July 7, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

31

51b. of steam per pound of fuel burnt, the steaming
capacity at the -various rates of firing indicated may be
readily arrived at.

Economic Aspects.

When new boiler installations are contemplated it is
rarely that the influence of the fuel and the proposed
draught system on capital expenditure is taken into con-
sideration. With broken coke and an impelled draught
the height to which the chimney shafts need to be taken
may be considerably curtailed, with a corresponding
reduction in outlay. In the past, steam-generating
plant has invariably been designed on the assumption
that some variety of hard coal will be the staple fuel
employed. A series of figures recently compiled from
practical observation are of particular interest from the
point of view of present-day conditions. As regards
four of the most common fuels, it has been calculated
that with coal slack at 25s. per ton, mechanically
stoked, the cost of evaporation per 1,000 gals, of water
amounts -to 14s. lid. With hard steam coal at 35s. per
ton the cost of evaporating the same amount of water is
16s. 5d.; with smokeless Welsh coal at 38s. per ton the
cost is 16s. Id.; and with coke at 25s. per ton, burnt
under impelled draught, 12s. 4d. The recent report
issued by the Deptford Borough Council, relating to a
trial period of coke firing with impelled draught in lieu
of a high-grade coal having a calorific value of 15,000
British thermal units per lb. and only 3 per cent, of
ash, shows that in the average working expenses for a
single month there was a saving in favour of coke
amounting to 16 per cent.

Use in Marine Practice.

As regards the use of the newer fuel with marine
boilers, it is a significant fact that three of the large
colliers owned by the South Metropolitan Gas Company
are now running entirely on coke, while the whole of
the company’s tugs are fired in the same way. Coke
fuel was adopted many months ago on the now famed
collier “ Wandle.” An interesting phase of the coke
situation was the employment of this fuel by the
National Steam Car Company for steam raising on
motor-omnibuses. Unfortunately, just as promising
headway was being made with the scheme, the works
of the company became officially controlled for war
purposes, with the result that little more could be done
in the matter. It is understood, however, that the
project has not been allowed to rest, and an improved
motor of entirely new design is only aw’aiting less
strenuous times before bei»g put on to the road.

THE USE OF IRON FOR TRANSMISSION LINES.

The substitution of iron for copper conductors appears
to be proceeding on a large scale in Germany at the
present time, and tentative work in this direction has
also been going on for some time in the United States,
certain of the power companies in the States having been
experimenting with iron for minor work where the length
of line was considerable with respect to the load carried.
Reports of the operation of these iron lines have been
collected from a number of supply companies, and are
published in the Electrical World. It appears that for
lines carrying light loads, such as often obtains with new
lines, or extensions, or lines in scattered districts,
entirely satisfactory results can be reached with iron,
provided the load does not increase to such an extent
that the drop becomes unduly great. No attempts appear
to have been made to use iron for main transmission
lines; probably the losses would be too great to give any
economy except under very abnormal conditions. The
results hitherto obtained point to the probability that iron
lines will not find any permanent place, but are only
economical as temporary structures while the price of
copper is unusually high, and even then only for light
loads. For example, the United Electric Light and
Water Company, Waterbury, find that it is cheaper for
certain small loads to use a line of iron, with iron at 8*25
cents per lb., than one of copper when that metal is
15 cents per lb.

The Monmouth (HI.) Public Service Company
operates <a three-phase 13,200-volt, iron-wire line about
twelve miles long, and constructed with No. 6 iron wire.
The regulation of the line is satisfactory without the use
of a night feeder regulator.

The Public Service Company of Northern Illinois uses
iron wire on the extreme ends of lines carrying light
loads, the lines being built of No. 8 wire strung on
25-ft. or 30-ft. poles. The Nebraska Gas and Electric
Company, Omaha, operates three iron-wire transmission
lines, one being seven miles long and another 28 miles
long, with satisfactory results. The sizes of iron wire
used ant ^in., jin. and T5^. The line is two-
conductor, transposed every two miles and carried on
30-ft. wood poles spaced 125 ft. The operating voltage
is 16,500 and the average load 70 kw.

To minimise the cost of providing circuits over which
to supply energy to irrigation motors in sparsely-settled
districts, the Pacific Power and Light Company has made
use of No. 8 copper-clad wire and No. 8 iron wire. The
former was used for the reason that it was under normal
copper prices — about one-third cheaper than copper
wire. Experience has shown, however, that future
growth must be taken into consideration before adopting
such construction, since in many cases the load may grow
to such proportions that the voltage drop in the copper-
clad steel lines will be excessive. On short 6,600-volt
branch lines and other circuits where the load is light,
the company has not experienced any trouble with the
No. 8 iron wire construction due to excessive voltage
drop. The Southern California Edison Company has
used iron wire on short branch circuits for 11,000-volt
service, where the distance did not exceed a mile and
the load not more than 50 kw. It has been found, how-
ever, that certain operating troubles can be traced to the
use of this construction, and it has therefore been dis-
continued owing to the high cost of reverting to copper
when a branch is afterwards developed into a main line.

HANDLING ASHES AT AN ELECTRIC
POWER STATION.*

In the course of a paper on the Johannesburg
Municipal Electrical Power Station, Mr. J. H.
Dobson describes the plant employed for removing ashes
from the boilers. A shaft was put down at the south
end of the boiler house and a tunnel was driven under-
neath the centre line, the distance from the floor level
to the bottom of the
tunnel beng 27 ft. This
tunnel extends the
whole length of the
boiler house, and is
sufficiently large to
enable natives to ope-
rate koko pans therein.
The ash gullies or
chutes connecting the
back of the chain grate
stokers were then driven
upwards and connected
to the tunnel.

The tunnel is brick-
lined with hard blue
bricks to a thickness
varying from 9 in. to
14 in., according to the
nature of the ground
encountered, and the
ash gullies are lined
with hard blue bricks

to a thickness of 4| in. The tops of the ash gullies are
further stiffened with tee irons.

The ashes are dumped on the dumping plates at the
end of the chain grate stoker, and fall directly into the
ash gullies through suitably shaped mouthpieces. In
the tunnel koko pans are filled with ashes by opening
the chute doors, which are operated by levers worked
by natives. They are then run along rails and dumped
into a receiving bin at the end of the tunnel. The ashes
are then elevated to the receiving bin by means of a tray
conveyor. The capacity of the receiving bin is approxi-
mately 80 tons, and at present the ashes are removed
from the bin by mule wagons, although arrangements
have been made, when a suitable dumping site has been
obtained, to remove them by electric freight cars capable
of holding 8 tons of ashes.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—July 3.

Mine Inspectors.

Mr. D. Millar asked the Under-Secretary of State for
the Home Department what steps had been taken to main-
tain a sufficient staff of mine inspectors during the war,
having regard to the number of members of the staff who
had joined his Majesty’s Forces.

Mr. Brace replied that in view of the importance of the
services performed by the mines inspectors,' the Home Office
had been careful to see that the staff of the inspectorate
should not be unduly depleted. Fifteen out of the 79
inspectors had joined the Forces since the outbreak of war,
one of whom had returned to the department. The work of
the department had been zealously and effectively carried on
by the rest of the staff. He (Mr. Brace) asked for notice
of another question as to the number of inspectors and sub-
inspectors in Scotland. 

Mines Rescue Stations.

Mr. Millar asked for the number of mines rescue stations
at present equipped and in working order in Scotland, giving
the name of the district in each case.

Mr. Brace said there were five central rescue stations
equipped and in working order, namely, at Cowdenbeath, in
Fife; at Edinburgh; at Coatbridge, in Lanarkshire; and at
Auchinleck and Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire. The three other
stations which it was decided to erect, at Larbert, in Stirling-
shire, at Bathgate, in Linlithgowshire, and at Lesmahagow,
in South Lanark, were also complete except as regards sets
of breathing apparatus, and he understood that the makers
had promised to deliver the whole of the sets required in the
course of this month.__________

Coal Production Committee.

Mr. Millar asked how far the recommendations made by
the Home Office Committee on Coal Production during the
war had been carried out; and what steps had been taken to
obtain the maximum output of coal at the collieries.

Mr. Brace replied that it would not be possible wuthin the
limits of an answer to give all the information. Some infor-
mation would be found in the second report of the Coal
Mining Organisation Committee, and additional information
would be given in a further report. As a result of the steps
taken, a marked reduction in absenteeism had already been
effected, holidays had been curtailed, and the number of days
worked increased by' the abandonment of customary stop days.
After conference between the Mining Association and Miners’
Federation, special measures were being taken to bring about
a still further reduction in absenteeism. It had also been
decided that no more men are to be recruited for the Forces
from among the miners. The Government were fully alive
to the great importance of taking all possible steps to increase
the available supplies of coal.

Mr. Millar asked whether any enquiry had been instituted
by the Home Office as to the causes of the short time being
worked at some collieries; and wrhat steps had been taken
to secure the working of the pits as continuously as possible
throughout the week.

Mr. Brace said that the Coal Mining Organisation Com-
mittee had given close and constant attention to these ques-
tions, and he referred the hon. member to the two reports
which had already been issued by the Committee.

July 4.
Supply of Coal to France.

Sir Fortescue Flannery asked the President of the Beard
of Trade whether the circular headed “ Supply of Coal to

* The Journal of the South African Institution of Engineers.

France,” dated May 25, had been issued with the authority
of his Department; whether clause 8 of that circular pro-
vided that coal exporters and coal owners in each district of
the United Kingdom shall appoint committees ; whether the
coal exporters of the Port of London had appointed a com-
mittee; whether that committee had been refused by the
Central Executive Committee the right of representation
upon its membership; and whether the Board of Trade wmuld
take steps to ensure such representation, in view of the
large tonnage of coal exports controlled by London firms
trading with France.

Mr. Harcourt replied that the circular referred to was
printed and issued by the Board of Trade, and clause 8
provided for the appointment of local committees. He under-
stood that a London committee had been appointed, but that
it w7as not represented on the Central Committee. Neither
the local committees nor the Central Committee were in any
way appointed by the Board of Trade, and that the depart-
ment could not well intervene. He w’ould see what could be
done to enable the appointment to be made.

Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Bill.

On the motion for the second reading of this measure,
which authorises in gas undertakings the substitution of a
standard of calorific power for a standard of illuminating
power,

Mr. King asked whether the 831 gas undertakings in.this
country were likely to apply for Orders immediately the Act
was passed, and, if so, would the Orders be given. No less
than £160,000,000 had been expended on these undertakings.

Mr. Pretyman explained that this was, in the first place,
a war measure. Its main object was to encourage gas com-
panies to erect and work plant for the production of benzol
and toluol, which wrere both needed for the manufacture of
munitions. If the companies should derive considerable
advantages from the proposed change, the consumers ought
in fairness to share the benefit by a reduction in the price
of gas, and this was recognised by the framers of the Bill.
He w’ould consider the point regarding the keeping of separate
accounts for the manufacture and sale of by-products by gas
comnanies as an element in deciding the price of gas.

The Bill wras read a second time.

Certifying Surgeons.

Mr. Samuel stated the reasons which led the Government
to propose clause 8 in the Bill dealing with the duties of
certifying surgeons. The only point in the clause was to
remove the duplication of reports and the expense of certify-
ing surgeons sending to the Home Office the same sort of
information as the factory inspector supplied.

Replying to subsequent questions, Mr. Brace said that the
Home Office thought it desirable to abolish the system of
certifying surgeons. More factory inspectors with technical
knowledge were wanted, and if a higher standard of medical
inspection were instituted, the Home Office would prefer to
have full time medical inspectors rather than the present
system of certifying surgeons.

Mr. A. Williams spoke of the desirability of having
special reports from the medical men where it was a case
of septic poisoning or gassing or a case arising from some
deleterious chemical substance wdiich came under the defini-
tion of accidents. He promised to bring forward an amend-
ment relating to this, and other suggestions.

The Bill w7as read a second time.

Enemy Interests in Oil Companies.—In written answers to
questions by Maj. Hunt regarding enemy interests in the
British Petroleum Company, the Petroleum Steamship Com-
pany, and the Homelight Oil Company, Mr. Harcourt stated
that the companies had not been wound up, because it was
desirable that, after the enemy interest had been eliminated,
the extensive organisation established for the supply and
distribution of petroleum products should be available for
the benefit of this country. The best method of dealing with
the enemy interest was under consideration, and, in the
meantime, the businesses were being carried on under super-
vision. Although the Europaische Petroleum Union wras
the registered holder of substantially all the shares of these
companies, Russian, French, and Belgian undertakings
claimed that the 'beneficial interest in almost half those
shares was invested in them. The directors of the British
Petroleum Company Limited wore : Mr. Kean (British), Mr.
Olsen (Norwegian), M. Braun (French), Mr. Nobel
(Russian), Mr. Waterkeyn (Belgian), and Mr. Colt (British).
The first two were directors at the outbreak of war, and w’ere
appointed in 1906 by the subscribers to the memorandum of
association. The remaining four were appointed by the boa?d
of directors—M. Braun in 1908, and the other three since the
war. Mr. Kean was the manager. The directors of the
Petroleum Steamship Company Limited were the same as
those of the British Petroleum Company Limited, with' the
substitution of Mr. Hagelin, of Petrograd, for Mr. Nobel.
Mr. Olson was appointed by the articles of association, and
the others by the board of directors. The managers were
Messrs. Lane and Macandrew. The directors of the Home-
light Oil Company Limited were Mr. Olsen, Mr. Kean, and
Mr. Moslitchian, an Armenian.