242

The colliery guardian

January 29, 191S.

England branch; and the other on “ Some Earthing at
Scottish Mines,” by Mr. Percy S. Glover, of the West of
Scotland branch.

A new feature was instituted at the first meeting of the
36th session of the Nottingham Society of Engineers, which
opened at the Welbeck Hotel on Wednesday evening,
January 20. Members had been invited to submit short
papers on engineering subjects, a prize to be awarded to
that receiving the most votes at the meeting. Eight papers
were contributed. These were read by the chairman, Mr.
C. J. Hofton. After hearing the papers, the members
decided that, as such a general standard of excellence had
been achieved, three prizes should be awarded, instead of
one. The paper on ” The Fatigue of Metals,” by Mr. A.
Beeston, manager of Clifton Colliery, Nottingham, received
the most votes. Mr. E. G. Phillipp’s paper on “ Edison’s
Accumulators,” was voted second; and that on “The
Economy of Coal and Steam in Factories,” by Mr. J.
Whysall, third. Mr. Beeston, in the course of his paper,
observed that although the terms had a different significance,
strain cannot exist without stress, and that stress is the
primary cause of strain. The appearance of the fracture of
a metal was not always the same, and in the same bar it
might vary with the method in which it was produced.
When a bar of wrought iron was gradually pulled asunder
by the steady application of a tensile force, the fracture was
very rough, and inclined to be fibrous. At the point of
failure the area was reduced and the bar was much dis-
torted in the same vicinity, showing that the metal had
flowed while in the plastic stage of extension. If a bar of
the same iron be nicked, and then be broken by a sharp
blow, it would be observed that the fracture had a crystalline
appearance. In this case the metal had not had time to
flow, and one would think from the appearance of the fracture
that the metal was brittle. When a piece of metal was
exposed to repeated or alternating stresses of not too high a
magnitude, fracture might begin by gradual cracking of the
material, and • ultimately broke down by fatigue. Very
little or no alteration in shape could be observed. The
fractured surface of a machine part which had broken down
under the action of fatigue was not always crystalline, but
would depend to some extent upon the initial condition and
also the method of fracture. The initial stresses in
unannealed forgings might be of considerable magnitude,
and, dn extreme, cases, where the forgings had been worked
at a low temperature, might approach the elastic limit of
the material used. Although many experiments had been
made, and numerous theories advanced, to account for the
failure of metals under the influence of repeated and alter-
nating stresses, no satisfactory conclusion had at present
been arrived at, and the subject was one which continues to
provide much employment for the ingenuity of engineers.

A decline in the membership of the Midland District
Miners’ Fatal Accident Belief Society was attributed, at
the 127th quarterly meeting of the board of management,
held at Derby on Tuesday, to the fact of large numbers
having joined his Majesty’s Forces. The total at the end
of last quarter stood at 42,796, as compared with 45,519 at
the close of the corresponding period of the previous year,
and the chairman, Mr. A. G-. Barnes, explained that the
decrease of 2,723 was due to the reason already mentioned,
but for which there would have been an increase of quite the
same number. Ten members had died during the quarter,
and consequently eight widows and 11 children became
entitled to benefit. There were now 309 widows and 425
children on the funds, increases of 17 and 59 respectively
when contrasted with the totals a year ago, the advance in
the latter case being caused by the extension of the age up
to which benefit was granted.' The question of further
investment, deferred from the last meeting owing to the
unsettled state of the money market, was again considered.
It was reported that there was £3,000 on deposit account and
£865 on current account, while the dividends receivable next
month would amount to about £1,600. It would thus be
possible to invest a sum of £5,000 about the middle of
March. The committee suggested that a public service
would be performed by taking up the next war loan to this
amount, and the proposal was unanimously approved.

The Midlands.

Traffic Facilities and the Scarcity of Fuel — Electrical
Accident at Birchenwood.

The Warwickshire collieries are still greatly exercised
respecting the difficulties which have recently come to the
front there on matters of railway conveyance shortage, and
insufficient supply of working companies for the pits. Special
enquiries reveal that the loss of revenue which is resulting
to the collieries is very considerable, yet no way out of the
present trouble seems to suggest itself. Unless an abund-
ance of empty wagons in the Warwickshire colliery sidings
is ensured, it is impossible for the pits to work economically,
and this is just what the coal owners are now without. It
is reported that at the present time, owing to the special
demands of the War Office for instant and express railway
conveyance along the main lines, branch lines in the War-
wickshire district frequently remote from the collieries are
often closed for days together, that the fuel after being sent
up the pits cannot be got away, and colliery profits are
consequently suffering severely. It is reported that on a
main line in South Staffordshire last week 140 trucks were
held for four days on sidings immediately opposite a colliery
line, with only the main railway double track between them.
The affected pit worked three-quarters only instead of full
days, and the market lost over 1,000 tons of badly wanted
fuel. This instance could be repeated many times over.
Some of-the pits at the present time advise that they can
only get two round journeys per month out of their wagons,
which ought to take no more than eight days for the return
journey. Wagons stagnant in the sidings are earning no
dividend, it should be remembered, and, further than this,
the carriers impose heavy charges on traders whose wagons
remain in the sidings beyond a certain time. It is thought
that the railway companies might do more than they are
doing for the pits, particularly by the provision of fast coal
trains to the larger buying centres. Directly owing to the
enlistment of miners also, there is still a considerable reduc-
tion at date in the output at the collieries. In the Cannock
Chase coalfield working companies have been reduced by
about 22J per cent., while in Warwickshire the percentage
is higher, and at some collieries the drop in output amounts
to 40 per cent. It is roughly estimated that one-third of
the miners formerly employed in the Black Country are at
present serving with the Colours, and though the coal
masters in some of the Black Country districts have engaged
all the available men who had retired from the industry for
some years, they still lack sufficient miners to enable them
to make an average winter output. Prices are still rapidly

rising as the result of the shortage of fuel supplies. The
scarcity of supplies in the South Staffordshire manufactur-
ing districts of Bowley, Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Black-
heath Halesowen, Oldbury, and adjacent localities, is
largely due to the lack of labour.

An inquest was held on Thursday, the 14th inst., into the
death of a man named Holley, who was killed at the
Birchenwood Colliery on the 8th inst. as the result of an
electric shock. Mr. J. B. D. Allott, general manager,
representing the colliery company, presented a plan showing
the scene of the accident. On the day in question the
quenching machine on No. 1 coking plant was being
repaired, and the deceased was working with the boiler
smiths as a labourer. On this particular machine there
were five fixed electric lights, the current for which was
taken from one phase of the power supply to the motor
operating the machine. The power supply was 500 volts
alternating current; and the reason for the light being taken
from the power circuit was that the machine was a travelling
one. The five lights were arranged in a series, each being
100 volts. It was understood that these lights were not to
be interfered with. To provide light, in order to see to
complete the repairs, current was brought from the lighting
main, a distance of 30 yds., the voltage of this being 110
and 120. The electricians fixed the boilersmiths’ two lights
by which they could work during the night. During the
afternoon a fitter engaged on another part of the machine
gave instructions to a youth to fix an extension on to one of
the five lights, thinking that because each light was 110 volts,
the current was of that strength. Later, the deceased
handled this particular light and received a shock from
which he died. The current should have been switched off
before the light was handled. A verdict of “ Accidental
death ” was returned.

Kent.

Shafts v. Boreholes : Deep Sinking at Snowdown.

An important report concerning the value of the deep
sinking to be undertaken at Snowdown Colliery by the
Kent Goal Shareholders’ Committee, in order to demonstrate
the value of the coalfield by opening out the deeper seams,
has been made by Mr. Maurice Deacon, M.Inst.C.E.,
mining engineer, chairman of the Sheepbridge Coal and
Iron Company, and director of other collieries. Mr. Deacon
points out the advantage of proving seams by sinking, and
concluded a lengthy and interesting report with these
remarks :—“ That the sinking of a shaft such as I suggest
is desirable from the financial point of view I have no doubt;
for having regard to the history of the past, it is apparent
that the investing public require stronger evidence of the
commercial value of the coalfield than is at present avail-
able ; and in view of the probable resumption of more normal
conditions and of a revival in the coal trade after the war is
over, I am strongly of the opinion that the intervening
period may be wisely utilised in demonstrating beyond doubt
the real commercial value of the coalfield.”

An appeal has been made this week by the Shareholders’
Committee to the shareholders in Kent Coal Concessions
Limited and six of the allied companies to subscribe for the
£100,000 worth of bonds which are to be issued for the
purpose of carrying out the deep sinking at Snowdown
Colliery and various other necessary works. The committee
state that it is estimated it will cost £40,000 to sink one of
the shafts at Snowdown Colliery down to the seams below
that known as the Snow down Hard, and the work will
occupy nine to 12 months. Other requirements to be met
from this money are administration expenses, maintenance
of the railway, completion of existing contracts for the
acquisition of mineral rights, etc. The committee point out
that the consent of the landlords, debenture holders, and
creditors to postpone their claims until six months after the
war, is subject to the condition that the shareholders raise
this £100,000; if it is not subscribed, the debenture holders
will be in a position to seize and wind up the properties.

Scotland.

Housing in Ayrshire—Gas Works and their Fuel Supplies—
Electricity at the Goal Face.

A report compiled by Mr. David Andrew, chief sanitary
inspector, dealing with the housing of miners in the
northern district of Ayrshire, has been submitted to the
Public Health Sub-Committee of the District Committee of
the County Council. The report is a lengthy one, dealing
with the parishes of Stevenston, Kilwinning, Irvine, Dreg-
horn, Dairy, and Kilbirnie, and gives information as to the
state of progress of the repairs and improvements instructed
to be carried out on the various miners’ rows some time ago.
On the recommendation of the Public Health Sub-Committee
it has been agreed that as regards those cases where the
proprietors are not proposing to erect washing houses and
coal cellars, the opinion of the Local Government Board be
had, and that the proprietors who do not proceed with all
necessary repairs, or with part of them, without delay, will
have legal proceedings taken against them.

A conference of representatives of the leading gas pro-
ducing corporations in Scotland was held in Glasgow last
week, at which it was agreed to ask the Government to
suspend the operation of the Coal Mines Begulation Act,
1908, so as to allow miners to work more than eight hours
per day. This step has 'been taken in view of the reduced
deliveries of coal at gas works, which is stated to be an
effect of the war. The extent of the industry may be
inferred from the fact that no fewer than 2,000,000 tons of
coal are purchased every year for the production of gas in
Scotland, about 750,000 tons of this quantity being bought
by Glasgow alone. Begular and substantial deliveries of
coal are essential. Unfortunately of late there has been
cause for complaint that the deliveries at gas works have
been short of the quantities stipulated for in the contracts.
The chief reasons given for this shortage is the great reduc-
tion in the number of coal miners due to the war. It is
estimated that in the Lanarkshire district alone 35 per cent,
of these miners are serving with the Colours. Another
reason for the short deliveries is stated to be the scarcity
of locomotives, so many of these being required for Govern-
ment transport, while, in addition, numerous engine drivers
are serving with his Majesty’s Forces. The conference
unanimously agreed to approach the Government with the
view of improving the supply and delivery of coals to gas
works during the present crisis, either toy putting into oper-
ation section 4 of the Coal Mines Begulation Act, 1908, or
some other suitable method.

A joint meeting of the members of the West of Scotland
branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers
and the Scottish branch of the National Association of
Colliery Managers was held on Saturday afternoon in the

Boyal Technical College, Glasgow. A paper by Mr.
Bowman, on “ Electricity at the Coal Face,” was read. At
the outset Mr. Bowman maintained that electricity might
be advantageously and economically used where the colliery
was fairly large and old with a number of steam using
auxiliaries, where the roads were long, where the seams
were thin, where special rule 15 did not apply, and when
the load factor due to pumping could be kept high. Elec-
tricity was particularly advantageous where a group of
collieries could be unified under one electrification scheme.
Electrical power brought within easy access of the coal face
would be best under these conditions, but whether it would
give the best result by direct application or otherwise
required investigation. Speaking from his own experience,
he would say that electricity, applied direct, would
generally give the most economical results, but it might be
questioned if this would hold good so far as safety and
reliability were concerned. It might be a point of con-
troversy whether in connection with coal cutting it might
not be advisable, from the point of view of safety and
reliability, to use compressed air. The author, in conclu-
sion, contended that in the direct application of electricity,
the application of a composite system, and the direct appli-
cation of air compressed at the surface, there were condi-
tions under which each system would give the most
satisfactory results. It was only by giving due considera-
tion to the various conditions that the best system to adopt
could be decided upon. The paper gave rise to an
interesting discussion.

LABOUR AID WAGES.

South Thales and Monmouthshire.

The conference of South Wales miners, called for
February 6, although it has not yet received close attention,
or provoked much discussion outside a restricted circle, is
likely to prove of commanding importance, for the questions
there to be raised, both inter-Federation and versus
employers, must inevitably be followed out to a finish. And
they involve grave issues. As regards employers and the
regular continuance of work, the first matter is the expiry
of the existing agreement, which terminates at the end of
March, and is subject to three months’ notice, so that its
operation would cease at the end of June. For a long time
it was regarded as practically assured that the arrangement
would continue tiil the end of the war. But of late a new
feeling has manifested itself, as was unmistakably shown
in the speeches reported last week to have been delivered at
the miners’ monthly meetings. High prices now being
realised, with the prospect of continued good times due to
removal of German competition, have accentuated opposi-
tion to the maximum of 60 per cent., it being urged that
but for this the men would now be receiving a material
increase in wages. It is desired to raise the minimum so
that this should be 50 instead of 35 per cent, above the
standard of 1879. Then there is the demand that the
practice of paying six turns for five should be made
generally prevalent; and a still more difficult dispute is
that as to extra pay in cases where safety lamps are substi-
tuted for naked lights, the owners contending that the
electric lamps are of equal illuminating power, and that
consequently the men are not disadvantaged by their intro-
duction. Added to these points is one in which the local
Federation is already assured of the firm support of the
national organisation, namely, improvement in the wages
and conditions of surfacemen. Irregularity of work in
certain cases, due partly to shipping difficulties or wagon
shortage, has also an influence in provoking unrest. The
anthracite men may raise a separate claim, namely, to
extinguish the practice whereby they are 5 per cent, below
the steam coal men (on the 1879 standard), it being con-
tended that the whole conditions of the anthracite trade
have altered since this was fixed in 1881.

On the Federation side alone the conference is also of
deep concern, financial questions looming large in the fore-
front. There is the outstanding fact that the South Wales
miner pays to his union only half as much as the English
and Scotch unionist; yet receives through the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain the co-operation and effective
support of the other sections, who mulct their members
twice as heavily for trade union needs. It is admitted, and
fully recognised, that Federation needs warrant the larger
subscription; but thus far the South Wales members have
not assented to any increase. They pay only Is. per month,
while the English and Scotch pay 2s. Chiefly notable,
however, is their failure to meet the call for Parliamentary
service. Because the monthly subscription is so small, the
Parliamentary call has to be met by a special levy; and
this levy is not being paid up.

Mr. Hartshorn, agent in Mid-Glamorgan, is now the
acting treasurer of the national organisation, and he is very
pronounced in his utterance upon the financial question.
“ The South Wales Federation,” he states, “ has now
reached one of the most critical periods in its history, par-
ticularly as regards its domestic relations with the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain. The fact is that the South
Wales Federation stands in immediate danger of being cast
adrift from its connection with all the other miners’ organi-
sations who form the powerful combination known as the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, and being reduced to
the degradation and comparative powerlessness of an
isolated and sectional organisation. . . . The sole cause is
that the monthly contribution in this coalfield is only half
what it is in the others. Our comrades in those coalfields
are coming to the conclusion that if we do not shoulder the
burdens and expenses, it is not fair to expect to share
equally with them in the benefits secured. . . . This attitude
is absolutely fair and reasonable.”

Upon the question of the subscriptions to the Parlia-
mentary fund, Mr. Hartshorn’s observations are of peculiar
interest, because the local Federation has marked five South
Wales seats to be contested on behalf of the Federation.
He says : “ The inadequacy of our monthly contribution has
already got us into difficulties with the Parliamentary fund,
and we •shall be immediately cast adrift from the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain if we do not pay up the arrears
due in this connection. It is a perfectly well-known principle
of our organisation that arrears place not only individuals,
but also sections, out of compliance. . . . Unless we pay, we
lose our connection with the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain.”

The Conciliation Board met on Monday, Mr. E. M. Hann
presiding over the owners’ representatives (Mr. F. L. Davis
was unable to attend because of illness); Mr. W. Brace,
M.P., acted as the workmen’s chairman. From the work-
men’s side was raised the question of additional payment in
cases where safety lamps are substituted for naked lights, a