The Aberdare Leader

EVERY WOMAN Should send two stamps for our 82 page Illustrated Book, containing valuable in- formation how all Irregularities and Ob- struction-i may be entirely avoided or re- moved by simple means. Recommended by eminent Physicians as the only Safe Sure and Genuine "Remedy Never Fails. Thousands of Testimonials Established 1862. Mr. P. Blanchafd, Dalston Lane Lsndon.

Iforiaeth. Cynhaliodd Cyfrinfa Caradog Ab Bran, yr hon a gynelir yn y Plough Inn, Aber- aman, ei chyfarfod pen blwyddyn nos Sadwrn, Medi 14, dan lywyddiaeth diail y brawd ieuanc John Evans (Ap' loan). Cafwyd araeth fer a phwrpasol ganddo ar yr achlysur. Yna awd droe y rhag- len fel y canlyn: —Can agoria.diol gan John J. Powell; can gan David L. Lewis; araeth gan y brawd Tom Lewis (Ap Dewi); can gan James Davis (Ap EIm- lyn); can gan James Davies (Nantlais); araeth gan Enos Davies, ysgrifenydd y Gyfrinfa, ar sefyllfa y cyfryw. Caw- eom arddeall ei bod yn gyfrinfa lew- yrchus dros ben. Can gan Tom Lloyd; araeth gan Edwin Powell; can a dawns gan Ed. Pugh (Digri Aman); can gan Wm. Evans; araeth fer gan yr hen frawd John Evans; can gan Wm. Thomas. Diweddwyd y cyfarfod trwy ganu Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" gan John Evans a Enos Daviee.

Review. SOUTH WALES COAL ANNUAL. COAL-WINNING IN LOCAL AIZEAS. We have received the South Wales Coal Annual for 1907. As usual it is re- plete with information concerning the coal trade of South Wales, and is a full and faithful record of all the events affecting the trade during the year. The place of honour in the publication is given to an article on the Cambrian Collieries Limited. Short biographies of the first promoters and the present cen- tral figures in connection with the Cam- brian Collieries, and also their photo- graphs, are given. Among them are the late Mr. Samuel Thomas, Ysgubor- weii, and his two sons, Mr J. H. Thomas, J.P., and Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P. It relates the origin of this huge concern as follows: — I In the second half of the eighteenth century the Iron Age commenced its reign in South Wales. The veins of iron-ore which lie interleaved with the coal seams had, with the aid of charcoal made from the forests' which then clothed the valleys, long furnished the material for local needs, and the know- ledge of such important mineral deposits had spread throughout England. Pros- pectors appeared from the North, from Yorkshire, from Staffordshire, from Worcestershire, and from London. In 1758 the Dowlais Iron Works were started, followed seven years later by Cyfarthfa. Meanwhile the demand for iron grew faster than the rapidly increas- ing supply. In 1720 the whole of the iron works of the United Kingdom had pro- duced 10,000 tons towards a consumption of 30,000 tons, leaving two-thirds to be imported. By 1750 our home manu- facture had advanced to 22,000 tons. From this date South Wales commenced tc contribute to the national output. In 1788 this was estimated to amount to 68,000 tons, of which about one-sixth came from the Merthyr district. During the next thirty-five years every iron manu- facturing district in the Kingdom leaped ahead, but none so fast as South Wales, which in 1823 produced 182,000 tons cf iron, 40 per cent. of the country's total., The great want of the ironmasters was labour. To attract this, wages were offered considerably higher than those obtainable in agricultural work. Mer- thyr became the Golconda of South Wales and Monmouthshire; and farmers, labourers, and shopkeepers poured in to secure some share of the prosperity. With the migration came one John Thomas, a yeoman of the parish of Magor, near Newport, Mon., where he held a. copyhold which had been for gen- erations in his family. Seeing an op- portunity for making more money at the ironworks than on his farm, he, about 1795, took a hauling contract with Richard Crawshay, the then owner of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks. This proving profitable, he continued doing the same work until his death in 1811. John Thomas left three sons, of whom the eldest, Samuel Thomas, married the grand-daughter of Morgan Joseph, whose family had for two generations been con- nected with the Plymouth Collieries at Merthyr. In 1842 Samuel Thomas, in conjunction vith his brother-in-law, Thomas Joseph, opened the Danyderi Colliery, near Troedyrhiw. In 1849 they started another colliery at Yscyborwen; and the same partners, with Ebenezer Lewis, sunk the Bwllfa pits, where they won the coal in 1856. Whilst colliery development was going en so rapidly in the Merthyr and Aber- dare district, no movement had taken place in the Rhondda Valley except the winning of the No. 2 and No. 3 Rhondda seams, two of the upper seams found in the southern part of that valley, about 200 yards above the steam coal measures. In fact, until 1850, grave doubts were felt by many of the most experienced mining men in the coalfield as to the existence of steam coals in the Rhondda. In 1853 this doubt wa.s set at iest by a sinking made by Mr. W. S. Clark, then the Marquis of Bute's miner- al agent, near Treherbert, which won the steam coal at a depth of 125 yards. The effect was rapidly felt. Mineral areas were leased, and within twenty years the quiet valley was transformed into a colliery district, with pit-heads, sidings, and works from Treherbert to Pontypridd. In 1870 John Osborne Riches and his brother, Osborne Henry Riches, placed before Samuel Thomas a proposal to sink in the Rhondda, Valley. John Osborne Riches was a coal exporter, who had for some years acted as sales agent for Ys- cyborwen coal, and Samuel Thomas looked to him for advice on matters re- lating to the commercial side of his col- liery. J. O. Riches was at the same time acting as the commercial head of the Ocean Coal Company, having some years before induced David Davies to join him and others in exploiting the great steam coal area which bears that company's name, and which lies in the Rhondda Valley to the north-west of the Cambrian property. Samuel Thomas, then a wealthy man, and possessing a knowledge gained during thirty years of close practical experience of Welsh coal- mining, agreed to the proposal; the leases were settled, and the winning of the coal at once proceeded with. Two pits were, sunk, and in 1875 the top seams of the steam measures were reached. Thus the firm of Thomas, Riches and Co. came into existence, with Samuel Thomas, John Osborne Riches, and Os- borne Henry Riches, as partners. At the collieries Samuel Thomas maintained control; at the Port of Cardiff O. H. Riches represented the firm, and com- menced to establish markets for Cam- brian Navigation Steam Coal." In 1879 Samuel Thomas died, his interests de- volving on his wife and children. With the death of O. H. Riches in 1887, Samuel Thomas' two sons, John Howard Thomas and David Alfred Thomas, became managing partners of the firm, which continued to be carried on as a private partnership under their control until 1895. On the 1st of January. 1896, the under taking was transferred to its present cowners, The Cambrian Collieries, Ltd.

Aberdare and District Photographic Notes. BY H ROJLO." It is no easy matter in these days to decide when you are beaten, and to be strong enough to admit that you are down. Whatever the difficulty or fight may be, the same remark applies. We are taught that in days gone by the van- quished cried, Hold, enough," but our education must have been sadly neglected if that event happens to us.. Rather are we taught to "never say die," or we, are like unto the village schoolmaster in Goldsmith's famous poem, who, Though vanquished he would argue still." And there is a lot of folk that can argue if they cannot fight (present readers, of course, excepted). In photography, this is perhaps more noticeable than in any other hobby that I am acquainted with, for no matter how poor is the result that comes to us, in whatever branch of our art or the pro- cess thereof that we may have in hand, we immediately set about finding, or at- tempt to find, some means that will undo our bad work, or vastly improve the "bad case," that is before us. A flagrant case of under-exposure causes us to cast about for a method of making our nega- tive printable. Unsightly stains on a batch of Bromide or gaslight paper send us off post haste to find a way of removing them. Or we may want a method of intensifying some big sheets that we have exposed in the enlarging room, and sooner than admit that we have not properly exposed them, we send off to our expert, or wade through our instruction books to find a bath that will do the needful and all because we won't give in; or i6 it because we do not wish to face the loss? Let us hope it is the latter. My dear reader, it is by far the best way out of a difficulty in things photo- graphic to face the first loss, and if our plates are thin and ghostly from under- exposure and underdevelopment, throw them away. Intensification may give you a little better print, but it is decidedly problematical, and I question if the re- sult is worth the trouble and expense. We get an over-dense plate owing to gross over-exposure and over-develop- ment, and we proceed to reduce. Again is the result worth all the bother? I trow not. I do not care what reducer you use, or what intensifier you swear by, the results are always disappointing, and all the time trouble and expense is wasted. The sooner. we admit it the greater progress will we have made in our science. Now I do not mean to infer that the two processes are not workable or that they are useless. Far from it. Both have their uses, and very important uses too. A plate that is properly exposed but overdeveloped, so that all detail is swallowed up in the dense, film, is a fit subject for reduction, as especially for enlarging do we want a thin negative full of detail and gradation. By carefully reducing it to the stage that will give us a negative fulfilling these conditions, we shall get a result that will most likely be even better than one that was pro- perly handled right, through. In fact, I know at least two good workers who, when exposing a plate that is intended for ,subsequent enlargement, carefully work out the correct exposure, and after- wards over-develop, for the reason that they get all the detail and gradation in their plate; using the Persulphate re- ducer afterwards to get correct print- ing density, and at the same, time remov- ing any veiling or fog. Also clearing the plate, thus obtaining great sparkle and brilliant negatives that are a delight in themselves. But under-exposure with the intention of after intensification, well, it ain't no use." What was never there cannot be put there, and all the intensifiers in the world combined cannot do the impossi- ble. But if we have a plate, or an en- largement upon a sheet of bromide that has been correctly exposed but uud-r .dc-velo,pc-d, tllen our intensifier comes in, and by going to work cautiously we can strengthen and build up the image in such a manner that both will yield re- sults that are hardly surpassed by cor- rect manipulation all through. And it is thus that these two methods are useful. ($" Therefore, if we find that our failures in the first instance are not embraced in the two preceding paragraphs, there is only one thing to do, and that is to promptly discard the lot, and go to work to replace them, this time taking profit by our recent mishap, with a determin- ation not to fail in a like manner again. A correspondent (Frena) has been late- ly working a branch of his hobby that is somewhat new to him, and the results that he had got were anything but en- couraging, but a little timely advice has,' I trust, put him on the highway to suc- cess. His present results, he tells me, justify his following my advice. At the same time I wish to impress upon him and other readers who may be in like quandary the few words of experience that are contained in the aforegoing, for while I am at all times ready to assist— either by letter or actual demonstration --aii.v of my readers that may be in diffi- culties, still I cannot undertake to ad- vise upon difficulties that have floored far better men than the present writer. I do not care to "harp" upon one string all the time, but while I am upon the subject I should just like to mention one thing in particulnr. No matter how absorbing or interesting a certain sub- ject may be to one's self, it does not fol- low that it is sufficiently interesting to the general body, of my readers to make it the text for my week's notes. If my correspondents will note this, and when I sending in to this office, enclose a stamp for reply, it will mean that. they shall have a reply applicable to their own special case, by post, but should I deem it worth a wider sphere, I will then take an, early opportunity of going fully into the subject in this column. If any of my readers should happen to visit London during the next two months, they should make it a point to visit the two great Photographic Exhibi- tions that are now open. I have for the last few years paid a short visit to each, and it has amply repaid me. It is diffi- cult to visit either without gaining some very useful hints which come in extreme- ly useful in after days, while at the same time it gives us an opportunity of seeing what the advanced workers are capable of, which at any rate should act as a spur to those of us who are anxious to im- prove our own work. It will also enable us to gauge our own progress. If we carefully note the subjects, selecting those that are on line with our own prac- tice, and noting the treatment of the subject by one who has been deemed worthy of a place in that distinguished assembly.

Mining Students' Re-Union. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT ABERDARE. On Saturday evening, at Miles's Res- taurant, Aberdare, a re-union of the Glamorgan County Council Mining Students who have been on tour in West- phalia took place. An excellent repast was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Miles and greatly relished by al). The post pran- dial proceedings were presided over by Mr. A. P. Jones, High Constable. There vere also present: Messrs. Henry Davies, County Mining Lecturer; B. D. Wil- liams, Electrical. Engineer, Rhondda; D, Davies, Mining Lecturer, Aberdare; Wiii. Davies, Mining Teacher, Aberdare; J. Jones, Troedyrhiw; W. Davies, Dowlais; Chas. Kitto, Aberfan; J. Whittieom be, Trealaw; Alf. Davies, Aberdare; J. A. Morgan, Aberdare; W. F. Hughes, Senghenydd; B. S. Thomas, Clydach Vale; W. Heppell, Cwmaman; Jos. Rees, Llansamlet; H. Davies, Port Talbot; Alf. James, Penrhiwceiber; D. C. Jieeb, colliery manager, Carmarthenshire; Councillor David Hughes, Aid. J. Mor- gan, Merthyr. The following was the programme:- Overture on the piano, Grand March," Mr. J. J. Williams, ..1\1- The Chairman said that as n rule Welshmen were too provincial—they did ret have enough push in them. In many agricultural districts in Wales fanning v-as carried on very much the same as in the time of Adam. ) t was a reflection on the Government and Governing Bodies that so little was done to foster mining knowledge. Nothing was done to train young men to have a thorough practical knowledge of mining. To pass an exam, was not the only necessary qualifications of a mining student. He should be a, good student of ihuman nature, and able to grasp the management of 1he men under his control. The output of the South Wales Coalfield was about one-fifth of that of the whole country Before many years would pass the output would begin to< decrease. Still there were op- portunities for intelligent and persever- ing young men. He was glad that so many young men seized the opportunity tc see the operations of the coal trade in Germany. The question of a Mining School hung fire at present. The coal trade was at present in a prosperous posi- tion. Now was the time when such a thing should be pushed forward Em- ployers and employees should co-operate to bring such a movement to a successful issue. Boxing contests, he learnt, were well patronised in the locality. Could not the proceeds of one boxing contest be given towards the mining school f (Ap- plause.) The Veteran Song," by Mr. Jonah Jones, was the next item. Councillor D. Hughes said that one. rf the touring students had described the recent tour to him as "hard labour." Some members of the County Council were under the impression that the min- ing tours were simply holidays at the ex- pense of the County Council. He would assure them the next time this was in- sinuated that such was not the case. He trusted .vhat the tours would benefit them educationally. Their teacher, Mr Henry Davies, had been of inestimable value to the county. The Mining Classes had been of immense service. He sincerely hoped that in a few years the School of Mining would become an accomplished fact. He believed that if the workmen would do their part the coalowners would do their share. He hoped that they would do their utmost towards the move- ment in order to counteract the action of the I.L.P., who in opposing the School of Mining were evidently opposing their own interests. (Hear, hear.) Song by Mr. J. Jenkins, "Mentra Gwen." At this juncture Mr. Henry Davies was presented by Mr. B. D. Williams, on be- half of the mining students, with a foun- tain pen. A beautiful dressing-ca.se was also given, to be presented to Mrs. Davies. Mr. Williams isaid they were greatly indebted to their director, Mr. Davies, f(.r the perfect arrangements lie had made in connection with the tour. He hoped that Councillor D. Hughes would inform his colleagues on the County Ccuncil of the esteem in whirls Mr. Davies was held by them. Thev had worked hard while away, but it was work that produced i)!easure. He hoped that Mr. Daviee would succeed in his scheme to obtain bettei facilities for the mining students tc attend the evening classes. Again with -regard to the idea of creating foreign scholarships. That would bring them more in touch with the German and other foreign methods. The Germans had a capability of adapt- ing themselves to their conditions. It would be well if the mining students in this country would emulate them. He wished, on behalf of the class, to thank their director for his guidance and distance. For he's a jolly good fellow" was now sung with gusto by the company. Mr. Williams now read a letter from Mr. John Dodd, who was unable to be present. The writer paid a. high compli- ment to Mr. Henry Davieti. Mr. Davies, responding, said that he believed that a. harder taskmaster than himself the students never had. Some of them might think him a. little too severe. Ten years hence they would think differ- ent. He was glad to see present Mr. D. C. Dees, an old Aberdarian, now occupy- ing an important position ae a colliery manager in Carmarthenshire. (Hear, hear.) At an important meeting of col- liery officials held recently in Carmar- thenshire practically every man in the room was a Glamorgan trained man. He waa glad to 600 so meny young men present from all parts of South Wales. With regard to the educational value of the tours he could only repeat what Mr Williams had said. Their views needed enlarging, and some corners in their minds wanted rounding off. The Welsh- man should be taughth to be more self- confident, and then he would get on. They had been on various tours, and he believed that much good had derived from them all. Many of the students had written voluminous observations on their journeys, a labour which brought its own reward, even if they did not win a prize. The literary practice was a most valuable acquisition. While in Germany he was told by a man who knew what he was speaking about that nowhere in Germany could a band of mining students be formed to take a tour in a foreign country similar to what the Welsh students were doing. On Tues- day at Cardiff there would be a hundred mining students who would be a. credit to the country. (Hear, hear.) He wishel to thank them cordially for the gifts presented to him and Mrs. Davies. Song, "Mereh y Cadben," by Mr Jcaah J ones. The next proceeding was the presenta- tion of a volume, "The Colliery Man- ager's Handbook," by Mr. Thomas, a mining student from Australia, to Mr. Hanny, who had acted as interpreter on the journey. Mr. Hanny acknowledged the gift, and remarked that he had merely done his duty. Ald. J. Morgan, Merthyr, said that seme facts which came under his ob- servation last year had greatly inter- ested him. One was that most of the students took down notes in shorthand, although some of them had had little op- portunity to --fteitd technical classes. Fersonally he had very pleasant recoUec- tions of Westphalia, although they had a very hard time of it there. Were they satisfied with what they had seen and done? Were they going to rest on their laurels? He trusted that they would not play with their opportunities. He could assure them that the County Council Mining Committee were greatly in sym- pathy with the students. He was glad tc tell them that one student from the Aberdare Valley had had an appointment in India of the value of .£800 a year. Another had got a good position in China. He hoped that they would not forget the one who had helped them- (Hear, hear.) Song by Mr. Jenkins, "Cymru Fydd." Mr. Daniel Davies ?iow addressed the meeting. As a lucky participant of the trip to Germany, he wished to endorse what Mr. Henry Davies had said. While the work was iu progress he was a hard taskmaster and strict disciplin* arian, but quite a jolly one when the task was over. The mining tours wer net so many picnics. They generally ill volved very hard labour. He did not be* -lieve in making things too easy for the mining students. If there was any grit in the student he would forge ahead not- withstanding difficulties. He wished to thank the County Council gentlemen for I their presence. Mr. Alf. Davies, speaking in Welsh, endorsed Mr. Davies's appreciation. Mr. D. C. Rees moved a vote of thank* to the guests of the evening, the a.rtiste-s.. and the, host and hostess. Mr. Kitto seconded. Mr. Miles re- sponded on behalf of Mrs. Miles and hixa- self. Mr. Henry Davies paid a high compli" ment to Mr. W. Davies, who had per- formed the secretarial work. He would propose a vote of thanks to him and to the chairman. Referring to Sir W. 1 • Lewis, Mr. Davies said he had found bins the real friend of the Welsh worker, and he was glad to find his right hand iiiall there that evening. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Heppell seconded the motion* which was carried. Mr. W. Davies and the chairman brief" ly acknowledged the thanks.

East, West, Home's Best. ABERDARE NEWS AGAIN. No other news is so interesting as home news, and how gladly we welcome it when it is good news. Such is the news we print again and again in our columns from Aberdare men and women, who having come by good fortuna the, selves are eager to share it with their neighbours. Mrs Pljillips, 8, Price street, Aber- dare, says: For two or three years I suffered from kidney complaint. There were cruel, stab-like pains in my back, and when bending about at my housework I found it hard to get upright again. My eyes were affected-tiny specks seemed to be floating in front of me. My legs and ankles ware swollen and had a constant dull, aching pain in them. My loins and shoulders ached, my joints were stiff, and I had a dazed kind of feeling. None of the medicines I tried did roe any good except Doan's backache kidney pills. I took these for a time, and aIlJ glad to say they have done me a grea amount of good. I am a differen woman since taking Doan's pills, and 1 can highly recommend them." Doan's Backache Kidney Pills gre two shillings and ninepence per box (si* boxes for thirteen shillings and nine- pence). Of all chemists and stores, ol post free, direct from Foster-McClellaO Co., 8, Wells street, Oxford street, London, W. Mrs Phillips was cured by Doan's be sure that you get Doan's.

Dowlais possesses, perhaps, taore e8"- tablishmentt. that may be designated "Moses House" than any town or vil- lage ill the Princnpality. But what makes the U dismal U suburb of Merthyr inore singular among our mining localities that it boasts ofl a "Miriam ftlso.

Furnish your Homes WITH ECONOMY AND TASTE AT THE RIGHT SHOP. 19B WRO'S J ? WH AT'S J ? WHERE'S J? AM I JAY & Co., $f'l ,• arf-1 Jj'111 U't- i. l|" I • II?. ds^jpaSlBk. ■ Easy Payment Furnishers, "K~ ■ i I AT CASH PRICES, 0%=^ JO'L 8, Commercial St., ^^1 ABERDARE. ^1. maw DO NOT HESITATE If you have not got all the money by you, go to F. %tA Y & Co., who The largest and best stock Of Furniture in the will take weekly, monthly, or quarterly payments District to select from at prices to suit all* wB^^BKS to suit all purchasers'convenience. Repair8 Upholstering and Polishing done on the premises Buying Furnture on Credit is just as creditable by experienced workmen. as buying a House on Credit or Mortgage.

ODLAU HIRAETH Ar ol y cyfaill anwyl, Edward Daviee, 12, Morgans-row, Cwmbach, yr hwn a fu farw yn 50 mlwydd oed, ar ol hir gystudd. Anhawdd atal deigryn hiraeth Ar ol colli anwyl ffrynd, O! mor galed ydyw'r alaeth Pan y byddo wedi myn'd; Wed; blaenu mae yn ddiau, Ninau'n teithio ar ei ol, Wedi rhwyfo trwy gystuddiau Daeth yr alwad idd ei 'nol. Chwith oedd colli cyfaill tirion A chymeriad o'r iawn ryw, Un oedd yn edmygawl wron Ydoedd Edward Davies wiw; Gwr a'i enaid mewn daioni, Didwyll garu ereill wnai, Cymwynasgar llawn haelioni, Neb o'i ddrws yn waglaw ai. Bu yn nodded i'w hoff deulu Megie craig a chadarn dwr I'w hamddiffyn a'u hyfforddi; 'R oedd ei air fel bywiol ddwr, O! mor felus oedd ei glywed Yn llefaru gyda bias Am y cariad anchwiliadwy Sydd yn llawn o ddwyfol ras. Hyn oedd benaf nod ei gysur Pan yn nesu at y bedd, Angau'n gweithio arno'n brysur Ao yn gwelwi'i siriol wedd; Fe ddywedai yn ei gyfwng Wrth ei blant a'i briod mad Fod y sylfaen fawr safadwy— Craig yr Oeeoedd—dan ei draed. Byddai ef yn weithiwr diwyd Gyda'i orchwyl yn mhob man, Mewn mawr egni bu trwy'i fywyd, Ceisiai beunydd wneyd ei ran; Ond mae'r fraich fu'n gwneud gwrydri Heddyw'n oer mewn beddrod llaith, Gwelodd yma lwydd i'w deulu, Hyn lefarai am ei waith. Mae ei felus ymddiddanion Yma'n aros ew,-q fyw, A'i sylwadau per a diddan Byth yn adsain yn ein clyw; Daw yn fynych fyw adgofion O'i felusaf gwmni ef, Pan yn son am fynydd Seion Ac am gartref yn y nef. Cydymdeimlad bron heb fesur A'i nodweddai trwj ei oes, Parod oedd i weinu cvsur Er yn dioddef dan ei loes, Priod hynaws, tad carcdig Heddyw sy'n y dystaw fe<id Yn gorplhwyso hyd y borau, Codi wna ar newydd wedd. Deulu anwyl. rhowch eich goglyd Ar yr h wn fu iddo ef Yn arweinydd mawr ei fywyd Gan ei dywys tua'r nef; Lie mae ef y byddwch chwithau, Draw o gyrhaedd ing a phoen, Yn y wlad nad oes ond gwynfyd A chlodfcri'r addiwyn Oen. Cwmbach. WM. VAUGHAN.