231 February 1, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CURRENT SCIENCE Antarctic Coal. In his report on Antarctic geology, Dr. G. Taylor (Mining Magazine) states that in the Upper Beard- more district horizontal sandstones were found by Shackleton’s party to contain coal seams, and in some of the specimens from Mount Buckley a woody tissue was preserved. Unfortunately, it was too poorly pre- served for identification, but seemed to place the Beacon sandstones not earlier than carboniferous times. Wild described seven seams interstratified with 300 ft. of sandstone. The seams range from 1 ft. to 7 ft. in thickness. A sample of the Beardmore coal (analysed by J. C. Mingaye) gave the following: — Per cent. Hygroscopic moisture __........ 3-16 Volatile hydrocarbons ............ 14-5 Fixed carbon .................. 68-84 Ash ......................... 13-43 ______ 99-93 No true coke formed. Sulphur in coal ..................... 0-274 Prof. David has estimated that there are about 12,000 square miles of Beacon sandstone actually now exposed above sea level in the plateau of the great “horst.” This would represent the whole amount available for coal mining if the coal measures were developed over the whole of the area. Unfortunately, there is no appearance of coal in the Ferrar-Taylor region; but in the Granite Harbour hinterland Debenham discovered specimens of coal in a vastly more accessible position than the Upper Beardmore. The author was unable to identify the actual outcrop (for the specimens occurred in the Mount Suess moraine), but in the cliffs of Mount Suess, and also a mile or two west in the walls of the Mackay glaciers, were horizontal beds of Beacon sandstone which fed this moraine. Hence there is little doubt that the coal would outcrop in the sediments seen higher up the glacier, only 20 miles from the sea in Granite Harbour. Adiabatic Jackets for Calorimeters. Along with the increased use. of the calorimeter for both commercial and scientific purposes (says Metal- lurgical and Chemical Engineering), there has been constantly growing a demand for improvements in the design of the jacket. This demand for improvements in the type of jacket has in view the elimination as far as possible of the exchange of heat between the calorimeter and the calorimeter jacket. This condi- tion is desired principally in order to obtain increased accuracy in calorimetric work; and, further, it is desired that a calorimetric test can be made under these adiabatic conditions with the necessary time of test reduced. These adiabatic jackets, when operating properly, eliminate the cooling correction. This is a desirable feature in scientific calorimetric work, as it makes possible increased accuracy, and is of advantage in commercial work, as it eliminates the time necessary in computation of the cooling correction and the time to take thermometer readings, which furnish the necessary data for the cooling correction formulae. A type of jacket which is designed to accomplish this adiabatic condition which is coming into considerable use is the vacuum walled jacket. This is the simplest type of jacket to operate, which practically eliminates radiations, and is quite satisfactory for general calori- metric work. If the temperature in the calorimeter with a vacuum walled jacket, however, is not fairly close to that of the room temperature, an appreciable exchange of heat does take place. In addition to radiation, when a test is made in a vacuum walled jacket at a temperature considerably above the room temperature, the condensation of vapour on the cover and upper walls of the jacket may introduce considerable cooling effect. A vacuum walled jacket, when operated in proximity to room temperature, gives satisfactory results, and, except for the fragile nature of the jacket, is very desirable for commercial work. Several types of jackets have been used, in which the temperature of the jacket is raised at a rate equal to the rate of rise in the calorimeter. Examples of this type are the jackets designed by Prof. T. W. Richards, of Harvard, and the jacket developed at the United States Bureau of Standards. Electric heaters are used in conjunction with stirring devices in these designs. In the Daniels jacket, designed by Dr. Farrington Daniels, of the Worcester (U.S.A.) Polytechnic Insti- tute, radiations are eliminated by carrying the tem- perature of the jacket along with the temperature of the calorimeter. The rise of temperature is obtained in the jacket without the use of electric heating coils. The jacket water itself is the heating unit, and by passing an electric current through the same its tem- perature is raised simultaneously with the calorimeter temperature. With the application of the current to the water jacket, the temperature rises immediately and uniformly throughout the jacket. In this manner* the lag of the resistance wires of the heating coils is eliminated, as is also the stirring of the jacket water as the heat is not localised. Deterioration of Coal in Stores. Prof. Alfred H. White, in a paper read before the Michigan Gas Corporation (Engineering), gives an account of an experiment conducted with Pittsburg and Fairmont gas coal which had been kent in the open for five years. The uppermost 6 in. of the coal was considerably crumbled, otherwise little physical change had taken place, and the chemical analysis failed to reveal any material change even in the upper 6 in., after an exposure of five years to the severe and damp climate of Southern Michigan. The retort test made with each kind of coal after, respectively, six months’ and one, two, three, four, and five years’ exposure, showed fluctuating results from year to year, AND TECHNOLOGY. but no systematic change due to the coal was noted, and he concluded by saying that the change in the coal was too small to be discovered by our present method of testing and analysis. According to J. B. Porter, the initial temperature of the coal at the time of storage is an important feature, and the coal should therefore be laid down during the coolest part of the day, for even in the temperate zone the stacking of coal on a sunny summer day is dangerous; while the heat of the sun’s rays on the complete stack is of little effect, as the heat absorbed during the day will be liberated at night. Dr. Porter also states that the loss of coal from fire in the second year of storage is approximately half that of the first year, on account of the protection which the old surface offers. In experiments made on Westphalian coal in lots of 150 tons each, the results of which were published in 1914, one lot was stocked in a heap 11 ft. 6 in. high in the open, and the other piled 10 ft. high in a shed. This coal was left undisturbed for 3| years, when both lots were subjected to carbonisation at a gas works, under precisely the same conditions, for purposes of compari- son. The coal stored in the open contained over 5 per cent, more moisture, but otherwise there was no material change in the gas production and the calorific value of the gas produced: the coke obtained from the coal stored in the open was, however, considerably inferior to the other. An independent test on Poca- hontas coal, which had been stored for four years under cover by the United States naval authorities, showed that the calorific value of the moisture, ash, and sulphur-free substances was 8*730 calories, as com- pared with the average of fresh Pocahontas coal, viz., 8-792 calories—this shows a loss of only about 0-7 per cent, in four years. At the instance of the United States Navy Department, the Bureau of Mines investi- gated this problem in 1909, and the summary of their tests was that with New River coal from West Vir- ginia (a smokeless coal with about 20 per cent, of volatile matter, and largely used in the United States Navy), the greatest loss in 18 tests during two years was only 1-8 per cent., and the smallest nil. __________________________ MINERS AND MAN POWER. The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain met at the Grafton Hotel, London, on Wednesday evening, to consider the position with regard to the Man Power proposals of Sir Auckland Geddes. Mr. R. Smillie (president) was in the chair. The executive sat for two hours, but failed to reach an agreement as to any recommendation to be sub- mitted to the National Conference on the following day. Three conflicting proposals for dealing with the Government scheme were considered. Yorkshire and South Wales asked that a ballot be taken of the men employed at the collieries as to their opinion on the taking of more men for the Army. Lancashire and Cheshire asked that all the men who had come into the mines from other occupations since August 1914, regardless of their physical fitness, be combed out before any of the other workmen were taken for military service. Northumberland asked that the Government should enter into negotiations with the enemy Powers for peace. The executive thereupon decided to await the general conference on the Government’s Man Power proposals, and again consider the position before making any recommendation. Sir Auckland Geddes’ proposal, as submitted to the conference, was to take a further 50,000 men from the pits for military service, in addition to the 20,000 voluntarily recruited during 1917. The men are to be taken at all ages within the limit of the Military Service Act of 1915, the only restriction being that they are to be selected from physically fit men who are unmarried. A resolution was submitted from Yorkshire for a ballot of the men on the proposal. In the discussion it was made clear that the ballot was not in hostility to the Government scheme, but to test the opinion of the men. A comb out of the dilutees has been in progress for some months, but Sir Auckland Geddes in his letter to the conference, stated that the comb out of those who have commenced work at the mines since August 1914 has not produced many Class A men. Mr. J. Guest (Yorkshire Miners’ Association) pre- sented the report of the special meeting of the Yorkshire miners on the proposals, and moved that a ballot be taken of the men employed at the pits. Mr. Jas. Winstone (President of the South Wales Miners’ Federation), who seconded, remarked that the South Wales delegates were also instructed by their council meeting to press for the taking of a ballot on the ‘ Government proposals. He had no objection to the ballot being extended to the coal miners now on active service on the different fronts, so that those who were in the fighting ranks in the midst of the war might have an opportunity of express- ing their opinion. Mr. J. Allan Parkinson (Lancashire and Cheshire miners) proposed that the Federation stand by the policy determined upon at the Blackpool conference in September last. So far as Lancashire was con- cerned, he said, they believed the recruiting authori- ties had not yet fulfilled their pledge to comb out the men who had gone into the mines since August 1914. Large numbers of Class A men were still working in the pits in Lancashire, men who had gone into the pits during the war. * So far as Lancashire was con- cerned, until these men were combed out of the mining industry, they were not prepared to assist the military in raising additional men for the Army. Mr. J. E. Sutton, M.P., who seconded, remarked that the military authorities had not yet done their duty in combing out men who had come into the pits from other trades. The secretary, Mr. Ashton, had supplied each of the miners’ agents in the county with a list of the men still working in the pits who ought to be combed out. These lists had been pre- pared for the purpose of assisting the military authori- ties and the tribunals. Mr. Frank Hodges (South Wales) considered that Lancashire was following a foolish course in pressing for the combing out of men who had come into the pits. The best and most democratic policy was to take a ballot of the men as to their attitude towards the Government’s Man Pow^r proposals. He admitted that in the South Wales conference the young men suggested that the ballot vote should be restricted to men of military age liable for service, they would be prepared to consider further proposals. Mr. Cooper (North Staffordshire) said the Midland Federation had decided to support the Lancashire proposal for the comb out of all men who had come in since 1914, and if they were insufficient to meet the requirements of the military authorities, then they would be prepared to consider further proposals. It was decided to adjourn the conference until February 27, to enable representatives to consult their districts, as the time had been insufficient to enable them to do this. _______________ FATAL ACCIDENTS IN MINES DURING 1917. An advance proof (subject to correction) of the tables of fatal accidents and deaths in and about the mines and quarries of the United Kingdom during the 1917 has been issued by the Home Office. Under the Coal Mines Act.— year *. I 02 pi o & ■ o to <72 "S c8 2 « g o ;zj to o> o aS rt c8 a Separate fatal accidents— Scotland .......... 5. Northern.......... —. York & North Midland 1...172. Lancashire, N. Wales and Ireland- Lancs. &N. Wales 3... 80. Ireland........ —... —. South Wales ..... —...179. Midland and Southern —... 64.. .. 92... .118... 9.. .705.. 8.. .684.. Total in 1917 Total in 1916 Deaths— Scotland ........ Northern........ York & North Midland 2. ..176... Lancashire, N. Wales and Ireland— Lancs. & N. Wales 10... 81... Ireland......... —... —... South Wa’es ....... —...183... Midland and Southern —... 66... 8... 94.. -...120... ce 02 a O Ort c8 Fi 11.. . 41. 9... 64.. 13.. . 101. 7... 40. —... 1. 12...124. 7... 29. 19. 20. 39. 13 1 36. 19 59.. .400...147. 44.. .377...146. 11.. . 42... 9... 65... 14.. .102... 7.. . 40... —... 1... 12...127... 8.. . 29... 168.. 211.. 326. 184 190* 289 19. 20. 41. 143. 2. 351. 119. 157 316 131 1,320, 1,259 174. 214. 335. 194 203 295 13.. . 1... 38 .. 19.. . 151. 2 360.. 122.. 159 322 137 Total in 1917 ... 20...720... 61...406...151...1,358. Total in 1916 ... 22...701... 41...389...149... — * Of firedamp or coal dust. Of the deaths from falls of ground 457 occurred at the working face, 139 on roads while repairing or enlarging, 122 on roads while otherwise working or passing, and 2 in shafts. Of the deaths from shaft accidents, 3 occurred from overwinding, 11 whilst descending or ascending by machinery, 5 by falling into shaft from surface, 18 by falling from part way down, 4 were due to things falling into shaft from surface, 2 to things falling from part way down and 18 to miscellaneous causes. The deaths occurring from miscellaneous causes underground may be divided as follows: By explosives, 20; suffocation by natural gases, 7; underground fires, 1; haulage ropes or chains breaking, 8; run over or crushed by trams or tubs, 268 ; other haulage accidents, 29; electricity, 2 ; machinery, 10; sundries, 61. Of the deaths on the surface, 32 were caused by machinery; 78 by accidents on railways, sidings or tramways ; 4 by electricity, and 37 by miscellaneous causes. Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act.—The following is summary of the accidents and deaths under this Act:— Separate fatal accidents. nil ... ... ... ... ... ........... ... ........... ... 9 4 7 3 1,305 a Deaths. Explosions of firedamp ... Falls of ground ........... Shaft accidents ........... Miscellaneous underground ... On surface .................... Total, 1917. Total, 1916. 23 22 nil 9 4 9 3 25 23 Six fatalities were due to explosives. Total number of deaths in the Northern division 9, Midland and Southern 10, Scotland 1, and in Lancashire and North Wales 3. ____________________________ Exploration of the Minnie Pit is being checked by con- stantly occurring falls of roof. Several more bodies have been brought up, leaving 109 still in the mine. Regulating U.S. Coal Contracts.—In order that in 1918 the whole of the U.S.A, coal output, including the coal which the mines had contracted to deliver, shall be under the direct and effective control of the Fuel Administration, an order has been issued regulating the terms of all con- tracts for the future delivery of coal. No contract shall call for the delivery of coal or coke over a period of longer than one year, and the order directs that the year period thus allowed shall terminate not later than eighteen months from the date the contract is made. Contracts must be placed at the prices fixed by the President and the Fuel Administration, and must provide that the coal or coke affected by the order is subject at all time to requisition or diversion by the Fuel Administration.