May 28, 19.15.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1121

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Company Reports.

___________________________________________________
. Norddeutsche Kohlen und Kokswerke A.G., Ham-
burg. — The war greatly, affected the working of the
cokery, only 81,000 tons of coal being procurable,
instead of 113,000 tons in 1913-14. . After writing off
100,000 mk. (140,000 mk.), the net profits amounted to
66,421 mk. (126,998 mk.), of which 60,000 mk.
(100,000 mk.) are, being distributed as a 3 per cent.
(5 per cent.) dividend, 2,614 mk. (6,010. mk.) placed to
reserve, and 3,807 mk. (14,150 mk.) carried forward,
nothing (6,838 mk.), being available for profit sharing.

.......

Gewcrkschaft des Steinkohlcnbergicerks Adler,
Kupferdrch.—During the first quarter of 1915 the 'total
receipts amounted to 758,962 mk., against 835,826 mk.

_________
in the previous quarter, and 962,672 mk. in the first
quarter of last year. The outgoings were 585,360 mk.
(590,107 mk. and 173,601 mk. respectively), leaving a
balance of 173,601 mk. (205,719 mk. and 206,732 mk.).
Reserves absorb 48,333 mk. and 75,000 mk. (100,000 mk.
and 85,000 mk.) are to be distributed, 15,443 mk. being
put aside for new plant.

Bensberg-Gladbacher Bergwerks und Hiitten A.G.,
Berzelius, Bensburg.—The trading profit amounted to
l,505,740mk. (1,439,279 mk.), but, on the other hand,
the general expenses and taxes rose to 250,149 mk.
(185,176 mk.), and interest to 145,531 mk (48,600 mk.),
the net profit — after writing off 612,000 mk.
(630,319 mk.)—being 638,659 mk. (605,266 mk.). Of
this, 100,000 mk. (100,000 mk.) have been placed to
No. II. reserve, 30,000 mk. (20,000 mk.) to assistance
funds, 26,667 mk. (26,667 mk.) to profit sharing account,
and 400,000 mk. distributed as a 10 per cent. (10 per-
cent.) dividend, 81,992 mk. (48,600 mk.) being kept in
hand.

Gewcrkschaft Dorstfeld.—The coal output for the first
quarter of the present year was 141,079 tons (139,881
tons in the previous quarter and 202,190 tons in the first
quarter of 1914), and the coke production was 40,197
tons (37,902 tons and 58,034 tons). Trading surplus,
40,152 mk. (100,146 mk. and 228,145 mk. respectively).
Last year 100,000 mk. were distributed as profit on the
first quarter’s working.

Essener Bcrgwerksverein Koenig Wilhelm, Essen.—
The profit for the first quarter of 1915 was 389,056 mk.,
as compared with 751,840 mk. in the corresponding
period of 1914.

Deutsche Ammoniak-V erkaufsvereinigung, G.m.b.H.,
Bochum. — -The capital of this concern has been
increased to 447,500 mk. by the inclusion of the
Chemische Fabrik Wesseling and the Wirtschaftliche
Vereinigung Deutscher Gaswerke A.G., Total sales
last year, 413,837 tons (335,332 tons).

Luxemburgische Prinz Heinrich Eisenbahm und
Erzgruben Gesellschaft. — The ore mines produced
569,115 tons (1,153,230 tons), vielding a profit of
240,816 fr. (205,319 fr.), of which 225,000 fr. have been
transferred to profit and loss account, and 15,816 fr. to
the mines reserve fund. No dividend will be paid.

A.G. Dynamit Nobel, Vienna.—The profits from the
works amounted to 3,016,516 kr. (2,954,482 kr.), and
the .receipts from interest to 100,341 kr. (87,941 kr.).
Including a forward balance of 955,413 kr., and after
deducting 14 million kr. (1-1 million kr.) for writing off,
the net profit was 2,583,271 kr. (2,600,656 kr.), which
again enabled a 25 per cent, dividend to be paid,
851,585 kr. being carried forward.

Bergwerks A.G. La Houvc, Strassburg.—Including
135,519 mk. brought forward, the gross profits totalled
808,061 mk. (1,521,857 mk.), of which loan interest
absorbed 356,319 mk. (296,052 mk.), general expenses
67,679 mk. (118,151 mk.), writing off 260,000 mk.
(370,000 mk.), and defence tax reserve 4,000 mk. No
dividend, is to be paid (7 per cent, last year).

Gewcrkschaft der Steinkohlenzeche Mont Cenis,
Sodingen—The net profit for the first quarter of the
present year was 555,507 mk., as compared with
430,526 mk. the previous quarter and 471,870 mk. the
first quarter of 1914.

Gliickauf A.G. fur Braunkohlenverwertung, Lich-

tenau. — Total brown coal raised in 1914, 2,645,826	_________________________

hectolitres (3,135,354 hl.); briquette output, 51,422
tons (59,252 tons); the coal distribution being 750,074
hectolitres (921,238 hl.), and that of coke 50,987 tons
(59,015 tons). The whole of the gross profit of 112,448
marks (161,339 mk.) is to be written off. Last year the
dividend was 4 per cent, on the preference shares, and
1 per cent, on the new preference shares.

Gewcrkschaft der Zeche Blankenburg, Hammerthal.

—-With a coal output of 25,911 tons (30,835 tons), a
profit of 11,537 mk. (9,187 mk.) was made during the
first quarter of the year.

Gewcrkschaft Kbnigin Elisabeth , Frillcndorf.—A sum
of 350 mk. per share is to be distributed as profit on the
first quarter’s working, against 250 mk. the previous
quarter, and 500 mk. the first quarter of last year.

Gewcrkschaft Trier I.-III., Hamm.—The coal output
at the Radbod Colliery in the first quarter of 1915 was
147,375 tons (202,674 tons), and at the Baldur Pit
55,193 tons (73,354 tons); and the coke production
68,157 tons (63,504 tons). After deducting all expenses
and interest charges, a profit of 113,776 mk.
(454,442 mk.) was obtained.

_______________________________

The port of Venice, now within the active range of war, is
a large consumer of British coal. In 1912, 599,270 tons of
coal were imported from Cardiff and Newport, 248,755 tons
from the north-east coast, 142,104 tons from Swansea,
36,960 tons, from Methi], and 30,880 tons from Glasgow;
88,956 tons came from Rotterdam, : and 7,600 tons from
Norfolk (Va.). The total imports amounted to 1,196,490
tons.	•	•	1

INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES.

India.

Coal Production in 1914.—The Chief Inspector of Mines
in India gives, in advance of his annual report, the following
figures showing the output of coal in British India during

1914

Province.	Tons.

Bengal ........................ 4,424,540

Bihar and Orissa............... 10.651,047
...................

Punjab .....................___ ' 54,303

Assam ........................	304,668

Baluchistan ...................... .48,234

Central Provinces .............	244,745

North-west Frontier Province	94

Total.______________;_______ 15,727,631

Bengal Coal Trade.—According to Commerce, the Bengal
coal market is in.the doldrums, there being no appreciable
local enquiry, with but few demands from up-country and
from the Bombay side. Best Jherriahs, 17 seam, are
quoted at Rs. 4, the price for 13 and 15 seams being men-
tioned at from Rs. 3-8 to Rs. 3-12. For low qualities any-
thing from Rs. 2-6 to Rs. 2-9. There was a slight
improvement recently in tonnage, several vessels being
loaded at the Calcutta .jetties; but stocks are heavy at the
docks, and some time must elapse before the space is cleared
for fresh cargoes.

Africa.

Coal Output in March.—During March the 58 collieries
at work in the Union produced 776,497 tons of coal, sales
amounting to 644,543 tons, valued at £161,743. Sales in
the various provinces were as follow :—Transvaal 414,687
tons (4s. 4-67d. per ton at pit’s mouth); Cape, 3,622 tons
(Ils. 3*24d.); Orange Free State, 64,627 (4s. ll-92d.);
Natal, 161,607 tons (6s. 6-05d.). Generally speaking,
sales showed an improvement on those for the previous
month. The figures for the quarter as as under :—

January.	February.	March.

Province. SaLs. Value Sabs. Value Sales. Value
Tons. per ton. Tons, per ton. Tons, per ton.
s. d.	s. d.	s. d.

Transvaal .............. 368,295...	4	4’58...319,670...	4	5’31 ..414,687...	4	4‘67

Cape_____________	3,096	11	2-19... 3,291...11	277... 3,622 11	3’24

Orange Free State 47,210 ..	5	3'25 .. 58,546...	5	2-44... 64,627...	4	11*92

Natal............. 187,606...	6	7 79.153,419...	6	7'89...161,607...	6	6 05

Total....... 606,207...	— .534,926..	— ...644,543..	—

The Natal coal trade has suffered relatively more seriously
than that of the Transvaal; prior to the war, from 225,000
to 250,000 tons of Natal coal were sold each month.

Mining Stores.—The official statistics of stores consumed
by the Transvaal mines in 1914 show the following parti-
culars Coal cutting machines, 62 (£3,668); ditto, spares,
£5,862; smithy coal, 21,753 tons (£27,593); steam coal,
1,850,102 tons (4-953,205); other coal, 47,057 tons (£24,716);
imported coke, 617 tons (£4,189); local coke, 1,415 tons
(£5,744); compressed air purchased (value), £245,367; elec-
trical machinery, £349,843; electric power and light, pur-
chased (value), £972,992; explosives—blasting gelatine,
354,940 cases (£817,484); gelignite and gelatine dynamite,
230,710 cases (£521,262); dynamite No. 1, 7,546 cases
(£9,050); dynamite No. 2 and Ligdyn, 46,275 cases
(£56,049); other, 1,204 cases (£2,381); detonators, 303,377
boxes (£41,848); electric detonators or fuses, 540,812
(£3,293); safety fuse, 7,499,385 coils (£128,621); Tyisa
sticks, £13,053; bar and angle iron, 6,533,267 1b. (£53,620);
oils (lubricating), 884,624 galls. (£100,176); pipes and pipe
fittings, £306,118; rails, crossings, sleepers, etc., £200,260;
rock drills, 2,021 (£62,407); ditto, spares, £193,101; wire
rope, £121,375; bar, tool, cast, etc., steel, 1,634,886 1b.
(£21,385); sheet steel, 10,871,6901b. (£87,996); hand drill
steel, 4,306,9501b. (£58,038); rock drill steel, 6,594,5741b.
(£109,985); other, 398,656 1b. (£5,054) ; Oregon pitch pine,
etc., 1,042,035 cu. ft. (£217,279); mining poles and round
lagging, £289,199; deals, 3,561,359 ft. (£96,303); trucks and
spares, £114,516; water, purchased (value), £148,831. The
value of the stores purchased by the South African gold
mines was £10,277,087, as compared with £10,633,152 in
1913. The collieries purchased stores to the value of
£643,158, as against £643,256, £342,895 being expended by
collieries in the Transvaal, and £240,553 by collieries in
Natal.

Australia.

The Minister for Mines is taking a keen interest in the
future development of the proved coalfields still owned by
the State. There is an excellent field at Lithgow, one at
Muswellbrook, and one at Camden, and the Cabinet is to
be asked to apportion enough money to develop at least one
of these fields. In each instance the coal bearing properties
of the area have been proved.

On the south coast, at Mount Pleasant, a large up-to-date
electric plant is being installed at an estimated cost of
£35,000. The electric installation will consist of three
alternators coupled with the steam engines, each capable of
developing 440 kw. at 6,600 volts. The power from the
plant will be conveyed by cables, and applied to various
purposes connected with the working of the colliery about
three miles distant.

Afternoon Shift Strike at an End.—Our Sydney corre-
spondent writes There was a general feeling of relief
when it was announced that the afternoon shift strike in the
Maitland district, after being in existence for more than
nine months, had finally been settled, but only four of the
five collieries affected made a start, and within a few days
three of these were out on strike again, the men declining to
work with certain hands who had acted as free labourers
during the strike. In Sydney the Coal Lumpers’ Union
held a “ cease work ” meeting on March 20, their grievance
being that a comparatively small minority were getting
constant work, whilst the majority were earning a bare
livelihood. The employers had been notified that all labour
required for coaling steamers in Port Jackson would have.to
be engaged at the union offices. The employers replied
that they were not able to depart from the present method

of engaging hands. Upon this being made known, many
of the unionists were for immediate stoppage of work, but
fortunately more temperate counsel gained the day, and it
was decided that no strikes were to occur during the con-
tinuance of the war. Evidently Lord Kitchener’s earnest
appeal has been listened to by some unions in this portion
of the Empire.

Output of New South Wales Coal.—The output of coal in
New South Wales during the year 1914 was 10,390,632 tons,
valued at £3,737,761, which is a decrease of 23,543 tons and
£32,614 in value as compared with 1913. The coke manu-
factured in the State during the year amounted to 304,800
tons, valued at £213,069, which shows an increase of 6,188
tons' and £4,080, when compared with the previous year.
The coke trade was in a very unsatisfactory condition, in
consequence of the depressed metal market, following on
the outbreak of war. With a revival of smelting operations,
the coke plants are now such as to materially increase the
•manufacture of coke whenever it may be found necessary.

Queensland Coal Output.—The coal production of
Queensland for 1914 amounted to 1,053,990 tons, valued at
£416,292, as compared with 1,032,944 tons, valued at
£403,767, for the year 1913.

New South Wales Coal Companies.—The accounts of the
Newcastle Coal Mining Company for the six months ended
December 31 last, show a net profit of £6,196, as compared
with £6,271 for the corresponding half-year in 1913, and
the sum available for distribution was £9,157. The strike
at Whitburn Colliery has continued during the whole six
months. The company has collieries at Newcastle (a pit)
and at Greta (Whitburn), the latter being a new mine, the
output of which was reaching considerable proportions at
the time when the strike occurred. — The half-yearly
balance-sheet of the Hetton Coal Company Limited shows
that the profits were £5,728. With the balance brought
forward there is available a surplus of £6,996, from which
it is proposed to pay a dividend on the old and new shares
at the rate of 7J per cent, per annum, and to carry for-
ward the balance of £2,015. The capital is now
£140,450, and there are debentures for £38,000. Sundry
creditors figure in the balance-sheet for £14,752. The pro-
perties of the company (Hetton Colliery at Newcastle, and
Bellbird Colliery at Cessnock) are valued at £191,819. Bell-
bird is a new colliery on the South Maitland field, and is
one of the most promising properties in that favoured dis-
trict.—The report of the Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Company
issued recently covers the six months ended December 31,
1914. It shows a net profit of £10,105, which, with £2,934
brought forward, made £13,039 available for distribution.
This company is in a strong position, because of the reserves
built up by a careful directorate in the years when trade
was booming. It also has a very large area of coal yet to
work, and the life of the colliery may safely be set down at
nearly 40 years.

________________________

Canada.

Effect of California- Oil on Coal Mining in British
Columbia.—Within the past three years the increase in the
use of California oil has been such (says the Mining, Engi-
neering and Electrical Record, of Victoria, B.C.), that it
has displaced from 750,000 to 1,000,000 tons of coal per
annum, and thrown out of employment some 4,000 coal
miners, besides injuring the coal industry as a field for
investment. . Formerly there was a duty leviable on the
grade of California oil coming into British Columbia for fuel
purposes, but the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was the
strongest factor in the introduction of California fuel oil, to
the displacement of British Columbia coal, protested against
the imposition of the duty, and although the law provided
for the duty, the railway company proved a power superior
to law and the Dominion Government, and its demand was
acceded to, with the result that California fuel oilhas flowed
free of duty into the coast cities of British Columbia in
increasing quantity. The Dominion Government has been
as much a traitor to British Columbia in this respect as the
Canadian Pacific Railway, and has substituted California
oil for the coal mined in the province, by equipping its
steamers, dredges, and heating plants of public buildings
with oil fuel equipment. According to a House of
Commons return, the imports entered for consumption
through Customs ports in the province of British Columbia
during the fiscal years ended March 31, 1911, 1912, 1913,
and 1914, respectively, of “ petroleum, crude fuel, and gas
oils, 0-8235 specific gravity, or heavier at 60 degs. tempera-
ture,” under the provisions of tariff item 267, were as
follow : 1911, 7,299,727 galls.; 1912, 20,454,309 galls.; 1913,
79,233,053 galls.; 1914, 110,547,653 galls. Speaking at
Nanaimo recently, Mr. William Sloan, formerly M.P. for
Comox-At'lin, stated that, as a result, the partial closing
down of some of the mines in the vicinity had followed.
The mines at Cumberland worked 6J days in December,
and 11 days in January, and hundreds of families in the
various mining centres, unable to secure work at all, were
receiving relief from the Government. At a meeting of the
New Westminster Board of Trade, Mr. W. R. Gilley
pointed out that coal mined in British Columbia yields the
Government a royalty of 10c. per ton, but fuel imported from
the United States enters Canada free. The Board of Trade at
Victoria has committed itself to the policy of taxing Cali-
fornia fuel oil for the protection of the home coal industry,
and petitions to the Dominion Government to impose a duty
on California fuel oil have been presented by the Merritt,
Nanaimo, South Wellington, Cumberland, Courtenay, and
Union Bay Boards of Trade, from residents of Nanaimo,
South Wellington, and Merritt. The duty suggested by the
petitioners is from Jc. to 1c. a gallon. In presenting the
petitions to the Minister of Finance, Messrs. F. H. Shepherd
and H. S. Clements submitted a memorandum pointing out
that unless some adequate protection is afforded to the coal
mining industry, it is only reasonable to suppose it will
suffer still further by the increased importation of fuel oil,
and if the importations in the future increase in the same
ratio as they have done in the past, then the very existence
of the coal mining industry will be severely threatened.

C.P.R. to Use Crow's Nest Coal.—Our Toronto corre-
spondent says :—The Manitoba division of the Canadian
Pacific Railway, which has hitherto been supplied with coal
from the East, will in future obtain, their supplies from the
Crow’s Nest Pass district in British Columbia and from the
Alberta coal fields. At least 1,000 tons per day will be
furnished from the Crow’s Nest Pass mines, requiring the
employment of a large additional force,and about as much
more will be taken from the Bellevue, Frank, Hillcrest, and