1170 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 4, 1915. MINE MANAGERS’ EXAMINATIONS. We have: received from the Secretary of the Board of Examinations copies of the questions set at the examin a-' tions for certificates . of competency as managers and under-managers of mines, and for certificates of quali- fication as surveyors of mines, which were held by the Board on May 26 and 27 at Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Wigan, Cardiff, and Birmingham.. The text of the papers is given below. (Note.—The figures in parentheses against each question indicate the maximum number of marks obtainable.) For First-Class (Manager’s) Certificate of Competency. Subject No. 1.— Winning and Working. (Six questions only to be answered; No. 5 is compulsory.) 1. What are the characteristics of lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite? In which districts are they respectively found ? (40) 2. A shaft is sunk to a depth of 900 yds. to a 6 ft. seam, dipping 1 in 4. What size and shape of shaft pillar would you leave for support? Give your calculation, and make a sketch. (40) 3. Describe the system of. hydraulic stowing, What advantages are claimed for it over ordinary packing? (40) 4. Sketch 'and describe a store or magazine for explosives. How would you store the detonators ? (40) 5. Compulsory Question.—A seam 7 ft. thick is to be worked on the pillar and stall panel system. Lay out the workings from the shaft bottom to the boundary. State What quantity of coal you would expect to get from each district shown. Indicate roughly the ventilation. (50) 6. Show by sketches how you would arrange the top of a sinking pit from the original ground level, giving details of how you would land or bank the hoppit or bucket, also, sketch the kind of hoppit you would use, and say why. (40) 7. Describe the various systems of underground haulage, and state the merits of each. (40) Subject No. 2.—Theory and Practice of Ventilation. (Six questions only to be answered; No. 1 is compulsory.) 1. Compulsory Question. — Describe and sketch the apparatus best known to you for testing the height of the z firedamp “cap.” Show by what means the various pro- portions of gas and air are measured and mixed. State whether firedamp or lighting gas is used; what kind of oil is used; whether the wick is round or flat; and what are the heights of “ caps ” corresponding to the different per- centages of gas employed in this apparatus. (50) 2. Describe and sketch a barometer, a thermometer, and a hygrometer. State the purposes for which each of these instruments is used in or about a mine. (30) 3. While a shaft, ventilated by means of air pipes and a small auxiliary blowing fan, is being sunk, a bed of fissured sandstone is encountered, from which firedamp is given off in such quantity as to .overcome the ventilation and fill the shaft with explosive gas. First : How would you deal with the explosive gas' in the shaft? Second : Supposing the flow of firedamp to be permanent, how would you deal with it after you had cleared the shaft? (30) 4' If a ventilator can extract 100,000 cu. ft. of air per minute from a given, mine with a 2 in. water gauge, what quantity will it extract with a 4 in.,,water gauge? What will be the horse-power in the air in each case? (30) 5. On plan of a mine which accompanies this paper (fig. 1), show, by means of arrows, how you would ventilate the •working places and stables with six “ splits ” of air. Show also, by means of the usual, symbols, where it would be Fig. 1.—Plan Referred to in Question 5 (Sub- ject No. 2—First Class) and Question No. 1 , (Subject No. 2—Second Class). (Scale reduced.) The open working faces requiring to be ventilated are dis- tinguished by a thick black line; the open airways and haulage roads by two parallel lines. All the rest of the space within the edge of the solid coal is filled with stowing. There are to be six splits of air. necessary to have air crossings, doors, and regulators, in order that the ventilating current may be compelled to follow the course you intend. (30) 6. A total aggregate quantity .of air amounting to 100,000 cu. ft. per minute is passing through two airways of the same uniform shape and cross sectional dimensions throughout 'their entire length, connected at both ends. . The length of one,of these airways is 500 yds., that of .the other, 1,000 yds. How much air is passing through each? (30) 7. Describe, and illustrate your description by means of sketches, any' safety lamp known to you in which the air enters above the glass, and is partially, or wholly, prevented from mingling with' the products of combustion before it reaches the flame. What is the object of this arrangement, and what is its result? (30) . ’ Subject No. 3.—Explosions in Mines, Underground Fires, and Inundations. (Five questions only to be answered.) , 1. Give a short account.of the nature of the experimental work at Altofts and the Government Station at Eskmeals, and state briefly the recommendations of the Committee. (30) 2. Make' a sketch plan of the haulage and ventilating roadways about the bottom of a pit with which you are acquainted. Assume that from some cause a fire has broken out at a point which you are to indicate by a mark on the plan. Say how you would deal with the fire. (25) 3. Assume that, as manager, you are in charge of a large colliery which is dry and dusty, and yields firedamp. Describe briefly the precautions you would adopt to prevent- explosions. (25) 4. If you have had actual experience of spontaneous com- bustion underground, describe a case, and how it was dealt with. If you have not had experience, describe the indi- cations you would expect as evidence of spontaneous combustion taking place, also the steps you would take for dealing with it, and the time required to do the work. (25) 5. : Describe briefly the two rescue systems, and give your views on each :—(a) A central station with brigades in con- stant attendance; (b) a central training station with brigades at each colliery. (25) 6. A sudden inrush of water has flooded about 100 yds. of pillar workings at the bottom of an engine plane 500 yds. from the pit, and some of the men have been imprisoned. How would you deal with the water expeditiously? (25) Subject No. 4.—Machinery. (Five questions only to be answered; No. 1 is compulsory.) 1. Compulsory Question. — The accompanying fig. 2 shows by plan and front and side elevations a portion of an engine bed with hole for a holding down bolt, also a Sin. square hole and hand hole left in the foundation to receive Side Elevation, (Sectional) Fig. 2.—Drawing to Accompany Question 1,. (Subject No. 4). (Scale reduced.) the bolt. Make a drawing (a hand sketch or to scale) of a suitable holding down bolt, 1 in. diameter, and all neces- sary parts, to be put in after the engine bed is in position. Show all dimensions and particulars necessary for making all the parts. (38) 2. The mechanic (or enginewright) at a colliery is about to make a special examination of the main winding engine to see whether anything requires to be done to keep the engine in good running order. Describe carefully and in detail what he would do, noting the matters requiring particular attention. (28) 3. Discuss the use of compressed air and electricity in underground workings, pointing out the particular purposes for which each is best suited, and the advantages and dis- advantages of each,. (28) 4. The specification of an electric motor control column is as follows :—A metal case containing (a) a 3-pole oil. break switch, with (b) automatic overload releases and (c) time lag devices on two phases, and (d) no-voltage release on the third phase, (