THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ August 4, 1916. 223 cost per foot of shaft would be 6s. 2|d. x 4| (4| being the number of equivalent 3 ft. x 1-75 stringers), 27s. lid., say, 28s. As a comparison, the following is the cost of equipping a similar shaft at the Nourse mines with timber sills : Wages.—-Two white men with 8 boys equip 66 ft. of incline per month, it is estimated that three-quarter of their time is employed in laying down and blocking sills, the other quarter being employed in laying rails, etc. ' The wages bill is therefore as follows :— White wages, 1 5 shifts x 25 shifts x 22s. 6d. = £42 ?s. 9d. Native wages, 6 shifts x 25 shifts x 3s. = £22 10s. Total, £64 13s. 9d. M ate rial.— Timber.— Sills _________ 32ft. x 8 in. x 8 in. = 14’2 cu. ft. Studdies ....... 30 ft. x 6 in. x 8 in. =10’0 ,, Blocking....... 12 ft. x 6in. x 8in. = 4’0 ,, Total = 28’2 „ at 4s. 6d. = £6 6s. Rd. per set. As the sills are 5 ft. 6 in. centres there are 12 sills in 66 ft.; therefore the cost of timber for 66 ft. = 12 x £6 6s. lOd. = £76 2s. Framing of sets cost 15s. each, or £9 for the 12. Hanging bolts cost approximately £1 per set. The total cost for 66 ft. therefore :— £ s. d. Wages ................ 64 13 9 Material_______________ 88 2 0 Framing sets ...... 9 0 0 Total ..................... 161 15 9 or £2 9s. per foot. ^Assuming the cost of bolting down the rails to the timber sills to be the same as bolting down the rails on to concrete, the cost of the concrete stringers is 21s. per foot less than the cost of similar timber sills. This is a saving of 43 per cent. Method of Laying Rails. The rails are held down on the concrete stringers, as shown in fig. 2, which is self explanatory. The bedding plates b b bridge across the pigeon holes, and are bedded into the concrete. Strictly speaking, the rails only touch the bedding plate, but in practice the space between the concrete and the chair of the rails soon becomes filled up with fine dirt. Originally U bolts were used instead of two hooks (fig. 2), for holding down the rails, the latter having been found preferable. a. Fig. 2.—Holding-down Bolts fob Rails. Where required, wooden roller frames are placed in hitches cut in the concrete stringers. Conclusions. Provided always that there is no danger of movement of the footwall of a shaft, concrete stringers as shaft rail foundations are preferable to timber sills in incline shafts, with any angle of dip up to 45degs., for the following reasons :— (1) A longer life can be obtained from the rails, which can be allowed to wear down with safety to .a greater extent on a continuous concrete foundation than they can when laid across timber sills. (2) Skip derailments do much less damage with con- crete than with timber. (3) Concrete is a much more permanent foundation than timber, requires no repairs or renewals, and appears to suffer no damage from any cause whatever. (4) In deep shafts considerable time is saved during the equipment of the shaft, there being no long timbers to handle. (5) If more than one pair of skips is to be used in a shaft, the shaft may be equipped for two skips only until such time as other hoisting capacity is required, thus saving the extra cost of equipment at the moment. (6) Less damage to rails from corrosion by acid water. With regard to the maximum inclination at which concrete stringers can be used in incline shafts, it is thought that by pegging the footwall at inclinations from 45 degs. up to 60degs. concrete stringers could be safely held in position. __________________________ Powdered Anthracite for Locomotives.—The Delaware and Hudson Railway, U.S.A., recently tested powdered anthra- cite on one of its engines, apparently with success. The engine is one of the largest of its type ever constructed, and is the first of its kind equipped for burning anthracite culm in pulverised form. Satisfactory results are reported to have been obtained from a mixture representing as much as 40 per cent, culm in combination with 60 per cent, bitu- minous coal. The factors of tractive power, piston speed heating surface, grate area, firebox volume and superheating surface of this engine compare very favourably with the general run of 2-8-2 type locomotives now in use. The loco- motive made the journey to and from Atlantic City under its own power. The locomotive has 27 in. by 32 in. cylinders, 3,814 sq.ft, of heating surface, a grate area of 98*8 sq.ft., and working pressure 195 sq. in. It develops a tractive power of 61,400 lb. Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Wage-rate Demands—The Holidays—More . Rumours— Licences for July Loading—Pitwood Importers Form an Association—Patent Fuel Makers and the Price of “ Small ”—The French Minister of Mines and South Wales Coal Owners. The action of the miners regarding holiday next week has aroused general condemnation—all the more strong because they had been earnestly advised by their own leaders to suspend the holiday; and the delegates at the conference had before them a special offer by the employers of extra pay to the amount of 6s. per man for the week, whilst, in addition, it had been made clear that the holiday was only postponed, and could be taken at a more convenient time. The presi- dent of the Federation (Mr. Winstone), in his speech to the conference, appealed for suspension on the ground of patriotism, showing that there had been a huge reduction in output, and also emphasising the fact that restriction of holidays was the policy of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. The executive council unanimously recommended suspension, and Mr. Winstone’s appeal was supported by the veteran leader, “ Mabon,” by the treasurer (Mr. Onions), and by Mr. Vernon Hartshorn. One feature of the week has been circulation of rumours as to fresh amalgamations, but more interesting has been a definite statement in connection with the Ferndale properties that the new directors of D. Davis and Sons purpose to issue bonus shares—two 10 per cent, cumulative preferred ordinary shares being issued for every three ordinary shares now held. D. Davis’s shares have been quoted at 58s. per £1 nominal, and that figure includes a dividend of 2s. An estimate of the probable market value of the proposed preferred ordinary shares puts them at about 28s. to 29s. each, so that the bonus will represent approximately 19s. on each ordinary share now held. Another issue which has occasioned some discussion is that of the additional £250,000 in £1 shares which the Ebbw Vale Company will make, the offer being given to present pro- prietors at 22s. per share. Seeing that present holdings are quoted above 25s., there is therefore a bonus also to Ebbw Vale holders. The ’proportion of issue will be one new share for every four now held. The question of utilising July licences for shipment of coal in the earlier days of August has been under further dis- cussion this week, representatives from Cardiff and Swansea, as well as other ports of South Wales, having journeyed to London to consult with the French representatives under the scheme for supplying coal to France. The original idea was that the licences should operate only until the end of July; and the difficulties of shippers in such a case were described, not only at Monday’s meeting, but at meetings held last week. As a result of the earlier consultation, M. Weiss, French Minister of Mines, who came across in mid-week, promised to consider any special cases of hardship, and exporters were desired to submit their cases to the local com- mittees, who should send afterwards to the gathering in London on Monday. As an outcome of this later meeting with M. Weiss, licences, although issued for July, should, it was arranged, be available for any steamers which com- menced loading before midnight to-morrow (Saturday); and with this concession most of the local secretaries who were in attendance expressed satisfaction. The Bristol Channel ship owners have been notified that the law modifying the duty on coal at Monte Video has been sanctioned. Instead of a peso on each ton actually imported, 5 centesimos per ton will be paid on coal carried for any destination, the tax being reckoned on the quantity stated in the bill of lading, and 15 centesimos per ton will be charged as port dues. In connection with the Senghenydd Explosion Fund, it was reported to the half-yearly meeting, on Friday, that a sum of nearly £5,000 had been received as interest on invest- ments during the six months ended June 30, and that during the half-year £4,713 had been paid out in relief; whilst £157 had gone in other items of expenditure. The accumulated fund on the date named stood at £103,312. There are now 155 widows, 461 children, and 44 other dependants on the fund. It was decided not to grant any war bonus to the dependants, such a payment not being considered advisable, having regard to future requirements. The executive committee of the Tylorstown Colliery Explo- sion Relief Fund held their half-yearly meeting on Friday, and considered the recommendation by the auditor that annuities should be purchased for the dependants with a view to economies in the cost of administration. It was, how- ever, considered that the expense of transfer to another fund would be heavy, whilst the cost of administration at present was very low, and therefore the recommendation was not adopted. There are nine dependants on the fund, four of them over 70 years of age. The pit wood importers of the Bristol Channel decided to form an association named the Cardiff and Bristol Channel Pitwood Importers’ Association. Mr. Harry will be the first chairman, with Mr. R. W. Hawkins as secretary. Mr. G. W. Thomas has been appointed by the directors of North’s Navigation Collieries to take charge of their Cardiff office in succession to Mr. Griffiths, who has joined Messrs. Thomas and Davey, undertaking the sale of the Femdale coal. Mt. Thomas has been associated with North’s during the whole of his business life; for twelve years he was in charge of the company’s office at Port Talbot, and he has been in Cardiff for four years. Mr. Lupton’s address at the South Wales Institute of Engineers has evoked comment, not so much upon the points he chiefly dealt with—quantities available and “ life ” of the coal fields, but rather as to points not dealt with— namely, improvements in methods of combustion. It is recognised that calculations as to available quantities are valuable, but the critics urge that, inasmuch as a relatively small proportion of the potential value of the coal is now obtained through present methods of combustion, all atten- tion should be devoted to bettering the methods of utilisation, and that as success in this direction is almost inevitable, all estimates of “ life ” based upon present rates of output are fallacious. Col. Pearson having resumed duty as mines inspector, ceasing to act as military representative for part of Glamor- gan, a presentation has been made to him in Swansea in recognition of the services he has rendered in the latter capacity. Coun. Holmes presented him with a Freemason's locket containing portrait, and Aid. Davies described Col. Pearson as “ the champion recruiter in Wales.’’ It was stated that he had raised in twelve months a force of 1,100 men. A circular has been issued by the secretary of the Mon- mouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners’ Association, which states' that the committee appointed by that associa- tion to deal with the supply of coal to France have had under consideration an intimation from patent fuel manufacturers that they were prepared to supply France with fuel at the same limitation price as large coal—namely, 30s. per ton— if the coal owners were prepared to make an arrangement regarding the price of small coal. The association’s com- mittee have therefore arranged that the colliery owners will supply small coal to fuel manufacturers (for the making of patent fuel for France) at a maximum price of 20s. per ton, the manufacturers having given an undertaking that they will, if necessary, submit documentary evidence or allow the inspection of their books by the coal owners concerned, in order to show that the “ small ’’ so sold is used only for making patent fuel for France. It is stated that ship owners have arranged that rates for carrying patent fuel for France shall be the same as rates for carrying coal—the charterer to pay stowage or discharging charges over and above those for coal. The circular adds that the coal owners are entitled to charge—for bunkers supplied to steamers carrying coal to France at limited freights—a maximum of 7s. 6d. per ton over the limitation prices. The French Minister of Mines, Col. Weiss, visited Cardiff on Friday. He is president of the Bureau des Charbons, which regulates coal imports, and a hearty welcome was accorded him, as well as to Lieut. Thoumyre, who belongs to a firm of coal importers and fuel makers at Dieppe, and is now assisting at the Bureau. The visitors were received by Mr. Watson, president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, and Col. Weiss, speaking in French, addressed the members of the Exchange stating that his object in paying the visit was to thank those who had assisted in carrying out the regu- lations in connection with the limitation in coal prices. Upon appeal to Great Britain, the difficult position had been relieved, and they appreciated the help which was given all the more because it was the voluntary action of the British colliery proprietors and merchants, as well as ship owners in reducing freights, and had not been brought about by Government intervention. Lieut. Thoumyre addressed the assembly in English, stating that if Britain had not come to the aid of France and supplied the coal which was urgently needed for the collieries, munition factories, and industries, the victory to which all were looking forward might never have been obtained. At Bridgend County Court, a question of rate of wages was raised, the Ocean Company being sued by an employee for alleged balance due. Fifteen years ago the plaintiff met with an accident, and he afterwards entered into an agree- ment for light employment at £1 a week, plus 6s. a week compensation. Latterly he had had a war bonus of Is. 5d., making his total weekly wage 27s. 5d. In court, plaintiff said he had no recollection of having signed such an agree- ment, and his solicitor argued that under the Conciliation Board agreement of last year the wage rate should be 5s. a day minimum, and that the man was now paid considerably less even than the minimum for colliery workers.—On the other hand, it was stated by the solicitor for the Ocean Com- pany that plaintiff was a one-legged man, and that the minimum did not apply to men who were physically incapa- citated ; and also that in this case the man had entered into an individual agreement.—Judge Roberts remarked “ An agreement by the Federation or the Coal Owners’ Association does not prevent an individual workman or individual coal owner from making a separate agreement.’’ The plaintiff’s solicitor suggested that the individual agreement entered into 15 years ago had been ended by the strike of July last year, which terminated all contracts.—The judge thereupon said he would like to have further evidence as to what was the position of plaintiff in that strike, and the further hearing of the case was therefore adjourned. Before the Merthyr tribunal, on Friday, a collier who was charged with being an absentee from the war, said, “ I am a collier, and thought I was exempted.’’ The Court ordered the man to be handed over to the military authorities, but later on the Chief Constable said he had received intimation from the colliery company that the defendant had been exempted, and the case was therefore adjourned for a week. Another remarkable disclosure has been made in regard to profits of ship owners, the report of the Hain Steamship Company for the year ended June 30 showing that there is a total profit of £514,000 after making provision for war taxation. This company's steamers trade regularly from South Wales. A dividend of 35 per cent, is distributed; £200,000 have been placed to depreciation, and £120,000 to other allocations. It is estimated that the actual profits for the year approximate to £1,000,000 sterling, this having been earned by a fleet of about 39 vessels. The capital of the company is now below £500,000. Dividends are paid free of tax. About £200,000 in debentures have been paid off during the year. At a meeting of the Emergency Committee dealing with the supply of coal to France it was agreed that it should be permissible to time charter at a rate equivalent to the schedule rates. A large gathering of purchasers took place on the occasion of the sale at Blaencwm Colliery, Ystalyfera, and for some of the lots competition was keen. Coal-washing and screening plant went for £1,300; pair of 9 in. winding engines, £300; loco type boiler, £56; section rails, £10 to £11 15s. per ton; air compressor, £32. The authorisation of an increase of 2s. 6d. per ton in the price of coal has aroused considerable antagonism in different circles of South Wales, all the more so because of its effect upon household supplies. At Newport, on Satur- day, a representative conference of co-operative associations and labour organisations met to consider various war subjects, and amongst them that of the 2s. 6d. increase. It was stated that 184,000 persons were represented in the meeting. A resolution of protest against the Board of Trade allowing South Wales coal owners to charge the extra 2s. 6d. was carried. Aberdare councillors have discussed a motion to establish a depot for retail supply of house coal, and that steps be taken immediately to obtain a, coal yard Oil Wednesday morning fire broke out in the forward hold of the Greek steamer “ Demitrios Pateros,” lying at King’s Dock. Swansea, the anthracite cargo becoming ignited, it is supposed, by spontaneous combustion. The Swansea Fire Brigade, together with the Harbour Trustees’ tug “Trusty,” played on the flames, and a squad from the miners’ rescue