June 20, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1349

Letters to the Editor.

The Editor is not responsible either for the statements
made. nr the oninion r expressed by correspondents

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MINERS' NYSTAGMUS.

Sir,—With reference to the lecture on this subject,
■delivered by Dr. T. Lister Llewellyn at the Mining
Exhibition, Islington, on Saturday last, I notice that he
estimates the cost to this country of miners’ nystagmus
in 1911 as £155,000, which apparently includes compen-
sation and estimated losses of output, &c. The lecturer,
in bis book and in his lecture, makes much ado of the
introduction of electric lamps, but I am of opinion he
will find that the electric lamp does not and will not
come up to his expectation as regards candle-power, and
it certainly is proving a very unsatisfactory article from
the cost point of view. Judging by information recently
obtained from users of the most up-to-date electric
lamps, I estimate that if electric lamps were in use
throughout this country, the increased cost—over and
above the cost of oil lamps—would be about £400,000
per annum.

It is a well-known fact that a large proportion of the
population suffer from some defect of the eye, and I
think that more allowance ought to be made for this
when considering the cases of nystagmus in mines;
furthermore, Dr. Llewellyn in his lecture admits that a
very large number of cases of nystagmus have followed
accidents to the eye or ill-health, and no doubt these
cases would have been “ reported ” whether electric
lamps or oil lamps were in use. This seems to be
proved by the enormous increase in cases since
nystagmus was brought within the scope of the
Workmen’s Compensation Act, as there has certainly
been no drop in the candle-power of oil lamps during
the last two or three years as compared with 1908.

If, as Dr. Llewellyn states, the increased candle-power
is so important a factor in preventing nystagmus, it
would not cost more than two or three thousand pounds
per annum to supply all the men in the country (who
are suffering or likely to suffer, from nystagmus) with
two oil lamps instead of one. The weight of two oil
lamps would be little or no more than one electric lamp,
and the writer’s experience is that two oil lamps would
throughout the shift give a steadier and more reliable
light than one electric lamp, as the candle-power of the
latter begins to drop steadily from the date it is put to
■use, and towards the end of its short life gives very
little light. The additional advantage of having two oil
lamps would be that the man could place them in two
positions, so that the rays of light were in the most
advantageous direction, and thus avoid the hard shadow
from the oil lamp.

In Dr. Llewellyn’s book he makes much ado of
■“ presenting to the community ” an electric lamp with a
bulb of 4-candle power, and with really no protecting
pillars (there being only two thin side supports so as to
show the best rays on the photograph), and the reflectors
conical in shape. If Dr. Llewellyn had to face the
problem of supplying this lamp to the mine, I think he
would soon find that he had tackled an impracticable
^problem, as the accumulator alone, to maintain this
candle-power for 10 hours for regular shifts and for a
tolerable length of life, would be of a prohibitive weight.
‘The two-side pillars would not be sufficient support
for the lamp, nor yet save it from the blows of the pick.
In the event of anything falling on the lamp, these
conical reflectors would burst the bulb and probably
ignite any surrounding gas; the main thing, however, is
that to a skilled electrician the lamp is obviously
impracticable by reason of its weight.

Judging by the experiences recited to the writer, the
electric lamps are not only costing considerably more
than the sum total of the cost of dealing with the
nystagmus cases will be, but they are also proving
unreliable in many other respects; it seems to me,
therefore, that the easiest and cheapest way of dealing
with this nystagmus will be, as suggested above, to
supply a certain proportion of men with two lamps.

In shooting at the oil safety lamp Dr. Llewellyn
ought to take into consideration that poop lamp-makers
-are, in a manner of speaking, between “ the devil and
the deep blue sea,” because, on the one hand, they are
faced with all kinds of stringent regulations to more
than ensure safety, there being “ cranks ” who insist
upon safety lamps standing all kinds of fantastic
velocities, &c., which never occur in a mine, and to do
which it is necessary to stifle and baffle the lamp ; and,
on the other hand, there is the “ nystagmus people,”

who apparently attach no importance to safety, but are
“ all for light,” worrying the life out of everyone with
all kinds of schedules and statistics, which remind one
more of the circulars sent out by patent medicine
vendors, who have such a trick of making the readers
imagine that they are on the point of death.

Morley, June 10, 1913.	E. A. Hailwood.

MINING EXHIBITION.

Sir,—In your article on the above you point out that
the dominant features were the developments of known
appliances rather than the new. This may be so, but
the rough-and-ready implication does not apply.

One would like to think that a mining exhibition
shows a variety of things and methods the adoption of
which would help the visitor to make his mining
operations more profitable and safer, assuming he had
the sense, courage and financial ability to adopt
exhibited appliances. At the late' Exhibition there
were few mining men there but what could learn some-
thing, or but who saw something that would help him
in his operations.

Many would see actual appliances (or the men who
know all about them), papers and illustrations of which
are long ago to be found in mining journals and
Transactions, but which mining enterprise was more or
less slow to adopt at many places. The slow boys of
mining would realise the necessity of hustling up-to-
date.

What about the exhibitors. Is their sacrifice and
labour worth while ? If their enterprise is not rewarded,
it is useless exhibiting. It is true many complain of the
apparent stagnant attitude of visitors, but it is too early
to form proper estimate. Let us remember it was a
plain business Exhibition, for the gingerbread is always
apparent under the gilt, however thick it is laid on a
mining appliance.

There were few, if any, real (working or models of)
mining appliances not represented, whose usage would
work a pit from the green sod to laying the last
shovelful of dirt. There were shown every means of
preventing preventible injury and death; for rescuing
and tending the injured, and burying the dead. From
the point of view of the mining man on the hunt for
safety and economy, the Exhibition was a success; as to
whether it was a success from the point of view of the
exhibitor, who was there to find the men wno desired
safety and economy, only time can tell. Certainly, the
mining man who wanted means of safety and economy
had his chance, and need not grumble if he neglected it.

June 11, 1913.	M. C.

MINING AND OTHER NOTES.

A new society is being formed to be known as “ The
South Yorkshire Corporals' Haulage Men's and Pony
Drivers’ Mutual Aid League.” Drivers who are over 18
years of age are eligible to join the league, which is to
safeguard members against the “scandalous accusations”
of cruelty to pit ponies. The society has protested against
the recommendation of the Nottingham county magistrates
that flogging should be resorted to in cases where pony
drivers or corporals are supposed to be guilty of ill-treat-
ment to pit ponies, principally on the ground that, in most
cases of cruelty to ponies, “ the fault does not lie with the
drivers and corporals, but with the deputies and manage-
ment of the coalmines, who are responsible for pressing
the lads to do an amount of work which it is sometimes
impossible for either pony, pony driver, or corporal to
accomplish.”

In order to encourage those in charge cf ponies to take
an interest in their welfare, and to look after them during
the period of the working shift, Mr. Maurice Deacon
has consented to offer a prize of 5s. per year to
each boy against whom there are no complaints of ill-
treatment, want of attention, or any other cruelty.
Particular attention will be given by the officials, corporals,
and horsekeepers to the general condition of each pony.
One complaint against any driver will reduce the prize to
3s., two complaints to Is., and three complaints will
entirely disqualify him for any prize.

An application has been made to the Development
Commissioners by the Mid-Scotland Ship Canal Association
for a grant of .£3,000 to defray the expense of surveying the
route of the proposed canal between the Forth and the
Clyde, and of preparing estimates. The association propose
to ascertain the geological character of the strata between
sea level at Grangemouth and the Clyde at Yoker, by way
of Falkirk, Carron, Larbert, Denny, Bonny bridge, Cumber-
nauld, Kilsyth, Kirkintilloch, Milton, Torrance, Milngavie,
Maryhill, and Clydebank. A canal along this route would
he 29 miles in length. It is pointed out by the promoters
of the scheme, in their application to the Development
Commissioners, that the canal would traverse the richest
coal, oil, mineral, and industrial valley in the country.
Until a survey has been made, no exact estimate of the cost
can be obtained, but the money required would probably be
about £24,000,000.

An interesting scheme for making Leeds a port has been
brought forward by Mr. James E. Bedford, a prominent
member of the Leeds City Council. Pointing out that the
natural direction in which Leeds is bound to extend is
down the Aire valley in the direction of Meth ley and
Castleford, which is served by the Aire and Calder Naviga-
tion Trustees, he says the time is not far distant when the
canal will be greatly developed, and sea-goicg vessels of
much larger tonnage will be able to reach Leeds. If the
city could, by canal and river development, become a seaport,
the valley between Hunslet and Methley would be available
for the establishment of industries in close proximity to
the wharves and docks.

Messrs. William Johnson and Sons (Leeds) Limited
inform us that they have received an order for a fuel
briquette making plant of special design for the Argentine
railways. This firm have recently put on the market a
special machine for the production of stonedust for use in
mines.

It is officially announced that Sir W. G. Armstrong
Whitworth and Co. Limited, have purchased 250 acres on
the south shore of the St. Lawrence, Canada, opposite the
city, as a site for large steel works. A million dollars is to
be spent at once on the construction of buildings covering
70 acres.

Four men were injured in an accident which occurred at
the Langtree Pit, Standish, near Wigan, belonging to the
Wigan Coal and Iron Company, on Saturday morning. As
twelve miners were being lowered in the shaft, the ascending
cage, which was empty, violently collided with the cage
which contained them, in consequence of the capping of
the rope of the first-mentioned cage being “ drawn.”

Our West Cumberland correspondent writes:—The
Flimby and Broughton Moor Coal and Firebrick Company
have decided to sink a new pit, on a site between their by-
product ovens at Risehow and Flimby, in close proximity
to the old Risehow royalty. Some time ago the company
contemplated opening out the old No. 1 Bertha pit, in order
to supply more coal for coking purposes, but this scheme
has been abandoned, and they have decided to concentrate
their attention upon a new colliery altogether. It is stated
on good authority that the colliery will be a large one,
employing when fully developed, about 800 men. The
workings will be carried under the sea, as at Whitehaven.
A feature of the scheme in contemplation is the erection of
a number of cottages on the site of the old-fashioned coke-
ovens.

On Sunday last damage estimated at £140,000 was done
by fire at the Canal Foundry, Blackburn, the extensive
works of Messrs. Yates and Thom Limited, engineers,
boilermakers, and brassfounders.

A meeting was held at Thornley on Saturday to
inaugurate a scheme for the erection of 12 cottage homes
for the aged miners of Thornley Colliery. A resolution
was carried to the effect that the workmen should each con-
tribute a fixed sum per week, Mr. John Cassidy explaining
that a penny a week would cover the cost in four years.

The directors of the North-Eastern Railway have made
the following appointments in connection with the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Mr. E. H. Hiley, divisional
goods manager, Newcastle, who has been appointed general
manager to the New Zealand railways :—Mr. C. A. Lambert,
district superintendent, Hull, to be divisional goods
manager, Newcastle, in succession to Mr. Hiley; Mr. C. S.
Page, district goods manager, Leeds, to be district
superintendent, Hull, in succession to Mr. Lambert.

The Shilbottle Cl al Company have directed boring
operations for coal at Sturton Grange, near Warkworth
Station, which have been continued for four months under
instructions from Mr. J. A. Dixon, manager for the
Shilbottle Coal Company. The borers were from the firm
of Messrs. Thomson Bros., of Dumfermline, and Mr. Border
superintended the work. It is stated that coal has now
been struck.

Mr. Richard Murray, of Harrogate, director of the
Redheugh and Trafalgar colliery companies, and of the
Durham Steam Shipping Company has left estate of the
gross value of £558,263, of which the net personalty has
been sworn at £509,966.

The Frickley Colliery, near South Elmsall, have written
to the Hemsworth Rural District Council to the effect that
they want 400 more men at the colliery, and pointing out
that there is no housing accommodation for them. The
situation is thus a difficult one, and the old problem
of the housing question is once again being raised. It was
reported at a meeting of the District Council that the
colliery company are themselves building 200 houses, and
the hope was expressed that private enterprise would do
the rest in providing the accommodation which is so
urgently needed.

Messrs. Pease and Partners have formulated a pension
scheme for their officials. The company's practice hitherto
has been to give the officials on retirement a bonus or a
sum spread over a period of years. The directors now have
under consideration a draft superannuation scheme on a
contributory basis to provide pensions for their officials who
join the fund on their retirement at a not earlier age than
60 except in the case of ill-health, the firm contributing
each year an amount equal to the amount contributed by
the official. At the annual meeting, Mr. A. F. Pease said it