1008 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 17, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week May 5 to 11, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. ■ 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h. 14° + ! 10h.-12h. | 14° + 12h.-14h. 11° + 14h.-16h. 14° + 16h.-18h. ! 14° + ' 18h.-20h. 14° + 20h.-22h. 14° + j 22h.-24h. 14° + Mean for day. , 14° + Min. Min. Min. i Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. 1 Min. Sun., May 5 1 50’0 49'0 48'5 ! 48'0 49'0 54’0 57'5 550 51'5 49'0 50'5 50'0 i 51'0 Mon., 6 0 49-5 49'0 47'5 i 45’5 48'5 54'0 58'0 55'5 52'5 51'0 51'0 51'0 51'0 Tues., 7 0 50’5 49'0 46'5 ; 45'0 47'0 53'0 56'0 53'0 50'0 50'0 ! 50'5 50'5 50'0 Wed., 8 0 50'5 49'0 45'5 44'0 47'0 56'0 61'5 56'5 51'5 51'0 ! 51'5 51'0 51'0 Thurs., 9 0 51'0 48'0 46'0 ! 43'5 46'0 54'0 59'5 57'5 53'5 51'0 52'0 52'5 51'0 Friday, 10 0 52'0 51'5 49'0 44'0 47'0 54'0 57'5 56*5 53'5 i 51'5 52'0 52'0 52'0 Sat., 11 1 51'5 51'0 48'0 46'0 49'5 54'5 57'0 57'5 55'5 i 52'5 i 48'0 50'5 52'0 Mean value for Diurnal in e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. Uh. 12h. 13h. 14h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., May 1917 -0'4 -0'2 -0'6 -1'3 -2'9 -4'5 -5'0 -4'9 -3'3 -1'0 + 2'6 +5'0 + 6'4 +5'8 + 4'0 +2'5 + 1'2 +i'l -0'1 -0'4 -0'9 -0'9 -0'6 -0'8 15° O' *6 May ’17 departure from Apl. 1918 -1'1 -1'3 -1'4 -2'0 -2'1 -2'7 -4'2 -5'4 -4'8 -2'0 + 1'6 +5'1 + 7'3 +7'1 + 5'4 +3'5 + 1'9 +0'5 -0'1 -0'4 -0'8 -1'4 -1'5 -1'3 14° 52" 0 Apl.’18 mean value for Apl. 1917 -0'3 -0'5 -0'7 -1'0 -1'7 -2'9 -4'3 -5'9 -5'7 -3'4 + 0'3 +3'7 + 6'0 +6'1 + 4'5 +2'6 + 1'3 +0'4 + 0'3 +0'5 + 0 4 +0'1 + 0'2 -0'1 15° I''3 Apl.’17 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24 h. (midnight) G.M.T. Character “0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “1” means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “233 means a day part or all of which is highly disturbed. The normal value for an hour is the mean declination for that hour in the month., derived from quiet days only, or from all days excluding those of character ee2.33 On a day of character “ 0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character ie.133 the departure from the normal will usually not exceed 5', but it may occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a day of character “ 233 the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or even on extreme occasions of 1° or more may occur. The above values are obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing33 the curve. Meteorological Office, Afay 15. statement of the financial position of the South Stafford- shire Mines Drainage Commissioners, and applied for a large increase in the rates levied upon coal and slack raised from the South Staffordshire mines. He suggested that instead of allowing, as always previously, a gradua- tion of certain proportions of the rates to collieries giving the commissioners least water to draw, the maximum rates of 9d. per ton on coal slack and ironstone and 3d. per ton on fireclay or limestone should be levied upon all the mines in the Tipton district, irrespective of their indus- trial condition. Even so, there would be a deficiency of <£22,000, equal to a loss to the Commission of Is. Id. per ton incurred in pumping operations upon every ton of coal raised during the twelve month. The arbitrators intimated that they would consider the application. Kent. The amount of coal raised last week from the Tilman- stone and Snowdown collieries was about 5,500 tons, a very fair output for the prevailing conditions. At the Chislet Colliery sinking, near Canterbury, it is now expected to enter the first thick seam in the north pit in about a month. Shortage of labour has prevented the further deepening of the south pit since the resump- tion of sinking, but this will be taken in hand as soon as it is possible to do so. The opening out of the Chislet seam is being looked forward to with great interest throughout the Kent coalfield. From the samples raised from the boring there the coal is believed to be almost identical with the Snowdown Hard seam, but at a much higher level than at Snowdown. Dean Forest. Mr. G. H. Rowlinson conducted a meeting last week at which a decision was reached to go on with the move- ment initiated five years ago to provide a hospital in the Forest for minor cases, the institution to be a memorial of the la^te Sir Chas. Dilke. Sir Hy. Webb, who is a leading colliery owner in South Wales, received hearty, thanks for adding <£3,000 to a similar sum which had been collected. Having disagreed with the general body of the colliery workmen of Dean Forest over the comb-out question, Mr. G. H. Rowlinson, who had served the colliers 31 years as agent, resigned. He has been presented with a cheque for <£622. Differences having arisen in the Forest of Dean between the management of the local organisation and the general body of the stokers, firemen, and craftsmen, totalling 700 men, a ballot vote was taken, with the result that it was almost unanimously resolved to join the South Wales and Monmouthshire Union. Scotland. An unusual case came before Sheriff Shennan in the Hamilton Sheriff Court, when Simon Lee, miner, Bells- hill, was charged with having in No. 2 Pit, Bothwell Park Colliery, Bellshill, refused to allow himself to be searched in terms of the Coal Mines Act. The evidence showed that when the officially-appointed searchers asked Lee to permit them to search him he refused to do so unless they took off their jackets and rolled up their sleeves. The men declined to do this, but offered to allow accused to search them first. His lordship found the charge proved, and imposed a fine of 30s., with the alternative of eight days’ imprisonment. The Controller of Coal Mines met the Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board in Glasgow on Monday to con- sider what could be done to increase the output of coal in view of the combing-out of the miners for the Army. The Controller was assured by both parties that they would do everything to assist him in the present emer- gency, and would consider in detail arrangements to develop output in the national interest. The shipment of coal from the Clyde last week was 114,432 tons, as compared with 77,908 tons in the cor- responding week last year. The Fife ports totalled 37,351 tons, as against 13,850 tons last year; and Forth ports 16,241 tons, as compared with 18,512 tons for the corresponding week of 1917. The development of Greenbank Colliery, Camelon, is being somewhat retarded owing to the inability of the railway company to put in sidings. Sidings would accelerate in the disposing of output and allow the com- pany to erect screening plant necessary in dealing with the various classes of coal. In view of a report by the Coal Conservation Committee, the sub-committee of Edin- burgh Town Council had before them several plans by Prof. Sir A. Kennedy with reference to the Portobello electric power station showing the extended area supplied by the city, the convenience of the station to the Lothian coalfield, and the possibilities of extension. This station, which has a considerable output, is close to the Niddrie Collieries. The coal shipped from Methil last week was 22,649 tons, against 27,587 tons the previous week. Burntisland sent out 13,450 tons, as against 7,050 tons in the corresponding week in 1917. At a meeting of the Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan Miners’ Union a telegram from the Coal Controller pointed out that many steamers were waiting in the Fife docks for coal shipments, and suggested that an effort be made on the part of the miners to increase the output. THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE. Coal distribution plans go on apace; modifications are being made to the zoning system to facilitate the shipping of coal; the Fuel Administration is rapidly winding up most of its immediate problems—but the coal itself is lacking (says the Coal Age, April 20). Supplies of the domestic sizes of anthracite coal are short, and the efforts made by a number of dealers to stock up proved unavailing. The situation is serious. Steam coal business continues to be active. Buying on the part of steam plants is good, and a marked disposition is shown by many factories to accumulate a surplus. Every available ton of steam coal is quickly taken up. The bituminous coal situa- tion is getting worse. So far as production is con- cerned, the past month has proved to be as barren of favourable results as any month in 1917. The basic cause is the poor car supply. Another obstacle is the unsettled question of the price to be paid for railroad coal. Owing to the lack of cars many of the .large pro- ducing mines can work only half time. This is having a demoralising effect on mine labour. In West Virginia the mine workers are deserting the mines for the large steel mills and munitions plants, as these industries hold out the promise of high wages and regular employment. The shortage of coal at Hampton Roads is another sign of the times. We are constantly being assured that more boats will be forthcoming, but shippers are not likely to take on boats unless there is a reasonable assurance that the coal will be brought to tidewater. It has been officially affirmed that New England needs this year 20,000,000 tons by water. This means nearly 1,700,000 tons monthly, against which the average for January, February and March was 667,000. The bituminous supply in Baltimore is most unsatis- factory. The only class of coal in anything like adequate amount is bunker fuel. Many industries here are already short of coal, and one of the important plants the past week was shut off for a time from power because the supply concern could not get coal. Conditions are far from promising, and the local fuel administrator can give no assurance of relief. Anthracite prices in Philadelphia per gross ton f.o.b. cars for line shipment are as follow:—Broken, 4-90 dols.; egg, 4*50 dols.; stove, 4*75 dols.; nut, 4-85 dols.; pea, 3'45 dols.; buckwheat, 3*15 dols.; rice, 2-65 dols.; boiler, 2*45 dols.; barley, 2-15 dols. The by-product coal movement, which ' is largely exempt from the zone restriction, has been practically satisfactory in Pittsburg, the by-product ovens with few exceptions receiving full supplies. The market remains quotable at 2’20 dols. for slack, 2*45 dols. for mine-run, and 2-70 dols. for screened coal, per net ton at mine, Pittsburg district, with 15c. extra per- mitted to be charged by any broker regularly consti- tuted as buying agent for a consumer or retail dealer. The coke market in Connellsville is quiet, as nearly all the shipments are absorbed by regular contracts. OBITUARY. Bailie John Irvine, manager Earl of Rosslyn Collieries, Dysart, died suddenly at Kilsyth. Deceased, who was 59 years of age, was for several years at Dysart Collieries, previous to which he was owner of Kingseat collieries. Lieut. Christopher York Pease, West Yorkshire, who has been killed in action, was born in 1889, the second son of Sir Alfred Pease. He was a director of Messrs. Pease and Partners Limited, coal owners and ironmasters, Darlington. The Ministry of Shipping is in communication with exporters and shipowners in order to lessen the delay in shipments of tinplates. The Prize Court has condemned seven vessels which were carrying coal and coke (chiefly of German origin) from Belgium to Dutch and Swedish ports. This decision followed the judgment regarding the “Leonora,” which was taken as a test case recently. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Rhymney Valley miners held their monthly meeting at Bargoed on Saturday, and discussed the question of non-unionists at Groesfaen Colliery. Complaint was made that other trade unions were accepting men who ought to become members of the Miners’ Federation, and the miners’ agent will communicate with officials of the trade unions referred to and endeavour to arrive at an agreement. It was reported concerning the new comb-out that the quota figures from the military authorities had been received and that the men would be taken in two batches—one this month and the other next month. A resolution was passed recommending lodges of the district to consider the cases of all enginemen, stokers, and craftsmen in accordance with the scheme arranged. Reference was made to the Abertysswg men who are under the Tredegai’ Company, who had come out on strike with the other employees, and the miners’ agent stated that he knew nothing about the strike until the men were out. The arbitration relating to the payment of the clerks employed by the Ebbw Vale Company has resulted in the decision that the war bonus should be given to the extent of 3s. increase where the wages are between 10s. and 15s. ; 4s. increase between 15s. and <£1 ; 7s. 6d. increase between <£1 and <£1 10s. ; 12s. 6d. between £1 10s. and <£3 15s. ; 15s. between <£3 15s. and <£4 5s. ; and 17s. 6d. for <£4 5s. and upwards. These are retrospective from January 17. North of England. At a council meeting of Durham Miners’ Association, held last Saturday, it was decided that as the collieries were now working more regularly, the county relief fund levy should cease at the end of the present quarter. A grant of J25O was made to the north-eastern district of the Workers’ Educational Association. The agents and executive committee were instructed to seek, through the Miners’ Federation, that the State should provide houses for all widows of soldiers and sailors and for all disabled soldiers and sailors to reside in until the end of the war. It was resolved to endeavour to have men working in abnormal places paid the full county average, it being stated that, in some cases, managers were paying the minimum wage to such men. The agents and executive committee were instructed to meet the coalowners as early as possible in order to arrange to have copies of all doctors’ reports sent to all persons who were requested to be examined by doctors paid by the owners. It was decided to endeavour to obtain fire-coal supplies for all surface workers. The agents and executive committee were instructed to seek a meeting with the responsible Government officials with a view to having all lads, when they became 19 years of age, classed as men and paid men’s wages for the particular classes of work on which they were engaged, instead of having to wait until they were 21 years of age, as at present. It was announced that a meeting had been arranged with the Coal Controller on the question of houses and fire-coal allowance being granted to men now being called up for military service on the same terms as for those who enlisted earlier in the war. Mr. Wm. Straker is circularising the lodges of the Northumberland Miners’ Association, calling attention to the Coal Controller’s appeal to the Northumberland miners to increase the output of coal, if possible, this being essential for the production of munitions and foodstuffs. “ It may be asked,” says Mr. Straker, “ if coal is so much needed why comb-out miners ? The answer is that, if the war is to be won by fighting, it will require more and more men and materials ; therefore, all those not in the Army, as those in it, must do their utmost. It is not proposed to interfere with the Whit Monday holiday, and all men are urged on this occasion to resume work on the Tuesday and forego any additional days’ holidays which, in past years, they may have been in the habit of taking at Whitsuntide.” Representatives of the Cleveland mineowners and members of the executive of the Cleveland Miners’ and Quarrymen’s Association are meeting representatives of the Ministry of Munitions to discuss the possibilities of increased output of ironstone and limestone. Federated Area. At meetings of miners employed at Lord Ellesmere’s, Messrs. A. Knowles and Sons, and the Clifton and Kersley Coal Company’s pits in the Worsley, Pendlebury, Clifton, Kersley, Walkden, Little Hulton, Farnworth, and Tyldesley localities, resolutions were adopted calling upon the management of those collieries where Russian Poles are engaged to discharge those aliens at once. Scotland. The miners employed at the Arniston Collieries, Gore- bridge, who struck work on Thursday owing to dissatis- faction over the action of an official, resumed work on Monday. At a meeting of the Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan Miners’ Association at Dumfermline on Saturday a tele- gram was read from the Coal Controller pointing out that