January 4, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

33

THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE.

Advices by cable report drastic steps concerning the
United States coal industry Mr. James R. Garfield,
Controller of Fuel, has issued an Order commandeer-
ing all coal which is mined. This drastic action has
been taken in order to ensure the immediate release
of many ships held in various ports through lack of
coal, and also to -ensure the speedy movement of
freight trains. The Government has assumed control
of all the railways, and requisitioned the electric power
produced by various power companies at the Falls.

A New York paper on December 27 published the
following statement: —11 One hundred steamships,
aggregating more than a million tons gross, are being
held in New York harbour through lack of coal, and
the number is increasing daily. Every pier in East
and North Rivers is occupied. Twenty-two of the
detained steamships are owned by a French company,
and have been waiting for coal since November 24.
They include also 15 steamships, ranging from 8,000 to
50,000 gross tons, which are owned by an Anglo-
American corporation, and eight others owned by a
British steamship company. The other vessels are
freighters belonging to American, French, Italian, and
British companies, and a few are operated by the
United States Shipping Board in carrying supplies.
One of the managers of the Berwind-White Coal Com-
pany, the chief coal producers for shipping in this
port, said yesterday that the coal situation was inter-
fering with the progress of the war, and there was no
relief in sight.”

Advices by mail are not unanimous regarding the
policy of commandeering. The Black Diamond
(December 8) says that “ to establish an order of
priority in shipments, allowing only the most urgent
demands to be satisfied, seems to be the only possible
avenue left open. To seize the railroads and the coal
mines, and put them into a common pool to be operated
by the Government is a dangerous experiment. In
fact, if the Government should attempt any such thing,
it would merely introduce confusion in the most critical
time in the nation’s history as far as coal supply is
concerned, without doing any good. It is impossible
for the new organisation to become effective during
the period of crisis, which will probably end on
April 1.”

Reports in the Coal Age dwell upon the transporta-
tion problem and the general muddle in the coal trade.
Tide water loading congestion went from bad to worse,
especially at Hampton Roads, where coal is often not
on hand at the piers for dumping. Much of the pre-
sent state of affairs is due to lack of system in the
placing of Government orders for coal, which are
always given with instructions for immediate ship-
ment. The Canadian Fuel Controller was advised that
Canada was expected to resort to the same measures
to save coal as are being adopted in the United States.
So far as coal supply goes, Canada has been allotted
the same proportion of coal as similarly situated por-
tions of the United States.

The recent advance of 35c. per ton on domestic sizes
of anthracite to cover certain increases in wages made
to the mine workers, immediately affected the retail
prices of this fuel throughout the country. Condi-
tions in the anthracite trade are still unsatisfactory.
Anthracite mine workers are to a large extent foreign
born, and it has been estimated that nearly one-quarter
of their number owe or have owed allegiance to
Austria-Hungary.

Philadelphia prices per gross ton f.o.b. cars at mines
for line shipment are as follow: Broken, 5-90 dols.;
egg, 4-80 dols.; stove, 5-05 dols.; nut, 5’15 dols.; pea,
3-75 dols.; buck, 2-80 dols.; rice, 2-30 dols.; boiler,
2-10 dols.; barley, 1*80 dols.

There are scarcely any market offerings of coke in
Connellsville. The market is quotable at the Govern-
ment prices, 6 dols. for furnace, 7 dols. for 72-hour
selected foundry, and 7-30 dols. for crushed, over 1 in.
size, per net ton at beehive ovens.

OBITUARY.

Mr. J. Lane Herbert, commercial manager and secre-
tary of Nixon’s Navigation Colliery Company, died sud-
denly in the street on Friday evening of last week at
Cardiff. He had just previously complained of pains in
the chest, and was making his way homeward, when he
collapsed ; and although medical aid was summoned imme-
diately, it proved to be too late. The cause of death was
heart disease.

Mr. John Heaton, who had been associated with the
Haydock Collieries of Messrs. Richard Evans and Com-
pany in the Wigan coal field for upwards of 50 years, being
for 30 years manager, has died at his residence, Tithebarn,
Garswood, near Wigan, in his 74th year. The deceased
took a keen interest in politics.

Mr. Henry James Friend, secretary of Ibstock Colliery,
well known on the London Coal Exchange for nearly 30
years, died at Coalville on Monday.

Mr. John Thackray, coal merchant, 19, Miller-street,
Elland-road, Holbeck, Leeds, passed away on December 27.
He was in his 66th year.

The Coppee Company (Great Britain) Limited, King’s
House, Kingsway, London, have just received an order
from the Wankie Colliery Company, of Southern Rhodesia,
in connection with an additional 56 ovens to be erected at
Wankie. This is an extension of the existing plant, which
has been working since the commencement of 1916, and
which is giving entire satisfaction.

Indian Coal Output.—In view of the increasing output of
first-class Indian coal, severe restrictions are notified in
regard to the railway wagon supply for the collieries work-
ing inferior coal. This action is causing an outcry, but it
is defended on the ground that the diverting of labour to
the short-handed first-class collieries had the effect also
of enabling the railways to convey greater quantities of
Admiralty supplies.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

At a mass meeting of the coal trimmers of Cardiff port
(which includes Barry and Penarth), new proposals for the
proper manning of vessels in respect of trimming work
were considered; and they were agreed to, and referred to
the executive of the union.

An increase of 1^ per cent, on the standard is announced
with regard to the wage rate under the sliding scale of
the South Wales and Monmouthshire Iron and Steel
Workers’ Committee. The total percentage is now 91
above the standard.

Mr. T. Lewis, of Ebbw Vale, has been elected presi-
dent of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Colliery
Weighers’ Association.

The war bonus decided upon in respect of the steel and
tin-plate workers of South Wales has been confirmed.

From 300 to 400 miners employed at the Crumlin
Valleys Colliery, Pontypool, struck work on Monday,
owing, it is stated, to a dispute between the management
and a haulier, who is alleged to have been wrongfully
dismissed.

Tirpentwys Colliery workmen, Pontypool, have decided
to become re-affiliated with the local Trades and Labour
Council.

North of England.

The Hamsterley lodge of the Durham Miners’ Associa-
tion has adopted a resolution calling the attention of the
executive committee of the association to the delay in pay-
ing the latest increase of the minimum wage, and calling
for a special council meeting to-morrow (Saturday) to con-
sider the advisability of “ downing tools ” until the
increase is paid.

A meeting of miners employed at New Seaham, Silks-
worth, and Dawdon collieries, held on Saturday last,
unanimously called upon the Government to re-arrange the
area for the supply of coal, and to provide the necessary
transport.

At the instance of Walker Colliery workers, the execu-
tive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion has asked the Coal Controller whether miners who may
work a shift or part of a shift at other work when the pit
is idle are entitled to receive the “ war wage ” of Is. 6d.
for that day. The Controller has replied in the negative.

At their quarterly council meeting, the members of the
Cleveland Miners and Quarrymen’s Association agreed to
make a protest to the military authorities as to the lack
of boot repairers for miners, and to request that a number
of cobblers should be returned to civil life.

Federated Area.

At the monthly meeting of the Notts Miners’ Associa-
tion, the officials were instructed to seek an interview with
the coal owners in the county on the non-union question,
as there are still a number of men working at the collieries
who are not members of the association. By an over-
whelming majority, Mr. G. S. Spencer was declared
re-elected president. A second candidate for Parliament
having been allocated to the association by the Miners’
Federation, it was decided to recommend the branches to
accept the offer, and another miners’ representative will
therefore probably be run in the county, in addition to
Mr. W. Carter.

The Barlborough Collieries of the Staveley Coal and Iron
Company were rendered idle at the completion of the day
shift on Friday of last week, through the dispute at the
Devonshire Works of the Staveley Company.

Scotland.

The strike at Bedlay Colliery, Lanarkshire, remains
unsettled.

The tonnage rates dispute at Parkhead Colliery, Bells-
hill, Lanarkshire, is still the subject of negotiation.

The Scottish shale miners’ dispute has been settled. The
labourers and tradesmen will receive a further war wage
of 6d. per day.

At Connerton pit, Banknock, Stirlingshire, considerable
friction has occurred. Last week there was idle time
because the men complained of a shortage of timber sup-
plies. As a result of a conference between the represen-
tatives of the owners and the workmen, a settlement of
the more pressing points of difficulty has been arrived at.

At Ardeer East pit, Stevenston, Ayrshire, complaint is
being made by the workmen concerning the quality and
brand of explosives recently introduced.

An effort is being made by the surface workers at the
Barony pit, Auchinleck, Ayrshire, to secure either a reduc-
tion in working hours or an increase of wages. The union
agents are to interview the owners on the subject.

The announcement is made that the Humph and
Kiltongue seams, Udston Colliery, are to be closed. Nearly
100 men are affected.

At Howmuir Colliery, in the Cleland district of Lanark-
shire, some dissatisfaction occurred owing to the dismissal
of 10 women who were employed at the coal cleaning plant.
As the outcome of intervention by the union, the majority
of the women have been reinstated.

The protracted negotiations which resulted in a strike
at Knowton Colliery, Shotts, have been ended by the
issuing of the arbiters’ award in the Mill coal seam. The
arbiters have fixed a flat rate of 2s. lOd. per ton.

Work has been exceptionally brisk at Grangemouth
Colliery, Stirlingshire. Although the mine in the upper
portion at Laurieston has been closed indefinitely, little
difficulty has been experienced in finding employment else-
where for the men affected.

The notices which the colliery clerks employed in the
West of Fife lodged on December 15, as the result of the
company refusing to deal with the representative of the
Clerks’ Union over a claim for an increased war bonus,
will run for another week, pending a meeting between Mr.
Herbert Elvin (secretary, National Union of Clerks) and
the Coal Controller.

The general manager at Parkneuk Colliery has with
drawn an intimation made that the miners in a large
section would have in future to pay for their explosives.
This would mean about 3d. per ton of a reduction to the
men affected.

The executive have agreed to admit the Raasay miners
into the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The steel trade of Sheffield and district has been greatly
interfered with owing to the impasse arising from the
Government declining to extend to the steel and iron
workers the 12£ per cent, advance which the employers
were willing to concede. The works of Messrs. Steel,
Peech and Tozer Limited and the Parkgate Iron Works
stopped, and also the Stocksbridge works of Samuel Fox
and Company Limited.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Central Electric Power Stations — Miners’ Action as to
Parliamentary Representatives—House Coal Supplies—
Newport Chamber of Commerce—Shipments to France.

The general interest aroused by the report of Lord
Haldane’s committee as to electrical power and the estab-
lishment of great central stations recalls the effort made a
few years ago in South Wales when the late Lord Merthyr,
Mr. John Cory, and other leaders in the coal and iron
trades obtained an Act of Parliament which promised to
benefit hugely the local industries. Mr. Archibald Hood
(Glamorgan collieries), Mr. Insole, Sir John Gunn, Mr.
Arthur Keen and Mr. E. P. Martin (Dowlais ironworks and
collieries), Mr. Windsor Richards, Mr. Forster Brown,
Mr. T. Webb and Mr. Rees Jones (Ocean collieries), with
others, were associated. Power stations were set up, one
in Monmou’ hshire and three in Glamorgan ; but the original
scheme was not altogether successful, and at the present
time a consumers’ company works the Treforest station
from which power is sent to collieries in the Rhondda,
Aberdare, and Rhymney valleys.

Naturally, the report just issued by Lord Haldane’s
committee has excited all the more interest because of past
local experiences; and expressions of opinion have been
made by leading representatives in the coal and iron
industries. Mr. George Hann, who is assistant general
manager of th« extensive collieries of the Powell Duffryn
Company, holds the opinion that within the next 20 years
all collieries in the district will be completely electrified;
and it is to be noted that the undertaking with which he
is connected is prominent in the coal field for its adoption
of electricity, the fine generating station at Pengam
serving not only the pits at that *point, but also the
company’s collieries in the adjoining Cylla Valley and
those higher up the Rhymney Valley at Bargoed. Mr.
Hann considers that there may be a difficulty in
establishing one large central station in South Wales
because of the lack of sufficient water power, it being
essential that a large station should have a good supply of
water. There might also, he thought, be some difficulty in
linking up with existing stations owing to the difference in
the periodicity of systems which are at present operating
in the district. Mr. Hedley Clark (general manager of the
Cambrian Combine) considers that if worked in a practical
manner the scheme of central electric power stations would
save a very large quantity of coal, the principle being
ideal. Haulage and winding at collieries could be carried
out very cheaply; but a very large amount of capital would
be necessary in order to establish and get the scheme into
working order. Mr. D. R. Llewellyn, colliery proprietor, of
Aberdare, regards the idea with distinct approval, and
whilst he says that much initial outlay of capiial would be
needed, does not consider that any real difficulty exists.
The present requirement is for standardising electric plant.

In the area of West Wales around Swansea there are six
or seven power stations in existence, and steps are being
taken to combine some of these and lessen the costs of
operation. The Corporation have already undertaken to
supply current to two undertaking's which hitherto have
had independent generating stations, and negotiation is in
progress with others.

Mr. Chamen, who is the manager of the electrical station
at Treforest, from which several of the collieries derive
their power, considers that the essential requirement of
economy is in wholesale production, small independent
stations not being satisfactory in this respect. In order to
meet the needs of the future there should be co-operation
in the pooling of existing plant so far as practicable.
By-product plant could be put down in combination with
the super-power stations and the valuable by-products of
the coal be extracted instead of being, as at present, wasted
through burning of the coal in boiler furnaces.

* There is in existence a South Wales committee through
which the engineers connected with the different electrical
installations of the district co-operate under Mr. Ellis,
electrical engineer for the city of Cardiff., The idea is to
link the stations at present in operation, and a report from
this committee is expected to be issued shortly. The
Swansea electrical engineer (Mr. Burr) agrees that smaller
and less efficient plant should be stopped, and it is of special
interest to note the Swansea Corporation are putting up
new plant in order to supply the docks and works of that
district with electric power.	/

The South Wales men are taking active steps to secure
miners’ representatives in Parliament and in different parts
of the district meetings are being held to organise the newly-
delimitated Parliamentary divisions. One such meeting
took place at Tredegar on Saturday, it being a conference
of miners’ representatives from all parts of the new Ebbw
Vale constituency, so that selection might be submitted to
a full Labour Conference at which other trade unions would
submit nominees. The difference between the procedure
of the miners in South Wales and that of other trade unions
is that the latter act as a community throughout the country
in selection of a nominee, whilst in the South Wales
constituencies the miners act separately as a body in each
constituency. After preliminary discussion the conference
was adjourned, and meetings are to be called in similar
areas for preliminary consideration of the matter.

The coal trimmers of Cardiff, Penarth and Barry have
also considered the question of nominating Labour candi-
dates for Parliament, and on Sunday agreed to submit the
name of their president (Mr. J. T. Clatworthy) and of their
secretary (Mr. S. Fisher) to the Labour Party executive.

Arrangements for the supply of house coal in South
Wales and Monmouthshire from the different collieries
have been made by the district committee; and Mr. F. A.
Gibson, as secretary, has circularised local authorities and
coal merchants setting forth the detail. The colliery
companies will supply the same merchants during January
1918 with the same quantity of house coal as was supplied
in October 1915. The month of February will be at the
rate of November 1915, and the month of March at the rate
of December of that year. Each coal merchant must supply
for retail purposes—that is to basket-men or customers
purchasing by the hundredweight - the same quantity each
month as was sold in the relative months of 1915, as set
forth in the scheme The circular emphasises the need for
strictest economy in the use of fuel.

The Newport Chamber of Commerce have elected as their
president for the coming year Mr. J. H. Vickery, general
manager of the Docks and Railway Company at that port.
Mr. Vickery is already a member of the Harbour Board and
of the Newport Corporation, and he has distinguished his
administration at the docks by his endeavour to establish
good relations with the employees. Apart from ordinary
negotiation with them in respect of terms and conditions of