July 12, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 77 TO OOLUERY MANAGERS. Are you troubled with Water in yOUF Mines ? The patentee of a simple device will supply particulars by arrangement, and give demonstration of his invention, which he claims will supersede all hand pumps and consequently effect enormous saving. SIMPLE, PRACTICAL, RELIABLE. Once fixed no further worry. Particulars on application to patentee— F. BROWN-KING, Sea View Cottage, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead-on-Tyne. THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD. MINING DEPARTMENT. The Matriculation Examination for the Degree in Mining will be held on Monday, September 9th, 1918. For information apply to the REGISTRAR before Saturday, August 24th, 1918. The Mining Diploma (Day) Course commences on Wednesday, October 2nd, 1918, and the Part Week Mining Course on Thursday, October 3rd, 1918. The Certificate (Saturday Afternoon) Course commences on Septem- ber 21st, 1918; and the Mining Teachers’ Course on September 28th, 1918. The Courses in Electricity Applied to Mining commence on Saturday, September 21st, 1918. W. M. GIBBONS, Registrar. SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE SCHOOL OF MINES. TREFOREST, GLAMORGAN. Session 1918-19 commences on Monday, 7th October, 1918. Courses of Full Time Instruction in— (1) Mining Engineering, ’(2) Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, (3) Chemical Engineering, in any one of which students may be apprenticed -without premium to one of the thirty colliery companies connected with the School. For particulars of admission, Fees, Courses, Scholarships and Apprenticeships, apply to the Principal, Professor G. KNOX. Tenders are invited for the Driving of two SLANTS in the No. 2 Rhondda Seam, at Tynywaun Colliery, near Bridgend. Particulars of Contract may be obtained on application to the MANAGER, Tynywaun Colliery. Tenders to be addressed to— THE SWANSEA VALE SPELTER CO. LTD., Llansamlet, near Swansea. RHONDDA URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. TO FOUNDRY PROPRIETORS. The above Council have a considerable quantity of clean IRON SCRAP on hand, and wish the same con- verted into Manhole Frames and Covers, and light goods. The Council have patterns of all the castings required, and will be pleased to receive quota- tions for recasting the metal. For further particulars apply to the undersigned. Council Offices, E. HAZLEDINE BARBER, Pentre Rhondda. Engineer and Surveyor. DERBYSHIRE. Parish of ASHOVER, near Matlock and Chesterfield. TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE TENDER: THE HIGHEST OR ANY TENDER NOT NECESSARILY ACCEPTED. A Valuable Freehold Property, known as THE OVERTON HALL ESTATE, 650 feet above the sea level, embracing an area of about 1,060 acres, and comprising an attractive Stone-built Residence known as OVERTON HALL, which occupies a charming situation, and contains Nineteen Bed and Dressing Rooms, Two Bath Rooms, Corridor Entrance Hall, a Suite of Five Reception Rooms and Billiard Room, and well-arranged Domestic Offices. Capital Stabling, large Garage, Laundry and Outhouses, beautiful Gardens and Grounds. The Property contains Valuable Veins of Lead Ore, Fluor Spar, Entrochal Marble, Ochre, Limestone and Gritstone Quarries, and other Minerals. The Agricultural Portion comprises Fifteen Farms, Dwelling Houses, Accommodation Land, Woodland and Building Land. Particulars may be obtained from Messrs. EDENS, Land Agents, Higham, Alfreton, Derbyshire, to whom Sealed Tenders should be sent not later than July 29th, 1918. TUESDAY, 23rd JULY, at 2.30 p.m. Highly Important Sale of VALUABLE STANDING TIMBER, comprising about 13,000 OAK, ASH, BEECH, LARCH, BIRCH AND OTHER TREES AND POLES, now standing on the OAKLEY and INGE ESTATES (in the Parishes of Maentwrog, Llandecwyn and Festiniog), in the following woods, viz. Felinrhyd Fawr, Ysgubor Hen and Dingle, Ty’ny Bryn and Llechycwn, on the Maentwrog side; and on Bronturnor Farm, on the Tanybwlch side of the valley; all within 1% miles to 3£ miles of the Maentwrog-road Station (G.W. Railway), and 4 miles of Talsarnau and Penrhyndendraeth Stations (Cambrian Railway). TArank Lloyd & Sons will offer for Sale r by AUCTION the above standing TIMBER in 5 Lots at the Queen’s Hotel, Blaenau Festiniog, on TUESDAY, 23rd July, 1918, at 2.30 prompt. Mr. R. W. VAUGHAN, Estate Office, Tan-y-bwlch, S.O. Merioneth, will show the various Lots by appointment. Catalogues from the AUCTIONEERS, Wrexham; Messrs. THOS. JONES & SON, Land Agents and Surveyors, 5, Little George-street, Westminster, London, S.W. 1; and at the place of Sale. T?or Sale, about 8 Acres of Plantation, M 1 lying close to Sheffield, and suitable for Colliery Pit Props; also two good Second-hand CONTRACTORS’ HUTS. Apply- M. J. DEVILLE & CO., Millhouses, Sheffield. Tele. 234 Beauchief. T?or Sale, Pit Props, diameters at top 1 1 1J in. to 7i in.—Particulars on application to BLACKMAN, 43, King’s-road, St. Leonards-on-Sea. Collieries requiring 3 ft. 3 in., 3 ft. 6 in., or 4 ft. 6 in. COGWOOD, stock ready for delivery in various counties, England and Wales, Also some longer pitwood. Also 3£ ft. and 4J ft. timber, large enough to cut sleepers; Oak and other kinds. Apply to— C. JENNINGS & CO. LTD., Pennywell-road, Bristol. Reward to anyone who can tell me 0V where I can buy good visible TYPEWRITER. Reward imme- diately purchase made.—WHITE, 71, St. Giles’-street, Northampton. Tpor Sale, a New Sulzer-Uniflow Engine 1* and JET CONDENSER, for 140/150 lb. pressure, coupled to a 600/800-kw. 3-phase alternator and exciter, 50 cycles, 3,000/3,300 volts, 136 revs, per minute. For full particulars apply to— Wm. ANGUS SCOTT & PARTNERS, Consulting Engineers, * 102, St. Mary-street, Cardiff. TAor Sale, fine Lancashire Boiler, 30 ft. by 1 ’ 8 ft. 6 in. by 100 lb.; all fittings and mountings. Ready for rails. TAYLOR, 17, Birch-lane, Longsight, Manchester. Roof.—Wanted, 7 Iron or Steel Principals for roof, about 43 ft. span.—Write particulars to Box 7100, Colliery Guardian Office, 30 & 31, Furnival-street, Holborn, London, E.C. 4. volt totally enclosed Motors for Jj JjSALE; 5-, 10-, 15- and 25-b.h.p. — Box 7101, Colliery Guardian Office, 30 & 31, Furnival-street, Holborn, London, E.C. 4. For Sale, Second-hand Machinery, con- sisting of Engines (gas and steam), Boilers, Electrical Plant, Machine Tools, Pumps, Hydraulic Plant, Cranes, Steam and Electric Winches, Mortar Mills, Roots’ Blowers, Tanks, Air Receivers, and a large assortment of other useful Plant. Enquiries solicited. WILLIAMS & SONS, South Bermondsey Station, London, S.E. 16. Third Edition, Thoroughly Revised and greatly Enlarged. In Crown 8vo. Pp. i.-xiii. + 430. Cloth. With 163 Illustrations and 2 Plates. v 12s. 6d. net. A HANDBOOK ON THEODOLITE SURVEYING AND LEVELLING. For the use of Students in Land and Mine Surveying. By Professor JAMES PARK, F.G.S. Contents.—Scope and Object of Surveying—Theodolite—Chains and Steel Bands—Obstacles to Alignment—Meridian and Bearings—Theodolite Traverse—Co-ordinates of a Station—Calculation of Omitted or Con- necting Line in a Traverse—Calculation of Areas—Subdivision of Land— Triangulation—Determination of True Meridian, Latitude, and Time— Levelling—Railway Curves—Mine Surveying—Index. “A book which should prove as useful to the professional surveyor as to the student.”—Nature. 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. W (Suaultan 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, JULY 12, 1918. Railborne supplies have slightly improved in London, and the seaborne tonnage is well main- tained, but the demand continues overwhelmingly strong. Market reports indicate a great shortage of sup- plies in ihe North, Midlands and South Wales.' On the Tyne and Wear influenza, needless absenteeism and the new allocation scheme have hampered business. Quotations for neutrals show a sharp advance. The contraction of local and Midland supplies has placed Lancashire merchants in a difficult position, and pleas are made for better apportionment. Industrial fuel is in strong request. The collieries in Yorkshire are working under diffi- culties. Tonnage arrivals exceed prompt coal sup- plies in Cardiff, and the market position is unusually difficult. No change is reported in Scotland. Freight business is of a slight character, as free tonnage offerings are small. The Spanish market shows a wide divergence between shippers and owners. American orders for net charter become more imperative, and rates have a rising tendency Business in Cardiff is confined to Allied ports. Influenza is severely affecting the ooal output. Some of the collieries are closed, and in others the percentage of workers absent is as high as 50 per cent. New Orders and Directions add Is. 6d. per ton to all coal despatched from collieries for consumption in the United Kingdom and 2s. per ton on coal for export and bunkers, ' The price of coal in London has been increased. Royalty owners paid on the sliding scale are not to profit by the recent increases of price. The Board of Trade assumes responsibility for the miners’ war wage, and in order to provide funds the Board must be credited by colliery owners with 4s. per ton on all coal sold. It is notified that Belgium and Portugal, with their Possessions, will, in future, be subject to the same conditions of prices and exporters’ remuneration as apply to the shipments to British Possessions. The Coal Controller conferred with representative coal owners from South Wales on Wednesday, relating to shipping and co-ordination in the coal industry. It is officially stated by the Board of Trade that it is proposed soon to make pitwood supply districts fixed, but that the matter is at the moment held up by a difficulty in arranging Scottish pitwood prices. The conference of the Miners’ Federation instructed the executive to reconsider the draft Bill for the nationalisation of mines, and to determine -the best means of co-operating with the Labour Party for passing the Bill. A Press report states that a number of owners of Admiralty coal mines interviewed the Coal Con- troller with reference to prices and the increased wages and war bonus now paid to miners. It is stated that some details were agreed upon, but that the increased price to be fixed in connection with the war bonus of 9s. for men and 4s. 6d. for boys is still under consideration. The new Order made by the Board The New of Trade Coal Mines Department, a Fuel Order, summary of which appeared in our issue of last week, is a somewhat formidable document, occupying about 16 pages of the Official Gazette, and signed, not by the Coal Controller, but by the President of the Board of Trade. But the administration* of the Order is entirely in the hands of Sir Guy Calthrop, who has full power not only to enforce its provisions, but also, in his discretion, to suspend its operation for any period, either wholly or partially, in any district. The object of the Order, which extends not only to domestic coal, but also to gas and electricity, is to save coal. It is estimated that at leas’t 25 per cent, of the coal previously available for domestic purposes must be saved, and it was obviously necessary to extend the scope of the Order by distributing this saving over the whole consumption of fuel, whether for heating or lighting, either directly in the domestic fireplace, or indirectly in the gas works or electric supply station. For this purpose, one ton of coal is to be taken as equivalent to 15,000 cubic feet of gas or 800 Board of Trade units of electricity. A distinction, however, is made between heating and lighting by gas or electricity. For heating purposes, the above equivalents are convertible either way, so that what is saved in gas or electricity may be used as coal and vice versa. But the gas or electricity allowed for lighting cannot be converted into coal, and, where both are used, the relative conversion equivalents are not in the proportion of 15,000 : 800, but of 750 cubic feet of gas to 12 Board of Trade units of electricity. Thus, if a consumer elects to take more electricity and less gas, he must calculate his allowance in multiples of the latter quantities only. Neither is the above conversion equivalent of 15,000 cubic feet of gas absolutely rigid; but it may be altered at any time in any district between the limits of 12,000 and 18,000 cubic feet, according to local facilities for making gas, and the necessity for restricting or stimulating its consumption. Thus, in some of the Northern districts it may be thought desirable to encourage the use of gas in preference to coal by fixing a higher equivalent, which may have the additional practical effect of increasing the heat ration where the climate is colder. Thus, although an inequality of treatment—if it should be found necessary to modify the conversion equivalents —would, in a sense, be unfortunate, it would, in most cases, have its compensations. It is not quite so easy to justify the two scales A and B according to the geographical areas defined in the Order. In a general sense, it is intelligible that a higher allowance should be given to Northumber- land than to Cornwall; but we fail to understand upon what principle the various counties have been assigned to these two classes. Why, for example, should Monmouthshire, Worcestershire and some of the Welsh counties be more favourably treated than the eastern counties? And why should Rutland- shire and Huntingdonshire be placed on a different footing? No doubt some principle underlies this subtle distinction, but it is not easy to find a climato- logical basis for it, unless it is a question of mean annual rainfall, which would, however, most certainly break down in a system which places Devonshire in the same category as Norfolk. The actual shortage in supplies is estimated at about 36 million tons, of which 22| million tons is attributable to the withdrawal of 75,000 skilled miners for military service. The Household Rationing Scheme is estimated to save from eight to nine million tons, leaving a balance of about 27 million tons still to be provided for. This deficit can apparently only be met by improved output and economies in industrial and transport consumption. It is evident, therefore, that the ordinary private consumer is only asked to bear a very small share of the shortage, and the Coal Controller himself is shouldering the major part of the deficit, to meet which will require a good deal of ingenuity. The most direct way to accomplish this task, and one which would inflict the least injury upon the industries of the nation, would be to increase the output, and this can certainly be done if the miners make up their minds to assist. It will be regrettable if it should prove to be necessary to ration industrial coal. In the first instance, this would probably take the form of restricting supplies to all industries not directly concerned with the conduct of the war. But to curtail any industry in war time would be an unfortunate proceeding, because all industries help to provide the sinews of war. The country is carrying-on admirably at present, notwithstanding innumerable difficulties; but if to the withdrawal of man-power we have to add the damping down of boiler furnaces, the national staying power will be seriously jeopardised at a most critical stage of the war. The miners can certainly avert such a contingency. The abolition of absenteeism alone would do it, and we trust that this new rationing scheme will help to convince them of their responsibilities in this respect. In this connection it is with considerable satisfaction that we read Mr. R. Smillie’s remarks to the Miners’ Federation at Southport on Tuesday, in regard to the maintenance of output. He referred to the fact that thousands of miners were losing time unneces- sarily, and said it was not easy to prove the necessity