1028 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 15, 1918. There need be no hesitation in recommending this book as a trustworthy and carefully-writ ten guide to the subject of which it treats. It takes a high rank not only as a valuable monograph on industrial chemistry, but as a scientific text-book upon the use and abuse of coal. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 14. __________________________ SEPARATION DOORS AT UPCAST SHAFT BOTTOM.* By C. Fletcher. Previous to the adoption of separation doors— worked automatically by tubs attached to endless under rope haulage—at the bottom of the upcast shaft, in 1911, all the haulage roads and the electric sig- nalling apparatus were in the main return air current. This was considered undesirable, and it was decided to reverse the air current and make these roads into intake airways. Some form of separation door had, therefore, to be fixed near the bottom of the upcast shaft to prevent the air short-circuiting. Several types of doors and various schemes for operating them were considered, and eventually the doors now de- scribed were adopted as being the simplest and easiest to work, the least likely to get out of order, and the most adaptable to the existing conditions and situa- tion. The smooth working and silent opening and closing of doors with a total pressure of about 200 lb. against them was not always easily accomplished. The pit shunt was a brick arch 17 ft. wide and 12 f t. high. Four separate roads were required. One empty tube road was needed for No. 1 West Level, one for the engine brows, and one full tub road, which served both districts. There was also a road for men to travel through air doors, but these doors were operated by hand in the usual way. As the space available for the partition between each road was only 5 in., ordinary brickwork could not be used. Steel girders, 5 in. by 4 in., spaced about 7 ft. apart, and filled in between with reinforced concrete, made a strong and perfectly airtight division wall. The automatic doors were six in number, two for each road. They were made of sheet iron, 4 in. thick, 4 ft. 3 in. high, 3 ft. 10 in. wide, stiffened with T-iron. They worked vertically in machined gun metal grooves, and were operated by two Hans Renold roller chains. One end of each was attached to the door; it then passed over a counter shaft, then round the sprocket wheels on the driving shaft, and was again attached to the door, thus forming an endless chain. The driv- ing shaft was placed below the tub rails, and was secured to the timber framework. In addition to the sprocket wheels the driving shaft had a rope wheel 12 in. in diameter, keyed on to same. A f in. diameter flexible galvanised rope passed twice round the driving wheels then round suitable return wheels, and was attached to a tripper or operating catch. This operat- ing catch was in the form of an L leg, and was mounted on a small travelling carriage, which ran in a channel iron groove, fixed 3 in. clear of the haulage rope. The action was as follows : When the tubs (which were attached to the haulage rope by clips) arrived at a predetermined point, the axle of the first tub engaged with the operating catch and travelled it along. This action revolved the driving shaft and sprocket wheels, and opened the door. When the door was full open the operating catch had travelled to a second predetermined position. At this point it was automatically released from the tub axle, the tubs passed on through doors to a third position, where the tub axle again engaged with another catch, which reversed the driving shaft and closed the door on reaching a fourth point. The tubs passed on to a similar arrangement for opening and closing the second door. The rope was practically an endless rope, with two operating catches attached, and was crossed at a certain point. Therefore one set of catches when in action was at the same time resetting the other set, and vice versa. The chief feature from a mechanical point of view was the simple and efficient way in which the operat- ing catch was disengaged from the tub axle at the exact moment when the door was fully opened or closed. This was accomplished by cutting out the bottom of the channel iron groove on which the tripper ran, and allowing the horizontal end of the L leg to drop through. The doors were carefully balanced by weights fas- tened to the roller chains, and although the speed of the haulage was two miles per hour, little or no shock was apparent to the apparatus and gear. The doors were erected in 1911, and no stoppages have occurred through their use. Nor had there been any trouble except with broken or bulged tubs catch- ing the lifting chains, or through a mistake of the lasher-on spacing the tubs too near together, and thereby causing the second train of tubs to begin to open the* doors before the first train had completed the closing. This broke the small galvanised rope, but it was not necessary to stop and repair the same, as, the doors could be easily operated by hand for the remainder of the shift by a lad. * Paper read before the Manchester Geological and Mining Society on November 12. Scotland. Western District. COAL. Business during the past week has not undergone any material change, and all departments continue busy. Industrial demands have been fully maintained, and Government requirements accounted for a large amount. Domestic necessities increased with the coming of winter, and the curtailment of neutral shipments freed a large quantity of fuel for local and household purposes Ship- ments to France and Laly are still fairly large. Shipments for the week amounted to 79,919 tons, against 75,081 in the preceding week and 95,114 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. ________________________________ war should not make a great deal of difference in the request for fuel; it should mean simply that the destina- tions Of much of the fuel will be varied Whilst it is reasonable to assume that much less coal will be wanted for Admiralty and Army purposes, for example, very much more should be needed to assist in the task of industrial reconstruction and readjustment both in this country and for our Allies. The contract to supply the Norwegian State Railways with 8,000 tons of local best steams for delivery over December-January has been divided equally between two local firms on the basis, it is understood, of 70s. per ton, f.o.b., plus the usual 5 per cent, for Blyth qualities. • Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. _________________________________________ ; Current prices. L’st week’s! Last year'1 prices. prices. Steam coal .• i ; 34/6 ■ 34/6 1 ; 32 .’6-35/ i 27/6 Ell ! 32/6-35/ 26'6-28/ Splint | 35/ -37/ f 35’ -37/ ! 28/ -30 Treble nuts 30/ | 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ i 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ ; 28/ 21/ IRON. Activities were fully maintained in all departments of the Scotch iron trade during the past week. The change in the military situation has made merchants more inclined to negotiate for post-war deliveries, but with the works so well fil ed with war business no time can be stated for deliveries. Pig iron is active and firm. Some grades are still very scarce—particularly foundry qualities. Forge, however, continues in fair supply. Export prices are very high, but quotations are of little value, as almost any figure can be obtained for guaranteed deliveries. At the malleable iron mills orders remain in advance of produc- tion, and up to the present only high priority business has been accepted. There are plenty of orders to be placed whenever the oppor tunity arises. At the time of writing peace has just been declared, and the immediate result has been the stoppage of work everywhere. The reversion to pre-war conditions must necessarily take some time to accomplish, but when that does take place works will have plenty of business to keep them going for a considerable time. Ordinary orders have been accumulating for a long time now - to say nothing of new business which will inevitably result from the changed conditions. In the meantime everything is at a standstill, and two or three days will elapse before works are again in full operation. _______________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. Export business in the Lothians has fallen off consider- ably, and local consumers are receiving larger deliveries, both for industrial and household use. Shipments amounted to 17,595 tons, against 18,084 in the preceding week and 15,750 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do______.............. Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 33/6 33/6 32/6 30/ 32/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28' > 28/ ______ Last year’s prices 26/6 25/6 23/ 22 21/ Neutral shipments from the Fifeshire district are also considerably reduced, with a consequent better supply for local allocation. All descriptions are more plentiful. Shipments for the week amounted to ?3,791 tons, against 22,788 in the preceding week and 38,083 tons in the same week last year. Prices f o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current iL’st week’s Last year’s Best screened navigation prices. prices prices. coal 36 -38. 31/ -32/ 35/ 36/ -38' 31/ -32/ ! 36/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -25 28/ 24' Unscreened do First-class steam coal...... Third-class do Treble nuts 31/ . 30/ 1 ! 31/ 30/ 29/ 23/ 22 Double do. 29 28' : Single do • ‘ 28' i 21/ All prices quoted apply to shipments to France, Italy and Portugal. The aggregate shipments during the past week amounted to 121,305 tons, compared with 116,453 in the preceding week and 148,947 tons in the same week last year. _____________________________ Austria’s Coal Yield.—The quantity mined in Austria in the first six months of 1918 is reported to show a considerable decrease compared with the first six months of 1917, the figures being respectively 863,474 tons and 963,679 tons. Hull Coal Trade.—The quantity of coal brought into Hull from various collieries in October was 216,521 tons (201,745 tons by rail and 14,776 by river), a considerable decrease on the 260,358 tons a year ago. A falling off is shown also in the total for ten months (January- October), 2,237,766 tons, compared with 2,432,096 in the corresponding period of 1917. ________________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. Rejoicings over the signing of the armistice have com- pletely banished thoughts of business from the minds of commercial men at the time of writing. The Newcastle Commercial Exchange proclaimed a two days holiday on Monday, and it is probable that most of the present week will pass before “coal men” settle down to business again. At the time when this very happy interruption to business occurred, the market was in a somewhat awkward position for lack of adequate transport facilities. The shortage of official tonnage which was so apparent a week earlier, was again a source of great embarrassment to collieries, and reports of stoppages for want of vessels’ were becoming distressingly numerous. The situation was aggravated by the fact that railway trucks were not in as good supply as desired, with the result that collieries were being com- pelled in some instances to teem by. This situation gave a renewed opportunity to neutrals to obtain supplies, but neutrals were not able to take much advantage of the com- parative plenitude of coal, for they themselves were suffering from the same lack of a sufficiency of cargo space. The stoppage of business synchronised with the stoppage of the miners’ activities at the pits, and this week, at all events, the supply of coal has adjusted itself to the supply of tonnage. Apart from the scarcity of shipping, the market is in a healthy condition, and for months to come the normal demand is likely considerably to exceed the productive capacity of the collieries. The conclusion of the Steam coals:— Best, Bly ths (D.C.B.) ...; 37' -70/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.)j 36/6—69/ Secondary, Blyths ...., 32/6-64/ Do. Tynes (Hastings! or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened ............ Small, Blyths ......... Do. Tynes............ Do. specials......... Other sorts:— Smithies...........____ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) i 32/ -55/ Secondary gas coais| (Pelaw Main or similar), 30/6-52/6 Special gas coals ..... Unscreened bunkers, | Current L’st week’s Last year’s | prices, — 34' -64/- 30 6-61/8 27/ -45/ 25/6-42/ 27/6-45/ 32/ —60/ prices. 30 -32/6 prices. 37/ -70/ ___ 36/6-69/ 29 6-32/ 32/6—64/ 25 6-28/ 34/ -64' 27/ -29'6 30 6-61 8 23/6-27 6 27/ -45/ ~ 25/6-42/ 27/6-45/ 20/ -22 6 18 6-21/ 20/6-23/ 32/ 32/ -60/ -55/ 30/6-52/6 33/6-57/ 25/ -33/6 25/ -27/6 23/6-26/ 26/6—29/ i OUIU-OiiU 33,6-57/ • Durhams 31/ - 55/ , 31/ -55/ do. | Northumbrians; 31/ -55/ > ox/ -oo/ Coking coals.......... 31/ -55/ i 31/ -55/ i 24/ -27/6 Do. smalls....| 31/ -55/ i 31/ -55/ ■ 24/ -27/6 House coals ......35/6-70/ 35/6-70/ 28 6-32/ Coke, foundry .......... 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 42 6-45/ Do. blast-furnace......' 49/6-65/ i 49,6-65/ t 42 6-45/ Do. gas...............j 47'6 i 47 6 35/ -37,6 Do. 26,6-27,6 i 31/ -55/ ! 26 6-27 6 Sunderland. COAL. No disposition is being shown to do business, and the market is unchanged. The arrival of shipping over the week-end was again small and insufficient to keep the pits employed for more than two or three days ahead Quota- tions remain nominal at schedule figures, and are not likely to be altered immediately, but the enquiry for coal will no doubt receive a sharp stimulus from the new peace conditions. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. qoal. Holiday-making is interfering with business, but fuel continues in heavy request on official account for both home and Allied needs. Means of distribution are far from satisfactory. Tonnage is coming forward only irregularly, and there are still pronounce i and frequent complaints of scarcity of trucks. Neutral enquiries are growing daily, and are from a wider area, and such business is expected to extend. At the same time, prospect of enlargement of output is not great. Coke keeps steady and firm. The very heavy local needs are being adequately dealt with. Average blastfurnace coke is 33s. at the ovens, and low phosphorus quality 35s. 6d. at the ovens. The quantities of coke allowed for shipment to neutrals are very small, and are promply taken up. Both foundry and furnace coke for such trade readily realises 65s. f.o.b. Middlesbrough docks. IRON. Business in pig iron this week has been small, holiday- making having been general, and traders altogether disinclined to discuss commercial matters. Most of the blastfurnaces were put on slack blast for a while, to enable furnacemen to enjoy a brief well-earned rest. This action will once more cause output of the lower qualities of pig iron to be large in proportion to production of the better descriptions. Distribution is still hampered by an acute truck shortage, but steamer tonnage is coming forward fairly satisfactorily, and loadings for coastwise ports and for the Allies are on quite a substantial scale. Enquiries on behalf of neutrals are heavy, and expansion of trade in that direction is looked for. To home customers No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge are all quoted 95s.; and No. 1 is 99s.; and for shipment to France and Italy, No. 3 and the lower qualities are 122s 9d.; and No. 1 is 127s. 9d. As regards haematite, home needs are being met, and considerable parcels are going steadily forward to the Allies. East coast brands are 122s. 6d. for home use and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. Manufactured iron and steel works have been closed for holiday. Reduction of Government orders for shell steel is causing slackness in certain branches, but demand for shipbuilding material and constructional steel is still heavy. Quotations all round are unaltered. _________________ Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. Business in the Cumberland coal market continues to be characterised by great briskness. . The clamour for fuel in all departments is unrelaxed, but the position throughout the coal field is not quite so satisfactory as it was a week ago. The situation will soon begin to show some improve- ment. The demand for coal both for local and export use is very strong, and most of the collieries are well booked forward. The cold weather has given a further impetus to the house coal trade, orders are coming in freely, and all the depots are as busy as they can possibly be. The iron and steel industries have been fairly well supplied with coal, but there is not yet enough for landsale and shipping. Engine fuels for the home railways are steady, and gas coal is firmer, and with the increase in street lighting, the needs of the local gas companies will soon be heavier than they have been since the outbreak of w ar. Local needs are being fairly well met, but no supplies can yet be spared for outside consumers. Bunkers are steady, and small and coking fuels are firm, but local users are taking all the supplies that are available, in addition to large quantities which are being regularly imported from Durham and Northumberland. Manufacturing fuel of all sorts is in sharp call, but as some of the steel departments are at present on holiday, requirements are not quite so heavy this week The shipping trade to Ireland is very healthy. Coke makers continue to be well employed and production is rather better this week. Prices firm, but unchanged.