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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

May 26, 1916.

A distressing fatality occurred at the East Pontop Pit last
week. Robert Glendenning, a pony driver, was looking
down the shaft, when the cage came from above and caught
him on the head, killing him instantly. At the inquest a
verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned.

John Fish has been fined 7s. 6d. by the Morpeth magis-
trates for having assaulted Alexander Atkinson, coupler at
the 'Woodhorn Pit, and 15s. for having assaulted Joseph
Harris, deputy overman. From the evidence, it appeared
that Fish was a putter at the colliery. On April 20 he hung
his pony on to two tubs, and then went towards the trap-
door. He called'on the pony to follow, and, it being slow,
thrashed it severely with Iris whip. Atkinson remonstrated
with him, telling him that he could not expect the pony to
work if he created it like that. A little later Fish struck
Atkinson in the mouth, splitting the latter’s lip. Harris
ordered Fish out of the pit. Six days later, as Harris was
coming through the pit gates, Fish, who had evidently been
lying in wait for him, struck him tin the face, blacking one
eye and knocking hum to the ground. The youth’s only
defence was that Harris had been trying to “ put on him
in the pit. He denied having struck Atkinson. He had not
been cautioned as to the way in which he treated his pony.
In addition to the fines mentioned, he was ordered to pay
20s. costs.

The great care that needs to be taken in the use of electri-
cal machines and devices in mines was exemplified
last week at the inquest at Fencehouses on John Henry
Allison, a workman employed at a coal-cutter in the Lambton
Colliery. Allison was found lying dead-, with his foot under
the frame of the machine. Expert evidence was given by
Arthur Dowden, the electrician in charge of the coal-cutting
machinery at the colliery. He stated that he had tested the
machine in April and found it in perfect order. After the
accident he, in conjunction with Mr. Fisher, examined the
machine. Mr. Fisher tested the resistance of the earthing
system and found it very high, which w7as an indication that
there was a fault in the wore. Witness examined the actual
cable, but found nothing wwong there. Later he tested the
cable without the plugs and still found the earth wire faulty.
A thimble in the machine end plug had also been unseated,
ownng to the excessive heating of the solder. Witness
thought that the excessive heat would be due to slack con-
nection between the plug and the socket. Replying to the
inspector of mines, he said that in April he just tested the
earth wore with a “ galvo ” to see if it was broken, and the
test showed that the wire was continuous. He had examined
the earth wire since, and found that a solder joint in it had
been broken by the moving of the cable from time to time..
The fault was about 15 yds. from the machine itself. The
machine would be “ alive,” and anyone coming in contact
vfith it would receive a severe shock, but that would not have
been the case had the earth wire not been faulty. In his
opinion, a solder joint in a flexible earth wore W7as a bad
practice. He had now7 received instructions to examine
every cable and get rid of all solder joints. The jury
returned a verdict of “ Accidental death.”

The annual report of the board of management of the
Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief
Fund shows a membership of 156,903, a decrease of 21,577
on the year, and of 52,686 on the “ high-water record ” of
1913. The decrease is practically wholly attributable to the
enlistments of miners. The members’ contributions last
year amounted to £169,039, a decrease of £29,536 when
compared with 1914, and notwithstanding the raising of the
individual subscriptions as from August 16 last, of £36,399
■when compared with 1913. Interest and rents yielded
£15,611, and honorary subscriptions and donations £79.
The total income Amounted to £185,730, and the total expen-
diture for benefits and management to £216,589, a
deficiency on the year’s transactions of £30,859. The
society’s capital still Amounts to £461,072. During the
year, 229 members sustained fatal accidents, leaving 141
v7idov7s and 262 children chargeable to the fund. The
number of non-fatal accidents which caused claims on the
minor accident department was about 35,325, a reduction of
4,858 on the year, out of which number 656 applications for
permanently disabled relief were accepted, as against 981
the year before. The accepted applications for aged benefit
numbered 1,093, a decrease of 104. The number of per-
manent recipients on the various funds at the end of 1915
was: Widows, 1,608; guardians, 56; children, 1,759;
permanently disabled (including supplementary relief
cases), 2,150; and superannuated, 6,443—a total of 12,016 —
a reduction of 338 on the year. For the fourth successive
year the expenditure has exceeded the income. Last year’s
excess, but for the increase in contributions, would have been
about £46,000. There is a depreciation of about £30,000 in
the value of certain investments, owing to the war.

Mr. Matthew M. Mein, head of the firm of Messrs. Hall
Brothers, ship owners, coal exporters, and timber merchants,
of Newcastle, has been elected unopposed to represent a large
body of Newcastle Quaysiders on the Tyne Improvement Com-
mission, in succession to Mr. J. B. Adam.

The Moot Hall magistrates at Newcastle on Wednesday,
stiffly penalised John Cooper, hewer at Hazlerigg, for having
committed a breach of the Mines Act, 1911, to the menace of
the safety of the men engaged in the colliery. In defendant’s
gear box, John Knox, under-manager, found two cartridges,
which, in addition, to not being properly encased, were not
permitted explosives, and had not been issued by the colliery
company. ‘ Mr. F. C. Hallowes, manager, stated that Cooper
told him he had purchased the explosives from a soldier, and
that he had had them in his gear box in the pit for over a
week. Mr. Hallowes expressed the opinion that the explo-
sives were nitroglycerine. Cooper was fined £7.

Yorkshire.

Miners’ Houses—Dayman’s Amazing Act—Accident Causes
Stoppage—Safety Lamp Approved.

The Doncaster Rural District Council, in its town-planning
scheme, approves of the Bullcroft Main Colliery’s proposal to
build 300 houses at Owston.

A serious offence was alleged at the Doncaster Police
Court last w7eek. J. J. Clark, a colliery dayman, was
prosecuted by the Bentley Colliery Company for a breach of
the Mines Regulations. The company’s solicitor described
the man’s action as the limit of folly. He pulled a piece of
electric bell wire down from the roadside, thus interfering
with a signalling apparatus. He cut the wire and used it
as a check rope for a pony. It was a most dangerous thing
to do, as it made it impossible to signal to stop the load if
necessary, and a serious accident might have happened. The
Bench imposed a fine of 40s.

The Manvers Main Colliery, near Sheffield, which
employs 2,000 men, had to stop for a fortnight owing to
damage done by the bursting of the cylinder of the winding
engine.

Mr. William Best, of Morley, near Leeds, has obtained
Home Office approval of three safety lamps in an Order dated
May 15. In all miners’ safety lamps gauzes have hitherto
been considered indispensable. In place of them, Air. Best
has adopted a series of perforated plates, and has introduced
a second glass round the flame itself, making sure that if
either the inner or the outer glass is broken, the lamp is
still safe.

In a claim under the Workmen’s Compensation Act the
matter was arranged by the Low Moor Company, Bradford,
agreeing to pay £150 to Harry Smithson, miner, to cover
all effects of an accident, subject to his not working under-
ground within 12 months of the accident. In December
last the applicant suffered injury to his left eye by a splinter
of coal which flew7 from his pick point when he was work-
ing in the Three Nuns pit, Mirfield. The company claimed
that the accident did not arise out of the respondent’s
employment.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

The officials and workmen of the New Mine seam at the
Long-lane Colliery of the Garswood Coal and Iron Company,
Ashton, presented Mr. J. Martland, under-manager, with a
gold watch upon his leaving to take up another appoint-
ment. Mr. T. Webster, the manager, made the presenta-
tion, and also handed to Mr. Mart-land a' gold brooch for
Mrs. Martland.

One of the developments to be carried out at Lord Elles-
mere’s Brackley Colliery, Middle Flulton, near Bolton, is the
construction of a tunnel from the Arley to the Plodder seams.

The Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners’ Association
and the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation are
providing 120 men as tunnellers for service at the front.

The Midlands.

Hydraulic Stowing—Halesowen Pit Fire.

At the monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire and
East Worcestershire Colliery Under Managers’ Association,
at Dudley on Saturday, Air. W. Charlton (mining lecturer)
gave an address on “ Hydraulic Stowing in Mines.”
Hydraulic stowing, he said, was a system whereby the
goaves were completely packed by material carried in by
water and allowed to settle, the same becoming of such
density that it would safely carry the overlying strata. The
stowing material used in this system was prepared at the
surface, and conveyed' through pipes to its required destina-
tion by the water travelling in the pipes. The plant for
preparing the packing material should be placed at the rise
end of the royalty. Fine materials such as sand and the
dirt washings from coal washeries were preferable for pack-
ing. The material had to be crushed or broken up, prefer-
ably into 0-78 to 1-18 in. cubes. This prevented clogging in
the pipes, and produced better packing than coarser
material. A special plant and separate shaft had to be pro-
vided for dealing with the preparing of material and the
conveying of the same to the washer in the pit. The
system had been successfully adopted in the mines on the
Continent. It had also been practised by the Fife CoaI
Colliery Company, Scotland, and was being’ considered at
the Cannock Chase and also at collieries round Doncaster.
A discussion followed.

A fire which broke out at the Golden Orchard Colliery,
Halesowen, during last week necessitated the damping
down of the shafts. As a result about 300 men are thrown
out of work, and it is estimated it will be some weeks before
the pit can be reopened. Messrs. Hingley and Sons,
Limited, the owners, have been troubled with “ gob ” fires
at the pit for some considerable time.

Kent.

Chislet Company’s Shares—Snowdown Progress—New
Cages.

To correct any misapprehension which may arise from the
wording of a paragraph we published on May 12 regarding
the -issuing of shares by. the Chislet Colliery Company
Limited, we reproduce a verbatim note (sent to us by the
secretary) of the chairman’s reference to the matter :
” There are unissued shares to the amount of £60,000, just
the sum I want. These shares Are under option, and the
option has not to be exercised until we have got down to the
coal, but if that option were waived, and if those shares
were taken up, we should have the money to complete.” As an
option had been given on the shares at the commencement
of the company, the meeting had no power to deal with the
matter.

In the week ending Alay 20, the deep sinking in No. 2 pit
at Snowdown Colliery was carried down 20J ft.—from
2,3231 ft. to 2,344 ft. The sinking is now proceeding through
sandstone and bind. The distance to be sunk to the 6 ft. 9 in.
seam proved in the neighbouring borings is now just over
400 ft. The amount of coal raised from the Beresford seam
at this colliery continues at about 2,500 tons weekly.

New simultaneous up- and downcast cages have now been
brought into use at the East Kent Colliery Company’s pits
at Tihnanstone, and are resulting in an increasing output of
coal.

Professor W. Galloway, F.G.S., presiding At the ordinary
meeting of the East Kent Colliery Company Limited, on
Wednesday, said the outlay on the colliery and on the
electric power station amounted to £812,509 up to
December 31 last. Representing this sum, the levels in the
seam now being worked extended to a distance of close upon
a mile from east to west. He described the work which had
been done (details of which appeared in our issue of May 12),
and said that the directors would have had every reason to
be satisfied with the present financial position but for having
bad to make an agreement with a section of the first deben-
ture holders. This additional burden had upset their calcu-
lations. It was very desirable that £25,000 should as soon
as convenient be obtained by the issue of further second
debenture bonds at par, of which he was prepared to take
his share. The whole of the directors retired, and the board
was reconstituted as follows : Professor Galloway and Mr.
H. W. Marley—who were both retiring directors—as repre-
senting the shareholders; Air. Arthur Wells, one of the
retiring directors; Air. P. J. Agelasto, and Mr. C. Thomas,
representing the second debenture holders. Two seats were
left vacant.

Scotland.

W omen	Workers—Truck	Shortage—Inspectors—Colliery

Officials Fined—Subsidence at Carluke.

In Scotland there is no opposition to the employment of
women at the pits except, probably, from Ayrshire, where
it is said the County Union is most determined in its resist-
ance to any movement which alms at such an innovation.
It seems unlikely that there will be any call for women
workers in the Ayrshire pits.

In Scotland, and especially Lanarkshire, the supply of
trucks is hopelessly inadequate, and as a result there has
lately been a considerable amount of idle time. A sugges-
tion hats been made that the coalmasters throughout Lanark-
shire should come to an arrangement in regard to the
pooling of wagons, and lit is not unlikely that a proposal on
these lines may be discussed on an early date by the Coal-
masters’ Association.

The executive of the Fife and Kinross Miners’ Associa-
tion decided to recommend the miners to appoint An inspec-
tor to examine the mines of the county on behalf of the
workmen. The duties of the new official will include an
inspection of the locus of all accidents, as well as attendance
at all public enquiries under the Fatal Accidents Act.

Before Sheriff Umpherston, in Dunfermline Sheriff Court
on Thursday, a number of prosecutions against colliery
officials were dealt with, all of which may be said to have
arisen as the sequel to a recent fatal accident at Dean
Colliery, Kingseat. William Russell, on-,setter, admitted
having neglected to use the cage gates when persons were
being lowered, and he signalled the cage away before the
gates were in position, in consequence of which contraven-
tions Alexander Clunie, miner, was killed in the shaft of
the mine on February 5. A fine of £5, with the alternative
of 20 days’ imprisonment, was imposed.—David Nicholson,
colliery manager, admitted having neglected to enforce the
rule relative to the gates and cages, and to provide a uniform
code of signals ; and to see that the report book was signed
by the persons who made the examinations. The Procura-
tor-Fiscal said he was desired to represent to the court that
the whole condition of things generally as disclosed by the
accident showed a very decided lack of discipline at the
colliery, and that the Authorities took a very serious view of
the matter. On respondent’s behalf it was stated that tele-
phones had now been introduced for signalling purposes, and
there was therefore little room for complaint on that score.
Sheriff Umpherston imposed a fine of £10, with the option of
30 days’ imprisonment.

Last week fire broke out in the report-box on the pithead
at No. 1 colliery, Lumphinnans. Some workmen who were
in the vicinity raised the alarm, and in less than 20 minutes
the flames were subdued. Damage about £15.

At a meeting of the Upper Ward Committee of the Lanark
County Council a report was submitted by the road surveyor
on subsidences which have taken place recently’at Castle-
hill, Carluke, on account of the mineral workings. The
district clerk was instructed to. write the Shotts lron Com-
pany Limited, the lessees of the minerals in question,
explaining that they would be held liable in the event of any
accident occurring at the place.

On the occasion of his leaving the district, Air. John
Hardie, under-manager at the Glasgow Iron Company’s
No. 1 pit, Wishaw, has been made the recipient of numer-
ous gifts from the officials and workmen.

A change of management in the Fife CoaI Company’s
Kelty pits is shortly to take place. Mr. Bridgwood, of
Blairadam colliery, takes over the management of the
Lindsay pits, while Mr. Berry, of that colliery, goes to
Lassodie Mill, and Mr. Aitchison to Blairadam. The open-
ing up of Lassodie Colliery is expected shortly. This colliery
has been idle since the outbreak of war.

Daniel Mallock, a linesman, in the employment of the
Fife Coal Company Limited, was electrocuted while repair-
ing or altering an overhead line. Alallock and an'assistant
were about to carry out some alterations to the high tension
overhead line which takes current to Blairenbathie colliery.
To cut the current off he sent his assistant to the sub-
station to draw the switch, but this the assistant, it appears,
could not at once manage, and therefore came out of the
sub-station. It is supposed that Malloch, imagining his
assistant had cut the current off, ascended a pole which was
several hundred yards off, with fatal results. Artificial
respiration by the colliery officials was resorted to, but with-
out success.

In, granting an increase of compensation to a miner,
Sheriff Umpherston, at Dunfermline, said that, 'according to
the original conception of the Workmen’s Compensation Act,
arbitrations were to be as simple as possible in the matter
of procedure. But in practice the proceedings under such
arbitrations had become more and more elaborate, and
compliance with technicalities appropriate to actions in the
sheriff’s ordinary court had been demanded and granted
until the statutory conception of procedure had been lost
sight of.

Two new shafts are reported to be marked off in the West
of Fife, one at Kelty and one at Lochore, in proximity to
Aitken and Mary pits respectively. It is understood sinking-
will not proceed till after the war.

On his leaving Bowhill Colliery, Mr. John Puttie was the
recipient of a handsome present. Air. Suttie, who was overs-
man in No. 2 pit, has secured an undermanager’s post with
the Edinburgh Coal Company at Preston Links Colliery.

The Scottish Shale Oil Companies have had a prosperous
year, and are extending their mines, both shale and coal.
Particular attention has been paid to increasing the output
of the by-products, especially sulphate of ammonia and
naphtha. The Oakbank Company have leased from the
Crown large beds of shale under the sea bed of the Firth
of Forth. No coal is obtained here, but farther up
the Forth coal is being mined under the sea, the principal
operations being undertaken by the Valleyfield Colliery on
the north side of the Firth. Electrical plant is installed at
considerable expenditure at their works and mines by the
Shale Oil Companies, including electric winding gear for
the Pumpherston pits. The Pumpherston Company have a
credit balance for the year of £151,711, and are paying 25
per cent, dividend, on the ordinary shares, while large sums
are placed to depreciation, reserve, and improved plant
accounts, the latter having £20,000 credited for future
additions to plant. Oakbank Company are paying 10 per
cent, dividend on ordinary shares, and Broxburn Company
7| per cent. Although costs are heavier than in former
years for wages, above ' and below ground, and for all
materials required for mines and works, yet prices for all
oils and by-products have advanced considerably, and are
very firm. The outlook is very favourable, and all the
companies have large sums in hand for further develop-
ments.