244

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

August 2, 1918.

in August, which otherwise would have been idle, to make
up for the loss of output occasioned by the holidays.

At a mass meeting of Lanarkshire colliery firemen, held
in Hamilton on Saturday, it was decided to form a Fire-
men’s Association.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Scottish ironmoulders over 18 years of age are to receive
an advance of 3s. 6d. per week, and those under 18 years
of age Is. 6d. per week.

At the half-yearly meeting of members of the Board
of Conciliation and Arbitration for the manufactured iron
and steel trade of the North of England, held at Newcastle
on Monday, it was announced that the number of affiliated
firms was unaltered, and that the average number of sub-
scribing operatives was 3,208, an increase of 32. The
chairman (Mr. J. Reay, of Stockton) stated that since war
began the total wages advances granted amounted to 82^
per cent. There would be plenty of work to do after the
war, and the great difficulty would be to find men to do
it. The large majority of the men had worked regularly
and loyally, and during the four years there had been no
dispute and no stoppage due to dispute.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

A’or Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Manchester, August 10.—70 tons house coal and
70 tons best forked gas coke, for the Guardians. Tenders
to the Union Offices, All Saints, Manchester.

Stepney, August 8.—250 tons of coal for Stepney
Guardians. Forms from the offices, Barnes-street, E.

Youghal, August 13.—300 tons (steam, lump, and
house) for the Youghal Auxiliary Asylum Committee.
Forms from the asylum.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can
be received.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.
REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Limited.—Interim dividend at rate of 10 per cent., free
of tax, on ordinary shares for half-year ended June 30.

Carlton Iron Company Limited.—Accounts for three
years ended April 30 last show dividends declared have
been as follows : 10 per cent. June 30, 1916, 5 per cent.
January 10, and 5 per cent. July 16, 1917, and 5 per
cent. January 21, 1918, all paid free of tax, absorbing
£40,513; £3,360 has been written off the balance of re-
construction and formation expenses, and from the balance
carried forward—namely, £97,962—after an appropriation
of £100,000 to general reserve for depreciation and replace-
ments, a further dividend of 5 per cent., free of tax, has
been declared.

Consett Iron Company Limited.—The net profits of the
Consett Iron Company for the year ended June 30 were
£516,224 after providing for excess profits duty, and
£213,728 was brought forward. A final dividend of 5s. 6d.
per share is proposed on the ordinary shares, making 8s.
per share (40 per cent.) for the twelve months, setting
aside £50,000 for deferred repairs, writing £10,000 off in-
vestments, and carrying forward £229,952. The board
report that the output of coal and the manufacture of
iron and steel continue to decrease, due to the increased
numbers of men taken into the Army.

Consett Spanish Ore Company Limited.—Final dividend
of 2s. 6d. per share.

Ebftw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company Limited.—
It is announced that the 600,000 new £1 ordinary shares
offered by the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company
Limited have been substantially over-applied for by the
shareholders. The issue price was 25s. per share, the
new shares ranking pari passu with the existing ordinary
shares.

Kynoch Limited.—The directors announce a dividend of
10 per cent, on the ordinary shares, free of income tax,
for the year ended March 30. The ordinary shares received
15 per cent, for each of the two previous years.

National Gas Engine Company Limited.—Interim divi-
dend of 3f per cent, actual on ordinary shares—same as
last year.

North’s Navigation Collieries Company Limited.—In-
terim dividend of 7^ per cent, (actual) on ordinary shares.

Scottish Wagon Company Limited.—Three and a-half
per cent., less tax, on ordinary shares for half-year (in-
terim). Last year, dividend same.

Stewarts and Lloyds.—The directors of Stewarts and
Lloyds have declared an interim dividend for the half-
year ended June 30 last at the rate of 6 per cent, per
annum, on the preference shares, and at the rate of 10
.per cent, per annum on the preferred ordinary shares,
payable August 31.

Vickers Limited. — The directors have declared the
following interim dividends for the half-year ended
June 30: 2^ per cent., less tax, on the preferred five per
cent, stock and five per cent, preference shares; Is. per
share, free of tax, up to 5s. in the £ on the ordinary
shares.

Western Wagon and Property Company Limited.—The
directors have declared an interim dividend for the half-
year ended June 30 last at the rate of 10 per cent, per
annum.

Wood (Edward) and Company Limited.—Dividend on
ordinary shares, making 15 per cent., less tax, for quarter
ended May 31 last.

NEW COMPANIES.

Brewster (Henry J.) and Company Limited.—Private
company. Registered office: 11, Queen Victoria-street,
E.C. 4. Registered July 23, to carry on the business of
engineers, machine tool makers, etc. Nominal capital,
£15,000 in 15,000 shares of £1, of which 10,000 are
preference shares and 5,000 ordinary shares. Director:
H. J. Brewster.

Eclipse Fuel Company Limited. — Private company.
Registered office : Highbridge Wharf, Highbridge, Somer-
set. Registered July 26, to carry on the business of patent
fuel, coal, peat and coke merchants and exporters, patent
fuel and coke manufacturers, colliery proprietors, etc.
Nominal capital, £20,000 in 20,000 shares of £1. Direc-
tors : H. H. Deacon and T. Alexander.

Engineering Proprietary Limited.—Private company.
Registered July 17. Registered office: 97, New Bond-

street, W. Objects indicated by title. Nominal capital,
£100 in 100 ordinary shares of £1. Subscribers (1 share) :
C. Nathan and E. R. White.

Great Eastern Metal Works Limited.—Private company.
Registered July 26. Objects indicated by title. Nominal
capital, £10,000 in 10,000 shares of £1. Subscribers
(1 share) : G, F. Rowe and F. D. G. Hill.

Hex Nut Machine Company. Limited.—Private company.
Registered July 25, to carry on the business of nut and
bolt manufacturers and engineers, etc. Nominal capital,
£5,000 in 5,000 shares of £1. Directors: E. Hollings,
W. H Davies and F. R. Davies. Qaulification of directors,
£100. Subscribers (1 share) : W. H. Davies and F. R.
Davies.

Kelley (E. M.) Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered office: Wednesfield-road, Willenhall. Registered
July 24, to carry on the business of mechanical, electrical
and general engineers, spring makers, iron and steel
workers, etc. Nominal capital : £5,000 in 5,000 shares of
£1. Directors: J. Wilkes, R. Bayley, E. J. Sherlock, and
T. Phillips.

Lansford Syndicate Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered July 22, to carry On the business of manufacturers
of and dealers in briquettes of all kinds, and patent fuel,
colliery proprietors, coke manufacturers, and dealers in
coal, coke, etc. Nominal capital, £25,000 in 25,000 shares
of £1. Directors : J. Crankshaw and A. M. Balfour.

South Glamorgan Colliery Company Limited.—Private
company. Registered July 24, to carry on the business
of miners, smelters, engineers, colliery proprietors, coke
manufacturers, patent fuel manufacturers, etc. Nominal
capital, £7,500 in 7,500 shares of £1. Qualification of
directors, £50. Subscribers (1 share): J. W. Davies and
J. L. Brown.

Witt Engineering and Storey Metals Company Limited.
—Private company. Registered office : 8, Post Office
Chambers, Newcastle. Registered July 20. Objects indi-
cated by title. Nominal capital, £7,000 in 7,000 shares
of £1. Directors: J. S. Abram and W. J. Abram.
Qualification of directors, £100.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register, specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Only a very small volume of chartering is recorded in
the outward freight market this week. Nowadays the
list of fixtures at north-east coast ports is little more than
a record of business done for Scandinavian ports, and that
is the case this week. Only five transactions have been
reported in the open market, and four of these are north-
wards, the fifth being for London. The rates for Norway
and Sweden indicate a slight ease on the week. Loading
turns are so well filled on official account, both for prompt
and forward despatch, that little shipment to neutral
countries is possible, albeit there is a fair amount of
tonnage at the disposal of neutrals, and orders for foreign
destination are numerous. For south-western European
ports, also, there is a considerable enquiry, but tonnage
is scarce and rates remain untested. At South Wales
business is almost exclusively confined to French Atlantic
ports at scheduled figures. Loading turns here also are
congested on official accounts, and practically no coal is
available for foreign customers.

Homewards, River Plate rates are about 10s. easier, the
current quotation at Buenos Ayres being 215s. to the
United Kingdom, and 240s. to French Atlantic. At the
United States the rate for coal from Virginia to Buenos
Ayres remains at 82s. 6d. Vessels on net charter from
the Atlantic ports are in very keen request at about 230s.,
New York to Liverpool, 240s. to French Atlantic, 350s.
to Marseilles, and 365s. to Western Italy. Gulf rates
range from 260s. to United Kingdom to 395s. to West
Italy. There is very little free tonnage available to meet
Far Eastern requirements, and rates are well maintained.
The enquiry for tonnage for loading at Mediterranean and
Bay ports is active, and rates are easily upheld, with
Bordeaux to Bristol Channel quoted at 18s., Bayonne to
Bristol Channel at 20s., Bilbao to Boulogne at 50s., Huelva
to Swansea at 55s., and. Huelva to United States with
pyrites at from 35s. to 40s.

Tyne to Christiania, 1,300, 175 kr.; Gothenburg, 1,250,
197| kr.; Halmstad, 1,650, 200 kr.; London, 350, 17s.;
and Stockholm, 1,200, 212^ kr.

Cardiff to Bordeaux, 2,100 and 3,500, 69s.; neutral;
Caen, 1,200, 46s. 6d., neutral; 600 and 700, 48s., neutral;
Granville, 750, 48s., neutral; Portrieux, 120, 80s., sail;
Rouen, 1,400, 74s. 3d., coke, neutral; 1,100, 43s. 9d.,
neutral; and St. Brieux, 120, 75s., sail.

Swansea to Rouen, 1,300 and 1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral;
Caen, 600, 700 and 800, 48s., neutral; Mortagne, 200, 120s.,
sail; Trouville, 120, 72s. 9d., sail; Havre, 1,100 and 1,200,
45s. 9d., neutral; 80(b, 47s. 3d., neutral; Cherbourg, 670-
700, 48s. 9d., neutral; and Waterford, 200, 18s.

Later. — The following additional fixtures are re-
ported :—

Tyne to Gothenburg, 1,200, 205 kr.; and Stockholm,
1,400, 215 kr.

Cardiff to Rouen, 1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral.

Swansea to Waterford, 220, 19s. 6d.; Caen, 1,200,
46s. 6d., neutral, and 900, 48s., neutral; and Havre, 900,
47s. 3d., neutral.

Swansea or Port Talbot to Rochefort, 600, 61s. 6d.,
neutral.

Brown Coal Institute at Freiburg.—On June 1, 1918, the
formal acts of founding a brown coal institute took place
at Freiburg. The general director, K. Piotscheck, of Halle,
set forth the origin, scope and aims of the institute. In
1914 the Royal Mining Academy of Freiburg resolved to
found a Chair of Brown Coal Engineering, having in view
the importance of that industry to Saxony in particular
and to Germany in general. A Government subsidy of
100,000 mk. in July of 1917 formed the nucleus of a fund
which soon reached 589,800 mk., sufficient to warrant
an authorisation for the larger scheme of an institute
specially devoted to the local industry. This institute will
carry out chemical research wTork, and give instruction in
the form of lectures to students concerning the brown coal
deposits of that district, and methods of mining suitable
to the conditions of the locality. Apart from its official
research department, it will be a training college for brown
coal mining engineers. It is hoped to bring about im-
portant developments by this linking up of research with
the practical working of the mines.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

116426. Electric Signalling in Mines. Automatic Tele-
phone Manufacturing Company Limited, Milton-road,
Edge-lane, Liverpool; and C. Remington, 13, Oakhill-road,
Old Swan, Liverpool.—The present invention relates to
electric signalling systems as used in mines. In systems
of this class it is usually arranged that the signals are
indicated upon indicators, such as in luminous stencil on
opaque panels, in an apparatus located in the engine house,
one indicator or panel being provided for the signals from
each level in the mine. While such systems have been
found efficient in practice, the cost of installation thereof
has been rather considerable, owing to the multiplicity of
indicators. Further, the latter have been incapable of
easy extension should it be required to increase the number
of levels, it being then necessary to add a further indi-
cator. According to the present invention in an electric
system for use in mines, an arrangement is provided
whereby signals from a plurality of levels may be indi-
cated upon a single indicator, the arrangement being such
that signals from one level cannot be indicated until
signals previously given from another level are cancelled.
The invention is particularly applicable to electric sig-
nalling systems for use in mines of the kind which have
a chain of relays operated by impulses received by a
master relay, which relays control signal lamps. (Seven
claims.)

116445. Feeding Fuel to Gas Producers. F. Thuman,
38, Victoria-street, Westminster.—This invention relates
to apparatus of the kind designed for automatically feeding
material into a chamber without bringing th? interior
of the chamber into direct communication with the out-
side atmosphere, and the invention is particularly appli-
cable to the feeding of fuel into gas producers, gas ovens,
cupolas or retorts without interfering with the routine
operation of the plant, as the saving in time thus gained,
as well as the benefit obtained by maintaining the fuel
depth at a constant level, considerably increases the pro-
ductive capacity and the working economy of the plant.
Known apparatus of the kind referred to comprises a feed
chamber having interposed between it and a feed hopper
a rotary inlet valve, the outlet from the said chamber
being controlled by a bell valve, and both of said valves
being controlled by cam mechanism. Though possibly
suitable for feeding small coal, such apparatus is unsuit-
able for feeding lump coke of the usual size, as the
material has a marked tendency to clog, and thus cause
strain of the moving parts, and, owing to its abrasive
and gritty nature, rapidly wears parts against which it
rubs during feeding. It is an object of this invention
to provide apparatus which will feed coke of the usual
size without undue wear and tear of the working parts.
Another important consideration, especially in gas pro-
ducers, is the proper distribution of the fuel over the
fuel bed. In ordinary methods of charging, the air blast
has a natural tendency to travel upward at a higher rate
adjacent to the wall of the producer, where the resistance
is less, owing to larger lumps of fuel usually falling to
that position. This means an unevenly heated fire and
clinker formation. It is therefore highly desirable that
the fuel should be uniformly distributed, and it is even
preferable to keep the top surface of the fuel bed in a
“dished” form rather than level or heaped up in the
centre. (Five claims.)

116458. Vertical Retorts for Carbonising Coal. H. R. L.
Walker, 160, Ashley-gardens, London, S.W. 1, and W. R.
Bates, 56, Blenheim-gardens, Cricklewood, London,
N.W. 2.—Vertical retorts for destructive distillation or
roasting, more particularly those for carbonising coal,
shale, peat or wood, have hitherto been externally heated.
Thus before the heat can raise the temperature of the
material about the axis of the retort, it must travel through
a layer of considerable thickness; The disadvantage of
this has been recognised, and the attempt has been made
to overcome it by providing the retort with an axial flue,
so that the charge is heated from within as well as from
without. There is thus obtained an annular retort, which,
however, has the disadvantage that the charge does not
travel readily through the retort. By this invention this
disadvantage is overcome by providing an annular ram or
plunger, which not only ensures the travel of the charge,
but exerts pressure on it to produce the advantages which
are known to follow the use of a ram or plunger in the
usual externally heated retort. The invention consists,
therefore, in a continuously operated annular internally
or externally heated retort, in which pressure is applied
to the charge by an annular ram; it is especially applicable
to low temperature carbonisation.

116478. Coke Oven Doors. W. Cunningham, “ Eversley,”
Howgate, Moresby, near Whitehaven.—This invention
relates to coke oven doors of the type which are reinforced
by steel bars. A coke oven door made in accordance with
this invention comprises a cast iron frame provided with
one or more longitudinal ribs and one or more transverse
ribs. The door is reinforced by mild steel bars disposed
longitudinally and embedded at intervals in the cast iron
transverse ribs, and also in top and bottom of door, with
or without bars embedded in the metal of the door through-
out their length.

116518. Signalling Apparatus for Mines. D. Boyd
New Blackhill Cottage, Lambhill, Lanarkshire.—This in-
vention has for its object not only to simplify construe*-
tion, but to prevent any possible mistake as to the signal
given, and at the same time to comply with the conditions
of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and general regulations
made in virtue thereof. In carrying out the invention, a
suitable casing is provided in which there are fixed suit-
able brackets or standards, on which is carried a shaft
mounted transversely with the apparatus. Suitably keyed
to said shaft there are two ratchet wheels, one placed
in front of the other, the one in front being the larger.
To the large ratchet wheel a drum is fitted having a
small rope or such like coiled around it, and a balance
weight fixed to the end of said rope. When the ratchet
wheel gets released, the balance weight brings it back to
zero. On the small ratchet wheel a pin or stud is fixed
in a suitable position, which comes into contact with a
swinging lever having a recess thereon to engage a pin
which is fixed to a catch lever, and which holds it in
position until released. In front of the large ratchet wheel
there is a dial loosely fitted on the shaft. This dial is
put into operation by a pin fixed in shaft which comes
into contact with another pin fixed on the dial. It does
not, however, come into operation until the signal “ 6 ”
is given. On this dial a drum is fitted with a rope or
the like round it and a balance weight at end of rope to
return dial to its normal position when released. In front
of the loose fitted dial and keyed to shaft, there is a
small dial with a circular ring or flange fixed to it, and
on which ring or flange there is a recess or groove to
receive a small bracket which is fitted on to a swinging