NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. TRANSACTIONS. VOL. XXIX. 1879-80. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: A. REID, PRINTING COURT BUILDINGS, AKENSIDE HILL. 1880 [iii] ERRATA. The translation of the Report mentioned on page 112 was placed at the disposition of the Institute by Mr. James Ashworth. On page 159, par. 3, line 9, for "which have been translated by Mr. C. G. Jackson," read " which has been translated by the writer with the co-operation of Mr. C. G. Jackson." CONTENTS OF VOL. XXIX. PAGE. Report or Council ............ v. Finance Report.................. ix. Account of Subscriptions ... xii. Treasurer's Account ......... xiv. General Account ............... xvi. Patrons.............................. xvii. Honorary and Life Members xviii. Officers ........................... xix. Original Members ............ xx. PAGE. Ordinary Members ............ xxxv. Associate Members ............ xxxv. Students ........................... xxxvii. Subscribing Collieries ...... xl. Charter.............................. xli. Bye-Laws........................... xlvii. Barometer Readings............ 249 Index................................. 257 GENERAL MEETINGS. 1879. PAGE Sept. 6.—Paper by Mr. John Daglisli, " On an Improved Expansion Gearing for Winding Engines" ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Paper by Mr. W. J. Bird, " Condensation in Steam Pipes" ... ... 7 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 Oct. 4.— Paper communicated by Mr. D. P. Morison, "Notes on Coal Dust Explosions" ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Paper by Mr. D. P. Morison, " On Boiler Accidents and their Prevention," Part II...... 23 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Paper by Mr. Edwin Gilpin, " Notes on Nova Scotia Pit Waters" ... 53 Nov. 1.—Paper by Messrs. Charles Ziethen Bunning and J. Kenneth Guthrie, " Description of an Instrument for ascertaining the Inclination, from the perpendicular, of Boreholes, and the direction of such Inclination" 61 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 Discussion of Mr. James Pease's and Mr. W. Jackson's Papers, '" On Rope Haulage" ... ... ... ... ... ....... ... 71 Dec. 6.—Visit to the Works of Messrs. Black, Hawthorn, & Co., at Gateshead... 77 Paper by Mr. Henry Aitken, " On the Extraction of Oil and Ammoniacal Liquors in Coking Coals in Ovens"... ... ... ... ... 81 [iv] PAGE Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 84 Paper by Mr. D. P. Morison, " On Boiler Accidents and their Prevention." Part III....... 87 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 99 1880. Feb. 7.—Proposal by the College of Physical Science to appoint a Professor of Mining ............................ 101 Memoir of Mr. Thomas Sopwith, by Mr. T. J. Bewick ... ... ... 105 Belgian Report on Safety-Lamps for Mines ... ... ... ... 113 Paper by Mr. A. R. Sawyer, "Notes on the Mueseler Lamp" ... ... 141 Paper by Mr. James Ashworth, " On Improved Safety-Lamps of the Davy and Mueseler types" ... ... ... ... ... ... 145 Discussed ... ... ...... ... ... ... ...... 154 Mr. William Armstrong's Report on some Experiments with a Multitubular Lamp ... 155 Mar. 6 —Paper by Mr. E. P. Rathbone, " On Luehrig's Method of Coal Washing" 159 Description, by Professor Forbes, of an Instrument for ascertaining small quantities of Gas in Mines ... ... ... ... ... 171 Description, by Mr. E. H. Liveing, of an Instrument invented by him for the same purpose ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 175 Apr. 17.—Paper by Mr. Wigham Richardson, "On the strength of Wrought Iron in compression" ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 179 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 185 Paper by Mr. James I'Anson, describing "Apparatus for the Prevention of Overwinding" ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 187 Discussion of Messrs. C. Z. Bunning and J. Kenneth Guthrie's Paper, describing an Instrument for ascertaining the Inclination of Boreholes ........................... 189 Discussion of Mr. Henry Aitken's Paper, " On the Extraction of Oil and Ammoniacal Liquors in Coking Coal in Ovens" ... ... ... 192 May 1.—Paper by Mr. William Logan, " On Safety-Hooks" ... ... ... 201 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 215 Paper by Mr. Thomas Heppell, " On Cranston's Pneumatic Rock-Drill" 221 June 19.—Discussion of Mr. James I'Anson's Paper, " On Apparatus for the Prevention of Overwinding" ... ... ... ... ... ... 227 Discussion of Mr. William Logan's Paper, "On Safety-Hooks" ... 229 Paper communicated by Mr. Robert Miller, " On Jefferson's Automatic, Free-falling, Hydraulic Boring Apparatus" ... ... ... ... 235 Aug. 7.—Paper by Mr. Henry Hall, " On Rapid Sinking" ......... 243 Discussed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 246 [v] Report. Notwithstanding that during the latter part of the year 1879 there seemed to be some prospect of renewed prosperity in the coal trade, it is much to be regretted that the hopes then entertained were speedily dissipated. It is true that prices have since ruled a fraction higher in the North of England, but even this small increase has not extended into other districts. While this continued depression of the trade, which more particularly interests the Members of the Institute, continues, it is not to be wondered at that the Report, which it is the duty of the Council to present to the Members at their Annual Meeting, should be more or less of an unsatisfactory nature; and although they can safely affirm that the position of the Institute is very much more satisfactory than from the nature of things might be expected, yet still, when a decrease in the number of Members, coupled with a decrease of income, has to be admitted for almost the first time in the annals of an Institution that has for so many years steadily increased, the result cannot be considered as altogether satisfactory. The decrease, however, is small, as will be seen by the report of the Finance Committee, and does not in any way affect the financial position of the Institute, for there has been an actual increase of income over expenditure of £323 16s. 6d. But the Council would nevertheless earnestly appeal to all who have the welfare of the Institute at heart to endeavour by all means in their power to extend its influence by introducing members and assisting in the work it was established to perform, and otherwise extend its prestige and standing. At no time indeed has it been more necessary for gentlemen connected with mining operations to carefully weigh and consider all circumstances tending to cause danger in the working of minerals, and to endeavour by every means in their power to lessen their fatal influences. That accidents are unfortunately in many cases unavoidable is but too true, but that much can be done to lessen their number and diminish their importance is not to be doubted, and nothing can be more conducive to this result than extending our researches into the nature of the circumstances which produce them, and so endeavour to reduce them as much as possible to well ascertained rules. [vi] Although not the chief cause of loss of life, the pressure of gas in coal workings is unquestionably the most alarming from the number of victims it immolates at a time. To arrive at a more conclusive knowledge of the nature and extent of the phenomena connected with the pressure of gas in coal, our late President, Mr. Lindsay Wood, has been induced to make a series of experiments at some of his collieries, the result of which has been made known in a paper communicated to the members, and which will be published in the next volume. The Council think that this is the most valuable addition that has been made for some years to our knowledge of the extraordinary power coal possesses of occluding gas at extreme pressures, and there is no doubt that when the records of these experiments have been carefully studied that they will point the way to more effective means of keeping the workings clear. The experiments that have been made by the Ventilators Committee with a view of ascertaining the relative merits of the various machines employed in producing an artificial current of air in mines by mechanical means may be considered to be of extreme importance, as tending to lessen loss of life from the presence of gas. The results of the experiments will soon be before the public and will afford much valuable information. With regard to the proceedings generally it may be said that they are above the usual average. Mr. D. P. Morison has summarised all that can be said on the important subject of " Boiler Accidents and their Prevention," and contributed a mass of valuable statistics relating thereto. The subject of Safety-hooks has also been taken up by Mr. Logan, and most of the inventions for increasing the safety of life in the shafts of pits have been minutely described and commented upon. Safety-lamps have also been treated in the same way by Mr. A. B. Sawyer and Mr. James Ashworth, the latter gentleman contributing a valuable translation of the Report of the Government Commission in Belgium. These papers all refer, more or less, to the preservation of life, but economic matters of considerable importance have also been the subject of several interesting contributions. That by Mr. Henry Aitken, " On the Extraction of Oil and Ammoniacal Liquors from Coking Coal in Ovens," points out a mode by which products hitherto lost may be made of value; and one by Mr. Rathbone, " On a Method of Washing Coal in Germany," shows how the economical value of inferior coal may be considerably