1058 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 24, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week May 12 to 18, 1918. Magnetic character. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + i Min. Min. Sun., May 12 1 48*5 51'0 Mon., ,, 13 1 50*0 50'5 Tues., ,, 14 1 52’0 51'5 Wed., „ 15 1 49’0 51'0 Thurs., ,, 1,; 2 48*0 47'5 Friday, ,, 17 2 38'0* 1 i 45'5* Sat., * „ 18 2 50'0 ; i 51'0 Diurnal i n e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. quality (i.e., May 1917 -0'4 -0'2 -0'6 -1'3 departure from Ap 1. 1918 -1'1 -1'3 -1'4 -2'0 mean value for Apl. 1917 -0'3 -0'5 -0'7 -1'0 day) Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 4h.-6h. 14° + eh.-'-ih. 14° + 8h.-10h 14° 4- 10h.-12h. 1 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + llh.-lGh. 14° + 1 16h.-18h. 18h.-20h. i 14° + i 1 20h.-22h. ; 22h.-2 Ih. 14° + Mean for day. 14° + J4‘ 3 + 14c ’+ i Min. Min. 1 Min. Min. Min. Min. i Min. Min i Min. ! Min. Min. 49'0 47'5 | 50'5 54'5 57'5 57'0 54'0 : 52'5 1 52’0 ! 50'5 52'0 50'0 46'5 48'0 54'5 58'0 56'0 i 52'5 52'0 52'5 : 52'5 52'0 48'5 45'0 47'5 54'5 59'5 57'0 I ! 54'0 ! 52'5 52'5 i 51'5 52'0 48'5 46'5 48'5 55'5 61'5 61'0 i 54'5 ! 52'0 49'5 49'5 52'0 46'5 46'0 48'5 53'5 57'0 58'0 ' 57 ’5 53'5* ' 43’0* 36'0* 49'5 45'5* 44'5 50'5 | 54'0 59'0 57'0 54'0 49'0* 50'5* ; 50'5* 50'0 51'0 47'0 47'0 52'5 55'5 54'5 52'5 51'5 50'5 i 50'0 51'0 Mean value for 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. Uh. 12h. 13h. I4h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20b. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. -2'9 -4'5 -5'0 -4'9 -3'3 -1'0 + 2'6 +5'0 + 6'4 +5'8 + 4'0 +2'5 + 1'2 + < '1 -0'1 -0'4 -0'9 -0'9 -0-6 -0'8 15° 0z'6 May’17 -2'1 -2'7 —4'2 —5'4 -4'8 -2'0 + 1'6 +5'1 + 7'3 +7'1 + 5'4 +3'5 + 1’9 + 0'5 -0'1 -0'4 -0'8 -1'4 -1'5 -1'3 14°52"0 Apl.’18 -1'7 -2'9 -4'3 -5'9 -5'7 -3'4 + 0'3 +3'7 + 6'0 +6'1 + 4'5 +2'6 + 1'3 + 0’4 + 0'3 +0'5 + 0 4 + 0'1 + 0'2 -0'1 15° 1''3 Apl. ’17 * Large disturbance during this interval. The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24h. (mi lnight) G.M.T. Character “0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “ 1 ” means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “2" means a day p-irt or all of which is highly disturbed. The normal value for an hour is the mean declination for that hour in the month, derived from quiet days only, or from all days excluding those of character “2.” On a day of character “ 0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character i( 1 ” the departure from the normal will usually not exceed 5', but it may occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a. day of character “ 2” the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or even on extreme occasions of 1° or more may occur. The above values are obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing” the curve. Meteorological Office, May 22. THE DECAY OF PITWOOD. Addressing a meeting of the Royal Society of Arts on “ The Timber Industry,” Dr. Percy Groom, Pro- fessor of Technology of Woods and Fibres, Imperial College of Science and Technology, said the seasoning of wood had important bearings on the economy of timber, and, among other things, it increased the resistance to decay. Decay or rot, in at least the over- whelming majority of cases, was caused by wood- destroying fungi, which demanded for their develop- ment a certain amount of water. The protection of wood from decay was a matter of great national importance. In our shallow and damp coal mines, where the air was warm and moist, wood-destroying fungi were often so abundant and so active that timber was rendered useless in a few weeks or months. In 1913 the value of the imports of pit timber into this country was nearly 4| millions sterling. An American investigator had calculated that if 40 per cent, of the pit wood used in the United States were treated with antiseptics, the annual saving in the country would be more than 50 million cu. ft. of timber. He (Dr. Groom) had himself seen a coal mine in which the untreated pit props had to be replaced in from four to twelve weeks, whereas creosoted props, side by side with them, had already lasted for eight years. The neglect of adequate protection of wood from decay in this country was emphasised by the fact that he could secure no approximate estimates of the loss in pits, in buildings, fences and posts, or ships. The resultant loss must amount to millions of pounds annually, and much of that loss could be economically prevented. Two methods, namely, sanitation and antiseptics, offered themselves as means of decreasing or pre- venting the decay of wood. Sanitation was in the end the cheapest method, but it demanded a know- ledge of the life histories and conditions of activity of the organisms doing the damage. A few facts and examples, might serve to illustrate the type of research that was urgently called for. Fungi, which spread by means of their threads or microscopic spores, could be found growing in any damp coal mine. Some of these were practically harmless, others actively destroyed wood; it was therefore necessary to identify the fungi present, and to investigate their action in wood. After that the first practical problem in sani- tation was to determine the source of noxious forms, which might come from the forest, timber yards, builders’ yards, ships, or coal mines or elsewhere. The neglect of the elements of sanitation might be noted in builders’ yards, where infected wood removed from houses was stored side by side with fresh timber, and sometimes ready for incorporation into a new building. In a very large timber yard in London he had seen the fructification and spawn of the most virulent dry- rot fungus lying almost in contact with immense stacks of soft woods. The fungi responsible for dry rot and decay generally varied in their demands for moisture. Some demanded quite moist wood, and could readily be exterminated by ventilation and protection of the wood from wet; yet a few species, when once estab- lished, could manufacture water and thereby attack the driest wood. Some were readily killed by heat and could not thrive at relatively high temperatures; others were more resistant to heat. Again, certain species sent their threads into the wood and spread, internally at a slow pace, keeping at a distance from the surface. Cases due to this type of fungus were easily dealt with by removing the attacked piece of wood, whereas other species not only penetrated the wood but produced sheets or cords that rapidly swooped over the surface of the wood, grew over and penetrated walls, and so transmitted the infection through a complete building or roadway in a coal pit. Some species could attack only one kind or class of timbers, so that sanitation might take the form of avoiding the use of these. Other species could destroy woods varying from pine to oak and even teak. As an accessory to or a substitute for sanitation, timber might be protected by the use of antiseptics such as zinc chloride, creosote and its derivatives, and various other inorganic and organic substances. There were signs of awakening as regarded research. The awakening was imperial, not merely national, and this was of vital importance because this country and the remainder of the British Empire should be linked together in policy as regarded the great timber problem of the future, and therefore linked together in attacking the problems whose solutions would dictate that policy, and would indicate the best method of utilising our common timber resources. THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE. The nation is running into as bad a coal situation as it faced last winter (says Black Diamond, April 27). Actual performance is falling far below schedule. The output for the first three months of this year— properly counted in last year’s figures—was slightly above that of 1917. That the gain did not exceed a half of one per cent, is explained by the severe weather in the first two months. But the record for April, which figures in this coal year’s production, was not appreciably better. In the Mississippi valley, north of the Ohio, produc- tion is curtailed in part because producers of low grade coals have no orders, and in part by the fact that producers of high grade coals are short of cars. It is idle, therefore, to talk of mines closing for lack of orders when the others are still wanting cars. They could not run even if they had business to do. Mean- while, coal cars are still being diverted to other uses. Ostensibly the railroad fuel coal situation was settled by the decision of President Wilson that all buyers must be treated alike in respect to car supply. Never- theless, the railroads are not buying as freely as they might. Certainly, they have not begun to store coal. For these various reasons, the nation is not piling up the coal reserve against next winter’s needs. The Fuel Administration has permitted advances from 20c. to 30c. per ton for some of the West Virginia coals that come to tidewater. This means a corre- sponding increase in the prices of these coals at the piers, coals coming to Hampton Roads piers and to Baltimore being affected by the advances. At Hampton Roads the supply of coal is variable. One day it will be very short, and the next, if ships scheduled fail to arrive, it will appear plentiful. However, practically every ton reaching the piers has a regular place, and there is seldom any coal available for spot sale. Under the new bunkering rules only what is known as “permissible coal” will be bunkered in ships at all ports north of Cape Hatteras. No coal may be delivered to any Atlantic or Gulf port for bunker purposes other than that which has been specified by the United States Fuel Administration as permissible. Outside of those qualities of coal already named prior to the effective date of the regulation, no coal will be classified as permissible for bunkering except on the recommendation of the United States Bureau of Mines. Mr. John Hill (Newcastle) has been elected president of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades. The Ministry of Munitions has called a general meeting of the representatives of the lubricating oil trade, to be held in London on Thursday, May 30, to discuss the posi- tion of supplies of lubricating oils and to consider any suggestions. American Coal Output.—A great deal of discussion is current in the United States regarding the coal output and its relationship to car shortage. The production of bituminous coal (including that coked) in the first three months of 1918 was estimated at 135,514,000 net tons, an estimated increase over the same period in 1917 of 744,000 tons, or one-half per cent., but a slight decrease compared with the same period in 1916. January 1918, mainly because of severe weather, was an abnormally low month, the production, 43,769,000 tons, being about 4,000,000 tons lower than January 1917, and nearly 2,000,000 tons below January 1916. Production in February 1918 was 3,245,000 tons greater than in February, 1917 but 1,630,000 tons less than in February 1916. At end of February production in 1918 was three-quarters of a million tons behind 1917, and 4,457,000 tons below the first two months of 1916. March 1918 was a record month, exceeding both March 1917 and March 1916, and was exceeded in total tons in those years only by October and November 1917. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The delegates attending the monthly meeting of the Brynmawr and Blaina district were informed by the agent that an agreement had been arrived at by which the wives and dependants of soldiers and sailors who had enlisted since 1915 would be allowed a supply of house coal at 16s. 6d. a ton. It was decided to continue the levy in support of men at Coalbrook Vale and California Collieries which had been closed ; the subject to be again considered at the end of two months. The general secretary of the Colliery Examiners, Mr. W. Frowen, of Abertillery, met representatives of the National Service Department in Cardiff and discussed with them the position of examiners and over-men with regard to their exemption from military service. As a result, Mr. Frowen will issue instructions to the members of his organisation. Notices to between 200 and 400 men have been given at the Hills Plymouth Collieries, Pentrebach and Abercanaid. Notices were given a month or so ago, but were withdrawn after the Federation representatives had communicated with the Coal Controller. It is believed that the present renewal does not prefigure stoppage of the collieries, but is rather the result of concentration of work with necessary reorganisation which shall ensure more economic operation. All the coal cutters remain in employment, and the men who have received notices are on day wage. It is not anticipated that even the whole of these will be actually stopped. The workmen have asked the Controller to receive a deputation, and their contention is that not only will the output be interfered with, but that the safety of the mines would be endangered by turning off one-fifth of the employees. Their object is to get the notices with- drawn, as was done on the previous occasion. The Colliery Examiners’ executive met on Saturday and discussed the wage-rate. They were informed that the employers could not agree to the proposal which had been submitted to them on behalf of the examiners, but had promised to submit counter-proposals at an early date. It was stated in the meeting, however, that these counter- proposals had not yet been received, and an enquiry is to be made as to their issue. At some of the tinplate works the withdrawal of men for Army service has created difficulties, several of them being “key” men, whose removal has occasioned the idleness of others. Some of the millmen have worked 12 instead of 8 hours, but during the hot weather it will be impracticable to continue this practice. North of England. The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association decided, at a recent meeting, to agree with the proposed conditions for the transfer of miners from one district to another, under the proposed Miners’ Labour Bureaux, excepting as regarded the clause concerning families which had gone, under the scheme, to work in another district, being responsible for rent to the owners of the colliery at which the houses are. The executive committee decided to pay “ sacrificed ” benefit to eight men dismissed from the Rising Sun Colliery owing to a dispute about laid-out tubs and subsequently rein- stated. The secretary has been instructed to place before the Coal Controller the claim of night-shift workers at Seaton Delaval Collieries for war wages on a Sunday on which they were laid idle by the colliery manager, if a settlement cannot be effected with the secretary of the Coal Trade Association. Many Durham coal hewers are complaining that the comb-out in mines is resulting in a shortage of putters. Scotland. Generally speaking in mining circles throughout Scotland little time is being lost by the men in consequence of colliery disputes. Any leakage in output there is mostly arises from absenteeism or the want of proper arrange- ments sometimes at the collieries. Meantime, the miners throughout the whole of Scotland are working eleven days per fortnight. In view of the comb-out it is possible that the men may be asked to forego the fortnightly holiday. At a special conference of the delegates of the Ayrshire Miners’ Union the subject of boys’ wages was under con- sideration. It is complained that boys are being started in the Ayrshire mines at practically the same rates as were in force at the commencement of the war. Mr. Andrew Clark, J.P., Niddrie Collieries, has been appointed miners’ agent in Mid and East Lothian. Although work at the new Greenbank Colliery in the Camelon district of Stirlingshire has been consistently steady, the management has been unable to make arrange- ments for increasing the number of miners employed. Transport difficulties are the chief drawback. New screen- ing plant is at present being erected at the colliery. The surface workers employed at Law Colliery, Lanark- shire, have put forward a claim for an advance of Is. per day in wages.