January 3, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

11

fully half a million tons the total for 1911. A good
deal of interest has been shown in the opening of the
Immingham Dock, from which during the six months
there were shipped approaching one million tons, but
the new venture has been entirely against the progress
of Grimsby, whereas Hull, as already indicated,
has not been prejudicially affected. The year has
again shown very clearly that the best district coal
is not going largely for export, and the increased
trade shown by the figures at Hull has been almost
entirely due to the demand for bunker purposes.
At Hull, the deficiency for the months of March and
April was about 360,000 tons, and at Grimsby 160,000
tons. But taking the returns for the 11 months ending
November last, it is found that whilst at Hull there was
a net increase in business to the extent of 277,250 tons,
at Grimsby there was a deficiency for the same period
of 179,467 tons. The proportion of the tonnage used
for bunker purposes at Hull is shown by the fact that,
of the total—about 6J million tons for the 11 months
ending November last—3 J millions went to foreign
markets and about 900,000 tons was re-shipped to home
ports, about half of this traffic going to London. During
the month of June there was remarkable activity shown
in nearly every direction, North Russia took about
78,000 tons more, Sweden 20,000 tons more, Germany
58,000 tons more, and Denmark 23,000 tons extra.
Business continued to boom during July, and by
the end of August the trade of the year up
to that date exceeded that for the corresponding
period of 1911. The increased business was still
done in the same direction, North Russia taking
one-third of the total, larger demands by South America,
Denmark, Germany, Holland and Sweden combining to
give largely increased figures compared with previous
year ; but the rate of expansion was not maintained
during October, although the trade with Germany was
still on the increase. There continued to be a slight
increase during November, and though the year’s total
may reach about 3J million tons, it will not be
equal to the previous record, of 1910 when nearly 3J
million tons were exported from Hull. It seemed
almost certain that the trade with North Russia will
have equalled 1 million tons during the year, which is
probably a record for the port and equal to 25 per cent,
of the entire export to Russia from Britain. On the
other hand, a good deal of trade with Sweden has been
lost to this district, the total for the year being about
100,000 tons short of what was sent during 1910. The
remainder of the shortage is largely explained by the
fact that the export through the Dutch ports was far
below the experience of two years ago. The bulk of the
coal still continues to be supplied by the larger and
newer collieries in the Doncaster district, and at certain
periods of the year very strong competition has existed
between the Denaby and Cadeby Main collieries, and
the newer pits of Grimethorpe and Frickley, for the
leading position. At the close of March the Denaby
and Cadeby Main held a considerable lead, and the two
joint firms mentioned were the only contributors over
100,000 tons during the quarter. Though the older
collieries still maintained the premier position at the
close of the first half-year, they had a big reverse on the
year’s trading, and in September the Grimethorpe and
Frickley combination took the lead—a fact which was
possibly due to the stoppage of the Cadeby Colliery. At
the end of November, when about half a-million tons
increased business had been done, the Grimethorpe and
Frickley collieries show an increase of nearly 200,000
tons. The Bentley Colliery had sent about 85,000 tons
more. The new colliery at Bulcroft, which was only
opened during the year, sent about 40,000 tons. Maltby,
anothei* of the new large pits, had sent over 70,000
tons, whilst the other large collieries which were
opened a few years back just about maintained their
position in relation to the trade at the port. Although
the Denaby and Cadeby collieries held a safe lead, they
sent over 200,000 tons less than during 1911.

Taking the year all through, the prices for large steam
coal have varied a great deal, but the general experience
cannot be regarded other than of a satisfactory
character. The settlement of the railway companies’
contracts, which are of increased bulk every year, and
consequently assumes greater importance, was con-
sidered to be fairly satisfactory. During 1911 the
railway companies paid 8s. 9d. per ton for the best
quality coal, but they were obtaining larger supplies of
fuel at 8s. per ton. In consideration of the added costs
which were in prospect for the past year, coalowners
were able to obtain an advance of Is. 3d. per ton, making
10s. per ton. The run of prices during the year have
all been in favour of the railway companies, having
regard to the advance of wages which were granted to
the men, in addition to the effect of the Minimum Wage
Act, and to say nothing of the boom in the trade.

Coalowners thus were in a very strong position to
demand an advance in proportion with the state of
affairs ; and although arrangements have been completed
on the basis of Ils. per ton for the best hards over 1913,
there is a great deal of dissatisfaction felt. The advance of
Is. 6d. per ton which is to be paid compares very unfavour-
ably with the increase of 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. per ton which
has been granted by the North-Eastern Railway Com-
pany to collieries on the northern part of their system.
No doubt had the South Yorkshire owners stood firm
they would have been able to have secured an equality
of treatment such as has been obtained by the northern
colliery owners. The fact that business was in such a
vigorous state at the period when the renewal of
contracts was under consideration, naturally led the
railway companies to effect a speedy settlement, as did
also the steam trawler companies at Hull and Grimsby,
who are stated to consume about 1 million tons per
year. In the case of some of the trawler companies,
where coal is taken by keel on the canal, 12s. per ton is
being paid. It is also noteworthy that shippers were
more generally disposed to fix up contracts for 1913,
but they were too late. During the early part of
December they had offers in their hands on the same
basis as the railway companies, but they adopted a
waiting policy, and towards the close of the month, when
they wished to accept the offer of Ils. 6d. per ton, coal-
owners refused to entertain this, and, so far as business
on export account for 1913 is concerned, very little
has been done. The railway companies have also
paid about the same rate of advance for Parkgate and
Shafton coal, the bigger proportion of which is being
used for branch trains, and collieries producing
this quality of coal have no doubt done very
well in obtaining an increase in the same pro-
portion to the sellers of the better-class fuel. At
the opening of the year large steams were quoted at
10s. 3d. per ton, with seconds from 6d. to 9d. per ton
less. Subsequently the scare of a strike became very
much felt, and prices advanced something like 2s. to
2s. 6d. per ton, whilst shipping was handicapped owing
to high freights. During February collieries had a great
deal of trouble, owing to the scarcity of wagons and the
congested state of affairs on the railways, and towards
the end of the month bigger prices prevailed, coal being
secured when it was an absolute necessity, regardless of
price. During the period of the strike in March fabulous
prices were obtained for any fuel which was available,
but the steam trawlers were laid up, and export trade
was practically at a standstill. From 25s. to 30s. per
ton was paid for bunker coal at Hull, and it was freely
stated that the Cadeby Main Colliery Company, who
had a large ground stock, were obtaining £2 per ton for
steam coal at Liverpool. It was only after a considerable
period, when the pits had restarted, that prices began
to fall, and possibly the values for large steams
became the first affected, because exporters found it
convenient to hold their hands until business became
something like a normal character. However, in May,
when the pits had been at work a month after the
strike, best hards were quoted at 15s. per ton, but
they quickly fell to Ils. 6d. to 12s. per ton in the
middle of May. Shippers had the advantage until
June, when the general home demand enabled coal-
owners to take a much firmer stand. In June 11s. 6d.
per ton was refused foi' the best hards beyond the end
of that month, but the scarcity of shipping tonnage
continued to keep the position in favour of exporters.
However, the rush of trade had to come, and there were
marked developments during August, when prices of
best steams went up to 12s. per ton, and to the end of
the year exporters have had to pay what they considered
to be exceptionally high prices, the extra demand for
Russia being a very strong feature in favour of sellers.
During the latter part of the year it was a somewhat
remarkable feature that the Derbyshire best steam coal
was making a higher price at Hull than South York-
shire coal, but this position subsequently became altered
and the district coal resumed its usual position. It was
reported at the end of August a 12 months contract
was made for best hards at Ils. per ton pit for the
coming year, and another important contract was
secured to the district in October, when the Carlton
Main Colliery Company, the owners of the new collieries
at Grimethorpe and Frickley, accepted the contract of
the Cunard Steamship Company to supply a quarter
of a-million tons over the year of large washed nuts
and slacks at, it is stated, about 10s. 6d. per ton. The
contract came to the district a few years ago, having
been previously held in South Wales, but the present
holders have taken it for the first time, and having
regard to the price which is to be paid for next year for
small coal alone, the buyers have evidently made a very
good bargain. The experience of shippers of large
steam coal has been a very unenviable one, for in

addition to having to pay the marked advance which,
has taken place in the prices of coal, freights have in
most cases doubled during the year and exporters
selling on the c.i.f. basis have been very hard hit.
Coalowners however feel that in normal times they
have been exploited in a serious degree by the middle-
men, and would be glad to see this class of trade
reduced to a very considerable extent.

Manufacturing Fuel.

The experience of the year in regard to this class of
coal has probably never been equalled in the history of
the trade. Although the collieries in this district have
worked so regularly, the development of the general
trade of the country has been such that the supply of
small steam coal can never have been said to be
ample during the latter part of the year to meet
the requirements, and during the closing months of
the year there something like a famine prevailed,
despite the efforts of coalowners to produce as large a
quantity as they possibly could. It was somewhat
remarkable to find that during November and onwards
the best washed nuts were making an equal price to
the best large, whilst the arrangements for 1913 in
regard to small coal are of such a description as to be
truly remarkable. The explanation of the boom is
generally agreed to be found in the fact that for a
considerable period both the engineering and the textile
industries have been working overtime for a continuous
period with only ordinary contracts running for coal
supplies, and under such conditions the loss of a
month’s output due to the strike has never been
recovered. Another material factor in the situation is
the continued development of coke manufacture, which
is now so extensive as to require one-sixth of the total
output, whilst collieries have established by-product
plants to such a degree that they cannot produce
sufficient small coal to supply their own requirements.
At the opening of the year best nuts were making 8s.
per ton and secondary qualities 9d. to Is. per ton less,
whilst the best grade of slacks were being sold at 6s.
per ton and rougher qualities up to 5s. per ton. After
the effect of the strike had passed away, the extent of
the demand became so large and was so well sustained,
that coalowners were able to take a very decided
stand, and insisted on an advance of from 2s. to 2s. 6d.
per ton on all contracts to be renewed for small coal.
Subsequent experience proved how well founded was
their action, and only a short period later consumers
who refused to pay this amount found not a little
difficulty in placing their contracts. From this time
to the end of the year consumers had one constant
struggle to obtain adequate and regular deliveries at
their works,’ and where it was necessary to purchase
extra tonnage in the open market, much higher prices
than ever were thought of have had to be paid. During
August business was done at the following figures:—
Best washed nuts 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton, best slacks
7s. 9d. to 8s. per ton. During September prices went
up fully Is. per ton, and as already stated, towards the
end of the year coalowners with surplus fuel were
enabled to secure a very extensive increase—in fact,
during December consumers could not obtain supplies
and had to meet the situation by purchasing
secondary qualities of house nuts, which were more
freely to be obtained, but which commanded an increase
from about Is. 6d. per ton more than the contract rates
for the best slacks. The outlook for 1913 is unparalleled,
and there seems little reason to doubt the oft-repeated
statement that nearly the whole output of small coal
for the year is already under contract at prices which
show an advance of 2s. 6d. to 3s. per ton on contracts
which were made in June last.

House Coal.

This section of the trade, which yearly becomes of
lessened importance so far as the bulk of the business
of the district is concerned, has been affected in a
very considerable degree by the varying conditions
during the year. The bulk of the output is produced
from the Barnsley bed, which at the same operation
produces steam as well as the soft quality fuel which
has largely been of secondary consideration in regard to
the working of the collieries. In this way stocks have
accumulated at various times, and in this respect
collieries have perhaps been more affected owing to the
panic buying of the public. With the more rapid
developments of the coal area in the Midlands, the
volume of trade with London and the south has hardly
been maintained, though the better quality Silkstone
and Haigh Moor coal, which is only produced to a
limited extent in South Yorkshire, has been fully an
average one. The local fuel continues to be more
readily disposed of in the nearer markets, and the West
Yorkshire industrial districts, owing to the price at
which it can be sold, compared with the more valuable
house fuel produced in West Yorkshire. In January