832 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 16, 1914. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ used for hauling the coal from the far end “ partings ” or sidings, electric “ gathering ” locomotives being used on the secondary haulage roads from the partings to the coal face ; but, as it has been found in some of the mines that the bad condition of the secondary roads makes the use of gathering locomotives unprofitable, their use has been discontinued, and a return made to the old method of gathering with mules. That this was a wise procedure is doubtful, as it would probably have been more advantageous to maintain good haulage roads and abandon the use of all animal power under- ground. The pit “ cars ” (or tubs) usually hold about 3 tons of coal, which is built up above the sides. The tubs have end doors, and are frequently not kept in good repair; the dropping of coal along the roads delays the haulage and produces much coal dust. Figs. 2 to 7 illustrate one of the usual types of tub in use. Shafts.—The shafts are generally sunk in pairs, one only being used for coal-winding purposes; nearly all are rectangular in shape, with compartments, and are lined with wood. Open Lights.—The lamps used underground are carried by employees on their caps. The acetylene gas lamp is becoming very popular, and is displacing the oil lamp. Some officials are of the opinion that danger is attached to the use of this lamp, and that if a quantity of cirbide should be accidentally dropped on the damp or wet floor at the face of a narrow working place, a quantity of gas might be generated sufficient to form an explosive mixture. Number of drivers on the night-shift............. ,, tracklayers and helpers, day and night ,, timbermen and helpers „ „ „ switch throwers ,, ,, ,, trappers ,, „ „ labourers ,, „ The labourers clean roads, work in aircourses, remove falls. 10 31 20 5 1 40 and Number of machinists Number of men in underground electrical shop, ..... repairing machines and locomotives..... Number of electric 1 ocomotive-d rivers and trip-riders ,, blacksmi hs and helpers ............... „ bit-sharpeners ........................ ,, carpenters and helper ................. ...................... All the tubs are built at the colliery. 6 8 3 2 3 1 engine-winders ...................... 3 firemen or stokers................... 4 mine-foremen _______ .....................____ 1 assista' t mine-foremen .............. 3... night mine-foremen ________.............. 1 deputies or fire-bosses................ 4 weighmen......................__........................... 1 Price paid for loading machine-mined coal per ton, Is. 10fd. (45 j cents). Price paid to machine-men and helpers per ton, 4|d. (8| cents). The price paid for loading after machines is found to be high, when compared with prices in other parts of the country. The seam is level, and open lights are used. The Record Mine.—The mine which holds the output record for the state is the Superior Coal Company’s No. 2 mine at Gillespie. On March 14, 1914, 5,023 tons were wound from one shaft, 385 ft. deep, in 8 hours. the upkeep of the underground plans and for the design of the different constructions on the surface. His duties demand a knowledge of surveying, civil and constructional engineering, and mechanical drafting. The Madison Coal Corporation, one of the most important companies in the State, issue very elaborate sets of rules for the guidance of their officials. Appendices to the paper give the agreement between the Coal Operators’ Associations of Illinois and the United Mine-workers of America, which expired on March 31, 1914* The Madison Coal Corporation has also drawn up rules for fires, which are given. The writer wishes to express his thanks to Messrs. A. J. Moorshead (president) and G. E. Lyman (mining engineer), of the Madison Coal Corporation, for special courtesies shown to him during his visit to the Illinois coal fields. * A coal operator is a colliery owner or lessee. __________________________ Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, October 6, is as follows:—Bombay, 551 tons; Christiania, 580; Gothen- burg, 401; Genoa, 6,200; Ghent, 7,366; Gefle, 2,786; Malmo, 3,480; Oxelosund, 1,816; Rotterdam, 3,551; Villa Constitucion, 3,801; Ystad, 1,781—total, 32,313 tons. Corre- sponding period last year, 102,497 tons. Association of Mining Electrical Engineers.—The annual general meeting of this association was held recently at Fig. 14.-Plan of Upper Landing Floor. Fig. 13.—Elevation of Bent No. 3. 2 CHECKWEIGHMAN'S OFFICE 3hains/!3- X-HOPPER * > VJ? I Fig. 17.-Detail of End Brace of Shaker Structure. Fig. 18.-Detail of Cross-bracing on Lower Side of Engine-bracing. Fig. 16.—Elevation of Bent No. 6. Fig. 15.—Plan of Sheave Floor Trusses Fig. 19.—Elevation of Bent No. 8. Figs. 13 to 19.—Plans and Elevations for Steel Headframe at Mine No. 8 of the Madison Coal Corporation. Head Frames.—Figs. 8 to 19 show a steel head frame typical of modern plants, with self-dumping cage. This arrangement reduces the number of surface hands required to a minimum; but it necessitates end-door tubs, and increases the difficulty of dealing with the coal dust danger. At some collieries no one is employed at the pit top except the winding engineman, and the men lowering the railway trucks under the shoots, the tubs being weighed at the pit bottom. The following particulars relate to the working of a seam of coal ft. thick, with a coal-roof 18 in. thick, under a slate which varies from a few inches to 8,ft, in thickness. There are two shafts, each 385 ft. deep, one only being used for coal-winding. The cages are single-deck, with one tub on the deck. The capacity of the tubs is 2| to 3 tons. The output per man (surface and underground) is over 5| tons per shift of eight hours. Average production per day (eight hours) 3,000 Record output per day ...............3,273..... All the coal is undercut by machines of the chain- reast type. Number of machines ..................................... 14 „ machine-men and helpers ..... 44 „ loaders ___......................... 290 to 310 Tons. Average per loader per day .............. 10 The secondary haulage is done with mules. Number of drivers on day-shift hauling machine-cut coal...................... 25 • rs ar9 employed on the night-shift in hauling props, timber, moving machines, cleaning roads, and pulling coal from the night-shift loaders, some of the entries being worked double shift. Single-deck cages are used, with one tub on the deck; the capacity of the tubs is 3 tons. One seam is worked, the average thickness of which is over 7 ft. The seam is level. The method of haulage is by electric locomotive. Forty-seven coal-cutting machines are in use, namely, 26 Sullivan, 13 Harrison, and eight Ingersoll. The following chart shows the official organisation of some of the larger coalmining companies:— President. General Manager. _____________________________________________ Secretary. General Mining Master Master | Superintendent Engineer. Electrician. Carpenter. Treasurer. I . I | | Mine Transit- Electrician. Mine Superintendent, men. | Carpenter. I | Machine Boss. Mine Foremen. Rodmen. Assistant Mine Foremen. Face Boss. In the State of Illinois the mine-foreman receives the title of “ mine manager,” and his duties are defined by law; he is compelled to pass an examination. His superiors, the superintendent, general superintendent, and general manager are not required to pass an examination of any description. The status and duties of the mining engineer vary with different companies. He also is not compelled to pass an examination. His department is responsible for Sheffield. Owing to the state of war, however, the meet- ing was purely formal, and there was but a small attend- ance. In the absence of the retiring president (Mr. Alex. Anderson) the first part of the meeting was presided over by Mr. W. Maurice. The report of the council for the year ended June 30, 1914, stated that during the period under review the 10 branches of the association had held numerous meetings, at which papers had been read and valuable dis- cussions had ensued on these and other subjects relating to the application of electricity to mining. The fourth examination was held at various centres on March 14 and 21, 1914, and again proved satisfactory, the number of candidates being 37, of which number 31 passed for first- class certificates, and six for second-class certificates. The membership of the association now exceeded 1,170. The council announced that prizes of two guineas each had been awarded for papers read during the past session of 1913-14 to the following :—Messrs. J. P. Kivlen, H. J. Wroe, J. F. Aust, J. Bentham; also one guinea each had been awarded to Messrs. J. A. Ker, F. Smith, and J. C. Gillespie. In addition to these prizes, Mr. Anderson (the retiring president) awarded, from his own special fund, a prize of three guineas to Mr. J. P. Kivlen for the best paper of the session, and a prize of two guineas to Mr. F. Smith for the best paper by a certificated member. The report of the scrutineers upon the ballot papers for office bearers of the association showed that the following had been elected unanimously :—President, Mr. Roslyn Holiday. Ackton Hall Collieries, Featherstone, near Pontefract; vice-presidents, Mr. Arthur Hall, Silverdale Company Limited, Silverdale, Staffs: and Mr. Matthew Brown, Banknock Coal Company Limited, Glasgow: treasurer, Mr. C. F. Jackson, Exhall Colliery, Bedworth, Nuneaton; general secretary, Mr. C. St. Clair Saunders, Bank-chambers, Derby; auditors, Messrs. Harrison and Sedgwick.