898

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 3, 1918.

that was the experience of most people with the Otto
plant. The semi-direct undoubtedly had its disad-
vantages in anything like irregular working and work-
ing at low temperatures. In the old indirect pro-
cesses they occasionally had blocks of rock salt, which
they got rid of with hot water used in large quantities.

Mr. J. Jones (Bearpark) said he had had experience
of indirect and direct saturators, but not of semi-
direct. He had never found rock salt. He should say
that the making of the original bath solvent had
more to do with its formation than had gas distribu-
tion. If the density of the bath was too heavy for
' the salt to fall through, the latter would remain in
suspension.

Mr. J. W. Porteous (Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan,
Bishop Auckland) asked how the scum was got rid of
from the arsenicated acid. They had had a large
amount of trouble with rock salt at their Byers Green
plant, a semi-direct saturator. When they commenced
operations they were advised to put a certain amount
either of tar or of light oils into the saturator, with
a view to keeping rock salt from being formed on the
bell and sides of the saturator. That, however, did
not prevent the formation. Another serious trouble
was that, after working the saturator for a certain
time, they invariably found that the pitchy material
had sunk, especially if the temperature of the saturator
went down, with the result that the ejectors were
gradually blocked. About six months ago they did
away with the use' of tar or oil, and increased the
seal of the saturator by about 4 in., since when they
. had had no more rock salt. They now had a seal of
about 24 in. water gauge—i.e., about 18 in. actual
seal. They had a total pressure after exhaustion of
39 in., which was not excessive considering the pres-
sure which existed on some plants. To his mind, the
use of tar was wrong.

Mr. Kirby (Thrislington) said they had a great deal
of trouble with rock salt when they first started, owing
to irregular working, contributed to by their not
getting the salt out on one shift and leaving the stills
on, so that more salt formed than they could eject.

Mr. Nicholson (Messrs. Strakers and Love) said
that in the semi-enclosed saturator, using arsenical
acid, they had had a good deal of difficulty in getting
rid of the arsenious sulphide.

Mr. Johnson asked whether the size of the saturator
had not something to do with the trouble with rock
salt. If one got a saturator abnormally large it would
block up easily. A point of importance was to keep
the circulation of the .mother-liquor pretty lively.

Mr. Gibson (Messrs. Cochrane and Company
Limited) said he understood Mr. Phillipson to say that
the arsenious sulphide went to the bottom of the
saturator. He wondered what percentage of the
arsenic would be in the sulphate of ammonia that came
out of the saturator first. Would it not be detrimental
to the land?

Mr. Phillipson said that in the use of nitre cake
the specific gravity of the bath started at 60 and rose
to from 86 to 90 before the mother-liquor was ejected.
During no part of the process was the sulphate not
deposited and during no period of working was the
saturator blocked by rock salt. He should, therefore,
contend that the specific gravity of the bath did not
enter into the question. The arsenical scum was
simply deposited by the boiling process—the steam
was put on, the saturator boiled up, and the arsenical
scum came down. He did not know the percentage of
arsenic in the sulphate, but though it would not cause
any serious trouble. Arsenic, of course, had been
found in beans, beet, and other vegetables, and there
had been a lot of scare about it, but he did not think
there was anything serious in it. He considered that
. the increase of seal quietened the bath rather than
the reverse. Mr. Porteous’s saturator was very much
smaller than the average semi-direct recovery
saturator, and the pressure of gas in that enclosed
' space and the spray thrown about would, in the
speaker’s opinion, aid in the formation of rock salt.
There had been an attempt to introduce a very small
type of ejector—a 2 in. in preference to 2J in. or 3 in.
He advised them to have nothing to do with it at all.
The non-formation of pitch deposit when arsenical
acid or nitre cake was used raised a host of questions.
Certain metals in solution encouraged sulphonation,
and it was quite possible that certain others would
retard it. It was a question whether the pitch forma-
tion was not due to a process of sulphonation in the
saturator, and if, by adding these foreign bodies,
sulphonation was prevented, that was one possible
solution of the problem. The problem was not by any
means threshed out, however. As to Mr. Nicholson’s
statement that arsenious sulphide was, in normal
cases, a froth on the top, there was one member who
could tell them that he lost 4 lbs. of sulphide per ton
of coal through that difficulty. By a process of boiling
out, the speaker got all that sulphide ejected. Reply-
ing to Mr. Nicholson, he said the mechanical condi-
tion of the bath did not prevent froth occurring; but
boiling-out rendered the froth solid, and made it settle
in the bath and come away with the sulphate.

The Chairman said that when the war commenced
they had to use arsenical acid, and were advised that
the only and proper way was to lower the specific
gravity of the bath, which allowed the arsenious sul-
phide to precipitate itself and to be ejected.

Mr. Porteous said he quite agreed with Mr. Phillip-
son that increasing the seal quietened the bath and
reduced the surface of contact above the liquor. The
precipitation of the salt could then take place without
undue passage to the top of the liquor, or, in other
words, the deeper the liquor was the less was the
possibility of the sulphate of ammonia coming to the
surface and forming rock salt.

The United States Government has arranged to compile
information regarding bunkering facilities at the ports of
the United States on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf
coasts, in order to provide coaling facilities for the
increased mercantile tonnage.

POST-WAR TRADE POLICY.

The reports of the Committee on Commercial and
Industrial Policy after the War, which was appointed
in July 1916 under the chairmanship of Lord Balfour
of Burleigh, are now published by the Ministry of
Reconstruction. They are four in number—three
interim reports, dealing in detail with certain branches
of the problem, and a final report which embodies
briefly the conclusions of the other three and adds
final conclusions. It will be remembered that certain
resolutions expressing the conclusions of the Committee
on Imperial Preference were issued in February of
last year.

The Trend of Trade in 1914.

The Committee began its investigations by surveying
the position of British trade and industry as it was at
the outbreak of war. They find that the older indus-
tries, with one important exception, showed at that
time great vitality and power of expansion. This
exception was the iron and steel industry. In this
manufacture and also in the newer branches of
industry (chemicals, metals, electrical appliances, etc.)
Great Britain’s position was not nearly so good. In
the general world expansion of these manufactures
Great Britain had taken a very limited share. In
numerous branches of trade, outside the great staple
trades, foreign competition had become increasingly
acute, and foreign manufactures had secured a strong
or even predominant position; several branches of
production, of greatest importance as bases for British
manufactures, had come to be entirely or largely under
German control.

Great progress towards remedying this condition of
things has been made during the war, and the Com-
mittee think that the experience gained should be a
most valuable asset; but they emphasise the importance
of every effort on theqiart of employers and employed
to attain the largest possible volume of production
in order to secure the speedy recovery of our industrial
and financial position.

The Coal Trade.

The Departmental Committee on the Coal Trade
reports that the total export of coal (excluding coke
and manufactured fuel) from the United Kingdom in
1913 amounted to 73’4 million tons, representing fully
three-quarters of the total weight of our exports of
all kinds; and the quantities of coal, coke, and manu-
factured fuel shipped abroad in that year amounted
to about one-fourth of the total output of the United
Kingdom; and with the addition of the amounts
shipped as bunker coal in foreign-going vessels to
about one-third of the output. The value was nearly
£54,000,000, and represented over 10 per cent, of the
value of the total exports of the produce and manu-
facture of the United Kingdom. Before the war the
British coal trade enjoyed a strong and, in some cases,
an almost unchallenged position in Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and South America
(the only market of importance ‘ outside Europe for
United Kingdom coal) ; and it had by far the largest
share of the coal import trade of France, where com-
petition was encountered from Belgium and Germany,
the latter country having a very large share in the
substantial imports of coke, in which the United King-
dom did not compete. In Belgium German imports
were predoniinant, and were without competition in
respect of coke, whilst they almost completely con-
trolled the Dutch and Austro-Hungarian markets.
Germany itself imported in 1913 over 9,000,000 tons
of coal from the United Kingdom, this amount being
a little less than the average for the previous four
years.

During the war Sweden has been compelled to buy
the greater part of her imported coal from Germany,
which is believed to be laying the foundation of a large
predominant trade there, and British exporters antici-
pate some difficulty in reasserting their position.
Germany has also considerably increased her coal trade
in Denmark, but it is believed that, though she may
retain a certain amount of new business, it will not
be difficult for the British trade to re-establish its
predominance. In Italy there has been during the
war a substantial import of coal from the United States
of America to make good the falling off in supplies
from the United Kingdom, and there has also been
a considerable increase of United States exports to
the Argentine, Chile, and Brazil, but so far the United
States exporters have done comparatively little to fill
the gap caused in South America by the restriction
of British supplies.

The Departmental Committee recommend that the
policy of this country be directed towards maintaining
and, if possible, extending the export trade in coal,
and that with this object all restrictions on the free
export of coal imposed during the war, including the
present system of export under licence, should be
removed as soon as possible after the termination of
hostilities. As regards the exports to Germany, and
the possibility of replacing the supplies hitherto drawn
from that country by our present Allies, the same
Committee express the opinion that to refuse British
coal to Germany would result in prejudice to special
districts in this country which have relied in the past
to a large extent on that market, and that so far as
coal and coke are concerned, the Allied countries upon
the Continent will find it impracticable to make them-
selves independent of German supplies, in spite of any
natural prejudices on the subject. The Departmental
Committee also think it impossible to confine the dis-
tribution of British coal at foreign coaling stations to
British and Allied hands, though they are of opinion
that British coal owners and exporters might well con-
sider the possibility of restricting the bunkering of
foreign ships with British coal through German firms.

As positive suggestions, the Departmental Com-
mittee recommend the release of colliery employees
from the Colours at the earliest possible date after
the termination of hostilities; efforts to increase pro-
duction by complete co-operation between employers
and their workmen and by the introduction of the
most modern appliances and by the removal of restric-
tions affecting output; greater co-operation amongst

coal owners, exporters, and shippers for the develop-
ment of the export trade; improvements in loading
facilities at British ports; amendment of the law
relating to surface support; and the creation of a
statutory tribunal to enforce the granting of way-
leaves where unreasonably withheld, and to consider
applications for facilities for the erection of coke
ovens and chemical works on land adjoining collieries.

Imports of Enemy Goods.

The Committee recommend that the present prohibi-
tion of the importation of goods of enemy origin
should be continued, subject to licence in exceptional
cases, for a period of at least twelve months after
peace, and for such further period as may seem
expedient; also that the British Empire and the Allies
should adopt a policy of joint control of the export
of certain important materials which will be required
for the restoration of their industries. As part of
these arrangements the Committee recommend the
Government to consider the establishment of a joint
organisation for dealing with Allied orders for recon-
struction purposes. It will be necessary, they con-
sider, to continue for some period after the war some
part of the control of home and foreign trade imposed
during the war in order to secure adequate supplies
of food-stuffs and raw materials and th^ir fair distri-
bution. But such restrictive measures should be kept
within the narrowest possible limits, and, wherever
practicable, the trades and industries themselves
should be entrusted with this control, under Govern-
ment authority. State restrictions on industry should
be removed as soon as possible after peace.

Raw Materials Supply.

As to the supply of raw' materials, the Committee
consider that any attempt to make the Empire self-
supporting would be neither practicable nor economi-
cally sound. They favour a “selective policy” which
shall have regard to the relative importance of each
commodity, whether industrial or military, the sources
of supply and the likelihood of their disturbance in
case of war. This method would yield more rapid
progress, they consider, than the proposal made by the
Dominions Royal Commission to establish a single
Development Board. Special enquiries should be
instituted, they consider, on the lines of the Commit-
tee now investigating supplies of cotton within the
Empire, to deal with each commodity that may be
selected for treatment on the principles suggested, the
general aim being to assure that the Empire in an
emergency should be independent for its supply of
any essential commodity of any single foreign country
or possible combination of countries.

Essential Industries.

The subject of essential industries is dealt with in
considerable detail in one of the four reports, which
shows how certain of the largest British industries had
come to be dependent upon enemy sources for rela-
tively small but essential commodities. The Com-
mittee recommend as a national safeguard against any
recurrence of this condition that a Special Industries
Board should be established, having the duty of watch-
ing the course and trend of industrial development
and of framing from time to time detailed schemes-
for the promotion and assistance of industries con-
cerned with the production of these essential
commodities.

Restrictions on Aliens.

With regard to the position of aliens, the Committee,
while thinking that in the main it would not be desir-
able to impose restrictions on the participation of
aliens generally in commercial and industrial occupa-
tions, recommend the reservation of certain occupations,
such as pilot and patent-agent, to British subjects.
They suggest also the licensing of foreign commercial
travellers; the registration of all titles to property,
with a declaration as to the nationality of the owner
or transferee; powers for the Board of Trade to inves-
tigate the ownership and control of any particular
company; licences for foreign banks and insurance
companies, and, in the case of the latter, the lodging
of a money deposit; stringent police regulations for
a period after the war concerning subjects of present
enemy countries. It would be impracticable, the Com-
mittee think, and inexpedient to impose any restric-
tions as to the use of London credit or insurance
facilities.

Trade Organisation.

Consideration of the subject of industrial and com-
mercial organisation brings from the Committee strong
recommendations in favour of closer combination
among traders as a means of meeting increasing
foreign competition. While there is a danger that
such combination may not only tend to diminish the
individual enterprise to which the progress of British
manufacture and industry has been largely due, but
may also be carried to a point at which it becomes
detrimental to the general interest of the country,
they agree that in some important directions the
individualistic methods hitherto adopted should be
supplemented or entirely replaced by co-operation in
respect of (1) The securing of supplies of materials,
(2) Production, including standardisation and scien-
tific and industrial research, and (3) Marketing. It
is very desirable, they think, that in all important
British industries there should exist strong, compre-
hensive, and well-organised associations which should
be clearing-houses of information of common interest,
competent to voice the opinion and needs of their
respective trades as a whole. Every encouragement
should be given by the Government to the formation
of combinations of manufacturers and others con-
cerned with securing supplies and materials. In
regard to production, the Committee think that the
constructive action must come from the industries
themselves. While the Committee do not think it
would be expedient for the Government to aim at
positive control of trade combinations, they think
that some means should be devised for securing to a
responsible Government Department adequate infor-
mation as to their formation, with provision for State
investigation in special cases. They also think that