708 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 13, 1916. are working at the present time. Of these by far the most promising are the chemical and the microscopical. It is right that these two methods should be conducted side by side, and it would be wrong to conclude that one is better than the other or more likely to lead to a definite result. Messrs. Fischer and Gluud confine their attention to the former, aud they show clearly not only how far this method has been successful, but also some of the reasons why it has not yet produced decisive results. The extraction method, by means of solvents, possesses the advantage of separating the coal substance into two definite portions, viz., extract and residue ; but we do not yet know precisely what these really are. As a working hypothesis it is laid down that the first named consists of the tar formers and the latter of the coke formers of the original coal. But this conclusion leads to certain difficulties which have not yet been adequately explained. Thus the pyridine extract of coal, when separated from the solvent and analysed, seems to give results which are almost identical with the original coal. There is also a considerable variation in the yield of pyridine extract from different kinds of coal, and the amount seems to bear no definite relation to the proportion of volatile matter present in the coal, although in a general sense it diminishes towards the anthracite end of the series. But gas coals of totally different qualities may yield nearly equal quantities of pyridine extract ; and cannel coals may show most striking variations in solubility. The results of extraction by pyridine are still further obscured by the fact now rendered apparent that the action of pyridine upon coal is not alone that of a solvent in a physical sense. There seems to be good ground for the conclusion that some chemical action is involved in the process. Thus, although pyridine has hitherto been found to extract from coal more of its substance than any other solvent, it fails to afford a means for a clean separation into two definite parts. In this connection attention should be given to the fact established by Dr. Wheeler that the pyridine extract is divisible into two portions, one soluble and the other insoluble in chloroform, of which the latter is believed to represent the true resinous constituent of the coal. The authors then proceed to examine the effect of other solvents, such as anilin and quinolin, as previously determined by Vignon in 1914. The results in this case are practically the same as those obtained by pyridine, although the yield in each case is less. The same may be said of alcoholic solution of potash. Phenol is an unsatisfactory solvent for several reasons, but benzol is a more promising medium from every point of view except in the matter of its extremely poor yield. Messrs. Fischer and Gluud examine Pictet’s earlier work with this reagent, and have set them- selves to discover a method of improving the yield by working under high pressure and at a higher temperature than has hitherto been employed. The results are so far satisfactory, in the authors’ opinion, that they claim to have produced a clean separation, without chemical change, of matter previously present in the coal substance. They have likewise extended their researches to the discovery of a suitable inorganic solvent, using for this purpose liquid sulphurous acid. The action in this case is markedly different from that produced by benzol, the extract containing less solid matter and more resinous substance, its exact nature being still in the process of investigation. We call attention to these results with the object of showing how large a field of work is available for research in this direction. It is to be hoped that students seeking subjects for laboratory enquiry will avail themselves of the opportunity of throwing light upon a problem which is second to none in interest and in promise of really important results. ____________________________ The death has taken place at Edenbank, Londonderry, of Mr. John Greenhill, formerly of the firm of Greenhill Brothers, coal merchants, Belfast. The deceased gentleman was a native of Yorkshire, and was a former member of the Belfast Harbour Board, and president of the Chamber of Commerce, and it was during his presidency of the latter body that a deputation was sent to wait on Mir. Gladstone in connection witli the Home Bule question, Mr. Greenhill taking a leading part in the interview. EXPLOSIVES IN COAL MINES. NEW ORDER. The Home Secretary has issued, under date Septem- ber 21, an Order including the following explosives in the First Schedule of the “ Permitted List.” 1. Super-Cliffite No. 1, consisting of the following mixture:— Parts by weight. Ingredients. Not moie Not less than than Nitro-glycerine 10-5 8*5 Nitro-cotton 0’75 ... 0’25 Nitrate of ammonium 60 57 Chloride of sodium 16 14 Oxalate of ammonium 11 9 Wood-meal (dried at 100 degs. C.) 6-5 4’5 Moisture ... 2'5 0'5 The explosive is to be used only when contained in a case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with paraffin wax; with a detonator or electric detonator of not less strength than that known as No. 6; the greatest weight of the explosive which may be used in any one shot-hole shall not exceed 26 oz.; the explosive must have been made at the works of Messrs Curtis’s and Harvey, Limited, at Cliffe, in the county of Kent. Four ounces < f Super-Cliffite No. 1 gave a swing of 2 53 in. to the ballistic pendulum compared with a swing of 3’27 in. given by 4oz. of gelignite containing 60 per cent, of nitro-giycerine. 2. Super-Cliffite No. 2, consisting of the following mixture :— Parts by weight. Ingredients. Not more Not less than than N itro-gly cerine 10*5 8*5 Nitro-cotion 0*75 ... 0*25 Nitrate of ammonium 60*5 57*5 Chloride of sodium 20*5 18*5 Oxalat of ammonium 6 4 Wood-meal (dried at 1L0degs. C.) 6*5 4*5 Moisture 2’5 0*5 The explosive is to be used only when contained in a case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with paraffin wax ; with a detonator or electric detonator of not less strength than that known as No. 6. The greatest weight of the explosive which may be used in any one shot-hole shall not exceed 30 oz. The explosive must have been made at the works of Messrs. Curtis’s and Harvey Limited, at Cliffe, in the county of Kent. Four ounces of Super-Cliffite No. 2 gave a swing of 2 53 in. to the ballistic pendulum com- pared with a swing of 3 27 in. given by 4 oz. of gelignite containing 60 per cent, of nitroglycerine. ______________________________________ INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. ____________________________________________________________ India. Sir Thomas Holland, in the course of his speech before the Mining and Geological Institute at Asansol, said the installa- tion of engineering works on coal fields like those of Kumard- hubi, the extension of Kulti Iron Works and the successful manufacture of first-class steel by the Tata Company, had made the coal mining industry more completely self- contained and less dependent on importers of materials, as well as imported articles of machinery. ___________________________ Australia. The Lithgow Coal Association has secured a contract with the Victorian Railway Commissioners for the supply of 100,000 tons of coal. It is expected that the coal will be loaded at Lithgow- at the rate of about 500 tons per day and sent by rail to Wodonga, where it will be stacked and dis- tributed to the Victorian stations as required. The coal exports from Newcastle for July totalled 200,979 tons, of which 231,717 tons went to Commonwealth and New Zealand ports and 69,262 tons to oversea countries. This total is 27,953 tons greater than the quantity exported during June, and 11,722 tons less than the shipments for May last. Eight Hours Day in New South Wales.—There has been considerable agitation in the various coal fields regarding the eight hours day question. At the compulsory conference in Melbourne recently a tentative agreement was reached, pending the decision of the Federal Arbitration Court, in regard to the claims for increased rates for overtime and holidays. At Lithgow the men decided to accept this tenta- tive agreement. At Newcastle the Northern Colliery Pro- prietors confirmed the action of their representatives at the compulsory conference, although they were of the opinion that the agreement arrived at with the Australasian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation in December last covered all rates and working conditions for three years, including working hours, still in view of the fact that coal supplies must be maintained in the existing crisis, the proprietors considered that in the public interest strikes should be avoided at the present time. Victorian Brown Coal.—With the purpose of extracting by-products from browm coal and testing their value, the Victorian Mines Department is erecting the necessary plant at the Fitzroy railway station. Mr. Livingstone, Minister of Mines, who has arranged for the tests to be made, stated that it was proposed to extract from the browm coal volatile products, which would be obtained under varying experi- mental conditions. These products in turn would be sub- jected to more refined laboratory investigations for ultimate products, for the use of wdiich there was a large range in the manufacture of dyes and explosives. The calorific values of the materials as ,a whole, and separately, of such of the distillation products as were ■suitable for the purpose, would be tested for estimations of the results likely to be achieved in the production of powder. Morwell browm coal would be used at first, and later experiments would be made with Altona and Lal Lal coals, and w’hatever other deposits were available in Victoria. The experiments, he hoped, would lead to the establishment of various industries, for which State experiments would point the way. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 12. __________________________________________ Scotland.- -Western District. COAL. The recent improvement in the west of Scotland coal trade is maintained, and is likely to develop. The industrial demand is increasing rapidly, while household qualities are selling freely. Ells and splints are firmer, with navigations and steams steady on last week's level. All sizes of smalls are in good demand, but shipping licences are not readily granted. The clearances from the district during the past week amounted to 108,501 tons, compared with 124,145 in the preceding week and 131,555 tons in the same week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... ______ I Current i L’st week’s'Last year’s prices. ! prices. : prices. 22/ -27/6 1 25/ -27/6 ' 16/ -17/ 24/ -26/ ; 24/ -25/ ; 17/ -17/6 ! 25/ -35/ 5 26/ -35/ ’ 18/ -24/ ! 23/ ’ 23/ ' 17/9-18/6 | 22/ 22/ ; 17/6-18/ 21/ ' 21/ < 16/ -16/3 IRON. Continued firmness characterises the Scotch metal markets, and there are no signs of weakening. The majority of the works are booked well into next year, and find extreme difficulty in increasing their output, even when urgent Government business is in question. Export restrictions are still very stringent, but even if this was not the case, it is doubtful if much of that class of work could be passed through in view of the tremendous demand on home account. Scotch pig iron makers are delivering almost their entire outputs to local consumers. Haematite has long been difficult to obtain, and now ordinary brands are becoming very scarce. Pig-iron warrant stocks, too, are dwindling gradually, and now amount to 11,864 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the end of 1915. Total ship- ments for the past week amounted to 500 tons, against 1,169 tons in the same week last year. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are unchanged as follows :—Monkland and Carnbroe are quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s. ; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d. ; Glengarnock, at Ardros»an, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. Malleable iron makers have as much work on hand as they can con- veniently tackle. Values, which of course, are uncontrolled, are much firmer, “crown” quality iron bars being quoted about 4>13 7s. 6d. to <£13 10s. per ton f.o.b. Glasgow black sheet makers are also in a strong position, though outputs are being curtailed through a scarcity of sheet bars. The price remains in the vicinity of £>18 10s. per ton for export. Wrought iron and steel tube makers have a good amount of work on hand both for home and export. The only unfavourable element in an otherwise satisfactory position is the scarcity of raw materials, and strenuous efforts are being made to remove this cause of complaint. _______________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothian district have been busier during the past week or so. Orders are coming to hand freely, and values are firming up. Shipments amounted to 31,644 tons, against 33,283 in the preceding week, and 51,638 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. _________________ Best screened steam coal...' Secondary qualities......i Treble nuts ...........< Double do..............| Single do..............| Current prices. 30/ -32/ 28/ -29/ 23/ 22/ 21/ L’st week’siLast year’s prices. prices. 15/6-16/ ■ 28/ -30/ 25/ -26/ . 24/ 5 22/ -23/ i 21/ , 15/ . 18/ -18/3 17/6-18/ ’ 16/ —16/3 A fairly satisfactory condition of things is reported from Fifeshire. While ordinary qualities of coal are easy, collieries are finding difficulty in overtaking their orders for the better sorts, and there are signs of a general firming up in values. Clearances amounted to 47,629 tons, against 59,328 in the preceding week and 57,087 tons in the same week in 1915. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. _________________________________________________________ Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best screened navigation coal Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts i 35/ -40/ ' 32/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 33/ -37/6 30/ -35/ 30/ -32/6 25/ -26/ 23/ 21/ -22/ 18 6-19/ 16/6-17/6 14,6-15/ 18/ -19/ 17 6-18/ 16/ -16/6 Double do Single do 22/ -23/ 21/ 22/ 21/ ______ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 187,774 tons, compared with 216,756 in the preceding week and 240,280 tons in the corresponding week of last year.