IRON
AND
COAL
AND
COAL
Report dated 11 May 1902 by T Forester Brown and Henry William Martin
This report dealt with the issue of colliery expenditure to exploit additional resources in association with conditions of various leases including the sinking of a new colliery south of Fochriw, against colliery closure at the expiry of these leases. However, the arguments were coloured by the fact that an insufficient barrier had been left between the Dowlias Iron Company’s (D.I.C.) and Rhymney Iron Company’s (R.I.C.) workings of the Rhas Las seam to prevent ingress of water from the R.I.C.’s workings when they were abandoned, and the capital and revenue costs of additional pumping plant had also to be considered.
The total area of D.I.C. mineral leases was 5311 acres, of which 4,726 acres, in four separate leases, were covered by the Bute Estate, the expiry date for which was 1919. Separate leases were held from Fochriw Farm and Ffynnonau Duon Farm, the expiry dates of which were 1919 and 1921 respectively.
As a condition of the new Brithdir lease of 1885 a new colliery was to be sunk below Fochriw in the area covered by the Brithdir Uchaf, Brithdir Isaf, part of Cil Haul and part of Brithdir mountain.
The output for 1902 for Fochriw, South Tunnel and Cwm Bargoed was stated as being 336,752 tons, 163,972 tons and 69,424 tons respectively. Thus giving a total output of 561,178 tons of which 60% was from better class seams.
It was stated that if no further capital outlay was expended, then gradual exhaustion of the Black Vein would have a severe effect on Cwm Bargoed pit in three years (1905) and South Tunnel and Fochriw No1 pits in about four years (1906), unless the South Tunnel workings were extended below Fochriw. However, due to the threat of water influx from the R.I.C. workings, since there was no additional pumping capacity to the 26,000 gallons per hour being pumped at Fochriw, Fochriw Colliery could be flooded and its remaining life be as little as five years (1907).
The R.I.C. working could stop in about 12 – 18 months and pumping of 6,000 gallons per hour at their New Duffryn pit and 18,000 gallons per hour at their Terrace pit would cease.
Various financial scenarios were explored regarding the cost of abandonment of the Bute Estate leases and the Penybank and Cwmllwydrew leases.
It was anticipated that between £40,000 and £50,000 would be required to be spent on additional pumping plant and to make the collieries in good working order so that increased output could be undertaken. Therefore concessions should be requested from Lord Bute since it was also in his interest to maintain production and thus royalties.
This report dealt with the issue of colliery expenditure to exploit additional resources in association with conditions of various leases including the sinking of a new colliery south of Fochriw, against colliery closure at the expiry of these leases. However, the arguments were coloured by the fact that an insufficient barrier had been left between the Dowlias Iron Company’s (D.I.C.) and Rhymney Iron Company’s (R.I.C.) workings of the Rhas Las seam to prevent ingress of water from the R.I.C.’s workings when they were abandoned, and the capital and revenue costs of additional pumping plant had also to be considered.
The total area of D.I.C. mineral leases was 5311 acres, of which 4,726 acres, in four separate leases, were covered by the Bute Estate, the expiry date for which was 1919. Separate leases were held from Fochriw Farm and Ffynnonau Duon Farm, the expiry dates of which were 1919 and 1921 respectively.
As a condition of the new Brithdir lease of 1885 a new colliery was to be sunk below Fochriw in the area covered by the Brithdir Uchaf, Brithdir Isaf, part of Cil Haul and part of Brithdir mountain.
The output for 1902 for Fochriw, South Tunnel and Cwm Bargoed was stated as being 336,752 tons, 163,972 tons and 69,424 tons respectively. Thus giving a total output of 561,178 tons of which 60% was from better class seams.
It was stated that if no further capital outlay was expended, then gradual exhaustion of the Black Vein would have a severe effect on Cwm Bargoed pit in three years (1905) and South Tunnel and Fochriw No1 pits in about four years (1906), unless the South Tunnel workings were extended below Fochriw. However, due to the threat of water influx from the R.I.C. workings, since there was no additional pumping capacity to the 26,000 gallons per hour being pumped at Fochriw, Fochriw Colliery could be flooded and its remaining life be as little as five years (1907).
The R.I.C. working could stop in about 12 – 18 months and pumping of 6,000 gallons per hour at their New Duffryn pit and 18,000 gallons per hour at their Terrace pit would cease.
Various financial scenarios were explored regarding the cost of abandonment of the Bute Estate leases and the Penybank and Cwmllwydrew leases.
It was anticipated that between £40,000 and £50,000 would be required to be spent on additional pumping plant and to make the collieries in good working order so that increased output could be undertaken. Therefore concessions should be requested from Lord Bute since it was also in his interest to maintain production and thus royalties.