418 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.Acgpst 27, 1915. The result is that the British merchant is placed in this dilemma—either he has to allow the orders to be taken by Germany, or he has to take a very big speculative risk. It will depend on his view of the market as to which of these two alternatives he adopts. But even supposing he decides to under-sell the Germans, he will not be willing to “sell short’’ more than a limited quantity; for fluctua- tions of 10s., and even 20s., per ton in the price of sulphate of ammonia are not uncommon, and it is, therefore, obvious that even those firms which command the largest financial resources will wish to limit their risks to a few thousand tons. A further very important advantage they have has to do with the rate of freight. It is a matter of common know- ledge that ship owners are willing to make special terms for large quantities, so that as soon as the Germans have taken a certain number of orders they can go to their ship owners and save perhaps 2s. 6d. to 5s. per ton in extra rebates. It is obvious that a single shipper of very large quantities is in a better position to bargain with the ship owners than a number of merchants each with a small quantity. The remedy for these “ discontents ’’ is to substitute com- bination for competition. That is the fundamental principle underlying the formation of the Sulphate of Ammonia Asso- ciation. Dangers Ahead. Some events have lately occurred which are of great signi- ficance in this connection. In the first place, it has come to our knowledge that the German syndicate has approached a firm of Allied nationality in an Allied country, asking them to carry on propaganda work for German sulphate of ammonia in that country during the continuation of the war ; and the syndicate state, in their report for 1914, that they have resolved to maintain the activity of their foreign offices as far as possible, in order to extend and develop their opportunities for selling after the war. In the second place, a Bill has been introduced into the German Reichstag to create a commercial monopoly in nitrogen in Germany down to March 31, 1922. The preamble to this Bill states that owing to the increase in output of synthetic nitrogen, and of the substitutes which have been found for nitrate of soda during the war, German nitrogen producers have made both German agriculture and industry (particularly the explosives industry) independent of foreign supplies, and that they will be able to meet the requirements of both in the future, provided the remunerativeness of the industry after the war is guaranteed by the establishment of a monopoly. And last, but not least, the Badische Company announce they will shortly be making at the rate of 300,000 tons per annum, so that Germany’s production of ammonium sulphate will be about 800,000 tons a year. What is the meaning of these events? It is this. That British sulphate of ammonia will have to meet the competi- tion of nitrate of soda in the world’s markets to a far larger extent than ever before. Germany consumed about 800,000 tons of nitrate of soda in 1913. If a nitrogen monopoly is created in Germany, a large part of that 800,000 tons will have to find an outlet in other markets. Stated in terms of sulphate of ammonia, this means that a quantity of nitrogen equal to about 1J times the production of the United Kingdom for 1914 may be thrown upon the market in competition with our own increasing production. That is one meaning of these events; the other is that, besides being able to supply all their own requirements, the Germans expect to be able to continue to export as well. In other words, the German producer is trying to entrench him- self in his own country (whether to the ultimate benefit of consumers in the Batherland or no, remains to be seen), whilst reserving to himself complete liberty of action as regards export. Even if there is a large fall in the price of nitrogen throughout the rest of the world, the German manu- facturer will not be immediately affected at home, whereas he will have it in his power to bring about just such a fall by appearing as a cheap seller in our markets. Having denied himself at home for some years in order to increase consumption in Germany by low prices, it may occur to him to encourage consumption abroad at the expense of the British manufacturer. It will be quite easy for him to keep prices low outside Germany by judiciously and from time to time offering a few thousand tons cheaply in overseas markets. The temptation to adopt these tactics will be all the greater if British manufacturers continue to sell on the good old principle of “ Each for himself and devil take the hindmost,’’ for that “ principle ’’ will give the German a guarantee of some measure of success. Of course, the monopoly may not be created—it is being vigorously opposed, esnecially by the Badische Company, who maintain that their cost of produc- tion is lower than that of the cyanamide producers—but even so, we shall have to meet largely increased German competi- tion. Indeed, without a monopoly the Germans will neces- sarily pay more attention to our export markets. The only way to keep German sulphate of ammonia out of our markets is for British producers to agree to act and to sell as one man through one organisation. Only by com- bining together and ceasing to compete one with another can British makers hope to oust the Germans, and to compel them not to produce more nitrogen than they require them- selves! until the world is ready to consume greater quantities. Only by unanimity will British manufacturers become arbiters of the sulphate of ammonia market. Production of nitrogen by synthesis has passed the experi- mental stage, and to-day large quantities of synthetic sulphate of ammonia, synthetic cyanamide, and synthetic nitrate of lime are being offered for sale. Synthetic sulphate of ammonia can now be produced anywhere and everywhere. Now, the production of nitrogen as a by-product cannot be limited as such, so that the only way to prevent over- production is to limit the supply of nitrogen produced as a primary product. Such a limitation can only be arrived at through a series of agreements made between the different nitrogen groups. It is clear that the best organised, most representative, and, therefore, most powerful, groups will be able to make the best bargains, and unless British producers of sulphate of ammonia form such a group when the time comes, their interests will go undefended. When all manufacturers have joined the Sulphate of Ammonia Association, and entrusted their salt to the associa- tion to sell, the British producer will appear in the world’s markets as one seller of 400,000 tons, instead of as 200 to 400 different sellers of 2,000 to 1,000 tons each. It is obvious that the weight he will carry will be infinitely greater than it is now. The Work of the Selling Branch. The selling branch commenced operations towards the end of September 1914, at a time when the market was greatly disorganised owing to circumstances connected with the out- break of the European war. The price for spot delivery at that time was about £10 10s. per ton. The knowledge that a body of manufacturers, representing over two-thirds of the sulphate of ammonia annually exported from the United Kingdom, was prepared to adopt a common policy as regards prices, immediately had a strengthening effect on the market. Prices advanced steadily during the next few months, until in the spring £14 5s. and £14 7s. 6d. per ton was obtained. Given the market conditions prevail- ing, the shortage in production, and the fact that the United Kingdom was the only seller for export, a rise in price would no doubt have occurred in any case. But the information which the selling branch was able to give to its members, put manufacturers in a better position than heretofore to form an opinion as to the future, and resulted in a higher level of price being maintained than would have been possible had that branch not been in existence. It has been necessary to proceed cautiously at the beginning of a venture which marks a new departure in the history of the British sulphate of ammonia trade, and we have there- fore not objected to our members selling their own make, provided they adhere to our prices. At the same time, the services of the selling branch have been at the disposal of all members, and we have frequently been able to obtain con- siderably better prices for parcels at a given port, owing to our knowledge that higher values were ruling at other ports. In this way the value of a central sales office has been demonstrated over and over again. The knowledge of foreign markets at the disposal of the selling branch of the association enabled that branch to state the case for sulphate of ammonia in an authoritative manner, when exporters were faced with the possibility of having to wait several weeks for export licences. The opinion of a purely propagandist body could not have carried such weight with the Government. At the suggestion of the selling branch, the authorities have adopted procedure which enables them to issue licences within a few days from date of appli- cation. The result of this timely and successful intervention of the association has undoubtedly saved manufacturers many thousands of pounds, for if there had been longer delays in obtaining licences, business would have been greatly restricted, and the present level of price could not have been maintained. At the present time several of our members have entrusted their entire production to us to be sold at our discretion; others sell exclusively through us, stipulating that they shall be consulted as to the time of selling; the remainder continue to sell themselves, but usually consult us before doing so. We issue lists of minimum prices at short intervals to serve as a guide to value for different periods. In order that complete success may crown our efforts, it is essential that all our members should not only sell exclu- sively through the selling branch, but also that they should agree only to sell when the selling committee advises them to do so; we feel confident that we shall shortly be in a posi- tion to state that this is the case, and we shall then be able to adopt a stronger and more definite market policy than we have been able to do hitherto. We shall then also be able to propound a scheme for giving all our members an equal share in the prices obtained. At present it very often happens that owing to the fact that some manufacturers have sold for forward deliverv. other makers, selling from hand to mouth, obtain better prices than those who originally supported the market. It will be the object of the selling branch to rectify these inequalities. In concluding this brief review of the commencement of our work, we wish to draw special attention to our efforts to induce British manufacturers generally to improve the quality of their make. We think we may justly claim that our pamphlets entitled “ Quality ’’ and “ Does it Pay to Make 25 per cent. Ammonia?’’ have, for the first time, clearly explained to makers why an improvement in quality is necessary. We have evidence that the views we have put forward are recognised as sound, and we feel convinced that in the very near future the bulk of the British production will be fully equal to the best sulphate of ammonia produced in the world. The Work of the Propaganda Branch. During the last few years we have extended our propaganda activities in favour of sulphate of ammonia to Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and Italy. Work has also been started in Egypt, and the results promise so well that we are making permanent arrangements in regard to that country, which will form a.very important outlet in the future. We have also examined the conditions in South Africa and India, and while the results hitherto obtained have not been very encouraging, we think that they warrant further investigation, and we are making arrangements accordingly. We are at present making enquiries in Australia with a view to opening a propaganda office in that country. In Spain qur work is progressing steadily, and sulphate of ammonia is being introduced into districts in which its use has hitherto been unknown. While we are thus paying due attention to the develop- ment of the trade in the expanding colonial and foreign markets, there is abundance of evidence that a far wider use of our product for agricultural purposes could be fostered in our own country, and our efforts are accordingly being conducted with increased energy to this end. We are con- tinually drawing farmers’ attention to both the absolute and relative values of our salt, laying special emphasis on the fact that sulphate of ammonia has for some time been very cheaper, unit for unit, than nitrate of soda. It is obvious that if the value of early autumnal application of sulphate of ammonia can be demonstrated, this will open up an entirely new market for the salt at home, for hitherto sulphate of ammonia has been applied almost exclusively in the spring. We are making every possible effort to induce corn factors and manure merchants to push the sale of sulphate of ammonia, and we would urge our members to be prepared to sell freely to merchants m order that there may be an increased number of depots throughout the country from which farmers can readily obtain supplies. In order to minimise market fluctuations as far as possible, we have put forward a scheme with the object of inducing producers in various districts throughout the country to agree to sell at the same price for home use, and to maintain the agreed price for one month after it is fixed. Prices are to be fixed in each district by the producers themselves. SUPPORTING SHAFT SIDES THROUGH A FAULT* By J. H. Evans and Glen Geobge. In sinking No. 2 shaft of Dhobidih Colliery, Giridih, a fault was passed through which gave a considerable amount of trouble. The shaft was started in 1910, with the intention of working the No. 3 seam, and the estimated depth was 250 ft. After sinking 78 ft. very heavy feeders were tapped, and sinking was suspended. In May 1912 sinking was re-started, and good progress made to a depth of 146 ft., when on June 20, 1912, after firing a round of shots, the water rose 60 ft. up the shaft. A larger pump (an 18 X 8 Cameron) was put in, and after 63 days pumping, sinking re-started. At 181ft. fresh feeders were struck, water rising 50 ft. up the shaft. It took 96 days to overcome these feeders, which, while heavy at first, after pumping at them for a considerable time, eased off. At 215 ft. a fall of roughly 200 tons of material from shaft sides took place, giving very little warning, the previous shaft examination having shown no signs of slips. The fall revealed a fault cutting across the shaft, just where the shaft struck an upper seam (No. 2 seam). The debris was cleared out, and the sides secured by 45 lb. rails curved to the shaft diameter. These rings were placed at intervals of 3 ft. vertically, and backed by corrugated sheets. <9 SMHCf **UHL ------------------ Fig. 1.—Section through Shaft. A = P. W. rails to which suspending ropes are attached ; B = C.I. crib to support steel casing; C = top of steel casing; D = bottom of shaft; E = Pucca brickwork to support shaft sides ; F = cement concrete filling cavity ; G = P. W. rails to which ropes are fixed ; H = lower casing held by 3 x f in. W.l. straps (see fig. 3). When ready to re-start, a second and larger fall took place, crumbling up the rings. The cavity now formed was large—20 ft. in from the shaft side, and over 30 ft. high. An alarming fracture appeared in the shaft running up 30 to 40 ft. The position was now serious, as, unless radical measures were taken, it was obvious the shaft would have to be abandoned. It was decided to support the bad portion by a built-up steel casing, and fill in the cavity with concrete. First, a point A w’as selected in the shaft, well above the fracture, and in hard ground. Six holes 9 in. square and 4 ft. 6 in. deep were cut at equal intervals, and in each hole a length of permanent way rail (having its end turned up 6 in.) was placed and grouted in. From these six rails six ropes l|in. diameter were hung, and from these ropes was suspended a cast iron crib just below the bad portion of the shaft. This crib, with its suspend- ing ropes, supports the steel casing. The casing con- sists of semi-circular steel plates, fin. thick, and bolted together to form a circular section lift. 6in. internal diameter. Each section is 4 ft. high, and the sections are bolted together by butt joints, and the whole forms a cylinder 11 ft. 6 in. diameter and 32 ft. high. The sections were lowered in halves, and bolted together in the shaft. As each section was fitted, the * From the Transactions of the Mining and Geological Institute of India.