August 4, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

221

THE PHOENIX ELECTRIC

SAFETY LAMP.

The Phoenix electric safety lamps, two patterns of
which are illustrated in the drawings (fig. 1 being an
external view, and fig. 2 a sectional elevation) have
recently been! authorised by the French Government for
use in mines. They are made in two sizes, designed to
furnish a continuous light for periods of 12 and 16
hours respectively, and are otherwise identical in con-
struction. The various details are the result of investi-
gations, controlled by practical experiments carried on
at the Garvin Collieries, Pas-de-Calais, by the chief
engineer, M. J. Jardel, from 1910 onward.'

The accumulator, which is cylindrical, has a high elec-
trical capacity, amounting to 36 watt hours per kilo-
gramme, this capacity being attained without injury to
the solidity and durability of the apparatus; in fact,
several tests in practice have demonstrated that, even
after being in use for 300 shifts, the capacity of the
accumulators is not appreciably diminished. The
charging liquid is prevented from spilling by means of a
special device.

The outer casing comprises a lower portion, in which
the accumulator is housed, resting on a flexible support
in the bottom, and being held securely in. position by an
elastic ring, so as to be completely insulated from the
casing, the bi-conical shape of which keeps it out of
contact with the projecting parts of the accumulator.

The upper portion of the casing acts as a cover for the
accumulator, and screws on to the lower portion, the
threads being cut in two rings on the inner side of the

Fig. 1.

casing, so that there is no projecting ridge on the out-
side. These rings also strengthen the casing, and
prevent it. from getting out of shape.

The gallery is composed of five pillars, with a domed
top for the carrying ring and hook, the whole being
rigidly connected to the upper portion of the casing in
such a way that it cannot be taken apart. The crystal
glass protecting the lamp bulb is 5 mm. thick, and both
this glass, the conical reflector, and the commutator,
are mounted in the socket carrying the lamp. This
socket, with all the assembled parts, is. secured, by
means of a special key, into the top of the casing, and
then locked by a. second key. The electrical fitting of
the lamp is mounted on the same socket, the rest of the
easing being ordinary sheet metal work.

The lamp is lighted and extinguished by a single turn
of the upper part of the easing, this operation bring-
ing the metallic surfaces of the commutator into or out
of contact with the diametrically opposite poles of the
accumulator, contact being ensured by two spring ter-
minals, which can easily be detached for cleaning, and
also serve for re-charging the accumulator.

The lamp can be locked either by a magnetic device
or by means of a leaden rivet. In either case, the lock-
ing is effected in a groove cut in the assembling screw
rings of the casing. When the lamp is locked, the parts
can still be moved through two turns, sufficient for the
operations of lighting and extinction.

The weight of the smaller lamp,, ready for use, is
1,500 grammes (3’3 lb.), and it gives a light of 1| candles
for 12 hours. The larger size weighs 1,850 grammes
(4jf lb.), and gives the same amount of light for 16
hours. It is thus evident that the lamps are very light,

whilst affording good illumination for a sufficiently long
period. One of the main objects of the designers of the
Phoenix lamp (Messrs. Jardel and Gerard) has been to
dispense with the employment of any delicate and com-
plicated organs, so that the lamps (which are manufac-
tured by the Cie. Franijaise des Accumulateurs Elec-
triques Phoenix, Paris) may be regarded as among the
simplest and strongest on the market.

BOARD OF TRADE IRON AND STEEL
INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE.

The Board of Trade announces that the Departmental
Committee on the Iron, Steel and Engineering Industries
has now been reconstituted, and a separate Depart-
mental Committee has been appointed by the Board of
Trade to consider the position of the iron and steel
industries after the war. It being the desire of the
committee to make the basis of its enquiry as broad as
possible, in order that its final recommendations may
be firmly founded upon the widest investigation, it is
requested that secretaries of trade associations (both of

Fig. 2.

manufacturers and workmen) in the iron and
steel industries will bring to the notice of their
members the terms of the subjoined circular letter,
and that the members will place at the disposal
of the committee, as early as possible, all information
which they may possess, whether as individuals or as a
corporate body.

All correspondence on the subject should be addressed
to the secretary, Mr. C. Roland Woods, 6, Whitehall-
gardens, London, S.W,

Circular Letter.

The Departmental Committee consists of : Mr. G. Scoby
Smith (chairman), Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., Mr. Archibald
Colville, Mr. John Hodge, M.P., Mr. James Gavin, Mr.
George Mure Ritchie, Mr. Henry Summers, Mr. Benjamin
Talbot, Mr. John King, and Mr. John E. Davison; and was
appointed “ to consider the position of the iron and steel
industries after the war, especially in relation to international
competition, and to report what measures, if any, are neces-
sary or desirable in order to safeguard that position.”

In order to carry, out its investigations, the committee
desires to elicit exact and detailed information from a number
of representative and individual firms, and from industrial,
commercial, and labour organisations, with respect to - (1)
The extent and area of trade, and capital normally employed.
(2) The dependency upon resources external to this country
for supplies of material and plant. (3) Labour relations,
labour restrictions (if any), and comparative conditions in the
industry. (4) British methods of conducting foreign business
contrasted with foreign methods of conducting export business.
(5) The effects of manufacturing and commercial co-operation
upon trade at home and abroad. (6) The extent to which
British industry is adversely affected, whether as regards (a)
the retention of business hitherto or previously secured, or

(b) its capacity for expansion, by the existence of foreign
tariffs, preferential arrangements, bounties, subsidies, or
special facilities granted by foreign governments, railways,
or trade combinations, to their manufacturers or exporters;
and what, in your opinion, is the remedy. (7) Terms of pay-
ment and of credit. (8) Technical education, skill, and
nature of employees. (9) The effect, if any, of wayleaves,
and mining or other royalties upon the industry, either as
regards home or export trade. (10) The effect, if any, of rail-
way and shipping rates upon the industry, as regards home or
export trade. (11) General information.

The recommendations of the committee must depend for
effectiveness upon the co-operation of all who are interested in
the British iron and steel industries. The committee, there-
fore, invites the active support and assistance not only of
individuals, but also of industrial organisations of whatever
character.

The committee suggests that the various trade organisa-
tions should submit, either through their secretaries or through
small committees, a general statement of their views,
together with suggestions which in their opinions might
desirably form the foundation of practical measures in the
future. The general evidence might suitably be supported
by the presence of a deputation representative of the organi-
sation as a whole.

The committee will be glad to receive statements supported
by verbal evidence from representative firms, and from indi-
viduals, whose depositions, in the opinion of the committee,
will be valuable to their work. It will also welcome the
assistance of import and export merchants who are interested
in the handling of the products of the iron and steel industries
at home and abroad.

THE COAL SITUATION IN CANADA.*

By W. J. Dick.

The coal deposits of Canada compare favourably with
those of the greatest coal mining countries of the world
in respect of quality, quantity, and accessibility for
mining purposes. According to estimates prepared by
I). B. Dowling, of the Geological Survey, the known area
in Canada underlain by workable beds is 111,168 square
miles. About one-quarter of the coal resources of the
world is possessed by the British empire, and about 70
per cent, of this share is credited to Canada. Although
the coal resources of Canada are so great, tire production
in 1913 amounted to little over 15 million tons, while, in
the same year, the production of Great Britain was over
292 million tons'.

The coal mining industry of Canada has developed very
rapidly. In 1874, the earliest year for which there is a
reliable record, t-he production was 1,063,742 tons; 12
years later, in 1886, it had doubled; after 12 years (in
1898) the production had again doubled, 4,173,108 tons
of coal having been produced. From 1898, the produc-
tion rose more rapidly, and in six years the production
was again doubled, amounting to 8,254,595 tons in 1909.
In 1913, the production was 15,012,178 tons, or an
increase of nearly 85 per cent, in nine years. This rate of
increase is somewhat lower than for the previous few
years on account of the effect of labour troubles and the
use of California fuel oil in Western Canada.

Canadian Imports of Coal.

The imports into Canada have increased faster than the
production. In 1886 they amounted to 1,962,604 tons;
12 years later, in 1898, they had increased about 70 per
cent., viz., to 3,374,170 tons. From 1898 they increased
very rapidly, and, in six years, they were more than
doubled, amounting to 6,936,959 tons in 1904. In 1913
the imports were 18,201,953 tons, or an increase of over
2'6 times in nine years. Of the total consumption during
1913, 42-6 per cent, was domestic coal, and 57'4 per cent,
imported coal, or, in.other words, Canada imports more
coal than she produces. The importance of this fact
may be more fully recognised when it is realised that the
value cf the coal production greatly exceeds that of any
other mineral product, and amounted to over 25 per cent,
of the total mineral production of Canada in 1913, being
valued at about 37,335,000 dols. The situation then is
this: although Canada has over 171 per cent, of'the
world’s reserve of coal, the production is small, and the
imports exceed the output. The reason for this con-
dition is because the coal fields of Canada are situated
in the eastern and western portions of the Dominion, the
distance separating them being about 2,500 miles.

Demand for Anthracite.

Eastern Canada possesses no deposits of anthracite,
and as this class of coal is admirably suitable for domestic
heating and cooking purposes, it is imported in consider-
able quantity from the United States, and is sold over an
area extending from Nova Scotia in the east, to Battle-
ford, Saskatchewan, in the west. The imports in 1913
amounted to over 4,640,000 tons, being more than double
the imports of 1906. From this it can be seen that the
demand for this class of coal is increasing,, notwithstand-
ing the increasing prices. Again, the supply of anthracite
in the United States is limited, and there is no assurance
that its export to Canada will be long continued. In 1913
it was estimated that there were 16,153 million tons of
anthracite coal in the United States. In 1913, 91,524,922
tons were mined, and, as it has been estimated that for
every ton of coal sold or used half a ton is lost, the
exhaustion is proceeding at the rate of 152,541,536 tons
per annum. If the production continued at the same
rate it would exhaust the anthracite of the United States
in little over 100 years. We must,'therefore, expect that
the price will gradually increase and, coincidently,
production will decrease, thus prolonging the life of the
mines.

From the above it may be seen that before many years
Eastern Canada cannot be assured of getting supplies of
anthracite coal from the United States unless at a greatly
increased cost, which increase is already being felt; also
that, as there are no supplies of this class of coal in the
above-mentioned area, the requirements cannot be
supplied from the home resources. Hence the conclu-
sion that some kind of substitute must be developed to

* From a paper read at the annual meeting of the Canadian
•Mining Institute.