544 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 16, 1917. 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. Birkenhead, April 3. — The Corporation of Birkenhead are prepared, through the Coal Contracts Committee, to receive tenders for the undermentioned coal supplies, for a period of 12 months, commencing on July 1, 1917 :—(a) Gas coal, screened coal, through-and-through, and coal nuts, cannel coal—for Gas Works; (5) house coal—for various departments; (c) screened steam coal—for Ferries and other departments; (d) rough slack (washed and unwashed) and coke breeze—for Electricity Works; (e) washed or unwashed slack or small coal and screened coal—for Water Depart- ment. The total quantity of all the fuel required under the above heads is about 110,270 tons. Forms of conditions and tender may be obtained : As to (a) and (5) from the gas engineer, Gas Works, Birkenhead; as to (c) from the ferries manager, Woodside Ferry, Birkenhead; as to (d) from the electrical engineer, Craven-street, Birkenhead; and as to (e) from the water engineer, 52, Balls-road, Birkenhead. Having regard to existing abnormal conditions, the Corporation, will be prepared to agree to any reasonable modifications of the conditions of tender which may be suggested by tenderers. Sealed tenders must be delivered to the town clerk not later than April 3. The Corporation do not bind themselves to accept any tender. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Abergavenny, March 26. — Coal for the Monmouthshire Asylum. Forms from the clerk, Asylum, Abergavenny. Belper, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse master. Bollington, March 24.—Best screened gas coal (12 months) for Gas Committee. Forms from the clerk, Council Offices. Bournemouth, March 26. — Coal (six months) for the Finance Committee. Forms from the borough surveyor. Bradford, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, 4, Town Hall-street, Bradford. Brecon, March 23. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the deputy clerk, 19, Castle-street, Brecon. Bridgnorth, March 23.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, New Market Buildings, Bridgnorth. Bristol, March 22. — Unwashed small coal or washed peas for Electricity Works. Forms from the general manager, Electricity Department, The Exchange, Bristol. Burnley, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from J. S. Horn, clerk. Burton-on-Trent, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices. Cheltenham, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Institution, Swindon-road, Cheltenham. Glutton, March 23.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Temple Cloud. Croston (Lancashire), March 24. — 500 to 600 tons screened gas nuts or coal, delivered Croston Station, for the Urban District Council. Tenders to the engineer, Council Offices. Croydon.—Coal and coke for Addington Park War Hos- pital. Forms from the steward. Croydon, March 26.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Thornton Heath. Driffield, March 21.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices. Earls House (Durham), March 19.—Coal and coke for Industrial School. Forms from the Education Committee clerk, Shire Hall, Durham. Edgware, March 29.—Coal for Hendon Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Edgware. Hunslet, March 20.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Glasshouse-street, Hunslet. Kingsclere (Berkshire), March 20. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from J. Barnes, clerk. King’s Lynn, March 30.—Best Portland hards or other good engine coal for the Magdalen Drainage Commis- sioners. Tenders to the clerk, W. D. Ward, King’s Lynn. Lancaster, March 20.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 5, Dalton-square, Lancaster. Leicester, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Poor Law Offices, Pocklington’s Walk. Lewisham, March 19.—Coal for the Military Hospital. Forms from the Union Offices, 394, High-street, Lewisham. Llanelly, March 20.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the master, Workhouse. London, E.C., March 21.—Coal and coke for the Holborn Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 53, Clerkenwell-road, E.C. London, E., March 22.—Goal for the Guardians (Mile End Old Town). Forms from B. Gatmur, clerk, Bancroft- road, Mile End. London, E., March 22.—Coke for the London Hospital, Whitechapel. Forms from the steward. Manchester, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, All Saints’, Manchester. Meriden, March 26.—Coal for the Meriden Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 11, Priory-street, Coventry. Newport (Mon.), March 20.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Queen’s Hal], Newport. North Shields, March 26. — Coal for the Tynemouth Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Guardians’ Hall, North Shields. Oldham, March 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk’s office. Ormskirk, March 22.—Coal and burgie (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Tenders to the surveyor, Council Offices. Paddington, March 20.—Coal and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from the acting-clerk, 313, Harrow-road. Plymouth, March 17.-25,000 tons gas coal for the Gas Committee. Forms from the engineer, Gas Works, Keyham, Devonport. Poplar, March 20.—Coal for the Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum District. Forms from the clerk’s office, Devons- road, Bow. . Richmond (Surrey), March 21.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the Offices, Parkshot, Richmond. Bomford, March 20.—Coal for the Joint Hospital Board. Forms from the clerk, 16a, South-street, Romford. Rugby, March 24.—House coal (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Benn-buildings, Rugby. Runcorn, March 19.—Fuel for the Rural District Council and the Guardians. Forms from the acting-clerk, 71, High- street, Runcorn. Salford, March 19.—5,000 tons of washed slack for the Electricity Department. Particulars from the electrical engi- neer, Frederick-road, Salford. Salisbury, March 31.—Fuel (12 months) for the Educa- tion Committee. Tenders to the clerk, 3, Castle-street, Salisbury. Sheerness, March 19.—1,000 tons of slack for the Urban District Council. Forms from the clerk, Council Offices, Sheerness. Shrewsbury, March 19. — Coke for the Salop County Asylum, Shrewsbury. Forms from the clerk. Swindon, March 20.—Coal for the Swindon and District Hospital Board. Particulars from J. McGregor Johnson, clerk. Wandsworth, March 19. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, St. John’s-hill, Wandsworth. Willesden, March 19.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 357, High-road, Brondesbury. Wigan, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Poor Law Institution, Wigan. Wolverhampton, March 20.—Coal, slack, and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Poor Law Offices, Wolverhampton. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, &c. Bolton, March 19.—Stores.—Overhead materials, gear and pinion wheels, iron castings, lamps, insulating materials, etc. Forms from the general manager, Corporation Tram- ways, Bradshawgate, Bolton. Dundee, March 28.—Stores.—Electrical stores, etc., for the Corporation (12 months). Forms from the Electricity Department,. Dudhope Crescent-road, Dundee. Wigan, March 19. — Stores. — Tubes, merchant iron, shovels, coke forks, mains, screws, galvanised buckets, etc., for the Gas Committee. Forms from the engineer, Gas Works, Wigan. THE FREIGHT MARKET. During most of the period under review, the outward freight market was very dull—worse than that of the pre- vious week. Over the whole week, as a matter of fact, the amount of business done has been less than was done for the week before. During the last two or three days, how- ever, the dearth of tonnage has been less severe. This is especially the case on the north-east coast, where neutral vessels are now coming forward in rather larger numbers, although Allied vessels are conspicuous by their absence. That neutral tonnage is monopolising chartering is, of course, only another way of saying that rates are advancing. Thus, whilst British steamers were content with from 16s. to 16s. 6d. from Tyne to London, several neutral vessels for that voyage have been fixed at from 19s. to 20s. Orders for tonnage are very numerous on the north-east coast, and merchants are offering high rates, without, in most instances, being able to fix up for their requirements. Apart from the coasting fixtures already mentioned, the only busi- ness actually done up to the time of writing is for coke carriage to North French ports at from 47s. to 52s. 6d., and the engagement of a 2,000-ton steamer for Gibraltar at 80s. The Shipping Controller states that the Inter-Allied Charter- ing Executive, is no longer bound by the old schedule. Homewards, the River Plate is steadily quoted at 130s. from up-river and 125s. from down-river ports to the United Kingdom. At these figures, there is little tonnage on offer, and business is very slow. At the United States, coal tonnage from Virginia to the River Plate is being vainly sought at 100s. Net form business from Northern Range to French Atlantic is steady, at 155s., with 200s. quoted for neutral vessels for Mediterranean discharge. For heavy grain from Northern Range to France, 30s. is still the figure. At the Far East, rates are, generally speaking, steady. Thus, Madras Coast to Marseilles with kernels is still quoted at 400s., and Calcutta to Genoa on jute basis continues at 280s. Kurrachee on scale to United Kingdom is 10s. advanced, being mentioned at 210s. Bombay to United Kingdom is indicated at last week’s rate of 240s. Saigon-Haiphong to France with rice is fully 5s. dearer, the most recent quotations being from 290s. to 295s. Medi- terranean ore ports are steady, with a fair enquiry for vessels. Alexandria is quiet, and rather weaker. Tyne to Gibraltar, 2,000, 80s.; Honfleur, 600, 52s. 6d., coke, neutral vessel; London, 1,850, 1,750, and 1,000, 20s., neutrals; 2,000, 19s., neutral; Rouen, 1,200, 47s., coke. Cardiff to Bordeaux, 1,600, 34s.; 3,000, 51s., neutral; Gibraltar, 3,200 and 1,500, 77s. 6d., 500; Havre, 2,000, 34s. 6d., patent fuel; Rouen, 700, 38s. 3d., neutral; St. Malo, 600, 33s., neutral. Swansea to Dieppe, 600, 36s. 9d.; Lisbon, 450, 85s., sail; Rouen, 700, 38s. 3d., neutral. Newport to Caen, 700, 36s.; Gibraltar, 1,400, 77s. 6d., 500. Hull to Rouen, 2,400 and 1,000, 27s. fid.; Alexandria, 1,500, 102s. Port Talbot to Rouen, 700, 38s. 3d. Glasgow to Gibraltar, 75s. 6d. The address of the Perfecta Boiler Circulator Limited is now 39, Victoria-street, London, S.W. Several new high sheriffs are associated with the coal trade. Mr. J. W. Beynon (Monmouthshire) is a member of the firm of Messrs. Beynon and Company, colliery pro- prietors. Mr. Morgan W. Morgan (Breconshire) is a director of the Abercrave Colliery Company. Mr. D. Rad- cliffe (Glamorgan) is a partner of the firm of Evan Thomas, Radcliffe and Company, owners of steamships engaged chiefly in the coal trade. ABSTRACTS OF PATEliT SPECIFICATIOHS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 100480. Improvements in Sectional Boilers. E. Cor- merais, of 10, Rue Lamoriciere, Nantes, Loire Inferieure, France.—Relates to a tubulous boiler of the type in which the sections or elements are disposed side by side form- ing the walls of the boiler, the combustion chamber, and the flues. Fig. 1 is a section of a boiler; and fig. 2 is a section on the line I—I of fig. 1. 1 represents an iron or steel box located at the upper end. 2 and 3 denote smaller boxes located at the lower end, the upper box and the lower boxes being connected by tubes 4. Some of these tubes 4 are disposed adjacent to the outer casing 5 of the boiler, and others adjacent to the grate 6, as shown in fig. 2. The tubes 4, located adjacent the walls of the furnace, are of a diameter corresponding to the width of the boxes 2 and 3, so that they prevent the passage of the hot gases ; the tubes 4, on each side of the grate, are of reduced diameter at their upper ends 7, as shown in fig. 2, in order to allow the gases ■from the grate to pass, as hereinafter described. The tubes 4 are contracted towards their ends so as to allow them to be Ft1 expanded into holes in the upper and lower boxes, the elements in front and behind the grate having the same diameter throughout, and being fitted to front and. rear boxes common to the lateral elements. The front section com- prises a charging door 9, a door 10 permitting removal of the clinker, and an ash door 11 provided with a damper 12 for the admission of air. This damper is actuated by a regu- lator. The boxes placed side by side are connected by rings 14, 15, and 16, fitted respectively to perforations of these boxes in known manner. 17 represents the water level. 18 represents the steam outlets, and 19 a return pipe for return- ing condensed water to the boiler. The products of combus- tion pass up the central portion 20 between the tubes until they reach the level of the contracted portions of the tubes at 21, where they are able to pass between them, and pass down immediately from each side at 22, and from , there to the smoke box 23 'and the chimney 24. (Two claims.) 103709. Improvements in Feed Water Heating Appar- atus for Boilers. J. P. O’Donnell, of Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W. ; and G. H. Willans and E. S. Luard, both of 41, Moorfields, London, E.C.—Relates to improvements in valve devices for use in connection with feed water heating apparatus or combined feed water heat- ing and boiler water circulating apparatus for boilers, more especially to valve devices of the kind described and shown in Patent No. 4085/15. The drawing shows means for 78 32 <45 W6* 67< ,80 closing the stop valves by steam. 45 is the valve for con- trolling the communication between the feed water supply and the heater, and also for changing over from “ feed through heater ” to direct feed into the bottom of the boiler, and 36 is the stop valve at the outlet end of the heater con- trolling communication between the heater and the steam space of the boiler. 22 corresponds to the similarly num- bered valve 22 in the prior patent. 5 is the inlet passage connected to the feed water supply, 7 the passage leading to