June 28, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1305

TDor Sale, Pit Props, diameters at top

.-I-	1% in. to 7s in.—Particulars on application to BLACKMAN,

43, King’s-road, St. Leonards-on-Sea.

TAor Sale, about 100 tons of New Coated
Jj 8 in. SOCKET and SPIGOT PIPES, together with specials,
valves, &c.

JOSEPH PUGSLEY & SONS LTD., Lawrence-hill, Bristol.

T?or Immediate Sale and Delivery, two
I* 15-ton Self-propelling STEAM DERRICK CRANES, in first-class
condition, and one 3-ton STEAM DERRICK CRANE, with 45 ft. steel jib.

JOSEPH PUGSLEY &. SONS LTD., Lawrence-hill, Bristol.

For Sale, one strong heavy Cast Iron

TANK, constructed with, thick tlanged plates, bolted and cross rods
inside, all rounding corners, and about 18 ft. by 18 ft. by 9 ft. deep.—Price
and particulars, letters, Box 7087, Colliery Guardian Office, 30 & 31,
Furnival-street, Holborn, London, E.C. 4.

FOR SALE.

tons Bridge Rails, 20-lb. section, in

M 6 ft., 9 ft., and 12 ft. lengths; equal to new.

Four CHIMNEY STACKS, 26 ft. long, 2 ft. 6 in. dia.

Four VERTICAL BOILERS, 11 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. by 2 ft. 6 in.;
in splendid condition, 80 lb. press.

Five PETROL MOTOR LORRIES, 2 ton to 5 ton.

JOSEPH OXLEY,	Norfolk-street,	SHEFFIELD.

’Phone 830.	’Grams. “ Stability.”

T?or Sale, one Cast Iron Double Inlet
1* CUPOLA or COLLIERY FAN, twin-pulley drive, melting capacity
13,000 lb. per hour, 26 in. water gauge. Apply—

J. STOTT & CO., Vernon Works, Oldham.

T?or	Sale.—One	Second-hand Vertical

I* BOILER, 11 ft. high by 4£ ft. diameter, complete with mountings
and fittings. Insured with Vulcan Co. for 80 lb. pressure.

One pair of New Self-contained Single-geared HAULING or WINDING
ENGINES, having drum 30 in. diameter by 28 in. wide; suitable 120 lb.
pressure.—Box 7095, Colliery Guardian Office, 30 & 31, Furnival-street,
Holborn, London, E.C. 4.

Locomotive Wanted, for Sale or Hire ;

preferably 16 in. cyls.; in good condition. Quote price, and state
where loco, can be seen.—Address “ LOCO.,” WM. PORTEOUS & CO.,
Advg. Agents, Glasgow.

FOR SALE.

1.	ONE HORIZONTAL HAULING ENGINE, having two cylinders

22 in. dia., 3 ft. 6 in. stroke; Stephenson link motion reversing
gear and slide valves, complete with heavy flywheel, pinion and
spurwheel (in halves), but without second motion shaft.

2.	ONE SINGLE CYLINDER INGERSOLL-RAND COMPRESSOR,

steam cylinder 18 in. dia., air cylinder 18J in. dia., 2 ft. stroke;
compressor suitable for a speed of 60 revs, per minute and to
compress to 60 lb. per sq. inch gauge pressure.

3.	ONE HORIZONTAL ENGINE, having two cylinders 16 in. dia.

by 2 ft. 8 in. stroke, slide valves, shaft mounted with flywheel and
rope-driving pulley 9 ft. dia., suitable for seven Is in. dia. cotton
ropes; a driven pulley 4 ft. dia. can also be supplied if required.

4.	ONE ROPE-DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR, having two cylinders

22 in. dia. by 3 ft. stroke; cylinders fitted two years ago by
Messrs. Walker Brothers Ltd., Wigan; water jacketted, valves of
latest steel plate type, shaft mounted with very heavy flywheel,
and rope pulley le> it. dia. for twelve 1% in. dia. cotton-driving
ropes; a countershaft with pedestals and rope and belt pulleys
suitable for belt-drive from a motor can also be supplied. Com-
pressor suitable for a speed of 60 revs, per minute and to compress
to 100 lb. per sq. inch gauge pressure.

For prints and authority to inspect, apply—

THE BOTHER VALE COLLIERIES LIMITED,

Treeton, near Rotherham.

In Pocket Size. Pp. i.-xxi. + 454. Strongly Bound in Leather.
Fully Illustrated. lOs. 6d. net.

THE PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGIST’S POCKET BOOK.

By SIR BOVERTON REDWOOD, Bart., D.Sc., &C.,
and ARTHUR EASTLAKE, M.I.M.E., A.M.I.Mech.E., &c.

Synopsis of Contents.—Part I.: General Information about Petroleum
(Origin, Occurrence, Prospecting, acquiring Land, Raising, Storage,
Refining, etc.). Part II.: Geological (Identification of Rocks, Angle of Dip,
Maps, Oil-bearing Areas, Oil per acre, Bitumens, etc.). Part III.:
Physical and Chemical (Specific Gravity, Analysis of Gas, Viscometry,
Calorific Value, Flash Point, Distillation, Candle Power, etc., etc.). Part IV.
Production (Drilling, Casing, Water, Raising Oil, Plugging, Cost of Drilling,
etc., etc.). Part V.: Refining, Transport, Storage and Testing (Tanks,
Flow of Gas in Pipes, Pipe Lines, Pumping, Railway Cars, Barrels, etc.,
etc.). Part VI.: Uses (Liquid Fuel, Air required, Oil Engines, Natural
Gas, Asphalt, etc.). Part VII.: Weights and Measures (English and
Foreign). ^VIII.: Miscellaneous. Part IX.: Statistics (of Production,
Asphalt, Oil Shale, Ozokerite, Natural Gas).

‘‘Excellent in every way . . . the tables and statistics appear to be
exactly those which will be of most use.”—Engineer.

LONDON : CHAS. GRIFFIN & CO. LTD., Exeter St., Strand, W.C. 2.

J. W. BAIRD AND COMPANY,

PITWOOD IMPORTERS,
WEST HARTLEPOOL.

YEARLY CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO WITH COLLIERIES.

OSBECK & COMPANY LIMITED,
PIT-TIMBER MERCHANTS,
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

SUPPLY ALL KINDS OF COLLIERY TIMBER.^
Telegrams—” Osbecks, Newcastle-on-Tyne.”

*** F°r other Miscellaneous Advertisements see Last
White Page.

TO OUR READERS.

The Government, by Order in Council, is issuing in-
structions prohibiting the return of all unsold papers and
periodicals. The effect of this will be that newsagents
will only stock the “ Colliery Guardian" if actually
ordered by their customers, and to prevent disappoint-
ment our readers should either subscribe for the regular
supply of the journal direct, or place a definite order with
their newsagent.

C'dlurii Siumlian

AND

Journal of the Coal and Iron Trades.

Joint Editors—

J. V. ELSDEN, D.Sc. (Lond.), F.G.S.

HUBERT GREENWELL, F.S.S., Assoc.M.I.M.E.

(At present on Active Service).

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1918.

The London coal market continues unusually brisk.
Good supplies are coming forward, both railborne
and seaborne, but quite inadequate to the pressing
demand. Steam coals are practically unobtainable.
Two shillings and sixpence per ton advance on and
from Monday, June 24, on all colliery prices and
retail prices has been sanctioned by the Board of
Trade.

On the Tyne and Wear fuel is very scarce, and the
home and Allied demand leaves practically nothing

for neutrals. Tenders for 16,500 tons of steam coal
have been sent in to the Norwegian Government at
60s. for Blyth large and 45s. for smalls. In York-
shire the conditions are acute, the supply of house
coal being particularly scanty. The position in
South Wales is again easier, especially in anthra-
cites, though beans and peas are in a strong position;
shipments have been ijiore active. The Scottish
markets continue strong, the output being inadequate
and stocks exhausted.

The Board of Trade have made an Order increasing
the price of all coal as from Monday, June 24. The
amount of the increase is 2s. 6d. per ton, except in
the case of shipments to France and Italy, in which
cases the amount of the increase is 5s. per ton, the
additional 2s. 6d. in these cases corresponding to the
war wage increase of 2s. 6d. per ton which was not
applied to shipments to France and Italy in October
last.

The above new Order, has been favourably
received by the coal industry, as the prices now
enable many collieries to make a profit which have
not been able to meet the growing expenses of pro-
duction. It is, however, considered in some quarters
that the 2s. 6d. on house coal is insufficient; and the
opinion is expressed that a percentage on values,
instead of a flat rate of increase, would have been
more equitable.

Neutral tonnage is scarce on the north-east coast,
and fixtures are almost entirely for Scandinavia at
rising rates, 185-190 kr. being fixed for Gothenburg,
and 190-210 kr. for other Swedish ports. In spite
of partial tonnage difficulties the South Wales
freight market is much brisker than of late.

The Society of Chemical Industry will hold its
annual meeting on July 17, 18. and 19, in the
Chemical Department, University Buildings, Bristol.
The president, Prof. Henry Louis, will deliver an
address, and the papers to be submitted include:
“ Some Aspects of the Low Temperature Carboniza-
tion of Coal,” by Mr. Edgar C. Evans, B.Sc.;
“ Sources of Loss during the Manufacture of Con-
centrated Ammonia Liquor,” by Mr. A. Marsden;
“Notes on the Synthetic and Thermal Synthesis of
Ammonia,” by Dr. E. B. Maeted ; “ Some Notes on
the Commercial Fractional Separation of Benzene,
Toluene, and Xylenes,” by Dr. T. H. Butler and
Mr. F. J. W. Popham.

The Coal Controller has offered the miners an
additional war wage of 6d. per day to men of 16
years and upwards, and of 3d. per day to boys
under 16.

It will be remembered that in 1916
Trade after various committees were appointed
the War. to consider the question of trade
after the war, especially in relation
to international competition, and to report upon any
measures deemed necessary to safeguard the position
of British industry. Amongst these was a Committee
on the Coal Trade, which has not yet presented its
report;* but a number of other committees have done
so, and amongst them the report of the Iron and Steel
Trades Committee deserves attention, not only on
account of the importance of this key industry
directly, but also because of its intimate relation to
the coal trade.

It is interesting, in the first place, to note the spirit
in which the Committee endeavoured to set about
their task, with minds free from preconceived
political views or economic theories. Their purpose
was not to test economic theories, but to establish an
active policy. It is, therefore, greatly to be regretted
that it was not found possible to arrive at a more
unanimous decision. The section of the report
dealing with commercial reconstruction immediately
after the war, made at the special urgent request of
Lord Balfour’s Committee, had three dissentients
out of ten members. These were Sir Hugh Bell,
Mr. John E. Davison and Mr. James Gavin. The
particular points upon which these gentlemen
disagreed included the prohibition of imports of
manufactured and semi-manufactured iron and steel
during the period of reconstruction, and provisions
aimed at securing to British industry the necessary
supplies of raw materials. Unfortunately, the
dissentients have not apparently made up their case,
for the grounds of their dissent are not yet forth-
coming, although these are promised at an early
date.

Sir Hugh Bell gives only qualified support to the
section dealing with iron ore supplies, and he
disapproves altogether with the proposal that mining
concessions within the Empire should not be granted
to aliens without Government sanction. His reason
is that Great Britain has derived great benefit from
the absence of such limitations in other lands, and
that the effect of such a restriction might lead to a
similar course being adopted by foreign Govern-
ments, to the detriment of the British iron trade.
The objection, however, seems to be based rather
upon principle than upon practical grounds, for the
Iron and Steel Committee do not go further in* their
recommendation than to place this question of foreign

* As we go to press, a summary of the recommendations
of this committee has been issued; but, as the full text of
the report has not yet reached us, we defer comment upon
it until next week.

mining concessions under control. There would be
no difficulty in regard to the grant of permits where-
ever it might be to our interest to do so ; but the
provision of this restriction seems to us to be
necessary in view of what has happened in the past
with regard to German methods of dealing with our
own mineral resources. However long the war may
last, we suppose there will be some who will fail to
profit by the lesson it is teaching us.

Still more emphatic, however, than the points of
difference mentioned above are the disagreement on
the part of Sir Hugh Bell and Mr. Davison with
any of the Committee’s recommendations which
might appear to suggest the necessity of a change in
the fiscal policy of the United Kingdom. We do
not know precisely which passages in the report
might be considered as liable to the construction
which is here so strongly opposed, but Sir Hugh
Bell goes still further and states that he is in almost
total disagreement with the arguments and many of
the statements contained in the report, and yet he
does not take great exception to the Summary of
Recommendations as stated. In particular he com-
ments upon that one which refers to the supply of
materials and labour, and especially with regard to
coking coal. The Committee consider that by the
natural operation of demand, a larger proportion than
hitherto of coking coal will be reserved for home use ;
but that it would be preferable to reinforce the
natural operation by bringing into intimate relation
the iron and steel manufacturers and the owners of
coking coal. Sir Hugh Bell believes firmly in
the efficacy of the natural operation of demand,
and he is strongly opposed to any arbitrary
interference on the part of the Government,
which he seems to scent in the latter part
of the Committee’s recommendation as to estab-
lishing intimate relations between coal owners and
iron masters. Logically, of course, it seems right to
assume that under Government interference the law
of demand would no longer be natural. It is quite a
debatable question whether it is possible to reinforce
a natural operation without making it artificial.
We do not, however, believe that the Committee had
in view any suggestion of Government interference
in this sense; but were merely thinking of the
general principles of co-ordination and co-operation
which must inevitably lie at the foundation of any
successful reconstruction scheme.

The Department of Scientific and
Constitution Industrial Research has at last pub-
□f lished the important monograph on
Coal. the constitution of coal,* prepared by
Drs. Marie C. Stopes and R. V.
Wheeler, the framework of which is based on a
joint paper read by the authors read before the
London Section of the Society of Chemical Industry,
in January 1917. One of the inevitable disadvantages
of delayed publication, however, has been the
omission of any reference to works published since
the spring of last year; and for this reason it might
have been better not to have printed 1918 as the date
of publication; for some important papers are
necessarily missing from the valuable bibliography
given at the end of the monograph, and constituting
one of its important features. The authors have
performed a most useful task in presenting those
interested in this subject with a statement of the
present aspect of the coal problem. In a brief
prefatory note absolute completeness is disclaimed;
but this is undoubtedly one of the most useful
features of this review of the question; for, simple as
the initial problem of the nature of coal may appear
to be, the quest for a solution has led to an enormous
mass of research and much speculative work of
doubtful value. Anyone entering this field of
investigation is confronted with a bewildering mass
of literature bearing upon it. Amongst much research
work of permanent value and stimulating influence,
there is unfortunately a great deal which not onlj
leads nowhere in particular, but, what is far worse,
may prove to be positively mischievous in its effects
upon those who are not able, owing to lack of
knowledge or experience, to assess its worthlessness.
Even when the chaff has been winnowed from the
grain, there is still the danger of false perspective.
Not all the facts which have been established with
regard to the nature and properties of coal are of
equal value and importance. As facts they must be
regarded as additions to the sum of human
knowlege, but this does not imply that they must
necessarily form a basis for generalisation.

The authors of this monograph, therefore, deserve
our gratitude, not only for selecting, with the skill of
the expert, the really pertinent researches of previous
workers in this field of discovery, but also for their
endeavour to present these in an approximately true
perspective.

We cannot pretend to convey adequately the full
scope of the authors’ labours in bringing together
the results of previous investigations into the consti-
tution of coal. A great deal more than a mere
summary of these is given, for throughout the
memoir, the authors’ views and criticisms are in

* Monograph on the Constitution of Coal, by Marie C
Stopes, D.Sc., PhD., and R. V. Wheeler, D.Sc., published
for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,
by H.M. Stationery Office. London : Imperial House, Kings-
way, W.C. 2. Price, 2s.