982

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

November 8, 1918.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Whilst the arrivals of neutral tonnage on the north-east
coast show no improvement, those of official steamers are
considerably better, with the result that coal shipping
is proceeding on much larger lines than was possible a
w;eek ago. The continued shortage of neutral boats is
largely due to the military situation. Swedish rates have
continued to fall with extreme rapidity, as will be seen
from the fact that, whereas last week the ruling rate
for Gothenburg was 125 kr., that port has been fixed for
during the last few days at 52^ kr., only or less than
half the figure which prevailed last week. Except for
Sweden, indeed, nothing has been done on the north-east
coast at all. The large enquiry for vessels for Spain,
Portugal, the coaling stations and the Western Mediter-
ranean is suspended for the time being, ship owners still
endeavouring to extract full late rates, whilst shippers be-
lieve themselves justified in assuming that, now that the war
in Southern Europe has ceased to exist, rates should fall
speedily and considerably. As against this view it is urged
that the cessation of hostilities should result in a much
greater degree of employment of tonnage than has been
possible for many months past. As the bulk of this
employment will probably take the form of providing
homewards freights, the argument of the outward shippers
seems likely to prevail. At South Wales the great bulk
of the business done has been for French Atlantic ports
at scheduled figures. An interesting fixture, however, is
that of a small neutral steamer from Newport to Cartha-
gena at the exceedingly high rate, never likely to be
repeated, of 375s. Another fixture of interest, as indi-
cating the high water mark from which the freight tide
is likely to recede for ever, is that of a 3,000 ton vessel
for Huelva from Liverpool at 225s.

In the homeward market, River Plate rates are un-
changed. The demand for tonnage from the United States
ports is brisk. Enormous quantities of supplies are being
sent forward, mainly on Government account. Net charter
business is being done at 230s. from New York to Liver-
pool, with proportionate increases for French Atlantic,
Marseilles and. West Italy. At the Mediterranean and
Bay ore ports the demand for tonnage is fairly active,
Ind late rates have been repeated. There is a good deal
of enquiry for time charter vessels, but ship owners are
inclined to hold off at present.

The Hn ter-Allied Chartering Executive has been author-
ised to continue the chartering of neutral motor vessels
on account of the French Government for the carriage of
coals and coke on the following terms : 70s. coal, 90s.
coke east or west coast of England to North France,
Is. 9d. demurrage, 10^d. despatch, vessel to load in turn
according to custom of port, any clause in charter not-
withstanding, 36 hours loading and discharging each 100
tons cargo, one-third of 5 per cent, charterers, charterers
to have the benefit of any reduction in the war risk
premium based on present value and rate paid which are
now to be declared in the charter party.

Tyne to Gothenburg, 1,300, 1,650 and 1,900, 60 kr.;
1,700, 52^ kr. ; and Halmstad, 1,250, 68 kr.

Cardiff to Bordeaux, 2,200, 69s., neutral; Brest, 1,800,
45s., neutral; Caen, 600 and 900, 48s., neutral; 1,100,
46s. 6d., neutral; Rouen, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500, 1,800 and
2,000 , 48s. 9d., neutral; 2,800, 47s. 9d., neutral; 900,
50s. 3d., neutral; St. Malo, 450-500, 45s., neutral; 1,000,
16s., including war risks insurance, Allied; and Trouville,
700, 48s., neutral.

Newport to Carthagena 450-550, 375s., neutral, early
November.

Swansea to Boulogne, 670-700, 51s. 9d., neutral; Caen,
1,100, 46s. 6d., neutral; 800, 48s., neutral; Granville, 300,
72s. 9d., sail; Rouen, 1,100, 1,300 and 1,400, 48s. 9d.,
neutral; 700, 800, 900, 950 and 400, 50s. 3d.,'neutral; and
Sables d’Olonne, 1,100, 63s., neutral.

Liverpool to Huelva, 3,040, 225s., neutral.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Catlender’s Cable and Construction Company Limited.—
Applications have been invited for 40,000 6^ per cent,
cumulative preference shares of £5 each at par, and 10,000
ordinary shares of £5 each at £7 per share. Last year
the company paid a dividend, including bonus, of 25 per
cent., for the two previous years of 20 per cent., and
for 1913 and 1914 of 15 per cent. The object of the present
issue is to provide further working capital to meet the
financial demands of the greatly increased business of
the company. Beyond £175,000 capitalised and distributed
in shares, no share capital has been issued since the year
1901; £300,000 -4£ per cent, debenture stock was created
in 1902, and since that time any additional funds required
have been found by the appropriation of some portion of
the annual profits and by loans.

Dick, Kerr and Company Limited.—The report for the
year ended June 30 states that profits amount to £87,915;
£36,074 was brought forward, making £123,989. Deduct-
ing debenture interest and trustees’ fees, and reserving
the sum required to provide for the premium payable on
the redemption of the present debenture stock, there is
left £113,860. The directors propose a dividend of 10 per
cent, per annum on the ordinary shares, to supplement
the special reserve for contingencies by £25,000, and to
carry forward £37,860. Although the amount of excess
profit levy has not been finally settled, the directors
believe that the reserves which they have made in the
accounts for extra depreciation, special taxation, etc., are
sufficient, and they therefore feel justified in recommend-
ing the payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares.

Dunlop Rubber Company Limited.—A circular states
that the report and balance sheet for the year ended
August 31 must be considerably delayed, owing to the
continued depletion of the staff and the great increase in
business (amounting practically to 50 per cent.). The
directors, being of opinion that a further distribution
to the ordinary shareholders should be made now, have
declared an interim dividend for the half-year ended
last August of Is. 6d. per share on the ordinary shares.
The ordinary shares now number 1,500,000, compared
with 1,000,000 when the previous interim dividend was
announced.

Main Colliery Company Limited.—Interim dividend at
the rate of 6 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares
for the half-year to June 30 last.

New Sharlston Colieries Company Limited.—Interim
dividend of 1^ per cent. (5s. per share), less income tax.

North Lonsdale Iron and Steel Company Limited.—
A circular letter states that the directors, at the annual
meeting on December 18, will ask for sanction to the
distribution among the shareholders of £30,000 of the
reserve fund as a bonus of £1 10s. per share, such bonus
io be applied in clearing off the liability of the uncalled

capital. To enable the bonus to be applied in this wray,
a nominal call of £1 10s. per share has to be first made,
and notice of such call has been issued. The call equals
the bonus.

Princetown Coal and Land Company Limited.—The
accounts for the year ended March 31 show a loss of £159,
increasing the debit balance brought forward to £21,458.

Siemens Brothers and Company.—Interim dividend at
the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, free of tax.

Tredegar Iron and Coal Company Limited.—Interim
dividend of 5 per cent, actual, free of tax, on “ A ” and
“ B ” shares for the half-year to September 30. This dis-
tribution is on the total increased capital of the company.

NEW COMPANIES.

British Steel Corporation Limited.—Private company.
Registered office : 70 Lombard-street, London. Registered
October 26, to carry on the business of iron smelters,
engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000,000 in 1,000,000
shares of £1 each. Directors to be appointed by sub-
scribers. Remuneration of directors to be voted by share-
holders. Subscribers: R. V. C. Mills, J. C. Davie's, J. R.
Wright and R. I. Smith.

Carbonite Limited. — Private company. Registered
October 25, to work for distillation of coal and other
carbonaceous substances. Nominal capital, £10,000 in
10,000 shares of £1 each. Directors to be appointed by
subscribers. . Remuneration of directors to be voted by
company. Subscribers: T. Cordrey and G. Rawson.

Crowther (P. W.) Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered office: 17, China-lane, Manchester. Registered
October 29, to acquire the business of machinery agent
and merchant, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in,5,000 shares
of £1 each. Directors : P. W. Crowther, C. E. Crowther
and W. Harling. Qualification of directors, £100. Re-
muneration of directors to be voted by company.

Evans and Yeomans Limited. — Private company.
Registered October 30, to carry on the business of iron
founders, iron, steel and general merchants, etc. Nominal
capital, £100 in 100 shares of £1 each. Directors : H. C.
Harvey. Qualification of directors, 50 shares. Remunera-
tion of directors to be voted by company.

Ferrotherm Limited. — Private company. Registered
office: 57, 58, and 59 Long Acre, W.C. Registered October
29, to carry on the business of engineers, iron founders,
etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 ordinary shares of
£1 each. Qualification of directors, 1 share. Remuneration
of directors to be voted by company. Subscribers:
G. H. Alexander and S. Wertheimer.

Hall Bros. Engineering Works Limited — Private
company. Registered office : 14 John-street, Bedford
Row, London. Registered October 29, to acquire the
business of engineers, iron founders, tool makers, etc.
Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 shares of £1 each.
Directors : Alice E. Sanders and Florence Foster. Quali-
fication of directors, £100. Remuneration 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.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

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

Abstracts of Contrasts Open.

Egypt, November 15.—Fuel (1919-1920) for the
Egyptian Postal Administration. Forms from the Central
Stores, Egyptian Postal Administration, Alexandria.
Forms may be inspected at the Enquiry Office, Department
of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence), 73,
Basinghall-street, London, E.C.

Nottingham, November 18.—Coal (12 months) for the
Works and Ways Committee. Forms from the city
engineer, Guildhall.

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

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, Ac.

Aberdeen, November 21.—Stores.—Castings, fire clay,
signal wire, bar iron, belting, tubes, springs, tyres, etc.,
for the Great North of Scotland Railway Company. Forms
(Is. each) from the stores superintendent 80, Guild-street,
Aberdeen.

Bedford, November 13.—Boilers.—Two water tube
boilers, mechanical stokers, and induced draught plant for
the Corporation. Forms from the engineer, Electricity
Works, Cauldwell-road, Bedford.

Bradford, November 23.—Stores.—Insulated bolts, iron
and steel bars, steel sheets, etc. (12 months) for the Tram-
ways Committee. Forms from the general manager, 7,
Hall Ings, Bradford.

Dublin, November 18.—Stores.—Castings, iron, oils,
wagon covers, etc. (12 months) for the Dublin and South
Eastern Railway. Forms from the secretary, Westland-
row, Dublin.

Enntskillen, December 1.—Stores.—Wire, tools, gal-
vanised sheets, iron, springs, telegraph material, etc. (12
months) for the Sligo, Leitrim, and Northern Counties
Railway Company. Forms from the secretary, Ennis-
killen.

Johannesburg, November 25.—Wire Ropes.—Ninety-
eight coils (various lengths and sizes) of extra flexible
plough steel wire rope (galvanised), and 76 coils (various
lengths and sizes) of extra flexible plough steel wire rope
(black). Tenders to the secretary, Tender Board, South
African Railways Headquarters Office, Johannesburg.

Manchester, November 14.—Fireclay Goods.—Fireclay
and silica goods, and additions to coal and coke handling
plant. Forms from the superintendent, Gas Offices, Town
Hall, Manchester.

Nottingham, November 28.—Stores.—Castings, picks,
shovels, refined tar, pitch, creosote, oil, etc. (12 months)
for the Works and Ways Committee. Forms from the
city engineer, Town Hall.

Warrington, November 19.—Mechanical Stokers.—
Underfeed mechanical stokers for Electricity and Tram-
ways Committee. Forms from the borough electrical
engineer, Howley-street, Warrington.

The late Mr. Edward Sisterson, iron and steel merchant,
Hexham and Newcastle, left estate valued at £195,542.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

112453. Storing and Discharging Coal. H. Adams,
New London City National Bank Building, New London.
—The present invention relates to bins or the like, in which
the coal is gravitationally fed by an inclined floor or
surface towards the vertical front of the said bin, at the
bottom of which a discharge opening is provided, and it
has for its object certain improvements whereby the
loading and unloading of the same will cause the least
possible injury thereto, and degradation of the same by
excessive production of fines be reduced to a minimum.
In the storing of coal it has become quite a problem to
so store the coal that the same can be handled with the
least breakage to the coal. It has been found that, while
it is cheaper and more convenient to store the same in
piles of great altitude, the weight of the coal, coupled
with its impact and movement upon entrance and exit, is
sufficient to considerably fracture- the pieces near the
bottom ; and it has further been found that when in the
removal of coal the same is drawn from the bottom, the
rubbing and scraping of the pieces upon one another is
accompanied with very detrimental-like results ; and it has
also been found that when the coal is drawn from the
top, the resulting avalanching of the coal pile will cause
such scraping and rubbing of the pieces against one
another that the undesirable fine coal is thereby produced
in great quantity, with the consequent destruction and
degradation of the better grades of larger coal. The im-
proved method of storing coal, etc., consists in substance
in so storing the coal that the same in delivery will be
directed downward at an exceedingly slight angle of
inclination from the top layers of main body, and retained
in a comparatively small vertical descending column until
nearly all the coal has been removed by way of such
descending column, when the small remaining balance is
removed through a second chute. (Five claims.)

119514. Mine Signalling Apparatus. W. Millar, Town-
foot, Dreghorn, Ayrshire, and J. Strachan, Backpart,
Dreghorn, Ayrshire.—This invention relates to improve-
ments in mine signalling apparatus of the class wherein
a visible signal is combined with the usual audible signal,
and wherein orders are indicated on discs or dials adapted
to display same simultaneously when giving audible
signals through the medium of the usual wire, or cord, or
equivalent. It has for its object to improve the construc-
tion of such apparatus generally and also to combine means
therewith whereby, when desired, visible signals can be
given on the apparatus apart from the recognised signals
under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, such signals being
arranged by the manager or other official for the purpose
of indicating, say, for example, from one level to
another. (Six claims.)

119519. Bxcavating Tunnels, etc., and Sinking Shafts
or Pits. W. Lindley, Holly Dene, Coalville, Leicester.—
This invention relates to a system of driving or excavating
tunnels, headings or drifts, and for sinking shafts or
pits. The system consists in producing a number of suit-
ably spaced shot holes inclined towards each other to
form a cone or a truncated cone, with or without a central
axial hole, according to the character of the material to
be removed, and breaking up the cone into relatively large
pieces by blasting or other means, such large pieces being
easilv removed from the face of the work. The central
hole is preferably of larger diameter than some or all of
the holes surrounding it, and so acts as a quarry face
to cut to from other holes and when explosives or wedges
are used in the holes produced, the fact of the central hole
being large facilitates the breaking up of the surrounding-
material. Consequently, it reduces the amount of explo-
sive used, and also the quantity of debris to be removed
by shovelling, because a very large portion of the material
is broken up into blocks or prisms of large size and more
or less uniform dimensions. In addition, a number of
parallel and suitably spaced shot holes are produced around
the holes arranged in cone fashion, and with or without
a number of suitably spaced holes angular to the said
parallel holes for the purpose of breaking the material
up into pieces in more or less prismatic or conoidal forms.
(Four claims.)

119543. Apparatus for Sinking Shafts. W. Lindley,
Holly Dene, Coalville, Leicester.—The object of the inven-
tion is to improve that type of apparatus in which a cir-
cular bed or frame is lowered in the shaft on to the floor
thereof, and is then secured in position by radial arms
mounted on the bed or frame, and having means for
operating gripping devices on the ends of the arms and
jamming them against the wall of the pit. In such appa-
ratus the radial arms carry brackets adjustable to desired
positions along the arms, and the said brackets support
drilling appliances. Heretofore such beds or frames have
sometimes been made in the form of a deep annular reser-
voir standing on screwed studs as feet, the. reservoir
serving to receive a store of water and compressed air
for the drills. Another example of a bed or frame is
that, of a wheel-like structure which was supported on
vertically arranged screw-threaded studs, adjustable as to
effective length by screwing in bosses on frame. The present
invention particularly aims at improving the construction
of the bed or frame employed, and the mode of supporting
the same on the floor, so as to maintain the central and
level condition in which it is lowered. According to these
improvements, the circular bed or framing, which is pro-
vided and fitted with a number of foldable or adjustable
radial arms extensible in the radial direction, is constructed
of a shallow dish form and with a number of fittings
adapted to receive adjustable inclined supports, suitably
in the form of studs or screws. By these means the bed.
upon being lowered by the usual winding rope to within
an inch or two of the bottom and coming to rest, is truly
central in the pit, and by then adjusting the inclined
supports so that they bear upon the irregular floor, and
the radial arms so that they bear against the more or
less irregular wall, the bed becomes fixedly supported
at the bottom of the pit in a truly level and concentric
position without much trouble or loss of time, and with-
out the exercise of any particular degree of skill. The
bed is suspended from the winding rope by a bridle device
which ensures the lowering of the bed in a level con-
dition. The centre of the bed is formed with a vertical
hole of relatively large diameter for the guidance of a
drill of large size. The hole may be fitted with a bush
adapted to guide the shank or steel of the drill, and the
hole in the bush is formed with diametrically opposite
slots or grooves for enabling the widened flat point of
the drill to be passed through the bush. The bed is
further fitted with supports for drilling machines, and
these may be circularly disposed studs formed similarly
to the squared ends of the drill shanks, so that when the
drilling machines are removed from the drill steels thev
may be placed upon these studs for transport. The drill
steels may be inserted into circularly disposed holes formed