858

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 26, 1918.

BOOK NOTICES.

Mathematics for Engineers. By W. N. Rose. The
D.U. Technical Series, Part 1. pp. 509. 8^ in. x
5^ in. 257 figs. London, Chapman and Hall Limited,
1918. Price 8s. 6d. net.

The Directly Useful Technical Series is intended to
occupy a midway position between the theoretical and
the practical. The application of this principle to
mathematics has been achieved by making the information,
problems and exercises of a directly useful character, but
at the same time not withholding a proper amount' of
theoretical explanation. At the same time, a certain
amount of previous knowledge of arithmetic and algebra
is assumed. The student plunges at once in medias res,
and before the end of the first chapter he is introduced
to indices and the use of logarithms. The next stage
carries him through equations, including quadratics, surds,
and cubic equations. Passing over the next chapter on
mensuration of plane and solid figures, the student is
then made familiar with the use of graphs and the theory
of maximum and minimum values. The treatment of this
part of the subject is particularly interesting, and the
examples selected for exercise are such as will appeal
especially to engineer classes. It will probably be a
revelation to many students of mathematics to discover
what wide powers are gained by a sound knowledge of
even elementary mathematical processes. Taking, for
instance, one example at random, viz., to find the speed
of a belt at which the greatest horse-power is transmitted,

V / rp W V- \
assuming the relation H.-P. =	( 1 “ J, how

many public school boys would recognise the simplicity
which this problem assumes when the curve is plotted
in the ordinary way? One gains a strong conviction, on
reading these pages, that the presentment of the subject
is both admirable and illuminating. Let us give . one
further instance, viz., the use of hyperbolic functions.
How many schoolboys, even amongst those who arrive
at the stage of reading higher mathematics, really under-
stand what hyperbolic functions are, and still less of
what practical uses they can be? Here, however, we find
the whole thing in a nutshell, i.e., within the compass
of a couple of pages. No student with even the rudi-
ments of a sound mathematical training could fail to
grasp the significance of the equation y = cosh x, in
calculating the fall in voltage of a long transmission line,
or a hundred other problems involving the equation to
a catenary. We are convinced of the great value of this
text book. The author is clearly on the right line, so
far as the needs of the average engineering , student are
concerned. We shall look forward with interest and
pleasure to the appearance of Part 2, which will embrace
the practical applications of the calculus, and such
abstruse questions as harmonic and vector analysis.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The clerks at Ebbw Vale, members of the National
Union of Clerks, gave a month’s notice terminating their
engagements, and this expired on Saturday last, but upon
its being reported that the matters in dispute were going
to arbitration, it was resolved to suspend the operation
of the notices for 7 days. The Ebbw Vale Company had
agreed to this, and the clerks resumed work on Monday
morning. Really the difficulty was as to the form in which
arbitration should take place upon a demand for increased
war bonus.

The miners’ executive, at a meeting in Cardiff on
Saturday, under the presidency of Mr. J. Winstone,
received a deputation from the workmen at Nine Mile
Point Colliery, who sought assistance in dealing with a
dispute, the colliery having been idle all the week. Two
representatives were appointed to seek an interview with
the management and endeavour to effect a settlement. A
report was presented concerning the existence of two
lodges at Llanbradach Colliery, it being argued that there
should be only one lodge, and that the Caerphilly men
should constitute a sub-lodge. This view was endorsed'
by the executive as a whole, who formally confirmed the
position in that form. Upon the question arising as to
whether any labour demonstration should take place on
May Day, it was resolved that no steps should be taken
to have a general holiday for that purpose during the war,
the council in this respect following the precedent since
outbreak of hostilities. The executive granted permission
to Rhymney Valley district colliers to tender notices in
support of a man who had been dismissed, and whose
reinstatement was sought, it being considered that the
man had been sufficiently punished. As there had been
some change in the mode of working at Bedwellty Colliery,
and the executive were asked to intervene, it was decided
to bring the matter before the Conciliation Board.

North of England.

The accountants’ certificate of the average selling price
of coal in Northumberland for the three months ended
February last is to the effect that the average price was
18s. 0*21d. per ton. The price for the previous three
months was 17s. l-07d., so that the latest ascertainment
shows a rise of ll-14d. per ton. The Wages Committee
of the Northumberland Miners’ Association comments :—
“ Had the sliding scale been in operation, the percentage
of wages corresponding to the 18s. 0-21d. would have been
123, instead of the 120 which we now have. As explained
in our previous report, prices fell during last year con-
siderably below what would, under the sliding scale, have
given 120 per cent, on wages, but, owing to an arrange-
ment with the Coal Controller, percentage on wages was
not reduced below that figure. Moreover, clause 7 of the
War Wage Agreement also prevents the percentage being
raised on this occasion.”

Having had the question of the wages of surface labour
at the pits referred to it by the executive committee, the
Wages Committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Asso-
ciation, haying fully considered the matter, suggests to
the executive the desirability of placing on the agenda
of the annual council meeting the motion: “ That we ask
the colliery owners of Northumberland for a substantial
increase in basis wages of all classes of datal men work-
ing in. and about the mines of the county.” The Wages
Committee also expresses approval of the arrangements
made by the association’s agents and those of Durham,
to hold a series of joint meetings of committees for the
purpose of discussing questions of common interest to
both associations.

At the April meeting of the Northumberland Coal Trade
Joint Committee, the Walker miners applied for rank
prices (score) to be paid for all putters, for an increase
of the weight allowance for laid-out prices (present allow-
ance, 21 lb., 3d. fine), and for a starting price for putters
when they had to put part of a shift. These applications

were withdrawn, as the pit is now laid idle and the men
discharged. An application from the same lodge for a
day’s wage for a putter who had to come out-bye when
a hewer refused to let him work double and the deputy
told him he had no other work for him to do was granted.
The workmen at the Edward Pit, Wallsend, asked to be
paid 6d. per shift per man for casting coals in Bensham
Seam when the tub was 6 ft. or more from the coal face
at the commencement of the fore-shift on any day, and
also that the county average rate of pay should be paid
to any coal hewer who was requested to work shift work.
These claims were allowed.

Messrs. U. A. Ritson and Sons Limited, owners of
Burnhope and South Pontop Collieries, have presented
392 of their workmen with medals for regular working
during the past 12 months—gold medals for those who
had lost no time, silver for those who had lost two days
only, and bronze for those who had lost not more than
three.

Federated Area.

Four hundred miners who have been on strike for nearly
a week at Watnall Colliery, Nottinghamshire, because the
management wanted to retain a single young man who
had been rejected by the Army authorities, returned to
work on Monday.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The volume of outward chartering done continues to
be very much limited by reason of the lack of neutral
tonnage on offer. Thus, on the north-east coast, although
the collieries are busier than at any earlier period since
war commenced, and shipments in requisitioned steamers
are moving off merrily, business for neutral destinations
is but small. Most of the fixtures reported are for
Scandinavian destinations, just as was the case during
the previous week. Thus, Christiania has been twice done
at 150 kr., Gothenburg once at 165 kr., and Halmstad
once at 155 kr. Gothenburg, it will be observed, has
advanced by 5 kr. Rates for other destinations remain
at the following approximate figures :—Bilbao or
Santander, 300s. to 310s.; Lisbon, 115s.; Oporto, 125s.;
Gibraltar, 100s.; Port Said, 200s.; Huelva, 420s.; and
Barcelona, 440s., all for Tyne loading. No business in
any of these directions has been reported this week. At
South Wales, all the transactions recorded are for French
Atlantic destinations, at the scheduled figures. There is
a good deal of business offering for neutral ports—as in
the case on the north-east coast also—but lack of neutral
tonnage bars the way to business. At the Clyde, a fixture
for Gibraltar at 105s. is reported. At the Mersey, a vessel
for the River Plate has been taken up at 120s.

Homewards, the River Plate to the United Kingdom is
quoted at the advanced rate of 225s. from the lower ports,
with from 25s. to 30s. more asked for French Atlantic
discharge. At the United States, heavy grain tonnage is
in active request from the Northern Range to the United
Kingdom at 50s., with 57s. 6d. for Western France, 75s.
for the French Mediterranean, and 77s. 6d. for West Italy.
On net form basis from Northern Range, 230s. is obtain-
able for the United Kingdom, 260s. for French Atlantic,
and 360s. for West Italy. Virginia to United Kingdom
with coal is mentioned at 80s. Far Eastern markets are
very firm. Mediterranean and Bay ore ports have a big
demand for tonnage and rates are very steady.

Tyne to Christiania, 1,500 and 1,700, 150 kr.; Dieppe,
300, 56s., coke; Gothenburg, 1,000, 165 kr.; Halmstad,
2,000 155 kr.; London, 4,000, 17s.; and Treport, 700,
46s., coke.

Cardiff to Bordeaux, 1,800 and 5,500, 69s., neutral;
Caen, 500 and 700, 48s., neutral; Havre, 900, 47s. 3d.,
neutral; and La Pallice, 2,500, 61s. 6d., neutral.

Glasgow to Gibraltar, 105s.

Swansea to Trouville, 600 and 700, 48s., neutral; Caen,
1,100 and 1,200, 46s. 6d., neutral; and Tonnay Charente,
2,100, 61s. 6d., neutral.

Liverpool to River Plate, 5,000, 120s., neutral.

Later.—The following additional fixtures have been
arranged :—

Tyne to Gothenburg, 1,900, 160 kr.; 2,200, 163 kr.; and
Halmstad, 1,800, 165 kr.

Cardiff to Bordeaux, 2,200, 69s., neutral; and Rouen,
1,200, 48s. 9d., neutral.	’

Swansea to Caen, 800, 48s., neutral.

North-East Coast to River Plate, 5,000, 120s.

Mersey to Isafjord (Iceland), 1,100, 200 kr., coal, sail.

OBITUARY.

The Right Hon. Chas. Fenwick, M.P., the miner who,
in 1885, stepped direct from the pit into Parliament as
the representative of the Wansbeck Division of Northum-
berland, lived only a very few days after having intimated
to the divisional Liberal and Labour Association that,
in consequence of his health and the growing defective-
ness of his vision, he did not intend to offer himself
for re-election at the close of the present Parliament.
Mr. Fenwick died at his residence,’ 14, Tankerville-terrace,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Saturday morning last. Born
at Cramlington on May 5, 1850, he went to work at
“bank” at the age of nine years, and 12 months later
descended the pit as a driver, working from 12 to 13
hours per day. He was mainly self-educated, and a
naturally religious bias was aided by the circumstance
that one of his first books was Matthew Henry’s “ Com-
mentary on the Bible.” He joined the Northumberland
Miners’ Association at its inception in 1863, although
then only a lad of under 13. He married Miss Jane
Gardner—who, with two sons, survives him—at the age
of 19. In 1885, following the extension of the franchise,
he was selected as Liberal candidate for Wansbeck, a
division for which he sat until the time of his death.
During his Parliamentary career, he served on three Royal
Commissions—the Coal-dust Commission, the Commission
on Secondary Education (England and Wales), and the
Railway Servants’ Accidents Commission—and was a
member of the Home Office Committee to enquire into
the Use of Electricity in Mines. He was, from 1890
until 1894, secretary of the Parliamentary Committee of
the Trades’ Union Congress. In the latter year, having,
like his other mining M.P. colleagues in Northumberland
and Durham, refused to support the Miners’ Eight Hours
Bill, he was displaced by the late Mr. Sam Woods, of
Walthamstow. In 1894, he was selected to second the
address in response to the Queen’s speech. The attitude
of the north-east coast miners’ M.P.s towards the Eight
Hour Bill was changed when the Northumberland and
Durham associations became affiliated with the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain, but, even then, Mr. Fenwick
and his two colleagues declined to bow the knee to the
newly-formed Independent Labour Party. In 1911, he
became a member of the Privy Council.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.
REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Barrow Haematite Steel Company Limited. —• The
directors state that it is impossible to place any reliable
figures for 1917 before shareholders. Arrangements have
been made to enlarge the scope of the company’s operations
by extensions and acquisitions involving careful financial
consideration. This, with the uncertainty as to the com-
pany’s contribution under the Finance Act, makes it
impossible to declare any dividend on the ordinary shares,
but the first and second preference dividends will be paid
for the year. These payments are the same as those for

1916.	The last ordinary dividend was 2 per cent, paid
for.1907.

Chinese Engineering and Mining Company Limited.—
For the year ended June, the gross profit of the Kailan
Mining Administration amounted to 5,776,388 dols; net
profit 3,791,986 dols.; this company’s proportion being
2,146,973 dols. The amount brought to the credit of profit
and loss account, including interest, was £300,958; net
profit, £291,562. Adding £162,122 brought forward, and
deducting £42,031 for income tax, the available balance
was £411,654. Balance dividend of 7^ per cent., free
of tax (making 12^ per cent, for the year), against 10
per cent, for the previous year; £286,654 forward, subject
to provision for excess profits duty. Profits have been
materially increased by the marked improvement in the
rates of exchange throughout the year.

Coalite Limited.—The report for 1917 states that by
the appropriation of the surplus of reserve account the
item of general expenditure in the balance sheet is reduced
by £12,495. The directors have succeeded in arranging
with various creditors for a substantial reduction of their
claims. This, with the assistance of various other credits,
makes the balance added to this item only £191 for the
year. An agreement has been entered into with Low
Temperature Carbonisation Limited, to manage that busi-
ness for ten years. The company’s patents in foreign
countries and the British dominions have been main-
tained and added to during the past year.

Edinburgh Collieries Company Limited.—The report for
the year ended January 31 states that, after making pro-
vision for interest on debentures, and bond and income
tax, the balance of profit is £51,512; £30,153 was brought
forward making £81,665. After writing off for deprecia-
tion £25,000, and deducting interim dividends, there is
left £41,666. The directors recommend a final dividend
on the ordinary shares of 3| per cent., making 7^ per
cent, for the year, free of tax, and to carry forward
£26,667.

Reddaway (F.) and Company Limited.—The profit in
1917 was £64,644, which compares with £42,534 for 1916,
and £29,409 for 1915. A dividend of 8 per cent, on the
ordinary shares is recommended (absorbing £21,866), and
£24,529 is carried forward. Last year 6 per cent, was paid,
as against 5 per cent, for 1915. Previously nothing had
been paid on the ordinary shares since the 2£ per cent,
distributed for 1909. Debenture stock to the amount of
£13,705 was redeemed during last year, the amount now
out being £74,047. The directors report that “ the
restrictions imposed by the War Trade Department on
the export of canvas hose and beltings make it almost
impossible to continue to manufacture, and unless the same
are modified the board will be compelled to consider the
closing down of the textile section of the works.”

Shotts Iron Company Limited.—Interim dividend on the
ordinary shares of 10 per cent., free of tax—the same as
last year.

Siemens Brothers Limited.—Dividend of 10 per cent, for

1917,	as against 7 per cent.

Smith and McLean Limited.—The report for 1917 shows
a profit, after providing for depreciation, estimated
liabilities to the Government, etc., of £33,482 (against
£24,388); £18,813 was brought forward, making £52,295.
The directors have placed £15,000 (against £10,000) to
ordinary reserve (making £75,000), and now recommend a
dividend of 10 per cent., free of tax, against 7 per cent,
for each of the two preceding years, leaving £20,108 to
be carried forward.

NEW COMPANIES.

Metropolitan Associated Engineers Limited.—Private
company. Registered office, 65, Camden-road, N.W. 1.
Registered April 16, to carry on the business of general,
mechanical, and consulting engineers, etc. Nominal
capital, £3,000 in 3,000 £1 ordinary shares. Director :
E. P. Blunt.

South-Western Mining Syndicate Limited. — Public
company. Registered April 13. Nature of business is
indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 100,000
Is. shares. The directors shall be appointed by the sub-
scribers. Qualification of directors, 200 shares. Sub-
scribers (1 share) : F. H. W. Hope, R. J. Mackenzie, and
C. F. Cole.

Tar Burners Limited.—Private company. Registered
April 18, to carry on business as manufacturers of, and
sellers and dealers in, gas and tar burners, etc. Nominal
capital, £7,000 in 7,000 £1 shares. Subscribers (1 share):
W. Balment and Edith K. Mizen.

Wicks and Dale Limited.—Private company. Registered
office, 60, Queen Victoria-street, E.C. 4. Registered April
16, to manufacture and produce, or cause to be manufac-
tured and produced, metal tubes, pipes, and other metal
appliances, etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 £1
shares. Directors: B. W. Wicks, and H. L. Dale.
Qualification of directors, 100 shares.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C.

The Right Hon. the Earl Manvers has consented to
become president of the Coal Trade Benevolent Associa-
tions, in succession to the Right Hon. Lord St. Oswald.

Canadian Coal Saving.—A conference having for its
object the taking stock of the coal mining operations in
Canada, and devising ways and means to increase the
output of coal, has concluded its deliberations at Ottawa.
It comprised representatives of the Dominion Government,
the transportation companies, mine operators, and labour
unions. A representative of the American Fuel Adminis-
tration was also present, and agreed that Canada should
be treated, as far as the United States was concerned,
in the same way as any State of the Union. Western
Canada will have to depend largely for their supply this
year upon the mines in the West, and no American
anthracite coal will be shipped west of Winnipeg. It is
proposed also to restrict shipments of anthracite from
Canadian lake ports during the early part of the season,
and the public is strongly urged to practise economy.