April 1, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 717 _________________________________________________ INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. _________________________________________________________ India. Export Trade to the Straits.—A scheme is now under con- sideration 'by the Indian Mining Association to export best Bengal coal to the Straits. The matter has been discussed by the committee of the 'association, with the mining engi- neer and metallurgist to the Railway Board, and Mr. E. W. Bowrey, of Messrs. McLeod and Company. The result of their deliberations will be printed and circulated among the various Chambers of Commerce and ports, with a covering circular giving the committee’s recommendations. The proposal is that the quality of a cargo should be guaranteed by the mining engineer to the Railway Board, whose staff would undertake to inspect the coal for export at the docks at the usual charge of J anna per ton. It appears that the competition of Japanese coal in these markets is less pro- minent than formerly, owing to the Naval requirements of our Allies. India's Mineral Wealth.—Mr. Hayden, the Director of the Indian Geological Survey, has just been elected president of the Mining and Geological Institute of India. In his address last month, he spoke at length of the mineral wealth of the country. He took as his basis the review given by Sir Thomas Holland on a similar occasion eight years ago, and showed that in the interim the value of the mineral production has risen from about 5 J million pounds sterling to 10 millions. The predominant elements in both years were gold and coal, which still remain only partially exploited, but their relative proportions have changed in the eight years; for the value of the output of coal, which in 1905 was little more than half that of the output of gold, over- took and passed the latter in 1907, and has increased from under 1J million pounds sterling to over 3| millions; in 1913, the value of the gold production was only two-thirds of that of the coal. Mr. Hayden alluded also to the dis- covery of iron ore by the Bengal Iron and Steel Company, and expressed the hope that the iron and steel industry, for which India was once so famous, is in a fair way to become once more firmly and successfully established. He also expressed the view that indications were not lacking that a considerable copper industry may be established before long. Aluminium hangs fire, but Mr. Hayden records a steady progress in the production of manganese, and India is now the second largest producer in the world. The outlook in regard to wolfram and monazite is likewise most promising. ____________________________ Africa. South African Coal Trade.—Our Johannesburg correspon- dent writes :—South African colliery shares have never been an attractive investment for capitalists, but there are not wanting signs that at last they are beginning to attract attention. Last year the total amount distributed in divi- dends amounted to over .£400,000 by 20 different companies, being an average of over 10 per Cent, on the nominal capital. Naturally, the bulk of the collieries are situated in the Transvaal, where to-day every colliery of importance is paying a dividend to the shareholders. Prior to the war, a dividend paying colliery was an exception, but the various reductions of railway rates have placed the Transvaal coal mining industry in a sound and healthy condition. The Transvaal coal mining industry has several features of interest to investors. It is probably one of the .safest mining industries in the world, the collieries being free from fire- damp and dangerous dusts, and worked at a cost for large outputs from Is. 9d. to 2s. fid. per ton. Even when costs of administration and depreciation are added, with an average selling price of 4s. 5d. per ton, the collieries are easily able to make a working profit of Is. per ton. The principal dividend paying collieries in the Transvaal last year were as follow :—Witblank Colliery, 25 per cent.; Tweefontein Colliery, 23J per cent.; Transvaal and Delagoa Bay Collieries, 17J per cent.; Transvaal Coal Trust, 16^ per cent.; and Clydesdale Collieries, 10 per cent. The Wit- bank, Transvaal and Delagoa Bay, and the Transvaal Coal Trust have been consistent dividend payers for years, but the majority of the other collieries in the Transvaal have only been able to distribute dividends to the shareholders since the Coal Owners’ Association was farmed. In the Natal Province coal mining has made some progress during recent years, but although the average selling pit top price is some 2s. higher than in the Transvaal, the dividends paid to the shareholders are fewer and less satisfactory. This is due to higher costs of working, irregular demand, and a want of unity between the different concerns, as compared with the Transvaal. The Natal Coal Owners’ Association does not Contain all the leading collieries, but it has been productive of much good already to the Natal coal trade. Then again, the Natal coal mines are more fiery than others in South Africa—a risk not diminished by the fact that they are also subject to gob fires. Shareholders in Natal collieries can scarcely be satisfied with the dividends they receive, as they are far from commensurate with the capital invested and the risks incurred. Several of the largest pro- ducers have never yet paid a dividend, and out of 16 concerns only five distributed a dividend amongst the shareholders, the highest being Dundee, with a declaration of 121 .per cent., down to 2J for the Elandslaagte Collieries. In the Orange Free State, owing largely to the inferior quality of the coal, few mines have been opened, the number of mines producing last year being but four. Two out of these, how- ever, paid satisfactory dividends to the shareholders of 10 and 7J per cent, respectively, but although the output at the collieries belonging to the Vereeniging Estates has been considerably increased of ilate, the dividend paying stage has not been reached. Owing to the same cause, coal mining in the Cape Province is only carried on to a very limited extent, and is now regarded as an expiring industry. Eight small collieries only produced 53,621 tons last year, the whole going to the railway and local consumption at prices far above its true value. In Rhodesia, the Wankie Colliery is the only one working, but promises to be the most successful colliery in South Africa. Last year a dividend of 25 per cent, was paid to the shareholders—an achievement only equalled by one dther colliery in South Africa. Our correspondent adds :—Despite the opinions expressed that the European War would have little effect on the South African coal trade, the reverse has proved to be the case, and for the first time in the history of the South African coal trade since the Transvaal War 15 years ago, a decided set- back has been experienced, directly traceable to. the outbreak of war in Europe. Regarding the outlook for the coal trade of the Union of South Africa for the current year, it seems doubtful whether the usual increase in output will be experienced, unless the war in Europe is immediately ended. Any marked increase must come from the bunkering and export trade at Lorenzo Marques and Durban, and whilst the war lasts that seems well nigh impossible. Gold mining on the Rand, having apparently reached its high-water mark, does not seem likely to add materially to its present consumption of coal, whilst industrial development, owing to a variety of causes, is in South Africa proverbially slow; hence little increase is to be looked for here. Railway con- struction is practically suspended for the- time being, and only the termination of the European War seems likely to restore the South African coal trade to its former dimen- sions by making the export of coal once more possible. Coal Production in 1914.—The Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries has published the output statistics for December 1914, which enables the returns to be stated for the complete year :— Coal sold. Value at pit's mouth. Province. Tons. Tons. <£ £ Transvaal ........ 5,157,268...5,225,036...1,150,746...1,142,598 Cape ............... 53,621... 67,481... 31,167... 38,752 Orange Free State 699.217... 609,973... 191,064... 167,409 Natal............... 2,567,817...2,898,726... 852,064... 891,699 Union of S.A.,,, 8,477,923...8,801,216...2,225,041...2,240,458 In 1912, 8,117,078 tons were sold, valued at £1,999,378; and in 1911, 7,594,944 tons, valued at £1,935,135. The follow- ing shows the progressive totals of sales and pit mouth values for Transvaal and Natal coal during each month in 1914 Transvaal. Natal. ________________ ________________ Month. Coal Value at Coal Value at sold, pit's mouth, sold, pit's mouth. Tons. s. d. Tons. s. d. January ....... 389,505 ... 4 6’46 ... 204,970 ... 6 6’65 February....... 420,284 ... 4 5 86 ... 215,468 ... 6 7*09 March ......... 426,963 ... 4 4*76 ... 238,513 ... 6 6’85 April.......... 423,554 ... 4 5*30 ... 242,367 ... 6 7'35 May __........... 457,091 ... 4 5'30 ... 250,646 ... 6 7'67 June........... 432,440 ... 4 5 61 ... 227,188 ... 6 7'96 July .......... 463,813 ... 4 6'46 ... 233,884 ... 6 7'77 August......... 464,490 ... 4 6'43 ... 253,687 ... 6 7'62 September ..... 430,221 ... 4 5'16 ... 161,409 ... 6 7 88 October ....... 446,431 .. 4 5'48 ... 195,303 ... 6 8'48 November ..... 382,994 ... 4 5'27 ... 169,004 ... 6 7'90 December ..... 419,482 ... 4 4'42 ... 175,378 ... 6 8'92 It will be seen that the output of coal in Natal showed a considerable decline during the last four months of the }tar, without doubt due to the constriction of the bunker trade. The war has had no marked effect on prices; the value of Transvaal coal shows no perceptible rise, but prices of Natal coal were generally .about fid. a ton higher than m 1913. In December there were 58 collieries producing coal m the Union, viz., Transvaal, 25; Cape, 8; Orange Free State, 4; Natal, 21. At these collieries there were employed jl.212 whites -and 23,805 coloured workmen. The following statement shows the total quantity of Natal and Transvaal bunker coal supplied at Capetown, including that supplied by the Union Government to their chartered steamers :—Total quantity of bunkers supplied at Capetown during the year ended December 31, 1914, 224,940 tons. Total quantity of Transvaal coal supplied at Capetown during the same period, 77,332 tons. Transvaal coal supplied by Government, 11,243 tons, representing 14-53 per cent. Total quantity of Natal coal supplied at Capetown during the same period, 126,983 tons. Natal coal supplied by the Government, 3,227 tons, representing 2-54 per cent. Per- centage of Transvaal coal supplied by the Government on the total bunkers supplied for the year, 4-97 per cent. Percentage of Natal coal supplied by the Government on the total bunkers supplied for the year, 1-42 per cent. Total quantity of bunker coal supplied by the Union Government, 14,470 tons. Percentage of Transvaal coal supplied by the Government from above quantity, 77-70 per cent. Per- centage of Natal coal supplied by the Government from above quantity, 22-30 per cent. (11 per cent, of which was supplied to one steamer—“ Armadale Castle ”). Total quantity of bunkers supplied during the year. 1,014,261 tons 9 cwt. Total quantity of cargo supplied during the year, 355,547 tons lewt. Bunkers supplied in 1913, 1,080,208 tons. Cargo supplied in 191.3, 615,550 tons. The following shows the outputs of the Natal Collieries during the past three years Colliery. 1914. 1913. 1912. Dundee Coal Company.. . 379,371 . .. 389,556 . .. 259,962 Natal Navigation . 318,243 . .. 312,387 . 301,447 Hlobane . 251,844 . .. 245,173 . .. 224,947 D. Navigation . 222,666 . .. 238,061 . 242,866 Utrecht 182,880 . .. 255,156 . .. 181,808 Glencoe . 168,880 . .. 191,365 . 192,934 Elandslaa^-te 148,261 . .. 20),215 . 213,079 Cambrian 139,218 . 156,629 . 155,952 Hatting Spruit 114,463 . .. 105,600 . 87,686 South African 108,016 . 117,964 . .. 126,637 Newcastle 60,215 . 83,474 72,395 Natal Steam 54,255 . 56,935 . 61,779 St. George's — — .. 179,054 Ramsay 50,474 . " 63,520 . 69,214 Ballengeich 41,096 . 125,020 . 91,014 Fairleigh 32,643 . 12,993 . — Wallsend . 24,428 . 33,521 . — Dewar's Anthracite 8,912 . 6,731 . ” 5,091 S.A. (V'd) Coke 5,824 . 7,568 . — Avon 3,997 . 3,626 . ” 1,384 Ammonium 1,165 . — — Star — " 2.190 ; ” 4,268 Other small coll eries .. — '724 . 574 'I ot ds . 2,316,665 . .. 2,608,408 . .. 2,472,085 _________________ Australia. A Municipal Coal Mine.—The proposal of the Sydney City Council to purchase a coal mine has been turned down, which is probably an excellent thing so far as the city taxpayer is concerned. A New Miners' Federation. — Our Sydney correspondent writes :—The proposed Federation of Australian Coal Miners that has been talked about for some considerable time appears to be developing. The representatives of the coal miners have met at the Trade Hall, Sydney. The proposal for a Federation has already been brought before the respective districts, and as they have been in favour of it, the con- ference will attempt to develop, a constitution on the. lines of the proposed Federation. The afternoon shift strike in the Maitland district still drags along. No attempt has -been made to enforce payment of the heavy fines imposed on the officials and members of the Colliery Employees’ Federation. Export Trade.—The coal export trade at Newcastle is livening up. For the week ending February 12, 54,449 tons of coal were sent to oversea countries, as follows -.—India, 16,530 tons; Java, 14,361; Sandwich Islands, 7,059; Chili, 3,740; United States, 3,284—the balance going to. four other countries as bunkers; 57,195.tons went to inter-State and New. Zealand ports. In the Illawarra district there are indications of a falling off in trade that is causing uneasiness in industrial circles there. At Port Kembla Some, of the hands are experiencing broken time owing to a decreased supply of blister copper from the principal source, Mount Morgan, Queensland. ______ _______ Canada. Canada's Coal Resources.—A revised edition of Dowling’s report on the “ Coalfields of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Eastern British Columbia,” has been published by the Canadian Geological Survey. Since the publication of the first edition much exploratory and development work has been done that necessitated a revision of the estimates of the coal resources. Following is a summary statement of estimates of coal areas and resources :— Dimminous. Eastern British Columbia.......... 370 ... 56,878 Alberta— Coleman area................... 35 ... 1,050 Blairmore-Frank ............... 90 ... 4,500 ................. Livingstone_____________________ 343 ... 26,000 Moose Mountain........................ 12 ... 200 Cascade........................ 56 ... 2,099 Anthracite and semi- anthracites. Cascade........................ — ... 769 Bituminous. Palliser......................... 6 ... 30 Costigan ....................... 12 ... 90..... Bighorn.................... ............................ 87 ... 6,000 Nikanassin ......................... 48 ... 1,404 Shunda.......... .......... 25... 2,160 FoldingiMountain and Brule Lake.. 10 ... 361 Roche Miette and Moose Creek ... 38 ... 624 Northern areas ................. 13 ... 159 Sub- bituminous and lignite. Belly River area................. 25,974 ... 189,450 Edmonton formation .......... ... 52,405 ... 800,958 Tertiary beds ................... 2,520 ... 23,721 81,674 ... 1,059,975 Saskatchewan— Lignite. Tertiary beds .................... 6,188 ... 25,904 Belly River beds.................. 7,218 ... 33,908 13,406 ... 59,812 Manitoba— Turtle Mountain ............... 48 ... 160 The total estimate for the three provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, -and Alberta, .and for the eastern part of British Columbia, approximates 95,598 square miles of coal lands, with 1,176,825,000,000 tons of coal in reserve. In this total the various classes of coal occur in the following proportions :— Tons. Anthracite and semi-anthracite ... 769,000,000 Bituminous ...................... 242,313,000,000 Sub-bituminous .................. 847,321,000,000 Lignite_____.......................____ 86,422,000,000 1,176,825,000,000 The report contains short descriptions of the geological for- mations- and more detailed statements of the character and distribution of the coal-bearing formations