864

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 4/ 1-917.

Saturday, and resulted as follows Murton, 256 (Donald
Bain challenge cup and gold medals); Shildon Lodge, 245|
(Committee cup); Upleatham,-216; South Moor, 190; and
South Brancepeth, 185. Murton also won the Dillon cup
for the best team in the Sunderland division, and
Upleatham secured the Heath cup for stretcher work. The
maximum number of marks was 328. Murton, the winning
team, was composed of Messrs. W. Salkeld, W. H. Wilson,
J. P. Stokoe, J. E. Emery, and T. H. Holland. At the
presentation of prizes, regret was expressed at the absence,
owing to a family bereavement, of Mr. R. Donald Bain,
who was spoken of as the pioneer of the ambulance move-
ment in Durham county. It was mentioned that 33 entries
were received for the competition, and that 27 teams com-
peted. Between 3,000 and 4,000 of the county ambulance
men had joined the Colours. Lieut.-Col. J. W. Hills, who
presented the prizes, said that his life was saved at the
front by “first-aid.”

Castle Eden magistrates have fined Charles Robson, 17,
pony driver, 40s. for a breach of discipline. Defendant
had been told to go down a certain road at Deaf Hill pit,
but he used another road in express defiance of that order.
The result was that the pony was caught by the travelling
rope, and was severely cut about the body. The animal
would be laid off for three months.—At the same court,
three youths—Joseph Clasper, Fenwick Joyce, and Albert
Bainbridge were fined 40s. each for having set a tub away
in the pit at Easington.

Cleveland.

The question of fuel economy bulked largely in the dis-
cussion which took place at the meeting of the Cleveland
Institution of Engineers, this week, on “The Respective
Merits of Gas Engines and Steam Turbines as Applied to
Modern Iron and Steel Works Practice.” Mr. Douglas L.
Cooper, who initiated the controversy, said that, for many
yearfe past, it had been recognised by manufacturers of iron
and steel (particularly on the Continent) that, in order to
produce finished steel at a minimum cost, it was necessary
to utilise to their fullest extent the waste gases from the
blast furnaces and coke ovens, but the question as to which
was the most economical method of converting these gases
into power for blowing the blast furnaces and generating
electricity, was one about which there was still much diver-
sity of opinion, some manufacturers favouring . turbo-
blowers and turbo-electrical generators, others gas-blowing
engines with either turbines or gas engines for generating
electricity. He proceeded to make a careful and detailed
comparison of the two methods as applied to a modern iron
and steel works with four blast furnaces, and stated as
his conclusion that, whereas the estimated cost' of the
turbines and boiler plant would be £165,550, the total cost
of a complete gas engine installation would be £325,000.
In return, however, for extra capital outlay of £159,450,
Mr. Cooper, analysing working costs, showed an esti-
mated net saving of £67,902 per annum, equivalent to
a return of upwards of 40 per cent, on the extra capital
outlay. From that, he said, it would appear that, where
coke ovens and iron works were attached to the steel
works, the high first cost of the gas engine installation was
justified even under existing war conditions. In the course
of the discussion, Mr. Greville Jones gave the experience of
several American experts as favouring turbines owing to
greater reliability of working. Gas engine generators were
not flexible enough, and turbines would always maintain an
advantage by simplicity of operation. Moreover, people
in America thought that the depreciation of gas engines
was extraordinarily high, experience having shown that
repairs and maintenance charges for gas engines were more
than double that of turbines. Mr. James said it must be
the experience of all those who were acquainted with both
systems that the efficiency of the gas engine as compared
with the turbine was as two to one, and, that being so, the
whole question depended largely upon the reliability of
the gas engine employed. If they could attain the same
reliability as the German gas engine, the question need not
occupy their attention five minutes. He had had to instal
turbines because the gas engine problem in this country
was only just beginning to be seriously faced. If the
steel industry was going into the question of fuel economy
as it ought, some State money should be provided to enable
the question to be thrashed out. Another speaker urged
that . a committee of investigation should be appointed,
and the president (Col. Hawdon) undertook that the
council of the institution would consider the appointment
of such a committee.

Yorkshire.

Some interesting figures with regard to the present state
of affairs in the Yorkshire coal trade are contained in the
annual report of Mr. J. Wadsworth, M.P., general secre-
tary of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, for the year
1915-16. During the period under review, the output of
coal for Yorkshire was 40,341,716 tons, this being an
increase of 799,079 tons over 1914, and a decrease of
3,357,318 tons as compared with 1913. The number of
mines at work in the county in 1915 was 313, the total
number of underground workers being 108,423. The total
number of persons employed below and above ground was
140,839, of whom 41 were females. Commenting upon the
employment of female labour, Mr. Wadsworth says: “The
number may only look small, but, however small, it is a
disgrace to Yorkshire mining annals, and a far greater dis-
grace to the mining annals of the country. The pit bank
is not a place for a woman.” On the question of output,
Mr. Wadsworth says it is evident that an improvement has
recently set in. Not only has the downward tendency in
production been arrested, owing to the recruiting of persons
employed at coal mines having been stopped, but a small
increase has been secured, which is probably to be
accounted for by the more regular attendance of the miners
at work, and a gradual increase in the number of persons
employed. He points out that it is up to the men to
increase the output as much as possible during the continu-
ation of the war. The conclusions to be drawn from an
examination into the foregoing statistics may, the report
proceeds, be stated as follow:—“During the continuation
of the war demand will remain in excess of supply, and
high prices will be maintained; the end of the war will be
immediately followed by a falling-off in demand, which will
be felt less in export districts than in those dependent on
home manufactures; this position will quickly improve, and
consumption both at home and in foreign countries will
steadily grow until demand again exceeds supply; prices,
which will fall immediately peace is made, will recover,
and within a few months will again move up to a highly
profitable level.”

Kent.

Arrangements are being made at Snowdown Colliery to
work the Snowdown Hard seam which was opened out a
year or so ago, and in which there are now two shafts sunk.
This coal is a good deal harder than the Beresford seam at
present being woiked ; but our correspondent understands
that the intention is to also continue to work the Beres-

has acted as assistant secretary to the Committee for Supply
of Coal to France and Italy. Mr. Hawkins was leaving
Cardiff to join the Inns of Court Officers’ Training Corps.

A resolution was submitted to the Pontardawe Board of
Guardians asking that men in the steam coal district
should support their less fortunate colleagues in the anthra-
cite district, who could get employment for only two or
three days a week, it being stated in the meeting that the
outlook was not likely to improve. The resolution was
adopted; and it was decided also to send a copy of it to
the Coal Controller and to the Welsh members of Parlia-
ment, as well as to the secretary of the Federation.

In discussing a suggestion from the South Wales Univer-
sity College that the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce should
help in raising £500 or £600 a year in aid of the pro-
posed Department of Commerce, the president of the
Chamber said that there seemed to be a feeling that “the
docks” were a sort of Tom Tiddler’s ground, where appli-
cants could gather as much money as they liked to ask for.
The fact had not been grasped yet that, so far as profits
in the shipping and coal trades were, concerned, the boom
had gone; for the Government were taking up practically
everything. What the business community wanted, and
what they would have to get if the college expected finan-
cial assistance, was a voice in the actual management.
The president’s ideas on this point met with general
sympathy.

Northumberland and Durham.

Homes for Aged Workers—“ Waste ” Coal—New Magis-
trates—Ambulance League Prizes'.

Durham county magistrates on Wednesday ordered Geo.
Weirs, 25, to pay £5 10s., and Thos. Blenkinsop, 40,
£4s. 10s. damages claimed by the South Hetton Coal Com-
pany Limited for absenteeism.

The annual report of the Northumberland Aged Mine
Workers’ Homes Association states that, even in the midst
of war, some progress with the movement has been made.
They have not been able to build any new cottages during
the year (the high cost of materials and the difficulties of
obtaining workmen making such attempts unwise), but
have carried out a large number of repairs, and, at certain
centres, additions and improvements; 15 of the cottage
groups have been re-painted. During the year, <£1,500
has been invested at 4% per cent, interest in the Co-opera-
tive Wholesale Society’s bank, which will enable the asso-
ciation to commence building as soon as opportunity
arises. “ According to information we have received, some
provision is to be made for the widows and children of the
Northumberland miners who have fallen during the war.
A gentleman has informed us that he. intends to have a
number of cottages erected at the end of the war for such
widows and children, while the remainder of the cottages
will be utilised for our aged mine workers.” The total
income for last year, including a previous balance of
£1,496, was £3,169. The expenditure, including £100
transferred to trustees’ account, amounted to £2,130,
leaving a balance of £1,039. The workmen’s contribu-
tions amounted to £1,368, an increase of £42 on the year,
which, considering the exigencies of the present time, is
highly creditable.

At Durham Chancery Court, the Chancellor (Mr. E.
Tindal Atkinson, K.C.), presiding, the action of Thubron
v. Robson was heard. Mr. Mundahl, for the plaintiff,
asked for the direction of the court in regard to a matter
which had arisen in the administration of the estate of
Robt. Robinson, who died so far back as 1834. He left
considerable property, including a farm which comprised a
coal royalty at .Trimdon. In 1896, an action was com-
menced in that court with reference to the administration.
Now, a small point for his Honour’s direction or approval
had arisen. In connection with the working of the coal
under the estate, a large heap of duff or waste coal was
formed, and this was allowed to accumulate, and remained
for a considerable number of years. Messrs. Walter Scott
Limited afterwards obtained the lease of the minerals, and
worked the coal. For many years the coal was worthless,
but in later years, owing to high prices, it became profit-
able to deal with it, and Messrs. Scott accordingly began
to work and sell the coal. A claim was made upon them
on behalf of the beneficiaries in respect of the duff heap
they were removing. After considerable negotiations, they
agreed to make certain payments, and £1,006 had been
received from them in respect of the working of the heap.
A sum of £506 had been paid into court to await the order.
Mr. Mundfihl’s application was that that moiety should
be paid out to the persons entitled, the beneficiaries who
were certified on the result of enquiries made by the regis-
trar of the court. They wished to know further, whether
the money was to be regarded as capital or income. The
Chancellor ordered that the money should be treated as
capital, and distributed amongst the persons named in the
schedule on the latter verifying their title.

The annual report of the Northumbrian Employers’
Mutual Insurance Association, the membership of which
consists of small colliery owners and quarry owners, shows
that the total cost for insurance in respect of workmen’s
compensation during 1916 worked out at the rate of 2s. 5d.
per man employed, which is considered to be more than
satisfactory.

A batch of newly-appointed Durham county magistrates
includes, as might have been expected, several gentlemen
closely connected with the coal industry. Mr. Henry J.
Mein, of Toft Hill Hall, near Bishop Auckland, has for a
number of years controlled many important collieries in the
county of Durham and in Derbyshire. For eight years he
was manager and viewer for the West Durham W^llsend
Coal Company Limited, retiring when the concern was
purchased by the North Brancepeth Coal Company Limited
last year. Mr. Mein was associated with the Carterthorne
Coal Company Limited as manager for 20 years, but retired
from that position in August last. He retains his seat on
the board of directors, to which he was appointed on the
death of his father in 1895. He is also consulting viewer
for the company. He has held the agency and manage-
ment of Messrs. Spoors’ Coppycrooks Colliery for a great
number of years. His mining interests in Derbyshire are
bound up with the South Normanton Coal Company
Limited, of which he is agent and director. He was secre-
tary since its inception, but retired from that position a
year ago. Mr. W. D. White is secretary of the Crook Gas
Company. Mr. Christopher Jameson, of Shildon, is check-
weighman at Eldon Colliery, where he has been largely
instrumental in securing the abolition of the “butty ”
system, and in getting various other reforms. During his
term of office the Eldon membership of the Durham Miners’
Association has risen from 50 to 1,340 full members and
275 half-members. Other new Justices of the Peace
include : Mr. C. H. Leeds, manager of the Wingate
Grange Colliery; Mr. Wm. Archer, manager of the Vic-
toria Garesfield Colliery; and Mr. John Davidson, check-
weighman, North House, Miners’ Hall, Fence Houses.

The final competition under the auspices of the Durham
Mines Inspection District Ambulance League was held last

ford seam, from which about 6,000 tons a week are being
raised at Snowdown and Tilmanstone collieries. Strong
efforts are being made to obtain more labour for the
collieries, in order to increase the output to the greatest
possible extent.

The warrants for the half-year’s interest due on May 1
of the Snowdown Colliery Company’s prior lien bonds
have been posted this week.

Scotland.

Part-Time Work — Electricity ’ in Collieries — Fire at
Hamilton — Unsatisfactory Trade in Fifeshire —
Announcement Regarding Burntisland.

Mr. Wm. Ross, manager at Auchengeich Colliery,
Chryston, has been appointed to be travelling manager for
Messrs. Wm. Dixon Limited, coal masters.

In some parts of East Lothian the coal industry has been
slack for over a week, and many miners are only finding
employment for three or four days.

At a meeting of the East of Scotland branch of the
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, Mr. Neil A.
Wilkie (Bowhill) in the chair, a paper was read by Mr.
Wm. Webster on “ The Testing of the Earthing System
at Collieries.” The discussion was taken part in by
Messrs. C. A. Carlow, Alfred Patterson, R. W. Peters,
David Beveridge, and others.

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday of last week a fire was
discovered under the floor of the engine house at No. 1
pit, Greenfield Colliery, Hamilton. The winding cable
was snapped by the heat, and the cage was precipitated
down the shaft, doing much damage, and becoming jammed
fully half-way. As a result of the fire the engine house is
completely demolished, and the damage otherwise is con-
siderable. A fairly long period must elapse before the
damage can be repaired.

The condition of trade in the Fife coal field is very
unsatisfactory, and consequently a deputation from the
executive of the Miners’ Union has waited on the Con-
troller of Mines in London, for the purpose of laying the
difficulties of the situation before him.

A meeting of the surface workers and colliery trades-
men is to be held at Bowhill Colliery, Fifeshire, for the
purpose of considering the conditions under which these
men are employed.

At a meeting of the delegates of the Lanarkshire Miners’
Union, a proposal was put forward on behalf of the Govern-
ment to secure 14,000 men from the mines for the purpose
of cutting and preparing timber for the coal pits of
Britain. It was reported further by the agents of the
union that the men taken for timber cutting purposes would
not be drawn from any of those who entered the mines
since the outbreak of war.

An accident occurred at Foulhead Colliery, Kirkconnel,
resulting in the death of Henry Kenny, miner, Kingsway,
and causing serious injuries to Wm. Stevenson and John
Comerford, miners, Killobank. They were engaged work-
ing in a stone mine, when a shot went off unexpectedly.
—A similar accident occurred at Harthill, where Thos.
Morrison, miner, Harthill, was seriously injured by an
explosion in the Main coal seam of Benhar Colliery. He
was engaged putting the explosive (gelignite) into a bore-
hole when it exploded prematurely.

The official intimation that Burntisland harbour is to be
closed to neutral shipping after the 30th ult. was not
unlooked for amongst the shipping fraternity, and the
effect on trade will be minimised, in view of the fact that
little has been done of late in exchanges with neutral
shipping. Out of a total export last week of 6,650 tons,
only 1,390 tons were consigned abroad. The export of
coal for the corresponding period of last year was 11,220
tons.

Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces
dissolution of the partnership of J. Hawkins and C.
Hawkins, carrying on business as C. Hawkins and Com-
pany, Severn Engineering Works, Tybridge - street,
Worcester; and of H. G. Reeve (who continues the busi-
ness) and W. Reeve, trading as E. G. Reeve and Sons,
engineers, etc., 36, Duke-street, Norwich.

Russian Anthracite and the Italian Market.—A Russian
contemporary, in dealing with the prospects of supplying
Italy with Russian anthracite, mentions that the former
country consumes about 40,000,000 poods of this fuel per
annum, of which only a small portion is shipped from
Great Britain. Russian anthracite, whilst said to be
chemically equal to that of England, differs materially from
it in physical properties, and, owing to its strength, it will
easily bear transport over long distances. An effort to
export Russian anthracite to Italy was made in 1910, when
500,000 poods were shipped to Northern Italy—mainly
Genoa, Milan, Padua, Venetia, and Spezia — and gave
satisfaction. In respect of price, Russian large anthracite,
under pre-war conditions, was valued at 10 to 12 copecks
per pood, selected nuts costing 9 to 11 copecks per pood,
to which must be added the cost of transport from the
mines to Mariopoul, plus incidental expenses and port
charges for loading—amounting to 4 copecks in all. Thus
the cost of Russian anthracite f.o.b. at Mariopoul worked
out at 14 to 16 copecks per pood for large, and 13 to 15
copecks per pood for selected nuts, as compared with 18 to
20 copecks for large English anthracite, f.o.b. Swansea,
and 19 to 21 copecks for selected nuts. Before the war,
the sea freight from Mariopoul to Marseilles or Genoa was
about the same as from Cardiff or Swansea to the Italian
ports. On the other hand, the exportation of anthracite
from other countries to Italy does not show much prospect
of improvement, the prices being higher than those men-
tioned above. For instance, in Germany (Westphalia),
selected nuts were worth 20 copecks; in Belgium, 22
copecks; in America (New York), 20 copecks f.o.b.; and
in Paris, even 50 copecks per pood. Another point in con-
nection with which the importation of fuel from Russia
would be important for Italy is the question of premiums
on the importation of foreign goods into Italy in ships
under the Italian flag, and as regards the sea routes from
the coal loading ports of England and from Mariopoul to a
number of Italian ports, the geographical position of the
Russian port is the more favourable. Tests made of
Russian anthracite at the Communal electrical station of
Lugo, in the Fermo sugar factory, the Savona metallurgical
works, and the Frujus engineering works, Turin, have
shown the possibility of using several kinds of Russian
anthracite to advantage in gas engines of various types at
electrical stations, sugar factories, manufactories, and fur-
naces of various kinds, as well as for domestic and central
heating purposes. The results obtained on a working scale
led to a widespread desire to get into direct touch with
Russian anthracite producers; but the outbreak of the
Italian-Turkish and Balkan wars, and the closing of the
Dardanelles, prevented the export of Russian fuel to Italy,
and has delayed for a time the realisation of the measures
in view for strengthening trade relations between the two
countries.