772 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN October 9, 1914 COALING AT LAS PALMAS. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 8. Las Palmas, Canary Islands, is the most prominent port of call on the Atlantic for coal supplies to steam- ships en route between Europe and South and West Africa, as well as South America and Australasia. Although the Canary Islands are Spanish territory, the development of the coaling industry at Las Palmas is almost entirely due to British enterprise, and, in fact, is in the hands of seven companies, six being English and one German. As regards the extent of supplies, during last year about 811,000 tons were delivered to steamers’ bunkers, which is more than double the quan- tity supplied five years back. The class of coal mostly dealt with is Welsh, but within the last few years Durham coal has been introduced at Las Palmas, and its adoption has made considerable headway on account of the lower price. The proportion of Durham coal supplied now amounts to over one-third of the total, whereas Welsh was previously stacked entirely. The number of British steamers calling en route at Las Palmas last year amounted to 1,112, and 1,394 during the previous year (1912). This represents about one- quarter of the total number of vessels which call annually. It may here be mentioned that 427 German ships called during 1913. The bunker supplies are almost entirely dealt with in bags, but the colliers are discharged in bulk into lighters, and storage is kept available in lighters as well as on shore. Each of the coaling companies has its own depot, and it may be of interest to describe the most modern equipment which was provided in accord- ance with the advice and under the supervision of the writer, acting as consulting engineer. The illustration will assist in explaining this depot, which comprises a substantial covered building capable of storing over 10,000 tons of large coal. This is con- nected with a jetty, where the lighters are discharged in bulk, and reloaded as required with coal in bags. The jetty was extended to obtain deeper water for the Coaling Depot at Las Palmas. lighters, and thus to allow of discharge or loading at all states of the tide, and to accommodate lighters of larger capacity. The construction of the jetty is reinforced concrete, on which is erected a steel gantry staging, this extending along the wharf as far as the entrance to the store. The gantry supports—at a height of about 30 ft.—two single line rail tracks, which are extended the length of the store, being there supported by special shaped girders to allow of the greatest possible headroom and capacity for storage without obstruction by pillars. At both ends of the route the two rail tracks are con- nected to form a loop; at the jetty end the tracks extend outwards so that they reach 15 ft. over each side of the jetty at its head and 10 ft. over the end. On these elevated rail tracks electrically operated trolleys travel between the jetty and the store, thereby about 1,000 tons of coal can be transported into or out of the store per day. Each trolley is controlled by a driver, who travels in a cabin with it, and therefore has complete command of the several operations of dis- charging, transporting, stacking, or reloading. The trolleys can be used with grabs for discharging in bulk or with a carrier for loading a number of bags at a time. The mechanism provided on the trolley allows for hoist- ing and lowering the loads and for operating the grab, as well as for travelling, brakes being available for hold- ing the load at any height, and for retarding the travel- ling motion. The framework of the trolley is suspended from two travelling carriages, each having four steel wheels with ball bearings, and the travelling motion is effected by a separate electric motor to that used for hoisting the loads. The total distance of transport with this equipment from the head of the jetty to the furthest end of the store is 460 ft.; the rail tracks are level, and there are two curves on the route. Along the jetty the tracks are 9 ft. apart, but at the head they branch out to 65 ft., and at the entrance to the store they are 28 ft. apart. There is a cross-over on the route to enable the trolleys to pass from one track to the other when not necessary to travel the whole distance, or for a trolley to remain idle without interrupting the travel of the others over the whole track. Further, the trolleys can travel in either direction, or backwards or forwards, instead of having to complete the circuit. This increases the rate of transporting, and facilitates stacking and discharge at or from any position as required. As already men- tioned, the rail tracks in the store are supported by girders; these span a width of 65 ft. The power for working this equipment is provided by an independent electric plant, which is situated in the building shown in the photograph to the left; from there electricity is transmitted by copper wires supported on insulators, which are attached to the track gantry, and the trolleys collect the power from these wires. The supply to each trolley is controlled from the driver’s cabin by a main switch, and the operation of the trolley is as follows : One hand lever suffices for the lifting and lowering of the loads, the controller being inter-connected with a brake; another lever is available for the opening of the grab, whilst the travelling motion is governed by a hand wheel and a foot lever brake. This equipment has been in use successfully for several years now, and provides for handling the largest quantity of coal of any individual coal bunkering com- pany at Las Palmas. Coaling German War Vessels.—Amongst important cap- tures recently made on the seaboard of the North Sea, several are of first importance in so far as they affect the operations of the enemy’s submarines. There seems no doubt, states the Scotsman, that during the past three weeks the submarines of the German Navy have been active at such a distance from any possible harbour base that, in view of the ascertained limit of the range of action of those vessels, as well known to the Admiralty, the problem came to be : Where, and of what character, are the German sub- marine supply ships? Further explanation of the extensive range of action of the submarines of the enemy, continues our contemporary, has been afforded within the past few days. At a port on the East of Scotland there arrived a vessel of a neutral Power, an innocent trader with an inno- cent cargo in her hold, her papers in order, and her general character apparently irreproachable. Customs searchers subjected the vessel to the most careful scrutiny. They found a lavish stock of spare hawsers. When the wrappings of these hawsers were stripped, the great coils were little more than basket rope, and in each basket, nicely protected and well stowed, reposed a steel drum of oil fuel for sub- marines. [The Press Bureau state that they have had no information of the seizure mentioned above.] The Cape Town correspondent of the Times has given an instance of the completeness of German plans for coaling their Navy in the event of an outbreak of war. A German cruiser, the “ Eber,” was in dock at Cape Town a few days before the outbreak of war, and got away just in time. An intercepted letter, addressed to the commander, contained certain instructions from Berlin which were dated June 14. These instructions revealed a complete system for coaling the German Navy on the outbreak of war through secret service agents in Cape Town, New York, and Chicago. The com- mander of the ■ “ Eber ” was given the names of shippers and bankers with whom he could deal confidently, the essence of the plan being that a collier would leave Table Bay ostensibly bound for England, but really to meet a German warship at an agreed rendezvous. — British coal exporters seem to have reason for thinking that the diffi- culties of coaling the scattered German cruisers will increase with the passage of time. It is estimated that early in July there were between 20 and 30 colliers outward bound from this country to German depots with Welsh steam coal. The belief exists that some, at any rate, of these colliers never reached their intended ports, but were diverted to rendezvous for the coaling of German cruisers or auxiliary cruisers. Coal merchants scout the idea that purely British firms would stoop to enter into any arrangement for pro- viding coal for enemy warships, though they admit that the case of firms in which there is known to be a foreign element deserves to be carefully considered. Practically all the supplies of the best Welsh steam coals are now available only for the British Navy, but there are other coals of not quite the same value which would undoubtedly be very useful to the German vessels. How highly Welsh steam coal is valued abroad is shown by the fact that it has been cus- tomary for German liners when making their trials to be supplied with it. It is understood that both the “ Vater- land ” and the “ Imperator ” burned Welsh coal on their trial trips. Scotland.- Western District. COAL. The coal trade in the West of Scotland district continues to improve, and a stronger demand has set in. Best splints are all busy, and are reported full for 10 days or so. There is also more business passing for ordinary qualities, and the increase has come at an opportune moment as some of the collieries were badly off for orders. The better qualities of ell coal are receiving a considerable amount of attention, and prices continue firm. On the other hand, navigations and steams are slack, and prices are in buyers’ favour. In smalls, treble nuts are particularly busy, but a fair amount of business is also being put through in the other sizes. Owing to the colder weather there is a better demand for household coal, while the shorter days increase the con- sumption for gas-making purposes. Shipments from the district during the week amounted to 107,653 tons, compared with 123,534 in the preceding week and 99,046 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coal prices. 10/6-12/6 prices. 10/6-12/6 prices. 13/ -14/6 Ell 11/3 11/ -11/3 13/ -13/3 Splint 11/ -14/6 11/6-12/ 11/6-14/ 13/ -15/3 Treble nuts 11/6-11/9 13/9 Double do 10/3-10/6 10/6-10/9 12/6-12/9 Single do 10/3-10/6 10/6 11/ -11/6 IRON. The Glasgow pig iron warrant market was quite feature- less during the past week. Business was again very quiet, and the total turnover did not exceed 6,000 tons, and prices of Cleveland iron closed 2d. per ton lower on the week at 50s. lOd. per ton cash buyers. Middlesbrough stores have increased by 2,605 tons during the week, and now stand at 103,606 tons, compared with 170,327 tons in the corre- sponding period of 1913. Scotch pig iron makers are not booking much in the way of fresh business either on home or export account, and while they have a considerable quantity still on their books deliveries are only fair, and there is a tendency for stocks to accumulate. There are 67 furnaces in blast in Scotland, the same number as last week, and 18 fewer than at this time last year. The prices of makers’ iron are unchanged, and are as follow:— Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 64s. 6d., No. 3, 63s.; Govan, No. 1, 64s., No. 3, 63s.; CarnbroeNo. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 64s.; Clyde, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d.; Gart- sherrie, Summerlee and Calder, Nos. 1, 70s., Nos. 3, 65s.; Langloan, No. 1, 72s., No. 3, 67s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 71s., No. 3, 66s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 64s., No. 3, 63s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 65s., No. 3, 63s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 70s. 6d., No. 3, 65s. 6d. per ton. The import of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 7,936 tons. There is little change to report in the position of the manufac- turing branches. Black sheet makers are still busily engaged in the heavy departments, but the demand for the thin gauges continues restricted, owing to the quietness in the galvanised sheet trade. Malleable iron makers, for the most part, are running nine shifts per week. The export business is not increasing to any extent in the meantime, but there is a fair demand for iron bars on home account, and it is reported that hoops and strips have been in better demand of late. Makers, who formerly used Continental steel billets for conversion into steel bars, are now using home-made billets, but this department of the malleable iron trade is quiet at the moment. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The collieries in the Lothian district are rather poorly employed, and are greatly in need of fresh orders. Practi- cally nothing is being done in round coal, while in smalls treble nuts only are anything like busy, and doubles are inclined to accumulate. Singles, however, are a trifle stronger. Clearances from the various ports amounted to 68,111 tons, against 57,773 in the preceding week and 114,144 tons in the corresponding week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 11/3 11/6 13/ -14/ Secondary qualities 10/3 10/ 11/9-12/3 Treble nuts 11/9 11/6 13/9-14/ Double do 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/6 12/6-12/9 Single do 10/3-10/6 10/ -10/3 11/ -11/3 Conditions in Fifeshire have not altered to any extent. There is only a small amount of tonnage at the ports, and business is chiefly confined to the first qualities of screened navigation coal. Treble nuts have been busy recently, and doubles are stronger again with prices firming up in conse- quence. Singles are not so busy, and supplies are plentiful. Shipments from the district during the week amounted to 71,033 tons compared with 70,743 in the preceding week and 126,721 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Current prices. 15/6-15/9 13/6 12/6 10/ 11/9-12/3 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 L’st week’s prices. 15/6 13/6 12/6 10/ 11/6-11/9 10/6 10/3-10/6 Lastyear’s prices. 17/ 15/ 13/9-14/3 11/3-12/ 13/9-14/3 12/3-12/9 11/ -11/3 Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do. Treble nuts Double do Single do The aggregate clearances from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 246,795 tons, compared with 252,050 in the preceding week and 339,911 tons in the corresponding week of last year.