38

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 3, 1913

away dangerous gases, the minimum requirement in the
various State laws ranging from 100 cubic feet of air per
underground employee per minute to 200 cubic feet in
the gaseous anthracite mines of Pennsylvania ; 100 cubic
feet is the prevailing minimum in the bituminous
districts of the country. Usually these quantities are
much exceeded. Although all coalmines must have a
ventilating system and practically all use fans, in com-
paratively few mines are the installations made with
reference to fighting fires. Not only should the fan be
built wholly of metal, but the casings also should be of
iron or steel or, better yet, concrete or brick; also the
fan conduit to the shaft or to the entrance should be of
fireproof construction. The value of having a reversible
fan is unquestionable. It is not easy to determine, in
the face of an emergency, what is best to be done, but
facilities for effective action should be available.

Reversing the ventilation or closing emergency doors
should be done only when approved by the man in
charge underground at the time. Except when survivors'
of fires or explosions have occasion to shut such doors,
the reversal or shutting should be done only with the
full knowledge and with the approval of the responsible
management or by order of the State inspectors if they
are present.

Whether the first stopping should be erected on the
intake or on the return, or stoppings on both simul-
taneously, is a much-discussed question among coal-
mining men. In the opinion of the author, everything
depends upon the circumstances; that is, the location of
the fire, its character, size of the headings or chambers,
whether the coal bed is flat or pitching, the prior direc-
tion of the ventilating current, and whether breathing
apparatus and trained men are available. All agree to
the general principle that it is advisable to place the
stoppings as close to the fire as possible in order to limit
the extension of the fire and to lessen the amount of air
or oxygen enclosed. In many fires dense smoke and
excessive heat prevent placing the stopping on the
return side, even if breathing apparatus and electric
lamps are on hand. In that case it is manifest that the
first stopping must be placed on the intake side of the
fire. Under ordinary circumstances the author believes
that the stoppings should be put up simultaneously if
it is possible to do so ; if not, the stopping on the intake
should be put up first, and then the stopping on the
return should be put up as promptly as possible.

Sealing a mine fire in the presence of a considerable
amount of methane is a hazardous proceeding. Such a
necessity has often arisen in the Pennsylvania anthra-
cite region. It is best that the temporary stopping or
stoppings should be doorframes and doors, the doors
being closed automatically after all the men have
withdrawn from the mine. There are several ways by
which this arrangement can be effected. The doors may
be hung so that they will close by their own weight or
by other weights, but may be held open by connections
that may be broken or released. The release may be
accomplished by a permissible explosive and time fuse,
by electric devices, or by the simple means of a counter-
weight consisting of a keg of water so arranged that the
water will gradually drip away, so that after a certain
period the counterweight will be so light as to release
the catch and allow the door to close. Engineers of
the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in 1906 used the door
method to seal off a fire in a very gaseous territory in
which there was danger of an explosion occurring at any
moment. The men were withdrawn from the mine and
the door was drawn shut by a long wire rope attached
to the hoisting cage. Later, when the fire was deemed
to be out, this rope was used to demolish the door.

(To be continued}.

Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces
the dissolution of the following partnerships:—W. Fry
and others, carrying on business as engineers, wheelwrights,
&c., at the Reliance Foundry, Wellington, Somerset, under
the style of Ford Brothers and Co., Thewlis; F. J. Ballard
and F. H. Pepper, engineers, Tividale; N. Macbeth, J. B. K.
Macbeth and N. Taylor, carrying on business as consulting
engineers, merchants, surveyors and valuers, under the
style of Macbeth Bros, and Co., at Bombay and elsewhere in
India, and having a purchasing agency at Caxton House,
Westminster, so far as concerns N. Macbeth.

Hall Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of
coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, December 24,
1912, is as follows:—Antwerp, 547 tons; Amsterdam, 1,356;
Assens, 1,027; Buenos Ayres, 12,342; Barcelona, 2,122;
Bremen, 1,414; Copenhagen, 2,787; Christiania, 1,542;
Genoa, 2,252; Guernsey, 657; Ghent, 1,542; Harlingen,
1,138; Harburg, 8,110; Husum, 406; Hamburg, 4,447;
Helsingfors, 201; Kiel, 2,546; Marseilles, 609; Nakskov,
1,330 ; Odense, 1,965 ; Reval, 1,143 ; Bonne, 1,163 ; Rouen.
5,219; Riga, 3,786; Rotterdam, 3,563; Swaneke, 222;
Trieste, 182; Uddevalla, 952; Wyk, 190; Zeebrugge, 2,128;
total, 66,888 tons. Corresponding period last year,
71,947 tons.

ROTES FROM SOUTH WALES.

[from our own correspondent.]

Final Decision that Anthracite Miners Secede from
South Wales Federation—Home Office Conference
at Swansea—Mining*School Project: Large Income
Assured—Coalowners Unite in Great Scheme —Port
Talbot’s Progress and Prospects—Larger Facili-
ties for Shipping at Barry—The Outlook in Coal
Freights — Colliers and Doctors; Both Depart-
mental and Trade Union Action—More Litigation
Threatened Concerning the Minimum Wage
Award.

The disintegrating effect of the new scheme of
Federation centralisation becomes more and more
manifest as time passes. Over 14,000 men were repre-
sented at Swansea on Saturday in a special gathering of
the Anthracite Miners’ district, called to further
consider the question of withdrawal from the South
Wales Federation. This meeting was subsequent to the
appeal which Mr. Brace, M.P. (president of the Federa-
tion), with Mr. T. Richards, M.P. (secretary), made for
a reconsideration of the proposal to secede; and it was,
therefore, of unusual importance. After prolonged
discussion, throughout which it was made abundantly
clear that the anthracite men were determined to ensure
self-government, repudiating entirely the new idea of
abolishing the districts, it was resolved to abide by the
result of the ballot. This had been taken specially upon
the question of the new reorganisation proposals and
proved to be a decisive rejection of the scheme. The
meeting therefore proceeded with the work of drafting
the rules of their separate organisation—the Anthracite
Miners’ Association ; and their secretary was instructed
to inform Mr. T. Richards, M.P., of the decision which
had been arrived at.

On Friday, as the outcome of Home Office inter-
vention, a conference took place in Swansea upon the
question of raising horses at the Copper Pit, Morriston.
Dr. Atkinson represented the Home Office and Mr.
J. Dyer Lewis (H.M. inspector) was present, with Mr.
John Williams, M.P , miners’ agent, who presented the
case of the men. Mr. D. L. Thomas (manager) and Mr.
W. Morgan (miners’ agent), with three of the men, also
took part. The issue raised had relation to the Eight
Hours Act, and after a long discussion Mr. Thomas
undertook to submit a proposal to his principals. An
early resumption of work by the 400 men affected was
anticipated.

The announcement made in these columns from
time to time as to the establishment of a new mining
school has now to be supplemented by report of a
conference which took place last week between repre-
sentatives of the Welsh Mining Board and education
representatives of the Glamorgan County Council. The
meeting was held in the Engineers’ Institute, Cardiff,
Sir Clifford Cory, M.P., presiding. As has been
previously stated, this movement for the constitution of
a mining school was in its original form more actively
promoted by the owners of the Ocean, Powell Duffryn,
Cory’s and the Glamorgan collieries ; but as time went
on, the adherents increased in number, and at last week’s
meeting, in addition to the chairman, already named,
there were:—Mr. T. Vivian Rees and Mr. T. Hannah
(Ferndale), Mr. D. A. Thomas and Mr. T. J. Callaghan
(Cambrian Combine), Mr. W. Jenkins and Mr. Thos.
Evans (Ocean). Mr. W. W. Hood (Glamorgan), Mr. W.
Jas. Thomas (Ynyshir), and Mr. E. M. Hann (Powell
Duffryn). The County Council representatives were the
chairman of the Education Committees (elementary and
secondary), members of the mining committee, &c. ; and
there were present also Mr. H. M. Ingledew, solicitor,
who has acted as secretary for the coalowners, and
Mr. H. Davies (director of mining instruction,
Glamorgan).

The original idea was that the work should be
carried out in conjunction with the University College,
Cardiff, and Mr. Hood had consulted with Principal
Griffiths, of that institution ; but after the matter had
progressed to some extent it was found that the charter
of the college somewhat hindered the working out of the
agreement upon the lines which were desired, the
promoters being anxious so far as possible to adopt the
German system as carried out at Bochum. There is a
difference, however, between the German school, which
is in Westphalia, and the new one which it is intended
to set up in South Wales, viz., that whereas the German
school is for pupils of the better-off class, the South
Wales school will be essentially democratic, opening the
way for the children of the working collier who equip
themselves in the Council’s classes.

It is desired to make the school intermediate
between the County Council classes and the College, and
it has to be emphasised that the new institution does
not enter into competition either with the elementary
efforts of the Council or with the higher academic
teaching which may be imparted at the College.

Sir Clifford Cory, in opening the conference*
explained the intention of the promoters, and stated
that they had called in the help of Prof. Louis, who had
drafted for them a scheme. Parts 1 and 2 of that
scheme would be carried out, but in regard to part 3
(which was for the higher or University class of educa-
tion), this would not be undertaken by the Mining Board
at present, if at all. They had had friendly interviews with
Lord Merthyr (the president of the College) and with
other gentlemen on behalf of that institution, and
associated with him (the speaker) in the interviews were
Messrs. D. Davies, M.P., and others. The support of
the Mining Board in their new school, which will be
established at Treforest, would come from the following
collieries:—Ocean, Powell Duffryn, Cambrian, Fern-
dale, Cory’s, Standard (Ynyshir) and the Cambrian
Combine. The total output of the concerns was
12J million tons per annum, and they were agreeable to
a levy of one-tenth of a penny per ton, this producing
over £5,000 a year. This money was now available.
Forest House had been taken on lease, and they desired
to work in cordial co-operation with the County Council,
intending to get as director the very best man obtain-
able. Neither expense nor trouble would be spared to
carry out, for the benefit not only of colliery proprietors,
but also for the whole of the general community, the
scheme of education and training which they had in
mind.

After Mr. H. Davies (the county director of
mining education) had explained in detail the work
now being carried out by the Glamorgan Council, and
had also described possible future developments of the
new school, a resolution was passed, upon the motion of
the Glamorgan representatives, expressing keen satis-
faction at the establishment of the mining school e
Another resolution, moved by the coalowners, expressed
appreciation of the work already done by the Glamorgan
Council. and solicited the hearty sympathy and co-opera-
tion of that authority in the erection of the new school.
It was agreed that a working scheme for co-operation
of the two authorities should be prepared and brought
before a subsequent conference.

One estimate of the gift which the coalowners thus
make to the district places it at a capital value of
£150,000, but for the present the income may approxi-
mate more closely to £5,500 per annum than to the
£5,000 originally stated.

The director of the school will be appointed in the
course of the present month ; and till selection has been
made, the scheme of educational training cannot be
fixed. Generally speaking, the lines to be followed are
those drafted by Prof. Louis in his scheme; and
applicants for admission as students will have to give
evidence of being skilful and industrious workmen with
at least four years’ underground experience; or, if they
desire mechanical training, they must demonstrate their
skill as mechanics. The subjects, in addition to drawing
and ordinary school matters, will include the principles
of mining and electricity, mineralogy, mining juris-
prudence, &c.; and it is intended ultimately to establish
a good library and museum of models and appliances,
with a complete geological collection.

The Monmouthshire Education Committee, at a
meeting on Tuesday, discussed the question of
establishing a mining school for the county, and
decided to recommend a conference with coalowners
on the subject.

Port Talbot returns for 1912 are very satisfactory.
Considerable increase in facilities for loading coal have
been made during the year, two new tips having been
erected; and it is intended to instal a belt elevator for
loading coal. Total exports were over 2,200,000 tons,
an increase of about 110,000 tons (notwithstanding the
strike). Further progress is assured by the new steel
and tin-plate works, the new collieries at Cymmer (for
North’s Navigation Company), new pits at Bryndu and
Cefn Cribbwr, and developments at Glyncorrwg.

The new tips at Barry Dock, to be erected on the
island side of No. 1. are in progress, the old pitwood
cranes having been dismantled in order to clear the site.
They will add about a million tons per annum to the