160 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN July 17, 1914, CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Aarhus (Denmark), July 21—The Corporation Com- mittee for Lighting in Aarhus are prepared to receive ten- ders for the supply of about 20,000 tons of best unscreened gas coal to be delivered c.i.f. Aarhus in shipments of 1,600- 2,400 tons from August 1914 until the end of February 1915, eventually 26,000 tons to be delivered from August 1914 to the end of June 1915; discharging per working day 400 tons. Tenders marked “ Tender for Coal ” must be delivered at the Aarhus Belysningsvaesen, Aarhus, not later that 2 o’clock p.m. on Tuesday July 21, 1914. Athlone, July 22.—The Athlone Urban District Council invite tenders for the supply of about 1,500 tons of best screened gas coal, to be delivered in good and dry condition into the coal sheds at the Council’s Gas Works, Athlone, at such times and in such quantities as may be required over the period of one year from the date of the acceptance of the contract. Tenders should be placed in sealed envelopes, marked “ Tender for coal,” and must be sent by registered post so as to reach the undersigned not later than 5 o’clock, p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 1914. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. No tender forms issued. P. V. C. Murtagh, clerk of the Council, Town Hall, Athlone. Blackburn, August 1.—The Electricity Committee is prepared to receive tenders for the supply and delivery of steam coal for the 12 months ending August 31, 1915. Specifications and forms of tender may be obtained on appli- cation at the Electricity Works, Jubilee-street, on and after Saturday, July 18, 1914. Sealed tenders endorsed “ Steam coal,” and addressed to the chairman of the Electricity Com- mittee, will be received at the Town Hall up to mid-day, Saturday, August 1, 1914. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. P. P. Wheelwright, M.I.E.E., engineer and manager, Corporation Electricity Works, Jubilee-street. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Bandon (Ireland), July 23. — About 400 tons of best double-screened gas coals, free from slack, for the Town Commissioners. Tenders to Mr. J. Coghlan, secretary, Gas Works, Bandon. Bakewell, July 31.—Gas coal, 1,500 to 1,700 tons, for the Urban District Council. Forms from Mr. V. R. Cockerton, clerk, Bakewell. Belfast (Ireland), July 20.—About 200 tons of best house coal and 300 tons of best Welsh steam coal, for the Com- mittee of the Belfast Charitable Society. Forms from the Clerk, at the Institution. Belfast (Ireland), July 22.—About 3,000 tons of Welsh coal and 4,500 tons of Scotch coal, for the Harbour Com- missioners. Forms from Mr. W. A. Currie, secretary, Harbour Office, Belfast. Bristol, July 24.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from Mr. J. J. Simpson, clerk to the Guardians, St. Peter’s Hospital. Buxton, July 25.—About 8,400 tons of gas coal and nuts, and 1,200 tons of cannel, for the Urban District Council. Forms from Mr. F. G. Shaw, engineer and manager, Gas Works, Buxton. Cardiff, July 20. — Coal and oil for the Glamorgan Education Committee. Forms from Mr. A. H. Bullock, 5, Queen-street, Cardiff. Chelmsford, July 20.—About 260 tons of Portland hand- picked steam coal; 150 tons of Portland screened cobbles; 30 tons of Rockingham best selected from Newton, Chambers and Company’s Colliery, for the Guardians. Forms from Mr. Arthur S. Duffield, clerk, 96, High-street, Chelmsford. Clacton-on-Sea, August 5. — About 5,000 tons of best screened gas coal, for the Urban District Council. Forms from the engineer and manager, Mr. Sidney Francis, Town Hall Buildings, Clacton-on-Sea. Dublin (Ireland), July 27.—About 200 tons house coal, 100 tons coke, 60 tons Welsh steam coal, to the Dr. Stevens’ Hospital, for the Board of Governors. Tenders to Mr. G. E. Pepper, secretary, Board Room. Dunshaughlin (Ireland), July 21.—About 140 tons of best screened Orrell, Whitehaven, or Wigan coal, for the Guardians. Tenders to Mr. F. Morris, clerk of the Union. Etterbeek (Brussels), July 30.—Coal and coke required at the Communal Buildings. Information from the Bureau des Travaux. Farnham, July 22.—About 4,000 tons best South Yorks gas coal, for the directors of the Farnham Gas and Elec- tricity Company. Tenders to Mr. A. E. Saville, secretary. Greenock, July 27.—About 20,000 tons of steam coal (washed Singles and Pearls), for the Corporation. Forms, on payment of 5s. (returnable), from Mr. John H. Parker, Electricity Department, Municipal Buildings, Greenock. Hastings, July 29.—About 600 tons of hard steam cobbles for the Guardians. Forms from Mr. A. R. Inskipp, clerk, 11, Wellington-square, Hastings. Haworth, July 24. — About 3,250 tons of gas coal (screened, unscreened, and gas nuts) for the Urban District Council. Tenders to Mr. William Robertshaw, clerk to the Council, United Counties Bank Chambers, North-street, Keighley. Kildare (Ireland), July 20.—About 40 tons of best house coal (screened) to the County Infirmary, for the Joint Com- mittee. Form from Mr. Charles Bergin, hon. secretary, Kildare. London, N.E., July 21.—Coal for the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians. Forms from Mr. D. Thomas, clerk, Bishop’s-road, Victoria Park, N.E. London, E., July 23.—About 250 tons of coal, also for the supply to the Union from time to time of steam and other coal for the Stepney Guardians. Forms from Mr. T. G. Stacey, clerk, Guardians’ Offices, Barnes-street, Stepney, London, E. Londonderry, July 27.—Welsh or English through and through steam coals, aggregating approximately 3,500 tons, for the Corporation. Forms from the Borough Electrical Engineer, Strand-road, Londonderry. March, July 20. — Coal and coke for the Isle of Ely Education Committee. Particulars from Mr. J. H. Haigh, education secretary, County Hall, March. Mexborough, July 20.—About 5,000 tons of gas coal for the Swinton and Mexborough Gas Board. Further particu- lars from Mr. J. W. Brearley, engineer, Gas Works, Swinton, near Rotherham. Newport (I.W.), September 10.—Fuel for the Isle of Wight County Council. Full particulars from Mr. J. Dufton, clerk of the Council, Newport (I.W.). Norwich, July 20. — Coal and coke for the Education Committee. Forms from Mr. Arnold H. Miller, town clerk, Guildhall, Norwich. Nottingham, July 24. — Good hard house coal, and good screened cobbles, for the Corporation. Forms from Mr. W. J. Board, town clerk, Town Clerk’s Office, Guild- hall, Nottingham. . Oxford, July 20.—Warwickshire or Leicestershire hand- picked cobbles for the Education Committee. Tenders to Mr. R. Bacon, town clerk, Education Office, Town Hall, Oxford. Sandwich, July 22. — About 1,000 tons best Durham unscreened gas coal for the Corporation. Particulars from Mr. J. Giles, manager, Borough Gas Office, Sandwich. Southampton, July 24.—About 250 tons best seaborne house coal, screened, to the Committee of the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital. Also for about 150 tons broken coke. Tenders to Mr. T. A. Fisher Hall, secretary. Stavanger (Norway), July 21.—For the Stavanger Gas Works, about 10,500 tons of gas coal.* Stirling, July 22.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Governor at the Poorhouse. Stockton-on-Tees, July 24.—Steam coal for the Corpora- tion. Forms from Mr. J. J. Smith, borough electrical engineer, Electricity Works, Stockton-on-Tees. Verviers, July 24.—Coal required by the town hospitals. Information from the Administration des Hospices Civil, 73, Rue des Palais. Warwick, July 24.—Coal for the Warwickshire County Council (Education Committee). Forms from the Director of Education, County Education Office, Warwick. Watford, July 24.—Coal and coke for the Governors of the Watford Grammar Schools. Forms from the Clerk to the Governors, Watford-place, Watford. Wigan, July 29.—Best house coal for the Corporation Tenders to Mr. William Henry Tyrer, town clerk, Wigan Worthing, July 20.—For the Corporation, viz. :—(1) 300 tons of Welsh coal, through and through (60 per cent, large) or (alternatively) washed nuts; (2) 700 tons of Linby hard steam or Shirebrook loco, hard steam; (3) 150 tons of Trede- gar large steam. Particulars from Mr. J. K. Allerton, town clerk, Municipal Offices, Worthing. York, July 20.—About 12,000 tons of pea slack, rough slack, small beans, or small peas coal, and 1,000 tons hard steam coal, for the Electricity Committee of the Corporation. Forms from Mr. J. W. Hame, engineer and manager, Elec- tricity Offices, Clifford-street, York. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, &c. Brisbane (Australia), July 28.— Bridge Steel.—'Ten ders are invited by the Queensland Government Railways for the supply of steel superstructure.* Edenderry (Ireland), July 27.— Well Sinking, etc.— Sinking well and erecting pump at Toor, for the No. 3 District Council. Specification from Mr. C. K. Douglas, C. E., Foxbrook, Moy valley. Frome (Somerset), July 23.—Water Works.—Suction gas plant, gas engine, and vertical three-throw ram pump, for the Urban District Council. Forms, on deposit of £2 2s. (returnable), from Mr. F. W. Jones, the Public Offices, Frome. Halkyn.—Shaft.—For sinking the Pen-y-Bryn shaft, on the New North Halkyn mine, about 70 yards deeper, for the Halkyn District Mines Drainage Company, Halkyn, near Holywell. This shaft, already in communication with the Halkyn District Mines Drainage Tunnel, at a depth of 200 yards it is designed to deepen, 10 ft. long by 8 ft. wide, with the object of connecting it with the Milwr Tunnel, now in course of extension to it at sea level. Particulars from the Halkyn District Mines Drainage Companv, Halkvn near Holywell. London, E.C., July 21.— Steel Rails.—For the Board of Directors of the Burma Railways Company, steel rails, fishbolts, etc. Specifications from Mr. W. Home^ managing director, No. 199, Gresham House, Old Broad- street, London, E.C. Shrewsbury, July 24.—Trial Bore.—Trial bore and sinking a shallow well, for the Crowmoor scheme, for the Salop County Council. Form for the county land agent (Mr. W. J. Pulford, County Buildings, Shrewsbury). South Newbald, July 24.—Trial Boring.—Construction of a 12 in. trial boring in the Parish of South Newbald, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, for the Howden Rural District Council, East Yorkshire. Specification from the Council’s engineer, Mr. Percy Griffith, 20, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W., on payment of £2 2s. (returnable). St. Mewan, July 22.—Shaft Sinking.—For sinking the present shaft at the Hill’s Quarry, St. Mewan, to a further depth of about four fathoms, at per fathom, for the St. Austell Rural District Council. Particulars on application to Mr. A. J. Blight, Trelowth, St. Mewan, or Mr. S. R. Hooper, Highfield-avenue, St. Austell. * Specifications, particulars, etc., may be seen at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, E.C. Grimsby Coal Exports.—The following is the official return of coal exported from Grimsby during the week ended Friday July 10 .—Foreign, 25,978 tons, and coastal, 1,275; against 30,132 and 999 tons respectively during the corresponding week last year. Shipments :—Foreign : To Aalborg, 1,172 tons, Aarhus, 1,464; Antwerp, 406; Dieppe, 979; Esbierg 531; Gefle, 1,286; Gothenburg, 2,516; Hamburg 1514* Helsingborg, 3,054; Kallundborg, 1.092; Klagshamn, 1,655 • Korsor, 988; Landscrona, 1,386; Malmo, 226; Moss, 547- Oxelosund, 1,287 ; Randers, 431; Reval, 2,020; Rokkala, 903; Rotterdam, 196; Cimrishamn, 668: Svendborg, 292; and Ystad, 1,365. Coastal : To Falmouth, 220 tons; Gravesend 400; Rye, 500; and Sou th wold, 155. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 129 (1914). Improved Contrivance for Automatically Detecting the Presence of Certain Gases and Vapours. A. Williams and L. D. Williams,’ 20, Buckler sbury,. London.—This invention relates to improved apparatus for detecting the presence of combustible gases or vapours in the atmosphere of a mine or other places. The object is to obtain an automatic indication of the degree of inter- mixture of combustible gases with the atmosphere, particu- larly when that degree of intermixture is small, such, for example as 1 per cent, or less. For the purpose of thia invention use is made of the well known heating effect due to the interaction of catalytic substances, such as finely divided platinum and palladium with combustible gases and vapours, to derive, through the medium of thermo-electric junctions an electrical manifestation of the heat develop- ment, but, inasmuch as the purpose of this invention is to obtain a certain and quantitative indication of the pressure of small proportions of such gases in the atmosphere, it is essential that the catalytic substance be maintained at a temperature in excess of that of the atmosphere, or other- wise, by the deposit of vapour from the atmosphere, or by the accumulation of vapour which is very slowly produced by the interaction of the catalytic substance with hydrocar- bon gases, the catalytic substance will be rendered inert to weak admixtures of combustible gases with the atmosphere. To maintain the catalytic substance in an efficiently heated condition, its temperature should be in excess of that which would be derived by the interaction therewith of the diluted combustible gases, consequently it is necessary that what in a thermo-electric circuit are called the “ hot ” and the “ cold ” junctions, should be equally heated with great exactness by the extraneous source of heat requisite to main- tain the catalytic substance at an efficient temperature. On this heating effect, due to the extraneous source of heat, is superposed at the “ hot junction,” the heat derived by the interaction with the catalytic substance of the combustible gases and vapours, such heating effect being carefully insulated from the ‘‘cold junction.” By such an arrangement the thermo-electric current, which will be generated, will be entirely due to the catalytically generated heat. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portable contrivance; fig. 21 is a side elevation thereof, and fig. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, the construction of the essential component of the df fit B C' 2 contrivance. Referring first to fig. 3 : A represents a button comprising finely divided platinum or palladium, or a com- bination thereof, which is incorporated with a pornna. substance in a manner to provide a considerable area of contact of the contained metals to the surrounding atmo- sphere. Into an aperture a formed therein is inserted a thermo-electric element B, consisting of a metallic joint of two suitably dissimilar metals, such, for example, as iron, and a composition called eureka alloy, which are known to promote the generation of an electric current when the joint is heated. For the purpose of electrically heating the button, a fine wire c, composed of platinum, for example, is wound around or embedded within the substance of the button A. The essential component A above described, together with an imitation, inert, button A0 from which the active heat- generating metal is omitted, are located in a compartment d provided in the front of a casing D, and shielded by a pervious cover d° composed of fine wire gauze, with or with- out a disc of readily renewable filtering medium. Within the casing D are located electric batteries E1, E2, and a millivolt- meter F, and beyond these an electric relay G and an alarm bell H. The thermo-electric circuit, starting from the junction B of the active button A is continued through the lead b1 to the terminal f1 of the voltmeter F, and from the terminal f2 thereof to the terminal g1 of the relay G, and from the terminal g2 thereof to the thermo-electric junction B° contained within the button A0, and thence to the active button A by the lead b2. When the voltage of the thermo- generated current exceeds a prescribed limit, a circuit is completed by the relay G, which requisitions the battery E* to effect the ringing of the bell H. The battery E1 serves to energise a circuit through the before-mentioned electric- heating wire c in which circuit a resistance c° is provided. By such means the buttons A and A0 are kept equally warm and dry when the apparatus is exposed to a pure atmo- sphere. When subjected to an impure atmosphere the voltage attained by the thermo-electric current, which will then be