December 22, 1916. 1217 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ samples submitted for the official tests on July 14, 1916; the lamp shall be used by officials only, and then only in conjunction with another lump of approved type (flame or electric) capable of giving the required candle- power for the required number of hours; the lamp must Fig. 3.—Pearson’s Fig. 4.—Detail of Official’s Pocket Best’s Safety Lamp. Lamp. have been made at the Victoria Works of Messrs. Pearson’s Electric Miners’ Lamp Company Limited, Marshgate-lane, Stratford, London, E. Part IV.—Amendments to the Schedules to Previous Safety Lamps Orders. 1. Messrs. Best's Safety Lamps. The following amendments should be made in the description* of Best’s “ Gauzeless ” Lamps, No. 1 and No. 1a:— (а) Paragraph z \ shall read :— “ (1) Admission of air to the lamp flame is through : (a) A perforated cylinder of copper 1} in. long, 2 in. in diameter, and not less than /q in. thick, the lower rim of which forms a secure seating for the upper edge of the outer glass. The perforated por- tion of the cylinder is arranged vertically, and is not more than 1 in. in width, there being not more than 200 perforations per sq. in., each perforation being not more than in. in diameter.” (б) Paragraph (2) (a) shall read :— “ (2) Passage of the products of combustion is through a cylindrical chimney with two conical caps, corresponding to two Mueseler chimneys, screwed or otherwise attached to the top, and firmly pinned. The internal diameter of the top of the lower cone is not more than | in., and of the upper cone not more than f in., the two outlets being not more than 1 in. apart. The total length of the chimney is 4|in., and its. lower rim forms a secure seating for the upper edge of the inner glass by means of a spring compression device.” (c) Paragraph (2) (5) shall be deleted. (d) The words “ and on September 21, 1916,” shall be added to the date of the official test. Fig. 5.—Removable Bonnet of Naylor’s Protector Lamp. The general arrangement of the portions of the lamp described above is shown in fig. 4. 2. The “ Ceag ” Miners" Supply Company"s Electric Lamp. In the description) of the Ceag Miners’ Electric Safety Lamp :— (a) Paragraph (1) shall be amended to read :— (1) A solid drawn or welded steel case (tinned) with bottom of steel or brass with or without extra steel bottom or bottom ring, strengthened by pressed corru- gations; fitted with securely attached steel lugs, or brass screw ring, or with a steel or brass ring with a double rim for the attachment of the cover. ___________________________________________________ * See Colliery Guardian, July 14, 1916, p. 64. ) See p. 47 and pl. 37 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and 0., 1913, No. 886). (b) Paragraph (3) shall be amended to read :— (3) A cover, carrying the pillars and crown, and forming a flametight connection with the case, either (i.) of stamped steel (tinned) fitted on the inside with a securely attached stamped steel ring pro- vided with feathers to engage lugs on the case; or (ii.) of brass, screw-threaded internally to engage the screw ring on the case; or (iii.) with two securely attached lugs made of brass or other suitable material to engage in a double-rimmed ring on the case. (c) Paragraph (7) (i.) shall be amended to read : (i.) That the total weight of the lamp is not more than 5}lb. (d) The words “ and on July 25, 1916,” should be added at the end of paragraph 7 (ii.). (e) The provision* added to paragraph (7) (iv.) by the Safety Lamps Order of March 16, 1915, shall be amended to read : “or at the works of the ‘ Ceag ’ Miners’ Supply Company Limited, at Queen’s-road, Barnsley, York- shire.” 3. Messrs. Joseph Cooke and Son. In the description) of the J. C. B. Lamp, No. 19, the following provision' shall be added at the end of para- graph (3) The J. C. B. Lamp No. 19 may be fitted with a Mueseler chimney in addition to or instead of the inner gauze. The dimensions of the chimney are as follow :— In. Height above horizontal gauze not le-s than ..... 3| Height below horizontal gauze not less than ..... | Diameter at top not greater than................ | Diameter at bottom not greater than............ 1) 4. Messrs. John Davis and Son"s No. 3 Lamp— The Davis-Boss.J This lamp may also be constructed to take gauzes and a bonnet of the sizes used in the No. 2 lamp—Davis- Kirkby. § 5. Mr. J. H. Naylor"s Protector Lamp, Type “ G.”|| The bonnet or shield of this lamp may be modified so as to be removable. It then has the form shown in fig. 5. It is locked to the crown by two lead rivets. The dis- tance between the crown and the top of the bonnet is not greater than | in. The approval of the lamp with the bonnet so modified is subject to the condition that the strength of materials used in the construction of the bonnet is not less than in the sample submitted for the official test on September 20, 1916. 6. Messrs. Oldham and Son's Lamps. (a) The “ Oldham ” Miner’s Electric Safety Lamp.— The following alterations shall be made in the descrip- tion of this lamp.II (i.) In paragraph (2) the terminals of the accumu- lator shall be described as follow :— “ Either (a) two spring plunger terminals fixed by means of antimonial lead cases screwed on to plate pillars in a recessed grease cup in the accumu- lator lid; or (b) one spring plunger terminal and one fixed terminal, or two fixed terminals. In lamps with either one or two fixed terminals, the base of the lamp case carries a resilient pad or cushion to ensure good contact between the terminals of the accumulator and the switch-plate.” (ii.) The following wTords shall be added at the end of paragraph (3):— ‘ ‘ or the protecting glass may be a thick solid- top glass.” (iii.) In paragraph (6) (i.), the weight “ 51b. 4oz.” shall be altered to “ 6| lb.” (b) The Oldham “ Emergency ” Electric Lamp.**— The following provision shall be added at the end of paragraph (1) :— “ The case is fitted with a block of aluminium, which prevents the accumulator being put in the case the wrong way.” (c) The Oldham “ Emergency ” Electric Lamp, Type No. 2 Bullseye.))—Paragraph (1) shall be amended to read as follows :— “ The case may be of solid drawn steel or brass, or sheet steel or brass, or aluminium, with a seam.” (d) The “ Oldham ” Shaft and Roadway Lamp, Type “ A.”—In the description! J of this lamp, the following alterations shall be made :— In paragraph (1) the words “ or a case of sheet brass or steel ” shall be inserted after the word ‘‘ cover.” In paragraph (4) the words “ or a thick-walled solid top ” shall be inserted after the word ” cylindrical.” In paragraph (6) (i.) the weight ”341b.” shall be altered to “ 361b.” * See p. 8 of the Safety Lamps Order of March 16, 1915 (St. R. and 0., 1915, No. 249). ) See p. 7 and pl. 4 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and O., 1913, No. 886). J See p. 38 and pl. 31 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and 0., 1913, No. 886). § See p. 10 and pl. 6 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and 0., 1913, No. 886). II See p. 14 and pl. 10 of the Safety Lamps Order of March 16, 1914 (St. R. and 0., 1914, No. 345). 11 See p. 49 and pl. 39 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and 0., 1913, No. 886). ** See p. 51 and pl. 42 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and O., 1913, No. 886). )) See p. 3 of the Safety Lamps Order of June 15, 1915 (St. R. and O., 1915, No. 592). JI See p. 51 and pl. 43 of the Safety Lamps Order of August 26, 1913 (St. R. and 0., 1913, No. 886). MINING EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette states that employment in coal mining was good during November, but showed a slight decline compared with both a month ago and a year ago; the decline was partly due to shortage of wagons and partly to the lack of shipping facilities. There was an increase of 4,650 (or 0*9 per cent.) in the number of workpeople employed compared with the previous month, and of 25,639 (or 5'1 per cent.) on a year ago. The highest average number of days worked was in North Wales (5*90 days), and in Gloucester and Somerset (5*89 days), and the lowest average was in Northumberland (5 08 days). Districts. Work- people em- ployed in Nov. 1916* Average No. of days worked per week by the collieries in fort- night ended Nov. Oct. Nov. 25, 28, 27, 1916. 1916. 1915. Inc. ( +) or dec. (—) in Oct. 1916, on a Month Year ago. ago. England & Wales. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Northumberland ... 37,556...5’08...5'42...5'48... -0'34... — 0 40 Durham ........... 85,274...5 34...5'55.. 5'56...-0'21...-0'22 Cumberland ...... 7,046...5'72 ..5'83..5'73...-0'11...-0'01 South Yorkshire ... 56,317...5'83...5 91...5'87...-0'08...-0'04 West Yorkshire____ 25,383...5'79...5'76.. 5'64... +0'03 .. *-0'15 Lancs. & Cheshire... 52,215.. 5'78...5'90...5'79... —0T2...— 0'01 Derbyshire ......... 32,996...5'77...5'83.. 5'85... -0'06...-0'08 Notts and Leicester 29,761.. 5'68...5'58...5’40... + 0'10... —0'28 Staffordshire ...... 28,516...5'84...5'77...5'84... +0'07... — W ar wick, W orcester and Salop......... 8,536...5'85...5'86...5'74... -0 01... +0'11 Glo’ster & Somerset 5,679...5'89...5'97...5'97...-0'08...-0'08 North Wales ...... 9,062.5 90...5'99...6'00 -0'09...-0'10 South Wales & Mon. 108,048...5'58 . 5'93...5'70...-0'35...-0'12 Total ...... 486,390...5 61...5’77...5*69...-0T6...+0'08 Scotland. West Scotland .... 20,761 5'32...5 45...5 00...-0'13... +0'32 The Lothians ...... 2,520 5'56...5'39...5'36... +0'17...+0'20 Fife ............... 21,160 . 5'23. .5'42...5'44...-0'19...-0'21 Total ...... 44,441...5'29 . 5'43...5'23...-0'14... +0'06 Ireland ............ 453.5'71 5'39...5'93... 4-0'32...-0'22 Total, U.K_____ 531,284.5'59...5'74...5'66...-0'15... -0'07 * At the collieries included in the table. Compared with a month ago employment showed an improvement in West Yorkshire, Nottingham and Leicester, Staffordshire, the Lothians and Ireland, but a decline in every other district, which was most marked in Northumberland and in South Wales and Monmouthshire. Some time was lost in Northumber- land, Lancashire, Leicestershire and West Scotland on account of scarcity of railway wagons, and in the Lothians and Fifeshire owing to a reduction of shipping facilities. Compared with a year ago employment showed an improvement in West Yorkshire, Nottingham and Leicester, Warwick, Worcester and Shropshire, West Scotland and the Lothians. In every other district there was a decline, except in Staffordshire, which showed no change. Compared with a month ago there was a decline at all classes of coal pits; the decline was greatest at anthracite coal pits. Compared with a year ago em- ployment showed no change at mixed coal pits, but a decline at all other coal pits; here also the greatest decline was in anthracite. The following table shows the numbers employed and the average number of days worked, distributed according to the principal kind of coal raised at the pits at which the workpeople were employed:— Description of coal. Average No. of days worked per Work- week by the pits people in fortnight em- ended p'oyed t---------------> in Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. 1916* 25, 28, 27, 1916. 1916. 1915. Anthracite ...... Coking .......... Gas............. House........... Steam........... Mixed........... Inc. (+) or dec. (—) in Nov. 1916 on a _________ Month Year ago. ago. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. 5,666.4'77...5'56.5'90...-0'79...-1'13 25.673.. .5'75...5 80...5 81...-0 05 ..-0'06 34.278.. .5'29 ..5'54 ..5'52...-0'25...-0'23 53,051...5'62.. 5'71.. 5'66...-0'09 ..-0'04 187.806.. .5'59...5 80...5'69...-0'21...-0'10 224.810.. .5'62..5'73...5'62...-0'11... — All descriptions ... 531,284.. 5'5 >...5'74...5'66...-0'15 -0'07 * At the collieries included in the table. Iron, Shale, and Other Mining.—At iron mines employment continued very good, and showed little change on the whole compared with a year ago. It was good at shale mines. Returns received for each of the three periods named below, relating to the same iron mines and open works in each cases show that 13,346 workpeople were employed in November 1916, an increase of 15 (or 0'1 per cent.) compared with October, and of 447 (or 3'5 per cent.) compared with a year ago. Work- people Districts. em- Average No. of days worked per week by mines in fortnight ended Inc. (+) or dec. (—) in Nov. 1916 on a _____________ miNOV. 1NOV. VCL. 1YOV. 1916. 25, 28, 27, Month Year 1916. 1916. 1915. ago- ag0- Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Cleveland.......... 5,546 ...5'60...5'47...5'62...+0'13...-0'02 Cumberland and Lancashire ...... 4,815 ...5’92.5 94...5'92...—0'02... — Scotland .......... 817 ...5'37...5'97...6'00...-0'60...-0'63 Other districts .... 2,168 ...5'97.. 5'83...5'98...+0T4...-0'01 All districts.... 13,346 ...5'76...5'73.5'81...+0 03...-0 05 Pig Iron.—Employment continued good, and was better than a year ago. The output at a number of works, however, was still restricted owing to difficulties