Durham Mining Museum - Management Certificates

1900

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES.

The Candidate must present himself punctually at the appointed hour.

It is impossible to fix beforehand the length of time which the examination may occupy, but it is not probable that his attendance will be required for more than two days.

The subjects fixed for examination are the following :–

FOR FIRST CLASS CERTIFICATES.

Ordinary Education. — Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

Engineering. — General principles, including pumping, &c.

Practical Mining. — Mode of sinking, working, timbering, bratticing and ventilation.

The nature and properties of Gases.

To know the duties of a Manager as described in the Mines Act.

FOR SECOND CLASS CERTIFICATES.

The same subjects as above, so far as they are suitable for practical working miners.

The following qualifications must be possessed by Candidates for examination for First and Second Class Certificates of competency as Managers or Under-Managers, under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887.

Qualifications of Candidates.

Age The Candidate must be 23 years of age or upwards.

Experience.

FOR FIRST CLASS CERTIFICATES.

Actual practical experience for at least five years as Under Viewer, Assistant Viewer, Fore Overman, Back Overman, Master Shifter, or Master Wasteman ; but at least two years' experience in any of these capacities will be deemed sufficient in the case of a Candidate who during such two years has held a Second Class Certificate. (The Second Class Certificate must be produced to the examiners in the Examination Room.)

Two years' or three years' apprenticeship to a Mining Engineer, with evidence that such period afforded substantially practical experience in a mine, shall be regarded as a substitute for an equivalent period of such employment.

FOR SECOND CLASS CERTIFICATES.

Practical experience in a mine for at least five years which shall include, in addition to the foregoing employments, that of Deputy Overman, Master Shifter, Master Wasteman, or Practical Working Miner.

It will be necessary for the Candidate before his examination can be proceeded with, to forward the following documents to the Secretary, at least two days before the Examination—

A. An authorization from the Secretary of State to appear for examination.

B. The prescribed evidence as to experience, ability, and character, namely :–

1. A statement of the situations which he has filled, or employment in a mine, during the five years immediately preceding, giving satisfactory evidence that he has had not less than five years' practical experience in a mine. Also stating his age last birthday, with a declaration that all the information so given is true. (Form. No. 1.)

(This document must be signed by the Candidate in the presence of a witness, who must also sign it.)

2. A testimonial from some responsible person (not being his employer), whose address must be given, as to the Candidate's sobriety and general good conduct over a period of at least three years immediately preceding. (Form No. 2.)

3. A testimonial from his present or last employer as to his sobriety, experience, ability, and general good conduct, over a period of at least five years immediately preceding, and stating the positions in which he has been employed in a mine, the duration of such employment, and whether the duties have been efficiently performed. (Form No. 3.)

(If he has been in his present employment for less than five years, testimonials must be obtained from both present and previous employers.)

Forms for these certificates are sent herewith, and no other testimonials are required, unless the Candidate has been a pupil, in which case it is necessary that he should furnish a testimonial from the Mining Engineer with whom be served his apprenticeship. Candidates holding certificates from the Durham College of Science, Newcastle-uponTyne, in connection with the Theory and Practice of Coal Mining, may send such certificates to the Secretary of the Board, and they will be laid before the Examiners.

No. 1 PAPER.

Time allowed, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The working of all questions must be fully shown. No answer giving simply the result will be accepted.

ARITHMETIC.

1. Add:

187	acres	3	roods	12	perches.
872	acres	1	rood	5	perches.
398	acres	2	roods	27	perches.
613	acres	1	rood	13	perches.
289	acres	0	rood	38	perches.
341	acres	2	roods	6	perches.

2. A separation door is 6 feet high by 2 feet 9 inches broad, and the difference of pressure upon the two sides of it, as shown by a water gauge, is 1.37 inches. What is the total pressure upon the door in cwts. to four places of decimals ?

3. How many tons of coal are there in an estate of 672 acres, containing one seam 3 feet 7 inches thick ; assuming the specific gravity of the coal to be 1.27, and the weight of a cubic foot of water 62.5 lbs.?

4. The cylinder of an engine is 27 inches diameter by 5 feet stroke. What is the volume in cubic feet, swept through per revolution, by the piston ?

5. What is the square root of 368.973 correct to three paces of decimals ?

6. Given a boiler chimney of the following parts, viz. :–

(1.) A belled mouth with cap, cornices, &c., containing 332 cubic feet of brickwork.

(2.) A circular shaft 120 feet high, mean inside diameter 6½ feet, and mean outside diameter 9½ feet.

(3.) Brick stepping containing 760 cubic feet.

(4.) Concrete foundation 20 feet square by 3 feet thick, resting upon solid clay.

What is the weight of each of the above portions of the chimney in tons, and what is the pressure upon the clay in tons per square foot to three places of decimals?

Brickwork weighing 112 lbs. and concrete 131 lbs. to the cubic foot.

COAL MINES REGULATION ACTS.

1. State, briefly, and in your own words, the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, with regard to the employment of boys, girls, and women below ground.

What recent modification has been made of these provisions?

2. What is the object of the provision requiring abandoned mines to be fenced, and what would you consider to be a proper fencing (a) at the top of the shaft, (b) at each side entrance ?

3. Quote General Rule 1 relating to ventilation. Would it, in your opinion, be contrary to this rule to suspend the ventilation when no one was in the mine: say on Sundays?

No. 2 PAPER.

Time allowed, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

ENGINEERING.

1. An Engine with two cylinders, each 21 inches diameter by 3 feet stroke, is observed to make 50 revolutions per minute with a mean effective steam-pressure of 33 lbs. What is its horse-power?

2. What are the objections to the using of water, containing impurities, for boiler purposes?

3. Describe the Main and Tail rope system of underground haulage, and illustrate your answer with sketches

PRACTICAL MINING.

1. How would you carry one current of air across another current ? Illustrate your answer with one or more sketches.

2. Describe two methods of working out a pillar of coal, 30 yards by 15 yards, stating the circumstances in which you would adopt each.

3. Show how the ventilation of workings of plan on second sheet should be arranged.

GASES AND LIGHTING.

1. It appears from the Inspectors' reports that it is not an uncommon practice for workmen, wishing to enter a place containing fire-damp for some trivial purpose, to leave their lamps behind and go forward in the dark. Of what property of fire-damp does this show ignorance ?

2. Describe a Davy, and any one other Safety Lamp with which you may be acquainted, and illustrate your answer with sketches.

3. In a dry and dusty mine, also liable to give off fire-damp, what methods would you adopt for getting the coal without running the risk of an explosion?

No. 3 PAPER.

Time allowed. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

GASES AND VENTILATION.

1. Describe the following methods of carrying the air round the workings, viz. :—(a) Face airing ; (b) Shething the air ; (c) Coursing the air. Illustrate your answer with sketches.

2. Can you suggest any way in which an explosion might be caused by using damp gunpowder in firing an ordinary shot ; and, if you can give an authority for your opinion, do so.

3. What danger exists in locking arrangements with fixed stops for safety lamps?

PRACTICAL MINING.

1. Sketch and describe in detail two bord and pillar flats, one whole and the other broken to stow about 12 men each per shift. The seam is hard steam coal giving off some gas, and at a depth of 180 fathoms, the roof a bad blue stone. Inclination of the seam 1½ inches per yard, dipping to the east, and making some water.

NOTE. — This question is to be answered fully, size of pillars, bords, and walls; method of removing pillars, position of flats shown, and all details of ventilation included. How water dealt with, &c.

2. Describe the method of timbering in the face with iron bars adopted at Courrieres. What effect is it reported to have had upon the death-rate from falls ?

No. 4 PAPER.

Time allowed, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SURVEYING.

1. In consulting old plans, what source of error must especially be guarded against ?

2. A road driven east in a seam rising 2 inches per yard cuts a trouble, an upthrow of 6 fathoms, with a vertical hade ; beyond which the seam rises to the east 3 inches to the yard.

It is desired to connect the two portions of the seam, one on each side of the trouble, by means of a stone drift rising 6 inches per yard. At what distance from the trouble measured in the seam, on the west side, must this drift be set away in order that it may cut the seam on the east side, at a distance of 40 yards from the trouble, measured in the seam ?

Credit will be given, for an explanation of any satisfactory method of solution, though your estimate of the distance may not be accurate.

ENGINEERING.

1. What regulations, in addition to inspection, would you enforce with regard to :—(a) Winding ropes ; (b) Detaching hooks (c) Cage chains ?

2. Lay out a self-acting incline showing gradients, meetings, arrangement of road at top and bottom, and in fact all details.

What is your experience of the lowest gradient at which an incline will run ; and what steps would you take to facilitate running upon an incline that was rather flat?

3. What dimensions of a single cylinder pumping engine and ram would you advise for forcing 300 gallons per minute against a head of 160 fathoms with a steam pressure of 45 at the engine ?

LEGISLATION.

1. Quote General Rule 27 with reference to cover overhead, and give your opinion upon the object of this rule.

2. State in your own words the provisions of the three consecutive paragraphs of the Compensation Act, 1897 (a), (b), and (c) of paragraph (2), section 1, relating :—(a) To the time the injury has lasted ; (b) To the neglect of the employer; (c) To the neglect of the workman.

3. State in your own words General Rule 4, so far as it relates to inspection before commencing work. Do you know of any recent legal decision upon this rule; and if so, what was the effect of it ?

Source:

Mines Inspectors Report for 1900 (Cd 536) for the Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.