498 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 9, 1917. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Southampton.—The Corporation invite tenders for the supply of coal to their Electricity Supply Station. Parti- culars may be obtained upon application to the borough elec- trical engineer. Sealed tenders, endorsed “ Tenders for coal, electricity works,” should be sent to the town clerk, Municipal Offices, Southampton. No pledge is given to accept any tender. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Barrow-in-Furness, March 14.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Institution. Belfast, March 12.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Grosvenor-road, Belfast. Belper, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse master. Blandford, March 15.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from S. Traill, clerk, Blandford. . Boroughbridge, March 15. — Coal for the Guardians. Particulars from the clerk. Bournemouth, March 26. — Coal (six months) for the Finance Committee. Forms from the borough surveyor. Bradford, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, 4, Town Hall-street, Bradford. Brentford, March 17.—Steam, house, and small coal and coke for the Urban District Council. Forms from J. W. Croxford, surveyor, Clifden House. Buntingford, March 15.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse master. Burley-in-Wharfedale, March 15.—Coal and coke for Scalebor Park private institution. Forms from the clerk to the Visiting Committee, West Biding Asylum, Wakefield. Burnley, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from J. S. Horn, clerk. Burton-on-Trent, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices. Caerphilly, March 13. — Coal for Isolation Hospital. Forms from P. T. Loosemore, Council Offices, Caerphilly. Cheltenham, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Institution, Swindon-road, Cheltenham. Glutton, March 23.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Temple Cloud. Darlington, March 15.—Anthracite (6 or 12 months) for the Corporation Waterworks. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town Hall. Earls House (Durham), March 19.—Coal and coke for Industrial School. Forms from the Education Committee clerk, Shire Hall, Durham. Greenwich, March 15.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Offices, East Greenwich. Hardingstone (Northants), March 12. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 2, St. Giles’-square, Northampton. High Wycombe, March 10. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, High Wycombe. Hollingbourn (Kent), March 15.—Coal for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, 33, Earl-street, Maidstone. Islington, March 15. — Coal for the Guardians of St. Mary, Islington. Forms from the Offices, St. John’s-road, Upper Holloway. King’s Lynn, March 30.—Best Portland hards or other good engine coal for the Magdalen Drainage Commis- sioners. Tenders to the clerk, W. D. Ward, King’s Lynn. Leek (Staffordshire), March 14.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices,, 6, Russell-street, Leek. Lewisham, March 19.—Coal for the Military Hospital. Forms from the Union Offices, 394, High-street, Lewisham. Leytonstone, March 15. — Coal for the Convalescent Home. Forms from the clerk, Board-room, Union-road, Leytonstone. Lisnaskea, March 17. — 100 tons of best Scotch coal (screened) for the Guardians. Tenders to the Guardians, Lisnaskea. London, E.C., March 21.—Coal and coke for the Holborn Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 53, Clerkenwell-road, E.C. London, E., March 22.—Coal for the Guardians (Mile End Old Town). Forms from B. Catmur, clerk, Bancroft- road, Mile End. Macclesfield, March 12. — Coal for the Health Com- mittee. Forms from the borough*accountant, Town Hall. Macclesfield, March 12. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the assistant clerk, Union Offices. Morpeth, March 17.—Coke (six months) for the County Asylum. Forms from the steward. Newport (Mon.), March 20.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Queen’s Hall, Newport. Newtown and Llanidloes, March 14. — Coal for the Guardians. Particulars from the clerk, Newtown. Oakham, March 12. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from W. Batts, clerk. Paddington, March 20.—Coal and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from the acting-clerk, 313, Harrow-road. Plymouth.—Coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Workhouse, Greenbank-road. Redditch, March 15.—500 tons double-screened nuts monthly (six months) for the Urban District Council. Tenders to the chairman,-Electric Supply Committee. Rochford (Essex), March 12.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 40, Clarence-street, Southend-on- Sea, Sheerness, March 19.—1,000 tons of slack for the Urban District Council. Forms from the clerk, Council Offices, Sheerness. Sheffield, March 17.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, The Edge, Sheffield. Solihull, March 12. — Coal and coke for Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Streetsbrook-road, Solihull. Swadlincote, March 12.—Coal (12 months) for Water- works. Forms from A, J. Mason, water engineer, Swad- lincote. Swindon, March 20.—Coal for the Swindon and District Hospital Board. Particulars from J.' McGregor Johnson, clerk. Thrapston, March 12. — Coal and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from G. Hunnybun, clerk. Tyldesley, March 17.—Coal for Baths, etc. (12 months). Forms from the deputy surveyor, Council Offices, Tyldesley. Wakefield, March 12. — Coal for the Asylums Board, Wakefield. Forms from H. Topham, clerk. Walsall, March 13.—Coal (12 months) for the Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. • Wellingborough, March 12. — Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from T. J. Morgan, clerk. Whitehaven, March 16.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Hall. Wigan, March 14.—About 300 tons of nuts and rough slack (for boiler firing at the Baths). Tenders to the town clerk. Willesden, March 19.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 357, High-road, Brondesbury. Wolverhampton, March 20.—Coal, slack, and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Poor Law Offices, Wolverhampton. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Belfast, March 14.—Stores.—Tubing, insulated cable, galvanised wires, lamps, iron pipes, copper cable conduits, electrical apparatus, packings, etc., for Committee. Forms (10s. each section) from the electrical engineer, East Bridge- street, Belfast. Bolton, March 19.—Stores.—Overhead materials, .gear and pinion wheels, iron castings, lamps, insulating materials, etc. Forms from the general manager, Corporation Tram- ways, Bradshawgate, Bolton. Coventry, March 12.—Pipes, etc.—Gast iron pipes, valve boxes, etc., for the Waterworks. Forms from the water engineer, Council House. Darlington, March 15.— Various. — Cast iron pipes, nails, castings, refined tar, etc., for the Corporation. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town Hall. Dundee, March 13.—Stores.—Iron, steel, tyres, bolts, nuts, Davy lamp wick, etc., for the Cleansing Department. Forms from the superintendent, Cleansing Department, 28, East Dock-street, Dundee. Dundee, March 28.—Stores.—Electrical stores, etc., for the Corporation (12 months). Forms from the Electricity Department, Dudhope Crescent-road, Dundee. Hindley (Lancashire), March 12. — Stores. — Tubes, fittings, sulphuric acid, etc., for the Gas and Water Depart- ment. Forms from the engineer, Gas Works, Hindley. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Whilst the total volume of chartering done in the outward market is -still very much attentuated, when compared with that done in normal times, yet the improvement this week is appreciable as compared with last week, and is very con- siderable when compared with the list of a fortnight ago. Nevertheless, the arrivals of boats at British coal shipping ports are still very far below the quantity needed to fulfil requirements. On the north-east coast, rates are very high indeed. Coasting figures are based on from 18s. 6d. to 19s. to London from the Tyne, with 19s. from Blyth, and 17s. accepted from Hull. Nothing has been done Baltic-wise. The ” unrestricted ” Mediterranean is represented by 100s. to. Port Said, and 150s. to Monaco. The latter rate is especially interesting, as indicating that, somehow or other, the little principality is outside the revised limitation scheme, and that “ profiteering ” ship owners are exploit- ing the omission to the extent of charging 41s. more to Monaco than to the neighbouring port of Nice. As a result, coals must be very dear in Monaco ! North French coke rates for British tonnage are steady, at about 45s. Neutral vessels, however, are commanding from 52s. 6d. to 53s. At South Wales, West Africa is being done at 70s. to Dakar from Cardiff. Lisbon is steady, at 75s., and Gibraltar is firm, at 77s. fid. Excepting for Gibraltar, in which direc- tion several large vessels have been chartered, business at South Wales is very scanty. Homewards, the Biver Plate is stated to have been done at 127s. fid. from down-river ports to United Kingdom. The general quotation is, however, 125s. from down river, and 130s. from up-river ports, as was the case last week. At the United States, tonnage is very scarce, and the enquiry is fairly large. Coal business from Virginia to the Biver Plate is offered in vain at the late rate of 100s. For heavy grain from Northern Bange to French ports, 30s. .is still offered. On net form, neutral tonnage continues to be quoted at 155s. from Northern Bange to France. Eastern rates continue to advance. At the time of writing, Bombay to United Kingdom is quoted at 240s., an increase of 20s. on the week. Kurrachee on scale to United Kingdom is firmer, at fully 200s. Calcutta on jute basis to French ports is firm, at 280s. Madras to Marseilles with kernels is quoted at up to 400s., an increase of 10s. Bice ports are represented by from 275s. to 277s. 6d. from Burmah to United Kingdom, and from 285s. to 290s. from Saigon- Haiphong to France. Boats for the carriage of ore from the Mediterranean are offering very sparingly, and the market is dull. Tyne to Calais or Boulogne, 700, 45s., coke; Caen, 400, 52s. 6d., coke, neutral vessel; Dieppe, 700, 52s. 6d., coke, neutral vessel; London, 300 and 1,800, 18s. 6d.; 1,050, 19s. ; Monaco, 1,500, 150s. ; North French Bange, 600 and 500, 45s., coke ; Port Said, 4,500, 100s.; Bonen, 600, 53s., neutral vessel; 620, 46s., coke. Cardiff to Caen, sail, 200, 29s.; Dakar, 2,500, 70s., 250: Gibraltar. 2,000, 4,000, 2,400, and 3,800, 77s. 6d., 500; Lisbon, 2,400, 75s., 250; 2,000, 75s., 500; Bonen, 800, 38s. 3d. Hull to London, 1,200, 17s. G-oole to Treport, 900, 28s. Blyth to London, 300, 19s. Swansea to Guernsey, 300, 30s.; Bonen, several boats, 38s. 3d.; Sables, 950, 46s. 6d. ; Belfast, 350, 15s. 6d. Newport to Gibraltar, 2,000 and 4,000, 77s. 6d., 500. Port Talbot to T'ronville, 700, 36s, ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. ■ 103494. Improvements ' in Charging Mechanism for Use in Connection with Gas Retorts. Biter-Conley Manufac- turing Company, H. A. Carpenter, and A. W. Warner, all of Leetsdale, County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.— Belates to charging mechanism,, and more particularly to an emergency mechanism for the charger operating mechanism of charging machines used in connection with gas retorts. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing a charging and a discharging machine with the inven- tion applied thereto, and a portion of a gas bench; fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the emergency mechanism. 10 is the charging machine, and 11 the charger, the latter being operatively connected to a threaded shaft 12 by a nut 13. The shaft 12 -is driven by a motor 14 through drive connections 15. In fig. 1 the charger is within retort 16, and is approaching the position at which the retort is charged. The normal position of the charger is below a chute structure 17, by means of which a new charge is supplied to the charger at the proper time. The shaft 12 extends into a casing on the framework of the charging machine, and the shaft of the motor 14 is provided with a pinion, between which -and shaft 12 is a suitable friction disc clutch. The emergency mechanism comprises a shaft 32, carrying at its inner end a pinion 3'3, adapted to mesh with gear face 24 b carried by the member 24, the shaft 32 having its opposite end formed as one of the members of a coup- ling, the complemental member being carried by the shaft 34 mounted in suitable bearings, 'and. preferably extending through a tubular portion 35. The opposite end of the shaft 34 is provided with a journal 36, operatively connected to a 72 38. 36' Tggn LJ . K____-T i 3 lever arm 37 mounted on shaft 38, said shaft being provided with a foot lever 39 and a suitable counter-weighted device, such, for instance, as shown at 40. The shaft 34 preferably extends at an angle to the vertical and horizontal, the degree of inclination being such as to provide for an efficient appli- cation of power by the foot lever 39, to thrust the shaft 34 into engagement with shaft 32 by an endwise movement of the shaft 34, the counter-balance 40 normally holding shaft 34 out of such engagement. A gear 41 is secured to the shaft 34, and moves with the shaft in a rotational direction, the .shaft, however, being permitted to move axially of the gear, to provide for shifting. The gear 41 engages a pinion 42 carried by a vertical shaft 43, to the upper end of which is secured an operating wheel 44.' The gear ratio is in a direc- tion for increasing the power from the, wheel 44 to the gear 24 and since the power exerted by the wheel 44 is applied on the threaded shaft 12, the power which is provided by the operator is so multiplied in reaching the nut 13 as to cause the manual operation to be sufficient to break the sticking action. (Eight claims.) 103783. Improvements in Furnace Grates. H. J. C. Forrester, of 88-90, Chancery-lane, London, W.C. (Com- munication from Hansell Grate Company, of 654, Bailway Exchange Building, Chicago, U.S.A.) — Belates to furnace grates, and has for its object the provision of a simple