March 20, 1913

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

603

Mr. Asquith, who received a deputation from
the Trade Union Congress on Monday, showed
little sympathy with the proposal to nationalise
the mines. He pointed to the indifferent results
obtained in Germany, and added, “ When you
have regard to the enormous variety of condi-
tions under which our mining industry is carried
on, and the highly speculative character of that
industry, I should look with considerable hesita-
tion on any proposals to transfer the mines
compulsorily to the State.”

A meeting took place at Newcastle, on Satur-
day, between Northumberland coalowners and
the men's Wages Board with a view to devising
a more satisfactory method of regulating wages
than has obtained since the men withdrew from
the Conciliation Board. The owners put forward
a sliding-scale scheme, but no agreement was
come to ; sub - committees, however, were
appointed to continue negotiations.

At a meeting of the joint sub-committee of
the South Wales Coal Conciliation Board at
Cardiff, it was agreed to appoint a small joint
committee to consider specific cases of hardship
among the banksmen at the collieries, for the
revision of whose hours and wages the workers’
delegates had been pressing.

The Home Office have published new editions
of the lists of the names, addresses and districts
of certifying and appointed factory surgeons in
England and Wales, and in Scotland, revised to
December 31, 1912. These lists are issued as a
ready means of reference for workers and their
representatives desiring to ascertain, for the
purpose of applications for certificates under the
Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1906, the name
and address of the certifying surgeon to whom
application must be made in any particular
case. Copies can be obtained, at the price of Is.
each, either directly or through any bookseller,
from Messrs. Wyman and Sons Limited, Fetter-
lane, London, E.C., and H.M. Stationery Office
(Scottish Branch), 23, Forth-street, Edinburgh.

In the course of a discussion on the motion to
reduce the Home Office vote on Tuesday, in the
House of Commons, representations were made
in regard to various mining questions, including
the provision of rescue appliances, bathing
accommodation, and pit pony inspectors. As
respects the first of these subjects, the Home
Secretary announced that compliance with the
Rescue Order had been so unsatisfactory in
Scotland that he contemplated taking legal
action to enforce it. He stated, further, that the
committee appointed to investigate the question
of pithead baths had visited a large number of
installations on the Continent, and that their
report might be expected very shortly.

An important decision under the Minimum
Wage Act was given by his Honour Judge
Macpherson at Chesterfield on the 14th inst.
It was a case in which a miner claimed 12s. 4d.
under the Minimum Wage Act. Objection was
taken by the defendants to the jurisdiction of
the court, as a decision had been given and
certified against the workman. His Honour,
however, decided that the umpire’s certificate
was not a certificate within the meaning of the
Act and rules, and he held that the objection to
the jurisdiction of that Court failed. Leave to
appeal was granted.

Mr. William Walker, H.M. divisional inspector
of mines, who has been appointed by the Home
Secretary to hold a formal investigation of the
Causes and circumstances attending the accident
which occurred at Rufford Colliery, near
Mansfield, on February 7, 1913, will open his
enquiry at the County Court, Mansfield, on
Thursday, April 3, 1913, at 10.30 a.m.	I

The paper read by Mr. Harold
Rescue C. Jenkins on “ Internal

Apparatus Pressures in Rescue Appliances,”
Problems, at the meeting of the Midland
Institute of Mining, Civil and
Mechanical Engineers, at Barnsley, on March 12,
points to the valuable service which institutes
of this description afford not only the mining
community but humanity at large.

This paper had for its object the description
of a modification applicable to rescue apparatus
of the injector type, devised with a view to
overcoming a serious objection pointed out in a
paper read at a previous meeting of the institute
by Prof. Cadman.

In the development of a new method, two
classes of mind are pitted against each other.
The one suggests difficulties and sources of
danger, while the other is engaged in finding
means to overcome them. The first class may
be subdivided into two classes—the one, unfortu-
nately rare, which restricts itself to things which
matter, and the other which delights in trifles.
Prof. Cadman is representative of the former,
for he is eminently practical, and always knows
his subject.

In his paper Prof. Cadman drew attention to
a serious defect in design which had clearly
been disclosed by the accident at Caeduke, near
Swansea, when a man wearing the Draeger
apparatus, collapsed and succumbed to carbon
monoxide poisoning. An examination of the
apparatus revealed that the absorbent cartridge
was punctured by two small holes, that two of
the tube connections were leaking, and that
such leaks were capable of permitting the atmo-
sphere containing carbon monoxide, to get into
the apparatus. A careful investigation of the
cause of this phenomenon showed that while the
injector fulfilled the object of promoting circula-
tion and keeping the air supply cool and
refreshing, it also converted the apparatus into
two zones of different pressure. On one side of
the injector a positive pressure was obtained,
and on the other side a negative pressure, and
in the negative pressure zone leakage from
outside could take place, resulting from a
puncture or leaky joint. If then the person
wearing the apparatus were in an atmosphere con-
taining a considerable quantity of carbon mon-
oxide,or a marked deficiency of oxygen, he would
be liable to succumb. Prof. Cadman traced the
attendant mishaps at Felling, Cade by, Belle Vue
and a number of accidents in the United States,
in addition to Caeduke, to this cause, and came
to the conclusion that in no circumstances
should an apparatus possessing an injector be
used for mine rescue work, from the extreme
difficulty in detecting or guarding against such
leakages.

There are reasons, however, why the apparatus
of the injector type should not be too readily
abandoned, perhaps the most important of which
are the promotion of the circulation of the air
through the apparatus without putting undue
strain on the wearer’s lungs, and the greater
ease with which the heat can be carried off.

Mr. Jenkins’ method of overcoming Prof.
Cadman’s objection to the injector type of
apparatus is by inserting a sort of bag
between the oxygen cylinders and regenerators
and the back of the wearer, which bag is
inflated to the required extent by the pressure
inside the apparatus, and remains inflated so
long as there is no leak in the apparatus. The
moment that a leak occurs, the bag ceases
to be inflated, and the wearer is at once conscious
that something has gone wrong. The effect of
this bag appears to be to act as a buffer and

tend to equalise the maximum and minimum
pressure, making the latter always positive.

That Mr. Jenkins’ proposal appealed to
members of the Midland Institute who were
present is evident from the remark of Prof.
O’Shea, in opening the discussion, that “ he
thought the demonstration which Mr. Jenkins
had given showed that he had overcome the
difficulty.”

It seems, however, that more time for
improving the details of construction of rescue
apparatus ought to have been allowed by the
Government before rushing into compulsory
legislation.

It was pointed out in the discussion on Prof.
Cadman’s paper that the Royal Commission on
Mines, in their Report, made it clear that
breathing apparatus was in an undeveloped
stage, and that, as more experience was gained
improvement would follow. There was a great
danger, therefore, in attempting to advance too
rapidly, or the remedy might prove to be worse
than the disease. The compulsory introduction
of the so-called rescue apparatus was, in its
existing state, undoubtedly premature, and was
an instance of “ panic ” legislation, and its
“ panic ” enforcement, with which the mining
community has recently become so familiar.

It is perhaps not putting the case too strongly
to suggest that the hasty, half-digested and often
impracticable legislation which during the last
few years has been, and is now being, applied to
coalmines, is largely answerable for the unrest
which is steadily tending to become a permanent
feature of the industry.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade during the week has been well
maintained, and the colder weather has created a firmer
tone on the market. Prices are unchanged, but a fair
business has been done. Factors and merchants have
bought freely, and colliery stocks are considerably reduced.
Railway companies are slow in deli very, and the depot trade
is brisk. The snow showers have stimulated trade for all
qualities. The rough winds have caused serious havoc
amongst the loaded barges on the river. No cargoes of
either Durham or Yorkshire qualities have been “ on
offer."

The placing of large contracts has strengthened the
market at Newcastle. Loading turns are very congested.

The Durham coal trade is strong in tone. Many coUieries
are fully booked during the rest of the month.

The improved demand for Lancashire house coal is main-
tained, and manufacturing coals of all descriptions are firm.

In West Yorkshire there is a brisk demand for all
varieties of coal.

In South Yorkshire the collieries are fully occupied in
dealing with pressing orders. Coke continues somewhat
dull.

The Derbyshire coal trade is stronger in all departments.

The congestion at Cardiff has been somewhat relieved,
but heavy demurrage is still being paid. Prices are firm.

Trade in Scotland has been active, and prices are steady.

Concrete Institute.—At a meeting of this institute to be
held at Denison House, 296, Vauxhall Bridge-road, West-
minster, on Thursday March 27, 1913, at 7 30 p.m., a paper
will be read by Prof. Stephen M. Dixon, M.A., M.Sc.,
M Iost.C.E., MC.I., professor of civil engineering at
Birmingham University, entitled t( Props and Beams in
Mines."

Forthcoming Mining Machinery Exhibition. — The
consultative committee of the Mining Machinery Exhibition
to be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, N.,
from May 29 to June 7 next, met at the offices of the
Exhibition at 43, Essex-street, Strand, W.C., on the 13thinst.
Mr. H. L. Sulman, past president I.M. and M., was in the
chair, the others present being Sir Thomas Holland,
K C I.E., F.R S., Mr. A. M. Limb, M.Inst.M E., and Mr.
H. Greville M< ntgomery, the organiser of the Exhibition*
It was announced that the Right Hon. the Earl of Ellesmere,
M.Inst.M., had kindly promised to perform the opening
ceremony, and that members of the following societies had
accepted invitations to visit the Exhibition The Institu-
tion of Mining Engineers, the Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy, the National Association of Colliery Managers,
rhe Mining and Geological Institute of India, the Mining
and Metallurgical Club, and the Indian Mining and
Geological Club. Furtrer arrangements were also made
with regard to demonstrations of and lectures in connection
with the prevention of accidents and the saving of life in
mines.