August 23, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

391

Sir Douglas Haig also wrote :—

The question of an adequate supply of coal for all
our needs is almost a vital one for the Allied cause
at the present time.

Another message was read from M. Clemenceau, who
telegraphed:—

There must be no hesitation, no weakness, and no
relaxing of effort; but always more and more.

The address was listened to with great attention by
the miners’ representatives, and at the close many
questions were put. In reply, Sir Guy said repre-
sentations were being made for the miners to get
increased food. He was not in a position himself to
say that no more miners would be taken for the Army,
but a deficit of 27 million tons seemed to answer that
question. The delegates intimated a desire to help the
Coal Controller as far as possible.

It was alleged by two speakers that certain colliery
owners were deliberately reducing the output of coal
from their collieries by closing down the working of the
thicker measures from which coal is more easily and
rapidly won, and employing the workmen upon produc-
tion in the thin seams, which involves more work and
from which the output is considerably smaller.

In the case of the miners released from the Army to
resume work in the pits, Mr. J. Robertson contended
that the majority of these released men are, as a
result of their military service, below the ordinary level
of physical fitness, and consequently unable to produce
an average man’s output of coal. This meant that, paid
as miners are on tonnage, their earnings will fall below
the average, and working with other men in a “place ”
they will lower the average earnings of the party. The
suggestion was made that in these cases, until such
time as the men have won back the full measure of
their physical power, they should be paid the average
wage of the coal hewer independent of what may be
their earnings on tonnage rates.

The Conference spent the greater part of Wednesday
in discussing the executive’s proposals as to the duties
and remuneration of the new permanent officials of the
Federation, and the procedure for the conduct of the
ballot. It was agreed to have a central office in London,
the two permanent officials to reside in the vicinity.
It was further resolved that the president and secretary
be full-time officials at a salary of £600 per annum,
with an allowance of £75 for house rent, together with
allowances for rates, lighting and fuel. In the event of
either official becoming a member of Parliament or a
paid official of the Government, he must relinquish his
position with the Federation. The words “ or a paid
official of the Government” were added on the motion
of the South Wales Federation. The election is to be
by ballot vote of the members of the Federation, the
principle of the alternative vote to be applied.

The nominations from districts for the two offices
are to be sent in to Mr. Thomas Ashton on or before
September 30, and the nominations are limited to
one candidate for each office by any district of the
Federation. Mr. Smillie has been nominated by the
Scottish Mine Workers for the office of permanent
president. There are already several nominations for
the office of secretary. Mr. J. Robson is the nominee
of the Durham Miners’ Association, and Mr. G. H.
Warne the nominee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association. There were three candidates for Lan-
cashire, and the choice fell upon Mr. P. Pemberton,
the financial secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Miners’ Federation, who was for 11 years the assistant
to Mr. Thomas Ashton, the present secretary of the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The conference yesterday (Thursday) discussed the
output of coal.

An official statement which was issued regarding
their deliberations mentioned that one of the principal
points affecting the question was better food of
sustaining quality. The miners do not ask for a bigger
share of food than others; but the quality of the food
they are now receiving considerably affects their
efficiency as coal producers. The conference asked for
more reasonable treatment of the men by colliery
officials, so as to keep down friction as much as
possible.

Better facilities for getting coal from the coal-places
to the surface were asked for. The necessity was urged
of pit committees being established, and it was suggested
that greater powers from the Coal Controller would
enable them to inquire into the question of manage-
ment as it affects the output, as well as into the
productivity of workmen.

Another point referred to the visit of the Coal
Controller’s experts to make enquiries into complaints
by workmen &s to the laxity on the part of the
management in getting coal out of the working places.
These experts, when visiting, should interview the
workmen’s representatives as well as the colliery
managers; otherwise they would never be able to
prove any case against the management. It was
pointed out that since the last war-wage was given,
at the end of June, the shares of nearly all the
principal collieries had considerably advanced, and
what was true of the colliery shares was also true
of the shares of nearly all other large industries. It
was felt that the Government ought to deal very
drastically with this exploitation by capitalists, in-
cluding coalowners, if they wished to secure a more
satisfactory state of things amongst the workers and
better responsibility from them.

The following resolution was carried:—“That this
conference calls upon all districts to exercise to the full
the functions of the pit committees upon the lines
suggested by the Federation executive; that mass
meetings be held in each district, at which the
executive will urge the men to make every effort to
increase the output.”

It is understood that the Government have decided on
the immediate appointment of a practical coal expert,
whose task it will be to devote all his energies to increas-
ing the coal output of the country.

COAL PRODUCTION IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA DURING 1917.

The annual report of the Minister of Mines for
British Columbia gives the gross production of coal
in 1917 as 2,398,715 long tons (2,240 lb.), of which
248,740 tons were made into coke, leaving the net pro-
duction at 2,149,975 tons. These figures show a de-
crease, as compared with 1916, of 86,865 tons gross,
~~ .... ...

of
of

but an increase of 65,882 tons net. The
coke made was 159,905 tons, which is a
107,820 tons as compared with 1916. For
comparison the following table is given.

1916.

Tons.

2,485,580
401,487

quantity
decrease

purposes

Coal, gross

Less made into coke

1917.

Tons.

2,398,715

248,740

2,084,093

267,725

2,149,975

159,905

Vancouver Island mines

Nicola and Similkameen mines

Crows’ nest mines

Coal, net

Coke made ...

Summarising the provincial production of coal, the
following table shows the output: —
1916.
Tons.

1,492,761
110,549
882,270

1917.
Tons.

1,695,721

151,243

551,751

Total quantity of coal mined
Less made into coke

2,485,580

401,487

2,398,715

248,740

2,084,093

2,149,975
the net coal
than it was

Net quantity of coal produced

As will be seen from the above figures,
production in 1917 was 65,882 tons more
in 1916, and greater than it had been since 1912.

This output would have been considerably greater
had not the Crow’s Nest Collieries met with a series
of misfortunes during the year that interfered with
production, and in addition to this there was a serious
shortage of labour—partly caused by the heavy en-
listment of the younger men—and in the early part
of the year there were labour troubles. All these
contributed to occasion a shortage of both coal and
coke, when the demand was most keen.

The production of coke in 1917 was 159,905 tons
(2,240 lb.), which is 107,820 tons less than the pre-
ceding year. Of this gross coke production, 129,499
tons were made by the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company
in East Kootenay, and the remaining 30,406 tons by
the Canadian Collieries at Comox, V.I.

The greater part of the gross provincial production
is still being mined by three companies—the Crow’s
Nest Pass Coal Company of East Kootenay, the
Canadian Collieries, and the Western Fuel Company
of Vancouver Island, which mined, collectively, 79-5
per cent, of the gross output, their respective pro-
duction representing 18-8 per cent., 33-2 per cent.,
and 27-5 per cent, of such total.

Of the other collieries, in the Coast District, on
Vancouver Island, the Pacific Coast Coal Mines
Limited produced 150,538 tons, the British Columbia
Coal Mining Company 61,586 tons, and the Nanoose
Collieries Limited 27,822 tons; and in the Nicola
Valley section of the district the Middlesboro Colliery
Company mined 83,458 tons, the Inland Coal and Coke
Company 7,296 tons, the Princeton Coal and Land
Company 46,926 tons, and the Pacific Coast Colliery
Company some 206 tons of coal.

In the East Kootenay District, in addition to the
Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company, which produced
450,686 tons, the Corbin Coal and Coke Company pro-
duced 101,065 tons.

In addition to those companies actually shipping,
several other companies have been installing plant
and have approached the shipping stage.

The collieries of the Coast District, including the
Nicola-Princeton fields, accounted for about 77 per
cent, of the total coal output.

The gross amount of coal distributed was 2,401,520
tons, 2,805 tons of coal being taken from stock. Of this
gross amount there were sold for consumption in
Canada, 935,469 tons; for consumption in the United
States, 754,568 tons, and in other countries 38,211 tons,
making the total coal sales for the year 1,728,248 tons.

In addition to the coal sold there was used in the
manufacture of coke 248,740 tons, and used under
companies’ boilers, etc., 198,102 tons, while 226,430
tons were lost in washing and screening.

The coke sales of the province amounted to 160,522
tons, of which 734 tons were taken from stock.

The following table indicates the markets in which
the coal and coke output of the province was sold : —

Coast Crowds Nest Total for
Coal sold for— District. Pass district. Province.

Tons.

Consumption in Canada ... 861,672 .
Export to United States ... 528,721 .
Export to other countries ...	38,211 .

Total coal sales ...

Coke sold for—
Consumption in Canada ..
Export to United States ...
Export to other countries...

Total coke sales ...	31,559 ... 128,963 ...

Collieries of Coast District.

The collieries of the Coast District, which include
those on Vancouver Island and in the Nicola-Princeton
fields, mined 1,846,964 tons of coal in 1917, while 2,811
tons were taken from stock, making 1,849,775 tons
distributed from these collieries in 1917. This amount
was distributed as follows: Sold as coal in Canada,
861,672 tons; sold as coal in United States, 528,721
tons; sold as coal in other countries, 38,211 tons; used
under companies’ boilers, etc., 140,452 tons; used in
making coke, 54,289 tons; lost in washing, etc., 226,430
tons.

The total coal sales showed, as compared with the
sales of the previous year, an increase of 188,779 tons,
equivalent to over 15 per cent.

The coal sold in British Columbia by the collieries
of the Coast District showed an increase of 78,939 tons,

Tons.

935,469

754,568

38,211

Tons.

73,797

225,847

...1,428,604 ... 299,644 ... 1,728,248

31,559 ... 116,252 ...

—	...	12,711	...

147,811

12,711

160,522

or about 10 per cent, from the preceding year; the
amount exported to the United States was 77,795 tons
greater, and 38,211 tons of coal were exported to other
countries.

Only one company in the Coast District — the
Canadian Collieries Limited—has ever made coke. In
1916 the ovens were again put in operation after
several years of inactivity, and in 1917 this company
produced 30,406 tons (2,240 lb.) of coke, 117 tons were
burned under the company’s boilers, and 1,270 tons
were taken from stock, making the total sales for
the year 31,559 tons.

On Vancouver Island five companies produced coal
during the year—the Canadian Collieries Limited, the
Western Fuel Company, the Pacific Coast Coal Mines,
the British Columbia Coal Mining Company, and the
Nanoose Collieries Limited. The majority of these
companies each operate two or more collieries. The
combined gross output of the island collieries was
1,695,721 tons.

In the Nicola and Princeton coal fields of the Coast
District, the Middlesboro Colliery Company produced
83,458 tons of coal; the Princeton Colliery 46,926 tons;
the Inland Coal and Coke Syndicate (formerly Coal
Hill Syndicate), 7,296 tons; the Pacific Coast Colliery
Company, 206 tons; and the Merritt Collieries Limited,
13,357 tons. The total output of this portion of the
sub-district was 151,243 tons.

East Kootenay Coal Field.

There were only two companies operating in this
district—the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Comp any, operating
two separate collieries, the combined output of which
was 450,686 tons, and the Corbin Coal and Coke Com-
pany, which made an output of 101,065 tons, making
a gross output for the district for 1917 of 551,751 tons
of coal. The Hosmer Mines Limited did not operate.
In addition to the coal mined, six tons was added
to stock, making the amount of coal distributed from
the collieries 551,745 tons. Of this gross tonnage
194,451 tons were used in the manufacture of coke,
of which there were produced 129,499 tons. The coke
sold amounted to 128,963 tons, and 536 tons were added
to stock.

The following figures show the distribution made of
the coal of this district: Sold as coal in Canada,
73,797 tons; sold as coal in United States, 225,847 tons;
used by the companies in making coke, 194,451 tons;
used by the companies under boilers, etc., 57,650 tons.

The value of coal produced in 1917 shows an increase
of 230,588 dols. as compared with the previous year,
but the coke production shows the large decrease of
646,920 dols. The coal production in the Coast District
was considerably greater than in 1916, but labour
troubles materially decreased the output in the Crow’s
Nest of both coal and coke; it is in this latter district
that most of the coke production of the province is
made. Had it not been that the Crow’s Nest
Collieries, through a series of mishaps—accompanied
by a serious shortage of labour due to the war,
followed by a labour strike—were unable to make as
large an output as expected and intended, the coal
and coke production would have been much greater,
but as it was, there resulted such a shortage of coke
as to partially close the copper smelters, and these
in turn compelled the copper mines to very much
curtail their outputs.

The average selling prices taken this year in the
calculation of value of product are the same as those
used last year, that for coal being 3-50 dols., and for
coke being 6 dols. a ton of 2,240 lb. The prices used
in calculations prior to 1907 were 3 dols. and 5 dols.
respectively.

The reports of the inspectors state that a great deal
of work has been done in trying to establish the coal
areas in the Telkwa district, which has presented many
difficulties owing to the exceedingly soft nature of
the coal-bearing strata, which in most places have been
eroded from the higher ridges, and there only remain
isolated basins and a few detached remnants. How-
ever, the coal area under consideration, especially on
Goldstream Basin, is of great commercial importance,
the extent of which has been proven by the outcrop
of the seams followed by diamond drill work. The
actual area of this coal field covers a surface of
approximately 3,200 acres, under which there are three
seams of coal of a thickness of 4|, 5J and 7 ft. re-
spectively, amounting to a total thickness of 17 ft.,
and, taking the usual recognised custom of computa-
tion of 1,000 tons per acre per foot, which includes
40 per cent, loss of coal, gives a gross total of 54,400,000
tons recoverable coal.

A report by Mr. W. F. Robertson, provincial
mineralogist, mentions that the market of the East
Kootenay field is provided primarily by the railways
of the south-eastern part of the province and of the
northern parts of the adjoining States of Montana
and Washington, approximately three-quarters of the
coal, sold as such, being exported to those States, while
the remainder went to supply the demands of the
south-eastern part of the province—its domestic needs,
its railways, steamboats, mines and smelters. The
larger coasting steamers and railways, which in later
years have all been using California crude oil as fuel,
will be forced to come back to the use of coal, which
will mean a largely increased production from coast
collieries.	—■

Cost of Coal Control Administration—Replying to a
question recently put down by Mr. Gerald France, M.P,
and postponed by request of the President of the Board
of Trade, Sir Albert Stanley has written a letter in which
he says that the total staff of the Coal Mines Department
at present numbers 477. This figure includes a number
of officials loaned by railway companies and the Railway
Clearing House. The salaries of the staff paid by the
Board of Trade direct amount to about £60,000 per
annum, and the whole of this cost is borne by the
Treasury. Thirteen members of the staff (including five
borrowed Civil Servants) are in receipt of salaries of over
£500 a year. The Treasury bears a certain part of the
cost of local administration of the Coal Rationing schemes
and part of the cost of the District Coal and Coke
Supplies Committees, but at the moment no definite figure
could be given as to what proportion of the total cost
is borne by the Treasury.