There are three coal-cutters at work in the seam, only two of which work at any one time, the third machine being kept as a spare one in case of breakdown. HOUGHTON PIT. The chief feature of interest here is a Corliss valve-gear hauling-engine, situated on the surface, supplied with steam at a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch. This type of haulingengine is somewhat of an innovation, and has given capital results. The Waddle fan, 21 feet in diameter, produces 280,000 cubic feet of air per minute at a water-gauge of 15 inches, and 100 revolutions per minute. PHILADELPHIA ENGINE-WORKS. The whole of the scrap-iron from the various collieries is collected at the forge, where it is used again for new work. The forge is fitted with suitable cranes, and a 15 cwts, hammer (steam being supplied from a boiler placed over the heating-furnace), and is capable of turning out forgings up to 3 tons in weight. At the brass-foundry, the process of melting and moulding was shown, and also the method of preparing moulds from patterns. The pattern-store contains thousands of patterns of various kinds, for castings, weighing from a few ounces to several tons. The boiler-shop is fitted with drilling, shearing and punching machines, and a cold saw. A jigging-screen and coal-belt was seen in course of erection; and also a new boiler for a tank-locomotive. The smiths shop contains a tool-fettling and case-hardening furnace; and the work in progress included the manufacture of springs, pit-cages and chains. The general store is the distributing centre of materials to all the collieries. At the fitting, erecting and machinery shop, locomotives were seen in course of reconstruction, and a locomotive-tender, a steam-hoist, and a mechanical screening-plant were being erected. HERRINGTON PIT. Here are two high-speed Waddle fans, each 25 feet in diameter, and capable of producing 250,000 cubic feet of air per VOL. XXIV-1902-1903. 5 minute, with a water-gauge of 24 inches, at 100 revolutions per minute. The fans are coupled to a twin-drift, fitted with steel butterfly-doors. The special feature of the arrangement of these fans is that there are two separate fans and two separate engines to drive them, instead of the usual arrangement of a spare engine and only one fan. The work of erecting these fans has just been completed, and they are now running satisfactorily. LAMBTON SANITARY PIPE-WORKS. The process of pipe-making was traced from the dumpingground for fire-clay, to the crushing-rolls, elevators, and pipemachine; from the machine to the drying-sheds; thence to the kilns; and, lastly, the finished product was seen stored ready for market. The show-room contains samples of various specialties, and the more highly-finished products are stored therein. CHEMICAL LABORATORY. The apparatus for testing gas coal was inspected, including the process of taking the illuminating-power by means of a photometer. The laboratory is used for the testing of gas coal, for the analysis of water, oils, steel, etc., and for the investigation of all chemical and quasi-chemical matters connected with colliery work. Some interesting microscopic specimens were shown. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. The Humble and Dutiful Address of The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers Most Gracious Sovereign, The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (Incorporated by Royal Charter in 1876) beg leave humbly to approach Your Majesty's Throne on the Occasion of the August Ceremony of the Coronation of Your Most Gracious Majesty and of Our Most Gracious Queen Alexandra, and to tender Sincere and Heartfelt Congratulations on the Auspicious Event. We desire to present our Ardent and Sincere Wishes for Your Majesties' Health and Welfare. We also Fervently Pray that Your Majesties may wear with Glory and Happiness the Crown of this Kingdom and Empire, and long continue to Reign over a Happy. Prosperous and United People. Witness our Hands and Scal, the twenty-first day of June, 1902. SEAL. M. WALTON BROWN, Secretary. HOME OFFICE, WHITEHALL, SIR, 4th September, 1902. I am commanded by the King to convey to you hereby His Majesty's thanks for the Loyal and Dutiful Address of The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers on the occasion of Their Majesties' Coronation. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, The Secretary to The North of England A. AKERS DOUGLAS. Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. THE NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. GENERAL MEETING, TO CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE OF THE FORMATION OF THE INSTITUTE, SIR LINDSAY WOOD, BART., PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. The members and visitors were received by the President, Sir Lindsay Wood, Bart., who afterwards delivered the following address: ADDRESS. BY SIR LINDSAY WOOD, Bart. I beg to thank you for the honour that you have conferred upon me in electing me for the second period your President. It is at all times a great honour to preside over so important and influential a body of gentlemen as compose the members of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, but it is a still greater honour to occupy that post on so memorable an occasion as the present one, which is the fiftieth anniversary or Jubilee of the formation of this Institute. On an occasion such as this, I think it is my duty to review shortly the past history of the Institute, and to endeavour to shew whether or not, and to what extent, the objects of the founders have been carried out and whether the results they anticipated have been realized. For some time previous to 1851, considerable loss of life had been and was taking place in working the coal-mines of Great Britain; and it was with an universal desire to stop or reduce to a minimum this loss of life, that in 1835, a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed to enquire into the causes of the accidents which were taking place; and they reported that they regretted that the result of their enquiry had not enabled them to lay before the House any particular plan by which the accidents in question might be avoided with certainty; and consequently they made no decisive recommendation. In 1839 (resulting from a serious explosion at St. Hilda's colliery, South Shields), a Committee of South Shields gentlemen was appointed and sat for 3 years. They made a report of great value, and came to several conclusions. Among other matters they reported that with regard to safety-lamps: "No mere safety-lamp, however ingenious in its construction, is able to secure fiery mines from explosion." In 1845, Sir Henry de la Beche and Dr. Lyon Playfair were appointed by the Government to institute enquiry into the causes of accidents in mines and particularly as to inflammable gases. These gentlemen reported recommending the appointment of inspectors of mines, and the compulsory use of safety-lamps in all fiery mines. In 1849, a Committee of the House of Lords was appointed. They reported the evidence that they had taken, and drew attention to that part of it regarding the appointment of inspectors of mines, and improvements in safety-lamps and of ventilation generally. In the same year, Mr. Blackwell and Prof. Phillips were appointed to investigate and report on the ventilation of mines. They reported that they considered superior practical and scientific knowledge was required in some districts, and superior skill and unsleeping vigilance in the over-looker; which they thought would be promoted by the establishment of provincial mining schools, and by systematic inspections under the authority of Government. In 1850, an Act of Parliament was passed appointing inspectors of mines. In 1851, a Committee of the House of Commons, with Mr. Cayley as chairman, was appointed, and made various suggestions, not generally of a practical character, but they reported recommending the use of the steam-jet as being the most powerful and at the same time, the least expensive method of ventilating mines. Notwithstanding all these investigations and recommendations, the loss of life from accidents in mines did not decrease, |