640 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 30, 1917. Coke. T. J. Drakeley. “ Sc. and Art Min.,” Mar. 10, p. 262. Collieries and Coking Plant at the Decazeville Iron Works. “ Colliery Guard.,” Mar. 23, p. 578. Specific Gravity of Coke. T. J. Drakeley. “ Sc. and Art of Min.,” Mar. 24, p. 394; 2 fig. German Coal and Steel Scientific Research. “ Iron Coal Tr. Rev.,” Mar. 23, p. 332. (Extraction of coal with solvents.) XXY.—Steam Engines and Boilers : Gas Engines. Saving Fuel in a Large Industrial Boiler Plant. D. M. Myers. “ Ind. Man.,” Feb., p. 639. Stokers and Condensers. R. L. Streeter. “ Ind. Man.,” Feb., p. 665; 29 fig. The Influence of Retarders on the Transmission of Heat through Boiler Tubes. R. Royds. “ Trans. Inst. Engin. Scotld.,” Mar., p. 36; 8 fig. Notes on the Working of a Dust-fired Boiler. C. A. King. “JI. Soc. Chem. Ind.,” Feb. 15, p. 114; 1 fig. (Bettington boiler.) The Moll Burner and Safety Shut-off Valve for Gas- fired Boilers. “Iron Coal Tr. Rev.,” Feb. 23, p. 213; 2 fig. Steam Turbines for Land Purposes. H. L. Guy. “ Eng.,” Mar. 23, p. 283; 12 fig. New Power Plant of the Susquehanna Coal Company. C. H. Beidenmiller. “Coal Age,” Feb. 10, p. 275; 4 fig. Lubrication of Steam Turbines. T. C. Thomsen. “Engin.,” Mar. 23, p. 264; 4 fig. XXVII.—Electricity. Direct-Current Armature Troubles. A. T. Patterson. “ Iron Coal Tr. Rev.,” Mar. 23, p. 332. (Paper read before Assocn. Min. Electr. Engin., E. Scotld. brch.) XXVIII.—Surface Transport and Storage. Aerial Wire Ropeways. J. W. White. “Proc. S. Wales Inst. Engin.,” vol. 33, No. 1, p. 25; 29 fig. The Weathering of Coal. J. B. Porter. “ Can. Dept. Mines Rept. No. 338 ” ; illus. Telpher Installation at the Dalmarnock Gas Works, Glasgow. G. F. Zimmer. “ Eng.,” Mar. 2, p. 193; illus. 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. Barnard Castle, April 11.—Coal for the North-Eastern County School. Forms from the bursar. Birkenhead, April 3. — Gas coal, house coal, screened steam coal, rough slack, and coke breeze (12 months) for the Corporation. Total quantity about 110,207 tons. Forms for gas coke, from the engineer, Gas Works; for screened steam coal, from the ferries manager, Woodside Ferry; for slack and coke breeze, from the electrical engineer. Craven- street; and slack or small coal, from the water engineer, 52, Balls-road. Chester, April 3.—Coal, coke, and slack for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, 161, Foregate, Chester. Chorley, April 2.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, High-street. Dover, April 3. — Household coal, fine coal, and 1,500 chaldrons of coke from Yorkshire coal. Forms from the town clerk, 69, Castle-street, Dover. Great Driffield, March 31.—2,400 tons, or less, screened gas coal for the Urban District Council. No forms. Manchester, April 11.—Burgie, kitchen coal, cobbles, or steam coal and smithy coal for the Cleansing Committee. Particulars from the superintendent, Cleansing Department, Town Hall. Melton Mowbray, April 2.—Coal for the Melton Hos- pital. Forms from the Hospital. Newport (Fife), April 2.—Cannel, gas coal (screened or unscreened), treble, double, and single nuts, per ton (12 months) for the Town Council. Tenders to the town clerk. Prescot, April 2.—Coal, slack, and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices. Roscommon, April 7. — Fifty tons best double-screened Wigan, Whitehaven, or other suitable coal (delivered) for the Guardians. Tenders to the clerk. Strokestown (Ireland), April 6. — Thirty tons best English, Irish, or Scotch coal, free from slack. Particulars from the clerk. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, &c. Bray (Ireland), April 3.—Stores.—For general stores, also electric light stores, for the Urban District Council. Forms from the clerk, Town Hall. Glasgow, April 9.—Stores.—Bolts, nuts, engineer’s fur- nishings, shovels, spades, files, wire cylinders, etc., for the Gas Department. Forms from the gas engineer, 45, John- street, Glasgow. Hornsey, April 2.—Boilers.—New sectional cast-iron boilers, with piping, for the Town Council. Forms from the engineer, Town Hall. London, N.W., April 12.—Carbons.—Arc lamp carbons for St. Pancras Borough Council. Forms from the Elec- tricity Department, 57, Pratt-street, Camden Town. Manchester, April 3. — Turbo-Alternator. — Turbo-alter- nator and condensing plant for the Electricity Committee. Forms from the secretary, Electricity Committee, Town Hall. Rochdale, April 4.—Stores.—Wrought iron tubes, cast iron pipes, Parkes’ steel charging shovels, galvanised iron buckets, iron, etc., for the Gas -and Electricity Committee. Forms from the manager, Gas Works, Dane-street. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Alley and MacLellan Limited.—The directors reqommend a dividend of 6 per cent, for the past year. British Aluminium Company Limited. — The report for 1916 states that, after making reasonable provision for excess profits and other taxation, the profits, together with interest and dividends on investments and deposits, and revenue from Kinlochleven 'and Foyers estates, and transfer fees, is £379,519, and £24,792 was brought in, making £404,311. Less income tax, legal expenses, bad and doubtful debts, depreciation of investments, etc., and proportion of profits payable to directors, £73,124; prior lien debenture service, £48,000; debenture stock service, £43,224 ; reserve for depre- ciation, £60,000 (making £310,000); carried to reserve, £75,000 (making it £325,000)—£299,348, leaving £104,963. After paying preference dividend, the directors recommend a final dividend at rate of 12 per cent, per annum on ordi- nary, making 10 per cent, for year, carrying forward £26,927. British Electric Transformer Company Limited. — Net profit for year, £21,276; placed to reserve, £9,000; final divi- dend of 4^ per cent., making 7J per cent, for year; forward, £5,781. Coltness Iron Company Limited. — The directors recom- mend an interim dividend of 4 per cent, (actual). Kinneil Cannel and Coking Coal Company Limited.—The directors recommend an interim dividend of 3J per cent., less tax, subject to the consent of the Controller of Coal Mines. Lackawanna Steel Company Limited.—The report for 1916 shows that shipments of different products amounted to 1,297,825 tons, against 903,832 tons in 1915, and 579,742 tons in 1914. The average gross price received was 41-59 dels, per ton, or 10-84 dels, more than in 1915. After allowing for depreciation, the profit was 12,218,235 dels., equal to 34-81 per cent, on the common stock. Dividends amounting to 9 per cent, have been declared, absorbing 2,099,443 dols. Maclellan (P. and W.) Limited. — Owing to delay in getting the company’s accounts finally adjusted, the directors have meantime declared an interim dividend of 6 per cent, per annum on both preference and ordinary shares for the year ended December 31, 1916. The directors intend to hold the annual general meting of the company during April. North Brancepeth Coal Company Limited.—The directors have declared a dividend of 12s. per share. Rivet Bolt and Nut Company Limited. — The directors recommend a 6 per cent, ordinary dividend and 2 per cent, bonus, less tax. Rossington Main Colliery Company Limited.—The report states that the whole of the share capital has now been paid up. Two headings in the Barhsley seam have reached the edge of the shaft pillar, and are now being opened out so as to form long faces. The coal is excellent, both in thickness and quality. The output is about 300 tons per day, but it is anticipated that if sufficient men are available this will rapidly increase during the current year. Notwithstanding the difficulty arising out of the war in obtaining delivery of machinery, the erection of the permanent plant is nearly com- pleted, and the construction of the sidings, which are suffi- cient for the requirements of the colliery for some time to come, has made good progress. Sanderson Brothers and Newbould Limited.—A further dividend of 6J per cent, is recommended, making 10 per cent, for 1916, less tax, against 7J per cent, for 1915, free of tax. South Durham Steel and Iron Company Limited.—The directors have declared an interim dividend of Is. per share, less tax. St. Helens Colliery and Brick Works Company Limited. —The directors have declared an interim dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Tweefontein Colliery Limited.—A further improvement is shown in the earnings. Compared with the preceding year, the sales of coal increased from 386,700 tons to 436,900 tons, and the net profits rose from £22,900 to £26,000. The divi- dend on the ordinary shares is maintained at the previous level of 25 per cent., and the whole of the increase is added to the balance in hand, £18,200 being carried forward, as compared with £14,700 brought into the accounts. Vickers Limited.—The directors announce that, under the existing circumstances, it has not yet been possible to pre- sent the accounts for the year ended December 31, 1915, and that the accounts for the year ended December 31, 1916, must be necessarily also delayed. In the meantime, it has been arranged that the final dividend for the year 1916 of 2-| per cent, on the preferred 5 per cent, stock and on the 5 per cent, preference shares will be paid on the 31st inst. NEW COMPANIES. Army and Navy Co-operative Coal Company Limited.— Private company. Registered office, 242, High-street, Acton. To take over the business carried on as the Army and Navy Co-operative Coal Company; agreement with Walter Moore and -Company. Capital, £1,000 in £1 shares. Directors : W. G., E. J., J. T., H. V., and H. I. Moore. Blakeborough (J.) and Sons Limited.—Private company. Registered office, Woodhouse Works, Brighouse, Leeds. To take over the business carried on at Brighouse by P. W., J., E., R. A., and T. R. Blakeborough, as J. Blakeborough and Sons, and to carry on the business of engineers, valve makers, etc. Capital, £275.000 in £1 shares (125,000 preference). Directors : W. J. E., R. A., T. B., and A. L. Blakeborough. Briggs (Joseph) Limited.—Private company. Registered March 16. To carry on business of iron founders and mechanical engineers. Nominal capital, £12,000 in 12,000 £1 shares. Directors : R. F. Matthews and E. Banks. Qualification of directors, £100. Brown (P. R.) and Company Limited.—Private company. Registered March 20. To carry on trades or businesses of engineers, founders, machinists, millwrights, Government contractors, and dealers in metals. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. Directors : F. Bates and L. W. Shepherd. Qualification of directors, 200 shares. Charcoal Iron Foundry Limited.—(Private company. Regis- tered March 20. To carry on business of manufacturers of iron. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 shares. Directors : J. Morgan While, Ann While, and E. While. Grey (Victor) and Company Limited.—Private company. Registered office, Queen’s-buildings, Swansea. To take over the business of coal merchants and exporters, colliery agents, etc., formerly carried on by Victor Grey at Swansea. Capital, £10,000 in £10 shares. Directors : V., W., and T. Grey. Hackbridge Cable Company Limited.—Private company. Registered office, London-road, Hackbridge, Surrey. Regis- tered March 20. To carry on business of cable makers, elec- trical telegraph, telephone, and general engineers and con- tractors. Nominal capital, £25,000 in 25,000 £1 shares. Subscribers : H. Allwood and A. Kent. Hider Dempster and Company Limited. — Privaite com- pany. To carry on the business of engineers, tool and boiler makers, manufacturers of pipes, tubes, joints, hose beltings, etc. Capital, £1,000 in £1 shares. ' Directors : W. Hider Goodchild and R. Dempster Goodchild. Indestructible Steel Company Limited.—Private company. Registered March 12. To carry on business of steel con- verters, refiners, rollers, tillers, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 £1 shares. Subscribers : R. A. Bedford, S. R. Midgley, and A. F. Bedford. Kenshaw Engineering Works Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 27, Chatham-ro-ad, Battersea. Registered March 14. To acquire the business of mechanical, electrical, and general engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 £1 shares. Directors : T. P. Hartley and C. E. Holder. Qualification, 100 shares. Pope (A. J.) and Company Limited. — Privaite company. To take over the business of coal and general merchandise exporters, ship owners, ship brokers and managers, etc., carried on by A. J. Pope and J. Bonet at 86-7, Exchange- buildings, Cardiff, as A. J. Pope and Company. Capital, £10,000 in £1 shares. Sole managing director, A. J. Pope. Power Engineering Company Limited.—Private company. Registered office, Thomas-street, Cheetham Hill, Man- chester. Registered March 22. To carry on business of general engineers, merchants, experts in welding of metals, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 shares. Directors : M. Voigt, E. P. Voigt, and C. M. Ginders. Pritchard (Thomas) Limited.—Private company. To take over the business of tube manufacturers carried on by A. E. Pritchard and L. A. Pritchard at Wednesbury,.Staffordshire, as Thomas Pritchard. Capital, £3'0,000 in £1 shares. Per- manent governing director, A. E. Pritchard. Rowell (R. Stanley) Limited.—Private company. Regis- tered office, 1, Queen-street, Newcastle. To take over the business formerly carried on at Newcastle-on-Tyne by the late R. Stanley Rowell, and to carry on the business of iron and steel dealers, iron masters, colliery proprietors, tin-plate makers, etc. Capital, £3,000 in £1.shares. Directors : R. Temperley, J. A. M‘Culloch, W.’ C. D. Martin, and S. S. Moffat. Simpson Processes Limited. — Private company. Regis- tered office, 14, Billiter-street, London. Registered Mar. 14. To treat coal, shale, and other carbonaceous substances and minerals, and extract therefrom oil, spirit, and other pro- ducts.. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. Directors shall be appointed by the subscribers. Subscribers : A. Quincey and E. J. Kimber. This list of new companies is taken from the Daily Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan ana Sons Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C. THE FREIGHT MARKET. The volume of steam tonnage offering for hire in the out- ward collier chartering market has been exceedingly limited during the past week, although, especially on the north-east coast, the arrivals of requisitioned vessels to load on official account have been much better, thereby helping coal shipping very materially. Private shippers of coal still find the utmost difficulty in securing cargo space for their consignments, and business is correspondingly checked. Up to the time of writing, not a single fixture has been arranged at the Tyne since the week-end, and the number of vessels arriving to take away coal cargoes has been minimised by stormy weather at sea. The few fixtures entered into last week-end show transactions practically confined to coasting ports and to North French ports, with coke in the latter direction. London is based on fully 20s., and coke rates to French Channel ports range from 45s. to 46s. Baltic business is represented by 80 kr. for a small vessel from West Hartle- pool to Drammen. At South Wales, tonnage is exceedingly short in supply, and rates in unrestricted directions are advancing, Barcelona, for example, being quoted at 150s. from Cardiff. There is considerable pressure for tonnage, in view of the nearness of the Easter holidays, and the great accumulations of coal at the collieries. Bilbao has been done at 80s., and the River Plate, for sailing vessels, at 90s. Homewards, the River Plate is quiet, but steady, at 135s. from up-river ports to United Kingdom, and 130s. from down-river ports. At the United States, tonnage is required on account of the Wheat Committee at 32s. on heavy grain basis from the Gulf to French ports. From the Northern Range for like cargo to French Atlantic ports, 30s. con- tinues to be quoted. Virginia to the Plate with coals is still mentioned at 100s. Net form business from Northern Range to France is listed at about 160s., an advance of 5s. Cotton berth rates are quoted at 4c. per lb. c.i.f. Liverpool or Havre. There is. a strong demand for tonnage at the Far Eastern ports. Bombay to United Kingdom has recovered the reduction mentioned last week, being back again at the rate of 240s. Kurrachee to United Kingdom is 2s. 6d. dearer, being quoted at 220s. Calcutta on jute basis to Genoa is quoted at 280s. Madras Coast to Marseilles with kernels is steady, at 400s. Saigon-Haiphong to Marseilles or French Atlantic is still about 300s. Mediterranean ore ports are steady. Tyne to Bergen, 1,100, 90 kr.; Boulogne, 1,500, 45s., coke; Calais, 1,500, 45s., coke; Dunkirk, 1,500, 45s., coke; Havre, 550, 65s., pitch; London, 1,250, 20s.; North French Range, 750, 46s., coke; 400, 45s., coke. Cardiff to Bordeaux, 1,250, 34s.; Bilbao, 3,600, 80s.; Bahia Blanca, sail, 3,500, 90s., April; Cherbourg, 1,100, 23s. 6d. ; River Plate, 3,000, 90s., sail; Rouen, 2,200, 24s. 6d. ; 900, 38s. 3d., neutral; 600, 60s., coke; St. Malo, 280, 22s. Wear to London, 1,000, 21s. Hartlepool to London, 1,000, 21s. Glasgow to River Plate, about 90s. Swansea to Rouen, 1,400 and 1,500, 24s. 6d.; Granville, 600, 36s., neutral; Caen, 700, 36s., neutral, 280, 900, and 950, 24s.; Trouville', 700, 36s., neutral. Warkworth to Bergen, 1,000, 110 kr. West Hartlepool to Drammen, 600, 80 kr.; Christiania, 850, 120 kr., coke. Newport to Bahia Blanca, sail, 3,500 , 90s., April; Caen, 600, 36s., neutral.