February 15, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 329 COAL FREIGHTS TO FRENCH PORTS. The Shipping Controller has issued an Order limit- ing the freights for coal to French ports to the basic rates set forth in the First Schedule below, with the following additions in the case of patent fuel, pitch, and pig iron, viz., for patent fuel, 5 per cent.; for pitch, 15s. per ton; for pig iron, 7s. per ton, over and above the basic rates. The limitation rates of freight for coke are set forth in the Second Schedule. It is provided, nevertheless, that in the case of steamers exceeding 750 gross register tons loading less than 1,000 tons cargo, the maximum rates specified shall be increased by Is. per ton, and in the case of steamers loading more than 2,500 tons shall be reduced by 2s. 6d. per ton. The rates for time-chartered vessels trading between the several ports and places set forth in the First and Second Schedules shall not exceed the rates specified in the Third Schedule. In contracts of carriage to which the Order applies : (1) The rate of demurrage shall not exceed Is. 6d. per gross register ton per day, or, where the vessel is under 1,000 gross register tons, Is. 9d.; (2) the rate of despatch money shall not exceed one-half of the demurrage rate, and shall only be payable in ports where despatch money is customary. x No charterer, whether by voyage or by time, shall pay or agree to pay, and no owner shall receive or agree to receive, directly or indirectly or in any manner whatsoever, any freight or other remunera- tion in excess of the maximum rates fixed by the Order: provided that the owner of a vessel may make arrangements with duly authorised representatives of the French Government or otherwise if approved by the Shipping Controller: — (а) In the case of steamers of 400 gross register tons and upwards whereby he is indemnified against loss or damage of his vessel by war perils during the cur- rency of the charter whether by voyage or time. (б) In the-case of steamers of less than 400 gross register tons whereby he is reimbursed the payment of any premiums for war risk insurance in excess of those required to cover the vessel against war perils while exclusively employed in the coasting trade of the United Kingdom on values not exceeding those specified in the following scale, and that is to say: Vessels not exceeding 10 years old, £40 per ton dead weight; vessels exceeding 10 but not exceeding 20 years old, £35 per ton dead weight; vessels over 30 years old, £30 per ton dead weight. For the purpose of the Order, 11 owner ” includes a charterer at whose disposition a vessel is for the time being. This Order applies to all British vessels of the classes or descriptions specified in the Schedules, unless the Shipping Controller otherwise directs. The Order came into force on February 11, 1918. STORING SMALL COAL AND PREVENTING SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION * By J. Morison, M.Inst.C.E. It has been found necessary during the war to stock large quantities of small coal in Northumberland, owing to the want of trade for this class of coal, and in order to maintain the output of the large coal for national requirements. A system of stocking by means of travelling cranes is in use at the Cramlington and Burradon Collieries, where its application has been facilitated by the fact that bottom-door hopper wagons were available. These wagons each carry four tons of coal, and weigh about 2 J tons. The cranes (ordinary travelling steam jib cranes) are designed to lift seven tons at a radius of about 30 ft., and each is fitted with a special arrange- ment for allowing the crane to follow up its work quickly, and to provide for its seating itself, whilst lifting, on a wider gauge than the permanent way of 4 ft. 8|in. The wider gauge is 7 ft. 3Jin., and the crane is fitted with wheels to this gauge, as well as with wheels to run on the ordinary gauge. The special arrangement referred to consists of two platforms fitted with rails of the gauges mentioned. The crane is run off the ordinary railway track on to the gauge of 4 ft. 8J in. on the platform, and is then arranged to engage the wider gauge. The second platform is then lifted by the crane itself in front of the first platform, and the crane propels itself step Preventing Spontaneous Heating. It has been necessary to exercise considerable vigi- lance in order to prevent the heaps from firing, and a great deal of experience in this respect has been gained. The following are the practical results of this experience: — (1) It is not necessary to have any very hard-and- fast limits with regard to the size of the heaps, but the dimensions previously mentioned should be approached and worked to. (2) Temperature rods, consisting of iron rods | in. or } in. in diameter, and of a length equal to the height of the heap, should be provided, and inserted at intervals of, say, 8 yds. These rods should be left constantly in the heap, and drawn through the hand daily. Whenever heating is taking place, it will thus be detected at once. One man specially instructed should attend to this work and report daily; and when- ever there is the slightest tendency to heat, the fact should be at once reported. (3) Whenever any heating is noticed, the top of the heap should be trenched by irregular trenches to a depth of four or more feet. These trenches are easily formed, and there is no objection to throwing the coal which is dug out in forming the trenches on to the heap at the side of the trench. It is usual to find that heating commences at a depth of about 5ft., and if left alone it will spread down- ward until the coal fires. (4) In addition to the temperature rods and trench- ing, the use of a long stiff bar or poker worked into the heap so as to form funnel-shaped orifices at intervals has been found beneficial. (5) The whole surface of the heap should be raked periodically in order to break up the surface formed by the weather. It has been observed that if the small coal contains much shale, there is a tendency for this to cake, and so to interrupt the dissipation of the heat. It will be obvious that the object of the whole of the precautions mentioned is to break the surface of the heap and to allow of the dissipation of the heat. The heaps should be trodden on as little as possible, and it is not desirable where it can be avoided to run railways or tramways for stocking on the coal heaps First Schedule. Maximum Rates of Freight fob Carriage of Coal to French Ports. Steamers not exceeding 400 Steamers exceeding g 400 tons but Steamers exceeding 500 tons but Steamers exceeding 750 tons Sailing vessels fully rigged tons gross.* not exceeding 500 tons gross.f not exceeding 750 tons gross.f gross, t or dismantled and barges.* Ports. 1 yne, Hull and east coast. Bristol Channel. Mersey. Clyde. Forth and Fife ports. Tyne, Hull and east coast. Bristol Channel. Mersey. Clyde. Forth and Fife ports. Tyne, Hull and east coast. Bristol Channel. Mersey. Clyde. Forth and Fife ports. i Tyne, Hull and east coast. Bristol Channel. 1 Mersey. Clyde. Forth and Fife ports.. Tyne, Hull and east coast. Bristol Channel. Mersey. Clyde. I Forth and 1 Fife ports. Rouen s d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. • s. d Ss d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s.