| Date of change | Advance | Reduction |
| taking effect | per cent. | per cent. |
| February 1872 | 20 | — |
| July 1872 | 15 | — |
| February 1873 | 15 | — |
| April 1874 | — | 10 |
| November 1874 | — | 9 |
| April 1875 | — | 5 |
| February 1876 | — | 7 |
| September 1876 | — | 6 |
| April 1877 | — | 7½ |
| May 1879 | — | 8¾ |
| July 1879 | — | 1¼ |
| December 1880 | 2½ | — |
| April 1882 | 3¾ | — |
| August 1882 | — | 1¼ |
| November 1882 | 1¼ | — |
| February 1883 | 1¼ | — |
| August 1884 | — | 1¼ |
| May 1885 | — | 1¼ |
| May 1886 | — | 1¼ |
| February 1888 | 1¼ | — |
| May 1888 | — | 1¼ |
| August 1888 | — | 1¼ |
| November 1888 | 1¼ | — |
| February 1889 | 1¼ | — |
| August 1889 | 10 | — |
| December 1889 | 10 | — |
| March 3-10, 1890 | 5 | — |
| December 29, 1890 | 5 | — |
| January 5, 1891 | — | — |
| June 1, 1892 | — | 10 |
| March 1893 | — | 5 |
| 1October 16, 1893 | 5 | — |
| May 6-13, 1895 | — | 7½ |
| October 7-14, 1895 | — | 2½ |
| August 14-21, 1897 | 2½ | — |
| 2May 16-23, 1898 | 2½ | — |
| May 16-23, 1898 | 2½ | — |
| Oct. 31-Nov. 7, 1898 | 2½ | — |
| 3April 17-24, 1899 | 2½ | — |
| July 24-31, 1899 | 2½ | — |
| November 6-13, 1899 | 3¾ | — |
| February 12-19, 1900 | 5 | — |
| May 14-21, 1900 | 7½ | — |
| August 13-20, 1900 | 10 | — |
| November 12-19, 1900 | 10 | — |
| February 11-18, 1901 | — | 1¼ |
| May 13-20, 1901 | — | 11¼ |
| August 12-19, 1901 | — | 7½ |
| November 12-19, 1901 | — | 5 |
| February 17-24, 1902 | — | 1¼ |
| May 12-19, 1902 | — | 2½ |
| August 11-18, 1902 | — | 2½ |
| February 9-16, 1903 | 1¼ | — |
| May 11-18, 1903 | — | 1¼ |
| August 10-17, 1903 | — | 1¼ |
| February 8-15, 1904 | — | 1¼ |
| May 16-23, 1904 | — | 2½ |
| November 7-14, 1904 | — | 1¼ |
| February 5-12, 1906 | 1¼ | — |
| August 6-13, 1906 | 2½ | — |
| November 12-19, 1906 | 1¼ | — |
1 Originally given as a temporary advance for six pays, afterwards converted into an ordinary advance.
2 Originally given for six pays, afterwards continued for further period of six pays, and again extended until pays ending 15th and 22nd April 1899; it was then continued as an ordinary advance.
3 Of this advance one and a quarter per cent. was given for seven pays, and afterwards merged in the ordinary percentage.
APPENDIX III
Table showing the explosions and inundations, with the date and number of lives lost, since the beginning of 1869, in Durham, brought down to the end of 1906, with two statements on the dust theory by Mr J. Forman.
| Lives lost | |
| 1869—May 25, Monkwearmouth | 7 |
| 1871—October 25, Seaham | 30 |
| 1878—July 6, Craghead exploded | 4 |
| 1880—September 8, Seaham Colliery exploded | 168 |
| 1882—February 16, Trimdon Colliery exploded | 74 |
| 1882—April 18, Tudhoe exploded | 36 |
| 1882—April 13, West Stanley exploded | 13 |
| 1885—March 2, Usworth exploded | 41 |
| 1885—June 3, Houghton-le-Spring | 12 |
| 1885—December 2, Elemore | 28 |
| 1889—November 2, Hebburn | 6 |
| 1895—December 13, Eppleton | 3 |
| 1896—April 13, Brancepeth A Pit | 20 |
| 1897—May 6, East Hetton, inundation | 10 |
| 1899—August 15, Brandon C Pit | 6 |
| 1902—May 20, Deaf Hill | 1 |
| 1903—November 16, Sacriston, inundation | 3 |
| 1906—October 14, Wingate, explosion | 24 |
| 1906—December 17, Urpeth Busty, explosion | 4 |
A THEORY SHOWING HOW COAL DUST IS IGNITED AND EXPLODED IN A COAL MINE, MORE ESPECIALLY ON IN-TAKE AIR ROADS
In the first place, there must be a considerable quantity of very fine and dry coal dust in the immediate proximity of a shot when fired; and if the shot is a strong one the concussion will be very great.
This force, acting on the air, throws the finest particles of coal dust into the circulating current, in a finely divided state, with orbid motion, thereby causing each particle of coal dust to be surrounded with air, and these particles of dust in this condition coming in contact with the flame of a shot, are easily ignited.
At the moment of ignition the temperature of the particles of dust is low, but as the ignition extends to other particles, and they become ignited in quantity, the temperature rises, so that the motion of the heated particles becomes more rapid by expanding and compressing the air, until their velocity is so great that the temperature of the burning dust is raised to the temperature of gas flame, exploding the coal dust in its course.
At this high temperature, the expansion of the air will develop great force, which acting on the dust at rest, will whirl it into the air current, and this will be continued so long as there is a sufficient quantity of coal dust and air to feed the flame.
John Forman.
To J. Wilson, Esq.,
Secretary to the Royal Commission on
Explosions from Coal Dust in Mines.
Dear Sir,—In October 1871 an explosion occurred at Seaham Colliery, and my attention was called to it; and, after considering all the circumstances of the case, I eventually came to the conclusion that the shot fired by the two Simpsons ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.
In September 1880 another explosion took place at Seaham Colliery. I went down the pit in the evening of the day of the explosion with Mr Stratton (the manager) and other Mining Engineers, and I remained at Seaham Colliery for 12 months, until the last body was found, and was, during that time, down the pit almost every day as an explorer. I also attended the inquest and gave evidence. I was satisfied from what I saw that the shot fired by Simpson and Brown ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.
In February 1882 an explosion occurred at Trimdon Grange Colliery. I went down the pit and attended the inquest, and from what I saw and heard I concluded that the explosion was caused by a flushed kitty or straw at Maitland's shot firing a small quantity of fire-damp, which ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.
In April 1882 an explosion occurred at West Stanley Colliery. I attended the inquest, and from what I could learn the shot fired by the two men (Douglas and Hutchinson) ignited a small portion of fire-damp, which fired the coal dust, and brought on an explosion.
In March 1885 an explosion happened at Usworth Colliery. I attended the inquest, and came to an opinion that the shot fired by the two men, named Brown, ignited the coal dust, which produced an explosion.
In December 1886 an explosion occurred at Elemore Colliery. I went down the pit and attended the inquest. I was satisfied, in my mind, that the shot fired by the three men (Johnson, Appleby and Luke) ignited the coal dust, thereby causing the explosion.—Yours, etc.
John Forman.
December 1886.
INDEX
- A
- Accountants, 128, 164, 314
- Aftermath of 1892 strike, 245
- Agents' districts, 23-24
- Alteration of the "First Caller,"59, 337
- Amicability in disputes, 340
- Arbitration, Deputies', 170
- — earliest, 33
- — first general, 85, 103
- — second, 109
- — third, 113
- — fourth, 118
- — owners refuse, 152
- — working hours, 169
- Armstrong, W., 103, 109
- Attempts to form Union, 6
- Average, county, 162
- — theoretical and real, 147
- Award, 1879, pro tem., 157
- — J. R. Lyn's, 220
- Awards, Lord Davey's, 1895, 267-269
- Award, Lord Davey's, 1902, 319
- B
- Bank Holiday, 318
- Banking account, 18
- Benefits, reduction of, 199
- Blagdon, Rev. M., 26
- Bond, yearly, 17, 47, 49
- Boys' wages, 309, 324
- Broken price agreement, 325
- Brown, W., 8, 35
- Building, the, 16
- Bunning, T. W., 47
- Burt, T., 8, 20, 103, 182
- C
- Cairns, A., 23, 26, 32
- "Caller, First," 59, 337
- Candymen, 96
- Cann, T. H., appointed treasurer, 276
- Care for life, 341
- Changes, 337
- Checkweighmen, 73, 338
- Clerk, first appointed, 105
- Coal-drawing agreement, 323
- Coal Owners' Association formed, 46
- Coal Tax, 310
- Commission, Royal, 86
- Committee, 1879, 160
- Compensation Act 1897, 291
- Conciliation Board, 263
- — first members of, 266
- — renewed, 294, 331
- Co-operative colliery, 90, 110
- — Committee, 110
- County Council, 209
- Crake, W., 7, 13
- Crawford, W., 6, 9, 23, 26, 31, 33, 37, 103, 109
- — attack on, 80
- — censure on, 84
- — candidature of, 88
- — death of, 215
- D
- Dale, D., Sir, 103, 109, 157
- Dark Days, 197
- Deputies' basis wage fixed, 301
- — difference as to, 120
- — hours, 1870, 121
- — wage, 1870, 121
- — wage, 173
- Derby, Lord, 160
- Desire for better houses, 343
- E
- Educational benefit of Union, 340
- Emigration, 131, 165
- Employers' Liability Act, 172
- Entrance fee, first, 18, 121
- Equality, 339
- Evictions, Wheatley Hill, 96
- Ex-Committee condemned, 145
- — expelled, 114
- — rules, 114
- F
- Federation Board formed, 140
- — condemned, 145
- — first members of the, 141
- Federation, Miners',
- — Durham miners and the, 251, 256
- — expulsion from the, 259
- — refuses Durham, 277
- Fillers' agreement, 333
- Firemen's week-end shifts, 316
- Five days per week, 183
- Forman, J., 36, 38, 103, 105, 119
- — death of, 302
- Forsters', W. E., award, 109
- Fowler, J., 61
- Franchise Association, 88
- — extension of, 191
- G
- Gala, first, 31-34
- — first on the race-course, 59
- Galbraith, S., appointed, 305
- Golightly, W., 105
- Gordon, W., 114, 118
- Graham, Coroner, 298
- Gurney's, Russell, award, 103
- Guthrie, R., 207
- H
- Hall, the new, 82, 118
- Hand putters' basis wage, 324
- Heath, Mr, 337
- Hewers' datal wage, 306
- Homes, Aged Miners', 297
- Hopwood's, C. H., award, 113
- Hours arbitration, 132
- Hours', arrangement, ten, 214, 217
- — eight, 199
- — ballot on, 248
- — second ballot on, 321
- — of boys, 32, 48, 74, 77, 83
- Houses and house rent, 307
- Housing condition, 104, 110
- House, W., appointed to Joint Committee, 292
- — appointed President, 305
- I
- Imprisonment of Messrs Cann, Jones, and Forbes, 244
- Increased knowledge of the miners, 343
- Industrial Remuneration Conference, 190
- Isaacs, Mr, 336
- J
- Johnson, J., appointed treasurer, 217
- — fin. secretary, 276
- Johnson, Mr, and Gateshead, 328
- Joint Committee, formation of, 66
- — first meeting, 69
- — suspended, 164, 329
- Jones, L., 83, 103, 109, 119, 196
- Judge, a, puzzled, 30
- L
- Labourers' basis wage, 306
- Labour representation, 194, 326
- Leaders, the first, 37
- Lords, House of, 192
- M
- Macdonald, A., 17
- — death of, 180
- Meynell, Mr E., 112, 335
- — award, 134
- Miners' demand for trained miners, 90
- — International Congress, formed, 223
- — National Conference, 25, 124
- — Act 1861, 1
- — Act 1871, 71
- — Act 1872, 71, 72
- N
- Negotiations of 1890, 211
- Notices given to enforce a reduction, 101
- — again given by owners, 107
- O
- O'Connor, Judge, 197, 335
- Officers, first, 14
- Opposition, 41, 42, 43, 44
- P
- Patterson, W. H., 8, 13, 26, 39, 113
- — appointed corres. secretary, 216
- — death of, 273
- Patterson's, Mr, statue, 319
- Political power, 342
- Position of the Association, 136
- President, first, 19
- President, permanent, 105
- Putters' hours at datal work, 316
- — short shift, stone, 324
- R
- Ramsey, T., 8, 25, 80
- Reduction, first, 89, 91
- — second, 98
- — third, 105
- — fourth, 111
- — fifth, 115
- — of bankmen, 104
- — of 1879, 141
- Reductions, private, 148
- Relief Fund, first, 129
- — second, 187
- Rent paying in 1892, 247
- Resolutions, first gala, 61
- Restriction of output, 167
- Rhymer, E., 6, 84
- Richardson, J., 7, 11
- Rocking Strike, 2
- S
- Salary of first treasurer, 25
- Sanderson, R. B., 68, 112
- Screenmen's basis wage, 306
- Seaham strike, 55
- Shaw Lefevre's award, 119
- Simpson, C., 114
- Sliding Scale, first, 124
- — second, 163
- — third, 174
- — fourth, 185
- — abolished, 202
- — violation of, 167
- Smart money, 309
- Stobart, W., 46
- Strike at Silksworth, 223
- — at Wheatley Hill, 95
- — of 1874, 93
- — of 1879, 154
- — of 1892, 231
- Strikes illegal, 24
- Surface firemen's wages, 325
- T
- Taylor, Hugh, 47, 63
- — J. W., 328
- Thornley meeting, 13
- Timber leaders' hours, 317
- Trotter, L., 197
- Trustees, first, 14
- W
- Wage Board, first mention of, 235, 251, 254
- Wages, advance in, 48, 50, 63, 71, 76
- Wages in 1898-99, 288, 293
- Washington strike, 281
- Water leaders' hours, 317
- Wearmouth strike, 3
- Westcott, Bishop, 241, 262, 299
- — death of, 313
- Wheatley Hill inundation, 28
- — "Putt Pay,"188
- Wilkinson, N., 8, 14, 38, 113, 119, 182
- Wilson, J., 114, 118, 182, 192
- — appointed fin. secretary, 217
- — appointed corres. secretary, 276
- Wood, Lindsay, Mr, 68, 83, 157, 207
J. H. VEITCH AND SONS
DURHAM