June 13, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1289

MINE MANAGERS’ EXAMINATIONS.

We have received from Mr. W. W. Ware, the secretary
to the Board for Mining Examinations, copies of the
questions set at the examination for certificates of
competency as managers and under-managers of mines
and for certificates of qualification as surveyors of
mines, which was held by the Board on May 27 and 28
at Edinburgh, Sheffield, Wigan, Cardiff and Birming-
ham.

The text of the papers is given below :—

(The figures in brackets against each question indicate the
maximum number of marks obtainable.)

For First Class (Managers’) Certificate.

Subject No. 1.—Winning and Working.

(Six questions only to be answered: No. 1 is compulsory.)

1.	Place the following formations in their proper relative
geological positions, the newer ones being put first in order
and the older ones last: Lower limestone shale, coal
measures, old red sandstone, millstone grit, magnesian lime-
stone, new red sandstone, carboniferous limestone, upper
limestone shale. (40)

2.	In sinking a shaft which is to be 20 ft. finished
diameter, there is 12 yds. of quicksand from the surface to
the solid ground ; describe clearly, with sketches, how you
would sink through the quicksand, and give particulars of
the materials you would use. Say how you would perma-
nently secure the shaft down to the solid ground. (45)

3.	Describe fully how you would put down a borehole
40 yds. deep from an underground roadway whose normal
dimensions are 10 ft. wide by 5 ft. 6 in. high. Give details
of the different tools you would require. (40)

4.	If you have to work two seams of coal each 4 ft. 6 in.
thick, with 20 yds. of shale intervening, the upper seam
being at a depth of 450 yds. from the surface, say which
seam you would work first, and also after what interval of
time you would commence to work the second. Give
reasons for your answer. (45)

5.	How would you support your main roads in the
following circumstances:—(1) Where side pressure is
heavy; (2) where the floor is soft; (3) where the roof is
friable or crumbling ? Give dimensions of timber or other
material used. (40)

6.	Describe clearly the operation of driving a tunnel, stone
drift, or stone mine, by means of blasting. Give sketches
showing positions of shot holes for a tunnel, drift, or mine,
12 ft. wide by 6 ft. high. What special precautions have to
be taken to prevent accidents ? (40)

7.	Sketch a section or district of longwall workings
showing how you would lay out your roads to work a seam
of coal 4 ft. thick, with the full dip of 1 in 7, and the line of
cleavage parallel with the line of strike or level. Give
distances of roads apart. (40)

Subject No. 2.—Theory and Practice of Ventilation.

(Six questions only to be answered: No. 3 is compulsory.)

1.	What is understood by the expression “ diffusion of
gases ” ? Give four gases whose comparative densities are
as 1, 4, 9, and 16; at what relative rates will each of the
three last diffuse into the first when brought into contact
with it separately, and under such conditions that there is
no mechanical movement in either of them, and that the
lighter gas is uppermost ? (30)

2.	Give an account of the methods of dealing with coal-
dust in your own district in compliance with the Coal
Mines Act, 1911:—(a) In the haulageways; (6) where a
shot is about to be fired. Sketch and describe the apparatus
employed for the purpose in both cases. (30)

3.	Sketch a simple plan of longwall workings showing
the positions of an upcast and a downcast shaft, an outline
of faces, four intake and four return airways, two air-
crossings, the necessary doors and regulators, and, by means
of arrows, the directions of the air-currents in the airways
and along the faces. (50)

4.	What is meant by the expression ‘‘manometrical
efficiency of a ventilator”? Given two centrifugal ventilators
of the same construction and dimensions, one making twice
as many revolutions as the other, would the former give
twice as much air as the latter, and if not, why not ?

5.	Sketch, and describe the use of, a simple apparatus
suitable for analysing the air of mines. (30)

6.	What quantity of air is required for the efficient venti-
lation of a coalmine—(a) With an emission of 3,000 cubic
feet of firedamp per minute? (b) with 500 workmen, using
naked lights, and 50 horses, and producing no firedamp ?
(30)

7.	Describe shortly, and illustrate by means of sketches,
any portable electric miner’s lamp known to you. (30)

Subject No. 3.—Explosions in Mines, Underground
Fires, and Inundations.

(Five questions only to be answered: No. 1 is compulsory.)

1.	What is the action of stonedust in preventing a coal-
dust explosion ? How is the stonedust prepared, and how
and where should it be distributed ? (30)

2.	Discuss the relative merits of the longwall and pillar-
and-stall or stoop-and-room systems of working seams of
coal liable to spontaneous combustion, and describe any
modifications and precautions you would take in each case.
(25)

3.	Describe the organisation of a rescue brigade, and the

course of training necessary to qualify for the actual work
of rescue or exploration. (25)

4.	In the course of an investigation after an explosion,
how would you proceed to trace the point of origin, the
cause, and the extent of the explosion ? (25)

5.	A fire of large proportions having broken out at the
screens near the top of the downcast shaft when men are
underground, what steps would you take for their safety
and rescue ? (25)

6.	What precautions would you take in working a seam
of coal lying 100 yards below extensive old workings full of
water at a pressure of 100 lb. per square inch in a seam
above, the strata being intersected by several large faults ?
(25)

Subject No. 4.—Machinery.

(Five questions only to be answered: No. 6 is compulsory.)

1.	Describe a suitable arrangement of plant for a self-
acting underground incline where the trams have to be
raised and lowered on a dip of 45degs. (one in one). (30)

2.	Draw (freehand or to scale) an end elevation of the
pedestal, cod, or axle-bearing of which a plan view and side
elevation are given on a separate sheet herewith.* Also
draw a section on line AB. In both views you draw fill in
the important dimensions. Of what material would the
pedestal be made ? (30)

3.	State the data or particulars that should be sent to
makers to enable them to quote for a centrifugal pump
direct coupled to an electric three-phase motor with switch-
gear for starting, controlling and protecting the motor, the
particulars being so complete that makers have not to write
or send for more before quoting. (30)

4.	A compressor has compounded air cylinders 29 in. and
18 in. bore (inside diameter) by 42 in. stroke, and runs at
110 revolutions per minute. What volume of air will be
delivered to the receiver if the gauge pressure is 80 lb. per
square inch, assuming the volume to vary inversely as the
pressure ? What factor is ignored in this assumption ?
(Assume the atmospheric pressure to be 15 lb. per square
inch.) (30)

5.	What, shortly, are the arguments for and against the
plan of having a central condensing plant to deal with the
steam from the various engines, pumps, &c., about a
colliery, including the winding engine ? What sort of a
vacuum is desirable for a steam turbine, and why ? (30)

6.	Describe the various steps that can be taken to
economise the consumption of steam and coal at a colliery.
Mention the kinds of plant that are installed for this
purpose, and briefly describe any two of them. (30)

Subject No. 5.—Surveying, Levelling and Drawing.^
(Five questions only to be answered).

1.	A mineral leasehold, which has been partly worked and
abandoned for 30 years, is reopened by a new sinking in the
unworked part of the field. The plans of the former
workings are available. Assume that these old plans show
the workings correctly in relation to the boundaries and
other surface lines, but show no meridian line. Describe
how you would survey and lay down the new workings on
the colliery plans correctly in relation to the old workings,
using an ordinary mining dial or compass. (28)

2.	Calculate the deductions in links per chain necessary
to reduce measurements taken on the slope to the equivalent
horizontal measurement for inclinations of 1 in 1, 1 in 2, and
1 in 3—that is, 1 vertical for 1, 2 and 3, respectively
horizontal.

Plot the following bearings on a scale of 1 in. equal a
chain, and find the bearings and distance on the plan
between A and B, and also the approximate length of a
road to join A and B :—

From A N. 30 degs. 30 min. E.	150 links rising	1 in	2.

N. 45 degs. 0 min. E.	75	„	1 in	1.

N. 80 degs. 15 min. E.	180	„	1 in	3.

S.	10 degs. 0 min. E.	200 level to	B.

Note.—The measurements are on the slope.
Candidates for surveyors’ certificates will traverse this
survey and calculate the bearing and distance from A to B
on plan, and the length of a road from A to B.	(28)

'3. The positions of five boreholes put down in an unproved
field are shown on the accompanying plan, fig. 1*. The levels
at which two seams, A and B, were found in each bore-
hole are given. Find the line of level course or strike and
the rate and direction of dip. State what inference you
draw from these boreholes as to the existence of faults.

Fig. 1 on the plan is drawn to a scale of 1 in. to 100 ft. (28)

4.	Fig. 2* on the plan represents the margin of a high

debris heap on a scale of 1 in. equal 100 ft. Transfer this
figure to your answer book and show the lines you
would run, and the measurements you would take
in making a chain survey of the ground occupied by
the heap ; that is, using only ranging poles, chain measur-
ing tape, and arrows. From these measurements calculate
the area of ground occupied by the heap.	(28)

5.	Fig. 3* on the plan represents the plan of a bing or
heap of coal. The figures (50*0 — 80 0) show the relative
levels of the points so marked. The scale of the figure is
an inch to 100 ft. Transfer the figure to your answer book
without the shading. Calculate the cubic contents of the
heap in cubic yards and draw a cross-section on the line

* Not shown here.

f This paper was also that set for the surveyors’ certificate.

A B to a scale of an inch to 50 ft. Estimate the approximate
weight of coal in the bing. (28)

6.	Describe any method of determining the geographical
meridian applicable to surveying purposes. A leasehold of
under-sea coal is described as bounded by a line running
north 45 degs. east from a given fixed point. How would
you lay down that boundary on a plan of the taking ? (28)
Subject No. 6.—General Management and Mining Legislation.
(Five questions only to be answered : No. 1 is compulsory.)

1.	Describe, in general terms, any mine with which you
are acquainted, giving the thickness and inclination of the
seams worked; their depths from the surface, and system
or systems of working ; presence of gas and water; number
of shifts worked in 24 hours, and output per shift; and
describe how the underground official staff should be
organised. (30)

2.	State what inspections are required by section 66 of
the Coal Mines Act, 1911, of the appliances in actual use for
the purpose of raising or lowering persons in the mine, and
how often the shafts are required to be examined ? (25)

3.	What is the maximum pressure allowed on one circuit
for electric signalling ? How often must an examination be
made of a flexible electric cable attached to a portable
machine ? If the cable is found to be damaged, what should
be done ? (25)

4.	What precautions are required when approaching a
place likely to contain an accumulation of water, or other
liquid matter, or an area of unexplored disused workings ?
(25)

5.	What rescue and aid appliances are required to be kept
at a mine which maintains a rescue brigade ? (25)

6.	Specify what accidents, or other occurrences, are
required by the various Acts to be notified, and to whom ?
(25)

(To be continued.}*

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—June 5.

Mr. Stephen Walsh asked the Home Secretary if he
was aware that at the Maypole Colliery, Abram, near Wigan,
comprising Nos. 1 and 2 pits, there was, up to the date of the
explosion in August 1908, a place appointed at each pit for
the weighing of the mineral sent by those workmen who
were paid according to the weight of the mineral gotten by
them, and the men stationed a check weigher at each iplace
appointed, as provided by the Cod Mines Regulation Act,
1887 ; whether his attention has been called to the fact
that the workmen at the pits, in so far as their wages
depended upon the weight of the mineral gotten, were again
employed under conditions similar to those prevailing
before August 1908, but in the meantime the employers had
removed one of the places hitherto appointed for the weigh-
ing of the mineral, that they are providing facilities for one
checkweighman only, and had refused the No. 1 pit check-
weighman permission to act; and whether he would cause an
enquiry to be made with a view of securing to the workmen
the rights conferred upon them under the Coal Mines Regu-
lations Acts, 1872 to 1887 ?

Mr. McKenna said he would cause enquiry to be made
immediately. ____________________

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE
Liverpool.

There has been a little more enquiry the last few days
but few transactions of any moment are reported, buyers
preferring to only fill their actual requirements for early
delivery. The fall in steel and block tin has enabled makers
to reduce their quotations slightly, and same may now
be called :—Coke tins, I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 14s.
to 14s. l^d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 28s. 3d.
to 28s. 6d. per box • I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb ), 14s. 6d. to
14s. 7|d. per box; I C 14 x 1«| (124 sh. 1101b.), 14s. 6d.
to 14s. 7|d. per box; IC 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 6d.
to 14s. 7id. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 20s. 6d.
to 20s. 9d. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 14s. 4|d. to
14s. 6d. basis for approved specifications. Charcoal tins are
easy at 16s. 9d. basis and upwards, according to tinning.
Terne plates are slow of sale, and are quoted 24s. 6d. per
box for I C 28 x 20 unassorted. Coke wasters meet with
a moderate enquiry. Quotations run:—C W 14 x 20, 13s.
to 13s. l|d. per box ; C W 28 x 20, 26s. 6d. to 26s. 9d. per box ;
C W 14 x 18|, 12s. 6d. to 12s. 7£d. per box ; C W 20 x 10,
17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. per box—all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 percent.

A meeting was held at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds, on the
10th inst., with the object of forming a local branch of the
Coal Trade Benevolent Association, to be worked conjointly
with branches already in existence in Sheffield and Hull as
the Yorkshire branch of the association. Mr. W. G. Jackson
presided, and a deputation attended from the central board
of management to explain the aims and objects of the
association. Mr. Jackson said that £103 had already been
received from subscriptions in Leeds, and £468 had been
contributed in Hull since the beginning of May. It was
agreed to form the proposed Leeds branch on the motion of
Mr. F. E. Shepherd, seconded by Mr. S. Sharp and supported
by Mr. J. S. Charlesworth, and an hon. secretary and a
committee were nominated.

* The examination papers for under-managers’ certificates
will appear in next week’s Colliery Guardian.