it was alleged that the result claimed ^as not in fact attained; and, secondly, insufficiency of specification, and in particular the absence of any proper directions as to the quality of the electric current to be employed in the process of treatment. He thought the patentees had sufficiently indicated that the current they were referring to was one of a low density, and that having done this they had done all that was necessary in the way of description. His lordship found, therefore, that the assumption on which he had held that the invention was useful was justified and that the attack founded on insufficiency failed. The result was that the petition must be dismissed, with costs. The directors of the Greenock Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, in their half-yearly report, draw attention to a resolution dealing with income-tax and the question of allowances for depreciation of buildings, plant and machinery, and other wasting assets used for trade purposes, to be submitted at the autumn meetings of the Association of Chambers of Commerce; and point out that in view of the ever increasing burden of income-tax on profits the demand for a uniform and fair depreciation allowance should be the aim of particular trades. In connection with their “ Thermofeed ’’ system of feed control, Messrs. Ronald Trist and Company Limited, of 4, Lloyds-avenue, London, E.C., have introduced a novel plan for the systematic inspection of “ Thermofeed ’’ regulators throughout Great Britain. The scale of inspection fees is very low, and is made so with the object of every machine being willingly put under direct supervision. The Wolf Safety Lamp Company, Sheffield, announce that they are independent of foreign sources of supply, and can give delivery of either flame safety or electric lamps as usual. Col. the Right Hon. Francis Charles Granville Egerton, third Earl of Ellesmere, V.D., of Bridgewater House, St. James’s, S.W., of Stetchworth Park, Newmarket, of Worsley Hall, Manchester, and of the Manor House, Brackley, who died on July 13, aged 67, left unsettled property provisionally sworn for probate at the round figure of £250,000. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The war has upset everything, and beyond a few prompt lots, there has been little or nothing doing in tin-plates the last few days; nobody is disposed to trade in the present state of affairs. Makers of tin-plate are all on holiday this week, and many of them will keep their mills closed down for a further period, so it is impossible to give reliable quotations just now; there is no market. Nominally, values may be taken as given in our last. Second Northern International Engineering Exhibition.— The First Northern Engineering Exhibition, held in 1910, was a phenomenal success, and was visited by large bodies of interested buyers from all parts of the Manchester dis- trict, North of England, Midlands, and Scotland. The exhibition was practical in character, and strongly sec- tionised, with the result that no engineer could visit same without being interested. It has been suggested that an exhibition of this class should be held in Manchester every five years, and it is therefore proposed to organise the Second Northern International Engineering Exhibition, to be held in November 1915, thus allowing an interval of five years. The exhibition, which is being organised under the control of the Northern Engineering Exhibitors’ Advisory Committee, many of whom were associated with the recent Colliery Exhibition, will be held in the City Exhibition Hall, only a few minutes’ walk from Deansgate, Manches- ter's busiest thoroughfare. Electric, gas, and water power will be provided to enable exhibitors to show their specialities in motion, thus making them as attractive as possible to the interested user. The exhibition directors will be Mr. Charles H. Luke, A.M.S.E., and Mr. Frederic W. Bridges, who were organising managers of the Great Engineering Exhibition at Olympia in 1912, and the Shipping Exhibi- tion, Olympia, 1914. The exhibition will open on Friday, October 29, at three o’clock, and afterwards will be opened each day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. All communications should be addressed to the organising managers, Exhibition Offices, 196, Deansgate, Manchester.