1232

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAm

December 22, 1916.

against a prop, sustaining injuries to his hip and thigh. He
received compensation at the rate of £1 per week until
September 16. As he claimed to be still incapacitated by
reason of the accident, he sued the owners of the colliery at
Durham County Court last week for a continuance of his
compensation. It was stated that, prior to the accident, he
was an exceptionally strong man, and had never had a day’s
illness in his life. A fortnight after August 4 he attempted
to resume his work, but had to give it up at the end of one
day. His doctor informed the judge that claimant was suffer-
ing from acute neuritis, the result of the accident, and that
he was not yet fit for work. Cross-examined, the doctor
admitted that he had not previously attended a case of
neuritis set up by an accident. The defence was that
Donkin’s neuritis was chronic, and not resultant from the
accident. Judge Bonsey found for claimant, and ordered a
continuance of the full compensation.

The Tanfield Dea Colliery soldiers’ and sailors’ relief fund,
the committee of which consists of the colliery officials, with
Mr. Rogers (manager) as chairman, and representatives of
the miners, enginemen, mechanics, and deputies, has thus
far had a total income of over £511, the result of a levy of
each of the members of 2d. per week all the year round. The
fund has now been in operation slightly over 12 months.
The sum of £104 was spent upon parcels to soldiers and
sailors last Christmas, £50 has been paid to widows and
children, and £26 has been expended in parcels to prisoners
of war. The total expenditure to November 24 last was
about £188, leaving a credit balance of about £233. Since
that day an extra income of £39, net profit of a recent con-
cert, has accrued to the fund.

The offices of Messrs. J. M. and J. Bartlett, coal exporters,
and the adjoining premises of Messrs. Harper, Seed and
Company, coal exporters, Exchange-buildings, Newcastle
Quayside, were considerably damaged by fire on Wednesday
of this week.

The Midlands.

Several people were seriously affected at Dudley by the
emission of fumes of carbon monoxide from a subterranean
fire in an old colliery working beneath one of the principal
streets in the town. The fumes forced themselves through
the floors of a local works and adjacent houses, and work-
people and inmates of the houses were quickly prostrated.
The presence of fire in this neighbourhood has given the
authorities considerable trouble for many years.

Kent.

Last week the amount of coal raised from the Beresford
seam at Snowdown Colliery was 2,600 tons; whilst the
Tilmanstone Colliery output wras 2,560 tens.	r

The deep sinking in the No. 2 pit at Snowdown Colliery
was taken down a further 27 ft. last week—from 2,740 ft. to
2,767 ft. Our correspondent has now been able to establish
that the ground at the point where this sinking is taking
place is 52 ft. higher than at the scene of the Barfrestone
boring, where the 6 ft. 9 in. seam of coal was struck at
2,750 ft. Provided there is no variation in the depth of the
seam, there is therefore still 35ft. of sinking to be carried
out before the seam is entered at the Snowdown Colliery.
With the interruption of vrark caused by the holidays, it will
probably not be before the new year that the seam is
reached.

Scotland.

Wagon Scarcity — Fife Shipping — Dunfermline Mining
Royalties—Mining Electrical Engineers.

Mr. Thomas Menzies, Auchenraith Blantyre, has been
appointed mining manager of Bridgeness and Grange
Collieries, Linlithgowshire, in succession to Mr. Jeffrey
Armstrong, who has obtained a commission in the Army.

Scarcity of wagons has been responsible for the loss of
work at a number of the collieries throughout the country
during the past weeks. The owners aver that the trouble
chiefly lies in the delay caused through shipping. From
Ayrshire, Stirlingshire, and the Lothians much idle time is
reported.

In the investigation of the circumstances attending the
death of a pit bottomer in Riddochhill pit, Bathgate, the jury
at Linlithgow Sheriff Court found : “ While at work deceased
fell in such a way that he was found with his head lying
on his arm beneath the buffers of the first hutch of a race
of Which he was in charge.” They could not decide as to
whether death was due to accident or to natural causes.

The returns of work done in Fife in the shipping depart-
ment are again on the down grade, and what work is being
done is concentrated at Methil and Burntisland. The former
port especially is almost in a state of briskness, the demand
for the cheaper and mixed sorts being in the ascendancy.
The combined shipments from both ports for the week
amounted to 50,234 tons, as against 51,933 tons the week
previous.

The Property Committee of the Dunfermline Town Council,
at their monthly meeting, had under consideration the report
which had been obtained from the mining engineer regarding
the upper seams of coal in Muirbeath Colliery. One member
of the committee remarked that in the near future they would
be faced with a considerable reduction in the royalties from
the burgh coal field. He was convinced .there wras still a
considerable quantity of coal available in the Muirbeath
field, and he thought it would be best for the burgh to work
the coal on their own account.

On Saturday upwards of 100 members of the West of
Scotland branch of the Association of Mining Electrical
Engineers visited the Nos. 3 and 4 Baillieston pits of the
Mount Vernon Colliery Company Limited, where there has
been recently installed a new and up-to-date electrical equip-
ment. The plant comprises a main controlling switchboard
of the latest Ironclad type, ventilating fan, two electrical
winders, screening plant, aerial ropeway, and general engi-
neering and shop equipment. The fit-up is entirely depen-
dent on electrical energy, which is taken from the Clyde
Valley Company at 11,000 volts, three-phase, and trans-
formed to 440 volts for both surface and underground work.
The transforming is done in a sub-station, which forms part
of the main building containing the two winders and venti-
lating fan. The ventilating fan is of the Ulster type, 10 ft.
diameter, capable of giving 100,000 cu. ft. of air at 3 in.
water gauge. It is driven by 100 horse-power motor, and
the speed is varied by changing the diameter of the driving
pulley. The winders, which were supplied by Messrs.
Crompton and Company, are each operated by a direct-
current motor, the three-phase alternating-current supply
being converted by means of self-containing converters in

each winder house. The electrical equipment of the winders
is interesting, and possesses several somewhat novel
features. The screening plant and headgear were built by
Messrs. Head, Wrightson and Company Limited. The
screens are of the horizontal Marcus type, and are capable of
handling 1,000 tons in eight hours. The screens are driven
by two 25 horse-power and one 20 horse-power motors, and
the hutch creeper by one 6 horse-power motor. The aerial
ropeway for conveying dirt to the debris heap is capable of
tipping 30 hutches per hour—about 20 to 25 tons. This is
driven by one 30 horse-power motor, and is wholly operated
by one boy. The air compressor used for supplying air for
power underground is fixed on the surface, and is electrically-
driven by a 40 horse-power motor. Power is conveyed under-
ground by means of two feeders, one carrying current for
the pumps, and the other for coal cutters, haulages, etc. The
entire fit-up was carried out under the direction of Mr. James
Black, the general manager, and Messrs. Walter Dixon and
Company, Glasgow, the consulting engineers.

The Board of Trade have approved the by-laws recently
passed by Glasgow Corporation relative to the selling of
coal in the streets of the city. Dealers are now bound to
display prominently on each vehicle a board showing in
figures at least 6 in. long the price at which they are offering
the coal, and it is an offence to demand from purchasers a
greater price than that shown.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The South Wales Central Trimming Board met in Cardiff
on Thursday cf last week to consider an application from the
coal trimmers of Swansea, Port Talbot, Cardiff, and New-
port for an increase of 25 per cent, in their war bonus. It
was decided to reject the demand of the men on the ground
that the present war bonus of 37| per cent, had been fixed
for the period of the war. The new demand would raise
the bonus to 621 per cent, above pre-war tariff.—On Tuesday
a general conference of coal trimmers’ representatives from
all the Bristol Channel ports took place in Cardiff, when the
above decision was discussed, and a resolution was passed
that “ this conference postpones decision as to methods to be
adopted in furtherance of their application.”

The anthracite miners held their monthly meeting in
Swansea on Saturday, when they agreed that two days’
holiday should be taken at Christmas. — At Blaen-cae-
Gurwen, over 160 men have been on strike in support of a
contention that those latest employed should be first dis-
pensed with; and the meeting decided to support this posi-
tion.—Out-of-work pay was awarded to about 700 men who
had been idle for some days on account of an outbreak of
fire in the stocks in one of the collieries.

The miners of Merthyr district, at a mass meeting on
Sunday, decided to contribute Id. each per week to Merthyr
Hospital, on condition that all panel doctors be admitted to
the hospital; that every works should have three, instead of
one executive member; and that the medical practitioners
shoukl be represented by two of their members, instead of
their whole staff. The resolution required also that for each
£5 subscribed the workmen should be entitled to one
governor.

In the monthly report presented by Mr. Winstone to the
Eastern Valleys branch of the Miners’ Federation, reference
is made by him to the decision of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain on the question of fining habitual absentees.
This, it is stated, has placed South Wales in a most unfor-
tunate position. He (Mr. Winstone) had always opposed
the principle of fining, and saw7 no reason to change his
view. A deal of the responsibility of absenteeism rested
upon colliery managers, and they should be brought to book
as well as the workmen. The idea of fining was abhorrent
to the nature of the South Wales miner. He further states
that 95,000 of the more active workmen had gone to the
Colours, and that the total amount of avoidable absenteeism
is 5 per cent. The output of coal had increased by 240,000
tons over the last quarter of 1915, and that record was
second to none in the British coal field, w7hereas in York-
shire, where the system of fines is in force, the increase of
output has been only 92,000 tons.

North of England.

At the annual meeting of the council of Durham Miners’
Association, held on Saturday last, the agents were re-elected
as follow : President and compensation agent, Aid. William
House; general secretary, Mr. T. H. Cann; executive com-
mittee secretary, Mr. Jas Robson; treasurer, Mr. T. Trotter;
National Insurance secretary, Mr. W. Whiteley; financial
secretary, Mr. W. P. Richardson; and joint committee
secretary, Mr. Jos. Batey.

After negotiations extending over a period of four years,
the Wages Board of the Northumberland Colliery Engine-
men and Firemen’s Association has been successful in obtain-
ing an eight-hour day for stationary firemen, with a reduction
of the basis wage by 2d. per day, making the basis for the
eight hours 3s. 4d. per shift. An hour a day reduction has
also been obtained for main line locomotive men, with no
reduction in wages. The new regime will come into opera-
tion on January 15.

Federated Area.

Nottinghamshire miners have decided to run a candidate
for the Mansfield Division at the next election, and have
selected Mr. William Carter, J.P., assistant secretary of the
Miners’ Association, a former checkweighman at Newstead
Colliery.

The workmen’s section of the Coal Conciliation Board for
England and North Wales met at Birmingham to prepare
their case in support of the claim for an advance in wages.
Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., presided. The application for
an advance is based upon the increasing rise in the cost of
living. The wage is at present at the maximum under the
new agreement, with a war bonus of 15£ per cent.

At the annual meeting of the council of the Derbyshire
Miners’ Association, at Chesterfield on Saturday, the
re-appointments of Mr. James Martin (Staveley) as presi-
dent, and Mr. William Sewell (Halfway) as vice-president,
were confirmed. The following were elected on the execu-
tive committee : Messrs. James Randall (Morton), A.
Hancock (North Wingfield), T. Levers (Ilkeston), S.
Horsley (Salterwood), S. Bunting (Markham), W. Davies
(Beighton), S. Woodhead (Barlbro’), John Hill (Swanwick),
Thomas Spencer (Alfreton), H. Tagg (Codnor), E. Overton

(Bolsover), and Thomas Hall (Pleasley). The members
appointed as workmen’s representatives on the County
Minimum Wages Board are : Messrs. T. Spencer (Alfreton),
T. Hall (Pleasley), E. Overton (Bolsover), H. Kicking
(Williamthorpe), J. Hill (Swanwick), J. Randall (Morton),
W. Callaghan (Ilkeston), and J. Wheatley (Whitwell).
Messrs. S. E. Short and Company (Chesterfield) were
appointed as auditors of the general accounts, in succession
to Mr. H. H. Berresford (resigned), while Mr. John Hill
(Swanwick) was Chosen as auditor of the local lodge books.

At a well-attended meeting of the executive council of
the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, held last
Saturday in Bolton, it was mentioned that various minor
disputes respecting working conditions which have arisen at
collieries in the Leigh, Bolton, and Manchester districts,
had been amicably settled. The- question of absenteeism
was also again under consideration. It was resolved, after
discussion, to refer back to the branches the report of the
London Conference re absentee committees and the question
of fines upon men not making every attendance. It was
decided that the representatives should come to the next
conference prepared to give a final decision.

At meetings of colliery firemen connected with the
Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Firemen’s Association on
Monday in the Manchester district, it was reported that they
had forwarded an application to the Federated coal owners
for an advance in wages, which, so far, had not been forth-
coming. Unless their demands were conceded, they were
prepared to cease contracts. Between 2,000 and 3,000 men
are affected. Negotiations, it is understood, are proceeding
between the employers and the men’s representatives.

CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS RECEIVED.

Dexine Limited (Stratford, E.).—An artistic case, for
Treasury notes, etc., exemplifies, as a souvenir, one of the
multifarious uses of “ Dexonite,” a substance which some
people might regard at first as a kind of celluloid. It is
light, and apparently of exceptional strength, so that its
industrial uses are very extensive. The makers claim,
among other things, that it is a perfect insulator.

John Davis and Son (Derby) Limited.—We have pleasure
in noting from a recent leaflet that this Derby company is
still successfully developing its electrical productions, to
some of which we drew attention recently. The new system
of sparkless signalling illustrates the thoroughness with
which the whole subject of electrical operation has been
explored in relation to mining and surface work. The Davis-
Macdonald solenoid bell for mining use is too simple to get
out of order, and too effective to fail in conveying the signal
properly. The danger with the ordinary bell lies in the self-
induction set up by the amount of iron in the coils. Here
the system is different, and no possibility of sparking occurs.
That is a valuable feature in such an apparatus, and one
to which the makers are justified in drawing the fullest
attention.

Optical Pyrometer Syndicate.—A pamphlet describes the
“ Wedge ” opticaL pyrometer, an instrument which
embodies several novel features, and which introduces a
new method for observing and measuring high temperatures
in industrial operations. It was invented by Messrs.
Cochrane and Company, iron founders, Middlesbrough, for
use in their works, and answered its purpose so well that
it is now being manufactured under licence for general use.
The instrument consists of a brass tube, furnished w7ith a
small telescope, so arranged that the objective of the tele-
scope focuses the image of the heated body* on a movable
prism placed inside the tube. The eye-piece of the tele-
scope then reveals the magnified image on the prism to the
observer. Its uses appeared to be so multifarious that the
manufacturers are supplying it to widely dissimilar under-
takings. The syndicate is established at 182-3, Temple-
chambers, London, E.C.

Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company.—Several well-printed
bulletins afford an indication of the company’s progressive
work in machinery of many kinds. The “ Giant ” gas
engine is a salient example of cheap energy, and this prime
mover is at work in the most astonishingly diverse trades. It
will run satisfactorily on any manufactured or natural
gas containing 600 B.T.U. or more per cubic foot,
which is a level easily attained. The engine is of the hori-
zontal, straight line type, and enjoys the advantage of great
accessibility. Other productions to which we may make
passing reference are the “ Rockford ” railw7ay motor-cars,
the various types of hose couplers, the pneumatic high-
pressure hose, the “ Duntley ” portable electric hoists, and
the automatic oilers for use with pneumatic tools. The
range of selection in the company’s engineering productions
is so extensive that we cannot do more than note some of
the well-known lines in general use.

A. Hirst and Son Limited (Dewsbury).—A clear explana-
tion of the operation of the “ Dw7arf ” Crescent coal cutters
appears in a circular issued by this Dewsbury company, and
the results attained so far by these diminutive machines
confirm the makers’ statements. The “Dwarf” possesses
all the valuable features of the “ Crescent,” the difference
occurring in size, in order that very thin seams may be
worked. Although only 13 in. high, no proportionate reduc-
tion in power occurs. In fact, the horse-power has been
kept up to the standard of all “ Crescent ” machines. The
electric motors fitted to these small cutters embody 27 years’
practical experience in the construction of electrical
machinery for coal mining, and the other examples of
mining apparatus exhibit the same engineering capacity.
It is possible to say that without reservation, in view of the
demonstrable efficiency of the company’s productions sent
out from the company’s works in Meadow-lane, Dewsbury.

Sir Edwin Cornwall, who commenced life as a clerk in a
Fulham coal office, and made a fortune as a coal merchant,
has been appointed Controller of the Household.

The Machinery Users’ Association held its annual meet-
ing in London on Tuesday. The report again urged the
necessity of passing the Rating of Machinery Bill. It is
only in England and Wales, the council says, that attempts
are made to uphold such a principle as the rating of
machinery, thus penalising labour as well as capital, and
placing an indirect fetter upon industries. The council
intend to persevere with the measure for which they have
made themselves responsible.