[i] THE NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. [Founded 1852.—Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1876.] TRANSACTIONS. VOL. LXIV. 1913-1914. EDITED BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: PUBLISHED BY THE INSTITUTE. Printed by Andrew Reid & Co., Limited, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1915. [All rights of publication or translation are reserved.] [ii] ADVERTIZEMENT. The Institute is not, as a body, responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in the papers which may be read, nor in the discussions which may take place at the meetings of the Institute. [iii] CONTENTS. CONTENTS OF VOL. LXIV. Page Advertizement ii Contents. iii GENERAL MEETINGS. 1913. Page Aug. 2.—Annual General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) ...... 1 Election of Officers, 1913-1914................ 1 Annual Report of the Council, 1912-1913............ 2 Annual Report of the Finance Committee, 1912-1913 ... 6 Accounts 8 Election of Representatives on the Council of The Institution of Mining Engineers, 1913-1914 13 Discussion of Mr. T. A. Saint's paper on "The Lighting Efficiency of Safety- lamps" 14 Discussion of Mr. W. C. Blackett's "Address to Practical Men, being some Further Notes on ' The Combustion of Oxygen and Coal-dust in Mines'" ... 14 "Notes on Coal-mining in the United States of America, with Special Reference to the Treatment of Coal-dust, and Haulage by Electric Locomotives." By Samuel Dean 18 "The Comparative Inflammability of Mixtures of Pit-gas and Air, Ignited by Momentary Electric Arcs." By W. M. Thornton ............... 32 Aug. 8.—Excursion Meeting (Nenthead) 45 Lead-mines and Works of the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company .......... 45 Oct. 11.—General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) ... 53 G. C. Greenwell Medal .................. 53 Dec. 13.—General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)... 54 Death of Mr. Addison Langhorn Steavenson ... ... 54 Discussion of Mr. Samuel Dean's "Notes on Coal-mining in the United States of America, with Special Reference to the Treatment of Coal-dust, and Haulage by Electric Locomotives" ... ...... ... ... ...... 55 Discussion of Dr. W. M. Thornton's paper on "The Comparative Inflammability of Mixtures of Pit-gas and Air, Ignited by Momentary Electric Arcs" ......... 82 "Notes on a New Process for the Washing of Coal at the St. Nicholas Pit of the Société des Charbonnages de l'Espérance et Bonne Fortune, near Liége, Belgium." By Leo Dorey Ford 91 "Notes on the Working of the St. Nicholas Pit of the Société des Charbonnages de l'Espérance et Bonne Fortune, near Liége, Belgium, with Special Reference to the Hydraulic Packing of the Goaf." By Leo Dorey Ford 107 [iv] CONTENTS. 1914. PAGE. Feb. 14.—General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)............ 123 Discussion of Mr. Samuel Dean's "Notes on Coal-mining in the United States of America, with Special Reference to the Treatment of Coal-dust, and Haulage by Electric Locomotives" ..................... 124 Discussion of Mr. Leo Dorey Ford's "Notes on a New Process for the Washing of Coal at the St. Nicholas Pit of the Société des Charbonnages de l'Espérance et Bonne Fortune, near Liége, Belgium" ............ 130 Discussion of Mr. Leo Dorey Ford's "Notes on the Working of the St. Nicholas Pit of the Société des Charbonnages de l'Espérance et Bonne Fortune, near Liége, Belgium, with Special Reference to the Hydraulic Packing of the Goaf" 133 "The Automatic Distribution of Stone-dust by the Air-current." By H.W.G. Halbaum............ 135 Discussion ..................... 145 "Notes on Gob-fires and Blackdamp, etc." By John Morris 183 Discussion ... ... ... ...... ... ... 191 "A Westphalian Bye-product Coking-plant which also Supplies Town- gas." By Leo Dorey Ford...... 195 Discussion ..................... 211 April 4.—General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)............ 216 Discussion of Mr. Samuel Dean's "Notes on Coal-mining in the United States of America, with Special Reference to the Treatment of Coal-dust, and Haulage by Electric Locomotives" ..................... 217 Discussion of Mr. Leo Dorey Ford's "Notes on a New Process for the Washing of Coal at the St. Nicholas Pit of the Société des Charbonnages de l'Espérance et Bonne Fortune, near Liége, Belgium" ............ 223 Discussion of Mr. H. W. G. Halbaum's paper on "The Automatic Distribution of Stone-dust by the Air-current," and of Mr. Robert Clive's paper on "Stone- dusting at Bentley Colliery : Report to the Doncaster Coal-owners' (Gob-fires) Committee" ... ... ... 225 "The Utilization of Exhaust-steam for Collieries, Ironworks, etc., and the Cost of Electric Current Generated." By W. C. Mountain..................... 240 June 13.—General Meeting (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)........ ... 258 Discussion of Mr. H. W. G. Halbaum's paper on "The Automatic Distribution of Stone-dust by the Air-current" 259 Discussion of Mr. John Morris's "Notes on Gob-fires and Blackdamp, etc." 260 [v] CONTENTS. v APPENDICES. PAGE. I.—Notes of Papers on the Working of Mines, Metallurgy, etc., from the Transactions of Colonial and Foreign Societies and Colonial and Foreign Publications 1-66 "Coal-seams Proved in the Central District of Belgium." Anon. 2 "Iron-ore Concessions in Belgian Luxemburg." Anon. ... 3 "Briey Iron-field, France." Anon. ............ 3 “Bitumen in the Zeitz Brown-coal, Germany." By F. Raefler ........ 3 "Bitumen in the Molasse of Western Switzerland." By J. H. Schaay 4 " Melnikovite and the Genesis of Pyritic Deposits." By Bruno Doss 4 "Coal in Siberia." Anon. .................. 5 "Recent Progress in the Investigation of the Auriferous Deposits of Siberia." By J. Ahlburg ......... 6 "Pisolitic Iron-ores of Rottorf, Prussian Saxony." By E. Harbort and A. Mestwerdt ............... 7 "Stanniferous Deposits in Spain and Portugal." By H. Preiswerk 7 "Uranium-deposits in Portugal." By — Legand and — Humery ......... 8 "Tin and Gold in Bolivia." By M. Armas ......... 9 "Geology of the Missabe Iron Ranges, Minnesota." By Charles E. van Barneveld ......... ...... 9 "Mine Exploration and Working in the Belgian Congo." Official Report to the Belgian Chambers......... 10 "Diamantiferous Pipes of the Kundelungu Hills, Belgian Congo." By R. d'Andrimont...... ......... 11 "The Kaoko Mineral District, German South-west Africa." By C. Krause .... 12 “Asia's Part in Mineral Industry." By L. de Launay ... 13 "Mineral Production and Resources of China." By Thomas T. Read ...... 13 "Coal-mines now Worked in China." Anon. ......... 15 "Copper-mines in Asiatic Turkey." By E. Coulant...... 15 " Karlik-Nahlik Automatic-catch System for Winding in Inclined Shafts." By J. Czaplinski... ......... 16 "Mechanical Conveyance of Coal from the Face in the Dortmund District." By — Pommer ... 16 "Automatic Weighbridge with Sliding Weight (Schenk Type.)" By — Blau.................. 17 "Analysis of Black Powder and Dynamite." By Walter O. Snelling and C. G. Storm ............... 18 "Selection of Explosives used in Engineering and Mining Operations." By Clarence Hall and Spencer P. Howell... 18 "Tests for Coal-dust Inflammability." By J. Taffanel ... 19 “Factors in the Processus of a Coal-dust Explosion." By J. Taffanel .......... 19 [vi] CONTENTS. APPENDICES.—Continued. I.—Notes of Papers, etc.—Continued. PAGE. "Explosion at the Minister Achenbach Colliery, near Dortmund, December 18th, 1912." By Walter Schulz ... 20 "Influence of Inert Gases on Inflammable Gaseous Mixtures." By J. K. Clement ............... 20 "First Series of Coal-dust Explosion Tests in the U.S.A. Experimental Mine." By George S. Rice, L. M. Jones, J. K. Clement, and W. L. Egy 22 "Smoke Accident at the Möller [Moeller] Pits of the Gladbeck Colliery." By — Richstaetter............... 22 "Explosion at Neumuhl [Neumuehl] Colliery." Official ......... 23 "Explosion of Gas at Westende Colliery, Duisburg District." Official........... 23 "Explosion at the Gräfin [Graefin] Laura Colliery, Königshutte [Koenigshutte] District." Official ............ 23 "Explosion of Gas in the Adolfsglück [Adolfsglueck] Potassium Salt-mine, near Lindwedel, North Hanover District." By — Dahms ... ... ... 24 "Accident with Breathing-apparatus at the Consortium Ruben Pit, Neurode." Anon. ............ 24 "National Mine-rescue and First-aid Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 23rd-26th, 1912." By Herbert M. Wilson .................. 25 "Kind-Chaudron Sinkings in the Clausthal District." By — Albrecht ... 25 "Economical Utilization of the Indigenous Fuels of Austria." By E. Donath 26 "Commercial Trend of the Producer-gas Power-plant in the United States." By R. H. Fernald............ 26 "Theory of Steam-accumulators and Regenerative Processes." By F.G. Gasche ............... 27 "Electricity and Compressed Air at the Anderlues Colliery." Anon. 28 "Investigations of Detonators and Electric Detonators." By Clarence Hall and Spencer P. Howell......... 28 "New Electric Mining Lamp." By D. B. Rushmore... ... 29 "Accidents in Connexion with Electric Appliance." Official 30 "New Legislation concerning Workmen's Wages in Austria." By K. Benndorf........... ... 31 "Winding-ropes and Engines, Working-places, Ventilation, and Explosives in French Collieries." Anon. ... 31 "Austrian Employers' Contribution in the Proposed Legislation for Miners' Insurance." By R. Marschner ... 33 "Mining in Prussia in 1912." Official...... ...... 34 "Russia's Mining Industry in 1911." By — Bartels ... 34 "Russia's Copper Industry in 1912." By — Bartels ... 34 "New Developments in the American Petroleum Industry." By B. Simmersbach .................. 35 "Abstract of U.S.A. Current Decisions on Mines and Mining, October,