THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 335 February 12, 1915,. ■ ____________________________ Army with the rank of captain, and after living for some little time in Wales he took up. his residence at Harlsey Hall, and began business in Middlesbrough as an iron merchant. Some few years later he joined the firm of Bell Bros., being a director and joint secretary with Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., of the original private company. He retained his seat on the Board during subsequent recon- structions of the company, and at the time of his death had completed nearly 40 years'* association with the company. Since 1899 he had also held a seat upon the Board of Messrs. Dorman, Long and Co. Limited. Although he took a keen interest in the work of this important undertaking, it was with the firm of Bell Bros, that he was most actively associated. 20,057 tons (23,121 tons). During the first five months of the war the deficit amounted to 62,774 tons, or 33 94 per cent, as compared with the same period of 1913. Austrian Coal Production. During 1914 15,073,132 tons of coal were produced, as against 16,466,972 tons in 1913 ; 2,189,913 tons of coke (2,584,281 tons), and briquettes 194,221 tons (196,212 tons). ___________________ EXPLOSIVES IN COAL MINES. Two New Orders. 18 oz.; makers, Nobel’s Explosives Company Lipiited, at Ardeer, Ayr; pendulum swing, 2*59 in. Britonite No. 3, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. Ingredients. Not more Not less than than Nitro-glycerine................ 25*5 ... 23 5 Ni rate of sodium ............. 29 ... 27 Chloride of sodium............. 13 ... 11 Wood-meal (dried at 100degs. C.) 33 ... 31 Moisture......___.................. 4 ... 2 - The death occurred on Monday of Mr. Arthur Keen, at his residence, Sandyford, Augustus - road, Edgbaston. Deceased was chairman of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettle- folds. His first step upon the ladder of prosperity was his partnership in the firm of Watkin’s and Keen, from which evolved the Patent Nut and Bolt Company, with a capital of <£400,000, and of which Mr. Keen became managing director. In June 1900, it was announced that Mr. Keen The Home S-ecretary has issued two Explosives in Coal Mines Orders, dated January 15 and 28 respec- tively, adding a number of new explosives to the “ Permitted ” List (First Schedule). The composition of the new explosives is as follows :—• Abelite No. 4, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. had purchased the Dowlais Iron Company’s works and mines, and that he had prepared a scheme for the formation of a new company which, under the title of Guest, Keen and Company, would amalgamate the Patent Nut and Bolt, the Dowlais Iron Works, and the business of Messrs. Guest and Company, iron and steel manufacturers and colliery proprietors. The capital of the new company was no less £2,000,000, and the combination constituted a fully self- contained business in respect of the possession of materials and means of production. Mr. Keen was chairman, and again managing director—one of four, his sons and the late Mr. Edward. P. Martin holding the other managing directorships. The progressive character of the business was very marked. In 1902 the business of Crawshay Brothers, Cyfarthfa Limited, iron and steel manu- facturers and colliery proprietors^ was acquired, and in the same year there was a further and more impor- tant extension by means of an amalgamation with the well - known screw manufacturing firm of Nettlefolds Limited. The new company became known as Guest, Keen, and Nettlefolds Limited, and the capital was increased to £3,000,000, of which two millions was in 5 per cent, preference shares of £5 each, and one million in ordinary shares of £1 each. Mr. Keen retained the chairmanship, and he had the assistance of his two sons, and also that of Mr. Edward Nettlefold, Mr. Charles Steer, and Mr. Edward Steer as managing directors. Eor many years he was also a director of Bolckow, Vaughan and Company, iron and steel manufacturers and colliery proprietors, and he only retired a few years ago, when he relinquished many of his commercial activities. He was chairman of the New Cransley Iron and Steel Company from the time of its formation, and he was also a director of the Loddington Ironstone Company. These offices he held until his death; but one important business in which he was actively engaged for many years, and in which his personal attention only ceased through pressure of other interests, was that of Muntz’s Metal Company. Mr. Keen was a vice president of the Iron and Steel Institute and of the Institution of Ingredients. Not more Not less Nitrate of ammonium than 68 than 64 Tri-nitro-toluol 15*5 13*5 Chloride of sodium 8 6 Starch 11 5 9*5 Moisture 3 The explosive shall be used only when contained in a stout case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge, 24 oz.; makers, British Explosives Syndicate Limited, at Pitsea, Essex; pendulum swing, 2*17 in. Nationalite No. 2, consisting of the following mixture : Parts by weight. f A Ingredients. Not more Not less than than Nitrate of ammonium _________ 65 ... 62 Tri-nitro-toluol ............ 16 ... 14 Chloride of potassium ......... 22 ... 20 Moisture...................... 1 ... — Mechanical Engineers, and for many years was a member of the Standing Committee of the Midland Iron and Steel • Wages Board. Four sons and five daughters survive him. _________________________ THE GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN COAL AND IRON TRADES. . We give below further extracts from German periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of the coal and iron trades in Germany and Austria:— Goal Syndicate Figures for 1914. Total coal output, 84,809,916 tons (101,652,297 tons); calculated distribution, 64,666.066 tons.(82,331,619 tons), or 73 per cent. (97'88 per cent.) of the participation; total coal distribution of the Syndicate pits, 83.411,307 tons (101,905,312 tons). Deliveries, including local sales, miners’ house coal and supplies to pits’ own iron- works : Coal, 55,146,642 tons (65,255,389 tons); coke, 14,816,139 tons (21,252,285 tons); briquettes, 3,917,774 tom (4,574,339 tons). The collieries having a sales agreement with the Syndicate produced 5.275,982 tons (5,953.589 tons), and had a total coal distribution of 4,851,838 tons (5,586,037 tons), of which 1,934,644 tons (1,579,365 tons) were for account of the Syndicate. Total coke distribution, 1,520,549 tons (1,667,932 tons), of which 1,003,587 tons (563,187 tons) were for Syndicate account. Fuel Traffic on the Rhine. Fuel movements in Ruhr harbours, December and the whole year, were as follow:—Supplies by rail not stated. Shipments to Coblenz and places higher up river: December, 465,990 tons (611,298 tons), whole year 7,443,400 tons (9,209,007 tons); to places below Coblenz, December 16,444 tons (16,916 tons), whole year 269,289 tons (242,215 tons); Holland, December 173,535 tons (667,653 tons), whole year 5.550,349 tons (7,005,719 tons); Belgium, December 121,048 tons (349,311 tons), whole year 2,915,563 tons (4,218,455 tons) ; France, December nil (22,636 tons), whole year 277,434 tons (384,338 tons); to other destinations, December 7,495 tons (35,724 tons), whole year 289,324 tons (405,199 tons). Aggregate, December 784,511 tons (1,703,538 tons), or a deficiency of 919,027 tons; whole year 16,745,358 tons (21,464,932 tons), a deficiency of 4,719,574 tons. During the first 5 months of the war the total shipments declined by 5,141,407 tons, or 57*93 per cent., as compared with 1913, the trade with France falling away by 149,062 tons, or 99*82 per cent.; with Belgium 1.484,655 tons, or 87*48 per cent. ; with Holland by 2,365,163 tons, or 75*25 per cent.; with the Upper Rhine by 987,342 tons, or 27*49 per cent.; and with other destinations by 141,767 tons, or 75*83 per cent. German Coal for Italy. Exports of German coal to Italy vid the St. Gothard tunnel in 1914Total consignments, 327,245 tons (441.210 tons), a deficit of 113,965 tons. Of this quantity the Ruhr supplied 207,190 tons (219,594 tons), the Saar 86,252 tons (180,800 tons), and the Upper Rhine ports ’ The explosive is to be used -only when contained in a case -of Manilla paper, fireproofed and thoroughly water- proofed with a mixture of carnauba and paraffin waxes, and with or without an additional covering of tin-foil; with a detonator or electric detonator of not less strength , than that known as No. 7; the greatest weight of the explosive which may be used in any one shot-hole shall not exceed 18 oz.; the explosive has been made at the works of the Lancashire Explosives Company Limited, at Withnell, Lancashire; 4oz. of Abelite No. 4 gave a swing of 2-79 in. to the ballistic pendulum compared f with a swing of 3’27 in. given by 4 oz. of gelignite con- taming 60 per cent, of nitro-glycerine. A. 2 Monob el, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. The explosive shall be used only when contained in a case of stout paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of carnauba and paraffin waxes; detonator, No.-7; limit charge, 20 oz.; makers, National Explosives Company Limited, at Upton Towans, Gwithian, Cornwall; pendulum swing, 2*63 in. Thames Powder No. 2, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. Ingredients. Not more Not less than than Nitro-glycerine................ 11 ... 9 Nitrate of ammonium ........ 60 ... 57 Chloride of sodium.........._____ 22 ... 20 Wood-meal (driedat 100 degs. C.) 10 ... 8 Moisture..................... 2 ... — Ingredients. Not more Not less than than Nitro-glycerine 11 9 Nitrate of ammonium 61 57 Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C.) 10 8 ___________________________ Carbonate of magnesium 1*5 0*5 Chloride of potassium 21*5 18*5 Moisture 2 — The explosive shall be used only when contained in a stout case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture -of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge, 22 oz.; makers, British Explosives Syndicate Limited, at Pitsea, Essex; pendulum swing, 2*59 in. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. The explosive shall be used only when contained in a case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge., 22 oz.; makers, Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, at Ardeer, Ayr; pendulum swing, 2*44 in. Kynarkite No. 2, consisting of the following mixture : Tab Products.—The outstanding feature of the market is the advance in -solvent and crude naphthas. Carbolic acid also is firmer, the margin having been curtailed to 3s. Benzols and toluol keep firm and unchanged, while creosote is the same as last report. Nearest values are.:— Ingredients. Parts by weight. c Not less Not more than than .. 27 25 .. 3*5 1*5 .. 31 28 .. 9 7 .) 31*5 29*5 2 4 Carbolic -acid, crude (60 per cent.) ........ 3/ Do. Crystals (40 per cent.) ...... 1/2 to 1/3 ........................ Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... 1/0J Crude ditto (in bulk) ............................. /6| Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............... /3-J^ Pitch (f.o.b.) ................................... 18/ to 20/ Tar (liquid in 1 ton) ......................... 17/ to 18/6 Benzols, 90’s ............................. /10J Do. 90’s North ......................... /8| to /9 Do. 50’s do.............................. 1/3 to 1/4 Toluol .................................... 2/3 to 2/4 N itro-gly cerine............... Di-nitro-toluol.............. Nitrate of potassium......... Oxalate of ammonium ________ Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C.' Moisture........................... The explosive ■ shall fie used only when contained in a non-waterproofed wrapper of parchment paper; deto- nator, No. 6; limit charge, 28 oz.*; makers, Messrs. Kyn-och- Arklow, Limited, at Ferrybank, Arklow, Wicklow; pendulum swing, 2*06 in. Victor Powder No. 2, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. Sulphate of Ammonia.—A strong market in every respect, that is to say, prices, demand (both spot and forward), and the statistical position, all favour sellers; in addition to which needy buyers are forcing the hands of those better placed for supplies. Furthermore, nitrate of -soda has not fallen, but actually advanced between 5s. and 10s. per ton, so that -sulphate of ammonia may easily touch £14 7s. 6d. before long. Current prompt prices are :— Ingredients. Not more Not less than than .. 9*5 7*5 .. 68 65 .) 9 7 .. 16 14 2 2 Nitro-glycerine.............. Nitrate of ammonium .......... Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C. Chloride of potassium ....... Carbonate of magnesium...... Moisture .................. The explosive -shall be used only when contained in a case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge, 16 oz. ; makers, Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, at Ardeer, Ayr; pendulum swing, 2*63in. Viking Powder No. 1, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. London. (ordinary makes) .......... £13/12/6 Beckton ................................._______ £13/5 Liverpool ........................ £13/7/6 to £14 Hull ..................■............................... ' £13/17/6 Middlesbrough __.......................... £13/18/9 Scotch ports ...................... £14 Ingredients. Not more Not less than than .. 11 9 61 57 .) 10 8 . 1*5 0*5 . 21*5 18*5 2 Nitro-glycerine.............. Nitrate of ammonium ......... Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C. Carbonate of magnesium....... Chloride of sodium........... Moisture............................ The explosive shall be used only when contained in case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge, 26 oz.; makers, Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, at Ardeer, Ayr; pendulum swing, 2*44 in. Viking Powder No. 2, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. a Ingredients. Not more Not less than than Nitro-glycerine...., 9*5 7*5 Nitrate of ammonium 69 65 Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C.) 9 7 Carbonate of magnesium 1*5 0’5 Chloride of sodium 16 14 Moisture 2 — The explosive shall be used only when contained in case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with a mixture of ceresine and resin; detonator, No. 6; limit charge., a * This was the greatest weight which could be loaded into the gun when the explosive was submitted for the test.- Trade Notes. Attention should be given to the work that Mr. W. Strommenger has been doing in connection with the pro- duction of .sal-ammoniac from gas liquors vice sulphate of ammonia. The idea is to substitute the chloride salt for the sulphate where the competition of atmospheric nitrogen proves punitive. He has apparently evolved an effectual and not too complicated or expensive method. He obtains almost pure -sulphur as a by-product. From a chemical engineering point, the evaporation to dryness on a large scale may prove troublesome, but the subsequent sublima- tion is already a familiar process. British -sulphate of ammonia propagandists should speedily get to work educating the farmer to the value -of this nitro- genous manure for sugar beet. The interests at present pushing the cultivation of sugar beet in the country (and particularly in East Anglia, the flat lands of which are very suitable for this crop) are known personally to be strong advocates of nitrate of soda and “ down on ” sulphate. In fact, -some of the “ advisers ” might well be agents for the nitrate committee. It appears that pressure is to be put ’on the Government to encourage sugar beet growing in the Empire, and to allot £250,000 for the establishment of a sugar -factory and the furtherance of the culture of sugar beet in this country in particular. This looks like more business than usual if the ’ sulphate propagandists will “ get in ” quickly. The sale of benzol regulations have been relaxed. If 95 per cent, distils at. 90 degs. Cent, {vice 84 degs. Cent.) the product may be delivered in this country without a permit, and benzol passing this test may receive additions of solvent naphtha or xylol even after official sampling. Anent the recent exports of benzol to France (it occurs again this week in 134 tons to Rouen) those who are desirous of exporting contraband goods for the benefit of our French ally can* obtain all particulars of how and where and when from the Commission Internationale de Ravit-aille- ment, India House, King-sway, W.C. The exports of pitch have been 3,492 tons; of tar, 193 tons, 54,700 galls., and £45. In sulphate of ammonia the figures for the week’s exports are roughly 4,250 tons.