442

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

August 30, 1918.

though the question of methods of working and safety
is still largely left in the hands of the colliery owners
and their managers.

Although the coal mines of the country have only
been controlled for a short time, there has already
been a considerable amount af adverse criticism, most
of which, he thinks, undeserved, and some of which
would seem to be caused by the desire to kill Govern-
ment control after the war, rather than to assist or
improve it just now.

The question of the safety of life and the prevention,
so far as possible, of accidents in the mines ought
to be the first concern of the management, but it will
not be seriously contended that this has been the first
consideration. Had it been, there would, of course,
have been no necessity for State inspection of mines,
and the fact that the Government found it necessary
to carry through legislation for the prevention of acci-
dents, and to establish an expensive staff at the
expense of the nation, is a proof that the feeling of
Parliament—even in spite of the opposition of a large
body of mine-owners—was that private ownership and
internal competition did not tend to the greatest safety
of the miners.

In his opinion a Ministry of Mines is very desirable
in itself, but without State ownership and full control
of the mines it will be of little value as compared with
what it would be if the mines were owned and worked
by the State.

Extensive enquiry has, in his opinion, conclusively
proved that there has been in the past an enormous
wastage of coal in working, caused by the private
ownership of minerals and the leasing and working
of mines by different colliery concerns. Huge barriers
of coal have been left in between one mining interest
and another, all of which could have been brought to
the surface had it not been for the conflicting claims
of rival ownership, and it would be safe to say that
millions of tons of small - coal have been left in the
workings, for no other reason than that it did not
pay the owners at the moment to have it brought to
the surface.

Then, again, the working of limited areas by
different owners has led to the erection of extensive
ptimping machinery in different centres of one coalfield
in order to drain the particular portion being exploited
by one firm, whilst under State ownership and State
working of the mines a whole coalfield could, in many
instances, have been drained at the lowest point by
one fully equipped set of pumping gear erected for
the purpose.

All this is well known to mining engineers and to
those directly connected with mining, and if the matter
could be viewed from an unbiassed standpoint it
would be admitted that there has been not only an
unnecessary wastage of life, but also a very serious
loss of a valuable national asset in the shape of coal,
which can never be replaced. If we are to begin re-
construction after the war on the basis of private
ownership and competition, matters will go on exactly
as they have done in the past, and the unnecessary
wastage of human life and of national wealth will
continue as heretofore.

From the point of view of national well-being, he
would strongly urge not only the continuance of
effective control, but also ownership by the State of
the while mining industry, which is one of our most
valuable national assets.

(3)	Sir Richard Redmayne, Mr. W. Forster Brown,
and Dr. Strahan, in signing the Report, wish it to
be understood that they express no opinion in respect
of the transference to other Departments of those
functions which are peculiar to their respective
Departments.

(4)	Dr. A. Strahan states that as a member of the
Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau Committee he has
signed a Report in which it is recommended that a
bureau bearing the above title should be set up in
London; that certain provisions for its financing
should be made; and that its duties should consist of
collecting and disseminating information respecting
all minerals of economic value. The creation of a .
Ministry of Mines and Minerals was not contemplated.
In the interim report to be presented by the Mining
Sub-Committee to the Coal Conservation Committee on
November 7th, 1917, the creation of a Ministry of
Mines and Minerals is recommended, and among the
duties to be performed by that Ministry mention is
made of some of the functions assigned to the Imperial
Mineral Resources Bureau. He has signed the Interim
Report on the understanding that the Bureau will
be created as recommended, but that its relations with
existing Departments and with a new Ministry of
Mines and Minerals, if constituted, will be arranged
consistently with the recommendations of this Report
with regard to the administrative freedom and re-
sponsibility within the United Kingdom of the
Ministry of Mines and Minerals.

APPENDIX IV.

FINAL REPORT OF THE MINING SUB-COMMITTEE.
Loss of Coal at the Pit-Head.

Returns have been received from the collieries in the
several mining districts of the quantity of coal used
by them as boiler fuel. The Returns are in respect
of the output for 1913, and apply to a gross output,
278,217,295 tons, or 97 per cent, of the total output
of the United Kingdom for that year.

Dealing first with the colliery consumption of boiler
fuel, and excluding Ireland, the total quantity of coal
used for this purpose by the collieries making the
Returns was 18,395,743 tons, or 6-8 per cent, of their
net output, plus the coal of which no record of waste
was kept.

The highest percentage of consumption (excluding
Kent) is 9*43 per cent, in Scotland, and the lowest,
5 per cent., in the Northern District.

The policy of collieries has been to set free the best
qualities of coal for the market, and to retain for
colliery consumption the poorest quality. The returns
show that the quantity of ash in some of the fuel
used ranges from 50 to 80 per cent. Much attention

has been given in recent years to the more economical
use of fuel by the extended use of electrical plant and
mixed pressure turbines. The use of electrical power
from public supply undertakings has been increasing,
but the development of a cheap supply of electricity
throughout the industrial areas of the country would,
no doubt, lead to a much larger use of it at the
collieries, and to a consequent saving of coal. The
general average of 6-8 per cent, of the net output is
still greatly in excess of the 5 per cent, which appears
to have been anticipated by the Royal Commission on
Coal Supplies (1903-1905), and there is room for a
reduction in colliery consumption, particularly in the
districts where it exceeds 7 per cent, of the output.
The attention of colliery owners and managers should
be directed to this important question.

The Returns in respect of the refuse removed in
cleaning the coal at the pitbank and in respect of
the coal recovered from the refuse are not so complete
as in the case of boiler fuel, no record being kept in
some cases of the refuse handled. Taking the gross
output represented by the Returns, with regard to
which a record of waste has been kept as 271,030,844
tons, the amount of refuse or dirt taken from the
coal at the pit bank is 8,046,935 tons, of 2*9 per cent,
of this output. The variation in the districts, ex-
cluding Kent, is from 4-52 in Scotland to *83 in the
district of Gloucester and Somerset. The total amount
of coal recovered from the refuse or waste was 381,598
tons, or 4-7 per cent, of the refuse handled, the highest
percentage of recovery being 8-31 in Lancashire, and
Cheshire, and the lower percentage 1*15 in Scotland.
The information is incomplete, and the problem is
relative. In some districts the seams worked are
inferior, and the quantity of refuse brought to bank
with the coal is necessarily greater. An analysis of
the Returns appears to indicate that more attention
might with advantage be given by collieries to this
matter. In some cases there appears to be insufficient
knowledge on the part of the management as to the
position in respect of the quantity of refuse dealt with.
The attention of colliery owners might with advantage
be directed to the introduction of methods of saving
coal in the process of cleaning. The question is
materially affected by the amount of care which is
given to the clean working and filling of the coal
underground.

Loss of Coal Underground.

The loss through small coal cast back underground
has been considered under the following headings,
viz. : (1) The extent and distribution of the loss at
present taking place from this cause; (2) the qualities
of small coal at present being lost; (3) the causes to
which this loss is attributable; (4) the possibility of
finding extended markets for the class of small coal
at present cast back underground.

Information obtained with respect to the extent and
distribution of the loss at present taking place through
small coal being cast back underground shows that
the only coalfields in which a substantial loss from the
above cause is at present taking place are—Notting-
hamshire and North Derbyshire (574,000 tons per
annum) ; Leicestershire and South Derbyshire (184,000
tons per annum); Warwickshire (65,000 tons per
annum) ; South Wales (1,502,000 tons per annum). In
the remaining coalfields little or no loss appears to
be taking place, all the small coal which it seems in
any way practicable to save being brought to bank.
Generally, it appears that the total approximate quan-
tity of small coal cast back in the coalfields of Great
Britain at the present time is 2,325,000 tons per
annum.

As regards the qualities of small coal at present
being left underground, no detailed analyses appear to
have been made.

The difficulty in disposing of the small coal at present
cast back is largely due to the presence of foreign
material. In the South Wales Coalfield the question
is complicated by the method of payment in vogue,
which usually, but not universally, provides for pay-
ment on large coal only.

With regard to the possibility of finding extended
markets for the class of small coal at present left
underground, leading South Wales exporters, in
reply to questions put to them, expressed the
view that the present demand for small coal is
not stronger than for large, with the possible excep-
tion of coking smalls and washed steam smalls. The
increased demand due to the war applies equally to
large and small coal. An increase in the proportion
of small to large brought to bank would lead to no
difficulty in the winding. A larger proportion of
small would, however, be mixed with the large, with
the consequence that the large coal would be dirtier
than it is to-day. Any such reduction in quality would
be most prejudicial to the trade. The Continental
markets, particularly those of France and Italy, could
absorb larger quantities of washed small coal, but more
distant countries, such as South America, are not
likely markets owing to the heavy freights which must
be borne. The chief demand in the Continental markets
is for semi-bituminous washed small coal. Among new
factors likely to increase the demand for Welsh small
coal, mention is made of the erection of new fuel works,
both in this country and abroad, and the advisability
of washing the smalls cleaner. Indeed, the crux of the
matter appears to be the extent to which small coal
can be washed, for the more small that is brought to
the bank, the dirtier it seems to be. Given satis-
factory methods of washing (and in case of washed
duff, of drying), there would appear to be little diffi-
culty in disposing of any small coal now left in the
mines. Revision of the cutting price is not viewed
with favour, for the present system, whereby in the
greater part of the coalfield large coal is regarded as
the main product and the basis of payment of wages,
encourages the competent and regular workman, and
experience shows that the less skilful workman pro-
duces a larger quantity of small coal.

With regard to the demand for small coal for the
manufacturing of patent fuel, the following conclu-
sions are founded upon the replies received from the
principal firms engaged in this industry: (1) A con-

siderable increase in the demand for patent fuel after
the war is anticipated, and some firms are installing
machinery to deal with the expected increase. (2) At
present the patent fuel industry would, if normal
conditions of shipping, labour, &c., were restored, be
able to absorb approximately 2,000,000 tons of Welsh
small coal per annum. Small quantities are also
briquetted in the Midlands and in Scotland. (3) The
coal at present used is almost exclusively of the type
which has volatile content of from 10 to 22 per cent.,
the fuel being used for steam-raising purposes.
(4) The maximum percentage of ash permissible under
present conditions is estimated at about 15 to 20 per
cent, in the unwashed coal when clean washed small
coal is available at a reasonable price for mixing. It
is probable that as the available supply of washed
small coal increases the proportion of unwashed coal
used will be reduced, and it may be possible under
these circumstances to deal with unwashed coal carry-
ing a larger percentage of ash than that indicated. (5)
A more determined effort should be made to encourage
the consumption of patent fuel in the United Kingdom
both for steam-raising and domestic purposes, thereby
achieving two objects : (1) Inducing colliery owners to
bring to bank more of the small coal; and (2) setting
free for export a greater quantity of large coal which,
by reason of its higher price, is better able to bear
heavy freights and meet German and American com-
petition in oversea markets.

Loss in Working Seams of Abnormal Thickness.

In considering the question of loss of coal in under-
ground mining, attention is called to the substantial
loss of coal which is taking place in the working of
the “ thick ” coal in the southern portion of the South
Staffordshire and Warwickshire coalfields. The work-
ing of this “ thick ” coal where it lies at a considerable
depth is of the greatest moment to the Midland mining
district, for exhaustion of the “exposed area” of
the coalfield ’s rapidly approaching. At present it
appears that not more than half of the total coal is
recoverable where the depth from the surface exceeds
2,000 feet, and that of that half 60 per cent, is small
coal. The evidence further goes to show that the high
percentage of small coal is not alone due to the pressure
of the superincumbent strata, but is in part ascribable
to the character of the coal itself. The success of
any system of working must depend upon the circum-
stances existing at each mine, and the Committee do
not consider that they are in a position, without in-
vestigating the circumstances of each case, to express
an opinion on the methods suggested. Practical ex-
periments on a considerable scale would require to be
carried out, and in view of the great importance of
the problem involved and the large quantity of coal
which would be saved if a successful method of extract-
ing the whole seam could be found, the matter should
be taken in hand as soon as possible by the Ministry
of Mines and Minerals.

Loss Due to Working Bord and Pillar.

The coalfields where “bord and pillar” working, or
some modification of that system which entails the
leaving of pillars in the first working, is most preva-
lent are Northumberland, Durham and Cumberland;
Scotland; Lancashire; the western portion of South
Wales coafield; North Staffordshire and West York-
shire. The number of collieries working upon this
system in other coalfields is inconsiderable, whilst in
Shropshire, South Derbyshire, Leicestershire and
Warwickshire, the system does not appear to be prac-
tised at all. In some of the coalfields, more especially
those of North Staffordshire where the “rearer”
system of working is prevalent, and South Wales,
where the double or single stall system of working
is carried on, the methods of working are modifications
of true “ bord and pillar,” and provide for the removal
of each pillar within a short time of its formation.
Pillar working under these systems almost becomes
part of the first working. The general laying out
of collieries working upon this system into districts,
with a view to the working of the pillars within a
short time of their formation tends to lessen* any loss
of coal taking place under the above heading. Where
there is more or less absence of guiding cleat in the
coal, the method of keeping the pillars regular in
size by driving the intervening roadways straight by
survey tends to lessen loss.

Loss from Spontaneous Combustion Underground.

In certain districts considerable quantities of coal
are abandoned or left unworked on account of actual
or anticipated spontaneous combustion. This question
has been under the consideration of a Departmental
Committee of the Home Office appointed before the
war, which is also inquiring as to the amount of the
loss. This source of loss can be gradually dealt with
by improved methods of working based on the scientific
knowledge of the subject which is rapidly accumulating,
and will no doubt be collected and reported on by the
Committee referred to above.

Loss from Coal Left fn Barriers.

It would be the duty of the proposed Ministry of
Mines and Minerals to appoint District Committees,
consisting largely of practical men with mining expe-
rience of the district, and including representatives
of both mineral lessors and lessees in the district.
The Ministry should have plans made showing the
barriers in each district, and for this purpose it should
call upon each District Committee to obtain the re-
quired information, hold local inquiries when neces-
sary, and prepare a plan showing what barriers must
be retained for safety, what barriers could be removed
at once, and what barriers could only be removed in
certain contingencies. The Ministry would then be
in a position to sanction the removal of all unneces-
sary barriers, and should have statutory authority to
do so, notwithstanding covenants in leases.

Loss of Coal through Waterlogging.

The total area or tonnage waterlogged cannot be
estimated at present, but the cases which occur may
be divided into two classes: First, cases which occur
in many coalfields, where coal has been drowned out