April 13, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 721 COAL SUPPLIES v. WATER POWER. The question of water power as a competitor with coat will assume in the near future an increased interest, owing to the rapid developments now taking place throughout the Empire. The following parti- culars are given in the recently issued Report of the Dominions Royal Commission. The water powers of the Dominions, especially of Canada and New Zealand, are great, and as they pro- vide a cheap, convenient, cleanly, and inexhaustible form of energy, their potentialities in respect of industrial development are immense. Canada.—This development is already making rapid progress in Canada, not only in the substitution of the new form of energy for the old, but in the establish- ment of new industries which, by the aid of water power, are utilising the natural resources of the country. This progress cannot fail to be equally great in the immediate future, and it is fortunate, there- fore, that the title to the water power rights has largely remained under the control of the Dominion or Provincial Governments. The Dominion Govern- ment controls navigable streams and their water powers throughout the Dominion and the water powers in general of the Prairie Provinces, while the adminis- tration of these powers in the other Provinces is under Provincial control. The statutory authorities respon- sible for the conservation and the utilisation of these water powers appear to perform their duties with the utmost care and efficiency, appreciating, as they do, the enormous value of this asset of the Dominion. The authorities concerned have issued from time to time so many publications giving detailed informa- tion as to the developed and available powers of the different Provinces that it Js not necessary to mention here more than a few salient facts. It is officially stated that the water power actually developed throughout the Dominion in 1915 amounted to 1,712,000 horse-power for 24 hours daily, while it is estimated that within areas that may reasonably be expected to be populated in the near future, there are water possibilities aggregating more than 10 times as much. Naturally, attention lias first been given to the large water powers in Ontario and Quebec, which represent three-fourths of the whole power yet developed in the Dominion—a most fortunate posses- sion for these Provinces, inasmuch as they are, so far as is yet known, entirely without coal. The existing and possible sources of this power are Niagara Falls and Rapids, the Rapids of the St. Lawrence in both Provinces, the Ottawa River, the St. Maurice, the Saguenay, etc. Owing to the natural system of lake reservoirs, the variations of water flow on the Niagara River and the St. Lawrence River are remarkably small; else- where, as in those parts of the country where from climatic causes the flow in winter is greatly reduced, while at the melting of the snows in spring it is enor- mously increased, artificial reservoirs have been con- structed to regulate the flow. The water power developed in the two Provinces of Quebec and Ontario amounted in 1915 to 1,309,000 24-hour horse-power, but the total amount available from the sources just indicated is estimated at 8,404,000 horse-power for 24 hours daily. This power, of course, could never be wholly utilised, for when there was a maximum demand for power, there would be a, minimum demand for lighting, and vice versa, but if 80 per cent, of this power were developed, and only one-fourth of the power thus developed consumed, the result would be a saving in fuel equal to the whole of the coal now consumed throughout the Dominion. In some of the memoranda accompanying the minutes of evidence taken in Canada, the Commis- sion noted the remarkable industrial development of various cities and districts in the Dominion well sup- plied with water power, and no better illustration of this can be found than at Shawinigan Falls, where there is quite a remarkable variety of industries and an ever increasing population. Remarkable also is the development and wide distribution of electrical energy under the Hydro-Electric Commission set up by the Government of the Province of Ontario, and its application to industrial, lighting, and agricultural purposes. British Columbia is rich in both water power and coal; nevertheless, rapid progress is being made in hydro-electric development. The Maritime Provinces are only moderately endowed wtih water power, some of which would be available for only eight months in’ the year ; but this is of the less consequence, as they are so near.the great coal fields of Nova Scotia. The information with respect to the other provinces is not complete, but sufficient development has been effected for present needs. For example, the city of Winni- peg has developed considerable electric energy from the large sources of power which are found on the Winnipeg River. In most districts there are numerous smaller sources of power which can be utilised for future requirements. It is obvious, therefore, that Canada has within her own borders ample power for any industrial develop- ment which can at present be foreseen, and which, in any circumstances, must inevitably be great. This is altogether apart from what may yet be found in the north and north-west, where nothing has been developed, and practically nothing surveyed. In this respect, it may be enough to say that the Nelson River, which has enormous possibilities, drains an area of 450,000 square miles. Australia.—The only evidence which the Commission had in Australia relative to water power was given on behalf of the Complex Ores Company, who had obtained authority to harness the waters of the Great Lake in Tasmania and of the rivers Ouse and Shannon connected therewith, and who told the Commission that the waters thus impounded would provide energy enough not only for their own purposes, but for all the industrial requirements of the island. At the time of the visit the works were in progress, but had not reached the stage of operation. The Commission had since, however, learned that the company disposed of its concessions and works to the State of Tasmania in October 1914, that the latter, in spite of delays and difficulties caused by the war, successfully completed the enterprise and commenced work in May 1916, that some 10,000 horse-power can be generated immediately with the present installation and transmitted to Hobart for any purposes for which electrical energy is required, and that the power can readily be increased to 25,000 horse-power, and ultimately to 70,000 horse-power, as soon as it is required. The Commission congratulate the State of Tasmania on the enterprise which has brought the scheme to a successful issue, and they think that its effect should be greatly to assist in the establishment of mining, metallurgical, chemical, and other industries in the island. No doubt steps will be taken later on to utilise the power of the Barron Falls, near Cairns. Queensland, which some of the members of the .Com- mission visited during their stay in Australia, but they have been unable to discover that any practical steps have been taken in this direction, or that an estimate has been made of the available horse-power. New Zealand.—-The water powers of New Zealand in relation to possible demand are practically unlimited; one competent witness told the Commis- sion that they are much more than adequate to pro- wide electric energy for the efficient working of all the industrial plants and all the railways in the North and South Islands. The available power is estimated at 3y817,000 horse-power, some of which would be from various causes very costly to develop, but the greater part would be developed on such moderate terms that the electric energy produced could be sold at rates as low as those prevailing in any part of the world. Of the whole available power, only 43,000 horse-power wTere being utilised in 1915, and of this latter figure only 33,400 horse-power were converted into electric energy, the balance being used for water wheels, sluicing purposes, etc. The Dunedin City Council has the largest municipal plant in use. Since 1907 it has had a power station on the Waipori River, 32 miles away, for supplying light, power, heating, etc., to the city. The Dominion Government, who since 1908 have reserved the water rights, have recently initiated a more active policy, and have erected a power plant at Lake Coleridge for the pro- vision of electric energy for the lighting of the city of Christchurch, for its industrial requirements, and for the working of its street railways. In the North Island a large and comprehensive scheme is now under consideration for the supply of electric energy, to be generally available in all the chief towns and districts in the island. The resources of New Zealand in this respect are undoubtedly of immense potential value. ’ Union of South Africa.—The machinery at the Lydenburg and Barberton gold fields is, for the most part, driven by electric power derived from local waterfalls, but the extent oFtliis development is small. It is also possible to produce electric energy at various points on the Vaal and Orange rivers and the Mooi rivers of Natal and the Transvaal. - These may be made available to a moderate extent for industrial expansio, but it cannot be said that any development of importance has been made, or is likely to be made, in the early future. Whether the day will come when it will be possible to harness the waters of the Zambesi at the Victoria Falls, and convey power for industrial use, is a fascinating speculation, but with the abun- dant supply of cheap coal in the Transvaal and Natal, accessible from all points, the scheme is riot likely to be carried out for mining or industrial purposes in the Union. Newfoundland.—From the evidence presented to the Commission in Newfoundland, it appeared that no surveys of the rivers, and therefore no estimate of the water powers available for conversion into electric energy, had been made, but it is obvious to anyone travelling through the island that these are of very considerable importance. There are about 6,000 horse-power thus converted for lighting the larger towns, for supplying power for manufacturing and other purposes, and for operating the street cars in St. John’s. But much the largest part of the power developed is used in the pulp and paper mills—this amounting to 54,000 horse-power in 1914; and in view of the enormous extent of the forests available for pulp making, it is not unlikely that there may be a demand for a much larger amount of power. The Commission would therefore be glad to hear that a complete survey of the rivers of the island had been made, so that its possibilities for the production of hydro-electric energy might be accurately determined. Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces dissolution of the partnership of A. B. Thompson and C. M. Hunter, trading as Thompson and Hunter, mining engineers, 3, Lombard-street, London; of M. Morris, J. Cotton, R. Parkinson, and R. Ruffley, trading as Morris, Cotton and Company, coal merchants, Alfred-street, Walkden, Lancashire; and of D. G. Parry (who continues the business) and H. F. Parry, trading as T. S. and C. Parry, coal factors and merchants, 351, Caledonian-road, London, and elsewhere, THE COLLIE (W.A.) COAL INDUSTRY. The report of the Royal Commission, consisting of Prof. Woolnough, Mr. A. A. Wilson, M.L.A., and Mr. G. W. Simpson, State Mineralogist, appointed in 1914 to investigate the Collie coal industry in all its bear- ings, recommends that the completion of the delinea- tion of the eastern and southern boundaries of the coal fields area be undertaken by the Geological Survey Department as early as possible. It is con- sidered advisable that the area be fully tested by means of a series of Government bores, each from 1,000 to 1,200 ft. deep, located after such a plan as to reveal the geological structure of the basin as fully as possible. In all future leases, including renewals of present leases when they expire, a condition should be inserted that the methods of working to be adopted shall be subject to the approval of the Minister for Mines. No trading in timber rights should be permitted by the Government. No timber to be cut upon the coal mining leases for other than mining purposes, and, for the purpose of preventing waste, the cutting of such timber to be under the supervision and control of the Conservator of Forests. The cutting of timber on those areas of the Collie coal field which are not at present held under mining lease should be permitted under conditions laid down by the Conservator of Forests, which will adequately safeguard the preser- vation of mining timber for future use. Regulation 205a dealing with restrictions on cutting, should be amended so that the inspector of mines in the district concerned should be one of the officers authorised on behalf of the Conservator of Forests to grant permission to cut trees of lesser circumference than that quoted in the Regulation, when he con- siders it advisable. Responsible officers should be instructed to go carefully into the methods and costs, to ascertain if these will permit of the system of hydraulic stowing being put into operation in the Collie field, for the purpose of adequately protecting the" superimposed seams for future use. If, after investigation, it is considered possible for hydraulic stowing to be carried out economically, arrangements should be made for practical application of the method on one of the mines, and that for this purpose a bonus, if necessary, be granted by the Government. That in addition to the rejection of dirty coal, as provided for in the existing railway contracts, a penalty not exceed- ing £50 for each offence should be imposed on any company supplying such coal. That mine sampling should be substituted for the present unsatisfactory method of truck sampling. If, however, this is con- sidered inexpedient, then the present system of truck sampling should be discontinued, and an amended system of truck sampling be substituted. Sampling should be carried out once per fortnight, instead of once per month, as at present. At least one assistant coal inspector should be stationed at Collie, whose whole time would be devoted to the work. A bonus should be offered for all coal above the standard value, on the same basis that a penalty is imposed for all coal below standard. That the calorific value of the coal should be determined, in all future railway con- tracts, on mine samples by the “bomb” calorimeter, the standard being 10,000 British thermal units, as equivalent to 10,500 British thermal units on the Carpenter calorimeter, for truck samples taken in accordance with the existing contracts. A duplicate sample should be taken from the final quartering, when the sampling is done, for submission to a chemist employed by the coal company. In the event of a serious discrepancy in the results being obtained, the samples in question must be submitted to the Govern- ment Analyst, whose decision shall be final and bind- ing on both parties. Coal having not more than 8 per cent, of ash to be paid for at the normal price, but a penalty amounting to ^d. per ton to be imposed for each unit per cent, of ash above this standard value, the Railway Department to have the right of reject- ing coal which contains more than 12 per cent, of ash. The practice of drenching coal under the water column should be prohibited. The Commission also advise that Collie coal should be used at all railway pumping stations within the zone of economical transport. That the State Steam- ships Department be instructed to use Collie coal wherever possible, either wholly or in part, when it can be done without sacrificing cargo space which could be utilised at highly remunerative rates of freight. That the question of the appointment of an inspector be kept in view, and that as soon as ever the growth of the industry reaches such a stage that a man’s time can be employed profitably, an inspector be appointed. That a bonus be offered for the production of satis- factory briquettes made from Collie coal. That some money may be placed upon the estimates annually; or better still, that a vote be constituted for the express purpose of carrying out investigations in connection with this industry. That a royalty of 3d. per ton be collected, and the money made available in this way be set aside in the proportion of not more than one- third for the provision of covering to protect the coal in transit, and the remainder for the purpose of scientific research in the thorough prospecting and development of the field by boring and other methods, of afforestation, and of chemical investigations of the best means of the utilisation of the coal and its by-products. The collection of this royalty should not come into operation until the year following the cessation of hostilities. The West Coast coal miners in New Zealand recently went on strike. Several union officials were arrested for encouraging seditious statements.