458,

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 26, 1915.

(partly paid), £162,421 19s.; that there be added to reserve
for income-tax in respect of the year’s ordinary dividends,
£27,131 8s. 8d.; placed to general reserve account, making
.£4:00,000, £50,000; carried forward, £116,115 17s. 4d.—
£360,343 2s. A large falling off was experienced in the
output owing to the war. The Britannia Pit at Pengam
has been working during the latter half of the year, and
this colliery is turning out quite satisfactorily. The new
coke ovens at Bargoed commenced working in June last.
The directors applied on issue for, and were allotted,
£50,000 of War Loan. The French company has been
working quite satisfactorily during the past year, but owing
to the difficulties experienced in the latter half it has been
found impossible to complete the final accounts, and no
dividend, therefore, has been declared. Having regard to
the increase in the French business, the directors deemed it
advisable to take an interest in some ships, with the result
that they have entered into arrangements jointly with one
of their largest contractors to build two steamers for this
trade.

Vulcan Boiler and General Insurance Company Limited.
—The net profit for the past year was £56,736, and £9,320
was brought forward. The dividend arid bonus for the
year is brought up to 25 per cent., £7,500 is placed to
current risk and reserve fund, £1,200 to superannuation and
benefit fund, and £10,481 carried forward.

Wellington Coal and Tile Company Limited. — The
accounts for the past year show a profit, after deducting
depreciation for wagons, writing down investments, etc.,
of £129 11s. 4d., which, added to a balance of £101 13s. 9d.
brought forward from 1913, leaves £231 5s. Id. available
for distribution. It has been decided to pay a dividend of
7| per cent., which will leave a balance of £73 15s. Id. to
be carried forward.

Witbank Colliery Limited.—The directors have declared
a dividend (No. 20) of 7j- per cent. (Is. 6d. per share) for
the half-year ending the 28th inst.

NEW COMPANIES.

Elliston, Evans and Jackson Limited.—Private company.
Registered office, 36, Wilson-street, Finsbury. Registered
February 19. Electrical engineers, mechanical engineers,
civil and marine engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000
in £1 shares. Permanent directors and subscribers (one
share each) :—E. R. Elliston, C. M. Evans, and C. F.
Jackson, all of 36, Wilson-street, E.C., engineers.

Milne (C. S.) and Company Limited.—Private company.
Registered office, 188, West Ferry-road, Mill wall, E.
Registered February 17. Engineers, founders, smiths,
machinists, and manufacturers. Nominal capital, £3,000
in £1 shares. First directors to be appointed by sub-
scribers. Subscribers (one share each) :—C. S. Milne, 3,
Grower-street, W.C., engineer; H. Lenox, Ashtead, Surrey,
engineer.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C.

The London Gazette announces that the names of the
undermentioned companies have been struck off the register
and the companies dissolved :—Barry Docks Rail Mills
Syndicate Limited: Charbonnage de St. Crenin Limited;
Civil Engineering Press Limited; Hydraulic Mining Cart-
ridge Company Limited; London Malleable Castings Com-
pany Limited; Penygaer Colliery Company Limited;
“ Pneu ” Tool Company (of Manchester) Limited; Rotary
Pulsating Plunger Pumps Limited; Silica Development
Company Limited; Tipton Collieries Limited.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

London, S.E., March 1.—Tenders are invited by the
South Metropolitan Gas Company for the supply of freshly
wrought unscreened gas coals to the aggregate of one
million tons on f.o.b. or c.i.f. terms, for delivery at Tyne
Dock, or other suitable point of shipment, or at any of the
company’s jetties in the Thames, in accordance with the
company’s usual unloading terms (particulars of which will
be furnished' on application to the undersigned), over one
year, commencing April 1, 1915. Tenders, Quoting quantity
and description of coal offered, together with a schedule of
pronosed deliveries, to reach the chief office of the company,
as below, not later than Monday, March 1 next. All offers
to remain open for acceptance until the 4th prox. By order,
F. McLeod, secretary, 709, Old Kent-road, London, S.E.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Chatham, March 1.—House coal at Gravesend for H.M.
Government. Forms from Officer Commanding Army
Service Corps, Southill Barracks, Chatham.

Chester, March 16.—Coal for the period of encampments
at Kinmel Park, near Rhyl; Frees Heath, near Whit-
church; and Park Hall, Oswestry. Forms from District
Barrack Officer, Watergate House, Chester.

Colchester, March 4.—House, steam, and kitchen coal
and coke for the Roads and Drainage Committee. Forms
from H. Collins, ‘borough engineer, Town Hall.

Cootehill (Ireland), March 6. — 50 tons of Wigan
screened coal for the Guardians. Particulars from J.
Graham, clerk, Board Room, Cootehill.

Coventry, March 15.—1,100 tons or 2,200 tons of engine
coal for the Sewage Farm Committee. Forms from J. E.
Swindlehurst, city engineer and surveyor, St. Mary Hall,
Coventry.

Darlington, March 8.—Steam coal and anthracite for
the Corporation. Forms from the Borough Surveyor and
Waterworks Engineer, Town Hall, Darlington.

Dover, March 9.—Best South Yorkshire hards, best
forge coal, best Durham house coal, for the Dover Harbour
Board. Forms from M. Mowll, registrar, Castle-street,
Dover.

Epsom, March 9.—Coal and coke for the Corporation.
Forms from E. R. Capon, surveyor, “ Bromley Hurst,”
Church-street, Epsom.

Durham, March 5.—Best house coal for the Corporation.
Forms from J. P. Pegge, 60, Saddler-street, Durham.

Hale, March 13.—Coal and coke for the Urban District
Council. Forms from T. Blagburn, surveyor, Council
Offices, Hale.

Haslington, March 10. — Coal for the Town Council.
Forms from J. S. Green, surveyor, Municipal Offices,
Haslington.

Maesteg, March 1.—Coal for the Maesteg Urban Dis-
trict Council. Forms from S. J. Harpur, surveyor, 32,
Commercial-street, Maesteg.

Manchester, March 5.—About 750 tons nutty slack and
30 tons of house coal for the Chorlton and Manchester Joint
Institution Committee. Forms from the Poor Law Offices,
New Bridge-street, Manchester.

Prestwick (Lancs), March 8.—Coal and coke for the
Urban District Council. Forms from the Surveyor.

Sleaford, March 3.—Best hard steam coal for the Slea-
ford Urban District Council. Particulars from the Elec-
trical Engineer.

Stoke-on-Trent, March 8.—Coal and slack for the Town
Council. Forms from W. FI. Makepeace, sewage engineer,
Leek-road, Stoke-on-Trent.

Teddington, March 1.—Coal and coke for the Urban
District Council. Forms from M. Hains worth, surveyor,
Council Offices, Teddington.

Thames Ditton, March 2.—Anthracite bean coal for the
Esher and Ditton Urban District Council. Forms from
H. C. Fread, surveyor.

Wimbledon, March 8.—House coal and coke for the
Corporation. Forms from the Borough Engineer, Town
Hall.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, &c.

Guildford.—Filtering and Softening Plant. — Plant for
filtering and softening 50,000 galls, of river water per hour.
Particulars from H. L. Aiderton, engineer, Guildford Elec-
tricity Supply Company Limited, Guildford.

Hemsworth (Yorkshire), March 20. — Laying about
2.100 yds. of 8 in. cast iron mains, and 1,458 yds. of 6 in.
''ditto, for the Hemsworth Bural District Council. Specifi-
cation from T. H. Richardson, engineer.

London, E., March 16—Engines.—Two vertical enclosed
compound type steam engines, each having two cylinders,
over two cranks, and coupled direct to a 16 in. centrifugal
pump; also one surface condensing set, complete with air
and circulating pumps, for the London County Council.
Specification from the Chief Engineer, County Hall, Spring-
gardens, S.W., on deposit of £2.

Northwich, March 10.—Borehole.—Sinking a deep bore-
hole and constructing a 14 days’ and nights’ steam pump-
ing test, for the Northwich Urban District Council. Speci-
fication from Messrs. John Newton, Son and Bayley, 19,
Cooper-street, Manchester, on deposit of one guinea.

Salford-, March 6.—Converters, etc.—Three motor con-
verters or rotary converters and transformers of 1,000 kw.
each, and one ditto of 500 kw. capacity, for the Corporation.
Specification from the Borough Electrical Engineer, Elec-
tricity Works, Frederick-road, Salford, on deposit of two
guineas.

Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of
coal from Hull abroad for the week ending Tuesday,
February 16, 1915, is as follows :—Amsterdam, 248 tons;
Aalborg, 1,331; Alderney. 131: Christiania, 1,706; Dunkirk,
499; Gothenburg, 862; Honfleur, 514; Marseilles 3,743;
Malmo, 1,178; Naples, 1,497; Oporto, 1,395; Oxelosund,
3,138; Rouen, 8,757: Saint Peter (Guernsey), 637; Stock-
holm, 2,193—total, 27,829 tons. The above figures do not
include bunker coal, shipments for the British Admiralty,
nor the Allies’ Governments. Corresponding period
February 1914—total, 61,703 tons.

Donetz Basin Coal Production.—According To the South
Russian Mine Owners’ Association report, the coal produced
in the first nine months of the vear 1914 in the Donetz basin
amounted to 1,022,070,000 poods, against 915,750,000 poods
in the corresponding period of 1913. The anthracite pro-
duced made 236.560.000 poods, against 202,310,000 poods;
and coke 209,370,000 poods, against 198,220,000 poods.
Latest advices received in 1915 announce a recovery from
the depression produced by the war. The number of mines
engaged is rapidly increasing, and in consequence of the
prohibition of the sale of vodka and other spirituous drinks,
the productivity of the work has increased by 30 per cent.’

War Office Benzol Test.—Details have just been published
of the War Office test governing the sale and delivery of
benzol, and the issue of sale permits, with the mode of
making the test. The required apparatus comprises a dis-
tillation flask with side tube, the bulb (preferably coppered)
having a capacity of about 150 to 180 c.c., neck'about 5 in.
long, and side tube passing out about the middle of the
neck; a water cooled condenser about 18 in. long; 100 c.c.
graduated cylinder; and corrected benzol thermometer.
Directions are given as to the mode of making the test, as
well as instructions as to sale and export. It is stated that
if 95 per cent, or over is obtained as distillate, the benzol
mav be sold or delivered to a purchaser in this country
without any permit being required, subject to its passing the
authorised specific gravity test; but the committee reserves
the right, if it thinks fit, to require evidence that these
regulations are being complied with. If less than 95 per
cent, is obtained as distillate, or if the specific gravity does
not meet the conditions, a permit will be required before
any deliveries can be made. These permits are obtained
bv applving to the secretary, High Explosives Committee,
who. will require notice of the amount of distillate so
obtained, and particulars of the specific gravity. These
narticulars, together with a 250 c.c. (or 8 oz.) sample of the
benzol, must also be sent to Dr. P. E. Spielmann, F.I.C.,
Institute of Chemistry, Bloomsbury-square, London, W.C.^
with a label in duplicate attached to each sample. The
applicant will then be informed by the committee whether
a permit will be granted. If it is desired to export the
benzol it must first be tested in the same manner, and the
application for an export permit must be sent to the secre-
tary, as above, with full particulars of the test and the
specific gravity, together with a sample to Dr. Spielmann
as above mentioned. The specific gravity of the sample
taken from the benzol before distillation at a temperature
of 15 degs. Cent. (60 degs. Fahr.) must be between 0-870
and 0-890.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

1791 (1914). Improvements in Regulators for Blowing
Engines, Centrifugal Pumps, and Compressors. The British
Thomson-Houston Company Limited, of 83, Cannon-street,
London, E.C.; and R. H. Collingham, of 9, Murray-road,
Rugby, Warwickshire.—Relates to pressure regulators for
blowing engines, centrifugal pumps, and compressors, and
consists in employing a plurality of separated flexible
diaphragms, each of which is firmly connected to a movable
spindle, which may directly or through suitable relay
mechanism control the throttle valve of the prime mover or
the rheostat of the electric motor. All the diaphragms are
subjected to the pressure to be controlled, and act upon the
valve or rheostat in the same sense, that is to say, the move-
ments of the valve or rheostat in response to pressure changes
are caused by an aggregation of the separate effects of each
diaphragm, all the diaphragms assisting one another. By

means of a plurality of diaphragms of comparatively small
dimensions a sensitive pressure regulator is obtained, and
without employing a single diaphragm of excessive size.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
In operation, when the fluid pressure delivered by the pump
increases, the pressure difference on the two sides of each
diaphragm causes all the diaphragms to rise against atmo-
spheric pressure, and the weighted lever 4, lifting the spindle
2 so as to regulate.the throttle vale and reduce the supply of
steam, gas, or fluid to the prime mover; if, on the other
hand, the pressure falls, the steam diaphragms sink so as
to open the throttle valve. Thus the supply of steam, gas,
or fluid to the prime mover is regulated so as to keep the
pressure of fluid delivered by the pump or compressor con-
stant. The delivery pressure of the fluid can be varied at
will by varying the position of the weight 6 on the lever 4.
(Four claims.)

1938 (1914). Improvements in Crossings, Points, Turn-
outs, and Similar Connections for Railways, Tramways, and
the like, particularly directed to the Tracks of Temporary
Workings, such as those in or about Quarries, Mines, and
Similar Places. W. T. Shimmin, of Falcon Mine, Umvuma,
near Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia.—Relates to detachable and
portable crossings, points, and switches and like connections
which obviate the employment of a multiplicity of separate
points or the like constructed in the system at the many
required points, by constructing the various junction por-
tions of the track—branches, crossings, and the like—with
dead ends, i.e., detached and unconnected extremities, which
may be positively joined to form a proper crossing, turn-out,
or the like, by the application of a separate portable point,

crossing, or turn-out plate. The invention consists in the
provision of a plate, upon which are mounted the temporary
rails, said plate having on its underside clips or equivalent
devices wherewith to secure the plate upon the permanent
or main line; the dead ends of the rails on the plate project
therefrom, >and are provided or not with a sleeper, and said
dead ends are made tapered and flat or hollowed out to
engage the permanent or main line. Fig. 1 shows the
application of the invention to a single turn-out from a main
line; while fig. 2 shows how the rectangular or other shaped
plate is furnished on its under-surface with clips, projec-
tions, or other devices.e, adapted to engage the main rails
a, and to retain in position said plate. (One claim.)

6824. (1914). Improvements in or Relating to Belts for
Elevating, Conveying, and other Machines. W. H.
Baxter, of 71,. Gelderd-road, Leeds, Yorkshire.—Relates to
improvements in composite belts .of the type described in the
complete specifications of Letters Patents Nos. 19948 of 1904
and 8602 of 1905, for elevating or conveying and other
machines, but it is particularly applicable for use on
machinery for elevating and conveying, say, crushed ore or
stone and like materials, or such as are employed for trans-
porting, coal or grain from one place to another. According
to the invention, the conveyor or elevator belt is composed
of two strips—of the required width .and length—united
together at their ends to form endless bands, arranged at
suitable distances 'apart—of leather, rubber or canvas and
rubber, or balata belting, upon which a number of flat or
dished metal plates, with their edges made either to abut or
to.overlap., or both, are fixed transversely thereon, and at a
suitable distance from the edge of each of the metal plates
is fixed an endless grip chain composed of detachable links
of a special construction, but of the type similar to that
usually employed with sprocket wheels, but as the herein
described improved belt is arranged to work upon, over, or
around supporting pulleys with or without a flange on one