April 4, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 701 Letters to the Editor. The HMitor is got reRnonsible either for the statements made, or the oninionp ornrosRod bv corroRnondentp. A.11 communications must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender, whether for publication or not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi* cations. A.sreplies to questions are only given by way of published answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped addressed envelopes are not required to be sent. PIT PONIES AND BUNKERS. Sir,—I am told that colliery managers are being advised to put blinkers on the bridles of pit ponies to meet the requirements of the Act. This appears to me like sending a man down the pit without a lamp, and equally as cruel. At the best, it can only guard the eye from side cuts and will not protect the front or top of the eye from those bangs which finally cause all the blindness of colliery ponies. Moreover, if the sight is diminished in this way, will not the Government soon be wanting a breathing bag through the cartridge and the cooler into the inhalation bag.” The adjoining “ Draeger ” diagram with positive pressure circulation, and table, shows that there exists no negative pressure throughout the apparatus. The working chart shows that, in the injector apparatus with positive pressure-circulation as much work can be done as in the former “Draeger” apparatus with negative pressure. The external construction remains the same, and an apparatus with negative pressure can be easily converted into a positive pressure apparatus by the exchange of a few parts. By this new construction we believe to have met all the requirements of Prof. Cadman and others. It will easily be seen that, although retaining all the advantages of the injector,—i.e., cool air, perfect absorption of CO2, efficient circulation without using the lungs as a motive power, &c., the apparatus has now none of the disadvantages attributed to the negative pressure produced by the injector. It should also be noted that we are adding no extra PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. / HOUSE OF COMMONS.—March 28. Aged Miners’^Pensions Sir Henry Havelock-Allan asked the President of the Local Government Board if he would explain why, in the case of the old age pensioners resident in the Aged Miners* Homes at Middlestone Moor, county Durham, a reduction of pension on account of free lodging was being made which is greater than the reduction at similar homes n other parts < f the same county ? Mr. John Burns said: I have received an appeal against a decision of the local pension sub-committee in which the question of the value of the benefit or privilege enjoyed by the provision of free residence in the homes referred to arises. Before coming to a decision, I have instructed the general inspector for the district to confer with the sub-committee on the subject. March 27. Safety Lamps (Testing Fees). Sir Frederick Cawley asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had done anything to Test. Draeger Diagram with Positive Pressure AS Test with : 7^646/ Day ; - Date : - before 7 7 (5 Pressure. „ _ after 7 C/m, •• " r before Circulation: after 03 " “ permin. Start: Finish: Jf-.JpO. Period: J2. Cartridge. Weather ; Temperature: -f 'fO* In Sulphur Fumes Temperature in Smoke Chamber : + ® Name ; ff/O't&e&t-e/ns Age*. <36 State of Health.: 2^^^- Results 120 Mm Suction a Pressure Proportions inxtttz. Water Column. tfuctccrn-’ 30 min cw I i 60 min f + 0 1 +5 1 +1 1 o +1 t +3,5 1 + 1,5 + +5 1 4 1 4 3 1 +1 ♦ + 3,5 ♦ + 3.5 i ♦ + 5,5 ! 90 min 120 mm 1 - 1 1 + 2. t 4 0J 1 4 % t + 0,F 1 41 f + 1,5 * + k, 5 t + 0,5 I 4 1 t 4 0 1 + 1 1+1,5 1 + 5,5 j = INSPIRATION |- EXPIRATION 30 000 30 Oezember 1910. 350 g 300 g 250 g 200 g 150 g WOg 50 g 3- e/tp-GllAA & Hours - Min. MKG 3 6500 30 7oo 25 20 15 %o 10 %<, 5 n io Bi 0 8/£o O. Dragerwerk - Lubeck, d K't'h “ guard for the animals’ hips,” which already get cut very badly ?—and the accidents to men and ponies will increase. < When this question is satisfactorily solved, it will be a saving of money to the masters and of cruelty to the pony. In the meantime, “ the Lord be merciful! ” April 1,1913. Onlooker. RESCUE APPARATUS OF THE INJECTOR AND NON-INJECTOR TYPE. Sir,—Since the reading of a paper by Professor Cadman before the South Staffordshire and Warwick- shire Institute of Mining Engineers, drawing attention to the possibility of poisonous gas being drawn into the air circuit in cases of leakages in rescue apparatus employing a suction nozzle and injector, a voluminous correspondence has appeared on this subject in the mining Press. There is no occasion, as far as the “ Draegar ” appa- ratus is concerned, to enter further into the discussion on this subject, as the “ Draeger ” apparatus, by a slight alteration in its construction, is really outside the controversy. The vacuum in the cartridge on the “ Draeger ” injector apparatus can be converted at once into positive pressure by changing the seat of the injector in such a way that the injector propels the air direct from the parts or complications to the “Draeger” apparatus, which has always scored through its simplicity. For over 10 years the “ Draeger ” apparatus has been used with ever-increasing success throughout the world, and stands out easily foremost amongst self-contained breathing apparatus. By introducing positive pressure throughout the apparatus, there is no reason why the small party, who were hitherto opposed to the injector principle, should not now adopt this apparatus, as the feature they objected to has been eliminated, while the advantages of the injector, which they readily acknow. ledged, have been retained. I trust that you will once more allow me to trespass on your courtesy in giving space in your valued paper to the above. Richard Jacobson. 70, Shoe-lane. London, E.C. April 2,1913. Royal School of Mines. — The governing body of the Royal School of Mines are about to appoint a new Professor of Metallurgy in the room of Prof. Carlyle, who is resigning in order to resume his professional work. Partnership Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces the dissolution of the following partnership :—E. P. Pearks, D. Pearks, T. C. Pearks, and H. T. T. Pearks, carrying on business as corn and coal merchants at Kelso-place, Kensington, Queen-street, Hammersmith, and at Gloucester- road, Kensington, under the style of T. Pearks and Sons. meet the complaints of'safety lamp manufacturers that they are charged a high fee for having lamps tested, whilst for testing lamps in Germany, France and Austria there was no charge, and that the testing station was not accessible and causes inconvenience ; and would he say under what statute the Government had power to levy fees for testing safety lamps ? Mr. McKenna said : It has been found possible, in view of the large number of lamps which the makers propose to submit, to make substantial reductions in the fees as originally fixed. The fees are so' fixed as merely to cover the expenditure actually incurred in connection with the testing of a lamp, and no statutory authority is required for charging the fees. The 'esting station was established at Eskmeals because the Home Office already had an experimental station there, and the work could be carried out more economically for the makers as well as more conveniently for the Department than if the Home Office had had to acquire a special site and appoint a special staff. It may be possible later on to make arrangements for its transfer to a more central spot. Rother Steel and Foundry Company Limited.—Thi8 private company has been registered, with a capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, to take over the business of steel- makers and founders, carried on by J. Glen and J. Adam at Wakefield. Qualification of first directors (who are to be appointed), 100 shares. Registered offices, Calder Works, Thornes, Wakefield.