November 1, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 925 SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Arrivals of foreign pitwood at South Wales ports have been upon a better scale during the past few days. Owing to the inclement weather in Wales and adjoining counties, the delivery of home-grown timber has been slower through the state of the roads and the fact that, in many cases, the wagons for the conveyance of wood to the railways or to the hard roads are totally unfitted for the purposes. The epidemic of influenza has also attacked the workers in the forests and woods; consequently the deliveries of home- grown pitwood to the collieries has been upon a poor scale, and several companies were forced to take supplies from their stocks. There has therefore been a greater demand for French pitwood, the regular supplies of'which help to compensate the spasmodic deliveries of home-grown wood in bad weather. The, wisdom of colliery companies endeavouring to secure stool's up to an eight weeks supply is hereby shown, and it is hoped that the Pitwood Alloca- tion Committee’s Order «ith respect to increasing stocks will be carried out by all collieries, so as to prevent any pit stoppages occurring through want of pitwood. The actual quantity of foreign mining timber imported from abroad into South Wales ports for the week ending October 25 is as Mr. A. Allen asked whether attention had been drawn to the fact that the Vale of Leven Co-operative Society, who had some 20,000 customers, had been compelled to refuse all orders for the delivery of coal owing to their inability to obtain any supplies. Mr. Wardle said that enquiries were being made. follows:— Date. Consignee. Loads. Oct. 21 Lysberg Limited........... 2,760 „ 21 Lysberg Limited .......... 100 „ 22 E. Marcesche and Co....... 360 „ 22 Morgan and Cadogan........ 150 „ 23 Lysberg Limited .......... 540 „ 24 Morgan and Cadogan ....... 480 „ 25 Grant, Hayward ...........,. 120 „ 25 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,440 „ 25 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,560 „ 25 Bromage and Co. ........... 960 COAL MINING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. According to the Annual Report of the Department of Mines, New South Wales, for the year 1917, the output for the year 1917 amounted to 8,292,867 tons, valued at £4, 442,470, which was an increase of 165,706 tons and £1,086,321 in value when compared with 1916. The collieries in the Northern district fur- nished an output of 5,380,957 tons, valued at £3,074,966, as against £5,311,832 tons, valued at £2,406,265, in the year 1916 ; and the Southern district supplied an output of 1,841,869 tons, valued at £920,107, as compared with 1,848,933 tons, valued at £660,761 in the preceding year. The production from the Western district amounted to 1,070,041 tons, valued at £427,667, as against 966,396 tons, valued at £269,393, in the previous year. The chief inspector of coal mines (Mr. W. Humble) gives particulars of this branch of the mining industry. The following table shows the output of coal, the numbers employed, and the number of mines at work in the various districts: — Persons 1917. 1916. employed. No. (-----A-----N of Below Above mines. Total ............ 9,270 Quotations were at the maximum scheduled prices. The endeavour made to increase the output of the Welsh coal field by means of pit committees has proved abortive. It is hoped, however, to make arrangements to obviate short- time working in the collieries, and so increase the produc- tion. The decrease in production shown during the past eighteen months has naturally considerably lessened the quantity of mining timber used. Imports from Ireland were upon a fairly good scale. The South Wales Coal Owners. This co-operative association, formed by the South Wales coal owners to purchase timber for supplying its colliery members, has not met with the success anticipated. The trading account for the period from May to December, 1917, shows that purchases of woods, forests and pitwood amounted to .£274,478, machinery account .£3,970, and working expenses £4,000. On the creditor side the sales of 56,139 tons of pit wood are placed at £154,138, stocks at £123,916, while the deficiency on balance amounts to £4,604 A meeting was recently held of this association, and particulars of what had been accomplished were given to the Press, but no details of the financial side of the scheme were published. ground, ground. Tons. Tons. Northern District 5,380,957...5,311,832... 8,358... 3,224... 84 Southern District 1,841,869... 1,848,933 .. 3,131 . 978... 16 Western District 1,070,041... 9664 96... 1,326... 321... 29 Total 1917... 8,292,867.. — ...12,815... 4,523... 129 Total 1916............. — .. 8,127,161...12,550... 4,342.... 124 PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—October 28. The Output of Coal. Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, answering Sir E. Jones, said the estimated total tonnage of coal lost through short time in collieries west of Cardiff during the past six months was 200,000 tons on an output of about 3^ million tons during that period. Most of this loss had occurred during the past few weeks. It was hardly correct to say that the anthracite collieries in West Wales were only working some three days per week. The greatest loss of time so far recorded was in the week ended October 12, when the anthracite collieries lost on an average somewhat less than one winding shift each. The loss of time was due to shortage of shipping, which necessarily affected more particularly the western part of the coal field, in view of the demands of the Admiralty and the Allies for the better classes of coal produced in the eastern part of the coal field so far as these are obtain- able. The acute situation which had recently arisen was being dealt with by diversion to South Wales of tonnage which would otherwise go to other districts, and by an increase so far as possible in the transport of coal in- land. The Controller of Coal Mines was in communica- tion with’ the railway companies with a view to the pro- vision of the best possible facilities for inland transport. Notwithstanding the longer strike in 1917, as com- pared with the strike in 1916, the output of coal in- creased by 165,706 tons, the increase being contributed by the Northern and Western districts, as the Southern was 7,064 tons below its output of 1916. The Newcastle mines provided the increase, viz., those working the Borehole, Great Northern, Burwood and Australasian seams. The supply from the Greta seam was 114,936 tons short of what it was in 1916. The Northern district showed an increase of 13 per cent., the Southern district a decrease of 0-4 per cent., while the Western district had an increase of 9-7 per cent. Of the total output of coal, 2,771,404 tons were drawn from shafts, and 5,521,463 tons from tunnels. East Greta Colliery has been deemed to be a shaft. The total number of persons employed in and about the coal mines showed an increase of 546 on the pre- vious year, and the number of mines increased by five. The quantity of coal and shale raised per person employed in and about mines averaged below ground 640 tons, or 478 tons including surface workers. The corresponding figures for the year 1916 were 649 tons and 482 tons respectively. The quantity of coal cut by machinery was 2,309,186 tons, as compared with 2,450,271 tons in 1916. Of these, 1,822,897 (1,797,066 tons), an increase of 25,831 tons, were got by 179 (173) electrical machines, and 486,289 tons (653,205 tons), a decrease of 166,916 tons, by 94 (139) compressed air machines. Of the total coal cut by machinery there was a decrease of 141,085 tons as compared with the year before. Part of this is to be accounted for by the increasing output of coal from pillars and from top coal in the thicker parts of the Greta seam. The total number of machines used was 39 less than in 1916. The following table shows the production and value of coke and number of coke ovens in the various districts: — CoLe ovens. District. Quantity made. Total value. October 29. An Enemy Alien. Col. Sir F. Hall asked whether August Siegel, a German agent who had been employed in Scottish mines, had been interned or repatriated. Mr. Munro (Secretary for Scotland) said that the enemy alien referred to had been recommended for repatriation, and would be sent by the next available boat. Tons. £ s. Northern... Ill,803... 149,08 18 Southern... 297,904...346,075 12 Western .. 45,880... 45,508 14 CO ft s fl bi fl > O fl . 03 be .5 ^3 6^ £ be co g a d. s. (1. 0.26 9...18!.. 9 . 23 3 . 561.. 0...19 10...102.. 389.. . 176 589.. . 414 255.. . 68 October 30. Coal for Schools. Mr. Wardle, in answer to a question, said there was no Order of the Controller of Coal Mines stating that schools were not to be rationed. So long as schools con- sumed less coal than the maximum allowance agreed by the Controller they were, in a sense, not rationed, and as the consumption of public elementary schools fell below the scale applicable to schools in general, a mis- understanding had arisen in the matter. Major H. Terrell asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware that the coal shortage was not wholly or mainly due to absenteeism on the part of colliers; and whether, if colliers worked five days a week, nine hours per day from bank to bank, and there were no absenteeism or strike, the supply of coal would be sufficient for all requirements. Mr. Wardle said he was aware that the shortage was not wholly due to absenteeism. If there were no avoid- able absenteeism or strikes, a considerable part of the shortage would be made up. He did not anticipate that any material increase in the output of coal would result from an endeavour to arrange a working week of five days of nine hours each, bank to bank. As some time might be expended in going to and from work, the actual period of work at the coal face might be, and often was, considerably less than eight hours. Total 1917 455,587...511J93 4 9...23 9 . 844... 1,233... 658 Total 1916 437,587...387,570 19 5...17 9 ..—... — .... — The output shows an increase of 18,000 tons over the quantity made in 1916, and a very material in- crease of 6s. in the value per ton. It is very grati- fying to find small coal turned to such good account, a large proportion of which at one time was considered of no value and left in the mine, or if sent out was burnt uselessly on the surface or used for road making. During the year 24 fatal and 134 non-fatal accidents were reported. Each of the fatal accidents resulted in one death; the non-fatal accidents caused injuries to 148 persons, some of whom, however, were injured in the fatal accidents occurring. The fatal accidents showed an increase of 11 as compared with the pre- vious year, while the non-fatal increased by 11. The number of tons raised per life lost in the various districts was as follows: Northern district, 384,354 tons; Southern district, 204,652 tons; Western dis- trict, 1,070,041 tons. Of the deaths, 12 were caused by falls of side or roof, four by being run over or crushed by trams or tubs, one by machinery, and one by an un- specified cause, the total underground being 18. On the surface two occurred : on railways, sidings or tram- ways one was caused by electricity and three by mis- cellaneous accidents, the total on surface being six. The gross total was 24, as compared with 13 in the preceding year. The death-rate per 1,000 persons employed was 1-38, as compared with 0 77 in 1916, and the number of tons of mineral raised per life lost was 346,855, against 626,507 the previous year. The death-rate per million tons of mineral raised was 2-88 (1-59 in 1916). The fact that there were no accidents from ex- plosions of firedamp or coal dust is considered an indication that the ventilation on the whole was fairly satisfactory, that the safety lamps were good and well looked after, and that great care was taken in the matter of shot-firing and the damping of dust. Shot- firing in dry and dusty places is always attended with more or less risk, more particularly in pillar extrac- tion with the goaf edge close by, and the immunity from accident is very creditable to all concerned in the work. It is hoped that they will always bear in mind that, even though a permitted explosive is used, it, under some conditions (happily of rare occurrence), will emit flame. Electric hand safety lamps for the use of mining officials and for coal- getting purposes were being used in the following mines: Dudley, Hebburn, Richmond Main, South Bulli, Bulli, Excelsior, North Bulli, Coal Cliff, and Metropolitan. General Remarks. During the year 1917 three prospective large pro- ducing collieries began operations on the coal seam, viz., Pelton, owned by the Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Company, and the Aberdare South and Central mines, owned by the Caledonian Collieries Limited. Sydney Harbour, Seaham, Killingworth and Duckenfield were four of the most important collieries which were idle most of the year. Following on an inspection of the Bulli Colliery on February 20, 1917, notice was served on the manager that the working of electric coal cutters in the Bulli seam was a dangerous practice, in that in the event of an accident to the mechanism of the machines, or to the trailing cables, or to the picks of the machines coming in contact with stone in the process of holing, the flame or sparks so produced was liable to create an explosion of gas and coal dust, so as to threaten or tend to the bodily injury of all persons employed in the mine, and that he must remedy the same. The manager refusing to remedy, the matter was referred to arbitration, and the award was that the practice was dangerous, and in the interests of the miners and of the mine should be at once discontinued. The annual report of the Government geologist (Mr. J. E. Carne) states that he visited Nimbin and Tyalgum districts in the upper watersheds of the Richmond and Tweed rivers for the purpose of examin- ing coal outcrops in these localities. The latest dis- coveries and developments confirmed the opinion pre- viously expressed as to the character of the known seams in the Clarence coal measures at Nimbin and adjoining districts, viz., that no really workable coal seams have yet been located. Moreover, the analyses proved that even the apparently bright clean bands of coal were in themselves intrinsically dirty, the selected samples, free of shale bands, containing an average of over 28 per cent, of ash. Though small quantities might be extracted for limited coal require- ments, nothing has yet been discovered to justify expenditure in further prospecting any of the seams examined, nor is there any reasonable hope of striking better by sinking below the lowest outcrops as sur- mised by some of the local residents of Nimbin and elsewhere. So far no really workable seams have been discovered in any portion of the Clarence coal measures, though, as before mentioned, careful pick- ing of the thin intercalated coal bands may yield coal * suitable for local gas making, stationary engine firing, etc., when better fuel is unobtainable. The great drawbacks in connection with its extensive use, even locally, are cost of winning and excessive dirt or ash even in the carefully picked coal. The thickest coal bands rarely exceed 1 ft., and are usually much less. In mining it would be almost impossible to keep the coal separate from the dirt, because of its extreme friability ; practically the whole of it would be won as slack. The absence of firm lump coal would debar its use for locomotives apart from the quality. As regards dirt or ash, the average per- centage in six carefully selected samples from different localities amounted to 28-59 per cent., which would equal 40 per cent, in the coke. From the fairly con- sistent character of the coal in the Clarence Coal measures between Glenreagh and the Queensland border, and between the coast and the coal range near Gordon Brook, there is little hope of good coal being discovered within these limits. A visit was also paid to the Vulcan Coal, Lime and Cement Syndi- cate’s property, Brogan’s Creek and Carlos Gap, County of Roxburgh. The site is stated to be most favourably situated for the economical establishment of lime and cement works, all the necessary materials occurring within the property. The coal and shale lands front a Government railway, and the limestone is within 1,000 yards, and connected therewith by cable tramway. Leases have been granted by the Govern- ment for an overhead loading stage for limestone, for coal screens and hoppers, and for a railway siding, all of which have been constructed with necessary con- nections at a convenient site on the main line, 139 miles from the metropolis, the special railway freight to the latter for cement being 5s. 94d. per ton. The coal, being at a higher level, closely adjacent to the siding, can be delivered into railway trucks by gravity from the tunnels. The limestone is hauled by cable on to a bridge spanning the main line, and discharged into hoppers conveniently placed for filling railway trucks. Both limestone and shale of suitable compo- sition are available in great abundance, and still greater supplies could be secured alongside if required in the future. The clay shales occurring in the coal measures and in the upper marine beds are identical with those of Kan dos, where commercial cement is being manufactured. The carefully selected coal is of low grade as regards ash contents, but is free burning, and is quite suitable for use in the manufacture of cement and in lime burning and for all local purposes