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TJIE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 12, 1915.

As time flows on, mining will become'.still more diffi-
cult' yet the industry must flourish, for our national
existence depends upon coal. It is therefore necessary
that a manager should be efficiently trained, so as to
make .the best use of his experience and the resources of
science. It is, however, pleasing to note that in some
parts of the country efforts are being made to grapple
with this important question. Candidates for the posi-
tion of a colliery manager are drawn from two classes,
namely, the articled pupil, or apprentice, and the work-
ing miner. The articled pupil has usually a fair
general education before entering into the mining pro-
fession, and generally has the means to continue his
education according to his desires. The practical train-
ing he goes through depends on the nature of the work
done by his chief , the interest the manager takes in his
welfare, and largely upon his own interest in the work.
Generally speaking, the practical training was good, as
the pupil had an opportunity of becoming familiar with
as great a variety of work as possible. Among this
class ate to be found excellent managers, who under-
stand men as well as theories, and have kept the flag
flying.

Up to the present day training in colleges has not
been a signal success, probably through one or more of
the following causes :—

(1)	The manager’s certificate was considered the
hall-mark of attainment, and could be obtained at
less expense.

(2)	The unwillingness of many a college-trained
man to believe that he needs practical training, and
his inability to adapt himself to his work.

(3)	The prejudice on the part of those in authority
against a college-trained man, and in expecting too
much of him; hence the embryo manager would
receive little assistance.

(4)	‘ The lack of financial support for those who
would desire such a training.

The order and method of training apprentices and the
courses set out for them at the different colleges have
been fully described and discussed in the Transactions
of the institution. The writer will therefore now deal
with the other class. The working men who start in
the mine with an ordinary elementary education con-
tinue their training by attending evening classes while
earning their living. Some of these men, through their
inborn quality, ability, and industry have overcome
many obstacles, and risen to high positions in the pro-
fession. If they, and likewise some of the articled
pupils, had received a more liberal education, they
would in all probability be still better men, and no one
recognises this fact better than the men themselves.

In this connection it might be well to relate some
remarks recently made to the writer by a successful
manager of one of the largest and best equipped
collieries in South Wales. He said :—“ I wish now I
could give some of my practical experience for more
scientific knowledge, for I am at the mercy of others
when the ‘ rule-of-thumb ’ fails me.” •

Despite the many successes that can be noted among
working men who have obtained official positions, there
are many failures which have been costly to those who
provide the funds, and given disappointment to the men
themselves. These failures are due largely to the lack
of what is known as ” practical experience.” It will
be agreed by all that experience in mining is of the
greatest importance to the man who is to become a
manager, but in order to have a maximum value it must
embrace a variety of work. A man may have worked
for many years at the coal face, and be quite efficient
and dexterous in the use of the tools required for his
work, but if given a spanner, he would probablv turn
a nut in the wrong way; and his knowledge of handling
men and material may only be a little better. It seems
inevitable that some form of apprenticeship must be
instituted, combined with an organised system of educa-
tion. The education must lead from the primary
schools through evening or afternoon classes, and have
as its crown the day courses in the mining schools.
Every stage of the system must be in intimate contact
with the next, and the educational work carried out in
close co-operation with the employer. A very essential
feature of the organisation must be the provision of a.
system of scholarships to -enable brilliant students who
may be the sons of humble parents to attain success
and benefit the industry.

Great credit is due to Lancashire for the progressive
steps made since 1858, when the Wigan Mining
College was established; but at the present day Lanca-
shire is not the best place to look to for a good system
of mining -education. At present the only road open to
the young miner is that of the evening classes provided
by the county council and technical schools. Co-opera-
tion between the different bodies, employers, and miners
is very meagre, and little systematic endeavour is made
to induce youths to take advantage of the classes
supplied.

Even to the strong young man, ambitious to fit him-
self for the post of manager, the journey is long and
difficult, for the course to be pursued consists of a seven
years’ training, which requires attendance at the classes
many evenings a week. It is to be feared that few will
perform the task.

It may be interesting to note what is being done in
other coalfields with regard to technical education,
notably in South Wales. The Glamorgan and Mon-
mouth County Councils have, well organised and
developed a system of technical instruction for mining
students. For several years past scholarships have
been provided, so that students may obtain higher
education at the University College, Cardiff. Summer
courses for colliery officials are provided at the same
institution, and annual travelling scholarships for
successful students to visit Continental and British
coalfields and engineering works. • A large number. of
the'coal owners have lately established two mining
schools, one at Treforest, the other at Crumlin, as a

connecting link between the Council classes and the
University. These schools are supported and main-
tained solely by the owners. In addition to the fore-
going, the coal proprietors provide five studentships of
<£50 a year each, tenable at the University for a fourth-
year course for promising students to specialise in
certain subjects. They have also made a grant of
£9,000 to the University to improve the facilities. The
courses of instruction at the schools are as follow :—

(1)	A three years’ full-time mining course.

(2)	Part-time day courses for four years, of one
day of eight hours per week, for mine managers,
mechanics, electricians, and chemists; and a three
years course of one day of eight hours for mine
surveyors.

(3)	’ Special courses of instruction for colliery
officials.

(4)	Special courses for -surface foremen at collieries.
Facilities are provided by the Mining Board for students
to acquire experience at some of the collieries. ” The
expense of the scheme is borne by the subscribing
collieries by means of a tonnage levy on their declared
output for the previous year of O’lOd., and the com-
panies associated have a total output approaching
30,000,000 tons.”*

In view of this magnificent movement in South
Wales, it is obvious that Lancashire has much, to
advance in order to get into line with modern require-
ments. Recognition of the present condition of affairs,
without support on the part of the mining public, would
be unjust to the rising generation of this great county,
for they would not be able to start the battle of life
with advantages equal to those of their competitors. In
this important matter the Manchester Geological and
Mining Society, which is so intimately connected with
the prosperity of the industry, and has done much to
diffuse knowledge, could still increase its sphere of
influence’ by an earnest endeavour to get mining educa-
tion extended and improved.

It is the writer’s sincere hope that the views of others
with experience wider than his own may be added to
this humble effort, and thereby lead to another.step in
the advancement of the science and art of mining and
proficiency.	_________________________________

*“ South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mmes
Calendar, 1914-15, p. 9.

Hull Coal Imports.—The Hull Corporation’s coal inspector
(Mr. W. H. Truman) reports that the quantity of coal
arriving at the port during January was 377,906 tons
356,699 tons by rail, and 21,207 tons by river—as against
510,037 tons in the corresponding month of last year. Coal
shipped coastwise from the port amounted to 63,006 tons,
as compared with 736,713 tons in January 1914, whilst
export figures—exclusive of coal shipped for Admiralty pur-
poses or for the use of the Allies’ Governments — were
184,653 tons during January, compared with 223,565 tons in
the first month of last year.

Miners’ Federation and the Home Office. The Home
Secretary received a deputation from the Miners Federa-
tion of Great Britain at the Home Office on Friday last, on
the question of the hearing of mining prosecutions before a
county court judge instead of by Iccail magistrates, check-
weighers’ shelters in Scotland, and glasses for safety lamps.
Mr. Robert Smiillie (president) introduced the deputation.
Mr. H. Roebuck narrated the circumstances at the Wharn-
cliffe Silkstone Colliery and the prosecution before the local
bench of magistrates, and said the Miners’ Federation asked
that in future such cases should be heard by a county court
judge, as in Scotland, instead of by local magistrates. Mr.
W. House and Mr. W. Straker spoke of the necessity of
mine owners in Scotland being required to provide a proper
shelter on the pit bank for the checkweigher in the carrying
out of his duties. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., spoke on the
quality of the glass used in miners’ safety lamps, and the
need of a proper test of the glass as a protection against the
bursting of lamps with the consequent danger of explosions.
It is stated that Mr. McKenna made a sympathetic reply
to the deputation on the three questions submitted to him.

Audible and Visible Signals. — We notice that, at
a recent meeting of managers -at Hednesford, Messrs.
E. C. Theedam Limited exhibited both electrical
and mechanical, audible and visible signals. With
their electrical apparatus, Messrs. Theedam specially claim
that it meets with the objection -raised by so many colliery
managers as to the time that is necessary to elapse before
one signal can be corrected by another. With their elec-
trical signalling apparatus a signal can . be instantly
corrected, because in the act of giving a signal sets the
pointer back to zero, and as the signal is given it flies to
the number of signals given. They also showed a cancel-
ling arrangement worked on very much the same principle,
but mechanically, which they recommend for shallow pits.
This requires two wires up the shaft. Another ingenious
cancelling arrangement is that patented . by Messrs.
Linneker and Adams. The gear is attached to a self-
registering dial; the liberating gear is controlled by a
solenoid in an atmospheric air pump. Before a signal is
given it cancels the previous signal, and at the same time
registers the new signal, and this can also be cancelled by
the winding engine at any point of the wind. The speed
at which the,apparatus acts, ready to receive the next
signal, is varied by the valve at the bottom of the air
cylinder, and can be made so as to be ready to cancel the
next signal from 'instantaneously to nearly half a minute.
The -apparatus is in no way complicated, and can be fixed
to any existing visible signal. It requires only one wire
up the. shaft, and they claim that it entirely meets the
requirements of the Mines Regulation Act. Three of these
have been working for some time at Messrs, the Miicklefield
Coal and Lime Company, near Leeds, and are giving entire
satisfaction. Messrs. E. C. Theedam Limited are the
makers, and they inform us that between 1,000 and 1,500
of their mechanical audible and visible signal bells are
already in use, one large firm of colliery proprietors having
had as many as 36 of them.

MECHANICAL STOKING/

By Edwin Kenyon.

{Continued from page 276.)

The ” Spreading ” Stoker. — By reason of the coal
having to be scattered over the grate at the outset, the
”■ spreading ” or “ sprinkling ” stoker requires to be a
more complex machine. In one device of this type the
feed from the hopper is controlled by an adjustable ram
which pushes the coal into a shovel working on a radius.
Tappets govern the throw of fuel to the near, middle,
and far end of the grate, to which a stout spring gives
the impetus in accordance with the tension imposed by
the radial movement. The fire-bars are generally wider
than those of the coking stoker just described, work
independently of each other, and are kept in motion by
the usual eccentric and rack wheel attachment of the
rocking shaft. The air spaces are kept clear of clinkers
which are broken up and thrown out.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 outlines the shovel’arrangement for scattering
every fresh charge of coal over the fire.

The spring used to propel the shovels, is, by another
inventor, made to encircle the piston rod of a pneumatic
cylinder attached to the outside of the throwing box {see
fig. 5). Any shock, therefore, consequent upon the
sudden release from tension, is prevented by pressure
against the air cushion. A four-throw tappet wheel is
the medium whereby the fuel is distributed to as many
divisions in the grate area, thus lessening the liability
to unequal spreading. Tubular bars—insulated by other
bars from direct fire contact — are also introduced,
through which air is forced by fine jets of superheated
steam.

Another stoker of the same class is provided with an
apparatus for pulverising the coal on leaving the hopper,
after which it falls upon specially constructed fans, and
is dispersed in small particles over the length and
breadth of the grate. Every other firebar has a hori-

Fig. 5.

zontal reciprocating movement, while those between
rise and fall.

Rotary metal brushes take the place of distributing
fans in yet another type of sprinkling stoker. These
brushes are used either singly or in pairs—the latter
revolving in opposite directions. By this means, the
pulverised coal is. swept out of the hopper, and carried
by induced or forced draught right into the furnace,
where combustion may be said to take place before the
finer granules touch the fire.

A conveyor, working on drums, is sometimes employed
to carry the fire forward, all the bars of which are trans-
versely linked together, after the manner of an endless
chain.

Chain grates cannot, however, be successfully applied
to Lancashire boilers.

An Angular Furnace.—Still another device, differing
entirely from any yet mentioned, inasmuch as the bars
are not laid horizontally, but are fixed at an angle of
about 65 degs. from each other, thus forming a V-shaped

* From a paper published in the Proceedings of the South
Wales Institute of Engineers, January 21, 1915.