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lasses (for electrically operating the outer dumper
and the chute) and the requisite switches.
From the two drums of the windless which
serves to tilt the dumper, wire ropes pass over
pulleys set in the rear end of the dumper, and
thence over equalizing pulleys. The drum shaft
is actuated by means of a 50-h. p. electric motor.
At the land-end of the dumper, a pair of pulleys,
running against the iron frame-work, guide its
motion while tipping. The weight of the other
dumper is balanced by two compensating weights
suspended in shafts behind the frame on either
side. To tip the cars through 45° takes about 30
seconds; the movement is checked within the
proper limits by a mechanism which works automatically.
The same engine room also contains two other
motors, one of 4.5 h. p., the other of 7 h. p. These
serve for handling the front and rear ends of the
chute, respectively, to adjust them according to
the height of the water-level and the position of
the lighter. The chute is sufficiently large to
hold an entire car load. At the front end ( which
tapers out somewhat) are two adjustable flaps, by
means of which the rate of flow of the coal can
be checked. There is also at the front end an
extension controlled by hand, by means of which
the length of the chute can, if desired, be increased
from 6 m. (19 feet IS inches) to 7.5 m. (24 feet
7 inches). Tbe rear end of the chute (which
projects into a recess in the dock-wall) is provided
with rollers running in a curved track fixed
to the masonry.
The operator's post for working the apparatus
at low water is on the ground level, near the
dumper and on its left. For working the chute
and the dumper in its high-water position, he takes
his stand in the engine room, at a window opening
out on the water, where the starting levers and
the requisite indicators are placed. There is also
in the engine room a switchboard, from which the
power is distributed to the motors and lights.
The tension of the direct current supplied from the
mains is 440 v. By the electric action, one such
dumper unloads about 15 carloads (10 to 20 tons
each) per hour; and about 20 carloads by the automatic
action. However, this is not the maximum
attainable.
USE OF MINING MACHINES IN
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
Great Britain and Ireland report a coal output
of 232,428,272 tons for the year 1904, but of that
amount only 6,744,044 tons were mined by cutting
machines, and in fully nine-tenths of the 3,000
collieries the entire product is hewn by human
hands. Many reasons are given for the non-use
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. :;:.
of machines, but it has been noted by more than
one journal that the use of mechanical cutters is
rapidly passing out of the experimental stage.
No better evidence to demonstrate this fact can
be found than the following table showing the
increase in the number of machines used and the
tonnage produced during the last two years:
Year. Machines used. Tons produced.
1902 483 4,161,202
1903 643 5,245,578
1904 755 6,744,044
Thus there has been an increase of over 56 per
cent, in the number of machines used, and an increase
of over 60 per cent, in the product. The
greater number of machines are used in the Yorkshire
and Lancashire districts, and a great future
is predicted for them in the Midlands. The South
Wales district, noted for its "smokeless" coal,
reports an output of 43,730,415 tons in 1904; but
there are only 9 machines in the Cardiff district.
and their product amounted to only 40,980 tons.
With regard to the power used, it may be noted
that machines operated by compressed air are the
more numerous, but those operated by electricity
are now gaining in popularity. Of the 755 machines
in use December 31, 1904, those operated
by compressed air numbered 485, and those operated
by electricity 270.
It is probable that machines may be operated
profitably in hundreds of collieries not now using
them, and American manufacturers should not
overlook such a virgin market. Only expert salesmen
should be employed, and they should understand
British business methods as well as their
own machines, and should be accompanied by expert
machinists to train the British operatives.
NEW CONSOLIDATION IN INDIANA.
Seven of the coal mining properties in Indiana.
producing the majority of the No. 4 coal mined in
the state, were taken over on the first of September
by the United Fourth Vein Coal Co., recently
incorporated in Indiana with a capitalization of
$1,000,000. With the acquirement of these properties,
the United Fourth Vein Co. will become
one of the largest Of the seven big coal combinations
in the state. The property taken over by
the new company includes the mine of the Black
Creek Semi-block Coal Co., two mines of the Island
Valley Coal Co., the Black Hawk Coal Co.'s mine,
and one each of the North Linton, the Antioch and
the L. T. Dickason Coal Co. These lines lie in
Green, Sullivan and May counties, and on the line
of the Southern Indiana railroad. One of the
principal stockholders in the new company is understood
to be L. T. Dickason of Chicago, formerly
vice-president of the Monon railroad.