August 9, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 293 SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. The new Pitwood Order leaves South Wales and Mon- mouthshire under the same conditions as to prices and delivery as under the Order of December 19 last. The three sources of supply and the conditions in brief are as fol- lows :—French, Portuguese and Spanish pitwood, 60s. per ton (hard wood) ex ship South Wales ports ; 65s. per ton (soft wood) ditto. Irish timber, as above. Home grown timber .-—Prices as above, but delivery to be made on rail at mine sidings or premises. The regulations with respect to the trade, as far as South Wales and Monmouthshire are concerned, are very simple. Portuguese and Spanish Pitwood. The Order mentions Portuguese and Spanish pitwood. No supplies have been received from these countries for a considerable period. Some time ago arrangements were made 1 etween this country and Spain for an interchange of goods, and it was anticipated that supplies of Spanish timber would again be received. There was a difficulty with respect to the vessels, but it was understood that vessels flying the Spanish flag could have been secured for the trade. Apparently the authorities are averse to the granting of permits to import such wood now that the home grown trade has developed. Advices from Spain indi- cate that there is an abundance of mining timber available for shipment. So far no supplies of Portuguese or Spanish timber have been received, while the imports of French wood are to be strictly limited to 40,000 tons per month. Undoubtedly the authorities are acting from a motive of conservation by limiting the supplies from abroad, and there seems very*little prospect of Spanish or Portuguese wood being imported during the war. It is imperative for the country to limit its indebtedness to foreign nations by curtailing imports, while the policy also conserves shipping tonnage. Furthermore, if Spanish or Portuguese timber were imported it would restrict the business of pitwood importers all round, for of the 40,000 tons allowed to be imported each month 25,000 tons are taken by the Admiralty Pitwood Committee, leaving only 15,000 tons to be divided amongst the importers. At the present time there are many importers whose monthly allowance, based on their percentage of trade prior to the scheme, amounts to a small cargo or “ parcel.’" Foreign Mining Timber. Imports of foreign mining timber for the week ended July 31— Cardiff (including Barry and Penarth) :— Date. Consignee. Loads. July 27 Grant Hayward and Co....... 102 „ 30 Budd and Co............... 144 Newport:— July 26 T. P. Thomas and Co....... 600 „ 29 T. P. Thomas and Co....... 420 „ 31 T. P. Thomas & Co. (2 cargoes) 1,200 These are recorded returns, but a slightly larger amount was imported, the details of which will be carried forward into this week’s returns. Home Grown Pitwood. The area from which supplies can be withdrawn for South Wales and Monmouthshire remains the same. Under the Defence of the Realm Act the supplies in one area must not be sold in another. The South Wales district has a prolific area to draw upon, but there are already signs that the adjacent counties are being rapidly denuded. This will mean that the district will have to rely more upon the supplies from the southern counties in the No. 6 area. The rate of cutting has increased to a striking extent, and the bulk of the wood now used by South Wales collieries is home grown. At the present rate of exploitation the woodswill be soon exhausted; but hopes are expressed of the war ending before any shortage occurs. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. London, August 8. The trade is very much concerned with the constantly recurring new Orders and regulations, and both factors and merchants, with their depleted office staffs, find the numerous schedules and returns, together with the chang- ing regulations, a source of constant anxiety. Supplies of coal, both inland and seaborne, are coming forward very slowly at the present moment. All attempts to build up any stocks of coal at the depots are in vain. Strenuous efforts are being made by the various Metropoli- tan gas companies to secure a fair quantity in hand, which greatly tends to minimise the household coal returns, especially for the railborne qualities. Steam coals are most difficult to obtain, and the better qualities of slack are also getting scarce. Fortunately, the seaborne market is well maintained, and during the holidays 33 vessels arrived in the Thames, principally gas coal. The official instructions as to the use of coal and gas should be in the hands of all householders by the end of this week. The new Order dates from July 1, and six weeks after that date the minimum quantities can only be used. Any excess can only be supplied if the consumer has made an applica- tion on the proper form. The schedule of rooms will be the basis to work upon, and the quantity of coal and gas which each householder may use is set out in parallel columns. An additional allowance of coal will be allowed where more than six persons are resident in the same house regularly. The maximum quantity of coal allowed under the Order is 20 tons, unless the coal overseer, on an appeal, can assess more. Unfurnished rooms, bed rooms only occasionally occupied, sculleries, bath rooms, dressing rooms, box rooms, store rooms, green houses, do not count as rooms, but large rooms 16 ft. by 20 ft. count as two rooms. In a few cases additional allowances can be made on application to the local coal overseer for aged and infirm persons, also where night and day workers occupy the same house and those who use rooms for the purpose of business or profession. No consumer must have in stock at any time coal in excess of the year’s allowance. The first effect of the new Order has been to reduce the number of gas fires, and the reports from gas companies show that they are receiving instructions to disconnect the gas cookers, etc. ; but it is certain that a vast number of the householders have not yet realised the seriousness of the restrictions. Many useful suggestions have been made, such as closing all shops earlier in the winter and earlier retirement to bed. Many are in favour of afternoon ser- vices instead of evening services at the various churches and chapels during the winter months, with of course a considerable decrease in the entertainment world during the week days. A special notice has been issued from ' the Controller’s office, and advertised freely under the Coal Transport Order, 1917, that all consumers of coal other than for household purposes must furnish a weekly return of all coal used, viz., weight of coal received, weight of coal consumed, and weight of coal in stock. The absolute necessity for economy in the use of coal and gas is likely to revolutionise our habits. Home life will be simplified, and it is thought by many that the problem of the domestic servant will be solved. Some of the keen thinkers on the London coal market are already trying to discover some new principles for heating and lighting our houses, and there are some who think the day is not far distant when chimneys will be abolished. Certainly it will be much easier to keep the house clean. Already boring for oil in England is very much to the front. The general impression is that the ration is far too small, but as there is only a certain quantity of coal available, it must of necessity be divided out as fairly as possible. The users of gas fires and gas cookers are the ones who will apparently suffer most. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company's Report. Friday, August 2.—There was a slight improvement in the supply of seaborne cargoes, but no available house coals on offer. Cargoes, 15. Wednesday, August 7.—The attendance on ’Change was of a holiday character, and the amount of business done was on a very small basis. Although there was a good supply of colliers since Friday last, no spare cargoes were on offer. Arrivals, 33. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 8. Dublin. The shortage is becoming more acute each week, and there is the greatest difficulty in getting supplies. More vessels than cargoes are available. Current requirements can only be partially supplied, and in many instances mer- chants hold absolutely no stocks. A large proportion of the coal arriving in Dublin is for distribution in the southern and western districts, as there are practically no imports to the ports in those areas. Prices unchanged .- Orrell, 55s. 6d. to 56s. 6d. per ton ; Wigan, 54s. 6d. ; Whitehaven, 54s. 6d.; Pemberton Wigan, 53s. 6d. ; standard coal, 51s.; slack 50s. ; all less Is. per ton discount ; coke, 53s. per ton. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays from cross- Channel ports last week was 19,754 tons, as compared with 20,500 tons the week previously. As a solution of the coal supply problem in Dublin a card rationing system has been suggested. The proposal has been put forward by the Corporation Coal Prices and Supply Committee, who last week adopted a resolution calling upon the Irish Coal Con- troller to take full control of all coal supplies for Dublin. The committee demands that Ireland shall be treated on the same basis as Great Britian with regard to supplies, and that Dublin shall receive the same proportion of Irish sup- plies as Belfast in comparison with previous years. At a meeting of the Dublin Port Board it was stated that in the course of a recent fortnight the coal discharged at the quays fell off by about 1,000 tons. The coal imports to Dublin in the first half of 1918, compared with the first half of 1917, have decreased by 45,000 tons. The total shipment of coal into Ireland during June show a decrease of 50,000 tons. It is understood that an arrangement has been arrived at to supply the bell-men before the house- holders. Belfast. Supplies continue to be unsatisfactory, with very little prospect of early improvement. Prices of house coal, as recently fixed by the Corporation Coal Committee are .- Best Arley, 65s. 6d. per ton ; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 51s. 9d.; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton. An official return of the Belfast Harbour Board shows that the coal shipments to Belfast in the first half of 1918 were 742,607 tons, as compared with 668,647 tons in the corresponding period of 1917, being an increase of 73,960 tons. Mining Institute of Scotland.—The council decided that, owing to the shortage of paper for printing, the general meeting due in Glasgow to-morrow (Saturday) will not be held. A pleasure excursion to Loch Goil, per steamer, has been arranged for Friday, August 16. Tickets, Ils. 6d. each, should be applied for not later than August 13, and remittances sent to Mr. G. L. Kerr, secretary, 39, Elmbank-crescent, Glasgow. Army Gas Masks and Rescue Work.—In reply to en- quiries by mining men, familiar with mine rescue appa- ratus, whether or not the gas masks worn by soldiers would not be serviceable at mine disasters, in view of their lighter weight than the ordinary oxygen mine rescue apparatus, Mr. George S. Rice, chief mining engineer of the United State Bureau of Mines, points out the follow- ing differences in the conditions under which the two classes of mask are used. Military gases discharged from pipes or through the agency of shells are poisonous, but, being discharged in the open air, are rapidly diluted so that high concentrations are generally only momentary. Moreover, there is never a material deficiency in oxygen. The mine atmosphere after explosions or-during fires contains highly poisonous carbon monoxide, one of the most difficult gases to absorb chemically, and sometimes persisting in high degrees of concentration for a long period. At the same time, which is more important, there is usually so serious a deficiency in oxygen, particularly after explosions, that even if there were no poisonous gas present a man could not live. Whilst the purpose of the military mask is to absorb the poisonous gases present, which are sometimes of very complex composition, and are used in great variety, the supplying of oxygen other than atmospheric oxygen is not necessary. On the other hand, the first requisite of the mine rescue apparatus, which is used at the military front in tunnelling operations, compels the supply of sufficient oxygen, viz., 20 per cent, of the atmosphere and the exclusion of high concentrations of gases. Hence the necessity of having the apparatus self-contained, shutting off all the external atmosphere. Therefore, so far as mine rescue and mine recovery work are concerned, it is idle to consider that the military masks could be used as a substitute; they are of no value for the purpose, although with certain changes a commercial form may be developed which may be adaptable for use in special gases or* vapours in metallurgical plants. Mr. G. A. Burrell, of the bureau, is now working out the problem of such a commercial mask, but it must be under- stood that special absorbents will be required for special gases, and therefore a knowledge of the exact atmosphere in which the men who would use the masks would work is necessary. BAR IRON AND STEEL PRICES. A memorandum of alterations agreed upon by th© Ministry of Munitions and bar iron manufacturers on August 2 has been issued. The particulars of the memorandum appear below : — Bar Iron. (1) Maximum Prices. The maximum price for standard quality or crown bar iron to be advanced to £14 15s. per ton net f.o.t. makers’ works. (2) Extras for Quality. On and after August 1 the maximum extras for qualities shall be as follows, viz.: — Per ton. Best ..........................20s. Best best......................40s. Best best best ............... 5s.* * In addition to the above extras for quality. These extras may be charged on iron so sold and so branded, in addition to the registered brand of th© firm for crown or standard quality. (3) Extras for Sizes, Etc. The extras specified in the authorised list dated November 1, 1916, may, with the exception of the extras for rounds and squares over 3 in. in diameter, be increased by 100 per cent. The above alterations in basis price and extras apply to all districts in England, Scotland and Wales, and operate in respect of all sales made on and after August 1. Re-rolled Steel. The following maximum prices have been arranged between the Ministry and the steel rollers: — Basis price for 10 tons and upwards of one size, in one specification, for one destination, under same date, £15 per ton f.o.t. makers’ works. The basis price is for ordinary mild steel up to 28/32 tons tensile, and includes rounds and squares f in. diameter and upwards. The question as to whether flats 1| in. by | in. and over should be charged at basis or carry an extra is left in abeyance pending settlement of steel makers’ extra list. The basis price is for random lengths with a margin of 1 ft. under and over. Extras for Quantities. Per ton. Under 10 tons, but not less than 2 tons of one size, as specified above ... 10s. Under 2 tons per size as specified above 30s. Extras for Length. Per ton. Lengths cut within a margin of 1 in. and over ... ... ... ... 5s. The extras for sections, etc., are still under discus- sion, but will be arranged in the near future. These prices operate from August 1. PRODUCTION OF OIL FROM CANNEL COAL. The report of the committee of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists, which we gave in condensed form in our last issue, directs particular attention to the possibility of utilising the retortable material which has hitherto been mined but not raised, or if raised has been thrown upon the spoil heaps or re- turned to the underground workings, and claims that if the substitution of the shovel for the fork, so strongly demanded by the miners, were made obli- gatory by Government order, still more material would be sent up and wasted. If, however, the recom- mendations of this committee were adopted and retorts erected, the increased supply of material would be utilised and the colliery owner enabled to pay the miner for the extra tonnage brought to bank. Various estimates have been made from time to time as to the additional amount of material which could be brought up by the utilisation of the shovel instead of the fork, and perhaps to say 15 per cent, would .not be a high estimate. If, therefore, the nation could be provided with a sure supply of oil by bringing up this material, the miner be paid for filling, and the colliery owner obtain a remunerative price for such material for the production of oil, the consent of the Government to the recommendations of the committee would be of great importance, not only to the Services, but also to those directly and indirectly associated with the mining industry of the country, which is labour- ing under such difficulties and has contributed so largely, in men and material, to carrying on the war. This question of the utilisation of colliery waste is one which merits the attention of colliery owners and miners, as affording an increased pecuniary return; whilst if the problem can be solved in the manner proposed by the committee, the shortage of fuel for domestic and industrial purposes would be ameliorated. Should the Government be unwilling to incur the expense of fitting up and maintaining the suggested experimental station for testing retorts and material, the Institution of Petroleum Technologists ask that the necessary and reasonable facilities should be afforded them for the erecting of a testing station of their own. British miners have raised £300,000 to provide motor ambulances for sick and wounded soldiers. Northumberland Miners’ Decisions.—The following lodge voting results amongst the Northumberland miners were issued yesterday (Thursday). A down-tools policy to en- force nationalisation of coal mines, railways, and water- ways six months after the end of the war : In favour, 406; against, 47. On any urgent national question, or any question agreed to by a national conference, the members of the Miners’ Federation may be called out on strike without a ballot vote : In favour, 399; against, 58. For abolition of piece-work in mines: In favour, 379; against, 74. A proposal to approach the owners to pay rent allow- ance in lieu of the present free colliery house system was rejected by 306 to 135.