August 23, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 397 MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. The Coal Controller’s Department has issued a statement to the effect that the coal situation is so serious that the Government are now making every effort to expedite the release of miners of low medical categories. During the past three months such men have been sent back from the Army at the rate of nearly 100 a day, but the need for more coal is so great and urgent that extraordinary measures are now being taken to get men quickly from France into the mines in order to increase the output of coal. Any man (excluding members of the administra- tive, managerial, and clerical staffs) who was employed above ground or below ground at coal mines before the war, and continuously up to the date of his enlistment, and is in medical category B2 or B3 and serving at home, is eligible for release, provided he can be spared from the unit in which he is serving. Particulars of the scheme have been circulated by the military authorities in regi- mental orders, instructing the men, if they consider them- selves eligible under this scheme and wish to return to the coal mines, to apply to their orderly room for Army Form W 3980. When this form has been signed by the soldier it is sent, if he is a member of a trade union, to the secretary of the lodge or branch named by him therein, and then it should be presented by the secretary of the lodge or branch to the colliery named in the form, with the request that the colliery firm or company should, by signing the form, state their willingness to employ the soldier, and then immediately return the form to the address indicated upon it. If the colliery named in the form is unable to employ the man, then the secretary of his lodge or branch should endeavour to find the man employment at a neighbouring colliery. If the soldier is not a member of a trade union, then the form goes direct from the military authorities to the colliery named therein. It may be that many soldiers serving at home and eligible 'for release under this scheme are not aware of it, and therefore colliery firms and companies and district miners’ associations and soldiers’ relatives, if they are aware of any soldiers eligible under this scheme, should write to them and suggest that they should obtain from their orderly room Army Form W3980, and take the steps indi- cated upon it. There are certain units in the Army—varying from time to time—from which it is not possible to release any low category men. These units are at present as follows : Transport workers battalions and agricultural companies. So that there is no use at present in advising soldiers serving in these units to apply for Army Form W 3980. At the Ebbw Vale court a collier was charged with being an absentee from the Army. Mr. George Davies (presi- dent of the local district of miners) stated that an arrange- ment had been come to between the Federation and the National Service representatives, and it was very unfair that the men should have been placed in the dock. Faith had been broken with them. Hundreds of pounds had been spent in that district by the Federation in order to help the National Service authorities, who had pro- mised to send to the Federation the names of absen- tees. In every case where this had been done the district had seen to it that the men went into the Army in a proper way. In the case now before the court the man had been reported as an absentee, and the district committee had notified the National Service authorities that the man would be in Newport that very day. Nevertheless, the police had arrested him. The Bench adjourned the case for a fortnight in order that investigation might be made. It was stated at the Abersychan Tribunal last week by Mr. J. Winstone (president of the South Wales Federa- tion) that an undertaking had been given by the Coal Controller. This was to the effect that as soon as the quota had been completed no more miners would be taken from the collieries, whether combed-out men or otherwise. The council the Durham Miners’ Association has instructed the executive committee to seek through the Miners’ Federation that all miners having exemptions from local tribunals shall be free from obligation to train with the volunteers, it being considered detrimental to the output of coal to force men to train to the extent of 12 hours per week, besides expending time and energy in travelling to and from training centres. The council decided also to protest against the preferential treatment given by local tribunals to district tradesmen by either exempting them or sending them to work of a non-com- batant character, whilst sending the miners either to France or to other battle fronts. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Deliveries of home-grown supplies continue to be of a satisfactory character, and efforts are being made to clear the ground before winter. The rate of cutting continues heavy, and in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire the wood- land areas have been heavily denuded, necessitating the greater exploitation of woods and coppices in some remoter counties. This area is most prolific in regard to the quan- tity of wood available for pitwood (especially in Hamp- shire and Cornwall), but the longer transport is a draw- back. Furthermore, there is a limit to our home-grown resources, which are being used up at a very rapid rate. Still, there are sufficient supplies in sight to last for a considerable period. In addition to the large supplies which are being assembled by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners’ Pitwood Association, a body which delivers about 15,000 tons per month to its members, large quantities are being cut and delivered by merchants. A number of collieries purchase supplies on their own account. At the sale, last Saturday, on the Tredegar Estate, Monmouthshire, the United National Collieries purchased <£1,610 worth of standing timber, which they will work for their own purposes. The supplies purchased by individual collieries in this manner are under the juris- diction of the Pitwood Allocation Committee. At the present time, owing to the decline in the output of coal caused by the withdrawal of many miners for the Army, and also by absenteeism, the consumption of timber has not been so great. At the same time the imports of foreign and Irish timber have been good and regular, and large quantities of home-grown wood have been available ; consequently, there is a much better supply available, and, being slightly greater than the demand, collieries are endeavouring to lay in stocks equal to an eight weeks’ supply. Foreign Mining Timber. The imports of foreign mining timber continue to be satisfactory, and are well up to the total quantity allowed to be imported by the authorities. In all probability there will be no excess of imports allowed by the authorities over the 40,000 tons per month, owing to the good supplies of home-grown wood now being received. It is stated that the Pitwood Importers’ Association will not apply for any excess quantities this month. During the week ending August 16 the imports of foreign mining timber were good, the bulk of the supplies being taken by the Admiralty Pitwood Committee. The following shows the actual imports :— Cardiff (including Barry and Penarth) : — Date. Consignee. Loads. Aug. 8 M. Thompson and Co........ 190 „ 8 E. Marcesche and Co....... 36 „ 9 Lysberg Limited ......... 420 „ 12 Lysberg Limited ....... 1,080 „ 14 Lysberg Limited ........ 1,200 „ 16 Morgan and Cadogan........ 480 „ 16 Lysberg Limited .......... 33 „ 16 Lysberg Limited .......... 36 „ 16 E. Marcesche and Co....... 330 „ 16 Grant Hayward and Co...... 60 Total ......... 3,865 The ‘supplies were received from France. No imports have been recorded from Portugal and Spain for some time past. The supplies are being assembled in small coasting vessels, a very large number of which are now engaged in the trade. The number is greater than the authorities can deal with, and several French ports have been barred as regards the shipment of Welsh coal by means of small sailing craft, the authorities preferring steamers. Prices were at the maximum selling levels. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—No material change in regard to pitch is reported this week, either in London or the provinces. Prompt and forward enquiries were received, but it is difficult to gauge the exact amount of business which they indicate, and the word “ steady ” appears to be the most suitable description of the market. The position would be better if more of the northern output could be moved southwards, but prospects in that direction are far from encouraging. Some of the business in solvent naphtha gives rather a better tone to the by-product, but still, it is apt to drag just now; Benzole is firm at the usual figure—London, 90 per cent., Is. 0^d., naked; North, 10^d. to ll^d.; 50 per cent., Is. 4d. to Is. 5d., naked. Solvent naphtha appears to have had a fair amount of attention in the provinces. Creosote is in the same sort of request as it was last week, and no change in price is noted. Crude carbolic is wanted. The other by-products are steady. Sulphate of Ammonia.—A considerable amount of busi- ness in sulphate is passing at the official figure. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 22. Dublin. Supplies are slightly better this week, but stocks remain very low in the yards. The total quantity of coal dis- charged upon the quays during the past week was 19,500 tons compared with 15,433 tons the week previously. Prices are unchanged. A communication from the Irish Coal Controller is to the effect that merchants must make a return of the amount of coal they receive each week, and state the amount of stock on hand at the week end. A deputation of the Irish Gas Managers’ Association waited on the Chief Secretary and urged for a certain guaranteed supply of coal for the coming winter in order to maintain independent industries. It is understood that the Coal Controller has undertaken to get into communication with the three Coal Committees operating in Ireland. The Cel- bridge Guardians, by resolution, requested that house coal supplies should be distributed on the basis of the sugar card system, allowing a 10 st. bag to every family holding a card. Reports from the Irish mines were read at the meeting of the council of the Dublin Industrial Develop- ment Association. The New Irish Mining Company, Queen’s County, stated that they expect to be able to increase their output. The Castlecomer Collieries Limited are doing all that is possible to increase production, but have difficulty in obtaining material necessary for the erection of additional plant. The Arigna Mining Company Limited (Leitrim) fear they will not be in a position to meet any increased demand for at least twelve months. The coal workers at the port of Dublin, are said to have accepted an offer made by the employers. Belfast. Little or no improvement has taken place in the matter of supplies, and stocks have not increased. Prices of house coals : Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 51s. 6d.; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton. Enquiries are being made about coal deposits in County Down. Imports of Pit Props.—The table below shows the quan- tity and value of pit props or pit wood imported in July July. Jan.-July. ^917. 1918?* 1917. 1918. Loads..... 83,947... 64,092... 656,163... 491,821 Value..... <£334,330... £307,615... £2,437,990... £2,226,846 Discharged Soldiers as Works Chemists.—The Lan- cashire War Pensions Committee has arranged for the training of disabled soldiers and sailors as works chemists in the laboratory, and as assistants in the coke ovens and by-products industry in the Wigan coal field. Disabled men who have had a good education, and who are unable to follow their previous employment, may, if they wish to be trained as works chemists and coke ovens and by- products assistants, make application for training to Mr. R. Armour, Council Office, Haigh, near Wigan. The necessary training for works chemists is being provided by the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College. Empire Oil Resources.—Dr. Perkin, speaking at a lecture at King’s College, on Monday, emphasised the importance of oils to this country. The British Empire was mainly dependent on sea transport for its oil and petroleum supplies at the outbreak of war. Then the demand was not so enormous as at present. In his opinion the British Empire could be self-supporting in the matter of oil. There were in this country mineral resources from which petroleum, kerosene, paraffin wax and lubri- cating oils could be manufactured. He knew that there were difficulties in regard to the starting of a new industry, especially in war time, but these could be over- come. ANALYSIS OF AIR FROM A MINE FIRE * By A. G. Blakeley and H. H. Geist. There is no doubt that gas analysis has found con- siderable use in locating mine fires, and especially in following the progress of these underground fires. Not a great deal of data has been published, however. The writers therefore considered it proper to pub- lish some data which may be of interest to those connected with mining work, particularly with anthra- cite coal mining. The mine at which the samples were taken is an anthracite coal mine, and is considered as a rather gaseous mine, or one generating a fairly large quan- tity of methane or firedamp. On November 18, 1916, several men were overcome while at work inside the mine. On November 19 a fire was discovered. Batteries were erected for the purpose of smothering out the fire by cutting off all the fresh air supply. In order to carry out this investigation, pipes were extended through the batteries, these pipes being closed by means of valves at the outer ends. From time to time these valves were opened and air samples taken. These samples were taken in such a way as to accurately represent the air behind the battery, or in other words, the air from the fire zone. The carbon monoxide was determined by the iodine pentoxide method, more than one litre of air being passed over the heated iodine pentoxide in each deter- mination. The results given in Tables 1 and 2 seem to need no further explanation. The mine fire zone was partially opened in August 1917, and no further air samples were tested. Table 1.—7th Level, Gangway Battery. Date of Oxy Carbon Carbon Methane. di,?Vd? sampling. dioxide, monoxide. in black- damp. Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Dec. 1, 1916... 18-00 ... 0 99 .. . 0’008 ... 2’40 ... 8’28 Dec. 5 16*40 ... 1-16 .. . 0’0057 ... 2’33 ... 585 Dec. 12 15-80 ... 1-34 . . 0’0034 , ... 4’27 ... 6’47 Dec. 19 16-00 ... 1-61 .. . 0015 ... 3-28 ... 7’80 Dec. 26 15’66 ... 1’69 .. . o-oi ... 3-66 ... 7’72 Jan. 5, 1917.’.’.' 14 00 ... 1’71 ... . 0-006 . .. 4’46 ... 5’87 Jan. 11 14-30 ... 2’11 ... . 0-004 . .. 4’51 ... 7’66 Jan.18 13-60 ... 2’48 ... 0 002 . .. 5’72 ... 8’36 Jan.25 >> • • • 14-20 ... 2-38 ... . 0-002 . .. 4-22 ... 8-41 Feb. 9 13-00 ... 3-04 ... 0-005 . .. 516 ... 9’20 Feb. 22 14’20 ... 2'31 ... o-ooi . .. 4-12 ... 8’13 Mar. 8 13’80 ... 2’38 ... 0’0016 . .. 3-87 ... 7-78 Mar. 22 13-90 ... l‘6O ... None . .. 3-55 ... 523 Apr. 5 12-42 ... 2 43 ... None . .. 4’38 ... 6’62 Apr. 18 ••• 1311 ... 2-34 ... None . .. 3’35 ... 6’79 May 3 1310 ... 2-67 ... None . .. 4T2 ... 7*93 May 17 10-20 ... 3’20 ... None . .. 6’35 ... 7 06 May 31 9 90 ... 2’22 ... None . .. 4 96 ... 4’59 June 14 99 - • • 8*70 ... 3-42 ... None . .. 7’87 ... 6’70 June 28 99 ••• 9’00 ... 3’32 ... None . .. 6’60 ... 6’53 J uly 12 6’40 ... 4’21 ... None . :. 8-i4... 682 J uly 26 99 ••• 4*80 ... 4’47 ... None .. .. 10-90 ... 6’71 Table 2.—7th Level, Monkey Battery. Dec. 1,1916... 13 63 ... 2-09 ... 0-019 .. .. 5-97 ... 7’13 Dec. 5 12’00 ... 2-11 ... 0’009 .. . 3-35 ... 529 Dec. 12 11’51 ... 2’17 ... 0-0044 .. ,. 6 22... 5’52 Dec. 19 14-10 ... 2’30 ... 0 029 .. . 4’73 ... 8’14 Dec. 26 99 ... 13’78 ... 1-98 ... 0’016 .. . 515 ... 6’73 Jan. 5,1917... 9’80 ... 2’12 ... o-oi . 5’62 ... 4’40 Jan.11 10’80 ... 3’31 ... 0-0068 .. . 6’20 ... 7’77 Jan. 18 99 • • • 10’20 ... 3’40 ... 0-006 .. . 5-63 ... 7-39 Jan. 25 99 - • • 10 73 ... 3-46 ... 0-007 .. . 4-76 ... 780 Feb. 9 9’40 ... 4’10 ... 0 008 .. . 6’34 ... 8’35 Feb. 22 11-10 ... 3 67 ... 0 0017 .. . 5’25 ... 8-72 Mar. 8 WOO ... 3’43 ... None ... . 5 76 ... 7’32 Mar. 22 11’40 ... 3’62 ... None ... . 4’96 ... 8’85 Apr. 5 9’10 ... 3 97 ... None ... , 613 ... 7-82 Apr. 18 10’20 ... 3-65 ... None ... . 3'81 ... 7’63 May 3 io-oo ... 3’40 ... None ... 6’44 ... 7’36 May 17 7-30 ... 4’40 ... None ... 7-02 ... 7’52 May 31 7’80 ... 4-06 ... None ... . 6’87... 7’21 June 14 3’30 ... 481 ... None*... . 9’03 ... 6’36 June 28 3-20 ... 4-86:.. None*... 10’05 ... 6’47 July 12 99 • • • 3-30 ... 4’96 ... None ... 11’88 ... 6-81 July 26 2-80 ... 4-84 ... None ... . 10’17 ... 6’29 * Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol. 10, No. 7. American Peat Industry.—The peat industry in the United States prospered in 1917, for the quantity of peat sold exceeded that sold in any preceding year. According to statistics compiled, the peat sold in 1917 amounted to 97,363 short tons, a quantity greater by 44,857 tons, or about 85 per cent., than that sold in 1916, and by 42,220 tons, or nearly 77 per cent., than the record annual sales, 55,143 tons, established in 1911. The average price received for peat in 1917 at the point of consumption was a little more than 7-29 dols. a ton, and the gross market value of the output was 709,900 dols., a gain over 1916 of 26 c. in average price per ton, and of 340,796 dols., or about 92 per cent., in market value. Italy’s Coal Shortage.—Signor Galli, Chief of the Italian Coal Mission in London, has made the following statement regarding the coal shortage in Italy: People in England have no idea of the plight of Italy as regards coal. There is no rationing in Italy, because the coal merchant has long gone out of business. Practically all the coal imported goes to the railways and munition works. What little is left when these requirements are met is doled out by the Commisserato Carboni, mostly to indus- tries which, in the national interest, it is desirable to keep going. Quite recently, in one single month, the Ministry bought 50,000 tons of wood for the railways. It was olive wood. Think of what the olive is to Italy ! Yet we are cutting down the olive trees for fuel. All the coal and wood we can get is not nearly sufficient. To-day it is no uncommon thing to see a train stopped between stations waiting for fuel to get up steam. Last winter our hospitals were without coal. English people think of Italy as a land of perpetual sunshine and warmth. The fact is that in the North—in the Lombardy plain behind the fighting line—the winter is much more severe than in England, so that in that region the sufferings of the sick and wounded were terrible. It is because we have so much at stake that I welcome with all my heart the lead given by the Miners’ Federation to the miners to win as much coal as possible, and the call to the British public by the Coal Controller to economise in coal, so that Italy can continue worthily to play her part in the war.