May 5, 191G.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

861

SIGNAL FOR WATER SUPPLY TANK.*

By C. J. Fuetter.

During the prevalence of cold weather every
power house engineer who has to look after a
water tank placed on a hill to supply water to the town
knows how unpleasant it is to go out of a warm engine
room to find out how much water he has in the tank.
Many such engineers let the pump run most of the time
at full speed, in which case it generally happens that
the tank overflows.

This is a waste of power, for at a small cost a signal
system may bo installed that would take care of the
water supply. Such a system is shown in the accom-
panying sketch. It is designed to work on either a

SIGNAL FOR WATER-SUPPLY TANK

110 or 220-volt circuit; however, should only 550 volts
be available, two 250-volt lamps .in series at C and two
at D would be all the changes necessary. H is a hollow
ball made of copper. It may also be made of cork.

This ball is fastened at the end of lever L, which is
pivoted at P, its rise or fall completing the circuit of
C and D. If rising, L makes contact with the adjust-
able screw A, and will light lamp C; if falling, it makes
contact with B, and lights the lamp B. The last-
mentioned lamp should preferably be red. A means
must be provided so that any undue rise will not bend
the lever. This may be accomplished by using contact
springs instead of contact screws. It might be well to
solder a small piece of silver at the contact points A and
B. Lights C and D should be so placed in the engine
room that the engineer’s attention will be .readily drawn
to them.

Should no current be available, the signal could be
arranged to work with bells, .by placing 4 or 5 dry cells
across the lines, with a small boll at C and another at D.
Of course, the ring of these bells should have different
sounds, so that the engineer will know whether the
water is high or low, thus indicating to him whether he
should slow down or speed up the pump.

* Coal Age.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL RESTRICTIONS.

Several new or amended proclamations relating to
exports from British Possessions and Protectorates are
summarised below.

Hong Kong.—Prohibits exports of silica bricks to all
foreign countries in Europe and on the Mediterranean
and Black Seas, other than Franco, Russia (except
through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain and Portugal; also
magnesite and dead burnt magnesite to all destinations.

Mauritius.—Prohibits iron ore exports to all destina-
tions other than the United Kingdom, British Possessions
and Protectorates; also tin-plates, terne-plate, creosote
and creosote oils (including blast furnace oils) to all
foreign countries in Europe, and on the Mediterranean
and Black Seas, other than France, Russia (except
through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Zanzibar Protectorate.—Prohibits the exportation of
iron and stool smelting scrap and haematite pig iron to
all destinations, and prohibits the exportation of solid
drawn steel tubes to all destinations other than the
United Kingdom, British Possessions and Protectorates.

Spain.—Temporary duty-free admission of tin-plates
for making receptacles for packing paprika for export.

BOOK NOTICES.

Kelly’s Directory of the Merchants, Manufacturers, and
Shippers of the World for 1916. 30th annual edition.
10^ in. x 9 in. 3,600 pp. Price 36s. London: Kelly’s
Directories Limited, 182/4, High Holborn, W.C.

The task of preparing this useful directory has been
much heavier than usual, owing to the continued deple-
tion of the printing staff since the outbreak of war. The
war has also made it impossible to get the lists corrected
in the same full manner as formerly, because no recent
information has been obtainable from enemy countries,
and from districts in the occupation of the enemy, or
near the war zone. With these exceptions, the whole of
the pages of the present edition have been duly cor-
rected. The Directory being, of course, intended for
the use of merchants all over the world, the headings
throughout are given in English and French, and also in
the commercial language of the country to which any
particular section refers. The information given
relates to 20,000 foreign and colonial cities and towns,
and trade classifications total a quarter of a million.
The indices, consisting of 320 pages, give some 150,000
references, and are so complete that by the, use of the
first index the pages relating to any individual place can
be ascertained in a moment. From the “ Index to
Trades,” a merchant carrying on any particular trade at
any particular place can be found with equal facility by
both English and foreign merchant, since the latter can
easily refer to the ample indices to trades given at the
commencement of the book in the principal commercial
languages of the world? including Russian.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Charges for Bunkering-Presentation at Rhymney—Medal
for Under Manager—Profits of Coal Freights—Lord
Rhondda on British Commerce.

It has been decided by the dock companies to raise the
charges for bunkering, a change that will materially affect
those large vessels which come into port for bunkers only.
Hitherto the different dock proprietaries have endeavoured
to attract this particular class of business, but the “ liners ”
take up much quay space, and as they pay upon register
tonnage, which is cubic area, relatively low in the “ liner ”
class, and as the tips are now badly needed for better-paying
cargo boats, the change of rates has been resolved upon.
Instead of 4d. per ton, varying figures have been fixed, so
that the cost in some cases may be double. The new condi-
tions will operate after the end of the present month.

Mr. Watkin Moss, who has for six years managed the
Rhymney Company’s pits at Rhymney and Pontlottyn, is
taking the position of agent for the Lewis-Merthyr Company
at Trehavod; and he was on Saturday presented with a
testimonial by the officials and workmen at Rhymney.

The Edward Medal has been awarded to Mr. F. Stephens,
under-manager at the Aberaman Colliery of the Bowel!
Duffryn Company, for gallant conduct in the mine. In
September last a collier was pinned under a fall; and Mr.
Stephens, at considerable personal risk, owing to the sliding
roof, stood over the spot where the man was all but buried,
and shielded him from the effects of further falls, while the
work of rescue was in progress.

As an example of the enormous earnings of steamships
at the present time, largely from coal cargoes, the report
of the Tempus Shipping Company, of Cardiff, has not yet
been exceeded. On a capital of £100,000, the net profits
during the year ended March 31, amounted to no less than
£153,267. Indeed, it was not a year, but only 329 days in
which this great return was obtained. That the fluctuations
of ship income are extreme is shown by the fact that the
total now stated is 10 times as much as was ’realised in
the preceding year. The company, which is under the
management of Mr. W. H. Seager, has five steamers, and
these have been employed on Admiralty account to about
half their capacity during the year. The excess profits tax
will, it is anticipated, take about half the amount, or at
least £60,000; and the company are putting aside £80,000
to meet this, and the income tax; while £80,000 is trans-
ferred to reserve, only 20 per cent, dividend being
distributed.

Swansea Chamber of Commerce discussed on Friday once
more the question of excessive rates of freight, Mr. T. B.
Cook stating that the executive of the Associated Chambers
had adopted the resolution of Swansea, impressing upon the
Government the necessity of control. Reference was made
to action that had already been taken in that direction with
regard to iron ore, Mr. Turpin stating that one or two firms
in London had all the orders for chartering, and thus a
great deal of competition for shipping was avoided. As this
was being done in London, he thought that possibly some-
thing of the same kind might be done in relation to the coal
trade in South Wales ports.

Addressing a large audience in connection with the
proceedings of the National Chamber of Trade, Lord
Rhondda dealt with “ What the British Empire Owes
to Commerce.” He observed that great though our
material progress had been, other countries were
making as great, if not greater, progress. The pro-
gress made in this country was due to the individual
effort of business men, and he did not think that fact was
sufficiently recognised by the politicians or the man in the
street. What gave him -a little cause for anxiety was the
fact that a policy had been adopted by trade unions of
restriction of output. He believed this restriction of output
was a very mistaken policy. He thought that labour ought
to endeavour by every legitimate means to secure us large a
share of the joint production of capital and labour as it
possibly could, and he believed the right and economic policy
was to try and make that joint production as large as
•possible, in order that there might be more to divide. He
would like the men to consider whether in their own interests
it would not be wise to remove altogether those restrictions
which had been increasingly imposed by trade unions during
the last few years. Their national progress was due to
cheap fuel, 'aud it would be difficult if they had to import it.
There had, however, been a tremendous increase in the cost
of production during the last half generation in this country
compared with the United States. This increased cost was
due to legislation undertaken mainly for the purpose of
increased safety underground, but this legislation, which had
so largely increased the cost of production, had not resulted
in any material extent in increasing the safety of life and
limb. The coal owners had not suffered one little bit by this
increased cost of production, for they passed it on to the
consumer abroad. He was not afraid of oil as. a competitor
with coal, though he was going in for a little oil himself to
be on the safe side. It had great advantages over coal, but
it was not going to take its place in this generation, because
there was not enough of oil to go round. It had great
advantages over coal because it was cleaner, more easily
manipulated, and produced a larger amount of power from
an equal quantity of fuel. It was quite possible it might
take the place of coal in the British Navy, but there was
not sufficient to answer all ordinary purposes. Notwith-
standing the enormous increase that had taken place in
production during the last few years, the oil available was
only equal to about 4 per cent, compared with coal, so that
they need not be seriously alarmed about it.

Northumberland and Durham.

Allotments for Miners — Council Chairmen—Newcastle's
Dutch Consulship — More Coke Ovens Relighted —
Hewer's Broken Leg—Treasurer and War Fund—Fraud
on Union—Wire and Wage.

The management of the Lambton and Lumley Collieries,
which belong to the Joicey group, have just made arrange-
ments to let off 130 allotments of 200 sq. yds. each to work-
men employed at Lambton and Lumley. The land is on the
Grill Crescent building estate at Fence Houses, and is worth
£150 an acre as building land, but in the national interest
it has been decided to let the 200 sq. yds. for 2s. 6d. per
annum. Every allotment has already been let, and the

occupiers' have been recommended to keep a pig, and grow
potatoes and cabbages.

Mr. R. F Spence, agent to the Backworth Collieries
Limited, has been re-elected chairman of the Earsdon Urban
District Council for the 20th successive year.

Mr. J. M. B. Doxford, who has been elected chairman of
the Hetton Urban District Council, is well known as a
teacher of mining classes -at Johnston Technical School,
Durham, and Hetton-le-Hole.

Mr Jas. B. Clark, director of Messrs. Mackenzie and
Bhylson Limited, coal exporters, of 12, Lombard-street,
Newcastle, has been appointed temporary Acting-Consul for
the Netherlands .for Newcastle and district.

Mr. J. Gf. Weeks, of Bedlington, who is very well known
in Northumbrian colliery circles, has been removed to a
nursing home, owing to illness.

After being closed down for a considerable time, the
Mickley Coal Company’s coke yard has been restarted, and
50 ovens have been relighted. It is expected that more will
be utilised.

At the inquest at Newcastle last week on John Todd, a
hewer employed at Burradon Lizzie pit, who succumbed to
injuries received in consequence of a fall of coal, the house
surgeon of Newcastle Infirmary stated that when Todd
arrived at the Infirmary about five hours after the .accident,
he was in a collapsed condition on account of severe
haemorrhage in the leg. His leg was also broken. There
were no signs of the application of any proper methods of
stopping the bleeding. It was stated that an experienced
■ambulance man -at the colliery had rendered first aid but, in
view of the doctor’s evidence, had come to the conclusion that
he had not effectively, arrested the flow of blood.

When Newark F. Donkin was charged at Chester-le-Street
last week with having converted to his own Use £20 with
which he had been entrusted as treasurer of a war fund
promoted by the employees of the Urpeth Colliery, it was
pleaded on his behalf that he had been more foolish than
criminal. It was decided to grant defendant 14 days in
which to refund £10, and to order him to repay £1 per mouth
thereafter. He was also bound over to be of good behaviour
for two years and was ordered to pay £1 costs.

A fraud against his union resulted in Geo. Douglas, late
secretary of the Gateshead branch of the Durham County
Enginemen’s Association, being sent to prison by the Durham
City magistrates on Monday for one month’s hard labour.
It was stated that in September last he sent a notice, pur-
porting to have been signed by the chairman of the branch,
stating that a lock-out had occurred at Heworth Colliery,
and accompanied it by an intimation that, in the opinion of
the lodge, tire men were entitled to lock-out benefit, according
to rule. This was followed by a list of men alleged to be
entitled to the pay, and a cheque was sent to defendant,
which included sums of 30s. each for three men who were
named. At the end of the year the association’s balance-
sheet was circulated amongst the members. The document
gave the names of the men who were alleged to have received
lock-out pay. The circulation of the document resulted in
the discovery that some men whose names were on the return
had not received the pay. Defendant pleaded guilty. He
stated that a lock-out did occur at the pit, and that he put
down the names of ah the men whom lie expected would be
affected. At the time he had been nine weeks cut of work,
and was in trouble in many ways. He withheld the money,
but intended to have refunded it when he was able. He had
a wife and four children to support.

The discovery of a most unusual fraud led to Robert Smith
Tate, coal hawker, being fined £5 by the South Shields
magistrates on Tuesday. He was charged with having
obtained coal of the value of £1 11s. 6d. by false pretences
from the Harton Goal Company. It was stated that he came
to the depot of the company several times to purchase loads
of coal. The manager of tlae depot began to notice a shortage
in his stock, and caused the carts to be weighed a second
time. In this way, he discovered that Tate had fixed a false
bottom to his cart, with metal underneath,-which was removed
after the first weighing. In the second, and subsequent
weighings, therefore, defendant received a larger quantity of
coal than he was entitled to. Defendant admitted that it
was “ a fair cop.”

The 16th annual report of the committee of the Northum-
berland Aged Mine Workers’ Homes Association states that,
owing to the war and the high price of building materials,
coupled with a difficulty at Breston, near North Shields, the
association has been unable to proceed with the erection of
10 cottages at .Breston. There are good prospects of securing
sites for 10 cottages each at Burradon, Backworth, and
Ashington, and it is expected that shortly the land question
will be settled at Dinnington for the two cottages to be
erected there. The existing cottages are so highly appreciated
that the committee urges the desirability of doubling the
efforts of those interested, on behalf of the great number of
old people still waiting for homes. More support from the
co-operative societies is appealed for. Reference is made to
the death of Lord Ridley, a trustee to the association, and
Mr. Dixon Cowie, a governor. The year’s income, includ-
ing a previous‘balance of £824, was £2,302. The total
expenditure was £806. The income included £1,325 from
the mine workers, deputies, and mechanics, and £42 from
colliery companies and private individuals. The association’s
cottages and other assets are valued at £33,695.

The inquest touching the death of Edward Woodcock, shot-
firer, of Hebburn Colliery, was resumed at Hebburn on
Tuesday. (The opening of this enquiry was reported in this
column in the issue of April 20.) At the previous hearing,
it was stated that deceased -returned from Hebburn C Pit on
April 7, and informed his son that he had got a dose of
fumes from a slrot, and also that he had fallen over a set
rope, and had hurt his ribs and shoulder. He had a severe
cold, contracted, it was alleged, through remaining four hours
in a cellar under the engine house during a Zeppelin alarm.
He died on April 13. Dr. Dias, at the resumed inquest,
expressed the opinion that death was due to. an inflamed con-
dition of the lungs, the result of the inhalation of fumes from
explosives used in shot-firing in the mine. Cross-examined
by Mr. Clark, representing the manufacturers of the explo-
sive, witness stated that, but for the history of the case, he
would have diagnosed it as one of pneumonia. The fumes
were of a nitrous and irritant character. Mr. Clark asked him
what he would say if he were informed that no nitrous fumes
arose. Witness replied that he would not go beyond the fact
that the man died as a result of irritant fumes. Replying to
Mr. Heath, solicitor to the Durham Miners’ Association,
witness stated that the burning pain in the throat of which
deceased complained was very rare in cases of pneumonia.
—Geo. Wm. McDonald, chief research chemist for the manu-