May 11, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

901

at the very end of the treatment, so that the end point
shall not be passed.

After the slaked lime has all been added, the calcu-
lated weight of soda ash, dissolved in water, is run
into the now slightly alkaline water. The whole is
again agitated, and then run into the settling tanks,
which are at a lower level than the treating tanks.
The softened water is then allowed to stand until
thoroughly settled, generally a matter of three or four
hours, when it is run to the boiler feed tank. In
order to run the water away from the settling tanks
without disturbing the sludge, a pipe about 3 in. in
diameter is used, running from the bottom of the
settling tank to the surface of the water. This is so
hinged at its lower end that its upper end may be
lowered as the level of the water falls. In this way
the surface water is drawn away gradually, and the
level of water in the tanks is lowered without disturb-
ing the sludge in their bottoms. When the settled
water has been run away, a plug is removed from the
bottom of the tank, and the sludge is washed out by a
stream of water from a hose, finishing with a broom,
if necessary.

By using two treating tanks, softening water in one
while the other is filling, and carrying the softened
water to any desired settling tank by means of troughs,
the capacity of the plant is greatly increased, and the
man in charge of the treatment is kept busy continu-
ously. It was found that the ordinary labour about,
the colliery could be used for this work, provided
intelligent personal instruction was given to begin
with.

Degree of Purification Attained.

While this method of treatment was by no means
perfect, still the results obtained were sufficiently
satisfactory to permit the collieries to continue in
operation. The cost of this treatment for chemicals
alone was in the neighbourhood of 20c. per 1,000 gals,
of water treated.

In order to show the degree of purification secured,
the following analysis of treated water may be quoted.
This water in the raw state had the composition shown
in the analysis given above: —

Analysis of Water Softened by the' Use of Lime
and Soda.

Parts per
Appearance, clear and colourless.	million.

Alkalinity '(as sodium hydroxide, NaOH) ......... 5

Alkalinity (as sodium carbonate, Na2CO3)   40
Oxides of iron and aluminum (Fe —A1)2O3 .......None

Lime, CaO ...................................... 40

Magnesia, MgO ................................   40

Total sulphuric acid, S03 (gravimetric) ....  1,300

Total solids ...............................  2,500

It should be noted that the treatment was slightly
in excess of the demands of the water in question, as
the treated water contained some caustic soda and
sodium carbonate. This was found to be desirable, as
these bodies will attack the lime and magnesia remain-
ing in the water when the latter is heated in the feed
water heaters, precipitating them before they reach
the boilers.

That the total solids of the water were not greatly
reduced is due to the fact that practically all the
sulphuric acid of the raw water remains in the treated
water as sodium sulphate. The presence of this large
amount of sodium sulphate in the treated water is one
of the chief disadvantages of this method of treat-
ment, as it prevents the complete precipitation of lime
and magnesia, and the accumulation of concentrated
solutions of this salt in the boilers causes them to foam
badly. Indeed, it has been found necessary to blow
off the boilers every hour in some cases in order that
foaming may be minimised. This foaming is aggra-
vated by the fact that the average colliery boiler plant
is far too small for the demands put upon it. Being
constantly overloaded, any tendency toward foaming
is increased.

Effect on Boiler Scale.

Another interesting feature developed by this work
was the tendency this softened water displayed to
loosen and dissolve old scale. This tendency was so
pronounced in some cases that cracks and pinholes in
the boiler tubes and shells, which previously had been
stopped by scale, became evident, and led at first to
the belief that the treated water was corroding the
boilers. Upon repairing the faulty tubes and stopping
the leaks, however, this difficulty disappeared, and the
boilers were all the better for their drastic cleansing.

The author has carried out many experiments in the
laboratory looking toward the use of barium hydroxide
for the neutralisation of acid mine waters. The
advantage of this softener lies in the fact that with
its use the sulphuric acid of the water is precipitated
with the iron, alumina, and magnesia as barium
sulphate, and that if sodium carbonate, or, better
still, trisodium phosphate, is then used to remove the
lime, a softened water is obtained that is practically
free from encrusting material, and, moreover, does not
contain notable proportions of sodium sulphate. The
difficulty in the way of the application of this treat-
ment is its cost. Still, under many conditions, this
cost need not be considered to be excessive, in view of
the advantages to be gained by the use of this method
of softening.

It should be understood that the author does not
recommend the softening of mine water under normal
conditions. Normally, the purest available water
should be secured for boiler feed purposes. In times
of stress, however, it is useful to know that mine
water can be softened if necessary, and that a boiler
plant may be run on this softened water without
damage. In the case quoted above, treating the
water made possible the operation of several collieries
when many neighbouring plants had to shut down.

Dr. W. J. Mackeown has been appointed certifying
surgeon for Bishop’s Waltham, Hants, under the Factory
and Workshops Act. Dr. J. E. Hancock has been simi-
larly appointed for Robertsbridge; Sussex. A vacancy
exists at Tipton, Staffs.

SOME RECENT DECISIONS UNDER THE

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ACT.

[Specially Contributed.]

Reporting on compensation claims for the quarter ended
March 31 last, Mr. Wm. Weir, of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association, states that <£1,780 15s. 9d. has been
recovered in respect of 11 fatalities. In the case of a 12th
man, a hewer at Ellington, it was stated that his head and
one foot were injured by a fall of stone in May of last year.
Next month he committed suicide. The men put in a claim
for compensation, which the owners refused to pay. The
men’s solicitors advised them that there was not sufficient
evidence to establish a connection between the injuries and
the suicide, and the case was withdrawn. There was no
outstanding point of interest in the other 11 cases. As to
the non-fatal cases, in the case of a Woodhorn hewer, it
was stated that he met with an accident in April 1906, for
which he was paid compensation. In 1910 he was certified
by the medical referee as fit for light work. He never com-
menced this work, but received a reduced rate of compen-
sation. In January last the men applied to have the case
re-opened. The man was again examined by the medical
referee, who certified that he suffered from pain at sight of
fracture and from inability to bear much weight on his
limbs. His condition was such that he was unfit for any
colliery work, and his incapacity was due to the accident
11 years ago. Full compensation is to be paid. In another
case of medical reference, in which a hewer claimed com-
pensation at the full rate after having worked for some
time at light work, the referee decided that the man’s
incapacity was due to old age and disease. -Of a number of
other disputed cases, the following were the only ones pre-
senting points of general interest:—A Hartford hewer was
about to charge a hole to fire a shot, and took what powder
he required into the working place. He did not take it in
the powder tin. While he was scraping out the hole, he
knocked over his candle. This ignited the powder, burning
his hand very badly. Compensation was refused on the
ground that the man had committed a breach of the Coal
Mines Act in not having his powder in a tin. Ultimately,
however, the directors agreed to pay the claim. A Plen-
mellor stoneman, who suffered from a beat knee, did not
see the certifying surgeon until after he had recovered.
The owners refused to admit liability on that account. The
men admitted that he ought to have put in a certificate as
soon as he was disabled, but pointed out that he was living
about 15 miles from the certifying surgeon. Ultimately
the claim was compromised. In the case of a Prudhoe
hewer, it was stated that he had been paid compensation
in respect of a sprained wrist. He re-commenced work,
but was compelled to lie idle again, stating that he could
not manage. The manager refused to resume compensa-
tion on the ground that the man was leaving the colliery,
and had stated that, before he commenced work at any
other colliery, he would have a few weeks’ compensation.
Finally, however, it was agreed to pay the claim in full.
In the case of a Pegswood hewer, who had been in receipt
of compensation for a beat knee, his money was stopped
because the certifying surgeon’s form failed to state that
the man was suffering from a disease according to the third
schedule of the Compensation Act. As soon as the form
was put in order, however, compensation was resumed. A
Hazlerigg driver placed his lamp underneath his bottle to
warm it. The bottle fell and scalded his leg. He was off
work two weeks, and compensation at the rate of 10s. per
week was claimed. The owners refused to pay, on the
ground that the accident did not arise out of and in the
course of his employment. The case was taken to court,
and decided in the lad’s favour. Mr. Weir calls attention
to the case of Geo. Bell, a Throckley hewer, who was suffer-
ing from nystagmus, and was in receipt of compensation.
He attested under the Derby scheme, and was called up in
June last. “We made application to have him paid part
compensation. The owners’ secretary refused, as he con-
tended that his wage in the Army, including his keep,
clothing, and separation allowance, was higher than at
the time of accident. ... We knew that this case would
affect many others in the county, so we at once put it into
the hands of our solicitors. . . . His Honour awarded in
favour of the appellant. . . . Mr, Meynell pointed out that
the decision might be appealed against, and, if so, and
the appeal was upheld, he thought they had better have
his (the judge’s) opinion on a second question: ‘ What was
a soldier’s pay while in the Army?’ Mr. Meynell put in
that Is. per day, or 7s. a week, an allowance for clothing
and keep, was all that could be claimed in the way of
wages. Mr. Mundahl wished to include allowances to wife
and children, to which his Honour would not agree,. and
awarded £1 2s. a week, which was all that could be claimed
as a soldier’s pay. The owners have not appealed against
the decision, but have before them the question as to. what
they intend to do with other similar cases that are in the
county. . . . We would urge upon our secretaries who have
cases of men who were receiving compensation and have
been called into the Army, to make application for pay-
ment of the same, and, if refused, to let us know, in order
that we may deal accordingly.”

The monthly statement of Mr. Wm. House, compensa-
tion agent to the Durham Miners’ Association, with refer-
ence to compensation cases dealt with by the county joint
committee, reports on 20 fatalities and 13 non-fatal cases.
Of the former, only the following warrant detailed men-
tion, all the others being settled without much difference of
opinion :—Nicholas Mason was, in May 1905, wagonman at
Silksworth at the age of 17 years. He was run over by a
wagon, and his arm had to be amputated in consequence.
He died in January last from, so the coroner’s jury found,
an epileptic fit, of which the injury to the arm was pro-
bably the predisposing cause. He was admitted into
Sedgefield Asylum for the second time in October 1915, and
compensation at 7s. Id. per week was claimed from that
date until the date of death. The claim was ultimately
acceded to. Wm. Grant, 55, hewer at .Waterhouses, died
last January from, it was alleged, injuries received in
November, when he sprained himself through lifting a tub.
Two doctors who attended a post-mortem examination on
behalf of the association, reported that death was due to
cancer of the stomach, and that probably the strain slightly
accelerated death, and caused it to take place a few months
sooner than would have been the case had no accident
occurred. In this case, £300 was awarded. Ralph
Walker, 51, labourer at West Auckland, died in February
from Bright’s disease. It was alleged that the condition
which brought about the disease was aggravated by a
“ beat ” hand. Dr. McCullagh, who attended the post-
mortem examination on behalf of the association, reported
that Walker died from oedema of the lungs, due. to acute
inflammation of the kidneys. The nephritis might have
been due to cold, or it might have been due to septic
poisoning from the beat hand. There was nothing to snow

which was the cause, but, as there was no history of a
chill, and as it was known that Walker had a septic hand,
the latter was the probable cause. Dr. Smith, of West
Auckland, concurred. The coroner’s jury brought in a
verdict of “ Death from Bright’s disease, accelerated by a
beat hand through handling the iron handle of a winch
during the severe frost.” The committee failed to agree.
Walter Chappell, 48, hewer at Wearmouth, died in
February from, it was alleged, injuries received in January
through slipping on some loose coal while hewing. Dr.
Maling, who attended a post-mortem examination on behalf
of the association, said there was no doubt that Chappell
died from the rupture of an ulcer of the stomach, which
was followed by an abscess, which eventually burst into
the right chest. In the doctor’s opinion, the strain under
which Chappell was working on the specified day in
January caused the ulcer to give way, and was the contri-
butory cause of his death, but it had nothing to do with
the formation of the ulcer, nor had a previous accident—
a fall of stone in December 1915—which injured him on
the left hip. A decision has not yet been reached in this
case. As to the non-fatal cases :—Robt. Hope, 46, hewer
at New Herrington, had his spine injured last January,
through being caught by a full set whilst travelling out-
bye. The claim was resisted on the ground that Hope was
riding on the set, which he denied. His mate corroborated
his statement, and the claim was allowed. Two hewers,
one at Shotton and one at Usworth, who had been receiving
compensation in respect of nystagmus, had their compen-
sation stopped when called up for military service. They
claimed continuance. The committee failed to agree, and
the cases will be taken to court. Peter McMann, 67,
screener at Usworth, who was engaged on light work, fell
over the railway and bruised his foot on February 15 last,
whilst going to work. He stated that he had got out his
time-board, and was making his way to the screens when
the accident occurred. The claim was resisted on the
ground that no accident was reported until the end of the
shift, and that McMann fell down before getting his board
out. The claim was allowed finally.

OBITUARY.

The death is announced of ex-Coun. Benjamin Thomas,
of Swansea, owner of the Cwm Llyn Fell Colliery, in
Swansea Valley, at the age of 68.

Mr. William House, president of the Durham Miners’
Association, and vice-president of the Miners’ Federation
of Great Britain, died suddenly on Monday last. Born at
Pittington in 1854, he commenced work on the surface at
West Auckland Colliery at the age of 10 years. Three
years later he became underground driver, and at the age
of 19 a coal hewer. In 1880 he was elected as lodge dele-
gate for the local miners, and, when about 30, he was
appointed as checkweighman at West Auckland. He
became a member of the executive committee of the Durham
Miners’ Association, and, in March 1899, joint committee
agent. On the death of Mr. John Forman, Mr. House
succeeded him as president of the association—a position
he held up to the time, of his death. He rendered the asso-
ciation valuable services as compensation agent during the
time of his presidency. He was a member of the board of
management of the Northumberland and Durham Miners’
Permanent Relief Fund for 22 years, and represented the
Durham miners at many important national and inter-
national congresses. He was an aiderman of the Durham
County Council, magistrate for the county of Durham,
and a member of many other bodies for the promotion of
the public weal. He led a strenuous life. A keen politi-
cian, it was his ambition to enter Parliament, and to that
end he twice contested the representation of Bishop Auck-
land, and of Houghton-le-Spring once. On each occasion
he was decisively beaten. Mr. House leaves a widow and
large family.

MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE.

Several meetings of miners were held in the Rhondda
during Sunday, when the question of the “ combing out ”
of more men was considered, and resolutions were passed
as to instructions to the delegates for Tuesday’s conference.
The decision was that they should vote against the policy
advocated by the executive, and the following resolution
is stated to have been passed at both meetings :—“ We
strongly protest against the ‘ combing out ’ from the South
Wales coal field of any men of military age. We are of
opinion that we have more than supplied our quota, and
we instruct our delegates to vote against the proposals.”

The miners’ agent in the Avon Valley has strongly urged
the men to abide by the decision of the executive council,
and to instruct their delegates to vote at Tuesday’s con-
ference in favour of the executive recommendation, which
embodied the decision of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain. They should all, he said, adhere to that resolu-
tion, and carry it out.

An appeal was made at the Llanelly tribunal for 13
employees of the Mynydd Mawr Railway Company, a line
which is almost entirely occupied in the transport of coal,
chiefly anthracite, on the ground that it was a line of heavy
gradient with sharp curves, and that new men would not
be able to work owing to lack of signals. The military
representative pressed for release of men who were in
Class A, but the tribunal gave a month’s postponement to
three men, and adjourned the other cases for three months.

Munitions Amendment Bill. — The representatives of
trade unions employed on munitions met representatives
of the Government at a special conference in London on
Thursday, to consider the Munitions Act Amendment Bill
and the epidemic of unconstitutional strikes. Mr. Arthur
Henderson, M.P., stated that the amending Bill would con-
tain a clause providing that any dilution of skilled labour
by unskilled would be for the period of the war only. The
Government would be willing to give consideration to any
amendments submitted by the executives of any of the
trade unions concerned. The delegates will report to their
various trade unions.

Hull Coal Traffic.—The coal traffic through the port of
Hull during April decreased by 27,294 tons, compared with
April of 1916. The official monthly returns show that
203,031 tons were imported to Hull last month, compared
with 230,325 tons in April 1916. This reduction is charac-
teristic of the decline of the imported tonnage during the
present year. For the four months ending on April 30,
the imports have aggregated 931,746 tons, against
1,031,169 tons for the corresponding period last year—a
decrease to date of 99,423 tons. The figures with regard
to foreign exports and the quantity of coal exported coast-
wise are not available.