COAL - Clpdigital.org

14 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
INTERESTING PLANT FOR DEMONSTRATING
MINING METHODS AT BIRMINGHAM
UNIVERSITY.
'I he scientific department of the new and im-
porta'nt Birmingham University has in its power
station and in its machinery and metallurgical
buildings and plants its illustrations of mining-
methods in the form of shafts, tunneling and
mining ventilation systems, an equipment which
is perhaps as complete as that of the technical
department of any university in the world, writes
Consul Halstead of Birmingham, Eng. Certainly
those who were responsible for its installation had
seen and studied the outfits of the scientific departments
of the greatest universities of America
and the continent of Europe and had reasonably
ample means to carry out any plans they thought
necessary. My attention was called to the fact
that a plant of this kind has an availability for
service useful to a community in a way additional
to the primary purposes of affording facilities for
students, bv the offer which the professor of engineering
at Ihe university. Mr. F. W. Burstall,
was able to make to his colleagues at a meeting
of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, upon
which occasion he made the speech of the evening.
The professor was able to offer his fellow-engineers
tne plant of the university power station
ior certain experimental testing work. At the
meeting there had been a discussion on the advantages
and disadvantages of steam jackets, and regarding
the question of valve leakage in steam
engines, and the professor having dealt with these
two subjects from his standpoint, and having
recognized in fitting terms the merit and laborious
character of the work that had been done b.v the
research committee of the institute, expressed the
opinion that further engine-valve experiments
should be carried out to ascertain particularly the
qualities for such service of the various metals.
rie said there was ample opportunity for complete
experiments with steam engines at ihe Birmingham
University power station, and then told his
colleagues he would be pleased to place the plant
at the disposal of the research committee. If his
offer were accepted it would not only be using the
Iilant for useful scientific purposes, but as the
tests would probably not be hedged with any precautions
for secrecy, tlie most interested and energetic
of the students would nol only have the
opportunity of witnessing some of them, but would
also be able to get in touch with leading engineers
and cull an inspiration for good work.
Some manufacturers of machinery, engines, etc.,
took advantage of the advertising value of having
their articles used by coming engineers and in a
position where they could be seen by prospective
buyers, and presented the university with good
examples of their best work.
j*t PERTINENT PARAGRAPHS. ?•
The final steps in the acquisition of Coxe Bros.
& Co. by the Lehigh Valley railroad were accom­
plished November 1. A new board of directors,
composed of K. B. Thomas, T. T. Stotesbury, J. A.
Middleton, J. M. Schapperkotter and William H.
Sayre, was elected for the-Coxe corporation, and
the board immediately elected E. B. Thomas, president
of the Lehigh, to be president of the coal
company. New directors were also elected for
the Delaware, Susquehanna & Schuylkill railroad,
which tne Coxe company controlled, as follows:
E. B. Thomas, E. T. Stotesbury. J. A. Middleton,
J. M. Schapperkotter, William H. Sayre, W. G.
Alderson and E. A. Albright.
Consul-General Guenther, of Frankfort, Germany,
reports that the Russian minister of public communications
has issued an order permitting the
state railroads to import foreign coal. The Moscow-Kasan
railroad has already ordered about 130,-
000 tons of English coal. This new demand may
cause an advance in the price of English coal,
which supplies the coal stations at the ports of
South America, Australia. Asia, Africa and the
Mediterranean. Already Great Britain has put
an export duty on coal shipped from her home
ports to protect her industries, for which reason
it will have to be increased before many years have
passed.
The New Pittsburgh Coal Co.. Columbus, O., on
November 10 announced the following prices to
the trade, effective at once, for genuine thick-vein
Hocking coal. f. o. 1). mines per ton of 2,000
pounds: Domestic lump, $1.75; three-quarter-inch
screened lump, $1.65; run-of-mine. $1.50; domestic
nut. $1.25: pea, $1.00; nut, pea and slack, $1.00;
coarse slack, 75c. Coal in box cars, 10 cents per
ton additional.
Herman Justi, commissioner of the Illinois Coal
Operators' Association, has written Ohio operators,
asking them to be present at the conference
to be held in Chicago on November 22, and assures
them that there is no intention of changing the
status of the competitive district and that there
will be no discussion of the wage question. A
large proportion of Ohio interests will not be represented.
Winter Tourist Tickets to Colorado, California,
Mexico and Florida.
and points West and South now sold at special
low fares via Pennsylvania Lines. Information
about routes, stop-overs and travel conveniences
freely given upon request addressed to nearest
Pennsylvania Lines ticket agent, or J. K. Dillon,
District Passenger Agent, 515 Park building, Pittsburgh,
Pa.