August 23, 1918. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 389 be remembered that the effective, virtual or working pressure with alternating currents has a value of 0-707 of that of the maximum or crest pressure. In the diagram, the lines mentioned represent successive values of the pressure and current. At the commence- ment, OA represents the pressure, OX the current, 45 degs. behind; when the pressure has moved on to OA,, the current will have reached OA, still 45 degs. be- hind ; when the pressure has reached OA2,the current will be at OA,. It will be remembered that the power delivered to any electric ucrrent is found by multiplying the pressure by the current. In the first position the pressure is represented by the value 0-707 of the maxi- mum, whilst the current is represented by 0, so that the power delivered is 0. In the next position the pressure is represented by 1, and the current by 0*707, so that the power delivered will be 0-707. At the next position the pressure is at 0*707, and the current at 1, so that the power is again 0-707. In the next position the pressure is 0, and the current is 0-707, so that Fig. 1. Fig. 2. 45\ / 45 _ o the power delivered is 0. These positions are merely taken as illustrating one case, and a few definite posi- tions therein. The case where the current lags 45 degs. behind the pressure is taken because it is a common one in colliery distribution plant, the power factor being 0-7. It will be seen that when the pressure was 0, at the commencement of the cycle, the current was — 0*707, and that as the pressure increases the value of the current also steadily increases, being always less than the pressure until the pressure passes the crest. By taking a large number of values, of both pressure and current, throughout the cycle, it will be found that the resultant value of the factor that has to be applied to the equation is the cosine of the angle of lag, in this case 45 degs, and, as shown by the table of cosines, its value is 0*707, or, shortly, 0*7. The examination that has been made of the case of the current lagging 45 degs., may be made for any other angle, and it will be found that the larger the angle between the two, the smaller is the amount of useful power actually delivered. __________________________ EXPLOSIVES IN COAL MINES. The Home Secretary has issued an Order, dated August 2, which includes Ammonite No. 5 in the First Schedule of the Permitted Explosives List. Ammonite No. 5, consists of the following mix- ture :— Parts by weight. t * Not more Not less than than Nitrate of ammonium ........ 77 ... 73 Tri-nitro-naphthalene ........ 6 ... 4 Chloride of sodium............ 21'5 ... 19'5 .................... Moisture....................... 1 ... — The explosive shall be used only when contained in a case of paper thoroughly waterproofed with paraffin wax; with a detonator dr electric detonator of not less strength than that known as No. 6; the greatest weight of the explosive which may be used in any one shot- hole shall not exceed 26 ounces; the explosive must have been made at the works of the Miners’ Safety Explosive Company Limited, at Stanford-le-Hope, in the County of Essex; the explosive must be in all respects similar to the sample submitted to test on July 3, 1918; each cartridge, in addition to any marking required in the Third Schedule to this Order, shall also be clearly marked with the words “ Not more than 26 ounces in any one shot-hole ”; and in addition to the marking on the outer package required by an Order of the Secretary of State, made under the Explosives Act, 1875, and in force for the time being, such outer package shall bear the words “ As defined in the List of Permitted Explosives ”; and, further, that each inner package shall be clearly marked with the words “ Permitted Explosive, to be used only with not less than No. 6 Detonator,” and also with the name of the explosive, the name of the manufacturer, the date and place of manufacture, and the nature and proportion of the ingredients. Four ounces of Ammonite No. 5 gave a swing of 2'41 inches to the ballistic pendulum compared with a swing 3'27 inches given by four ounces of gelignite containing 60 per cent, of nitro-glycerine. __________________________ Members of the Boilermakers’ Society are voting on a proposed penny levy to demonstrate their appreciation of 60 years’ unbroken service as branch official of Mr. David Hill, of Jarrow, now in his 83rd year. MINING EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette for August reports that employment in coal mining continued good during July, but time was lost in Scotland on account of holi- days. There was a decrease of 6,166 (or 1'2 per cent.) in the number of workpeople employed at collieries making returns, as compared with a month ago, and a decrease of 32,314 (or 6'2 per cent.) on a year ago. Of the 490,467 workpeople included in the returns for July, 263,193 (or 53'7 per cent.) were employed at pits working 12 days during the fortnight to which the returns relate; a further 169,308 (or 34'5 per cent.) were employed at pits working 11 but less than 12 days. days worked per week by the collieries in fort- night ended July 1918 on a people Districts. em- ployed _______ in July 1918.* 1918. 1918. 1917. ag0' ag0’ England Wales. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days Northumberland ... 33,919...5'49...5'50...4'25...—0'01... +1'24 Durham ........... 85,101...559...5'59...4'92... — ...+0'67 Cumberland ______ 5,550...5'76...5'64...5'68... + 0'12... +0'08 South Yorkshire ... 52,377...5'83...5 78...5'91...+0'05 ..-0'08 West Yorkshire.... 21,430...5'83...5'88...5'86 . -0'05 - 0'03 Lancs. & Cheshire... 46,030...5'87...5'96...5'74...-0'09... +0'13 Derbyshire ......... 31,336...5'83...5'85 ..5'74...-'.'02...4-0'09 Notts and Leicester 33,263 ..5'70...5'67...5'68... 4-0'03... +0 02 Staffordshire ...... 24,970...5'85...5'91...5'62...-0'06... + 0'23 W arwick, W orcester and Salop......... 7,556...5'84 ..5'81...5'88...+0'03...-0'04 Glo’ster & Somerset 5,054...5’85...5'92...5'10...-0'07... + 0'75 North Wales ...... 6,788.5 95...5'95...5'89 — ...+0'06 South Wales & Mon. 9\037... 5'97. ..5'91. ..5'42... +0'06... +0'55 Total ...... 448,411...5 78...5'78...5'42... — ...+0'36 Scotland. West Scotland ____ 17,658...3'60...5 46...3'54...—1'86... +0'06 The Lothians ...... 2,061 4'34...5'54...3'85...-1'20... +0'49 Fife ................ 21,869...3'06...5'66...2'58...—2'60... +0'48 Total ....... 41,588.,.3'35f 5'57...3'04f -2'22... + 0'31 Ireland ........... 468...5'52...5'50...5'46... +0'02... +0'06 Total, U.K______ 490,467...5'58f 5'76...5'21f -0'18...+ 0'37 * At the collieries included in the table. t Time was lost on account of holidays. The following table shows the numbers employed and the average number of days worked, distributed accord- ing to the principal kind of coal raised at pits at which the workpeople were engaged:— Description of coal. Average No. of days worked per Inc. (+) or Work- week by the pits dec. (—)in people in fortnight July 1918 em- ended on a ployed (----------A-------\ (----*-------\ ms"1/ J2Ully Month Tear IV io. "G 44 9 4Lj orrz\ nrFA 1918. 1918. 1917. ag0- ag0- Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Anthracite ........ 4,268 ..5'89...5'95...5'75...-0'06...+0'14 Coking ............. 25,908...5'79...5'80...5 35...-0'01... +0'44 Gas.................. 31,109...5'56...5'51...4'69...+0'05...+0'87 House............... 47,982...5’74...5’77...5’51...—0 03...+0'23 Steam............... 167,817...5'74...5'80...5 29... -0'06... +0'45 Mixed............... 213,383...5’38...5'76...5’13...—0’38... +0'25 ______ ______ ______ All descriptions ... 490,467...5'58f 5'76...5'21f -0'18 +0'37 * At the collieries included in the table. f Time was lost on account of holidays. Iron Mining.—Returns received relating to the same mines and open works show that 16,774 workpeople were employed in July 1918, an decrease of 679 (or 3'9 per cent.) on the previous month, and an increase of 541 (or 3 3 per cent.) on a year ago. Inc. (+) or dec. (—) in July 1918 on a days worked per week by mines in fortnight ended Work- people Districts. em- _____________ ployed in July July June July M 1918,* 27, 22, 21, 1918. 1918. 19)7. ag0’ ag0’ Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Cleveland........... 6,763 ...5'98...5'96...5'97... +0 02... +0'01 Cumberland and Lancashire ...... 5,193 ...6 00.. 5'87...6’00...+0'13 — Scotland ........... 580 ...3'00f 6'00...3’87...—3'00...-0'87 Other districts .... 4,238 ...5’91.. 5’84...5'82...+0'07...+0’09 Total ....... 16,774 ...5'86...5'90...5'85...—0'04... +0'01 * At mines included in the returns. t Time lost on account of holidays. Shale.—The returns show that 5,018 workpeople were employed in the fortnight ended July 27, 1918, at mines which worked on an average 5'93 days per week, com- pared with 5,057 workpeople in June at mines which worked six days, and with 4,909 in July 1917, at mines which worked an average of 5’67 days. Pig Iron Industry.—Employment continued good during July. There was a decrease of seven furnaces in blast at the end of July compared with the previous month. Shortages of labour and of material were reported to be general. No. of furnaces, Inc. ( + ) or included in the dec. (-) returns, in blast in July 1918 Districts. at end of on a England $ Wales: July 1918. June 1918. July 1917. Month ago. Year ago. Cleveland .’ 73 .. . 75 .. . 77 ... - 2... - 4 Cumberland & Lancs. 33 .. . 34 .. . 34 ... - 1 .. - 1 S. and S. W. Yorks ... 12 .. . 12 .. . 13 — - 1 Derby & Nottingham... Leicester, Lincoln and 35 .. . 35 .. . 32 ... — ... + 3 Northampton 29 .. . 30 .. . 29 ... -1... — Staffs and Worcester... 30 .. . 31 .. . 30 ... -1... — S. Wales & Monmouth 13 .. . 13 .. . 12 — + 1 Other districts 4 .. 4 .. . 5 ... — ... -1 229 .. .234 . . 232 ... - 5... - 3 Scotland 64 .. . 66 .. .. 61 .. — 2... + 3 Total, U.K 293 .. .300 .. ;. 293 ... - 7... , — Iron and Steel Works.—Employment at iron and steel works continued very good; in Scotland it was affected by holidays. Shortage of labour continued to be reported. Engineering Trades.—These trades continued to be extremely busy during July, and a great amount of overtime was worked. At Coventry and Birmingham work was delayed for several days owing to a dispute. Trade Unions with 330,141 members (mostly in skilled occupations) reported 01 per cent, unemployed at the end of July, compared with 0'1 per cent, a month ago and 0'2 per cent, a year ago. Tin-plate Trade. The tin-plate mills working at the end of July showed a decrease of three on the previous month, and an increase of 19 compared with a year ago. Wire.—Employment continued good, and shortages of labour and material were reported. Trade Disputes.—In mining and quarrying eleven new disputes occurred in July, affecting 13,085 persons. Near Morpeth incivility of colliery manager was alleged, and work was resumed pending a discussion of grievances. Near Nottingham exception was taken to some men alleged to have become miners since August, 1914. Other employment • was found for the men objected to. A settlement was effected in a dispute arising out of the dismissal of a stallman by a con- tractor in Notts, and at Cannock a refusal to work with a man whose trade union contributions were unpaid was settled by the man paying up arrears. Wages.—In coal mining during the seven months January-July, a net weekly increase of £408,000 occurred in the wage expenditure, affecting 900,000 workpeople. In the case of cokemen and by-product works, the war wage of Is. 6d. per day for workpeople of 16 years of age and over, and of 9d. per day for workers under 16 years, was increased to 3s. per shift for workpeople over 16 years of age and to Is. 6d. per shift for those under 16 years, subject to a maximum war wage in three consecutive weeks of 63s. for those over 16 years and of 31s. 6d. for those 16 years and under. The rate for week-end shifts worked on Sunday was raised to time and a-ha if in districts where time and a-quarter was previously paid. These changes relate only to Great Britain, and the particulars given mainly apply to workers at plants connected . with collieries. They do not apply to plants (e.g., those connected with blastfurnaces in Cleveland) where wages are regulated by changes arranged in some industry other than coal mining. Under the sliding scale the wages of Cleveland and Durham blastfurnace men decreased. The wages of such workers in North Staffs., South Wales and Monmouth- shire increased according to the sliding scale. Fatalities.—The fatalities in connection with mines numbered 106—an increase of 28 on the previous month and a decrease of 3 on July 1917. ___________________________ SCOTTISH MINE WORKERS’ CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers was resumed in Edinburgh on Friday, August 16. Mr. R. Smillie presided. A motion condemning the Government for refusing passports to trade union representatives to attend an international peace conference in Switzerland was carried by 41 votes to 19. Mr. J. Robertson (Lanarkshire) moved a resolution reaffirming the opinion that the Government should at once take over all coal and other mines, work them as a national enterprise, and appropriate to the nation all rents and wayleaves; that due arrangements should be made for the participation in the management, both local and central, of the employees of all grades; that the Government Coal Department should under- take the supply for export and shipping, the local authorities, and all industrial consumers of any magni- tude, delivering coal for domestic consumption to any railway station at a uniform fixed price. Mr. J. Murdoch (Lanarkshire) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A motion affirming the principle of Home Rule for Scotland was also carried unanimously. Resolutions were also passed protesting against the imprisonment of conscientious objectors; against the imprisonment of Mr. John M‘Lean; against incomes under £200 coming under the income tax ; and against the sentence of death upon Mr. Tom Mooney, an American labour leader. Election of Office Bearers. The conference afterwards sat in private. The balance sheet was passed, and the re-election of the officials on the executive took place. Mr. Robert Smillie was re-elected president; Mr. John Robertson (Lanarkshire), vice-president; Mr. Wm. Adamson, M.P., treasurer; and Mr. James Brown (Ayrshire), secretary. Messrs. Duncan Graham (Lanarkshire), Andrew M'Nulty (Lanarkshire), and Wm. Webb (Stirlingshire) were added to the executive. It was agreed to nominate Mr. Smillie as perma- nent president and secretary of the Miners’ Federa- tion of Great Britain. Demand for Wage Increase. On Saturday the conference privately discussed two motions relating to wages. The first motion proposed that steps should be taken immediately to apply for a further increase of wages to all workers in or about the mines to the extent of 50 per cent, on the present rate of wages, exclusive of the war wages of 3s. and Is. 6d. per day being paid to men and boys at present. The second motion expressed dissatisfaction with the amount given to meet the increased cost of living, and demanded that wages should be increased by 6s. 6d. per day, inclusive of the war wage in- creases already conceded. The conference adopted the first resolution, and decided to forward it to the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain for consideration by conference of that body. The executive committee was requested to bring up within three months a scheme for effecting closer unity among the Scottish miners. A resolution was adopted in favour of the abolition of the contracting system in Scottish mines.