The CHAIRMAN (Mr. J. G. Weeks), in moving the adoption of the report of the Finance Committee, said it was satisfactory to know that there was a considerable credit-balance. The alterations to the Lecture-theatre would cost about £1,000, and when these were completed he thought that the comfort and convenience of the members would be materially increased. The architect had promised that the alterations should be completed in time for the Jubilee Meeting in September next.

Mr. THOMAS DOUGLAS seconded the resolution, which was unanimously agreed to.

REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COUNCIL OF THE
INSTITUTION OF MINING ENGINEERS.

Mr. THOMAS DOUGLAS moved, and Mr. W. C. BLACKETT seconded a resolution, that the following gentlemen be elected as the representatives of the Institute on the Council of The Institution of Mining Engineers for the year 1902-1903:

Mr. WILLIAM ARMSTRONG.
Mr. JOHN BATEY.
Sir LOWTHIAN BELL, Bart.
Mr. T. W. BENSON.
Mr. BENNETT H. BROUGH.
Mr. A. G. CHARLETON.
Mr. JOHN DAGLISH.
Sir DAVID DALE, Bart.

Mr. T. E. FORSTER.
Mr. WILLIAM GALLOWAY.
Mr. JOHN GERRARD.
Mr. REGINALD GUTHRIE.
Mr. PHILIP KIRKUP.
Mr. C. C. LEACH.
Prof. HENRY LOUIS.
Mr. GEORGE MAY.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. JOHN MORISON.
Mr. M. W. PARRINGTON.
Prof. R. A. S. REDMAYNE.
Mr. A. R. SAWYER.
Mr. J. B. SIMPSON.
Mr. JOHN G. WEEKS.
Sir LINDSAY WOOD, Bart.
Mr. W. O. WOOD.

The following gentlemen were elected, having been previously nominated:

MEMBERS

MR. ARTHUR ANDREWS, Electrical Engineer, 20, Carlyon Street, Sunderland. MR. JOHN FRANK BLEDSOE, Mining Engineer, 309-310, Washington Block, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

MR. THOMAS WILLIAM DAVIES, Mining Engineer, Vereeniging Estates, Vereeniging, Transvaal.

MR. GEORGE ELTRINGHAM, Colliery Manager, Eltringham Colliery, Ovinghamupon-Tyne, Northumberland.

MR. ANTONIO GASCON Y MIRAMON, Mining Prospector, etc., 36, Serrano,

Madrid, Spain.

MR. GUSTAVE GILLMAN, Civil Engineer, Aguilas, Provincia de Murcia, Spain.

MR. JOHN DAMPIER GREEN, Engineer, P.O. Box 340, Johannesburg, Transvaal. MR. REGINALD THOMAS HOOPER, Mining Engineer, Derwent Villa, St. Agnes,

Cornwall.

MR. JOHN WILLIAM JAMIESON, Mining Engineer, Medomsley, R.S.O., County Durham.

PROF. AUGUSTE RATEAU, Ingénieur au Corps des Mines, 105, Quai d'Orsay, Paris, France.

MR. WARDLE ASQUITH SWALLOW, Mining Engineer, Tanfield Lea Colliery, Tantobie, R.S.O., County Durham.

MR. EARLE W. JENKS TREVOR, Mining Engineer, 78, Palace Chambers, 9, Bridge Street, Westminster, London, S. W.

MR. ROBERT TURNBULL, Mechanical Engineer, Usworth Colliery, Washington, R.S.O., County Durham.

MR. MICHAEL WATSON, Mechanical Engineer, 4, St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

MR. GRIFFITH JOHN WILLIAMS, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Bangor, North Wales.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

MR. FREDERIC BARRIE JACK, 32, Grainger Street West, Newcastle-uponTyne.

MR. THOMAS LAMBERT, Town-hall Buildings, Gateshead-upon-Tyne.

MR. EDWARD ARTHUR LANGSLOW-COCK, 22, Elsham Road, Kensington, London, W.

ASSOCIATES

MR. ROBERT BLAIR, Mining Surveyor, 6, Hamilton Terrace, Whitehaven, Cumberland.

MR. JOHN CUMMINGS, Colliery Under-manager, Rowlands Gill Colliery, New

castle-upon-Tyne.

MR. THOMAS FORD, Overman, Washington, R.S.O., Co. Durham.

MR. JOSEPH CRESSWALL ROSCAMP, Colliery Manager's Assistant, Ravensworth Colliery, Low Fell, Gateshead-upon-Tyne.

MR. THOMAS CARLTON STOBART, Under-manager, Ushaw Moor Colliery, County Durham.

MR. HERBERT WILLIAM TAYLOR, Under-manager, Rectory Gates, Washington Village, County Durham.

STUDENTS

MR. HAROLD PERCY BELL, Mining Student, Clyvedon, Cleadon, Sunderland.
MR GEORGE COOK, Mining Student, Binchester Hall, Bishop Auckland.
MR. BENJAMIN STARKS FIELD. Mining Engineering Apprentice, 8, Esplanade,
Whitley, R.S.O., Northumberland.

MR. ROBERT NORMAN FOWLER, Surveyor. Usworth Villa, Great Usworth,
Washington, R.S.O., County Durham.

MR. JOHN NORMAN HUMBLE, Mining Student, West Pelton House, Beamish, R.S.O., County Durham.

MR. GEORGE ADAMSON STRONG, Mining Student, Byron House, Ouston Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

MR. WILLIAM WILSON, Mining Student, Usworth Colliery, Washington, R.S.O., County Durham.

VOL. XXIV-1902-1909.

THE GASES ENCLOSED IN COAL.*

BY DR. BROOCKMANN.†

The first work on this subject was done by Prof. Ernst von Meyer in 1870, his method being as follows:

Pieces of coal of the size of a nut were boiled in a flask, filled with boiling (air-free) water, and closed with an indiarubberstopper, through which a glass tube led the escaping gases, which In order to obtain the gas in were collected over boiling water. the pure state, it is necessary to keep the water boiling gently. When vigorous ebullition takes place, air diffuses into the flask, however good the indiarubber-stopper may be.

Prof. E. von Meyer obtained from British and Westphalian coals, heated to 100° Cent., from 4 to 238 cubic centimetres of gas per 100 grammes of coal. The gases were of variable composition: all contained nitrogen, oxygen, carbonic acid and marshgas and coals from Zwickau gave off higher hydrocarbons in addition to the above-named gases.

In 1875, Mr. W. J. Thomas§ extracted the gases by heating to 100° Cent. and afterwards exhausting the gases by means of a Sprengel air-pump. He thus obtained from 30 to 600 cubic centimetres of gas per 100 grammes of dry South Wales coal, the gas having the same composition as that given by Prof. E. vou Meyer. Some cannel coals and jet, however, gave only carbonic acid and nitrogen, others carbonic acid, nitrogen, marsh-gas and higher hydro-carbons. Mr. Thomas used indiarubber-tubes for connecting his apparatus.

"Ueber die in Steinkohlen eingeschlossenen Gase," Gluckauf, 1899, vol. XXXV., pages 269 to 274.

Translated and somewhat condensed by Prof. Henry Louis.

↑ Journal für Praktische Chemie, new series, vol. iv., page 42; and vol. v., pages 144 and 407.

§ Journal of the Chemical Society, 1876, vol. xxx., page 144.