Jury 24, 1914. Supplement to THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. xvii _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ the other shunter had both his in his hands. The num- ber of surface fatalities is abnormally swollen by five from simple causes. Under the Notice of Accidents Act the following dan- gerous occurrences were reported : One ignition of gas at Mosley Common No. 2, Crombouke, at a roburite shot in the ripping. Gas was found there by an inspector of mines the same day at 11.30 a.m., the percentage present in the atmosphere being 1£; six occurrences in connection with winding in shafts, ropes, etc.; one electricity fire at Moston Colliery; one gob stink at Agecroft (Doe). Nineteen cases of nystagmus and two cases of miner’s beat knee came under notice. Of the nystagmus cases, 15 were colliers whose ages ranged from 29, 31, 33, 36, and on to 54. Two were datallers whose ages were 32 and 35, one was a filler whose age was 35, one was a haulage chain tenter aged 25. Prosecutions.—There were no prosecutions by the inspector. The prosecutions by owners of workmen numbered 55, 17 owners taking proceedings for breach of rules. Coal Mines Act, 1911.—The arrangements with regard to examination for firemen’s, etc., certificates, made by the approved authorities in the district have continued to be satisfactory. In North and East Lancashire 284 certificates were granted, there being 54 failures. In regard to search of workmen. At some mines other systems which are not satisfactory are in operation. In a number of cases there has been a marked im- provement in the general ventilation and in the distri- bution of the air. Tunnels have been driven to reduce the length of the airways and lead to an improved ventilation; 243 air samples have been taken. Except in one mine the highest percentages of methane were :— •12, -02, *04, *07, *19, ”08, ’05. Carbon dioxide, the highest percentages were :—’19, *16, *16, *25, *37, ’08. Oxygen, no case of under 20 per cent. The Explosives Orders are generally well observed. Some difficulty has been experienced at some of the small mines in getting the men to bring out their unused explosive. No certificates have been given to surveyors; six first- class manager’s certificates of competency have been endorsed for surveying. In North and East Lancashire the number of horses employed underground was 265; in Ireland, seven. The number having died from injury by accident, five; from disease, three; the number requiring to be destroyed in consequence of injury, seven; the number of cases of injury reported, 16: the number of cases of ill-treat- ment, one. There has been a slight increase in the number of the inspections on behalf of the men. At most mines arrangements for reversing the air are complete, and at many the arrangements have been tried, but there are some mines at which the work is not yet completed. The new regulations in regard to the provision of automatic controllers to prevent overwinding (sec- tion 40) have been generally complied with, but there are a few mines at which the work is either not yet completed or nothing has been done. Detaching hooks have been provided, except at one mine where they are being fixed. Cage gates and keps are provided at nearly all mines. A large number of owners clean up the coal dust and then apply stone dust in proportions varying from two to four to one. At Mosley Common the coal dust is filled out on Saturdays only, there being no stone dust- ing or other application; Bridgewater—coal dust filled out at nights, stone dust main roads; Ashtons Field, Linnyshaw and Ellesmere—only in shunts, coal dust cleaned up every night, salt used on floor; Brackley and Wharton Hall—coal dust cleaned up, stone dusting all over main roads; Tonge—coal dust cleaned up, floor on roads watered; Great Lever—coal dust removed, then all roads stone dusted; Ashton Moss—coal dust removed, then everywhere stone dusted; Rose Hill—coal dust cleaned up when necessary; Duxbury Park—coal dust cleaned up every night and Saturdays; Ellerbeck—coal dust cleaned up nights and Saturdays, dust with coal cutter dust; Chisnail—clean up coal dust, then stone dust roads, in Arley seam, water roads; Blainscough and Welch Whittle—clean up coal dust, then water; Birkacre—cleaned up coal dust, roads dusted with coal cutter holings; Ladyshore—coal dust cleaned up at night, then water roads with barrel; Altham—coal dust cleaned up; Moston—only coal dust cleaned up; Den- ton—coal dust cleaned up, occasionally sprinkle flue dust; Bradford—sweep up coal dust; Westleigh—clean up coal dust, and water. Weekly pays have been established throughout the district. Explosives Used.—The total quantity of permitted explosives used during the year was 522,9631b., which is 93,800 more than in the previous year, and is 90*04 per cent, of all explosives used. The estimated total number of shots with permitted explosives was 1,240,028, which is 206,729 more than in the previous year. The number of shots with permitted explosives is 90’7 per cent, of the total number. The estimated number of shots electrically fired, 1,236,508, is 218,508 more than in the previous year, and is 99*7 per cent, of the total number of shots. The average percentage of miss-fires is *0105, the most favourable for some years. Safety Lamps.—The number of safety lamps in use was 47,370, subdivided as follows :—Method of locking : Lead rivet, 41,228; magnetic, 5,958; screw, 112; pad- lock, 64. Kind of illuminant : Colza, colza and petro- leum, 31,024; petroleum, 2,835; volatile spirit, 9,290; electricity, 1,216; other illuminant, 3,005. 1,216 elec- tric lamps were in use. The method of lighting lamps was as follows :—By electricity, 10,513; by internal igniters, 3,027; by opening, 83,830. Baths.—Messrs. Fletcher, Burrows and Company established baths at their Victoria Colliery, which were opened on August 4, 1913. On the first day 16 men used them, second day 26, third day 35, fourth day 50, the number then increased to 97 without officials. Now 120 men and boys and six officials change clothes and wash. The total number employed underground is 133, above ground 25. At Gibfield Colliery, a large installa- tion was put into operation on September 15; there is a large hall in which the men change clothes, and hang those they have been wearing on'hooks which can be drawn up to varying heights from the roof. On each side of this hall are cubicles in which the men wash under sprays—hot and cold water. The men bring their own towels and soap and can lock up their clean clothes so that their contents are safe. The hall is about 75 ft. long and 30 ft. wide, with 20 cubicles or washing places on each side, 400 suspender hooks. They can get seven men through each bath in an hour. The number of men now using the baths is 290. At the Chanters Pits a third installation is being erected. At the executors of John Hargreaves, Reedley Colliery, Burnley, a bath house on similar lines to the above is being erected. There cannot be the least doubt that the men thoroughly enjoy this boon provided for them. With few excep- tions it must contribute to the health of the workers, the more regular attendance at work must compensate to some extent the owners. What the wives and mothers say is expressed in forcible Lancashire dialect ; of two boys, one did not wash at the mine, the mother said : “ Thou’rt not coming in here no more with tha dirt, tha mon leave it at th’ pit.” employed, practically all of them being engaged in screening operations and on the pit brows in Lancashire. There is an increase of 91 in the number of boys under 14 employed on the surface, and an increase of 39 in the number between 14 and 16 years of age. There were nine more mines at work than in the previous year, of which six were in Lancashire (West), and one each in Cheshire, Denbighshire, and Flintshire. Output of Minerals.—In comparison with last year, there is an increase in the total output of 959,584 tons, and the total quantity of coal and also of all minerals obtained has only been exceeded by the record year of 1907. The increase for the year under review is mainly in the amount of coal produced, which is 947,373 tons in excess of the output for 1912. Each county shows an appreciable rise in production, but owing to the dis- organised state of trade in 1912 resulting from the national strike, a comparison with the figures for the year 1911 would seem to be more reliable. Such a comparison shows a total increase of 453,724 tons. In addition to coal, 96,653 tons of fireclay, as well as smaller quantities of shale, ganister, oil shale, and iron pyrites were produced. The total value of the coal produced is estimated at .£8,355,251, or about 9s. 4d. per ton, an increase of 7d. upon the previous year’s esti- mate. The estimated value of all the minerals produced is £8,371,646. The following table shows quantity and value of mineral raised :— County. Coal. Fireclay. Oil shale. Other minerals. Total. Cheshire ... Denbighshire Flintshire Lancashire, West Total in 1913 Total in 1912 Tons. 305,530 2,751,239 754,485 13,030,295 Value. £ 149,619 1,396,119 352,923 6,456,590 Tons. 25,634 30,549 8,770 31,700 Value. Ji 4,457 7,506 2,083 3,233 Tons. 240 Value. £ 70 Tons. 1,870 31 12,115 Value. £ 280 9 462 Tons. 331,164 2,783,658 763,526 13,074,110 Value. £ 154,076 1,403,905 355,085 6,460,285 16,841,549 15,894,1 6 8,355,251 7,093,932 96,653 89,076 17,279 14,966 240 70 14,016 9,642 751 747 16,952,458 15,992,874 8,371,646 7,109,645 Electricity in Mines.—Electricity was used in 69 mines in Lancashire and four mines in Ireland. The following shows the aggregate of horse power :—Sur- face : Winding, 110; ventilation, 979; haulage, 293; coal washing or screening, 1,311; miscellaneous, 2,695^; total, 5,388|. Underground : Haulage, 3,446; pumping, 3,706^; portable machinery, 264; miscellaneous, 546; total, 7,952^. The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908.—Nothing further has arisen in connection with this Act; the observations made in previous reports are still applicable. Rescue Stations.—The central station of the coal owners of Lancashire and Cheshire at Howe Bridge, Atherton, has now trained 1,^39 men in the use of breathing apparatus, approximately 240 teams averaging five in a team. Of these there are 29 men trained, for five years, 539 men in their fourth year of training, 272 in their third year of training, 286 in their second year, and 247 training in their first year. Sergeant- Major Hill still continues as senior instructor, with an assistant. The men have the fullest confidence in his ability, the order and discipline he maintains is admira- ble, he is master of the apparatus, and has made several improvements therein. At Rosegrove, between Burn- ley and Accrington, a station has been commenced, also at Denton. At Chorley, Skelmersdale and St. Helens stations are practically completed. b.—Liverpool and North Wales District. Mr. A. D. Nicholson reports that the total quantity of coal produced in the district was 16,841,549 tons (includ- ing 935 tons from quarries), being 947,497 tons in excess of the output for the previous year, and second only to that of the year 1907, which constitutes the record for the amount of coal produced. The large increase of nearly a million tons over 1912 is in a great measure due to the reduced output in 1912, owing to the national strike. During the year 1913 the coal trade of the dis- trict has been remarkably good, regular work and higher prices have been the rule. There have been one or two local stoppages, principally on the non-union question in the Wigan and Haydock districts, some of the collieries being idle for six weeks. The whole of the mines in the district have been inspected both above and below ground, and in some mines as many as 18 underground inspections have been made. At 70 mines six or more inspections were made. The total number of inspec- tions made at coal mines during the year was 1,227, of which 904 were underground inspections. Persons Employed. — The following table gives the number of mines at work and the number of persons of various ages employed in and about mines under the Coal Mines Act during the year ending December 31, 1913 County. Cheshire ....... Denbighshire ... Flintshire ..... Lancashire, West ..... Persons employed. ,---------*---------x Below Below Above ground, and ‘-------------------above Fe- ground. males. 1 3... 12,576 1 ------- 1,887. Mines' ^ground. Males. 16.. . 949... 30.. .10.349... 17.. . 2,724... 155...44,096... Males. 258.. . 2.224.. . 647.. . 9.401.. . 1,208 3,372 55,384 Total in 1913 ....... 218...58,118...12,530... 1,892... 72,540 Total in 1912 ....... 209...56,973... 12,278 .. 1,806... 71,057 This total constitutes a record for the number of per- sons employed in the district. The increase is mainly accounted for by Lancashire (West), where there is an increase of 838 persons employed underground, and 269 on the surface. Denbighshire and Cheshire also show increases of 247 and 127 respectively, whereas the number in Flintshire is practically the same as in 1912. There is an increase of 86 in the number of females The quantity of mineral raised per person employed below ground was 292 tons, and per person employed above and below ground 234 tons. These figures show an increase in the average quantity of mineral raised per person employed, the increase being. 10 tons as regards the underground workers, and eight tons for those employed above and below ground. The average quantities raised per person employed are almost iden- tical with those for the year 1911. As will be seen from the next table, there is again an increase in the number of coal cutting machines and conveyors at work, and in the quantity of coal produced. There is a net increase of 33 in the number of machines at work, 23 as against 24 in the previous year being driven by electricity, and 158 as compared with 124 worked by compressed air. The total output from these machines was 1,522,962 tons, an increase of 262,317 tons on last year’s output. No. driven by Statute tons cut by Description. r Disc No. t .of Elec- Qines* tricity. 25 ... 5 . Com- pressed air. .. 75 ... Elec- tricity. . 59,500... 1 Com- pressed air. 798,351 Bar Chain Percussive Rotary heading 12 ... 15 . 4 ... 3 . 25 ... — . 16 ... 1 .. .. 66 .. . 188,939... . 37,158.. 240,225 3,599 195,190 Total in 1913 Total in 1912 69 ... 23 . — ... 24 . .. 158 ... .. 124 ... . 285,597... . 251,299... . 1,237,365 , 1,019,346 Seven coal face five in 1912. conveyors were at work, as against Accidents.—The district has been free from any large disaster involving serious loss of life, and in no case was more than one life lost as the result of any fatal accident. The total number of accidents reported was 328, causing the loss of 80 lives and injuries to 266 persons. These figures show a reduction of 13 in the number of deaths and 39 in the number of persons injured. Of the 80 fatal accidents, one occurred in Cheshire, 18 in Denbighshire, four in Flintshire, and 57 in Lancashire (West). In addition to the foregoing, notices were also received of the death of 25 persons in or about mines which were not accidents within the meaning of the Mines Act. A summary of these deaths shows that 15 were due to natural causes, seven were the result of accidents which occurred more than a year and a day previously, one was a case of suicide, and two were deaths of persons not employed in or about the mines. The following is a summary of fatal and non-fatal accidents, classified according to place and cause :— Non-fatal All non-fatal Fatal accidents accidents acci- reported disabling for dents. to more than inspector.* 7 days. Place and cause. 00 "U ® £ © 0Q S* 00 Cg^ e s c •r“» cg’g £g’g eg CD ft A Pm Explosions of firedamp or coal dust — — — — Falls in mine 47,\ : 47" : 107" ’ lit Shaft accidents 3 . . 3.. 8.. . 12 Miscellaneous under- ground 24.. . 24.. . 92.. . 98. 4,367." 4,380 35... 52 7,408... 7,416 Total underground ... 74.. 74... 207... 221..11,810..11,848 On surface .......... 6... 6... 41 .. 45... 1,119... 1,125 Gross total in 1913 ... 80... 80... 248... 266..12,929..12.973 Total in 1912 ........ S7 .. 93... 296... 305... 11,561... 11,592 * and f See footnotes on page iii.