1095 _____ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 26, 1915. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COAL RESOURCES AND IMPORTS OF CHILE. Coal mining in Chile has shown a steady development in the past 10 years, writes U.S. Consul-General Leo J. Keena, Valparaiso. In 1904, 751.628 metric tons were mined in the Republic, and in 1913, 1,283,450 metric tons. The 1913 pro- duction, while less than that of 1912 (1,334,407 metric tons), was 95,397 metric tons greater than that of 1911. The price of locally mined coal in 1904 averaged 4-38 dols. per metric ton, and in 1913 6-94 dols. per metric ton. The following is a list of the coal mining companies in Chile in 1913, with the location of the mines and their gross production in metric tons of 2,204-6 lb. :— Companies. Anibal 20 Zanartu ......... Cia. Carbonifera de Lirquen Cia. Minera de El Rosal ... Cia. de Lota y Coronel..... Do. do. ..... Do. do. ..... Do. do. ..... Cia. Carbonifera de Fundi- cion Schwager .......... Sue. Rojas Miranda ....... Cia. Carbonifera (Los Rios de Curanilahue)............ Cia. Carbonifera (Los Rios de Curanilahue)............ Cia. Carbonifera Victoria de • Lebu.................... La Cia. de Arauco Limited ... Do. do. Cia. Carbonifera (Los Rios de Curanilahue)............ Cia. Carbonifera Millahuillin Agustin Ross ............ Location Produc- of tion. mines. Tons. Tome......... 2,000 Penco ....... 30,000 Do........... 18,000 Lota ......... 291,398 Coronel....... 41,692 Do........... 12,763 Do. , ....... 14,017 Do........... 370,000 ......... Lota ............. 10,000 Carampangue... 11,977 Lebu......... 183,673 ......... Do.............. 16,000 Carampangue .. 37,032 Lebu......... 180,270 ......... Do.............. 49,828 Valdivia ..... 600 Punta Arenas... 14,200 Total ............................ 1,283,450 These mines employed 8,414 persons, of whom 5,929 were underground workmen. The average daily wages paid for underground work were approximately 1 dol. United States currency per day. The imports into Chile of steam, gas, and other coals during the past five years were as follow :—1910, 1,293,000 tons; 1911, 1,367,874 tons; 1912, 1,524,652 tons; 1913, 1.540.747 tons; and 1914, 877,650 tons. The quantity given for the year 1913 is in accordance with the annual statistical returns of the Chilean Customs authorities, and came from the following countries:—United Kingdom, 924,430 tons; Australia, 457,873 tons; United States, 98,979 tons; Ger- many, 45,477 tons; Belgium, 13,413 tons; Netherlands, 575 tons—total, 1,540,747 tons. The quantity given for 1914, 877,650 tons, may be taken as a fair approximation to the imports for that year, though the official statistics are not yet available. The total may be divided as follows :—English coal, 453,999 tons; Australian coal, 407,601 tons; United States coal, 16,050 tons—total, 877,650 tons. During the second half of 1914 the imports were as follow:—Australian coal, 257,204 tons; English coal, 192,493 tons; United States coal, 16,050 tons—total, 465.747 tons. The statistics for 1914 have been obtained from commercial reports compiled in the port of Valparaiso, which is the centre for the coal import trade of Chile. The quantity of coal imported during the second half of 1914 compares favourably with that of the first half of the same year, in spite of the paralysis of industry, especially in the nitrate region. This may be due, in some measure, to the fact that the Chilean State railroads purchase their coal requiiements a year in advance, and most of the nitrate oficinas (works) use fuel oil. During the present year the imports of coal have been considerably reduced, for in addition to the shutting down of nitrate and other works, the State railroads rejected all bids for foreign coal, relying on the native product for their supplies for the present year. It remains to be seen whether the native mines will be able to fill their contracts. Mine owners in the south of Chile are at present employing labour brought from the north by the Chilean Government, and it is reasonable to suppose that the men from the north would return home immediately were operations resumed to any great extent in the nitrate fields, and their departure would once more create a scarcity of labour in the coal region. During the past few years the Australian mine owners have been able to secure practically all the orders from the Chilean State railroads. To do this they have special repre- sentatives in Valparaiso, and do not rely on general importing firms to look after their interests. Shipments from Great Britain are now entirely cut off, while shippers of coal from Australia have to pay an indemnity to the naval commissioners, amounting to 24,000 dols. per cargo exported, as a guarantee that the coal will be delivered to the persons for whom it is intended. The amount is forfeited unless the naval commissioners in Australia are satisfied that the cargo has been delivered in accordance with the particulars given at the point of shipment in Australia. With such restrictions as these, Australian mine owners are not disposed to export their coal if a satisfactory market can be found for it at home. The Chilean mine owners are therefore doing all in their power to secure as much trade as possible. The last prices quoted to the Chilean State railways, at the opening of tenders for their requirements for 1915, were as follow:—American coal, 9-73 dols. United States cur- rency; Australian coal, 7-66 to 8-03 dols.; Chilean coal, 6-75 to 7-30 dols. The present market price for Australian coal is 7-30 to 7-91 dols. per long ton. There is no market quotation on English coal, but it is reported to be worth about 18-25 dols. per long ton. These prices are f.o.b. Valparaiso, and vary according to port of delivery and quantity ordered. The market prices for the corresponding period of last year were as follow:—English (Cardiff), 8-03 to 8-52 dols. per ton; English (Hartley), 7-66 to 8-27 dols.; Australian (best marks), 7-56 to 8-16 dols. Prices for coal delivered f.o.b. are generally quoted at 1,016 kilogs. (2,2401b.) to the ton, while those for delivery on shore are quoted at 1,000 kilogs. (2,204-6 lb.) to the ton. The buyer in Chile presents a receipt for the cargo, from which invoices are made out, and payment is made by 90 days’ sight draft on London on the financial mail day nearest to the receipt in Valparaiso of an acknowledgment of the coal. Owing to the distance between Valparaiso and some of the northern ports, considerable time often intervenes between the final delivery of a cargo and payment by draft in Valparaiso, which means that considerable credit is allowed to the purchaser. This custom is upheld by the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, and is one that cannot easily be changed. The Chilean State railways pay for their coal in Chilean gold, by draft on the fiscal treasurer in Santiago or Valparaiso, and sometimes by sterling draft on London. On the presentation of bids it is> necessary to deposit 10 per cent, of the total value of the coal on which quotations are made, which deposit must be handed in personally by the duly authorised representative of the firm offering coal. The amount is refunded when the contract has been completed. At the commencement of the European War the Australian colliery owners had fairly large stocks of coal deposited on shore in Valparaiso and Santiago, but their anticipations relative to the rise in prices were not realised, and the stocks have not been depleted. On the other hand, the native mines have done a good*trade in coal sold from deposit. The conditions under which coal cargoes are discharged in Valparaiso and other Chilean ports require very close atten- tion on the part of the seller. The quantity that can be delivered per day at the different ports along the coast varies considerably, and the conditions under which the State rail- ways receive their coal are different from the conditions prevailing among the industrial and manufacturing concerns. The coal is discharged from steamers and sailing vessels into lighters, and the continual handling it receives before reach- ing the consumer has a tendency to diminish its value as a combustible. Included in the plan for the Valparaisok port works, now under construction, is a project for a mole for discharging coal cargoes. ______________________________________ INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. _____________________________________ Africa. Capital Statistics.—Particulars have now been published by the Mines Department of the capital, etc., of mines in the Union as at December 31, 1914. From these the following is extracted relating to coal mines :— Orange Transvaal. Cape. Free Natal. State. <£ £ £ £ 4.954.750.. .320.000...1.389.500...2.891.710 758.814.. . 70,755... 286,820... 295,959 4.195.936.. .249.245...1.102.680..2.595.751 2.652.625.. . 94,500...1,018,570...1,704,120 1.543.311.. . 154,745... 84,110... 891,631 39.513.. . — ... 688.972.. .100.000... 235.572.. . — ... 91.104.. . — ... 133.734.. . 1,251... Capital— Nominal ........ Reserve, uncalled and unpaid..... Net issued ....... For property, &c.... For cash ........... Premiums on shares (net) .......... Debentures issued ... Do. outstanding Temporary advances Sundry creditors ... Outstanding credit balances ...... Mining property— Expenditure 1914... Written off 1914 ... Net present book value.......... Estate property ... Options (net value) ... Shafts and mine development— Expenditure 1914 ... Written off 1914 ... Net value........ Equipment— Expenditure 1914... Written off 1914... Net value........ Investments ...... Sundry debtors..... Stores, materials, &c. Undistributed balances Produce in transit ... Cash .............. Deficiency of assets ... Dividends declared ... 955.351.. . 7,683... 36,062... 670... 16.928.. . 355... 2,535,305... 168,237... 534.353.. . — ... 16.820.. . 166... — ... 8,062 350,000... 302.805 200,000... 270,835 75,083... 129,276 213... 128,280 60,136... 473,771 9... 5,576 — ... 11,429 309,312 1,589,715 665,450... 61,781 — ... 950 20.931.. . 726... 764.687.. . 156... 247.596.. . 3,486... 129.939.. . 331... 42.182.. . 3,145... 1,083,061... 45,582... 271.854.. . 12,728... 243.881.. . 5,823... 113.654.. . 5,186... 194.619.. . — ... 339,018... 7,402*” 81/49... 9,569... 300.683.. . — ... 31... 13,516 962.. . 9,134 31.324.. . 137,292 29.318.. . 73,568 5.302.. . 57,309 143.375.. . 971,495 11.430.. . 19,532 67.428.. . 135,710 66.413.. . 89,151 15.319.. . 273,908 154.. . 14,160 6.519.. . 264,093 121.388.. . 48,188 8.288.. . 92,246 South African Railways. — Interesting sidelights are thrown on the progress of South African coal mining in the annual report of the General Manager of Railways. It has been stated that the Is. per ton reduction made by the rail ways on coal exported oversea as cargo was inadequate and almost useless. In order to test the accuracy of the statement referred to, Mr. Hoy had the figures extracted from the records of the Administration to see what the actual tonnages were before and after this reduction was made in October 1912. The following figures, which repre- sent coal exported oversea as cargo only, and do not include coastwise coal, Mr. Hoy says, speak for themselves :— From From Total. Year. Durban. Delagoa Bay. Tons. Tons. Tons. 1911 ... ... 84,116 . 22,150 . 106,266 1912 ... ... 174,087 .. 215,323 . 389,410 1913 ... ... 355,901 . 436,960 . 792,861 1914 ... ... 207,033 . 361,853 . 568,886 In January the train service was temporarily dislocated, resulting in an accumulation of approximately 30,000 tons of coal under load in trucks. During a period of 16 days this traffic was hauled and distributed to the respective mines. This quantity of coal and a further tonnage from the smaller mines, which continued to work during that period, were dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Dealing with the perennial question of delay to trucks at Durban, Mr. Hoy says :—The daily average quantity of coal under load at Durban during the year wras 15,557 tons, which is an increase of 2,714 tons compared with the previous year. While admitting the increase is to some extent due to the greater uncertainty of ships arriving or of ships being available, it is nevertheless an indication that the holding of coal under load in trucks has become a practice, with detrimental results both to the coal trade and to the truck supply. “ I would again urge upon the collieries the necessity for grading coal in Natal, as unless steps are taken in this direction there will always be cause for complaint. The Administration cannot be expected to provide rolling stock to accommodate the shipment coal because of trade difference. The present system must have limitations. At other ports where the coal is graded without regard to output from individual collieries, similar difficulties are not met with, and trucks do not remain under load either in the same quantity or for such long periods.” Australia. What is a Fair Day's Work?—Judgment has been delivered by Mr. Justice Edmunds in the Industrial Arbitration Court of New South Wales in appeals on behalf of the Commonwealth Portland Cement Company Limited, the Lithgow Valley Colliery Company Limited, and the Invincible Colliery Company Limited, against the award of the Coal and Shale Mining (West) Group No. 1 Board. His Honour said the first subject of appeal was the increase granted by the board of 3d. per ton in the hewing rate for fork-filled coal, provided by clause 2. Prior to the award the rate had been fixed by an industrial agreement of September 1912 at 2s. 3d. per ton. The difficult problem was presented of whether the rate of production of coal represented by that average, viz., 5| tons for fork-filled coal, or 6| tons for shovel-filled, was a fair day’s work for an average miner. He had instituted some enquiries for guidance in the matter, but they were fruitless, for it turned out that since January last the miners’ union had established a limitation of work by every miner to a minimum output of eight skips per day, enforced by fines imposed by the union. The object of that limitation, given on behalf of the men, was to compel the proprietors, in order to keep up their output, to put on a larger number of miners, and thus reduce the unemploy- ment of miners in the district. The actual effect of the limitation upon the industry, as the proprietors alleged, had been that in many cases miners went out of the mine half an hour or more before the ordinary time; that wheelers were not required at the end of the day to bring in the empty skips; and were, therefore, for a proportion of their working hours, reduced to an enforced idleness; that no coal was produced in the mine in the latter part of the evening to give employment for winding in the first part of the working hours next morning, and that the actual orders received by the different collieries could not be executed. The decision of the right or the wrong of that matter, con- tinued his Honour, did not come within the scope of his judgment, but he felt bound to appeal to the miners to consider whether, even assuming that their object was the laudable one of charity to their unemployed mates, it was just for them to achieve that object at the expense of serious interference with the ordinary operations of the mines; whether it was fair to the individuals that they should be coerced by fine to lessen their working hours; whether it was fair to the Court that the control of the question whether an undue daily task was imposed upon the man by the management should be withdrawn from the decision of the Court, and be determined by the men themselves by coercion; and whether it was fair to the community to raise that vexed question at the present critical time. His conclusion from the evidence was that a fair output per man per day was seven tons of shovel-filled coal. The hewing rate for fork-filled coal, his Honour thought, should be so altered as to provide for an increase of Is. per day, on which full time was worked in March last, and 9d. in January last. The hewing rate should be increased by 2d. at the present time, and l|d. in January last. He therefore amended the award by the alteration of 2s. 3d. in clause 2 to 2s. 4Jd. from January 6 last, and 2s. 5d. at the present time. * ______________________ Canada. Coal Mining in Alberta—Mr. J. T. Stirling, Chief Inspector of Mines, in his report for 1914, records reductions of 421,034 tons in the output of bituminous coal, and of 65,824 tons in the output of lignite, whilst that of anthracite increased by 2,251 tons. The decline in production is due to the poor condition of trade. The following table indi- cates how the total output of coal from the province was disposed of :— CrOW’S T 4.1, Tons of 2,000 lb. Nest Calgary. E