December 6, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1187 Size of coal. Approximate water velocity. Size of tubular extension of cone. Water used. Coal capacity (sp. gr. 1’3). In. Ft. per sec. In. Gals, permin. Tons per hour. U 0’79 4 . . 25’0 4 to 5 ■ f . .. 0’58 . .. 4 19’0 5 to 6 i 0’35 2 2’84 2 to 3 3 2 0’121. .. 2 TOO 2 32 0’124 .. 4 3’85 6 to 8 . Regarding the efficiency of this washer to wash very fine material, the following table of results from actual tests made by Mr. Draper is interesting :— Ash Ash Ash Colliery Material per cent. per cent. per cent. company washed. before after of shale treatment. treatment. recovered. A .. Fine coal 3100 . .-. 5’7 ... . 7l’25 B Ditto 22’72 . 4’1 73’28 C .. Slurry, §to0in. 23’70 . 7’2 ... 70’60 D .. Ditto, d-toOin. 13 28 . 4’25 ... 67’45 Di .. Belt pickings*... 35’80 8’60 ... 71’75 E .. Slurry 30 25 4’83 ... 74’02 Ex .. Ditto 18’42 .. .. 5’21 ... 70’10 e2 .. Ditto 16’00 ., .. 5’03 ... 62’90 F .. Anthracite! 49’07 5’46 ... 81’04 G .. Waste black 2 r95 .. . 11’12 ... 62’10 H .. Fine coal 18’42 3’75 ... 66’80 * Crushed. f Shales rubbish. Hydraulic classifiers failed in the past because of the volume of water required; difficulty of evenly feeding and discharging of the apparatus ; number and space required for a large output (except in the Rheolaveur); amount of attention required. Advantages of the Draper Washer. 1. Based on direct flow slightly greater than the velocity fall of the coal and less than that of the shale, therefore ensuring perfect separation. 2. It is automatic and continuous in its action, and easily regulated and controlled. 3. It has few moving parts, and therefore unlikely to get out of repair. 4. Takes up less space than any other form of washer. 5. It will effectively deal with any size of coal from mesh to nuts. 6. Can be built in small units for small outputs. .7. Small amount of manual labour required. THE COAL SHORTAGE. The Coal Controller issues the following figures which show a further serious falling-off—nearly 16^ million tons, or about 8’4 per cent.—in the estimated output of coal during the first 40 weeks of this year compared with the output during the corresponding period of last year. Although miners will shortly be returning to the mines at the rate of 5,000 a day, there is a large leeway to be made up, and some little time must elapse before the increase in the output of coal is felt. Output of coal. Period. ^1916. Tons. 1917. ' Tons. 1st four weeks ended Feb. 2 ... 18,826,700 . .. 20,430,600 2nd ,, „ „ March 2... 19,141,600 . .. 19,881,500 3rd ,, ,, ,, March 30 18,759,700 . .. 19,840,400 4th ,, ,, „ April 27... 17,698,400 . .. 18,659,200 5th ,, ,, ,, May 25 ... 16,856,800 .. . 20,092,600 6th „ ,, ,, June 22 ... 17,791,800 .. 18,727.300 7th „ „ ,, July 20 ... 15,780,300 .. ,. 18,982,800 8th ,, „ ,, Aug. 17 ... 16,012,200 .. .. 17,769,200 9th ,, ,, ,, Sept. 14... 17,767,000 .. .. 19,502,600 10th ,, ., ,, Oct. 12 ... 17,890,300* .. 176,554,800 . .. 19,159,100* .. 193,045,300 176,554,800 Deficiency ........................... 16,490,500 * Provisional figures. It will be observed that for the four weeks ended October 12 it is estimated that 17,890,300 tons of coal were raised at mines in the United Kingdom, as against 19,159,100 tons during the corresponding period of 1917—less by 1,268,800 tons. The chief disturbance during the period was due to the railwaymen’s dispute, owing to which one day on the average was lost by the pits in South Wales and Monmouth. On the best practical estimate for the loss of time in each of these periods due to holidays, disputes and accidents, the capacity of the industry during the four weeks ended October 12 this year was about 11 per cent., or nearly 574,000 tons per week, less than in October 1917. As compared with the four weeks ended September 14, there was an increase of less than 1 per cent, in the capacity of the industry. Since the end of last March the stock of coal held at the mines and in trucks has been reduced to the extent of approximately 1J million tons. Improvements were again shown in the last four weeks of the table in the number of days worked by miners in the following counties compared with last year:— Days per week. Worcester....... 0’81 Monmouth ........ 0’74 H addington...... 0’70 Pembroke......... 0’70 Days per week. Fife and Kinross ... 0’62 Glamorgan ......... 0’49 Stafford, South ... 0’48 Edinburgh.......... 0’44 Release of Machine Tools.—The Minister of Munitions announces that restrictions upon the release of new machine tools have been removed, provided such machines are purchased from firms or persons holding permits from the Minister to trade in such articles. Middlesbrough Iron and Steel Shipments. — Official returns of shipments of iron and steel from the Port of Middlesbrough during November show little variation in the volume of export trade for the past three months. November aggregate shipments were 38,832 tons, com- pared with 36,622 tons for October and 36,317 tons for September. Rather more pig iron was shipped last month, the total being 31,070 tons, as against 29,092 tons in October, and 29,579 tons in September, the increase being accounted for by the heavier coastwise clearances, which reached 9,264 tons, a record for the year. Of manufac- tured iron and steel 1,755 tons went coastwise, and 6,007 tons foreign, a total of 7,762 tons, which compares with 9,530 tons in October and 6,738 tons in September. THE TRAINING OF STUDENTS IN COAL MINING.* By F. W. Hardwick, M.A. The Engineering Training Organisation has been formed to serve as a central organisation^ for improve- ment in and better co-ordination of engineering training. Those objects^ in particular are mentioned on which the proposed central organisation might usefully concentrate its attention, namely :— The first is the co-ordination of engineering training, including the fostering of apprenticeship as a national institution, and the consideration of means by which the works period of an engineering pupilage may be increased in efficiency, and a wider appreciation secured for the value in industry of university rank. The second is the maintenance of a central bureau, where parents and educationists can obtain accurate and comprehensive information relating to the engi- neering industry, and the proper course to pursue on behalf of boys who are desirous of making engineering their profession. The third is the promotion of scholarship’, or other equivalent means by which the best talent may be enabled to rise to its proper level under the stimulus of educa- tional opportunity. The second of these objects will be considered first, partly because it seems necessary to have a clear and definite view of what is actually being done in educa- tion relating to coal mining before the first of the objects named is taken into detailed consideration, and partly because it is the subject in which I have always felt personally interested. The w.-rk of a central bureau formed for the purpose of furnishing information respecting the training of young men who propose to become engineers must depend on the information given to that bureau by the various branches of the engineering profession. Hitherto the Institution of Mining Engineers has issued no instruction on this subject, although several very interesting papers liave been contributed to the Transactions; whilst the discussions on these papers have revealed a variety of opinions, and have shown that a large amount of interest is taken in the matter. Schemes of education for young men who are to be trained in coal mining are contained in some of these papers, in calendars and other official publications of universities, colleges and technical schools, and in corresponding publications of education committees in coal mining districts ; but hithero no attempt has been made to collect this information, to digest it, and to present it in such a way that anyone who desires to profit by it can do so without a considerable amount of labour. The question may be asked whether such action is at all necessary. All members are acquainted with the various ways in which entry into the profession may be obtained, and in case of doubt on any point they know where to apply for information. It must, however, be remembered that this knowledge is not available to persons outside the mining profession, and can only be obtained by them with some difficulty. The choice of a profession for their sons is not an e^sy task for some parents, who do not know where to apply for the information necessary to enable them to decide on this important point. I used to think that a guide to the professions might be compiled, giving an outline of the training required for each profession, and the sources from which fuller infoimation might be derived: fortu- nately the formation of the Engineering Training Organisation seems likely to supply this want as far as engineering is concerned. It may possibly be due to this difficulty of obtaining information that in some cases the choice of a boy’s career is postponed until he is about to leave school; it is then too late to rectify any omissions in the latter part of his school training, and either the boy must be put to work partially equipped, or time must be spent on a subject, or subjects, in which he might have had instruction at school. If professions and industries give some clear and definite indication as to what is required, then the schools can make their arrangements in accordance with them. In this way there would be a better co-ordination of work. The change from school to the university or college, or to professional training, should be accomplished as smoothly as possible, and this can be done if the professions themselves give some guidance as to the courses available. Apart from the reason just given, the opportunity is a favourable one for the institution to take stock, for its own information, of what has I een, and is being, done in educational matters relating to coal mining. If a report on the facilities at present existing for such education could be drawn up, giving a brief outline of the subject with references to the sources from which fuller information can be obtained, it would be of advantage not only to those mentioned above, but also to the members of the institution, and would be of assistance to those who are preparing new schemes. The arrangement of a scheme of education in coal mining differs from similar work in most other branches of engineering in that such a scheme must conform to the requirements of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, respecting the first - class certificate of competency and the surveyor’s certificate, and to the rules laid down under that Act by the Board for Mining Examinations. These requirements affect both the period and nature of the practical training, as well as the subjects which must be studied by candidates. These are, of course, minimum i equirements, but whatever else may be added by profe ssional opinion, care must be taken that the legal requirements are not infringed. Any general statement, therefore, relating to the course to be pursued by a student in coal mining should contain a clear account of the regulations on the subject contained in the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and in the rules of the Board for Mining Examinations. The statement should explain any technical points which * From a paper read before the Midland Institute on December 5. t The Engineering Training Organisation, Ncs. 5 and 6. X Engineering Training, No. 2, par. 4. would not be understood by a person not connected with the mining profession, and those who are personally interested should be referred to the Home Office on matters of detail or doubt, and as to changes in the regulations. The regulations for the surveyor’s certificate should also be given, with suggestions as to the best form of training for this certificate. On this point the institu- tion might give some guidance as to the advisability of a mining student preparing for both the first-class certificate of competency and the surveyor’s certificate. Mr. R. W. Dion, in his paper on “ The Training of Mining Engineers,’ * has already mentioned this point, and it is important to know what is the general feeling on the subiect, remembering that a student who has obtained his first-class certificate of competency must spend a further two years in working for the surveyor’s certificate. It is not proposed to enter into the various points connected with the school training of a boy who intends to enter the engineering profession. The subject has been fully dealt with in a report of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1903), and in the report of the Committee on the Position of Natural Science in the Educational System of Great Britain. The author considers that the subjects of mathematics, mechanics, physics and chemistry should be taken before they leave school by all boys who propose to become engineers. f The training of students who propose to take the first-class certificate of competency may be conducted on one of three lines, namely :— (1) Attendance at an “approved” institution, obtaining an “ approved ” degree or diploma, and serving as an articled pupil at a colliery for a period of not less than three years. (2) Serve as an articled pupil at a colliery for not less than five years. (3) Pracsical experience (as defined in the rules of the Board for Mining Examinations) for not less than five years at a colliery. Although these various kinds of training present marked differences, yet to some extent one class over-- laps the other. In all of them attendance at courses of technical instruction is possible; in the first it forms a necessary part of the training. A study of the “approved” courses would Le of inte •< st, and would show what is being done at the present time. Some years ago, the author prepared a comparative tablet of the courses at the various institu- tions which were at that time “approved.” If similar information were to be presented at the present time, in an improved form, it would show the lims on which various institutions have developed their courses, and would indicate the preparatoiy training required by each institution for students who proposed to attend. Divergent as are the views which have been expressed on the subject of the best training for coal mining students, it will probably be found that there are comses already in existence to suit every variety of opinion. There are about 15 institutions on the “ approved ” list, and some of these have both degree and diploma courses. A detailed account of each course does not seem to be necessary ; information is required chiefly under these heads :— (1) Regulations as to entrance ; in the case of degree students by matriculation, or by passing an examina- tion which is ] ecognised by the particular institution as equivalent to matriculation; in the case of diploma students whether there is any entrance examination, and, if so, in what subjects; (2) length of course; (3) general outline of course; (4) academic distinction awarded; (5) whether there are any vacation courses which students are expected to attend; (6) whether the regulations provide for practical work during the vacations, and (7) whether students are trained in coal mining only, or whether instruction is given in other branches of mining. As the regulations concerning these courses may be changed in the future, it should be explained that the information given refers only to existing conditions. A recommendation has been made, especially in recent years, that after leaving school, and before entering a university or college, a boy should spend some time in practical work. A year is generally mentioned, but nine months has also been suggested. The object of this is to give the boy an insight into his professional work, and to bring him into touch with it at an earlier age than would otherwise be th$ case. This proposition requires very careful consideration, and it would be interesting to know whether the result has been satisfactory in any cases in which it has been put into practice. Ic may be questioned whether the bene- ficial effect of the practical experience so gained is not set off by a loss of knowledge already acquired, which would have to be learned again when the student enters on his applied science training. This, however, is a point which can only be decided by experience. On this question it would be interesting to know to what extent intermittent periods of practical work at a colliery are allowed to count towards the minimum period of three years required by the Coal Mines Act for this class of student. The training of the articled pupil has next to be considered—that is, the student who enters into articles for five years, as distinct from those students who take a degree or diploma, and become articled subsequently. Some of the “approved” courses are ptobably so arranged that they can be taken by pupils while serving their articles. A course of this kind was mentioned by • Mr. G. Blake Walker in the discussion on Mr. Dron’s paper, mentioned above, and enquiry would, no doubt, reveal the existence of other similar courses. The course appears to be arranged on the “ sandwich ” system—that is, six months at the university and six months at the colliery—a system which has already been in practice for some years for students in mechanical engineering. Where no arrangements are made for articled pupils to attend a course of instruction of this kind, they can * Colliery Guardian. February 19, 1915, p. 387. f Trans. Inst M.E., 1904-05, vol. xxviii., p. 483.