624 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 18, 1914. many forms tested, but he is careful to state that there is so rapid a development in progress that it would be useless to form any opinion as to which form will finally be the best for particular purposes. Makers, therefore, should not be discouraged by the result of these tests, since every kind of appliance is capable of improvement, and there is as yet no really perfect type in existence. In the meantime, much depends upon the training of the men. This work is still in its initial stages, and Dr. Haldane appeals for far more thorough scientific and searching training and selection of men than has hitherto been usual. We are sure that colliery managers and those in charge of rescue corps will give their cordial support to this appeal and will regard rescue wTork as a highly-specialised branch of coal mining, needing as careful and skilful attention as the navigation of a submarine or the management of an aeroplane. CONTINENTAL MINING MOTES. France. Blastfurnaces at Rouen. — The United States Consul at Rouen states that the building of blastfurnaces at Rouen for the smelting of iron ore, work on which has begun, not only creates a new and important industry in this*region, but is of interest as indicating the tendency of French metal manufacturers to establish home sources of supply for cast iron rather than to be dependent upon importations. An important group of French metallurgical companies, nine in all, combined in a “ consortium ” to form the “ Societe des Hants Fourneaux de Rouen,” each company taking a por- tion of the total capital stock of $1,158,000, and each being represented on the executive board by a director. Each of the companies utilises a considerable amount of high-grade haematite iron in various metal working industries, and at present receives practically all its supply of this material from Sweden, Germany, and England. The association has been formed for the purpose of establishing a regular and general source of supply. Ore will be imported principally from Spain and Algeria and from Sweden. Although there are important iron ore mines within close proximity of Rouen, at Caen, this material will not be used on account, it is said, of its being too heavily charged with phosphorus. Imports of 200,000 metric tons of ore a year will be required. A tract of 172 acres, with frontage on the Seine at Grand- Quevilly, an industrial suburb of Rouen, was purchased by the company at a cost of $300,000. Foundations have been laid for the principal buildings, and work has begun on the cement wharf, 656 ft. long, where ships bringing ore and coal will land cargoes, and where the barges for up-river transport will moor. Two furnaces are provided for, the production of each to be 125 to 150 metric tons per 24 hours. Important orders were placed with the Creusot company. The company will import 120,000 metric tons of coal a year for use as fuel. Though it appears to be difficult for American exporters of coal to compete in this market with English, German, and French coal owing to the disadvan- tage of distance, yet, in view of the harbour improvements now under way, which are expected to reduce trans-Atlantic freight rates by permitting vessels of larger draught more frequently to enter the Seine, conditions, thinks the Consul, may become more favourable for the introduction of American coal. When the blastfurnaces are in operation they will employ from 200 to 300 workmen. The question of labour supply is expected to be one of the most serious problems with which the management will have to deal, as local skilled labour will be lacking at first, owing to the fact that metal- lurgical industries of this character are new in the region. Spain. A company with the title of the Sindicato Hullero has been formed in Madrid for the purpose of developing col- lieries in Spain, notably in the Asturias. The Council of Administration consists of Don Baltasar Losada y Torres, Count of Maceda and San Roman (chairman); Don Pedro Sangro y Ros de Olano, Don Juan O’Donnell y Vargas, duke of Tetuan, Don Juan Ordores y Conejo, Don Fernando Weyler y Santacana, Don Maurique de Leroy Berry, Don Cesar de Diego y Teste, and Don Jose Navarro y Vicente. The manager is Don Cristobal Rivas Sanchez, and* the secretary Don Felix de Aspe y San Martin. The central offices are at Madrid, and the general agency at Gijon. EMPLOYMENT IN AUGUST. Enquiries addressed by the Board of Trade to nearly all the principal manufacturers show that employers covering 75 per cent, of the workpeople included in the returns received have not been specially affected by the war; these employers report since the middle of July a total reduction of staff of only. 1’3 per cent. Employers of the remaining 25 per cent, covered by the returns report that they have been affected by the war, and have reduced their staff since the middle of July by 27 per cent. The two industries most affected are the cotton industry and construction of vehicles, each of which, as compared with July 17, shows a contrac- tion of about 19 per cent, in the numbers employed. In the cotton industry another 40 per cent, are working short time. Other industries' showing more than an average reduction of staff are furniture, engineering, and tin-plates. In the latter, however, though the percentage reduction is still above the average, there has been a very marked improvement of employment since the middle of August. While coal mines working for export have been affected, the great majority of the coal mines report themselves as unaffected by the war, and at the same time report that they are working reduced hours, which is, of course, the common summer practice. The reports received by the Home Office from the inspectors of mines in respect of the week ended September 5 indicate that the position in the mining industry has improved and is on the whole satis- factory. A considerable number of collieries are working only four or five days a week (especially in Scotland, York- shire, Durham, Northumberland, North Lancashire), but on the other hand there is considerable pressure in the steam coal trade in South Wales, where more men could be employed if they were available, and in other districts conditions are more or less normal. Even in the districts most affected not many collieries are working less than half time. No distress is reported at present. A large number of men have been called up for service or have enlisted. The increased shipping facilities have helped the export trade. The general conclusion is that, though there is at the moment a contraction of employment as a result of the war, this contraction has been met to a very marked extent by reduction of hours instead of by reduc- tion of staff; 93 per cent, of the workpeople engaged in production are still wholly or partially employed. More- over, the returns show that of the contraction of 7 per cent, in the numbers employed, at least two-thirds represents men who have left for military or naval service, and who are, therefore, not employed. Thus the percentage of work- people wholly unemployed (including women) has only increased by a little more than 2. Practically the whole of the above contraction occurred in the first fortnight of the war. Since August 14, when the first returns were obtained by the Board of Trade, though certain industries have declined while others have improved, the total numbers employed have changed very little. Returns relating to 1,238 pits, employing 682,587 work- people, published in the Board of Trade Labour Gazette, show that the average number of days* worked per week by the collieries included during the fortnight ended August 22, 1914, was 4’55, as compared with 5’06 a month ago and 5*54 a year ago. Of the 682,587 workpeople covered by the returns, 363,241 (or 53’2 per cent.) were employed at pits working 10 or more days during the fortnight ended August 22, 1914, while 221,378 (or 32*4 per cent.) were employed at pits working 11 days or more. The highest average per week was in South Wales and Monmouth (5’69 days), and the lowest (2’72 days). N orthumberland average was in Average number of days worked I er week by the collieries in fortnight ended Districts. 11 crease ( + ) or decrease (—) in August 1914, on a August 22, 1914. , Month ago. ’Year ago. England and Wales — Days. Days. Days. N orthumbei land 2'72 ... -2'71 ... -2'70 Durham 3'80 ... -1'37 ... -1'70 Cumberland 5'62 ... +0TI ... -0'02 South Yorkshire 4'48 ... - 0'98 ... -1'20 West Yorkshire k 4'11 ... -0'71 ... -1'41 Lancashire and Cheshire... 4’73 + 0T4 ... —0'55 Derbyshire 4'66 ... -0'22 ... -0'50 Nottingham and Leicester 4'49 ... -0'12 —0’76 Staffordshire Warwick, Worcester, and 5'27 ... +048 ... -0’04 Salop 5'29 ... +0'53 ... — 0'20 Gloucester and Somerset... 5'49 ... +0'95 ... -0'20 North Wales 5'54 ... +0'65 ... + 0’02 South Wales and Mon 5'69 ... -0'03 ... -0'28 Total, England & Wales Scotland— 4'59 .... -0’60 ... —0’96 West Scotland 4'71 ... +1’20 ... -0’52 The Lothians 4'57 ... +1'00 ... -0'81 Fife 3’45 ... -0'05 ... -2’06 Total, Scotland 4'05 ... +0'54 ... -1’33 Ireland 4'96 ... — 0'40 ... — 0’17 Total, United Kingdom 4'55 ... —0’51 ... -0’99 Compared with either a month ago or a year ago, employment showed a decline at pits producing all classes I, especially at anthracite and gas coal pits. Average number Increase (+) of days or worked decrease (-) per week in Description by the August 1914 of coal. collieries in fortnight ended on a A August 22, Month Year 1914. ago. ago. Anthracite Days. Days. Days. 3'85 ... -1'62 ... -2'05 Coking 4'78 ... — 0’40 ... -0’81 Gas 3'89 ... — 1’19 ... -1’57 House 4'62 .. -OTO ... -0’67 Steam 4'77 ... -0'59 ... -0'92 Mixed 4'37 ... — 0'44 ... —1'07 All descriptions 4’55 -0-51 -0’99 The Home Office, who have made enquiries on a different basis dealing with factories only, confirm for these industries the deductions drawn from the Board of Trade Returns. Reports have been obtained, by means of personal visits by the inspectors of factories, from 10,046 factories, employing normally at this time of year 1,335,845 males and 660,653 females. Business is reported normal in 3,206 cases, slack in 5,842, while 998 report pressure of work. Full time is being worked in 55’4 per cent, of factories, 42‘3 per cent, are working short time, and only 2'2 per cent, have closed or are preparing to close. There is abundant evidence that employers are making every effort to keep their factories open. The causes assigned for pressure are:—(a) Supplies for war purposes, 654 cases; (6) diversion of trade from other countries, 176 ; (c) other causes, 208. Manufacturers of supplies for war purposes affects particularly the explosives industry, and to a less extent the woollen, hosiery, metal and engineering trades, shipbuilding, and the manufacture of food and clothing. Diversion of trade from other countries, though as yet a small, is an increasing influence in the manufacture of hosiery, glass, cutlery, tools and chemicals, and in the metal industries, and may *The figures in this article only show the number of days (allowance being made in all the calculations for short days) on which coal was hewn and wound at the collieries included in the returns received. It is not necessarily implied that all the persons employed at these collieries worked the whole number of days. influence the pottery, tailoring, silk and millinery trades. The firms reporting pressure are meeting it in 632 cases by working extra hours, and in 360 cases by employing extra hands. The causes assigned for slackness of trade are:— 1. Some trade depression previous to the outbreak of w;ir caused by (a) over-production following a period of gdod trade, particularly in cotton spinning, woollen, clothing, and metal industries; and (6) trade disputes, particularly in the building and textile machinery industries. 2. Shortage and High Price of some Raw Materials.— With the exception of sugar, no marked scarcity of any food material is reported. 3. Lessened and Cancelled Orders due to customers with- holding orders, especially for luxuries. This is given as the reason in 4,976 of the 5,842 cases of slackness. The Board of Trade announces that in the trades com- pulsorily insured against unemployment—viz., building, works of construction, engineering, shipbuilding, vehicle- making, &c.—the percentage of unemployment at September 11 was 6'05. This shows a decrease of 0'23 on the percentage at September 4 (6'28), and is the first decrease to be recorded since the commencement of the war. As regards the uninsured trades the number of men and women on the register of the Labour Exchanges at September 11 was 66,113, as compared with 73,675 a week ago. For men alone the corresponding figures were 31,595 and 40,237; for women they were 34,518 and 33,438. The decrease, which is confined to men, and follows on a similar decrease in the preceding week, is no doubt largely due to the progress of recruiting. AMERICAN COAL AND THE WAR. It is apparent that extensive orders for coal have ah eady gone to the United States. The most important is the contract obtained by the Davis Collieries Company for 350,000 tons of coal for the Italian Govern- ment, shipment to be made in Italian bottoms. While no details are available, says the Coal Age. this is probably for West Virginia coal. It is not generally believed that the Pennsylvania fuels will be able to break into the export business until Hampton Roads prices touch 3 25 to 3'50 dols., or 50 to 75 cents above the ruling level. The market at Hampton Roads is full of enquiries from various foreign countries. It is understood that about 100,000 tons has been sold to parties in Greece, and that this coal will begin to move during the next few days. Export shipments have been made to Havana, Cardenas, St. Lucia, Callao, Para, Bahia Blanca, Rio, Buenos Aires, Manaos, Kingston, Genoa, Naples, and Lisbon. There has also been a small movement vid schooner to San Juan, Porto Rico. It is stated that Alabama operators have been asked to make prices on several large tonnages, one of 200,000 tons for the Argentine Republic, and another of 300,000 tons for the Chilian Navy. Birmingham (Alabama) capitalists are said to be talking of organising a steam- ship line for the purposes of transport. Uruguay and Sweden are also in the market for Alabama coal. In a recent interview, Mr. D. J. Wittenberg, president of the Pocahontas and New River Coal Company, predicted that American exports to Europe would aggregate 1,000,000 tons by the first of the year, providing no serious obstacles in transportation or credit arises. One of the largest deals reported is that said to have been closed by Spanish interests, involving 2,800,000 tons of steam coal. The contract is said to run over a two-year period, and is for delivery at Buenos Ayres, Monte Video and Rosario. Loading will be at Philadelphia, Newport News and New York, and the reported price is 2'75 dols. per ton f.o.b. The chief difficulty up to the present has been the supply of vessels. Again, most of the prospects in South America have been based upon the assumption that England could not supply the demand, which now has been disproved. Nevertheless, some reliance is placed on the curtailment of British shipments, owing to the amount of large steam coal going to the Navy, as it is pointed out that the South American has been accustomed to buying screened coal only. On this point the Black Diamond observes:— Pocahontas and New River coal reaches the South American market reduced to rather small size. This mine-run will be of about the same size as the coal England is now shipping. However, Pocahontas and New River coals are vastly superior to the coal now being sold by England. The lower price charged for American coal should give us every advantage in that market. All of our southern mines—like those of the Clinch Valley and Alabama—have, near home, a better market for fine than for their large coal. They will appeal to South America more with their lump and egg coal than wjth their fine coal. These are far better coals than the low- grade fine coal now being shipped from England. That gives them quite an advantage. It 'would have been quite discouraging to the United States to be forced, on short notice, to step into the shoes of both England and Germany in all of South American trade. It might have proved far too great a strain upon our mine produc- tive capacities and transportation. With the call upon us modified by shipments from England, we have a chance to sell and transport what we can comfortably supply. Our introduction into the southern market will be on a gradual and business-like basis. As England’s production is curtailed by the withdrawal of its miners for the gradual enlargement of the Army the United States—by that time familiar with South American trade—can step gradually into a control of this important market. Coal charters have been reported by the Journal of Commerce as follow :— Vessel. Nationality. From To Tons. Rate Standish Hall Haxby Warren Adams Kate B. Ogden British British Virginia Baltimore Philadelphia Philadelphia Rio de Janeiro 2,544 Genoa 2,^52 Charleston TP. E.I. 587 Dols. Charlottetown, 541 1’60 Georgina Koop British Philadelphia St. John, N.B. 423 P50 Ramazan Edison Light British American Norfolk Philadelphia Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro 2,211 1,699 5'40 Brattingsborg Edith Danish Virginia Baltimore River Plate San Juan, Porto Rico 1,963 1,051 4'80