Considerable time was spent in the early part of the year in generally revising the rules and suiting them to the circumstances of the time. They have been issued in the improved form, and will no doubt be appreciated by the members. The Council sincerely congratulate you upon carrying the scheme of federating the members as a body, instead of continuing the unsatisfactory arrangement of having only about one-third of your number members of the Federated Institution of Mining Engineers. This has necessitated an increase of the annual subscription from one guinea to one and a half guineas, but the advantages gained far more than compensate. Only those, and they have been far too few, who have attended some or all of the Federation meetings which have been held at Sheffield, London, Edinburgh, Nottingham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne, can fully understand the benefits, instruction, and pleasure to be derived from the united gatherings of the several institutes, and the visits to the important works and mines and places of interest which have been thrown open in each district for inspection. The Federated Institution will hold its summer meeting in Birmingham, and it behoves the members of this Institute, upon whom the responsibility will fall, to give it a right loyal welcome, and a reception equal, if not superior, to that of the other places named. At the annual meeting, the President, in his inaugural address, gave an excellent résumé of the mechanical engineering operations of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commissioners, which was so highly thought of that the Commission, with the permission of the Council, published it for circulation amongst its members. The President, in the same address, pointed out, and practically illustrated, the importance of condensation as applied to winding engines. Mr. H. W. Hughes, at the August meeting, read a very exhaustive and practical paper upon "Safety-Lamps," showing that recent experience, in actual working, had exposed defects that up to this time had not received attention. Other communications had been made by Mr. Wallis, upon "Mechanical Telephones, and Electric Lighting and Transmission of Power," and by Mr. Summerskill, upon "An Automatic Fire Alarm and Heat Indicator." Instead of having papers read at the two last meetings of the year, the President kindly conducted the members over, and fully explained the plants at, the Birmingham Central Tramways Company's electrical charging station and the cable tram depôt. Your thanks have been duly and formally tendered to the Tramway Company for the opportunities and facilities. Your hearty thanks are again due and hereby tendered to the authorities of Mason College for the accommodation they have provided. In conclusion, the Council would strongly urge the importance of individual effort in furthering the interests of the Institute, by reading papers, securing new and qualified members, and attending the meetings as often as possible. DR. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE AND EAST WORCESTERSHIRE INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS. TREASURER'S ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 1890. Secretary's and Reporter's fees ... ... ... ... Post Cards, Wrappers, and Stamps for Letters, Circulars, ... Telegrams, Porterage, etc. ... Shipway's for Printing Circulars, etc. ... Waterlow & Co. for Lithos for Transactions ... ... ... This is exclusive of considerably more than £100 worth of property, LIABILITIES. ASSETS. £ s. d. 21 0 0 ... ... By Cash at Bankers... ... £371 3 8 for which no credit is taken. Examined and found correct, 19th February, 1891. It was proposed by the PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. WHITEHOUSE and unanimously resolved-"That the Report, Treasurer's Accounts, and Balance Sheet be adopted." ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The SECRETARY having read the report of the scrutineers of the voting for a President and officers for the current year, the following elections were unanimously approved : : In vacating the chair, the retiring PRESIDENT (Mr. Henry Lea) said :-The year during which I have been President of this Institute-an honour which was conferred upon me by you, and which I very much appreciated-to-day comes to an end. And in looking back upon it I cannot do otherwise than see that my shortcomings have been numerous enough, and that there are many things which I could wish to have done for the benefit of the Institute which have not been done; but, at the same time, I hope you will accept my assurance that I have done my best for it. As we have a good deal before us at this meeting I shall not occupy your time with many remarks, but shall conclude now by conducting to the chair the new President (Mr. John Williamson), whom, I am sure, we shall all welcome most heartily. The following gentlemen, who had been duly nominated, were elected Ordinary Members of the Institute : Mr. Robert Twigg, M.E., Hednesford. Mr. H. G. Graves, Assoc. R.S.M., London. Mr. John Yates, M.E., London. Mr. Percy G. Poole, F.R.G.S., M.E., Klerksdorp, South Africa. Mr. Henry Dennis, A.M. Inst. C.E., Ruabon. Mr. David James, M.E., Ruabon. Mr. Stephen H. Terry, Hednesford. Mr. W. H. Greenwood, Birmingham. Mr. E. J. Bailey, Birmingham. Mr. WILLIAMSON then took the chair, and delivered his inaugural address as follows: PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. BY MR. JOHN WILLIAMSON. Gentlemen,—You have conferred on me a great honour by electing me President of this Institute, for which I beg sincerely to thank you. I confess I feel some diffidence in undertaking such an important office, and I feel great trepidation in following those who have so ably presided in the past. I will, however, do my best, and use my best endeavours and the best of my abilities to fulfil the duties of the office to which I have been elected. In addressing you I feel that I shall address many amongst you of large and varied experience in connection with the working of coal and other mines. I shall, under the circumstances, endeavour to briefly touch upon subjects connected with mining, and some of those which were contemplated for study and discussion at the formation of this Institute. In an address on such occasions as this there is no time to enter into details of the subjects within my reach to-day, but I am afraid I shall have trespassed on two or three subjects, and must ask for your indulgence. Many of us are aware of the great improvements which have taken place in mining since the formation of this Institute, and I can imagine there are few members who have not been largely benefited by the works of the Institute. Valuable papers have been read from time to time on various subjects in connection with mining, and such work has largely contributed to the improvements in mining within recent years. At the present time the facilities for getting mining knowledge are greater than ever. The federating of the mining institutes throughout the country and the concentration of mining knowledge will greatly assist those who are inclined to avail themselves of such provisions. One of the great changes in the working of mines is the apparent safety to the workmen. This alone is a sufficient proof of the usefulness and humanism of the various mining institutes. Mining now, as compared with mining formerly, is safer and more healthy, and you may depend upon it, if you provide for safety in the mines, you also provide for the economical working of the mines. It is a fact that the duties of the mining engineer are as different as possible from what they were formerly. The different subjects, scientific and otherwise, which are so essential for study in connection with mining are more numerous. There are few professions combining so many different sciences as that of colliery management, and if a colliery has to be properly managed, it is absolutely necessary for the manager to possess a working knowledge of the principal subjects which has to guide him in his everyday work. Formerly the colliery managers (and clever men, too) had to content themselves with the rudiments of mining. A successful manager now must possess a general knowledge of geology, sinking, winning and working of mines, ventilation, mechanics as applied to mining, and VOL II.-1890-91. P chemistry as applied to mining, and many more subjects. To attain such knowledge as this requires properly trained minds. There are numerous colleges and schools of mines in the country where much valuable knowledge on mining may be learnt, and there are valuable works treating on mining, but it is well known that theory itself will not enable a manager to properly work a mine. The art of mining must be practically learnt in and about the mine. A practical knowledge of mining cannot possibly be got in the college or office; it must be got by daily and hourly inspection of the mine, and occasional visits to the mine will not qualify a person and give him the requisite knowledge to enable him to safely and economically manage a colliery." A mining engineer certainly ought to possess some knowledge of geology (I presume there are few mining engineers who neglect this now), as the rule of thumb work of fixing shafts on unproved ground will not do at the present day. Mining speculations are to a great extent based upon geological reports; besides, a knowledge of geology is necessary for the proper exploration of the mines, and it will assist in dealing with faults and the different strata. SINKING OF SHAFTS.—A great many of the difficulties which were formerly connected with this branch of mining have disappeared. The numerous and valuable inventions and appliances, which are within the reach of the mining engineer, have made sinking with the practical engineer comparatively easy and less expensive. The gin for sinking purposes has had to give way to the modern steam engine, and the old-fashioned pumping arrangements have been replaced by the modern pump, pulsometer, and other excellent appliances. The ventilation of sinking shafts is much simplified and more efficient. By the use of small fans the air can be forced down pipes or boxes so as to continually keep the shaft bottom free from powder smoke, etc., or compressed air in small quantities is very effective in shafts. Where inflammable gas is likely to be met with, the use of the electric (incandescent) light hung from 10 to 20 yards above the shaft bottom will be found of great service; indeed, such a light under any circumstances is worth so much per yard in sinking. At the present time we may safely say there is no limit to the depth of mining, large shafts, large roads, viz., intakes and returns, with efficient ventilating appliances, and, if necessary, refrigerators will remove many of the difficulties which may naturally arise and be expected to arise in working at greater depths. In connection with the working of a colliery with safety and efficiency there are several primary requisites to be secured, and the most important of these are :— 1st, good roomy shafts; 2nd, the very best appliances for ventilation; 3rd, the best and most suitable mechanical appliances; 4th, the selection of practical, intelligent, and disciplined officials. Some of the crucial points in connection with mining have to be dealt with after the shafts have reached the required depths; practical engineering will at this point have to be applied; the mining engineer will have to find the structure and thickness of the coal to be worked, and the direction of the end or face of the coal, together with the angle the seam is lying at; and it will be necessary to prove the nature of the roof and floor or bottom of the seam. |