Decembeb 15, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1175

North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.

Mr. Frank Coulson presided over a meeting of
members otf the North of England Institute of Mining
and Mechanical Engineers, held in the Lecture Theatre
at the Coal Trade Offices, Westgate-road, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, on Saturday afternoon.

The Late Mr. Merivale.

Mr. Coulson stated that, by the death of their secre-
tary (Mr. J. H. Merivale), they had lost their pilot. He
was a member of the institute for 40 years, on the
council for 30 years, president in 1906, and honorary
secretary, the speaker thought, for eight years. He had
a very intimate knowledge of the requirements of the
institute, and took the greatest possible interest in all
matters appertaining thereto. He devoted a large
amount of time and thought to the promotion of the
institute’s well-being, thus contributing in no small
measure to its usefulness and success. Mr. Coulson
moved that the assistant secretary (Mr. Allan Cordner)
should be asked to convey to Mrs. Merivale and her
family the members’ very sincere sympathy with them
in their bereavement, and to express how greatly Mr.
Merivale’s invaluable services were appreciated by the
members.

Mr. C. C. Leach seconded the motion. He said that
perhaps he had known Mr. Merivale longer than any
other person present, for he remembered the late secre-
tary before that gentleman’s marriage. No one could
be more useful to the institute and to everyone about it
than Mr. Merivale had been. He was always cheery,
even under very adverse circumstances, and would be
greatly missed by those who knew him best.

The motion was duly carried.	*

International Recognition of Diplomas.

The council reported in favour of the reciprocal
recognition of diplomas and degrees in mining as
between Russia and this country, but on the under-
standing that that did not include the British certificate
of competency to manage mines. Messrs. W. C.
Blackett, Frank Coulson, T. Y. Greener, Samuel Hare,
and Henry Louis had been nominated as witnesses
before the Government Committee on Science in the
Educational System of Great Britain. Mr. J. R. R.
Wilson had been appointed to represent the institute
on the council of Armstrong College, in succession to
Mr. Merivale. The question of the vacant secretary-
ship had been referred to a committee, comprising
Messrs. T. E. Forster, T. Y. Greener, W. C. Blackett,
and M. W. Parrington.

New Members.

The following were admitted into the institute :—
Members.—Mr. Omer Smith Barrett, mining and
mechanical engineer, Alquife, Por Guadix, Provincta de
Granada, Spain: Mr. Charles Ernest Jobling, mining
and civil engineer, Lynton, Claygate, Esher; and Mr.
John Beresford Jobling, chemical and mineral engineer,
27, Leazes-terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Associate.—Mr. Fang Chun Lee, electrical engineer,
19, Wansbeck-terrace, Ashington, Northumberland.

Subscribers.—Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited, Middles-
brough; Messrs. Wm. Benson and Son Limited, Colling-
wood-buildings, Collingwood-street, Newcastle; the
Broomhill Collieries Limited, Collingwood-buildings,
Collingwood-street, Newcastle; the Burradon and Cox-
lodge Coal Company Limited, Hanover House, Gosforth,
Newcastle; the Consett Iron Company Limited, Con-
sett, co. Durham; the Cramlington Coal Company
Limited, West Hartley Main Fitting Office, Newcastle;
the Easington Coal Company Limited, Whitworth
House, Spennymoor; the owners of Hamsteels Collieries,
74, New Elvet, Durham; Messrs. Thomas Hedley and
Brothers, 4, Mosley-street, Newcastle; the Horden
Collieries Limited, Castle Eden, co. Durham; the Inter-
national Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pennsyl-
vania, U.S.A.; the North Bitchbum Coal Company
Limited, Darlington; the owners of Pelton Colliery
Limited, Milburn House, Newcastle; Sir S. A. Sadler
Limited, Middlesbrough; Sir B. Samuelson and Com-
pany Limited. Middlesbrough; the South Moor Colliery
Company Limited, 4, Mosley-street, Newcastle; Messrs.
Strakers and Love, Brancepeth Colliery Offices, Colling-
wood-buildings, Newcastle; the Tynedale Coal Company
Limited, Acomb, Hexham; the WaUsend and Hebburn
Coal Company Limited, Exchange-buildings, Lombard-
street, Newcastle; and the Weardale Steel, Coal and
Coke Company Limited, Tudhoe Iron Works, Spenny-
moor.

It was mentioned that there were 65 nominees for
election at the next meeting.

Mr. T. F. Winmill’s papers on “ The Estimation of
Moisture in Coal ” and “ The Absorption of Oxygen in
Coal,” were open for discussion, but none resulted.

Best’s Gauzeless Safety Lamp.

The agenda announced that a paper on “ Best’s
Gauzeless Miner’s Safety Lamp,” would be read by
Mr. W. Best.

The President, however, atated that the council had
come to the conclusion that, owing to an inadvertent
breach of the rules, that paper could not be read before
the institute, or published by it, having already been
read at other meetings and published in the Press. How-
ever, they should be very glad if Mr. Best would explain
his safety lamp orally.

Mr. Best stated that he came before them as a prac-
tical lamp man, having had to deal with lamp cleaning,
repairing, and manufacturing for over 40 years. He
thought that he had had a fair opportunity to observe
what was going on in that field, right away from the
commencement of the utility of the Davy, Stephenson,
Clanny, and other types. As a lamp man, he had found
it a most difficult matter indeed to make sure that the

gauze wires or the apertures were bona fide. He main-
tained that, as they were now compelled to use double-
gauze lamps, or something equal thereto, it was an
absolute impossibility for any human staff in the world
to certify at the end of each day’s work that the lamps
were all correct. When it was considered that there
were over 10,000 apertures in each lamp, where they
had a lamp room with 1,000 or 2,000 lamps it was an
absolute impossibility for the staff to examine and
guarantee each lamp, and to certify that the gauzes
were all correct. Many a time he had found the seam
of the gauze slit. He had endeavoured to dispense as
much as possible with the ordinary gauze aperture.
When he submitted a specimen of his lamp to Dr.
Wheeler, the latter said that, as he was striking out on
a new principle, the lamp could not be admitted to be
tested until it had been referred to the Safety Lamp
Committee. That Committee finally decided that it
should be experimented with in the laboratory, and the
result of the experiments was that he was allowed to
submit the proper number of lamps to be tested offici-
ally. The lamps passed all the tests—more severe tests
than any double-gauze lamp or any other lamp that had
yet been tested at that station. Thirteen consecutive
times the lamp was tested in an explosive atmosphere
of from 8 to 10 per cent. In each test it was absolutely
extinguished in about five seconds. If ihe lamp were
tested 313 times, it would act similarly He was
reminded rather forcibly of what the 1886 Royal Com-
mission reported. Out of 250 lamps, collected from all
parts of the world, not one lamp would perform that
feat. Even the Mueseler, which was considered to be
the safest lamp then on the market, was found to be
exploded during the tests, and had since been found to
be exploded. Consequently, the Commissioners made
a very special remark at the end of their Report—that if
a lamp could be made that would automatically become
extinguished in a few seconds after it became surrounded
by an explosive atmosphere, that lamp must be per-
fectly safe. The speaker claimed that his was the
only lamp that performed that required function. There
were not 1,000 apertures in his lamp—there was not a
wire about it. Each aperture in his lamp was guarded
by a solid wall of metal. It could not get out of place.
The combustion was .complete. He got all the illumi-
nation the oil contained. The consequence was that he
could give 14 hours’ consistent light without a ” snuff.”
Stephenson arrived at the conclusion that, if he could
only retain the products of combustion from escaping,
he found he would be able to achieve that end, namely,
to get a lamp that would be extinguished automatically
when necessary. The speaker claimed’ that his lamp
fulfilled that condition. He had no difficulty in, getting
a good light, and, thanks to the air chamber which he
had fitted, the lamp never became too hot for comfort-
able handling. He had adopted a periscopical method
of illumination to give a light where they had never had
one before, never seen one before with a miner’s lamp,
without having any additional part to it. By recessing
a metal ring, concaving it, and highly polishing and
nickelling it, he gave a light down to the floor, as well
as round about. That had been a desideratum ever
since lamps were lamps, because there was always a
very black shadow. With that lamp, however, they
could illuminate the floor as well as all round about.
If the air was impure, the lamp would detect it. It
would demonstrate from a low percentage of gas to
between 5 and 6 per cent. It had been fairly well
tested practically. His object was to remove the vast
amount of responsibility which lay upon the examiners,
principally owing to the liability of the gauze apertures
to breakage or derangement. At the same time, his
lamp took a tremendous responsibility, as to the safety
of the gauzes, from the management.

In reply to questions from Mr. Simon Tate, Mr. Best
stated that the lamp was now fully approved officially,
and that it burnt an ordinary mineral oil, but not
colzalene.

Discussion.

Col. W. C. Blackett stated that he did not like to
hear absolute condemnation of existing methods intro-
duced in order to make favourable comparisons for a
new lamp. It w’as not right to say that it was abso-
lutely impossible for the examiners of existing lamps to
certify that the lamps were correct. To make an asser-
tion of that kind would not decrease the troubles of the
mining world. He was not quite sure that he should
be inclined to regard the lamp as a new principle. To
his mind, it was an excellent and rather ingenious adap-
tation of some old principles. The lamp looked simple,
easy to put together, not easy to put out of order. The
holes that were put in it corresponded to the gauze, and
fulfilled the same purpose, but could not be easily dis-
turbed—not that he thought that the gauze of the safety
lamp could be easily disturbed; nor did he see why the
wires should not be made bigger, thus making a single
gauze even safer than any double gauze could be. He
had often wondered why that had not been done.

Replying to a question from Mr. Leach, Mr. Best
stated that the lamp weighed about 3| lb.—not very
heavy when it was remembered that some electric lamps
weighed from 6 to 7 lb. Continuing, Mr. Best stated
that Dr. Wheeler had never had a lamp submitted with-
out its being protected both at the inlet and at the outlet
with gauze or perforated plate, or something of that
kind. There had never been a lamp which was guarded
like his, which was a double safety lamp throughout. If
either glass—inner or outer—were smashed, it was still
a safety lamp.

The President said he thought they ought to express
their thanks to Mr. Best for attending and explaining
that very useful and ingenious lamp. It appeared to

the speaker that it had several advantages over the ordi-
nary safety lamp, particularly in the amount of light,
and the positions in which one could get the light.

The vote of thanks was cordially passed.

Responding, Mr. Best stated that his object was cer-
tainly to produce the safest lamp possible. He added
that he had never had one broken glass resulting from
the flame of the lamp.

Mr. Best afterwards gave a demonstration of the
good points of his lamp to an interested group of
members.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Locajl Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Government Control of the Mines—Great Effect on Share
Values—Workmen's Leader Approves Control—New
Procedure : Counsel's Opinion—Position of the Tin-
plate Trade.

A grave question has arisen with regard to the actual rela-
tion of colliery management to the Government control
which has been instituted—the matter being of deep and
immediate importance, because of a fear that Government
officials, even those who are not acquainted with the peculi-
arities and difficulties of colliery work, might take steps
amounting to mischievous interference. The point raised is
that, inasmuch as the coal owners and managers are respon-
sible under the law for the working of the mines, they must
be free from interference which would prevent their exer-
cising salutary discipline, as in normal circumstances—such
discipline being essentially requisite for safety, as well as
tor regularity of output. Upon the output, not only does
the profit of the undertaking depend, but also the supply of
coal for national purposes; and, in view of unrest which
exists, far more than is generally understood, especially as
the Government concessions to the workmen’s trade union
have evoked altogether undesirable anticipations and feelings,
it is urgently necessary that, as far as practicable, mana-
gerial authority should be fully, maintained—seeing that
managerial responsibility has not lessened. Representations
have been made by a deputation from the Coal Owners’
Association; and it is to be hoped that these will have due
weight.

Considerable fall in colliery share values on the South
Wales stock exchanges has led to criticism which evoked
official reply from the secretary of Cardiff Stock Exchange.
The decline was general, the feature being that the prices
were “ marked down ” in many cases, although actual busi-
ness done was not recorded; and upon this came the usual
misleading calculation which applies current quotation to
the whole of the (affected) shares in existence, and then
estimates a huge total “ loss.” In this case, it was reckoned
that South Wales coal shares were two millions sterling
lower in value. The “ arbitrary marking down ” was
objected to because it alarmed shareholders, and induced
them to throw their holdings upon the market, thus forcing
down quotations still farther; but the secretary of the Stock
Exchange, on behalf of the committee, declared that there
is no “ arbitrary marking down,” but that markings are
dictated by transactions and by the buyers and sellers. He
adds : “ The Exchange has to conform to Treasury regula-
tions, which distinctly forbid any arbitrary marking down of
values.” As a matter of fact, shipping shares, as well as
colliery shares, have suffered decline becanse of the antici-
pated effect of Government control. There are now Stock
Exchanges at Swansea and Newport, as well as at Cardiff.

In relation to share values, some interesting speculations
were indulged in when Lord Rhondda’s acceptance of office
in the new Government was announced. Of the 20 to 30
directorships which his lordship hplds, many are of colliery
companies—chief of these being Cambrian Combine, D. Davis
and Sons, North’s, and Rhymney; and these shared the
general effect mentioned. Lord Rhondda has allowed it to
be known that he will follow the practice of surrendering
directorships upon apoointment to Government office; and
the tone of speculation is as to what will be the result of
this action.

One of the reasons assigned for declining share values is a
fear that profits will be restricted to the limit of those in
steel works, namely, 20 per cent, above pre-war figures;
and that the excess profits tax will be raised. The nervous-
ness of the earlier days is, however, apparently passing off,
for one or two of the securities quoted have taken an upward
turn. It is being recognised that collieries cannot, in respect
of control, be treated like railways or munition works. The
former have a permanent character quite different from the
nature of colliery properties, which are necessarily being
steadily worked out; and the collieries differ also, though
not to the same extent, from munition works and their plant,
where due provision for depreciation is allowed.

A striking feature of the assumption of mining control
by the Government is a declaration by Mr. V. Hartshorn,
one of the most prominent of the workmen’s leaders, who
has set forth in detail the advantages that the men have
secured in the past through State action. His object, he
frankly states, is to remove any misgivings which the miners
may have as to the effect of State control upon their separate
interests; and he recognises the fact that some of them are
at present suspicious on that point, due, he believes, to the
way in which the Miners’ Federation was treated by the
Government in respect of the announcement of control. He
states that although the terms of the announcement, and the
manner in which the decision was come to, may have left
something to be desired, he does not think there is anything
in State control itself which justifies suspicion on the part
of the workmen. On the contrary, the history of the mining
industry in South Wales provides ample evidence that State
intervention in the past has worked out to the benefit of
the miners. •

A disclosure of considerable interest to the miners was
made by Mr. Hartshorn in a speech on Monday, when he
pointed out that they were not outside the Munitions Act,
as had been commonly supposed. He said they really had
been under the obligation of submitting every dispute to
compulsory arbitration; and when the trouble arose last
year over making a new agreement, the Government might
have imposed the provisions of the Munitions Act, and
made a claim for T30 from every man in and about the mines
—this being £5 par day for the period they were on strike.
In the early part of this year, over the 15 per cent, claimed