374 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 14, 1914 and most of the anthracite collieries have not recom- menced work, owners having decided to close down for an indefinite period. No quotations are reported. IRON. At the blastfurnaces all hands were employed, and were working full time, during the past week. In the tin-plate and the sheet trade everything was at a standstill, and all bar mills were idle. Employment was good in the weldless tube trade, and the iron foundries were exceedingly busy. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 36,262 boxes, and receipts from works 59,339 boxes, whilst stocks in the dock warehouses and vans were 249,320 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. There is very little doing in any department of the coal trade. Shipping of course is at a standstill, and collieries are relying solely upon inland orders to keep them going. Owing to the excitement of the moment there is a rush for most anthracite coals, and higher prices are being asked for, but as customers will soon have their wants supplied, collieries will have a difficulty in keeping going more than a couple of days weekly. Owing to the scarcity of money, sellers are insisting in most cases for cash against order. Prices this week are approximately:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large ... Secondary do. ........ Big Vein large........ Bed Vein do........... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts........... French do............. Paris do.............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................. Duff ................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... Through-and-through... Small ................ Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 21/ -23/ 18/6-20/ 16/6-18/ 13/ -14/ 20/ -22/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 13/ -13/6 6/ - 6/3 3/9- 5/6 16/ -18/ 11/ -11/6 9/ - 9/6 11/ -11/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -21/6 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/6 21/ -22/ 21/6-23/ 21/ -23/6 21/ -23/ 16/ -18/ 12/6-13/6 5/9- 6/3 3/6- 5/3 16/ -17/ 10/9-11/3 8/6- 9/6 10/6-11/ Last year’s prices. 20/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 12/6-13/6 19/6-20/ 20/ -22/ 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 19/ -22/ 12/ -13/ 6/ - 6/6 5/ - 5/6 16/ -17/ 11/6-12/ 9/ ~W'I 10/ -11/ COAL PRODUCTION OF CANADA. A preliminary report on the mineral production of Canada, 1912, has been prepared by Mr. John McLeish, Chief of the Division of Mineral Resources and Statistics. The total value of the mineral production in Canada in 1912 was 133,127,489 dols. Compared with the previous year, this production shows an increase of 29,906,495 dols., or nearly 29 per cent. The mineral output in 1911, however, was somewhat restricted owing to long extended labour disputes, and the largest previous production was in 1910, compared with which that of 1912 shows an increase of 26,243,866 dols., or over 24 per cent. With the exception of a partial interruption of work, on Vancouver Island, during the last three months of the year, due to a dispute of coalminers, coalmining was actively prosecuted in all important coalmining districts during 1912. Thus in contrast with 1911, when the output was seriously reduced by a long continued strike in Southern Alberta and British Columbia, the produc- tion in 1912 shows a very large increase. The total production of coal during the past year, comprising sales and shipments, colliery consumption, and coal used in making coke, &c., was 14,699,953 short tons, valued at 36,349,299 dols., as against 11,323,388 tons, valued at 26,467,646 dols., in 1911, and 12,909,152 tons, valued at 30,909,779 dols. in 1910. The 1912 pro- duction exceeded all former outputs. Nova Scotia shows an increase of nearly 8 per cent., British Columbia an increase of over 26 per cent, though not quite up to the 1910 production, Alberta an increase of about 128 per cent, over 1911, and 19 per cent, ovei; 1910. The other provinces show comparatively little change. The figures for the Yukon represent the production from the Tantalus field, no record having been received of the output below Dawson. The production by provinces during the past three years is given below. The exports of coal in 1912 were 2,127,133 tons, valued at 5,821,593 dols. as compared with exports of 1,500,639 tons, valued at 4,357,074 dols., in 1911, an increase in exports of 626,494 tons. Imports of coal during the year included bituminous, round and run-of-mine 8,491,840 tons, valued at 16,846,727 dols.; bituminous slack 1,919,953 tons, valued at 2,550,922 dols., and anthracite 4,184,017 tons, valued at 20,080,388 dols., or a total of 14,595,810 tons, valued at 39,478,037 dols. The imports in 1911 were bituminous, run-of-mine, 8,905,815 tons; bituminous slack, 1,632,500 tons, and anthracite 4,020,577 tons, or a total of 14,558,892 tons. The apparent consumption of coal in 1912 was thus 27,168,630 tons, as against an apparent consumption in 1911 of 24,381,641 tons. The total production of oven coke in 1912 was 1,411,219 tons, valued at 5,352,520 dols., as compared Province. 1910. 1911. 1 1912. 1 ' Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. i Value. Nova Scotia British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan New Brunswick Yukon Territory 6,431,142 3,330,745 2,894,469 181,156 55,455 16,185 1 Dols. i 12,919,705 10,408,580 i 7,065,736 293,923 110,910 110,925 7,004,420 2,542,532 1,511,036 206,779 55,781 2,840 Dols. i 14,071,379 ! 7,945,413 3,919,264 347,248 111,562 12,780 7,791,440 3,220,899 *3,446,349 196,325 42,780 2,160 ' Dols. ! 17,391,608 10,065,311 8,471,126 327,054 85,560 8,640 Total 12,909,152 30,909,779 11,323,388 26,467,646 14,699,953 36,349,299 * Statistics furnished by Mr. John Stirling, inspector of mines, Alberta. with a production of 935,651 tons, valued at 3,630,410 dols. in 1911. A considerable percentage of this is made from imported coal. By provinces the production in 1912 was : Nova Scotia 625,908 tons, Ontario 379,854 tons, Alberta 105,684 tons, and British Columbia 299,773 tons, as against a production in 1911 of: Nova Scotia 557,554 tons, Ontario 259,554 tons, Alberta 36,216 tons, and British Columbia 82,327 tons. The quantity of coke imported during the calendar year 1912 was 628,174 tons, valued at 1,702,856 dols., as compared with imports of 751,389 tons, valued at 1,843,248 dols., in 1911. A COMPARISON OF STEAM AND ELECTRIC WINDING ENGINES. In a communication to the Liege Association of Engineers, M. Hanappe, of Mariemont, dealt with the question of winding by electricity, with special reference to the conditions prevailing in the Campine coalfield. These conditions are briefly set forth as the following:— Useful load, 5,000 kilogs. on each rope; output, 1,000 tons from 750 m. in a shift of eight hours, or 2,000 tons in two shifts ; estimated value of coal consumed, 10 fr. and 5 fr. per ton; redemption, 10 per cent.; and upkeep, 2 per cent. The calculations are as follow :— Type of machine. Total annual cost— Cost of installation. For an output of 1,000 tons in one shift, with coal at: For an output of 2,000 tons in two shifts, with coal at: 10 fr. 5 fr. 10 fr. 5 fr. Steam engine, non-condensing Steam engine, two cylinders, central condensing... Compound steam engine, four cylinders, con- densing, with superheaters Rateau engine Electric engine, three-phase, Ilgner converter Electric engine, Brown-Boveri system Fr. 66,157 57,885 f 54,615 / s to ( 57,615 64,928 85,350 58,400 Fr. 48,105 44,190 43,410 to 46,410 51,285 72,900 50,940 Fr. 103,375 91,500 80,760 to 83,760 90,915 104,025 73,350 Fr. 74,250 66,600 60,840 to €3,840 68,610 85,350 60,900 Fr. 1©0,000 140,000 175,000 to 200,000 200,000 400,000 300,000 MINING AND OTHER NOTES. The report of the South Suburban Gas Company for the half-year ended June 30 states that the exceptionally high prices paid for coal, coupled with a serious falling off in the returns for coke and sulphate of ammonia, compelled resort to the balance of undivided profit for the mainten- ance of statutory dividends. Contracts for the current year’s supplies of coal and oil have been made at substantial reductions from last year’s prices. Presiding over the half-yearly meeting of the Gas Light and Coke Company on Friday, Sir Corbet Woodall reported that the coal purchases just completed showed an average reduction of a little over 2s. per ton. Referring to the great fall in the price of coke, he said this had been due to several causes : (1). to the quantities manufactured at the collieries in improved ovens; (2) the increased make owing to the giving up of the manufacture of oil gas by reason of the late high prices of oil; and (3) to the reduced demand for cement making. Mr. Fredk. H. Hatch, president, and Mr. C. M‘Dermid, secretary of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, have issued a circular to members stating that a proposal has been made (and communicated to the Secretary of State for War) that the institution should form a volunteer corps, to be placed at the disposal of the War Office for special home service. A considerable number of members and associates of the institution have urged the desirability of this step, and have already offered their services. Mr. Walter Brown, of Highfields, Headless Cross, Ipsley, Warwickshire, coal merchant, whose death occurred on April 11 last, has left estate valued at 1-16,056 4s. Id., with net personalty ,£4,178 7s. A report of the London County Council mentions that during the year 1913-14 the amount of coal required for the Greenwich Electricity Generating Station was 166,040 tons. The average price paid was 16s. ll^d. a ton. Power is produced at the phenomenally cheap rate of "391d. a unit. The Motor Trade Association have taken prompt measures to steady prices of petrol, and have issued a circular pro- hibiting the trade, under pain of the association’s stop list, from adding more than 3d. per gallon to the wholesale cost, the latter varying, of course, according to difference in carriage costs, etc. The inquest was concluded at Jarrow on Tuesday by Coroner Graham, on the four men who lost their lives by the blastfurnace explosion at Messrs. Palmer’s Steelworks on July 31. The accident took place during the breakfast hour, when the furnace burst, and the molten metal enclosed a cabin where the men were breakfasting, and they were all burnt to death. A verdict of “ Accidental Death ’* was returned, and the jury recommended that cabins be pro- vided for the men at a greater distance from the furnaces, and that a log-book be kept of unusual happenings during the shifts. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 13. The London coal trade has been very erratic during the past week. In some cases prices have been reduced and in others slightly advanced. The difficulty in obtaining fuel has for the time being relaxed somewhat, but there is still the grave danger as to what it may mean in the near future. With the return to work after the holidays, serious problems have made themselves felt in a variety of ways. So many horses and vans have been commandeered by the Government that it is becoming a very serious matter as to how the coal on order can be delivered. This difficulty seems likely to extend to the colliery end also, for it is currently reported that many of the Midland collieries have, had to bring up the pit ponies in order that the Government may examine and report on the number available in an emergency. At the same time the calling up of the Territorials and Reservists has thinned the ranks of the regular workers very considerably, both in the offices and at the depots. A considerable quantity of South Yorkshire and other qualities of steam coal and house coal usually sent to the coast for shipment have found their way to the London markets, and kept the supply well up to the demand. Merchants, on the other hand, are only able to serve their customers with a portion of the coal ordered, and this will keep the market fairly firm for some time yet. There is no denying the fact that the general public during the first few days of the outbreak of the war completely lost their heads and rushed in orders far beyond their actual requirements. Nutty slacks especially have been in strong demand for electric works and for factory purposes, although business has been very irregular in London during the whole of the week, and there are still many collieries who are declining to enter any orders whatever, except for contract coals. All colliery quotations are still withdrawn, so that buying is limited to very small proportions until the position of affairs is better known. One of the first features of the effects of the war is the shortage of pit props and oil, and it is feared by some that this will considerably lessen the output unless the local supplies can be made serviceable. In the seaborne market no Durham or Yorkshire qualities are offering. Vessels are however, still running along the coast, and on Monday 15 contract boats were reported as entering the Thames, and on Wednesday 9, all sold. Manufacturing fuels, whether of the large coal or the nutty slack varieties, were in good demand, and fetched good prices. The extra quantity coming to London by rail of Yorkshire qualities has considerably eased the position, and in some cases where collieries have advanced the pit price, a lower quotation has been given during the week. The demand for slacks and for hard steam coal still continues, but the double-screened nuts, owing to the plentiful supply, and the reports that so many of the- waterside factories are either closing down or restricting their work, has tended rather to lower prices. The lowest summer prices are still the prices in operation for the public delivery. In some cases, however, the advertisements have* been withdrawn, as so many orders have been received, over and above the normal requirements, and to guard fhemselves, all new orders received by the London mer- chants, unless accompanied by immediate payment, are now declined. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, August 7.—There were no Durham or Yorkshire seaborne house coal ^cargoes on offer at to-day’s market,, which remained quiet. Cargoes 9. Monday, August 10.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, no cargoes being on offer. Cargoes 15. Wednesday, August 13.—No Durham or Yorkshire seaborne house coal cargoes were on offer at to-day’s market? which remained quietly steady. Cargoes 9. Volunteer Civil Force.—We are asked to make it known that members of the Volunteer Civil Force are prepared to offer their services in any part of the country for the pro- tection of mines, large engineering works, etc., etc. Full particulars will be forwarded on application to Ruskin House, Rochester-row, Westminster, S.W.