588

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

September 17, 1915.

At Newcastle Police Court last week, five men employed
by the Walker Coal Company were charged with breach of
contract by having absented themselves from their employ-
ment on various dates during August and September. The
damages claimed against the men were :—Craigs, £1 10s. ;
Walker, £1 5s. ; Hall, £2; Hardy, £1 15 s.; Marshall, £1;
the damages being assessed at 5s. per day per man. Mr.
Edward Clark said the defendants had absented themselves
from their employment without having given proper notice.
The manager of the colliery had had notices posted up in
the yard. The first one was as follows :—“ Workmen at
Walker Colliery : At a general meeting of colliery owners
and workmen held in London on July 29, the Minister of
Munitions asked that every effort should be put forward to
increase the output of coals. The workmen representatives
promised that this should be done. Are you doing so?
During the week ended August 7, 10 hewers worked only
two days, 32 hewers worked three days, 86 hewers worked
four days, and 36 hewers worked five days out of a possible
five days. To which section do you belong? ” Other
notices were posted up from time to time drawing the
attention of the men to the serious matter of lost time, but
as things did not improve they were bound to bring the
men to court. The Chairman, in ordering the defendants
to pay the amounts claimed against them, said it wae really
appalling that men failed to realise the importance of their
work in the national crisis.

At a meeting of the Tyne Improvement Commission it was
reported that in the month of July, 1,211,507 tons of coal
were shipped from the Tyne, as compared with 1,858,715
tons in July last year, a decrease of 647,208 tons. The
shipments of coke amounted to 27,385 tons, as compared with
44,333 tons in July 1914, a decrease of 16,948 tons. In
August 1,164,383 tons of coal were shipped, - as against
919,755 tons in August last year, an increase of 244,628
tons. The coke shipments last month amounted to 36,570
tons, as compared with 14,622 tons in August 1914, an
increase of 21,948 tons. In the first eight months of this
year 9,348,985 tons of coal were shipped, as against
12,883,693 tons in the corresponding period last year, a
decrease of 3,534,708 tons. The coke shipments from
January 1 to the end of August amounted to 205,806 tons,
as compared with 233,303 tons in the corresponding period
last year, a decrease of 27,497 tons.

Although common further south, gob fires are very rarely
met with in Northumberland. At one of the pits of the
Seaton Delaval Coal Company, however, such a fire has been
combatted for the last seven years, and is still unextin-
guished. The fire broke out in a part of the pit which was
being worked on the “ board and wall ” system. When
one of the boards was taken down and the timber drawn
out, the stone fell to the thickness of about 6 ft., and revealed
an overlapping seam. In that seam the fire originated, com-
mencing about 20 ft. above the floor of the seam that was
being worked. Mr. J. S. Tweddell, the manager, directed
brick stoppings to be built all round the affected area, with
the object of cutting off the air supply. For a considerable
period the thermometrical readings gave every indication of
the gradual stifling of the fire, but a few weeks ago the
temperature was shown to be advancing once more. One
of the brick stoppings was opened, and it was discovered that
the whole section of the original seam, the stone between
and the overlapping seam were on fire to a depth of about
20 ft. An attempt to dig the fire out failed, so intense was
the heat. Now, however, the agent (Mr. R. E. Ornsby) and
the manager have devised a plan which, it is hoped, will have
the desired effect. Enormous dams of brick and cement
have been built around the affected area, and a supply of
water at great pressure is being flooded from the surface
into the region of the fire. To cope with the dense volumes
of steam which will be generated by the device, safety
valves have been provided, for otherwise the steam would
cause an explosion which would speedily burst down the
dams. The experiment is being watched with great interest
by all colliery managers and engineers in the district. The
gob fire, it may be remarked, is only the third such that
has occurred in Northumberland within living memory.

The engineering staff at Murton Colliery has presented
Mr. Louis Strong, foreman blacksmith, who is leaving to
take up a similar position at Auckland Park Colliery, with
a music cabinet and silver-mounted walking-stick, with a
gold ring for Mrs. Strong.

Mr. Robert Elliott, who has been raised to the aldermanic
bench of the G-ateshead Town Council, made a name, many
years ago, as a pitman poet of considerable ability. His
poem, “ The Pitman Gan te Parlemint,” written to com-
memorate Mr. Thomas Burt’s return for the borough of
Morpeth in the early ’seventies, was, perhaps, his best
known and most appreciated production in that line.

Yorkshire.

New Technical College at Doncaster—Belgian Workmen
Tabooed—Commission for a Pony Driver—The Future
of Thorne—Doncaster House Famine—Collieries and
Tramways.

The Mayor of Doncaster last week declared open the new
Technical College, which has been erected at a cost of
some £13,000, and remarked that after the war England,
by the aid of technical education, had a great chance of
building up the greatest trade and commerce in the world.

The party of 10 Belgian refugees who recently came to
Ardsley, and were found employment in the mine of the
Barnsley Main Colliery, have ceased work, and returned to
their headquarters in London, the colliery company, in view
of the decision arrived at by the Yorkshire Miners’ Associa-
tion, having had no alternative but to cease the employment
of the men.

Last week’s meeting of the Featherstone Urban District
Council was noted for a remarkable incident, which is cer-
tainly worthy of record. It was proposed that a special
vote of congratulation be conveyed to Lieut. Harper, R.N.,
upon his recent promotion to commissioned rank; 14 years
ago the lieutenant was a pit pony driver at the Snydale
Colliery, two years later he enlisted in the Royal Navy, and
by his splendid work and attention to duty has now won
his way to the office of first lieutenant. Lieut. Harper,
since war broke out, has seen active service aboard the
“ Maori,” “ Majestic,” “ Bulwark,” and “ Hogue.”

Judging from the success of a large property sale at
Thorne last week, there appears to be no lack of faith in
the future of the colliery at Thorne Moorends, which Messrs.
Pease and Partners have in hand, and wThich has had such
a long run of bad luck. There was little sign of deprecia-
tion in either land or property as an investment, seeing
the large company which assembled. The vendors disposed of
the minerals under the land in the various lots. In one lot
the coal rights were already leased, and a minimum rent
would be paid for that right. Bidding for most of the 19

lots was keen, and in some cases brisk. The sale was to
close a trust of the late Mr. J. C. Coulman, J.P.

The shortage of housing accommodation for miners in the
Doncaster district seems to be as acute as ever, and as,
owing to the war, practically no building is now being done,
the situation shows no sign of improvement. The result is
that a large number of miners still have to live in over-
crowded Doncaster itself, and travel half-a-dozen miles or
so each day to their work, which greatly adds to their
expenses, takes up a lot of their time, and has other dis-
advantages. That this is so may be realised by the number
of men seen leaving Doncaster daily, or returning to it after
the various shifts. It is stated, for instance, that if 500
additional houses were put up at Carcroft for the men of
the Bullcroft Colliery, they would be immediately occupied,
and the same remark applies to other parts of the district.
Even Barnsley, whose days of coal trade prosperity have
so often been said to be on the wane, is crying out for
more house accommodation, a fact which, taken in conjunc-
tion with some good local dividends that have lately been
paid, is quoted as tending to prove that the mining resources
of the Barnsley district are by no means played out, and
that the days of the supremacy of the Doncaster coal field
is not yet.

The Bradford Corporation Gas Committee have decided
that after considering the tenders of certain firms at prices
in excess of the standard allowed by the Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act, 1914, an offer be made to the firms in
question to accept the quantity of coal mentioned in their
tenders at the standard price only.

There appears to be no immediate likelihood of the opening
of the new tramway extension from Doncaster to Brodsworth
and the Woodlands model village, owing io an unfortunate
dispute which has arisen between the Doncaster Corporation
and one of the local colliery companies, whose consent
appears to be necessary to the erection of certain poles. The
public are being kept in the dark as to the actual cause
of the squabble, ‘‘as a matter of policy”; .meanwhile,
they are clamouring for the trams, knowing that the route
is completed, and practically ready for opening. The
matter was referred to at a recent meeting of the
Doncaster Corporation, when it was stated that the member
for the Division, Sir Charles N. Nicholson, Bart., had
promised to see Mr. Runciman on the matter, also that
a letter had been received from the Local Government Board
concerning it, which the Council would consider in com-
mittee. The mayor remarked that “ if other people ” (mean-
ing, apparently, the colliery company) “ won’t be reasonable,
we shall have to take the law into our own hands, and see
what we can do.” The public are therefore looking forward
to interesting developments.

Meanwhile the new trackless routes of the Mexboro and
Swinton Tramway Company have been opened, and are
proving a great boon to a large and thickly populated colliery
centre. The route was recently inspected by a representa-
tive of the Board of Trade, and later in the day passengers
were carried for the first time. On a trackless route, the
difficulties which have arisen at Brodsworth are, of course,
obviated. The two new sections of the Mexboro and
Swinton district, which are now in full swing, extend from
the junction of Swinton-road and High-street, Mexboro, to
the Manvers Main Colliery on the west, and from the
Mexboro Toll Bar to Elm Green, Conisboro, on the east.
The cars are already proving of considerable benefit to the
miners who work at Manvers Main and Cadeby collieries.
Each car accommodates 28 passengers.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Mr. Herbert Lee Wood, eldest son of Mr. Percy Lee Wood,
mining engineer to the Clifton and Kersley Coal Company,
has obtained a commission as Flight Sub.-Lieut, in the
Royal Naval Air Service.

A party from the Geology Section of the British Associa-
tion, on Thursday, September 9, made an inspection of the
workings m Messrs. S. Scowcroft and Sons’ Bradshaw Hall
Colliery, Bolton. The party, which included Mr. W.
Whittaker, a former president of the Royal Geological
Society; Prof. Hickling, Owens College, Manchester; Prof.
Gordon, King’s College, London; Mr. Kidston, Government
Geological Surveyor, Gold Coast, were met at the station
by'Mr. J. Livesey, manager of the colliery, and Mr. J.
Lomax, A.L.S., M.Inst.M.E., of Great Lever, who acted
as guide. The party made a thorough inspection of the
workings in the Five-quarter seams, which lie at a depth
of 120 yds. Mr. Lomax pointed out fossil plants in the
roof shales, some of which are 40 ft. in length, with flattened
stems five or six feet in width.

North Wales.

Developments near Hawarden.

Important developments are now being carried out at the
Tyddyn Lodge and Coed Talon collieries, near Hawarden,
Flintshire, in the shape of opening out new seams and the
putting down of additional surface plant. These coal pits,
which have been closed for several years, have been acquired
and restarted by Messrs. Adam Bromley and Son, coal and
coke exporters, of Bolton, who are expending considerable
sums on renovating and modernising the plant. At present
close upon 400 men and youths are employed at the collieries,
but when the developments now in progress are completed
this number will be augmented. Several excellent seams of
coal are being worked, and the reopening of the pits should
prove highly beneficial to the Hawarden district.

Notts and Derbyshire.

More Miners for the Front.

To Chesterfield belongs the honour of supplying a little
corps of miners for special work at the Front, an honour
which will probably shortly be extended to other places in the
country’s coal fields. The Chief Recruiting Officer for
Derby attended at the Chesterfield Town Hall this week, to
attest 60 men recruited from Derbyshire collieries, and
specially enlisted for the important work of tunnelling at
the Front. After attestation it was arranged they should
receive their uniform, and proceed direct to the mobilisation
centre. Facilities for the release of these men were made
by Midland Coal Owners’ Association.

The Midlands.

Boy Labour—Heavy Fines for Neglect of Work.

The miners of the Tunnel Colliery, Nuneaton, have sub-
scribed £270 towards the purchase of an ambulance car for
the Front. The car will cost £600, and the proprietors of
(he colliery will make up the amount.

The question of boy labour has created a division of
opinion among public authorities in the Black Country, which
it is hoped, in the interests of the country, will soon be
bridged. The difficulties seem to centre in the difference

between national necessities and educational idealism. On
the one hand a prominent iron merchant in the Tipton
district, and a member of the local education authority, is
urging the necessity of permitting all boys to leave school
at thirteen, offering to find employment for as many as can
be sent to him, while at Wolverhampton, the Education
Committee have decided that it would be inadvisable to
relax the by-laws, which require that children shall remain
at school until 14. They have, however, decided to
facilitate the leaving of school of children capable of passing
the Labour Examination.

Somewhat heavy damages were claimed at Walsall against
four furnace fillers employed by the Birchills Furnaces
Limited. Mr. W. C. Checkley said that when one of the
fillers employed by this firm did not turn up, the others
refuse to work. One of the defendants stayed away 11
days in August; two others for nine days each; and another
for five days; and in neither instance was any explanation
tendered to the firm. The result was that the firm suffered
considerable loss. Since the outbreak of the war a consider-
able number of men had left the firm, and the output of
the furnaces had fallen by 200 tons a week, which was
particularly serious, in view of the fact that the whole of
the metal was being used for the manufacture of war
munitions. There was no lack of raw material, the loss
being entirely due to the trouble the firm had had with
their men. The consequence was that the firm had been
carried on at a loss. Even now the firm were willing to
forego damages if the men would attend to their work.—
Defendants stated that the work was too heavy for them to
be constantly engaged.—One of the men was ordered to
pay £4, two £3, and another £2, and costs in each case.
Forty-one workmen wrere said to be affected by the neglect
of six iron workers summoned before the Halesowen
magistrates. The firm in question had to prosecute a
number of youths the week before, and Mr. T. Cooksey, in
supporting the case for the prosecution, on this occasion,
said that small and nominal damages had been ineffective in
the past in making slackers realise their criminal folly. In
consequence of the defendants’ neglect an urgent order from
the Ministry of Munitions was delayed. Nine-tenths of the
iron goods made by the prosecutors was for the Ministry
of Munitions, but it seemed impossible to teach these men
that they were performing duties as necessary to the well
being of the soldiers as were the bullets for the enemy.—The
men were each ordered to pay £2 and the costs.—A number
of minor cases were dealt with by the Brierley Hill
magistrates, where Messrs. Parraish, colliery proprietors,
summoned a number of their workmen for failing to pay
damages inflicted by the court. It was stated that none
of the men had paid, but had left prosecutors’ employment,
and been engaged elsewhere. Further time was allowed
these men.

An outbreak of fire was discovered on Tuesday in the
surface premises of the Charity Colliery, Bed worth, which
is owned by Stanley Brothers Limited, Nuneaton. The fire
was located in some workshops, the flames having by then
obtained a firm hold. The buildings, with machinery and
tools, were destroyed. Luckily the flames were prevented
from extending to a quantity of inflammables stored in the
vicinity. The outbreak was extinguished in about two and
a-half hours. The cause of the outbreak is supposed to
be either the overheating of a boiler or the fusing of an
electric wire. The damage is stated to run into several
hundreds of pounds.

Kent.

New Boring at Folkestone.

Tilmanstone Colliery output last week reached 1,100 tons,
and is increasing steadily now that more labour is
available.

A new Kent coal boring is at present being put down at
the East Cliff, Folkestone, by the Trefor Boring and Sinking
Company. This is a Franco-Belgian syndicate which has
carried out deep borings for various Kent coal companies
in the neighbourhood of Dover, Folkestone and Deal during
the last few years.

Snowdown colliery sinking in No. 2 pit, to the Snowdown
Hard seam, is now down 1,869 ft., and the sinking con-
tinues to be carried on under very favourable conditions of
strata. The other shaft of the colliery is already down into
the Hard seam. The output from the Beresford seam con-
tinues at over 2,000 tons a week.

Scotland.

Export Licences: Pits Laid Idle—Haulage Scheme at
Bothwell Park Colliery.

In the Valuation Appeal Court held at Dunfermline, the
Fife Coal Company asked for a reduction in rental of Hill
of Beath Brick Works from £200 to £150, in consequence
of diminished trade. The court dismissed the appeal.

Mr. William Jackson, engineer, who died recently, has
bequeathed a large sum for the establishment of a chair of
engineering in the University of Aberdeen.

The Midlothian coal masters have communicated with the
Government Department in London concerning the delays
in the issue of licences for exporting coal. About 2,000
colliers are idle.

A meeting of the Scottish branch of the National Associa-
tion of Colliery Managers was held on Saturday in the Royal
Technical College, Glasgow. In the course of an interesting
address, the chairman described a scheme of mechanical
haulage which had been introduced at Bothwell Park
Colliery, Bothwell, by wThich it had been found possible
to dispense with the use of ponies. The workings had been
laid off in such a manner that mechanical haulage was
applied right up to the face on slope or heading roads,
leaving the men only the branch roads to draw. From the
experience gained in working this extensive system of
secondary haulage with compressed air as the motive power,
he was disposed to think that the same results could be got
with electricity. Sir Francis Brain also addressed the
meeting, and said that although the Scottish branch was
the youngest of the branches it was now one of the strongest.
If ever there was a time when there was a necessity for
co-operation amongst colliery managers that time was now.

A largely-attended meeting of the members of the Cambus-
lang. and District Mining Association was held on Saturday
evening, when a paper of much practical interest was read
by Messrs. H. M‘Cunn and J. Burns on “ Points in Con-
nection with Coal Cutting by Machinery.” The authors
were of the opinion that machinemen ought to have sufficient
mechanical knowledge to enable them to do any small repairs
in the event of a stoppage and breakdown. He ought to be
a practical miner, with experience in the working face, know-
ing something of the working of coal seams, the support of
the roof, and also the spragging of the coal when cut. It
was desirable, in their opinion, that machinemen should be