1086

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

November 20 1914.

prices and enhanced freights for the purpose of keeping the
industries employed during the winter. These must be
cancelled or directed elsewhere. The suspension of naviga-
tion and the closing of Bo’ness Dock for a lengthened period
would inevitably lead to the strangling of industry in the
port. At least 1,500 hands would be thrown idle. Bridge-
ness and Grange collieries rely largely on their export trade
to Norway and Denmark, and the closing of these pits would
throw idle between 400 and 500 employees. In the case of
Kinneil Collieries, a large quantity of coal is sent by rail
to Glasgow, but there are periodical shipments abroad, and
the loss of this trade would lead to shorter time being
worked. New Grange Foundry conducts a large trade with
London, and despatches its goods weekly by the Carron
steamer, which takes away a large general cargo. Pitwood
stocks, at present sorely depleted, could not be replenished
readily, unless cargoes were consigned to Granton or the
West Coast. The additional cost involved in quay dues and
carriage would raise prices to the collieries to a very con-
siderable extent. A special meeting of Bo’ness Town
Council has been held to consider what action should be
taken to bring about a possible modification of the
Admiralty’s Order. Mr. Cadell said they were loyal and
patriotic people, who were prepared to suffer loss and
inconvenience at this time. He suggested, as a good way
of keeping the collieries and other public works going, that
the railway company be petitioned to give reduced rates for
traffic to and from Granton or Leith and for West Coast
traffic. As people could not be deprived of their whole
livelihood, the Government must help them in some way by
getting these reduced railway rates. It was agreed to join
with Grangemouth Town Council in sending a deputation
to the Admiralty to ascertain whether any concession was
possible, and alternatively to interview the Board of Trade
and Mr. Jackson on the subject of railway rates. It is
stated that the Admiralty, as a temporary arrangement«
have conceded a slight modification of the Order to the extent
that vessels will be permitted to proceed to the upper ports
in the Forth in batches at stated intervals.*

In the 3 ft. dook workings of the Afton No. 1 Pit, belong-
ing to the New Cumnock Collieries, on the 11th inst., four
men were severely burned as a result of a canful of blast-
ing powder becoming accidentally ignited.

The question of the housing of miners in Ayrshire came
before a meeting of the Northern District Committee of the
County Council last week. A copy of a report by Mr. David
Andrew, chief sanitary inspector, which had been forwarded
to the Local Government Board, was submitted. It
explained the repairs and alterations made on the rows in
the parishes of Stevenston, Kilwinning, Irvine, Dreghorn,
Dairy, and Kilbirnie. A reply was further intimated from
the Local Government Board expressing satisfaction at the
efforts being made by the District Committee. The letter
also stated they would be glad to have another report at
the end of the year as to the progress made. The meeting
decided that intimation be made to all the proprietors who
have done nothing to remedy the defects on their premises,
to which attention was called following upon the. commit-
tee’s consideration of the matter in May last, that, failing
some satisfactory progress being made to meet the com-
mittee’s requirements by next meeting, the committee will
then take proceedings against them.

An attractive syllabus has been drawn up for the present
session by the West of Scotland branch of the Association
of Mining Electrical Engineers. The following are a few
of the more important papers :—December 19, “ Experi-
ences of Surface Earthing in Scottish Mines,” by Mr. P. S.
Glover; January 23, “Electricity at the Coal Face,” by
Mr. John Bowman, of the United Collieries Limited;
February 20, “ Some Experiences in the Handling of Elec-
tricity,” by Mr. A. Smellie, New Cumnock; March 19,
“ Use and Abuse of Oils,” by T. C. Thomsen, B.Sc.,
M.I.Mech.E.

On Wednesday evening a deputation representing the
workmen and officials of Quarter Collieries, Hamilton,
waited upon Mr. James Lowe, manager of Belhaven Col-
lieries, Wishaw, and presented him with a handsome gold
watch on the occasion of his recent transference.

At the monthly meeting, held on Saturday evening, of
the West of Scotland branch A.’M.E.E., a paper read by
Mr. L. G. F. Routledge (Notts and Derbyshire branch) on
“ Power Factor and Its Improvement,” gave rise to an
interesting discussion. The author contended that with the
increasing application of the three-phase system to mines,
the subject of power factor and its improvement was of
increasing importance to mining electrical engineers. The
paper accordingly was an attempt to give prominence to the
various compensating devices in use at the present time.
Mr. H. A. McGuffie, Glasgow, in the course of the dis-
cussion, said that before many years had elapsed the colliery
electrician would be faced with the question of dealing with
low-power factor. Therefore, if he wished to obtain the best
results, as well as the highest efficiency, he should be strongly
recommended to go into the matter at once. He entirely
agreed with the author in the suggestion he had made that
first-class portable wattmeters or power factor meters should
be obtained. Indeed, on large colliery installations where
a.c. current was made use of, periodical tests should be
made with these instruments to find out the exact condi-
tions as to wattless current, etc. In his opinion, many
engineers, if they did this, would be extremely surprised
with the results. He would like to warn colliery electricians
who were considering this matter to use nothing but the
very best instruments. Tn his view there was a bright
future for the static condenser in colliery power stations,
where the low-power factor was causing trouble.

In the Supreme Court, Edinburgh, last week Lord Hunter
gave judgment in the action which challenged the validity
of the resolution of the United Society of Boilermakers,
Newcastle, imposing a levy on behalf of the Daily Citizen
newspaper. The action was by John McCardle. boiler
maker, of Port Glasgow, who asked the court to declare that
the levy was illegal. His lordship said the plaintiff
maintained that to 'support the Daily Citizen whether by
jeopardising any capital sum belonging to the society or
by paying over any levy, would be for the society to
adopt political action contrary to its constitution and the
Trade Union Acts. The defendants maintained that the
Daily Cit zen had for its object the advancement of the
interests of labour and trade unions, and generally the
furtherance of the objects for which the defendants" society
existed. His lordship allowed a proof to ascertain the fact
relating to the newspaper’s objects.

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.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Ashton-under-Lyne, November 25.—Engine slack for the
Electricity Committee. Further particulars from Borough
Electrical Engineer, Wellington-road.

Cleckheaton, November 28.—13,000 tons of screened gas
coal or nuts for the Urban District Council. Forms from J.
H. Linfield, clerk, Town Hall, Cleckheaton.

Croydon, November 23.—About 350 tons of steam coal
(slack or wharf screenings) for the Guardians of Croydon
Union. Forms from H. List, clerk, Union Offices, Mayday-
road, Thornton Heath.

Harrogate, November 30.—House coal and slack for the
Corporation. Tenders to H. J. Buckland, general manager,
Royal Baths, Harrogate.

London, November 23.-8,500 tons of Welsh steam coal
(or equal) for the Metropolitan Water Board. Forms from
Engineer, Savoy-court, Strand, W.C.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, &c.

Barnet, December 7.—Boilers, etc.—For the Guardians
of Barnet Union : Steam boilers and heating and warming
plant; electrical power and lighting plant; and water
softening plant. Specification from Messrs. Williams and
Cox, 34, Henrietta-street, Covent Garden, W.C., on pay-
ment of L'2 (returnable).

Dublin, November 24.—Boilers.—Two steam boilers for
the Workshops Committee of the Corporation. Specification
from F. J. Allen, secretary, Lord Edward-street, on pay-
ment of Is. (returnable).

Glasgow, November 28.—Pumps, etc.—For the Corpora-
tion : Boiler feed pumps, feed piping and accessories,
execute hot water service installation, and supply three
high-class Lancashire steam boilers. Specification from
Office of Public Works, 64, Cochrane-street.

London, N.W., December 2.—Boilers, etc.—Lancashire
boiler, 8 ft. diameter by 20 ft. in length, 1001b. pressure
capacity, for the St. Pancras Board of Guardians. Speci-
fication from J. E. P. Hall, clerk, Town Hall, Pancras-road,
N.W., on payment of £2 (returnable).

Maldon, November 24.—Gas Plant.—Engine shed, over-
head tank, suction gas plants, gas engines, and deep well
pumps, also provision of water main. Specification from
W. Almond, 6, Market-hill, Maldon.

Manchester, December 16.—Boilers, etc.—Erection of
the following plant at their Barton power station, for the
Electricity Committee:—10 50,0001b. water tube boilers,
complete with superheaters, stokers, economisers, etc. ; two
15,000 kw. alternators, complete with condensing plant, pipe
work, etc. Specification from F. E. Hughes, secretary,
Electricity Department, Town Hall, on payment of L3 3s.
(returnable).

Topsham (Exeter), December 10.— Waterworks.—About
7,250 yds. of 4 in. and 3 in. cast iron mains, engine and
pump house, oil engines,, and deep well pumps for the St.
Thomas Rural District Council. Specification from S. R.
Lowcock, 6, Queen Anne’s-gate, Westminster, S.W., on
payment of £5 (returnable).

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

As we indicated in a postscript to last week's report, the
•middle of this week witnessed a sensational advance in
north-east coast coal freights. That advance has seriously
militated against business in the Northumberland and
Durham market, and, unfortunately, so far from rates
having eased at all on the week, they are, at the time of
writing, higher than ever in some directions. It is pro-
bable, indeed, that they are now at a level never before
attained in the history of steam shipping, and it is exceed-
ingly doubtful whether the shipowners could put up a good
case for what, on the face of it. appears mere exorbitance of
demand. Coasting rates, which a week ago wTere based on
from 4s. 6d. to 4s. 7Jd. to London from the Tyne, are now
up to from 5s. 6d. to 6s. The North of France, done a
week ago at from 8s. 9d. to 9s.‘6d. to Rouen, is now repre-
sented by up to Ils. 3d. The Bay has advanced to Ils. 3d.,
to Bordeaux, as compared with about 9s. 4|d. a week ago.
The Mediterranean has Genoa at from 17s. 6d. to 18s., as
compared with last week’s range, of from 12s. 9d. to 15s.
The fixture of 22s. to Port Said, mentioned in last week’s
postscript, was not confirmed, but Port Said went up to
20s. The port has now receded to 16s. 6d., however. At
South Wales rates have risen in a similarly marked fashion,
although they are not so high as at the Tvne. The Mediter-
ranean, for example, has Genoa at from 14s. 6d. to 15s. 3d.,
as against Ils. to 12s. Rouen is at from 8s. 7|d. to 9s. 9d.,
as against 7s. 3d. to 8s. 3d. The River Plate stands at
from 14s. 6d. to 15s., as against 12s. Other British ports
have tonnage offering at correspondingly high levels. Home-
wards, North Pacific freights are very firm, and little tonnage
is available at less than 45s. There are only a few
enquiries at the Philippines. The rice ports are fullv
steady. The East Indies have a quiet tone, although busi-
ness is much more normal now that the dread of the German
cruiser “ Emden ” has been removed. Calcutta coal rates
for December are weaker. The Mediterranean and ore
trades are very slow. America is a brisk market, though
the demand for boats appears to be becoming less pressing,
and charterers anticipate a larger offering of tonnage for
December. Cotton carriers are in good enquirv. The grain
tonnage market has been both brisk and firm. Timber
rates are verv high, and business is being checked thereby.
The River Plate has ruled quieter on early tonnage being
scarce, but 28s. is indicated for December, and 26s. net was
paid for January a few days ago.

Tyne to Algiers, 4,000, 14s.: Almeria. 1.200, 16s. 6d..
from Dunston; Barcelona, 1,400, 15s.; 3.300, 15s.; Bor-
deaux. 3,200, Ils.; 3,300, Ils. 3d.: Bagnoli. 4,800, 19s.;
Barletta, 3,500, 19s.; Civita Vecchia, 4.000. 18s.: Cadiz,
2,000, 13s. 6d.; Caen, 1,350, 9s. 3d.; Cagliari, handv boat.
17s. fid. ; Cette, 1,600, 14s. fid. ; Fecamo. 700, 10s.; Genoa.
4,000, 17s. fid.: 1.800, 17s. fid.: 2,000, 18s.: 5.500. 17s. 3d.,
guaranteed discharge; 4.400, 17s. 9d. ; 4.800, 18s.; 4 500,
17s. 6d. ; 6,500, 18s.: 5.200. 18s.: 3,500, 18s.; 2,500, 17s.;

3,500,	17s.; 4,200, 17s.: 1,700, 17s.; 5.400, 17s. Ud.; Gir-

genti, handy boat, 17s. ’6d.; Havre, 1,700, 9s. 3d.; 1,400,
9s. 6d.; 1,700, 10s.; London, 4,600, 5s.; 4,000, 5s.; 2,500,
5s.; 1,500, 6s.; 4,600, 5s. 6d.; Marseilles, 1,600, 14s.; Mes-
sina, 1,700, 17s. 6d.; Naples, 5,200, 16s. 9d.; Porto Ferrajo,

4.800,	18s.; Port Said, 4,300, 20s.; 3,500, 16s. 6d.; 5,000,
16s. 6d.; Porto Vecchio, 6,000, 21s.; 4,500, 18s. 9d.; Piraeus,
4,000, 16s.; Pozzuoli, 3,200, 19, goods, 20s.; Rouen, 1,300,
9s. 6d.; 3,000, 9s. 9d.; 1,300, 10s., from Dunston; 5,000,
9s. l|d.; 2,500, 10s. l|d.; 2,500, 10s.; 1,800, Ils. 3d.;
Rochefort, 3,200, Ils. 3d.; Savona, 5,400, 7s. IJd.; 5,200,
18s. ; 6,500, 18s.; 2,500, 17s.; 1,700, 17s. ; St. Servan, 1,500,
Ils.; 1,100, 14s.; Spezzia, 1,700, 17s.; Tunis, 2,000, 20s.;
Trapani, 2,300, 18s. 6d.

Cardiff to Ancona, 4,000, 20s., Nov. 15-30; Algiers, 3,000,
14J fr.; 3,200, 14| fr.; Alexandria, 5,000, 16s., next week;
4,000, 16s.; Bagnoli, 5,800, 13s. 6d.; Brest, 900, 9s. 6d.;
Bordeaux, 3,300, 11 fr.; Brindisi, 4,000, 15s., Nov. 15-30;
Bahia Blanca, 4,000, 15s. 6d.; Genoa, 5,100, 14s. 6d.,
Dec. 10, cancelling; 4,000, 15s. 3d.; 4,000, 13s. 6d.; 4 800,
12s.; 4,000, 13s. 6d.; 5,500, 14s., Nov.; 5,000, 14s. 6d. ;
3.300, 14s. 7Jd.; 5,000, Ils. 6d.; 3,700, 15s.; 3,000, 15s.;
Gibraltar, 3,000, 10s. 6d.; 1,500, 10s. 6d.; Havre, 2,400, 8s.;
Honfleur, 1,600, 8s.; La Pallice, 1,500, 8| fr.; Leghorn,

4.400,	15s. l|d.; Monte Video, 4,300, 13s. 6d.; Marseilles,

3.800,	14fr.,*Nov. 30; Naples, 5,800, 13s., 800; Porto Fer-
rajo, 5,800, 13s.; 3,300, Ils. 6d., reported; Pernambuco,
4,000, 18s.; Port Said, 3.400, 17s. 6d.; 5,400, 16s. 6d.;

4.500,	16s. 6d.; River Plate, 4,400, 15s.; 4,000, 14s. 6d.;
Rouen, 1,500, 9s.; 1,100, 8s. 9d.; 2,300, 8s. 9d.; 5,000,
8s. 7Jd., Nov. ; 1,100, 9s. 9d. ; Rosario, 3,600, 15s. 6d., Nov.;
15s., Nov., reported; Rio de Janeiro, 16s.; 2,500, sail,
14s. 6d.: St. Nazaire, 3,600, 10T2J fr.; 1,000, 11 fr., Dec.;

2.500,	11 fr.; Savona, 4,400, 15s. l|d. ; St. Servan, 1,400,
7s. 6d.; Spezzia, 4,400, 15s. IJd.; Venice, 4,000, 20s.,
Nov. 15-30.

Swansea to Marano, 1,200, 9| fr.; Nantes, 1,500, 11 fr.;
Treport, 650, 8s.; Rouen, 1,800, 8s. 9d.; 1.600, 9s.; 2,100,
9s.; 1.200, 10s.; St. Nazaire, 3,000, 9J fr.; St. Malo, 1,100,
7s. 3d., 800, 7s.; St. Servan, 1,200, 7s.; Gandia, 1,000,
12s. 6d., coal, option parcel coke, 15s., reported; Dieppe,
1,100, 7s. 9d.; Havre, 750, 8s. 3d.

Mersey to Genoa, 13s., Nov.

Wales to Port Nolloth/sail, coal, 14s. 6d., coke 20s.

Hartlepool to Barcelona, 5,300, 18s.; Bordeaux, 3,000,
Ils.; Genoa, 1,700, 17s.; Savona, 1,700, 17s.

Blyth to Havre, 900, 9s. ; Rouen, 1,600, 10s.; 2,300,
10s. Ud.

Immingham to Havre, 800, 9s.

Seaham Harbour to Nice, 2,500, 4s.

Port Talbot to Rouen, 5,000, 7s. 7|d., Nov.; St. Servan,

1.400,	7s. 6d.

Wear to Bordeaux, 5,200, Ils. 3d.; 3,200, Us. 3d.; Mar-
seilles, 1,600, 16s.

Newport to Naples, 5,300, 14s. 6d.. 800; Aguilas. 1.450,
Ils. 6d.: Marseilles, 3,000, 16^fr.; Rouen, 2.000, 8s. 6d.

Liverpool to Nantes, 13s., reported.

Glasgow to Genoa, 3,000, 15s. 6d.; Savona, 3,000.
15s. fid. : Leghorn, 3.000, 15s. 6d.

Forth to Rouen, 10s. 6d.

Garston to Genoa, 13s., Dec.

Thames to New York, sail, 8s. 6d., chalk.

Hull to Rouen. 1,600, 10s.

Partington to Dieppe, 8s.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Walter Kirkwood, colliery manager, Climpy Collieries,
Forth and Wilsontown, has been killed. It is stated that
he was caught between the descending cage and the plates
of the pithead, sustaining injuries to the spine, from which
he died shortly afterwards.

Much sympathy is expressed with Mr. J. E. Rogerson,
chairman of directors of Messrs. John Rogerson and Com-
pany Limited, the South Durham Steel and Iron Company,
the Cargo Fleet Iron Company, the North Walbottle Col-
liery Company, and the Seaton Burn Colliery Company, in
the bereavement he has sustained by the death of his
younger brother, Capt. W. E. Rogerson, adjutant of the
12th Durham Light Infantry, who, whilst in camp at
Bulls water, near Woking, Surrey, died from heart failure
on Saturday last. The brothers were sons of the late Mr.
John Rogerson, who was very closely associated with the
development of the iron and steel industry of the north of
England. Capt. Rogerson was 42 years of age.

The death of Major William Stirling, of Fairburn,
occurred suddenly at his residence, Fairburn Castle, on
Tuesday last. Major Stirling, who was the eldest son of
the late Mr. John Stirling, of Fairburn, was born in 1859, and
succeeded to his father’s estate in 1907. He was the owner
of extensive iron ore and other mines at Cleator Moor, in
Cumberland.	’

News has reached Egremont, Cumberland, of the death
of William Brocklebank, son of the late William and Eleanor
Brocklebank. The unfortunate man was the victim of a
mining disaster which occurred at the Ralph Mine of the
Taipiri Coal Mining Company at Huntley, New Zealand,
on Saturday, September 12. With about 60 others he was
entombed in the mine, and about 20 were rescued. The
last of the rescued men was W. Brocklebank, jun., son of
the above, who had a terrible experience. He owes his life
to the fact that after falling down unconscious the lower
and purer strata of air restored his senses. He was then
able to crawl towards the shaft, where a rescue party found
him. He was the only one in the vicinity of the explosion
who got out alive.

Sergt. Redpath, formerly a Barrington miner, now
serving in the Northumberland Fusiliers, has written home
to his wife from hospital in Stirlingshire, stating that he
was present when Capt. Everard Lamb, the Northumbrian
coal owner, was killed in action on November 1. Capt.
Lamb, he says, was wounded, but refused to go to the rear.
He continued to fight, but had not gone more than a few
yards when he received a shot in his head, which killed
him instantly. Sergt. Redpath adds, “He was a brave
man, and was worshipped by his men.”

In mining circles throughout the west of Scotland pro-
found regret will be felt at the death of Mr. James Gillies
Smith, late secretary to Messrs. Merry and Cuninghame
Limited, which took place on Friday. For many years
Mr. Smith occupied a prominent position in the coal trade,
and was well known and highly esteemed on the Glasgow
Exchange.