October 4, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

709

Sir A. Stanley and Sir G. Calthrop will address a
meeting of miners’ representatives in the Pavilion
Theatre, Newcastle, to-morrow (Saturday), com-
mencing at 11 a.m.

Representatives of the miners’ lodges in Northum-
berland. and Durham will meet to-morrow (Saturday)
to consider proposals for an increase of 100 per cent,
in the war wage, and other matters.

A proposal is on foot for the formation of a
Midland federation, comprising the under-managers’
associations in Cannock Chase, North Staffs, South
Staffs and East Worcester.

Collieries and district coal committees have been
officially requested to charge an average price
(as from October 1) for the whole 12 months, instead
of differentiating between a summer and winter price.

The Household Fuel and Lighting Order has been
altered to the extent of making coal rationing start
practically from the day the householder hands in his
requisition form, which should be presented before
October 31.

A paper on “ The Economy of Briquetting Small
Coal,” by Mr. J. A. Yeadon, will be read at a
meeting of the Mining Institute of Scotland, in the
Heriot-Watt College, to-morrow (Saturday). Mr.
R. W. Dron’s paper on il The Occurrence of Coking
Coal in Scotland,” and Mr. S. Chambers’ paper on
“ The Repair of a Circular Shaft of Small Diameter,”
will be open for discussion.

We should be neglecting an obvious
Fuel duty if we failed to do all that is in our
Economy, power to assist the Coal Controller in
his difficult task of endeavouring to
accommodate the fuel consumption of this country
to the deficiency in supply which seems now to be
inevitable. In dealing with this question we may,
perhaps, be permitted to pass over the modification
of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order recently
made, by which the actual date upon which the
rationing scheme will begin has been postponed to a
date not later than October 31. In effect, this means
that the gas and electricity allowances will begin on
October 1, while the coal ration will commence upon
the date upon which each requisition is signed, and
this must not be deferred later than October 31.
Thus, there may be a difference of a month between
the application of the fuel and lighting portions of
the scheme. Practically, the result will be that the
public has secured a quarter’s respite, and the
experience which has thus been gained should prove
a valuable aid to the realisation of what the scheme
will really mean in each individual household.

The Controller is clearly anxious that the requisite
economy should be secured with as little incon-
venience and discomfort to the consumer as possible.
It is for the public, therefore, to respond to his
appeal, with the certain knowledge that every pound
of coal that is saved is a real contribution towards
the successful prosecution of the war. As he puts it,
every domestic hearth becomes a new front.

Amongst the suggestions offered for alleviating
the position, the more extended use of anthracite
deserves attention. At the present time there is less
difficulty in supplying anthracite than any other class
of coal. The anthracite mines are not being worked
at anything like their full capacity, and a consider-
ably larger output could be secured with advantage
to the miners. The heat value of anthracite is
higher than that of any other class of coal, but as a
domestic fuel it has hitherto received but • little
attention in this country. This is mainly due to the
prevalent notion that anthracite can only be burnt
in a closed stove. Like many other general state-
ments, however, this view is incorrect. Anthracite
can be burnt in an open grate, provided that a little
care is taken in its use. It is true that it is difficult
to start an anthracite fire without a little bituminous
coal, but when once ignited—and provided that it is
left alone—anthracite will maintain a steady glow
and will give out a maximum of heat, and—what the
housewife will appreciate—will produce a minimum
of smoke and dust.

The successful use of anthracite in an open grate
is a matter of experience, and unfortunately that
experience is lacking in this country. There has, in
fact, been no inducement to burn this class of fuel,
while its cost has not encouraged its use. Under
present conditions it is doubtful whether it could
everywhere be procured in quantity so as to enable a
fair trial of its capabilities to be made. Since,
however, the Controller is of opinion that the
more general use of anthracite would help to ease
the fuel situation, it may be presumed that supplies
can be made available if a demand should arise.
The difficulties to be overcome would be mainly
questions of transport, anthracite being produced
only in the remote parts of the extreme western
portion of the South Wales coalfield. This difficulty
has doubtless been duly considered in connection
with the elaborate distribution scheme inaugu-
rated by the Coal Controller last year. It is not,
therefore, necessary for the public to concern itself
with the problem of supply so much as with that of
its use. But geographical questions will, neverthe-
less, have their weight, and whatever economies can
be effected by this means, there are certain areas
where experiments in anthracite burning will be

more desirable than in others. Upon this point the
Controller would, we think, do well to throw some
light. The Coal Controller alone can say where
stocks of anthracite can be most usefully accumu-
lated, having due regard to existing transport
facilities. Given such areas, the public within them
could probably be induced to avail themselves of the
opportunity of using anthracite, especially if some
concession were made in the matter of rationing.
We look particularly to large consumers to initiate
experiments of this kind, and their example would
probably be speedily followed in other directions.

While the Controller’s appeal to save fuel is
directed to domestic consumers, it may also be pointed
out that large economies can also be made in industrial
plants. Mr. D. Brownlie has recently pointed out,
in the columns of Engineering, that an examination
of about 1,000 boiler plants discloses the astonishing
fact that only 9’6 per cent, show a higher efficiency
than 70 per cent., indicating the prevalence of what
can only be termed very bad practice. He maintains
that by a reorganisation of these plants alone a
saving of 430,000 tons of coal per annum could be
secured; while a similar process throughout the
country would lead to a possible economy of
15,000,000 to 20,000,000 tons. Hand firing alone is
responsible for a considerable part of the annual
loss of efficiency in boiler plants at the present day.
Very much the same thing may be said of the
domestic grate. There is an immense amount of
avoidable waste in the use of coal for heating
purposes in open fires. We are not now referring
to the crudity of modern heating appliances, which
cannot well be altered at short notice, but to the
careless methods of stoking and poking in common
practice. Householders differ enormously in the
amount of service secured from a scuttle of coals.
Let all, therefore, remember that, as we have already
said, every hearth, at this stage of the war, is a
military front, and every economy is a contribution
towards bringing the war to a speedy and successful
termination.

However perfect rescue apparatus
Training may be, the success to be expected
Rescue from a brigade working under such
Brigades, conditions as commonly attend
colliery accidents will be largely
dependent upon an efficient training of the men.
The Mine Rescue Apparatus Research Committee
devotes the third and last part of its report to this
question, and offers many useful suggestions for
improvement in existing methods. Dealing first
with the training galleries themselves, it is pointed
out that these should be made to resemble, as nearly
as possible, the actual conditions of a roadway after
a- colliery explosion—as has, indeed, already been
done in some cases, notably at Wath-on-Dearne and
Chesterfield. As in most of the practical work of
life, organisation is here an important factor, and, in
this respect, the position of unattached mines is not
satisfactory. There is really no reason why there
should be any unattached mines at all, provided that
there is a central station within a distance of
10 miles, because even although an owner may not
be a member of the Coal Owners’ Association, it is
possible for arrangements to be made for the inclu-
sion of non-members’ collieries within the scheme of
service of an. association rescue station. The question
whether there should be a resident or non-resident
brigade system is another matter and presents
greater difficulty, since much depends upon the size
of the district and the character of the mines
embraced within it.

Another problem also presenting some difficulty is
the fitness or otherwise of persons not actually
engaged in hard manual work to become members
of rescue brigades. There are numerous semi-
sedentary occupations connected with mining, and
men thus engaged, although they may be physically
sound, are not necessarily to be expected to be normally
in good condition for prolonged exertion. In such
cases the medical examination should be supple-
mented by suitable physical and other tests. Fitness
for rescue work, in fact, depends not upon physique
alone, but also upon temperament; and there is
much to recommend the suggestion of the committee
that the medical examination should be conducted
by a specialist rather than by the local practitioner.

As to the training itself, there is at present a want
of uniformity in regard to practices carried out
underground. Some instructors place little reliance
upon underground drill, because it is not easy, under
such conditions, to maintain adequate supervision of
the men. Others prefer gallery practices for the
supposed reason that, in this way, a severer test is
put upon the apparatus. This view, however,
is difficult to justify, and the Committee is right
in insisting upon the necessity for a certain
number of drills to be conducted in the mine. In
addition to this, it is necessary to provide for the
contingency of protracted rescue work, involving the
co-operation of reserve teams in successive shifts.
Unless adequate provision is made for circumstances
of this nature, it will probably happen that scratch
teams will have to be formed in an emergency, the
units of which will be strangers to each other, with a
certain loss of efficiency and reliability.

In addition to the actual work of drills, efficient
training involves other matters, such as instruction

in plan reading, the construction of breathing
apparatus, and the practical detection of poisonous
or inflammable gases. With certain exceptions, but
little attention has hitherto been given to these
points. In some cases the reason for this neglect is
due to the insufficiency of the staff of instructors
competent to undertake such work. It is, however,
particularly desirable that members of rescue teams
should be thoroughly familiar with the appliances
they have to use, and should know how to test them
and to keep them in working order.

An important point, bearing upon the general
efficiency of rescue work, is the codification of rules, as
was long ago pointed out by Sir William Garforth
in his evidence before the Royal Commission on
Coal Dust Explosions in 1891. At present there is a
want of uniformity in this respect, and the Com-
mittee urges the adoption by all mines of a single
code—such, for example, as is given in an appendix
to the report. It may be necessary, in certain cases,
to add special rules to meet particular local require-
ments, but the adoption of a uniform set of rules is
highly desirable. It is equally important that the
men should make themselves familiar with these
rules. It is not enough for the captain of the
brigade to know them, for any member may, in an
emergency, be called upon to lead a team. Captains
of teams would do well, also, to undergo special
courses of instruction, for upon their efficient
leadership the degree of success achieved in actual
work will largely depend. There are, however,
many things bearing upon the general comfort of
rescue teams, and indirectly influencing their fitness
and capacity for strenuous work, which a captain
might be unable to supervise. For such purposes it
would be advisable to appoint quartermasters, to
organise such matters as commissariat, bathing,
resting, and the changing, drying and disinfection of
clothing. The advantages of such a provision in
the case of protracted operations are too obvious to
need further elaboration.

Finally, we may mention that a strong feature
of this report is the careful analysis that has
been made of the causes of various accidents that
have occurred in rescue work in mines, most, if not
all, of which could have been avoided if suitable
precautions had been adopted. The suggestions
made in the report have been prompted by
experience of past failures and of existing imper-
fections in the machinery involved, in which we
include not only defects in mechanical appliances,
which cannot always be detected iwithout trial, but
also those of organisation, which are largely matters
of common sense. Rescue work in mines is a com-
paratively new departure. Its value has been too
hastily depreciated in some quarters, but the time is
not far distant when it will amply fulfil its promises.

CONTROL OF COKE.

Prices fixed for Household and Industrial Purposes.

From Monday next, October 7, the price of gas coke
for household and industrial purposes will be controlled
throughout England, Wales and Scotland by a new
Order of the Board of Trade. Hitherto, in the Metro-
politan area there was an agreed price with the gas
companies, and in other parts of the country, although
recognised prices prevailed, there was nothing to
prevent gas companies or any other dealer charging
higher prices.

The effect of the Order is that the price of gas coke
shall not exceed in any district the price of the second
list of house coal. Industries which use gas coke to the
extent of 50 tons per month on a yearly contract will
obtain a discount of 10 per cent.

The maximum price of unscreened coke breeze will be
60 per cent, cheaper than that of ordinary large coke.
Industrial users of over 600 tons a year will again have
a 10 per cent, discount.

The prices of second list coal, on which the prices of
coke are based, are fixed by the local coal committees in
each district.

THE IRISH COAL TRADE.

Thursday, October 3.

Dublin.

The early advent of cold weather increases the demand
for house coals, and the shortage of supplies is extreme.
Orders in merchants’ hands are already much in arrear, and
retailers have the greatest difficulty in obtaining supplies.
Prices:—Orrell coal, 59s. 6d. per ton; Wigan, 57s. 6d., less
Is. per ton discount for cash ; coke, 60s. per ton. The total
quantity of coal discharged upon the quays from cross-
Channel ports during the past week was 20,530 tons, com-
pared with 22,500 tons the week previously. Various
suggestions for coal and lighting economy are still under
consideration by the Irish Coal Controller. The use of turf
as a substitute for coal is becoming general in many parts
of Dublin. Little turf will be available for the winter,
although for the past five or six weeks the amount brought
into the city far exceeded that delivered in the correspond-
ing period of any previous year. The fact that an
advertisement has been issued for 1,000 miners by the
Wolf hill Colliery Company, Queen’s County, indicates that
these mines are on the eve of considerable development.

Belfast.

The coal trade of the port is stated to be in a critical
state owing to the lack of sufficient supplies. The Coal
Committee of the Corporation has fixed prices at 54s. 6d.
per ton for best English coal, and 48s. 6d. for Scotch.

The late Mr. T. L. Bryham, mining engineer, Hindley,
left estate valued at £11,195.