136 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN January 18, 1918. view, however, even in colliery circles, that large numbers of young men could easily be spared. At an inquest on Saturday at the offices of the Bolsover Colliery Company, Mansfield, on Charles Williams (43), and William Black (36), in the employ of the company, it was stated their death was due to one of the most exten- sive falls of roof that had taken place at any colliery in the Mansfield district for a long time past. Some 300 tons came down, and the men, who were fillers, and both married, were buried. They were engaged in laying a new road in the East district when the accident occurred. The fall was due to a local bump, and came entirely without warning. A verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned. The Midlands. Some surprise is occasioned in the Cannock Chase coal district that imperative instructions are still being received at certain of the collieries that domestic fuel should be forwarded to London in larger quantities than usual, irre- spective of any claims which district consumers may con- sider they have upon the superior attention of the pits. Enquiries among coal masters reveal that it had been expected that by this date the Coal Controller would have resolved that Metropolitan supplies were sufficiently assured for this winter to enable his demand for excessive deliveries to be withdrawn, and it had been hoped that this month the collieries on Cannock Chase would be at liberty to direct their whole energies as regards domestic coal into local consuming channels. Such has not been the case, and the inconvenience which district coal mer- chants have suffered for several months past on account of the Controller’s Order relating to London deliveries has still to be borne. Efforts to restore a more satisfactory balance of stocks of house fuel in the Black Country towns dependent upon the Chase pits do not appear to be making very much impression, and the trade is running on such a fine margin that the coal masters declare that an added dislocation arising from any freezing of the canals would be very quickly felt. Kent. The quantity of coal raised from the Tilmanstone and Snowdown collieries last year was nearly 300,000 tons. If the required labour had been available, this output could have been easily doubled, and the coal would have found a ready market. Lack of the requisite supply of railway trucks has also frequently been a factor in reducing the weekly output, whole shifts having been lost on that account. A contract for the erection of the first block of miners’ dwellings near the Tilmanstone Colliery has been accepted by the Tilmanstone Miners’ Dwellings Syndicate Limited. Scotland. • There seems every likelihood of an agreement between Sir Auckland Geddes and the representatives of the Scottish Union of Mine Workers being speedily arrived at as to the method to be adopted for raising the necessary number of additional recruits required from the pits. Mr. Jas. Trikney, who has acted as under-manager and manager at Kinglassie Colliery for nearly seven years, is leaving to take up duty as manager at Deans Mines, belong- ing to the Pumpherston Oil Company. At the Fife and Kinross appeal tribunal, 20 coal trimmers from Methil were ordered to join the Army. Mr. Sten- house, North British Railway agent at Methil Docks, appeared on behalf of the appellants, and held that the men were absolutely necessary for the coaling of vessels, which required strong men. Maj. Maxwell said there had been a grievance at Methil for many months past that since trade began to get slack the younger men had made things • uncomfortable for the older men, and that the latter had been compelled to leave the coal trimming and get other work. Burntisland coal shipments last week totalled 8,800 tons, a decrease of 7,100 tons on last year’s return for the same period. The shipment from Methil was 19,587 tons, a large increase on the previous week. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and. Monmouthshire. The Federation executive sitting in Cardiff on Friday of last week, heard the report of the deputation which had waited on the Coal Controller, to urge upon him the necessity of deciding that all the colliers in the South Wales district should work only five shifts a week. The Council decided to press the matter further with the Controller. Another report submitted had relation to an interview with the Director of National Service concerning the further comb out of miners, it being stated that as many as 50,000 additional men from the mines were required from the whole country during the next five months. The Executive decided to call a conference on January 28. The executive council of the South Wales Federation had before it on Friday of last week an application from workmen at the Tirydail Colliery, who wished to tender notices because “non-unionists” were employed. An investigation was ordered by the Executive. The anthracite miners in Swansea received a deputa- tion of hauliers, who desired to obtain a higher standard of wages; and the scheme which was submitted is to be referred to all the collieries. The meeting discussed also the scheme for transferring men from short-time collieries to places where labour was demanded; and it was announced that miners so trans- ferred would receive 12s. 6d. allowance for single men, 17s. 6d. for married men, and that all would be paid their railway fares, as well as full wages in the place where they were sent to. The Fernhill Collieries, Cambrian Combine, Treherbert, were idle a number of days last week, owing to scarcity of trucks. Several hundreds of workmen were affected. Tydraw Collieries, Messrs. Cory Bros., Tynewydd, were also idle for two days, and about 900 workmen were affected. The annual meeting of the Eastern Valley District of Miners, Monmouthshire, was held at Pontypool on Monday. Coun. W. C. Watkins, and Mr. H. D. Bowden, were elected president and vice-president respectively. The delegates of the Rhondda district of miners, at their monthly meeting, appealed to all workmen to refrain from seeking employment at the Gelli Colliery, where a dispute has existed since 1910. The East Glamorgan miners met at Caerphilly, and it was stated that at the Bedwas Colliery the men had appointed a deputation to wait upon the management, and had accepted the terms offered by the management. It was stated that the real point in dispute had not been settled, for the Coal Controller would be asked to give a decision. At the monthly meeting of Monmouthshire Western Valley Miners’ council a resolution was passed that house coal should be supplied at the Tillery Collieries at the rate of 5s. per ton, including haulage. It was agreed to grant <£100 in aid of the workmen of the Navigation Colliery, Crumlin. The colliery examiners of the district met at Cardiff on Tuesday and considered the memorandum of agreement between the employers and the examiners as to the estab- lishment of a .joint Conciliation Board. Certain pro- posals by the employers were rejected, and the meeting decided upon alternative suggestions. At the annual meeting of the Pontypool District of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Enginemen and Surface Craftsmen’s Association, held at Varteg, on Saturday, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Mr. Joseph Davies, Blaenavon; treasurer, Mr. A. Brown, Pontypool; secretary, Mr. George Davies, Blaenavon; executive member, Mr. Wm. J. Wathen, Blaenavon. Mr. D. B. Jones, Merthyr, the agent, stateci in his report that the Association was prepared to discuss the question of non-unionism with the miners at a meet- ing presided over by Sir George Askwith. In the course of his monthly report on miscellaneous matters, Mr. J. Winstone (agent) informed the Monmouth- shire Eastern Valley Miners’ District on Monday that he regretted having to report the occurrence of four fatal accidents at local collieries since the last meeting. North of England. The third series of meetings held under the auspices of the New Seaham, Dawdon, and Silksworth lodges of the Durham Miners’ Association took place last Saturday. A resolution was adopted calling upon the Government to re-arrange the area for the supply of coal, so as to find markets and to provide transport in order that the work- men might find reasonable employment, failing which the Government should guarantee to the miners the minimum rate of wages. The ballot for officers, etc., of the Northumberland Colliery Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Association has resulted as follows :—President, W. H. Bird (Cramlington); treasurer, Thos. Weatherly (Bedlington); secretary, John Humphrey (Gosforth); executive council, M. Dickinson (Gosforth), Wm. Ricalton (Hazlerigg), G. W. Dryden (Haltwhistle), and Thos. Thompson (Backworth); Wages Board, J. J. Martin (Lemington), J. G. Scott (Weetslade), and G. Bullock (West Wylam); auditors, Thos. Dale (Walbottle) and G. G. Graham (Woodhorn); and represen- tative to the National Federation of Enginemen and Fire- men, W. Ricalton. A threatened strike against non-society miners at Ashington (Northumberland) has been averted, the colliery management having agreed only to employ union workers. For the first time compulsory membership in trades unions has thus been established in Northumberland. Mr. J. Dickinson presided over a special meeting of the council of the Cumberland Miners’ Association at Work- ington. A letter received from the Coal Controller stated that he had offered the Cumberland Coal Trade Conciliation Board a choice of Sir Henry Hall or Sir Wm. N. Atkinson for the position of neutral chairman on the abnormal place question. At the annual meeting of the Clifton branch of the Cum- berland Colliery Officials’ Association, the following officials were appointed : Chairman, Mr. T. Smith (Bridge- foot) ; delegate, Mr. Wm. Lamont (Greysouthern); treasurer, Mr. J. Armstrong (Chapel Brow); secretary, Mr. J. Coggins (Great Clifton); committee, Messrs. J. Head, J. Wright, R. Armstrong, Wm. Glaister, J. Fisher, and S. Graham. A divide of 7s. 6d. was given to all full mem- bers of the sick club. For some time the Blastfurnacemen’s Federation has been striving for overtime rates for week-end work, and the question was eventually referred to the arbitration tribunal. The award has now been received, and is as follows :—(a) For all men working on 12 hours shifts, in respect of shifts between 6 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Monday, pay shall be at the rate of time and a quarter; (6) for all men working on eight hours shifts, in respect of shifts between 2 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Monday, pay shall be at the rate of time and a quarter from the first full pay after January 3. Federated Area. In regard to the strike at the Houndhill Colliery, Worsbro’, which has existed for six months, the men have agreed that Mr. Smith, president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, should meet Mr. Richardson, on behalf of the owner of the colliery, to endeavour to settle the price list in dispute. The annual conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation was held on Saturday last. Mr. T. Greenall, in his presidential address, referred to the growth of the Federation during the past 12 months. Whilst there had been an increase of from 5,000 to 6,000 new members, their balance had grown from £158,316 to £217,000. A conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Con- ciliation Board was held on Friday of last week in Man- chester. No agreement was come to on the application for a minimum wage for the Darwen district. A report states that the miners of Lancashire and Cheshire, backed by their leaders, were seeking increased pay for overtime. Forest of Dean. A disagreement at Easter Iron Mine, Westdean/three weeks ago over the wages rate led to the employees stand- ing out. The Coal Controller, having heard both sides, directed the men to return to work, as the claim for war bonus had already been conceded. Work has been resumed. Scotland. * In connection with the redistribution of Parliamentary seats in Lanarkshire, the delegates of the county Miners’ Union recommended Mr. R. Smillie and Mr. J. Robertson as candidates for Hamilton and Bothwell. For some time past trouble has been brewing at Blan- tyre Collieries, which belong to Messrs. Wm. Dixon Limited, and now it has been decided to work only four days per week against 11 shifts worked by other collieries in the district. The dispute concerns the underground firemen. At a meeting of Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan Miners’ Association, the executive board approved of the applica- tion by the Leven branch for permission to lodge notices as a protest against the employment of non-unionists at Nos. 1 and 2 Leven Collieries. At Grasshill Colliery, Glenbuck, Ayrshire, the 9 ft. section, which has been threatened with a reduction of 5d. per ton, is now to be placed on a different footing. The section, which was worked longwall, and was allowed from lOd. to Is. 2d. a ton extra for abnormal work, is now to be included in the stoop-and-room category, but only ordi- nary rates are offered. The miners employed in one of the pits in Cadzow Colliery, Hamilton, are pressing for an alteration in the system of signalling, which necessitates “ belling ” up to 13 strokes. THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE. Sudden severe cold, of almost Arctic character, demoralised traffic and intensified demand (says the Coal Age, December 15). The country seems to have been quick to rally from the shock of the severe cold and conditions resulting from the great storm have proved to be much better than were at first expected. Many localities had succeeded in accumulating a small reserve stock. This was, of course, immediately drawn upon. The steam demand is as insistent as ever, but the country is gradually adjusting itself to the business of war, and preference is always given to those industries and consumers whose efforts or product are essential to the nation’s business. It is reported also that some manufacturing establishments have had to close down for a week or two in order to accumulate fuel stock. On the other hand, certain others which have been closed have resumed opera- tions. The efforts of fuel-distribution officials and committees of various municipalities are beginning to show beneficial results. Rail congestion still hinders the trade in bitu- minous coal. Reports from Philadelphia state that with increased shipments the anthracite position shows considerable improvement. All the companies have come out with new anthracite prices with the 35c. additional granted by the •Government. Practi- cally the only size under contract is pea coal. Criti- cism is heard of the immense tonnage of bank coal sent into the market. The claim is made that while this fuel is inferior to fresh-mined coal, it is bringing circular prices and even shares in the latest advance of 35c. The stearin prices have varied but little of late and the average prices are about as follows for free coal: Buckwheat, 4-15 dols.; rice, 3 35 dols.; barley, 2-35 dols.; and culm, 1-25 dols. The sale of the latter size continues to boom, particularly since there has been quite a little newspaper discussion as to its use combined with bituminous coal. A Baltimore report refers to exceedingly cold weather, and the scanty supply of fuel. Many mines are idle because coal owners cannot obtain transporta- tion by rail. The movement of foundry coke (Connellsville) is very light. Box cars are hard to obtain while the rail- roads, acting under instructions of the Fuel Adminis- trator, are giving priority to furnace coke over foundry, when loaded in open-top cars. While many foundries are short of coke, the requirements of the foundry industry as a whole have decidedly decreased in the past few months. There is little free coke to be picked up in the market, only an insignificant fraction of the amount that would be bought if available at the Government price, 6 dols. for furnace, and 7 dols. for 72-hour selected foundry, per net ton at ovens. Cable advices this week state that owing to the congested state of traffic, caused By the severe storms and the Arctic conditions prevailing throughout the East and Middle West, Mr. McAdoo, as Director- General of Railways, has issued a series of priority orders with a view to relieving the coal famine and the threatened scarcity of food in New York. He has instructed Mr. Garfield, the Fuel Director, that coal supplies are to-be given preference over every other kind of freight bound in the direction of New York. Institution of Civil Engineers.—An ordinary meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-street, Westminster, will be held on January 22, commencing at 5.30 p.m. Two papers will be submitted for discussion : “Rail Creep,” by Mr. F. Reeves; and “Creep of Rails,” by Mr. H. P. Miles. Railway Companies and Wagon Delays.—Collieries have been largely hampered during the past few weeks by the shortage of empties, and in some cases where empties have been labelled to certain collieries, they have been lost by the merchant for a considerable period, and found to have been used by the railway companies or colliery companies for other purposes, being consigned from one’point to another without any intimation to the merchant owners. This has given rise to a considerable amount of friction, and serious loss of contract quantities. The railway companies notify that in some cases a payment will be made of Is. per day per wagon for all the number of days the wagon has been in use, exclusive of Sundays and Bank Holidays; but as the information is not immediately forthcoming as to the whereabouts of the wagons in question, considerable corre- spondence and anxiety have been the inevitable result. Steps are being taken by a large section of the merchants to advise the owners whenever a private wagon appears at their station, so that the owner may be able to check the ‘ position of his wagons. A more serious aspect of the wagon question has been ventilated recently, with refer- ence to the mobility of wagons running to zarious collieries, and the figures given by those interested in the matter have been startling. No very recent calculation has been made of the actual number of wagons in use, but according to the last Board of Trade returns, the railway companies owned 767,007, and according to Sir Sam Fay’s evidence the number of private-owned wagons is 650,000. The bulk of the wagons rarely make more than two journeys per month to London stations, and with the present great pres- sure for coal, the number of days they are at the station for unloading would not be more than two, or at the most three. Thus a wagon is, at the outside, six days in the merchant’s hands at this end, and 24 days entirely in the railway companies’ hands for transit either loaded or empty. One of the best authorities on transport reform gives the total mobility of each wagon at 3 per cent., and standing still 97 per cent.