April 19, 1918. 799 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ the same thing as dried coal) would not wash so well as coal direct from the pit. It was necessary to fix a period for the stirring and settling in order to get a standard. The stuff could , not be got away thoroughly under about 10 minutes, and it took 10 minutes for very fine coal to come to the top and very fine dirt to sink to the bottom. Once the period was fixed for one test he had to keep to it throughout all the tests. The size of the samples was rather small —600 grms., as against the 2,000 grms. in the American tests—but the reason was that he brought away 14 or 15 samples from each colliery, and weight was a consideration. It was extremely difficult to fix a limit to the size of the coal, but he thought that coal below 1 mm. should not enter the washer. It would not be improved by the process. In passing through the washer dirt disintegrated and broke up into fine powder, which went into the fine coal, and the result was a larger percentage of ash than origin- ally existed. Therefore, he suggested that the dirt should be extracted before the coal was put into the washer. The curves showed the distribution of the ash in the different sizes of coal, and the lowest per- centage was obtained with 1J in. If they could pos- sibly get all the coal 1| in. they had the best chance of washing. In conclusion, Mr. Drakeley exhibited the apparatus used in making tests. In all, he made _______________ _______ _______ something like 260 tests, so that 520 lb. of coal passed through the apparatus, which always answered extremely well. It consisted essentially of two rect- angular boxes, each measuring 8 in. by 10 in. by 4J in. The bases of the two boxes were made of fine wire sieves, but in the upper box the wire gauze was attached to a wooden framework which would slide in and out. The method of use was as follows: — The upper part was attached to the lower box by means of the catches, and the sliding base was with- drawn from the side of the upper box, but not com- pletely, or a vacant slot would be left in the side of the test box. The apparatus was immersed in the _____ calcium chloride solution, until only about half an inch remained above the level of the liquid. Then the coal to be tested was placed in the box and gently stirred. _____ _____ The dense impurities sank into the lower compart- ment, whereas the specifically light coal remained floating in the upper box. The sliding base was pushed into position in the upper section and the apparatus was lifted from the solution. In that way the float and sink particles were obtained respectively in the two separate compartments. The materials in the two sections were washed on the sieves in a copious supply of water, dried, and weighed. As a rule, apparatus designed for coal washing tests were suitable only for small samples of small sized material, but with the apparatus now described it was easy to test large samples, even up to 2,000 grms. in weight. That was of the utmost importance when dealing with material of a large size, such as 2| in. diameter. Mr. Drummond Paton suggested that the work carried out by Mr. Drakeley was of such importance that it ought to be recognised by the society in some way, and brought to a proper conclusion. The Chairman said the matter could be brought before the council. ________________________________________ LAW INTELLIGENCE. _________________________________________________ HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. KING’S BENCH DIVISION (COMMERCIAL COURT). April 11. Before Mr. Justice Bailhache. Charter Party Dispute. English Coal Company Limited (London) v. W. J. Tatem and Company Limited (Cardiff).—The plaintiffs claimed £1,318, being the equivalent of 2 per cent, of the freight payable on the bill of lading quantity of the cargo shipped on the s.s. “ Ashleigh ” in accordance with a charter party dated June 27, 1917. His lordship, in giving judgment, said this action arose on the construction of two clauses of the charter party. The original charter party was in printed form, and provided that the freight was to be paid at so many shillings per ton delivered, or on bill of lading quantity less 2 per cent, in lieu of weighing at receiver’s option, to be declared in writing before the bulk was broken. Clause 9 of the charter party as altered, read : “ The whole freight to be paid on the signing of the bills of lading,” and the only question was what was meant by the “ whole freight.” If clause 9 stood by itself, he would have no hesitation in saying that in order to arrive at what the whole freight was you had to take the bill of lading quantity, and the bill of lading quantity alone. But he had to read clauses 1 and 9 together as best he could, and doing that he came to the conclusion that in this case the plaintiffs were right. Judgment for plaintiffs on the claim, with costs, and for the defendants on the counter- claim, which was admitted, with costs. ________ April 15. Coal Contract Action. Myers, Rose and Company Limited v. Simpson Brothers. —This action for damages for alleged breach of contract to supply coal was settled. Mr. Compston, K.C., for plaintiffs, said there would be judgment for plaintiffs for terms endorsed on counsel’s briefs. Mr. Stuart Bevan, for defendants, said he was not in a position to oppose judgment. His lordship entered judgment for plaintiffs on the terms agreed. _______ PRIZE COURT.—April 15. Before Sir S. Evans, President. German Coal for Swedish Ore. Steamship “ Leonora ” (Ship and Cargo).—In this case the Crown asked for condemnation of two Dutch and six Swedish steamships and their cargoes of coal. The vessels were seized while on their way from Rotterdam to Sweden.. It was alleged the coal came from Belgian ports occupied by the Germans, that it was bought from the German Government, and was being conveyed to Sweden in exchange for Swedish iron ore, which was to be sent to Germany. His lordship condemned th© vessel and cargo as a prize, but granted leave to appeal. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN MINING EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette for April states that employment in coal mining during March con- tinued good. Compared with February there was a decrease of 1,024 (or 0*2 per cent.) in the number of workpeople emi loved at collieries making returns, and an increase of 4,274 (or 0 8 per cent.) on a year ago. Of the 547,632 workpeople included in the returns for March, 271,948 (or 49 7 per cent.) were employed at pits working. 12 days during the fortnight to which the returns relate, and a further 178,551 (or 32 6 per cent.) were employed at pits working 11 but less than 12 days. Work- people Districts. em- Average No. of days worked per week by the collieries in fort- night ended Inc. (■♦■) or dec. ( —) in Mar. 1918, on a 1918. 1918. 1917. ag0' ag0' England Wales. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Northumberland ... 39,107'...5'36...5'15...3’70 .+021 +1’66 Durham ........... 95,983...5 23...5'16...4'82... + 0 07... +0'41 Cumberland ...... 6,478.. 5'58...5’71...5'67 . -0'13 -0'09 South Yorkshire ... 58,969...5'93.. 5 89...5'91.. +0 01 +0'02 West Yorkshire.... 22,278...5'86...5'89...5’88 ..-0'03 . -0'02 Lancs. & Cheshire... - 51,719.. 5'96...5'90 . 5'91 +0’06 +0'05 Derbyshire ......... 32,279...5'83...5'85.. 5'83...-0'02... — Nott^ and Leicester 30,227...5'70...5'66...5'68 + 0'u4 4-0 02 Staffordshire ...... 28,729...5'93...5’93...5'80... — ... 1-0T3 Warwick, Worcester and Salop ......... 8,066...5'87...5'87...5'84... — ...+0'03 Glo’ster & Somerset 5,747...5’97...5'97...5 92 .. — +0'05 North Wales ...... 10,475.. 5 98...6 00...5'94 -0'02...+0'04 South Wales & Mon. 109,714...5'53.5'03...5'56...+0'50...-0'03 Total ..... Scotland. West Scotland ... ... The Lothians ..... Fife ............. 499,831...5 64...5'49...5'42... +0'15... +0'2 2 21,408.5'43...5’44...5’22...-0'01... +0'21 1,992 . 5'06...5'36...5'58...-0'30...-0'52 23,936 . 5'47...5'33...4'54... +0'14... +0'93 Total ...... 47,336...5*43...5'38...4'87...+0'05... + 0'56 Ireland ............ 465...5'37...5’09...5'24... +0'28... +0'13 Total, U.K..... 547,632...5’62...5'48...5’38...+0’14...+0'24 * At the collieries included in the table. The following table shows the numbers employed and the average number of days worked, distributed accord- ing to the principal kind of coal raised at pits at which the workpeople were engaged:— Average No. of days worked per Inc. ( + ) or Work- week by the pits dec. ( —)in Description people in fortnight Mar. 1918 of coal. enled • on? ployed t----:—----------(---------A---- in Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 1918.* 23, 23, • 24, Year LvxO* uij 1918. 1918. 1917. ag0’ ag0’ Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Anthracite ........ 6,328.4'97...5'04.. 4'61...-0 o7... + 0'36 Coking ............. 29,771...5'73...5 64...5 71...+0 09...+0’02 Gas................. 37,692...4'98...4'94...4'47...+0'04...+0'51 House............... 51,602...5'68...5’66...5’57... +0 02... +0'11 Steam............... 189,064...5'70...5'39 ..5 39 .. +0'31... +0'31 Mixed............... 233,175...5'65...5'60...5'45... +0'05... +0'20 All descriptions ... 547,632 ..5’62...5'48...5 38... +0'14 .. +0'24 * At the collieries included in the table. Iron Mining.—Employment continued very good at iron and shale mines. Returns received for each of the three periods named below, relating to the same mines and open works in each case, show that 17,462 workpeople were employed at mines included in these returns in March 1918, an increase of 2,229 (14'6 per cent.) on a year ago. Work- people Districts. em- Average No. of days worked per week by mines in fortnight ended Inc. (+) or dec. (—) in Mar. 1918 on a ________________ ____________ in Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 1918.* 23, 23, 24, Year 1918. 1918. 19)7. ag0' ago' Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Cleveland........... 7,389 ...5'96...5'97...5'93...-0 ul...+0'03 Cumberland and Lancashire ...... 5,998 ...5’89 . 6 00...6'00...—0'11...-0T1 Scotland ........... 705 ...5'59...5'99...6'00...-0'40...-0'41 Other districts .... 3,370 ...5'96 . 5 96...5'83... — ...+0'i3 Total ...... 17,462 ...5'92...5'98 . 5'93...-0'06...-0'01 * At mines included in the returns. Shale.—The returns show that 5,072 workpeople were employed in the fortnight ending March 23, 1918, at mines which worked on an average six days per week, compared with 5,080 workpeople in February at mines which worked six days, and with 4,744 in March 1917, at mines which worked an average of 5'94 days per week. Pig Iron.—Employment continued good, and showed little change as compared with a month ago or a year ago. Shortages of labour, material and railway wagons continued to be reported. Districts. No. of furnaces, included in the returns, in blast at end of Inc. ( + ) or dec. (-) in Mar. 1918 on a A Mar. Feb. Mar. Month Year England Wales : 1918. 1918. 1917. ago. ago. Cleveland 75 ... 75 ... 77 — - 2 Cumberland & Lancs. 34 ... 34 ... 32 — + 2 S. and S. W. Yorks ... 12 ... 13 ... 13 -1-: - 1 Derby & Nottingham... Leicester, Lincoln and 33 ... 34 ... 28 ... -1... + 5 Northampton 29 ... 29 ... 28 — + 1 Staffs and Worcester... 30 ... 28 ... 30 + 2.” — S. Wales & Monmouth 13 ... 13 ... 13 Other districts 4 ... 4 ... 5 ... — ... -1 230 ... 230 ... 226 + 4 Scotland 65 ... 65 ... 70 .. — - 5 ■.» .. .» w ■ —— ■ . — - Total, U.K 295 ... 295 ... 296 — -1 Iron and Steel Works.—Employment at iron and steel works was very good, but showed a slight decline on a month ago ; it was better than a year ago. Shortage of labour continued to be reported from every district. According to returns relating to 118,708 workpeople, the number of shifts worked during the week ended March 23, 1918, was 680,134. showing a decrease of 9,121 (or 1'3 per cent.) on a month ago, and an increase of 30,409 (or 4'7 per cent.) on a year ago. Engineering Trades.—These trades continued to be extremely busy du ing March, and a great amount of overtime was worked. Trade unions with 318,322 members (mostly in skilled occupations) reported 0'1 per cent, unemployed at the end of March, compared with 0'1 per cent, a month ago and 0 1 per cent a year ago. Tin-plate and Steel and Galvanised Sheet Trade.—The number of tin-plate mills working at the end of March showed an increase of one compared with the previous month and of two on a year ago. Difficulties in securing supplies of raw mater als c< ntinued to be reported. The number of mills making steel and galvanised sheets working at the end of March showed no change from a month ago, but there was an increase of three on a year ago. Tubes.—Employment continued good at Birmingham and Wednesbury, and in South Wales. Wire.—Employment continued good. Prices and Wages—The results of recent ascertain- ments of the selling prices of coal and iron are given below:— Prices according to Inc. ( + ) or dec. (—) last audit. of last audit on Product and Period Average district. hv selling Previous A year Coal.* 1917. s. d. s. d. s. d. Northumberland £ j18 Pig Iron. 1918 Cleveland ....... Jan.-Mar. ...108 Manufactured Iron. North of England Jan.-Feb. ...276 (Rails, plates, bars and angles.) Midlands ....... Jan.-Feb. ...312 (Bars, angles, tees, sheets, pl - tes, hoops, strips, etc.) West of Scotland Jan.-Eq]?. ...295 (Round*, squares, flats, tees, angles, hoops and-rods.) 0I...+0 1H...+ 2 1 31...- 0 111...+ 18 6f 7f...+ 2 2 ...+ 8 9 3f...+ 2 31... + 11 71 2J... + 2 11...+ 12 If No change in miners’ wages took place as a result of the ascertainment for Northumberland. The ascertained selling price of Cleveland pig iron for the quarter ended March 1918, involved a reduction of 1'25 per cent, in wages, which took effect from April 7. No change in rates of wages or manufactured iron in the North of England, Midlands, and the West of Scotland resulted from the audit for the months of January and February. Disputes.—In coal mining four new disputes occurred. After a two days’ dispute, near Maryport, a workman was reinstated upon conditions. Work was resumed at Ebbw Vale after a dispute as to wages, and at Rhondda Valley after a dispute as to stoppages. Near G asgow, work was resumed pending arbitration over the employ- ment of additional pit-head workers. An enquiry was arranged regarding a demand for higher wages by cokemen and others in South Yorkshire. Accidents.—Accidents in mines of all kinds totalled 114 (99 underground and 15 surface), compared with 97 in the previous month, and 109 in March 1917. ____________________________ MINERS FOR THE ARMY. The Ministry of National Service announces that, as indicated by the Prime Minister in bis speech on the Military Service Bill, the Government has decided to proceed with the recruitment of a further 50,000 coal miners who are fit for general service. To make the necessary men available for recruitment the following Decertification Order has been made by the Home Secretary, dated April 16:— I hereby withdraw all certificates of exemption issued on grounds of employment to persons employed in or about coal mines : — (1) Who were on November 2, 1915, married or widowers with children dependent on them and shall have, on May 1, 1918, attained the age of 18 years and eight months, but shall not on that date have attained the age of 32 years. (2) Who were on November 2, 1915, unmarried or widowers without any child dependent on them and who had on January 1, 1918, attained the age of 25 years, but shall not on May 1, 1918, have attained the age of 32 years. (3) Who had not attained the age of 18 years eight months on January 1, 191S but who shall have attained that age on or before May 1, 1918. Provided that this Order shall not be held to affect any certificate of exemption issued on grounds of employment since November 22, 1917, to a person whose certificate of exemption was withdrawn by my Order of that date. This Order shall take effect on and after May 1, 1918. __________________________ Coal Rationing in Manchester.—A conference took place in Manchester on Tuesday between the Manchester and Northern Counties Coal Merchants Association and Mr. Pick, the Deputy Coal Controller. The proposed rationing scheme for household coal was fully discussed, and the Association suggested an increased allowance for small houses up to six rooms. The Association gathered that it was the intention of the authorities to open offices in Manchester and other Northern centres to deal with the business of coal control generally. New Steel Combine.—Negotiations which have been in progress for some time have resulted in another important sale in the iron and steel trade on Tees-side, the extensive foundries, blast furnaces, ironstone mines and collieries, of Messrs. Cochrane and Company, Middlesbrough, having been acquired by the East Coast Steel Corporation Limited, a combination of interests belonging to the Furness group, of which Lord Furness is chairman, and Mr. Benjamin Talbot the managing director. Messrs. Cochrane’s works were established 70 years ago, and have hitherto been a privately-controlled firm. The purchase price has not transpired.