October 6, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 655 Th© 163 accidents in the year under report involved the loss of 188 lives. This is a decrease of 3, as com- pared with the number of deaths in 1914. With the exception of one accident, which w'as due to a sudden collapse of the workings, and caused death to 10 persons sleeping in their huts on the surface, there was no acci- dent causing loss of life on a large scale. In one case, three persons, and in 14 cases, two persons, were killed. Of these 163 accidents, Mr. Adams regards (a) 73 as being due to misadventure, (6) 59 to the fault of the deceased, (c) 8 to the fault of fellow workmen, (d) 7 to the fault of subordinate officials, and (e) 16 to the fault of the management. As in 1914, there was only one fatality from explo- sion of firedamp. In three other cases explosions were reported, by which persons were slightly burnt. There were 85 accidents from falls of roof and side; 52 of them occurred in the coal fields of Bengal and of Bihar and Orissa. Of these, 29 were owing to the fault of deceased (generally in attempting to rob coal away from his proper working place), and in 20 cases a fence was deliberately crossed. In the Raniganj and Jharia fields, whereas the falls of roof were 14 and 11 respectively, these figures were 6 and 18 in the case of falls of side. This is to be attributed to the facts that in the Jharia field the seams are, as a rule, thicker, and the coal softer than in the lower field. The number of accidents under the heading “ In shafts ” was slightly below the average of the previous five years, which is satisfactory, considering that every year -sees more shafts brought into use. The number of haulage accidents was also slightly below the average of the previous five years, and here again it should be remarked that more systems are constantly being installed, while old ones are being extended. Haulage accidents come under the preventable class to a large extent. Owing to the now practically universal custom of having self-acting runaway points or switches near the tops of haulage inclines, accidents owing to tubs running wild from the surface, which formerly figured largely in these reports, have lessened, and in the year under report they were nil. The provision of couplings of a good type, their periodical annealing, and the provision of drawbars made of best iron, and, in steep inclines, of safety ropes or chains, stretched over the whole length of the set of tubs, and the keeping of engine planes in good order, are the main preventives of haulage acci- dents. Much may also be done by the erection of gates, or movable barriers, at the junctions of impor- tant levels with the engine plane. But the best remedy of all is the provision of travelling roads, independent altogether of the engine planes. The system on which the majority of Indian coal mines are laid out lends itself peculiarly to the arrangement of such travelling roads without much trouble or expense. The death rate per 1,000 persons employed was 1-04, while that of the preceding five years was 1*15. At coal mines only these figures were 1’14 and 1-32, and at mines other than coal 0-64 and 0-70. The death rate per million tons raised at coal mines only was 10’15, while that of the preceding five years was 11-57. Of the 188 persons killed, 155 were males and 33 were females. The deaths occurring in each class of mine were as follow :—166 in coal mines, 6 in wolfram mines, 6 in mica mines, 5 in gold mines, 2 in manganese mines, 2 in copper mines, and 1 in tin mines. One person lost his life by explosion of firedamp, 51 by falls of roof, 42 by falls of side, 17 in shafts, 7 by explosives, 3 by falling into water, 17 by haulage, 13 by other accidents under- ground, and 37 on the surface. In the Bengal and Bihar mines, where most of the statistical accidents occur, there were 129 deaths, compared with 119 in 1914. Health and Sanitation. The situation as regards cholera in the year under report was not so satisfactory as in 1914. In (a) the Bengal coal fields there were at least 551 cases and 274 deaths, and in (5) the Bihar and Orissa coal fields 734 cases and 415 deaths. The figures for smallpox were (a) 279 and 35, and (5) 2,154 and 334. An outbreak of cholera which occurred in Jharia Bazar during the month of March caused 34 deaths. Another outbreak at a colliery village at Giridih resulted in 39 deaths. The Jharia Board of Health held 15 meetings during the year. The most important step taken was the appointment of a chief sanitary officer, Dr. G. W. Thompson, M.B., D.Ph., who took up his duties on June 10, 1915. Among many other subjects that have claimed the Board’s attention have been the notifica- tion and suppression of epidemics, improvement and conservation of water supply, the improvement and sanitation of markets, and destruction of condemned food stuffs, and the housing of colliery labour. The Asansol Board was formed at the close of 1914. The official members were the district magistrate, the sub-divisional officer, the civil surgeon, and the inspector of mines, No. 2 Circle; and the non-official members were Messrs. F. J. Agabeg, Mr. T. Samson, Dr. W. P. O’Connor, and Babu Nibaran Chandra Sircar. Five meetings were held during the year, and much preliminary work was done. It was decided to appoint a chief sanitary officer. The rainfall in the Jharia coal field was 38*83 in.; in the Giridih coal field it was 38’68 in.; and in the Rani- ganj coal field it was 39-43 in. These figures for 1914 were 44-33, 42’55, and 46’06 in. respectively. Mining Education. During the year the important step was taken of dis- solving both the mining sub-committee of the board of visitors of Sibpur College and the mining educational advisory board, and forming an entirely new board, under the title of the Mining Education Advisory Board, to advise the Governments of Bengal and of Bihar and Orissa on all questions concerning mining education in these provinces, both at Sibpur College and in the coal fields. Its composition wa.s as follows :—The Chief Inspector of Mines in India (chairman), the two senior inspectors of mines, the Superintendent of Industries (Bengal), the Director of Industries (Bihar and Orissa), when such officer is appointed, and pending his appointment, Mr. F. Walford (principal of the Bihar School of Engineering, and inspector of technical schools); four representatives of the Indian mining community, including the chairman of the Indian Mining Association, the principal, Civil Engineering College, Sibpur (secretary ex-officio); and the professor of Mining, Civil Engineering College, Sibpur (assistant secretary ex-officio). Of the four non-official members, three were nominated by the Indian Mining Association, and one by the Indian Mining Federation, which is the principal association of Indian colliery owners. The members in 1915 were : Messrs. E. W. Bowrey (chairman, Indian Mining Association), G. Miller, A. S. Thomson, and Babu Narendra Nath Mukerji. By this change mining education in the coal fields was brought directly under the principal of the Civil Engineering College/Sibpur. The professor of mining at Sibpur College reported that at the end of the session 1914-15 three students were granted diplomas, and three were passed from the junior to the senior course; 13 new students entered upon the junior mining course, and of these 12 sat for the annual examination at the end of the session 1915-16, five being promoted to the senior course. Five students sat for the diploma, all being successful. The prelimi- nary course mentioned in the last report has proved very successful in attracting students to the mechanical, electrical, and mining branches of the college; 25 sat for examination in March, and of these 17 passed, 12 of them joining the junior mining course. Probably about 20 new students in all will join the junior mining course for the session 1916-17. In the present session’s preliminary course there are 40 students. The mining camp in November and December was pitched at Bhaga, in the Jharia coal field. It was attended by 17 students from the college. The special class in mine surveying, in connection with this camp, was continued, the majority of the students being young men in the coal fields who left their work temporarily to undergo this course. The class numbered 10, one being from the college and nine from the coal fields. Lectures in the coal fields were again given at five centres during the session 1914-15. The average number of attendances was 18’10, or an aggregate of over 90 students each week. At the sessional examination in June, 34 candidates presented themselves for examina- tion, of whom 18 were successful in passing. In addi- tion to the English lectures, Babu Hemanta Kumar Sen was again appointed to deliver lectures in Bengali at six selected centres. A course of five lectures at each centre was given. Mining Boards. The Bengal Mining Board held four meetings during the year, when the following subjects were considered : (1) Amendment of the Indian Mines Act, 1901; (2) amendment of Rule 28 of the rules regarding managers and their certificates; (3) amendment in Part IV. of the Rules issued by the Government of Bihar and Orissa under section 11 of the Bengal Mining Settlements Act, 1912; and (4) method of assessment under the Bengal Mining Settlements Act, 1912. The Bihar and Orissa Mining Board held three meet- ings during the year, when the following subjects were considered :—(1) Draft rules framed under section 11 (2) (c) of the Bengal Mining Settlements Acts II., 1912; (2) amendment of Rule 28 of rules regarding mine managers and their certificates; (3) cancellation by dis- trict officers of licences held by proprietors and managers for using explosives; (4) the amendment of the Indian Mines Act: (5) the consideration of Rule 19 of Notifica- tion No. 864-68—20, dated March 10, 1904; and (6) the question of the legal advice available for the guidance of the Chief Inspector of Mines. TRADE AND THE WAR. The coasting steamer “ Exchange,” belonging to Messrs. J. R. Waite and Sons, ship owners, Coleraine and Portrush, has been sunk in entering the river at Coleraine quay. The vessel traded regularly from Maryport to Coleraine, and only left last Tuesday with a cargo of coal. According to a German shipping paper, negotiations are pending for starting a regular steamer line after the war between South America and South Africa, proceeding from Iquique. On the outward trip nitrates are expected to form the principal cargo, and coal from South Africa on the return trip. The report just issued by the Society for Chemical Industry, Basle, the largest of the Swiss coal tar colour firms, proposes a dividend of 24 per cent., as against 16 per cent, last year. This company controls the Clayton (Man- chester) Aniline Company. The capital is 12400,000. Before the war the average dividend was about 12 per cent. The Wellington branch of an Australian firm of manufac- turers’ agents desires to represent United Kingdom manufacturers of engineers’ and carpenters’ tools; brass foundry, including iron, steel, and brass chains; shovels, spades, vices and cramps. The name and address may be obtained on application to the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, E.C. The refer- ence number (315) should be quoted. An Englishman engaged in a manufacturing business in Russia desires an agency for British machinery, etc. The name and address can be obtained at the Commercial Intelli- gence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, E.C. The reference number (317) should be quoted. A Royal Proclamation declares raw and manufactured insulating materials to be absolute contraband. The International Anthracite and Steam Coal Association Limited, Exchange-buildings. Swansea, is being wound up by order of the Board of Trade. HOME-GROWN PIT TIMBER. Following the report of the Coal Mining Organisation Committee, which appeared in our last issue, we append a list of local Home-Grown Pit Timber Committees and their members :— 1. Scotland.—Chairman : H. Walker, 2, West Coates, Edinburgh. Coal owners : C. Augustus Carlow, Fife Coal Company Limited, Leven, Fifeshire; James T. Forgie, Bothwell Collieries, Bothwell, Lanarkshire; James A. Hood, Lothian Coal Company Limited, Rosewell, near Edinburgh; James A. Clarke, Afton Lodge, Annbank, Ayrshire. Forest owner : J. H. Milne Home, Irvine House, Canonbie, Dum- friesshire. H.G.T.C. representative : Sir John Stirling Max- well, Bart., Pollok House, Pollokshaw, Glasgow. 2. Northumberland and Durham.—Chairman : J. R. R. Wilson, Westfield-drive, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Coal owners : T. E. Forster, 3, Eldon-square, Newcastle-on- Tyne; Henry Armstrong, Collingwood-buildings, Colling- wood-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne; A. M. Hedley, Mines Office, Eston, near Middlesbrough. Forest owner : Sir Francis Walker, Bart., Estates Office, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. H.G.T.C. representative : J. F. Annand, 96, St. George’s-terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 3. Cumber- land.—Chairman : J. R. R. Wilson, Westfield-drive, Gos- port, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Coal owner : L. H. Fletcher, The Allerdale Coal Company Limited, Great Clifton, Working- ton. Iron mines : M. Kennedy, Stone Cross, Ulverston. Forest owner : S. D. Stanley Dodgson, Somerset House, Whitehaven. H.G.T.C. representative : F. R. S. Balfour, 39, Phillimore-gardens, W. 4. Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Notts.—Chairman : T. H. Mottram, Doncaster. Coal owners: C. B. Crawshaw, Rufford-lodge, Dewsbury; R. Richardson, Barrow Haematite Steel Company Limited, Barrow Collieries, Barnsley; J. P. Houfton, Bolsover Colliery Company Limited, near Chesterfield. Forest owner : W. A. Durnford, Elsecar, near Barnsley. H.G.T.C. representative : H. G. Richardson, 4, The Sanctuary, West- minster. 5. Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales.— Chairman : A. D. Nicholson, Astley, Manchester. Coal owners : Jesse Wallwork, Bridgewater Offices, Walkden, Manchester; Arthur Lamb, Tower-building's, Wigan. Forest owner : Hon. J. G. Wynn, Estate Office, Glynnllivon, Car- narvon. H.G.T.C. representative : J. J. Fogg, 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster, S.W. (Notices convening meet- ings to be sent also to private address, “ Sandycroft,” Birkenhead, Hoylake, Cheshire.) 6. South Wales.— Chairman : W. N. Atkinson, I.S.O., LL.D., Tintern,Mon. Coal owners : George Hann, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company Limited, Aberaman, Aberdare; Evan Williams, Glyndwr, Pontardulais; W. Stewart, Brodawel, Caerleon, Mon. Forest owner : Lieut.-Col. F. D. W. Drummond, Cawdor Estate Office, Carmarthen. H.G.T.C. representa- tive : John Sutherland, 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster. 7. Somersetshire, Gloucester, and Bristol.—Chairman : J. R. Felton, 298, Per shore-road, Birmingham. Coal owners : Sir Francis Brain, Trafalgar House, Drybrook, Gloucestershire; Alfred H. Bennett, The East Bristol Collieries Limited, Kingswood Collieries, Speedwell-road, St. George, Bristol. Forest owner : L. S. Osmaston (deputy surveyor for Forest of Dean), Whitemead Park, Park End, near Lydney, Glos. H.G.T.C. representative : Chas. E. Howlett, Office of Woods, etc., 1, Whitehall, S.W. 8. Stafford, Warwick, Shropshire, and Leicester.—Chair- man : J. R. Felton, 298, Penshore-road, Birmingham. Coal owners : W. F. Clark, Aldridge Colliery Company Limited, Aldridge, near Walsall; Geo. A. Mitcheson, Stafford Coal and Iron Company Limited, Stoke-on-Trent. Forest owner : Capt. C. Sowerby, Headquarters, Western Command, Cheshire. H.G.T.C. representative : W. P. Burton, Board of Trade, 6, Whitehall-gardens, S.W. The home pitwood supplies for Scotland, 1916-17, are now governed by the award of Sir R. A. S. Redmayne, which appears in the Coal Mining Organisation Com- mittee’s report. The award determines the points at issue as follow :— 1. The period of the agreement shall be for 15 months, from July 1, 1916, and shall terminate on September 30, 1917, unless expressly continued by both parties. 2. The agreement shall be subject to the continuance of the present maximum 10s. (ten shillings) per ton railway rate for pitwood in Scotland, but in the event of any altera- tion therein the prices shall be subject to readjustment to the extent to which such alteration affects the freight cost to the sellers. 3. The prices shall be those quoted in the statement hereto annexed, subject to the proviso that the quantities of small pitwood shall be approximately in the proportions stated, and, further, that the coal masters and the timber merchants will adjust the proportion of the three classes of long pit wood to be supplied. 4. The total quantity shall not exceed 100,000,000 lineal ft., and shall not be less than 60,000,000 lineal ft., the actual quantity to be fixed by the parties themselves. 5. All species of timber, except beech, will be accepted subject to the understanding that the main supply will be from coniferous timber. The pitwood will be unpeeled. 6. Delivery will be on rail at collieries. Terms, net cash on monthly account. Round Small Pitwood. props and bars, diameter Equivalent sawn , props. Length. Price per 100 Approximate proportion of each class. at tip under Quartered. lineal feet. bark. In. In In. Ft. s. d. Per cent. 2 ... 4f or 2 Upto2j .. . 5 3 3 2i ... 5| „ 2| ... „ 3 .. . 6 5 i 15 24 51 „ 24 ... „ 44 .. . 7 11 3 ... 5| „ 5 .. From 5 . 9 11 3 5f ” 2-1 | 45 to 6 .. . 11 1 34 . 7~ >> 3| ... Up to 6 .. . 12 11 20 4 84 „ 3g ... „ 3g ... „ 6 .. . 17 1 12 44 . ... 94 . 20 6 5 Long Pitwood. Diameter at tip Length. Price per 100 under bark. lineal feet. In. Ft. Ft. s. d. 3 10 to 14 18 0 4 10 „ 14 23 3 5 10 „ 14 30 0