956 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 18, 1917. reduce the number of analyses, the detailed examination was confined to the final fractions of the gas that were left in the jars at the moment when the liberation of gas ceased. This has no effect on the constitution of the gases, as all the changes occurring in time proved to refer Only to the oxygen which was in the jars at the beginning of the test, and which had disappeared at the end. Coal from— CO2. CwH2t?. 0. CO. CH4. C2H6. N. Smolyaninovsky p seam....... 0*39... 0 ...1’74... 0 ...60’3 ... 0 .. 37’42 Almazny seam 0’42 ... 0 ...3’94... 0 ...64’5 ... 0 ...31’14 Livensky ,, 0’32 ... 0 1’50... 0 ... — ... 0 ... — Mazurka „ 0’19... 0 ...1’34...0 14 . 75’27... 0 23’06 Makeievsky,, 0’43 ... 0 ...0’33... 0 ... 80 ... 0 ...19’24 When the dust obtained by grinding the coal in a special mill was kept in jars, the liberation of gas was considerably weaker, but the constitution of the gases remained unaltered. “"Coal from— CO2. CWH2M. O. CO. CH4. C2H6. N. Mazurka sea tn... 0’75.. 0 ...0’8 ... 0 ... 1’5 ... 0 ...96 95 Alexandrovsky seam __....... 0'52... 0 ...0’71 0 ... 3’4 . 0 ...95’37 Maria seam ... 0’24 0 ...0’3 ... 0 ...35’0 ... 0 ...64’46 Ekaterina seam 0’21... 0 ...1’8 ... 0 ...14’5 ... traces ...83’49 As the artificial dust might possibly have become oxidised during the grinding process, a result which did not ensue in the case of the lumps of coal placed in the jars whilst in the shaft, the presence of an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the gas is explained. To a still greater extent this should be obvious in regard to natural coal dust, which lies in contact with the air of the mine for a considerable time; in fact, as the analysis showed, the content of carbon dioxide in these cii cumstances rises to 1’2 per cent. Natural dust co2. cwh2«. O. CO. ch4. C2Ho. n. from— Smolyaninovsky seam 1’20 .. 0 ... 0’9 ... o ... 4’00 . .. 0 ...93’90 Almazny seam... 0’42... 0 ... 2’0 ... 0 .. 11’0 ... 0 ...86’58 The large content of nitrogen in this case is explained also by an admixture of air and by the small quantity of gases liberated by the dust. The slighter liberation of gas from dust as compared with that from lump coal forces one to conclude that some loss of gas into the atmosphere occurs in grinding the coal. For the evaluation of this kind of gases, the author made experi- ments with crushed coal in a special apparatus. The gases found in this operation were subjected to analysis along with the air contained in the apparatus. As may be seen from the subjoined table, their constitution is fully identical with those obtained when the coal or dust was kept in jars, leaving out of consideration the carbon dioxide not observed in the last case. Heavy CO2. hydro- O. H. CH4. C2H0. N.. Coal from— carbons. Karl mine ...... 0 05... 0’0 ... 1’02...0’0.. 43’0 .. 0’0...55’93 Yasinovsky mine U‘0 ... 0’0 ...19’12 . 0’0... 9T6.. 0’0...7i’72 Ivan shaft ...... 0’0 ... 0’0 ...17’00...0’0... 10’64 . 0’0...72’21 Alexandrovskaya Gora mine .... 0’0 ... 0’0 ...16’80 0’0.,.12’(0...0’0 . 71’20 ____________________________ COAL MINING IN ALBERTA DURING 1916. Mr. John T. Sterling, Chief Inspector of Mines for Alberta, reports that the following amounts of coal were produced in each district in the province during the years 1915 and 1916. Except where otherwise distinguished, the figures relate to lignite: — District. Crow’s Nest Pass ....... Pincher Creek .......... Lethbridge ..................... Magrath ............... Milk River ............. Taber ................. Bow Island ............ .............. Medicine Hat ........... Aldersyde High River ............ Canmore ............... Banff _______................. Drumheller .................. Big Valley ............. Brazeau ........................... Brooks ................. Hanna ................. Lacombe ............... Trochu ______................ Three Hills ___............ Carbon .............................. Battle River __........... Camrose ....................... Tofield ................................... Clover Bar ............. Edmonton .............. Namao ................. Cardiff ...................... Wabamun .............. Pembina ............... Jasper Park ............ Yellowhead Pass ........ ......... Mountain Park .:. Peace River ............ Total ........... * Bituminous. 1915. 1916. Tons. Tons. 916,051* 1,402,636* 3,332* 3,867 613,293 740,022 1,423 1,247 4,016 5,577 89,698 139,318 5,762 4,132 5,536 12,173 7,946* 7,087 3,810* 1,526 208,875* 281,387* 125,732t 140,5441 247,805 377,618 15,756 16,478 232,728* 289,768* 12,147 10,917 28,556 25,048 27,498 18,803 10,886 12,898 15,306 15,120 6,852 5,091 9,406 ...... 10,352 _____________________________________________________ 56,731 52,588 54,320 67,063 155,613 204,546 100,981 111,907 8,423 12,379 177,617 236,433 2,409 7,475 32,888 72,746 86,496* 152,504* 83,414* 69,426* 83,585* 139,538* — ________ 390 1,434,891 4,648,604 t Anthracite. The above figures show that in 1916 there were pro- duced 2,172,801 tons of lignite, 2,335,259 tons bitu- minous, and 140,544 tons of anthracite, as compared with totals of 1,682,922 tons lignite, 1,626,237 tons bituminous, and- 125,732 tons anthracite in 1915. During 1916 there were produced 107,959 tons of briquettes, and 41,950 tons of coke. The output of coal for the year 1916 exceeded that for the year 1915 by 1,213,713 tons, thus establishing a record output for the province. Notwithstanding the increased output, however, during 1916, 2,910,576 tons of coal were imported into the territory lying between Port Arthur and the western boundary of Alberta. Wages paid to mine employees were practically the same on December 31, 1916, as at the end of the year 1915, except that a war bonus was put into effect on August 16, 1916. The statistics in respect of mine accidents during the year show a satisfactory improvement in conditions. A larger number of tons of coal per fatal accident were produced during 1916 than during any previous year, with the exception of the years 1909 and 1911. The reason for the good showing for those years was that a number of the most dangerous mines were idle for a considerable period during each of these years owing to labour troubles. No lives have been lost through gas or coal dust explosions. Considerable progress has been made in connection with training in mine rescue and first-aid work during the year. Mine rescue cars have been installed in dis- tricts where there are a number of mines in close proximity to each other, such as the Crow’s Nest Pass, Canmore, and Drumheller. In localities where there is only one mine, such as at Lethbridge, Coalhurst, Commerce, Brazeau, and Jasper Park, stations are installed. The cars, which are each provided with sleeping accommodation for 12 men, visit all the mines in the district each month, and are kept in constant readiness to proceed immediately to the scene of a catastrophe. Each car and station is under the care and supervision of a qualified superintendent, who devotes his whole time to training men and to keeping the apparatus in order, so that it can be put into immediate use at any time. Tw’o teams, composed of five men each, are maintained at each mine, so that their services can be obtained should occasion arise. While engaged in training, the men are paid at the rate of 50c. per hour, each man being required to undergo eight hours training of three hours each, after which he is required to take one training each month so as to maintain his efficiency. The Government has also guaranteed that any persons meeting with an injury while doing mine rescue work will be compen- sated in the same manner as provided for by the Workmen’s Compensation Act. It is intended, when consistent with efficiency, that only returned soldiers shall be appointed to these positions. Over 500 men have been fully trained in the use of the apparatus, and this number is continually being added to. There are 5,395 safety lamps in use in the province. Of these, 3,749 are of the Wolf type, 204 of the Koehler type, 287 of the Clanny type, 505 of the Edison type, 600 of the Wico type, and 50 of the Ceag type. The Edison and Wico types are electric cap lamps, and the Ceag type, electric hand lamps. The Edison electric cap lamps have been provided in a number of cases for men engaged in transportation and for miners engaged in the extraction of pillars. Readings of the relative humidity of the air in dusty mines are being taken periodically by the inspectors, the results showing that the percentage of humidity ranges from 86 per cent, to 100 per cent. In order to prevent as far as possible the propaga- tion of explosives, inert dust barriers have been installed in several bituminous coal mines. These barriers extend from 175 to 200 ft. in length, and con- sist of shelves 18. to 24 in. wide, with spaces 24 in. between them. These shelves are loaded with incom- bustible dust taken from the combustion chambers of steam boilers, the analysis of this dust showing that it is very satisfactory for this purpose. The triple entry and panel systems of working are being generally adopted throughout the bituminous mines, with satisfactory results. Arrangements are being made in the Taber field with a view to changing the present method of mining from room-and-pillar to the longwall advancing method. It is expected that by doing this a larger percentage of lump coal will be obtained. The principal development in the province during last year was in the Drumheller district, where a con- siderable amount of underground development had been done, and a number of new plants erected. There were 279 mines in operation during the year 1916. Particulars are not yet available regarding the out- puts of natural gas and crude oil in the province for the year 1916, but 4,378,947 thousand cu. ft. of natural gas, valued at 1,037,919 dols., were produced during the year 1915, according to the summary report of the Mines Branch of the Department of Mines, Ottawa. According to the same report, a small quantity of crude oil was produced in the province during that year, but no figures are available as to the exact production. LETTERS TO THE EDITORS. _________________________________________________ The Editors are not responsible either for the statements made, or the opinions expressed by correspondents. All communications must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender, whether for publication or not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communications. As replies to questions are only given by way of published answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped addressed envelopes are not required to be sent. _________________________________________________ EXPORT STANDARDISATION RULES. Sirs,—The recent announcement in the technical Press to the effect that the council of this association have issued a set of British export standardisation rules for electrical machinery having unfortunately given rise to misapprehension, I am desired to state that these rules are in no way intended to replace the British standardisation rules for electrical machinery which are issued by the Engineering Standards Com- mittee to cover British-made plant for home and export trade, and in the drafting of which the associa- tion is closely and cordially co-operating. D. N. Dunlop, Secretary, British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ May 18, 1917. Association. MANCHESTER GEOLOGICAL AND MINING SOCIETY. A meeting of the members of the Manchester Geological and Mining Society was held on Tuesday, May 8, at the rooms of the society in Manchester, Mr. William Pickup (president) in the chair. The Chairman said he had the pleasure of bringing forward the recommendation of the council that Mr. William Watts, M.Inst.C.E., F.G.S. (past president), Kenmore, Wilmslow, be elected an honorary member of the society. He was sure they would all agree that Mr. Watts had earned to the full the honour it was desired to bestow upon him. He was one of their oldest members, having joined in 1880; he was presi- dent in 1894-5, filling the position with acceptability and credit to himself and the society; they were greatly indebted to him for his ready help as a member of the council; he was for years the representative of the society at the meetings of the British Association, and his reports were always helpful and instructive; the papers and contributions made by him to the Transactions, upon water supply, drainage, pumping, and allied subjects, had been both numerous and valu- able. The roll of honorary members of the society was not a long one, and rightly so, because an honour such as this should not be lightly bestowed. Mr. Watts was thoroughly respected and esteemed by all who knew him, and the engineering and geological com- munity would always remember him with feelings of gratitude for the services he had rendered to them. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. H. Cotterill, who was unable to attend, and desired to join with the other members in what, he was sure, would be a unanimous election; he was for nearly 10 years a member of Mr. Watts’ staff. Prof. Boyd Dawkins, in seconding the motion, said Mr. Watts, when engaged on the superintendence of one of the reservoirs for Oldham, attended his classes at Owens College, and in the course of three continuous years only missed two lectures. He showed the same assiduity in attending other lectures by other pro- fessors. He was a brilliant example of how a plain lad, starting without education of any sort, could gradually raise himself to the high position which he had now secured in the esteem of the engineering pro- fession of this district. Mr. Harrison also expressed his appreciation of the kindness Mr. Watts had shown to him personally, and the advantages obtained from the reading of his papers submitted to the society, especially with regard to the application of different mixtures of cement, sand- stone, etc. The motion was carried unanimously. Micro-Petrology of Coal. Dr. G. Hickling read his paper on u The Micro- Petrology of Coal in Relation to its Mode of Origin.” (See page 941.) Discussion. A vote of thanks to Dr. Hickling for his address was moved by the President, seconded by Mr. Lomax, and carried unanimously. The discussion was opened by Mr. Lomax, who said that, so far as the society was concerned, the subject of the microscopical examination of coal had hitherto been left to himself. In the course of his investiga- tions certain questions had arisen which had not been brought before the society, but they were recalled to his mind by Dr. Hickling’s remarks. Many of them he would deal with in a subsequent communication, but meanwhile he would like to direct attention to one or two points. In the first place, he gathered that Dr. Hickling did not regard the microscopical exami- nation of coal as being of commercial utility, the address gave no idea what sort of material the coal would be, and how it could be most profitably utilised. It was with that object he (Mr. Lomax) had pursued his investigations. No man in .Europe had examined so many varieties and seams of coal from floor to roof, and it had been shown clearly that the change from one kind of vegetation to another was associated with a corresponding change in the quality of the coal, and a difference in the results obtained on carbonisation. There was in preparation now—unfortunately the war had prevented its publication—a paper on cordaites, showing its vertical horizon, its distribution, where it occurred in various parts of the country, and what part it played in the promotion of seams. In some there was hardly any, in others it existed in enormous quan- tities, and in those cases the results on carbonisation 1 were quite different from those obtained from a seam made up of lycopodia. Whatever the substance, liquid or otherwise, which had entered into and filled the cells, as explained by Dr. Hickling, the essential part was that the variations in the kinds of coal were due to the different kinds of plant remains. Prof. Boyd Dawkins said Dr. Hickling had told them a resinous substance had been introduced into the coal seams in a liquid condition. Was that liquid resinous element derived from the direct decomposition of the vegetable matter itself? If so, how was it brought about. Was there any chemical evidence at the present time that the ordinary decomposition of vegetable matter at the surface, instead of having the ordinary carbonising effect, would result in the evolu- tion of this bituminous resinous matter? He under- stood Dr. Hickling to say that in the coal seam there were no bodies which really contained the actual resin which the cells themselves held in life. That gener- alisation could hardly have been meant to include the spores. There could be no doubt that what were called spores in the coal were practically identical in their structure and in their mineral contents with the bodies which were formed as spores in the tissues of living plants. It might be true that the liquid hydrocarbon now present in the coal had been introduced into the plants in many cases—perhaps the majority—in a liquid condition; but was it Dr. Hickling’s view that the resin which originally surrounded those spores had