602

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

September 20, 1918.

driving drum with the pulley removed, the end
brackets in position with the intermediate pinion, and
the method of making the cable connections. Fig. 6
illustrates the parts of the driving drum showing the
motor complete with both brackets and pulley removed,
and making clear the whole design and construction
of the machine.

The special self-contained motor and driving drum
is adaptable for a great many purposes, such as
elevators working in exposed positions, conveyors both
above ground and underground in connection with
coal mines, etc., portable stackers, loaders and pilers,
slat conveyors in connection with the mechanical
handling of materials. It can also be used for haulage
purposes for driving winches, capstans, etc., replacing
steam-driven machines working in exposed positions.

INSTITUTION OF MINING ENGINEERS.

ANNUAL MEETING AT NOTTINGHAM.

The 29th annual meeting of the Institution of
Mining Engineers was held on Friday, September 13,
in the Lecture Theatre of University College,
Nottingham, Mr. Wallace Thorneycroft, president,
in the chair.

The Mayor of Nottingham (Councillor J. G. Small,
J.P.) offered on behalf of the city a cordial welcome
to the members, and expressed a hope that their pro-
ceedings would result in a further acquisition of
knowledge tending to the successful working of the
mines of this country. The safety of our mines and

generally under which mines were being worked.
Their difficulties were not decreased by the dual con-
trol—or should he say triple control?—which might
be necessary, or which was thought to be necessary,
during the war. The responsibility of carrying on
collieries was increased by the receipt of instructions
—often a little ambiguous—from London. They were
ambiguous of necessity when one man in London
attempted to give instructions to every colliery district
in England and Scotland whose customs and conditions
of working were widely different. Under those circum-
stances they all did the best they could in making the
innumerable returns asked for without grumbling—
beyond the exercise of the customary privilege of every
Britisher to “ grouse ” to any extent. As president of
that institution, he did earnestly express the hope

Fig. 2

Fig. 4.	Fig. 5.

1

1

’ fc Sd

■■■ ■

Fig. 6.

The sole licensees and manufacturers of this special
labour-saving machinery are Messrs. J. Martin Blair,
3-7, Southampton-street, Strand, W.C., and the motors
are built for this firm by the Collins Electrical Limited,
115, Clerkenwell-road, E.C.

Coal Control in Canada.—With a view to increasing the.
production of bituminous coal in the maritime provinces
of Canada, Mr. MacGrath, the Fuel Controller, has been
made director of coal operations in .New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, with extensive powers.

Miners from the Army—An official of the Coal Con-
troller’s Department states that the new scheme for the
release from the Army, Navy, and Royal Air Force of
pre-war miners will not materially affect the serious coal
situation. Altogether it cannot produce more than 13,000
men, probably fewer, in addition to the 11,000 men re-
cently brought back. It is estimated that these 24,000 men
can each produce 250 tons of coal a year—a total of
6,000,000 tons by October 1919—but there will still be
a shortage of 20,000,000 tons. The new scheme is being
promptly carried out. About a week ago a parade was
held in practically every military camp, station and unit
in the United Kingdom, and the men were told that
if they were pre-war miners of the specified categories they
could go to their orderly room and fill up a form for
release. As a result tens of thousands of applications
were received by the Coal Controller, but it was found
that most of them were from post-war miners—that is,
from diluted labour that entered the mines after the war
started These men have been rejected for the present,
owing to the fact. that the Miners’ Federation will not
agree to their employment in the coal mines.

the necessity of speeding up production
were never so urgent as they were at the
present time. He believed that as far
as they were concerned they would make
every endeavour to increase the output,
and to the ordinary civil population he
would say that this was not the time to
cavil over the question whether the action
of the military authorities in taking so
many miners away in the early part of
the year was right or wrong. It must,
however, be remembered that at that
time the military situation was one of
extreme gravity. He appealed to every-
one to endeavour to save something out
of the coal which had been allotted to
him, rather than try to get an increased
allotment. The influx of Americans had
materially altered the fighting situation,
but it had also increased the demands
upon us for coal, not only for the essen-
tial industries of this country, but for the
use of our Allies, and he believed that
every effort would be made to meet those
demands both by economy and the main-
tenance of output.

The Sheriff of Nottingham (Councillor Herbert
Offiler), who supported the Mayor, said he hoped that
every effort would be made by every section of the
community to economise in coal in order that the war
might be brought to a victorious conclusion.

Mr. H. E. Mitton (Codnor) said that his first duty
after his election to the presidency of the Midland
Counties Institution of Engineers was to extend to
them a most cordial welcome. They very much re-
gretted that they were not able to offer them that
kind of welcome which, under ordinary conditions,
they would have desired. Many of the large works
and collieries would gladly have received them as
visitors, but unfortunately, owing to circumstances
over which they had no control, they had been unable
to arrange a three days programme which would
have included not only visits to some of those large
works, but also some of the beauty spots of the
district. The value of meetings of the character of
that day was very great. They were able to exchange
ideas and to consider the various methods and
customs which prevailed in the different districts.

The President, in acknowledging the welcome, said
they had met solely for business. Even the attendance
was a good deal less than usual, because members were
engaged in the work of raising coal. He could assure
them that their efforts were being devoted to speeding
up the production of coal to the utmost of their ability
during this time of crisis. They were carrying out
their duties as colliery managers and officials under
very considerable difficulties arising from shortage of
men, shortage of machinery, and the conditions

that every householder would do his best to carry on
with the limited amount of coal -which was allotted
to him, and possibly to do with less by using timber.
We had to supply Italy and France with coal, and the
increasing number of Americans coming over required
a considerable amount of coal to convey them from the
sea-board to the scene of action. This was the fifth
time they had met under war conditions, and, as
Mr. Mitton had said, we had not yet come to the end
of the struggle. Things were, however, more hopeful
at the present time, and we were beginning to see
daylight at the end of the dark tunnel. He must
repeat his hope that this time next year they would
meet under peace conditions, but whether that proved
to be the case or not, we were going on until the war
was won.

Prof. L. T. O’Shea (the hon. secretary) read the
annifal report, which showed an increase of member-
ship, the number of members being 3,268, of whom
457 are on active service. Altogether 64 members have
been killed in action or have died of wounds.

The sub-committee on “ The Control of Atmospheric
Conditions in Hot and Deep Mines ” has presented an
interim report on the work done during 1917, which
has been forwarded to the Advisory Council for Scien-
tific and Industrial Research, who provided the funds.
The work is being continued, and it is hoped that in
future further funds will be available to assist the
institution in carrying out other investigations, the
results of which will in due time be published in the
Transactions.

The special committee appointed by the Government
to examine the proposal for the establishment in
London of an Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau have
now reported in favour of the project. The bureau
will be incorporated by Royal Chatter, and the first
governing body will consist of Sir Richard Redmayne,
K.C.B. (chairman), seven representatives nominated
by the various Colonial Governments, and six others
(Mr. W. Forster Brown, Prof. H. C. H. Carpenter,
Dr. F. H. Hatch, Sir Lionel Phillips, Bart., Mr. Edgar
Taylor, and Mr. Wallace Thorneycroft) appointed by
the Ministry of Reconstruction in consultation with
the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, the Insti-
tute of Metals, the Iron and Steel Institute, and this
institution.

The Lords of the Privy Council have allowed the
additional by-law passed by the council and general
meeting, which excludes all enemy alien members from
membership of the institution in the event of a state
of war existing between the United Kingdom and
any other country or state.

The committee appointed for the purpose have not
ceased in their efforts to obtain concessions on behalf
of mining students on service with the Colours who
are desirous of sitting for their certificates of com-
petency under the Coal Mines Act on their return
from active service, but regret that their efforts have