Coal Cutting by Machinery in the United Kingdom

Abstract

THE complaint has frequently been made against mine owners in this country that they are not availing them selves of coal-cutting machinery to anything like the same extent as mine owners in the United States. The complaint is justifiable, inasmuch as any methods by which labour and capital can economise are now absolutely necessary. In his excellent monograph on coal cutting by machinery, Mr. Walker shows that the question is by no means new to this country. The history of the coal cutter in Great Britain is an ancient one. Indeed, the earliest proposal to substitute the labour of a machine for that of a collier appears to have been made by Michael Menzies, of Newcastle-on-Tyne towards the end of the eighteenth century. The historical portion of the work shows the evolution of mechanical coal cutting in Great Britain since that date. Descriptions are given of every machine that has been put to practical use, as well as detailed particulars of those that are now in successful operation. The conclusions drawn by the author from his elaborate investigations are that the whole of the coal of Great Britain must be cut by machines, or the industry will find itself in much the same condition as the corn-growing industry, swamped by American production. The pillar and stall method of mining should be replaced by the long wall method, and coal-cutting machines would render blasting unnecessary. The most serious problem to be dealt with is that of cutting coal under a weak roof. The difficulties are perhaps hardly sufficiently emphasised by the author. In a tender coal the roof is crushed down on the machines, or supports have to be set near the faces. These get in the way of a machine. Moreover, machines are so noisy when at work that it is impossible to hear the preliminary warning sounds that the roof generally gives before it breaks down. Eventually, no doubt, it will be ascertained which machine can best be adapted to these conditions, or how the conditions can be modified to suit the machine that promises best.

Coal Cutting by Machinery in the United Kingdom.

By Sydney F. Walker. Pp. 144. (London: The Colliery Guardian Co., Ltd., 1902.)