March 20. 1913. 609 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The joint sub-committee of the statutory District Board met in Cardiff on Saturday to deal with questions ____________________________________________________ arising out of the independent chairman’s awards; and representatives of the owners’ side directed attention to the fact that several cases of principle had been referred to umpires. They considered it very desirable that such matters should be referred to that sub-committee with a view th settlement. The workmen’s representatives agreed with this expression of opinion ; and it is probable that in the future these matters will come before the joint authority. ______ A great scheme of housing has been commenced at G-ilfach Goch, where the Cambrian Combine are developing rapidly their Britannic-Merthyr pit, and will hereafter reach a very large output. The housing scheme will be carried out at a total cost of £115,000, of which £73,000 has been obtained from the Government at 3| per cent., repayable in half-yearly instalments over 40 years. Mr. D. A. Thomas, chairman of the Combine, is president of the committee; and Mr. Beddoe Bees, of Cardiff, the architect. All the houses will be ___________________ semi-detached, with a separate bathroom, and the rents ,to be charged will range from 6s. to 8s. per week, including all outgoings. Management will be on the co-partnership system, it being desired to secure the tenants as shareholders. The new village has been laid out on garden city plan, with tree-lined streets, and the whole will include a miners’ institute. The inaugura- tion took place on Monday, and at a luncheon Mr. D. A. Thomas said that everybody was talking about the problem of housing, and the newspapers were full of it but when there was a hustler like Mr. Leonard Llewellyn, the manager of the Combine, the matter did not end in talk, but in action. He hoped the garden village would not only be a great improvement, but would pay as well. The Britannic pits were now turning out 200,000 tons a year, but he hoped this output would be greatly increased—perhaps multiplied four or five times. ______________________ _______ The land taken is about 70 acres, and the houses will stand 15 to the acre, 300 superficial feet of garden being given to each. The houses will cost from £200 to £250 each, and the architect’s design includes hot water for every bath. _______ It was stated that Mr. Llewellyn intends to intro- duce into the Combine collieries the lamp which has won the £1,000 prize. _______________________ RAILWAY COAL CONSUMPTION. The cost of the coal consumed in the second half of last year in the locomotive departments of the principal railways of England, Wales and Ireland compared as follows with the corresponding cost in the corresponding six months of 1911:— Steam Railways. Barry ......................... 18,388 ... 15,625 Great Central ................. 207,498 ... 175,373 Grear Eastern ................. 206 400 ... 151970 Great Northern................. 214,852 ... 181,832 Great Northern (Ireland) ....... 41,957 ... 40,619 Great S uthern and Webtern (Ire.) 55,251 ... 53 625 Great Western................. 468,428 ... 383,143 Hull and Barnsley ............. 21,217 ... 16,535 Lancashire and Yorkshire....... 179,154 ... 150,247 London, Brighton and South Coast 130 817 ... 125,558 London and North-Western ..... 541,327 ... 502 746 London and South-Western ..... 211,339 ... 196 876 Metropolitan.................27 708 ... 28,743 Midland ....................... 375,036 ... 335,400 Midland Great Western (Ireland)... 29,832 ... 26,387 North-Eastern ................. 256,546 ... 210 038 North London ................. 24,197 ... 22,312 North Staffordshire ............. 25,419 ... 21,130 Rhymney ..................... 18,408 ... 16,341 South-Eastern and Chatham..... 189,792 ... 162 196 Taff Vale........................ 35,522... 32,544 Electric Railways—Cost of Current. Central London................. 9 497 ... 8,525 London Electric ............... 28,191 ... 39,192 Metropolitan District ........... 42,811 ... 55,358 It becomes increasingly difficult year by year to separate steam railways from electric railways, as nearly all the original great steam railways have availed them- selves, to some extent, of electric traction. Where this has only been done by any system to a limited extent, we have still classed that system as a steam railway; but where electric traction is generally, if not entirely, used, we have placed the undertaking upon a special electric list. The City and South London disappears from our list, as it has been absorbed by one of its more financially powerful neighbours. The Great Eastern uses oil largely, but includes it with coal and coke under the general head of “fuel.” The Metropolitan is now almost wholly worked by electric traction, but we have included the system among steam railways in dealing with the question of fuel, as the cost of the coal set out applies to THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. both steam traction and electric traction. Electric traction has been found the most economical, and in the past half-year steam trains only ran 211,866 miles, as compared with 1,789,047 miles run by electric trains. Coal appears to cost the London and North-Western Railway relatively more than it costs the Midland, the distance run by London and North-Western trains in the past half-year having been 25,685,584 miles, and by Midland trains 24,549,754 miles, while the cost of fuel on the Midland was a good deal smaller. The distances run by trains in the two half-years under review were:— Steam Railways. System. Barry....................... Great Central.............. Great Eastern.............. Great Northern ............ Great Northern (Ireland).... Gt. Southern & Western (Ire.) Great Western....................... Hull and Barnsley.......... Lancashire and Yorkshire.... London, Brighton and S.C. ... London and North-Western... London and South-Western... Metropolitan .............. Midland ................... Midland Great Western (Ire.) North Eastern______.............. North London.............. North Staffordshire ........ Bbymney_____?.................... South-Eastern and Chatham... Taff Vale .................. 1912. 1911. Miles. Miles. 1,600,669 ... 1,426,672 10,846.227 ... 10,894,798 12,128 310 ... 11,865.543 11,671.176 ... 11.897,212 1,945,901 ... 1,946 920 3,102,997 ... 2 919.264 27,137,883 ... 27,389.383 1,085,540 ... 1,053,833 9,315,700 ... 9,156 468 5,758,047 ... 5,721,018 25.685,584 ... 25,264 718 9,559,463 ... 10,186,009 2.103.576 ... 2,102,510 24,549.754 ... 24,351 297 1.268205 ... 1,284.097 15,308.026 ... 14,858.180 1,164,349 ... 1,099,073 1,544,475 ... 1,545,118 1.368.576 ... 1,250,153 8,227 726 ... 8,048.457 2,240,772 ... 2,133,752 Electric Railways. Central London ............ 856,819 ... 814,720 London Electric............ 2 807,557 ... 2,741.309 Metropolitan District ...... 1,880,865 ... 1,726,268 The cost of the locomotive coal consumed in the second half of last year upon the 21 steam railways—using the word “ steam ” in a somewhat comprehensive sense— was, accordingly, £3,279,088, as compared with £2,849,240 in the corresponding period of 1911, whilst the cost of current upon the three electric railways was £80,499, as compared with £103,075. The large decrease observable in working the London Electric was due to fresh arrange- ments in connection with the operation of the Lotz-road power house, which is now leased to the London Electric and Metropolitan District railways jointly, the rent payable by the London Electric being now charged to net revenue account instead of to revenue account. The distances run by trains upon the 21 steam railways in the second half of last year aggregated 177,612,953 miles, as compared with 176,394,475 miles in the corresponding period of 1911. The cost of the locomotive coal consumed upon the 21 steam systems was accordingly 4’43d. per train mile run, as compared with 3*88d. per train mile run in the corresponding period of 1911. The aggregate distance run by trains upon the three electric railways in the second half of last year was 5,545,311 miles, as compared with 5,282,297 miles. The cost of current was, accordingly, 3 48d. per train mile run in the second half of last year, as compared with 4’64d. per train mile run in the corresponding half of 1911. A strict economy appears to have been enforced upon the various systems, and, having regard to the higher prices current for coal, the general results attained may be regarded as satisfactory. At the same time allowance must be made for the working conditions of each system, which necessarily vary considerably. ___________________________ Grimsby Coal Exports.—The shipments of coal from Grimsby during the week ended March 13 were shown by the official returns to be as follow:—Foreign : To Ahus, 1,602 tons; Antwerp, 424; Bergen, 1,670; Christiana, 909; Dieppe, 1,285; Drammen, 1,108; Esbprg, 552; Fredrikstad, 1,174; Gothenburg, 842; Genoa, 2,015; Kallundborg, 1,484; Landscrona, 1,363; Malmo, 5,726; Oxelosund, 2,209; Randers, 1,206; Ronne, 703; Rotterdam, 764; Skien, 429; and Warberg, 1,317; total, 26,782 tons. Coastwise— Gravesend, 270; Hay le, 830; London, 165; and South wold, 24; total, 1,289 tons. Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces che dissolution of the following partnerships:—D, Thomas and W. Pugh, carrying on business at Clydach Vale and elsewhere, under the style of Thomas and Pugh; A. S. Dewhurst and J. Taylor, carrying on business as mechanical and electrical engineers, at Soho Works, South-street, Heywood, under the style of Dewhurst, Taylor and Co.; T. H. Flamwell and E. W. Shotton, carrying on business as mechanical and electrical engineers, at Church-walk Works, Worksop, under the style of Flam well and Shotton; Sir J. Wolfe Barry, G. E. W. Cruttwell, and K. A. Wolfe Barry, carrying on business as civil engineers, under the style of Sir John Wolfe Barry and Partners, at Dartmouth House, Queen Anne’s-gate, Westminster (a fresh partnership has been entered into between the above named and A. G CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES. Austria. Wholesale Coal Prices on the Vienna Exchange —Ostrau- Dombrau-Karwin coals : Large 28 10-29 10 kronen, cubes 27 60-28 60 kr., nuts 26 60-27 60 kr., small 23-23*20 kr., washed smithy coals 29-29 20 kr., coke 38-50 kr. per ton net cash, ex shutes Nordbahnhof. Pilsen large coal, 33 20 kr. per ton ex Franz Josef Bahnhof. Rossitz-Zbeschau- Oslawan coals: Washed smithy coal 30*50-31*50kr., coke 30-30 20 kr. per ton ex Nordbahnhof or Staatsbahnhof. Upper Silesian coals: Best large 32 30-33 10 kr., cubes 32*30- 33 10 kr., medium large 31*50-32 30 kr., cubes 31*50-52*30 kr., seconds large 26*70-27 80 kr., cubes 26*70-27*80 kr., best nuts I. 32*70-33 50 kr., II. 29*60-30*10 kr., best small 23 50- 24 kr., seconds 22 50-23 kr. per ton net cash ex shutes Nordbahnhof. In 10-ton loads: Best large 30*70-31 50 kr., cubes 30*70-31*50 kr., nuts 31*10-31*70 kr. per ton ex Nord- bahnhof. Gas coke from Vienna Gasworks 32*60-37*20 kr. per ton ex works. Lignite : Dux large 21*70-23*20 kr., Briix- Dux cubes 21*70-23*20 kr., nuts 21*20-22 70 kr., Mariaschen cubes 23*70-25 20 kr., nuts 23*20-24 70 kr. per ton, ex Franz Josefs- or Nordwest-bahnhof. Belgium. The production of pig iron in Belgium during February last comprised 2,330 tons of forge pig, 7,410 tons of foundry pig, and 181,130 tons of steel pig—a total of 190,870 tons, which compares with only 179,870 tons in the corresponding month of 1912. The output of pig iron from Belgian blastfurnaces during the two months ending with February last comprised 4,910 tons of forge pig, 15,920 tons of foundry pig, and 382,090 tons of steel pig—a total of 402,920 tons, as contrasted with only 367,330 tons in the corresponding period of 1912. Out of 55 existing blastfurnaces in Belgium 49 are at present in operation, as against only 45 at this time last year. Of those at work the production of pig iron per six hours is : Four furnaces 270 tons of foundry pig, one 85 tons of forge pig, and 44 6,611 tons of steel pig. France. The following shows imports and exports of fuel during January:— Imports. Exports. Jan. — 1 ' *-\ Jan. f Jan. \ Jan. 1912. 1913. 1912. 1913. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Coal .... 1,303,900... 1,351,300... 151,412... 95,287 Coke 186,000... 286,400... 14,680... 20,842 Briquettes 98,500... 78,800... 12,944... 9,611 The imports of coal included 860,500 tons from Great Britain (as against 812,800 tons), 272,400 tons from Belgium (206,200 tons), and 196,000 tons from Germany (240,700 tons). On the other hand, 235,800 tons of coke were imported from the latter country, as against 152,800 tons in the first month of 1912. Miners1 Nystagmus.—In the Chamber of Deputies an amendment to the Finance Act has been moved by M. Bouveri declaring that any workman who becomes afflicted with nystagmus subsequent to his engagement, and is thereby compelled to cease the work he is engaged in, shall not be called upon to suffer any reduction in wages owing to the change in the nature of his employment. The disease is to be declared an industrial disease (maladie professionelle), and the medical benefits provided for by the Act of 1905 in the case of industrial accidents are to be given. _______________________ Germany. Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—The situation remains unchanged, the call for various kinds of fuel being still so great that the pits are unable to respond promptly and are getting into arrears. A scarcity of labour is noticeable, and is being keenly felt. Industrial coals are in greatest request, owing to the undiminished requirements of the iron industry ; and it is from this side that the complaints of delay are most frequent. Coking coals, too, cannot be raised fast enough ; and though the demand for gas coal is less pressing, it is sufflcient to render stocking unnecessary to any great extent. The deliveries of house coal are naturally falling off somewhat, but still remain on a satis- factory level. Foreign buyers are on the market for large quantities ; but it would be difficult to satisfy their needs fully without neglecting the home market unduly. Never- theless, large consignments are being sent forward to Austria-Hungary, though Russian Poland is treated more cavalierly. The trade with Northern Germany is also large, the competition of English coals being unimportant. The coke market keeps very active, and considerable delays are met with in obtaining delivery of blastfurnace coke. Foundry coke is also in very good request. Ruhr Coal Market.—Nothing special has occurred, business proceeding in its customary favourable manner, and there are no signs of any early change. As before, the iron industry is very busy, being in some cases full of orders for sume months ahead, and therefore the corresponding kinds of coal are certain to find a market. Conditions are also favourable to other grades, the export trade in particular taxing the resources of the market. Whilst it is uncertain what effect the projected general strike in Belgium will