309 page illustrated book, with 37 line-drawings, maps and photographs.
Book supplied as a PDF document on CD-ROM.
CONTENTS:
CHAPTER I.
Evolution, 1826-1875.—The Discovery of the Pas de Calais Coalfield. The Lens, Bruay and Courrières Collieries. Godwin-Austen's Paper "On the Possible Extension of the Coal Measures beneath the South-East Part of England." Joseph Houldsworth supports Godwin-Austen's Theories. The Royal Coal Commission on Coal Supplies, 1871. Meeting of the British Association at Brighton. The Sub-Wealden Committee.
CHAPTER II.
Evolution continued, 1877-1878.—Pas de Calais Developments. Godwin-Austen's Paper on Meux's Boring in Tottenham Court Road. More Committees
CHAPTER III.
Evolution concluded, 1886-1896. Channel Tunnel Works near Dover. Coal proved in the Brady Boring. Godwin-Austen's Theories confirmed. The Coal Search Committee. Attitude of the South-Eastern Railway Company. Shaft sinking recommended by Engineers and Geologists. Whitaker in 1890 accurately forecasts the extension of the productive Coal Measures. Six Years Wasted. Colliery to be established at foot of Shakespeare Cliff
CHAPTER IV.
Kent Coalfields Syndicate, Limited. Colliery and General Contract Company, Limited, Mid-Kent Coal Syndicate, Limited Kent Coal Finance and Development Company, Limited. Kent Coal Exploration Company Limited
CHAPTER V.
1897. Kent Collieries Corporation, Limited. 1899-1905. Consolidated Kent Collieries Corporation, Limited. French Engineers Report on Dover Colliery. Dissensions amongst Directors. Rival Re-construction Schemes. French v British
CHAPTER VI.
1905-1917. Kent Collieries, Limited. The "Daily Mail" recommends its Shares. Gambling in South-Eastern Railway Stocks. Coal raised at Shakespeare Cliff. A Financial Crisis. Directors come and go. The Press announces the End of Kent Coal. Channel Collieries Trust, Limited. The Channel Steel Company, Limited
CHAPTER VII.
Dover Coalfield Extension, Limited. An offshoot from Kent Collieries. The Ellinge Boring. Lack of Funds. No lack of internal dissensions. Collapse of the Company. Kent Coal Concessions, Limited, registered by Mr. Burr on April 19, 1904
CHAPTER VIII.
The Sondage Syndicate, Limited. Its Genesis. No results, no pay. A legitimate Gamble. The Waldershare Boring. First Coal Seam on Concessions, Area. The "Rockefeller" Seam. Successful results at Fredville
CHAPTER IX.
Upper Transition Series at Waldershare and Fredville. Estimates as to Coal-contents of the Basin. The Fonçage Syndicate. Goodnestone and Barfrestone Borings started. Several new Companies registered. The East Kent Colliery, Limited
CHAPTER X.
East Kent Colliery, continued. Sinking through the Lower Greensands
CHAPTER XI.
East Kent Colliery, continued. More
Water difficulties. Electrical Pumps installed. Capital raised to £500,000
CHAPTER XII.
East Kent Colliery, concluded. Sinking through the Junction Bed. The coal at last. Financial difficulties. A Receiver appointed. Re-organisation of the Company. New Directors elected. Outputs, 1913-1918
CHAPTER XIII.
1907.—South Eastern Coalfield Extension.— A Speculative Proposition. Its Capital Increased. Debentures created in 1911. The Schneider Option. Its Surplus Assets. List of Borings. Thinning-out of Water-bearing Strata. Mr. Burr's Retirement
CHAPTER XIV.
1907.—Guilford Syndicate.—Pits started at Waldershare on the Estate of Lord Guilford. Haulage difficulties cause stoppage. Insufficient Capital. Several attempts to promote Colliery Company. Property sold to the Forges de Chatillon. Shareholders lose their entire Capital. Mr. Burr's Retirement
CHAPTER XV.
1907.—East Kent Contract and Financial Co.—The Honest Broker. Community of Interest. Inter-Company Transactions. Large Sums advanced to Allied Companies. Undertakes to construct Light Railway. Contract gets out of its depth. Mr. Burr gives up Control. Concessions issues Convertible Preference Shares. Further Borings in progress
CHAPTER XVI.
1908.—Snowdown Colliery started by the Fonçage Syndicate. Heavy feeder of water in the Chalk. Company formed to take over the work. Mr. Burr as managing director. Easy sinking to base of Gault. No water difficulties. Costly methods of raising capital. Coal at last. First in the Field. Board of Directors appointed. 4 ft. 5 in. seam at 3,000 ft.
CHAPTER XVII.
1909.—Concessions increases its Mineral Areas. Rebuffed by Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Questions in Parliament. Many valuable Coal Seams. The Coal proves of high quality. Extended Extensions, Limited. A 9 ft. 4 in. seam at Ripple. Mr. Burr retires in favour of Board of Directors. Valuation of Company's Minerals
CHAPTER XVIII.
1910.—Attention centred on Tilmanstone. The Coalfield Extending. The Concessions Group. Summary of results. Deal and Walmer Coalfield, Limited. The Oxney Boring. Whitaker's prophecy fulfilled. Smokeless Navigation Steam Coals. The Messrs. Burr retire. Company's minerals under Option to French Group. East Kent Light Railways Company. Branch lines to Collieries. A growing traffic. Future Prospects
CHAPTER XIX.
Medway Syndicate. Two abortive Borings. Ebbsfleet Syndicate. Lydden Boring a success. Failure to unwater Tilmanstone Pits. Goodnestone Boring. Mr. John Hamilton joins the Board of East Kent Colliery. Closing the "Book."
CHAPTER XX.
Intermediate Equipments. How its Capital was spent. Issue of Debentures. The Company passes out of Mr. Burr's control. The Schneider Option. The Electric Power Company Amalgamation simmering. Dr. Pearson's proposals. How they were rejected. Professor Bolton's Report. Boring results to end of 1911. List of Concessions group of Companies, with Capitals, etc.
CHAPTER XXI.
Anglo-Westphalian Syndicate. Kent Freeholds and Minerals, Limited. North Kent Coalfield, Limited. Chislet Colliery. Its Sinking Record. Capital increased by £120,000. All German interests eliminated at the outbreak of War
CHAPTER XXII.
Several Borings yield rich Seams. Consolidation of the Allied Companies' Interests. United Coalfields of Kent, Limited. An abortive Promotion. Snowdown Pits reach the Coal. Betteshanger Boring Company. Good Seams on Lord Northbourne's Estate. Canterbury Coal Company. Mr. Burr receives the Freedom of Dover. A Kent Coal Banquet. Share Values at end of 1913
CHAPTER XXIII.
Details of the latest Amalgamation Scheme. The proposed new Company and its Directors. Its failure to materialise. The year 1913 closes in gloom. The Adisham and Stonehall Colliery Companies. Section of Stonehall Boring. Whitstable and Canterbury Coalfield Company
CHAPTER XXIV.
A Financial Crisis. War brings relief. Shareholders taking alarm. Committee of Control formed. Mr. Burr's retirement. Directors appointed. £100,000 required to carry on. Deep sinking at Snowdown. Mr. Dewrance on Amalgamation. Concessions, Assets, and Liabilities. Housing. Shipping
CHAPTER XXV.
Borings by Channel Collieries Trust. No workable coal found. Geological records enriched. Later Borings of the Concessions Group. The "Ash" Boring yields good results
CHAPTER XXVI.
A concealed Coalfield. Waldershare boring proves its extension. Similar explorations in Yorkshire. The inertia of coal magnates. Schedule of Analysis
CHAPTER XXVII.
The uncertain future. Difficulties of the Pioneers. Recognition of their work. Kent Coal Concessions ranks first. Summary of Borings. Schedule of Analysis. Nationalisation applied to Kent. L'Envoi
Appendices