22

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 3, 1913.

Cardiff. The Midland Great Western Railway of
Ireland renewed their contract for 120,000 tons of coal
with Messrs. Partridge, Jones and Co.

September. — The most outstanding feature in
September was the firmness of the freight market.
So highly remunerative were the rates offered in the
United States for homeward cargoes that many large
steamers left the Bristol Channel in ballast to take

advantage of the allurements held out. Of course, as
the tonnage on this side became scarcer, shipowners
were able to command almost their own price, and
during the month as much as 13s. 9d. was paid to
Genoa, 15s. to Venice, 13s. 9d. to Constantinople, 13se
to Naples and Port Said, 13| fr. to Algiers, 22s. to
Rio de Janeiro, and 23s. 3d. to Monte Video. Such
phenomenal advances made it increasingly difficult for
coalowners to maintain their prices for what free coal
they had for disposal, and although best steam
Admiralties were nominally quoted at 17s. to 17s. 3d.,
instances were recorded in which as low as 16s. 3d. was
accepted in order to enable collieries to release their
wagons, and so continue to provide employment for
their workpeople. Second class coals sold at from
15s. 3d. to 16s. 3d. per ton. For delivery over 1913,
there was ^considerable enquiry, but the prices asked by
sellers were often a bar to business. Particularly was
this the case with regard to best qualities. No colliery
was able to book again at 18s., but considered themselves
fortunate if they were able to obtain 17s. 9d. In fact,
one of the best collieries was said to have sold 300,000
tons for delivery in 1913 at 17s. 6d. per ton. In the
cheaper coals a good deal of business was done, and
altogether something like a quarter of a-million tons
were disposed of at 16s. 6d. The bulk of the Danish
State Railways contracts went to the Westphalian
Syndicate, whose tenders were on the basis of 19s. 5d.
c.i.f. Korsoer, or fully 4M. per ton lower than those
sent in by our own north country collieries. Welsh
steam coals at 23s. 6d. to 24s. c.i.f. Copenhagen were
altogether out of the question. The total shipments to
foreign countries for the month amounted to 2,387,536
tons, as against 2,172.636 tons in the corresponding
month of 1911, being an increase of 214,900 tons. From
Cardiff alone the shipments amounted to 1,596,602 tons,
an increase of 193,318 tons ; whilst from Port Talbot

replenishment of their depots. For a time there was
considerable uneasiness owing to the commandeering of
Greek vessels in Cardiff by the Greek Government, but
the difficulty was of short duration, though it led to the
temporary closing of the Cambrian Collieries at Clydach
and the enforced idleness of some 4,000 men. Germany
and Russia also took exceptionally large quantities of
coal. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in the
prices of Welsh coal Though best steams were quoted
at from 16s. 9d. to 17s., it was no uncommon occurrence
to find that cargoes were being obtained by buyers at
from 16s. to 16s. 3d. per ton. As regards Admiralty
seconds, the same thing occurred, buyers experiencing
but little difficulty in obtaining cargoes at 15s. 6d. to
15s. 9d., or 6d. to 9d. per ton under current quotations.
Though freights in the first week of the month were
slightly easier, Genoa being done at 12s. 9d., Malta at
Ils., and Oronstadt at 10s. 6d., buyers continued to
pursue a very cautious policy. They knew, of course,
that any activity on their part would send up freights
again, and, indeed, this was what really happened later in
the month, with the result that Genoa advanced to 13s. 3d.,
Venice to 15s. 6d., Naples to 13s., and Madeira to Ils. 6d.
per ton. The only ray of sunshine which lightened the
horizon was the leakage of news, despite the attempt to
keep it from exporters, that an enormous amount of
shipbuilding was going on, and net tonnage to the
extent of between 200,000 and 300,000 tons being turned
out at the various yards every month. A considerable
amount of contracting was done for 1913. The Booth
Steamship Company, who usually take about 150,000
tons per annum, renewed a contract with the Dowlais
Coal Company, and placed the balance of their require-
ments with the Tredegar Coal Company, whilst the
Orient Steamship Company again placed their order
for something like 70,000 tons with Messrs. W. Cory
and Sons Limited. In neither of these contracts was

there was an increase of 9,679, and from Swansea an
increase of 8,851 tons. Newport, on a shipment of
352,982 tons, showed an actual decrease of 467 tons.
One of the most significant events of the month was
the return of the Compagnie Gene rale Transatlantique
to the Welsh coalfields for their annual supplies. In
1911, owing to the labour troubles, and the difficulty
experienced in getting Welsh coals except at very high

prices, this company purchased large quantities of
Yorkshire and American coal. That they did not find
the experiment altogether satisfactory was evident
from the fact that they decided to again revert to
Welsh coals, of which they bought about 150,000 tons.
For such qualities as Albion they agreed to pay 17s. 3d.,
less the usual discount. For other descriptions, such
as Insole’s, the Rhymney, and kindred coals, the price
was a little less. Perhaps, however, the greatest
contracts placed during the month were those for the
French Nord and Midi railways. These were said to
amount for both through and small coals to about
400,000 tons. For small coal the prices in the case of
the earlier contracts were reported to be 17 fr., and

later from 18 fr. to 18J fr. c.i.f. Bordeaux.
Through coals were bought from Messrs. C. L. Clay
and Co. at an average price of 21| fr. c.i.f. Bordeaux.

The freight to Bordeaux was at the moment very high,! ings, 10s. to 10s. 6d. for best ordinary, and 9s. to 9s. 6d.
no less than 9 fr. 37| c. being asked, or 37J c. ' for best cargo qualities. For Monmouthshire coals there
above the top figure received during the then current! was an improved enquiry. Best Black Veins sold at 15s. 9d.,
year. The small coal market, on account of the Italian • Western Valleys at 15s., and Eastern Valleys at 14s. 6d.
vintage, was very quiet throughout nearly the whole * f.o.b. Cardiff. The Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Rail-
month, and in prices there was a substantial fall. Best ways bought 82,000 tons of large coal and 57,000 tons of
bunkerings sold at 10s., best ordinaries 9s. 6d. to 9s. 9d., ■ small coal from Messrs. Pyman, Watson and Co. at
and cargo qualities 8s. to 8s. 6d. per ton, but before the [ about 341 fr. for large, and 29J fr. for small, including
end of the month there was a recovery to the extent of the French tax and delivery into trucks at Marseilles.

3d. to 6d. per ton. The market for Monmouthshire
coals continued steady, Black Veins selling at 15s. 3d.
to 15s. 6d., Western Valleys 14s. 9d. to 15s., and Eastern
Valleys (best) 14s. to 14s. 3d. f.o.b. Cardiff.

October.—There was a very much increased demand
for coal all through October, and the shipments
amounted to 2,793,364 tons, being an increase over the
corresponding month of 1911 of no less than 607,313
tons. From Cardiff the exports reached a total of
1,855,548 tons, an increase of 416,463 tons, whilst from
Newport there was an increase of 80,912 tons, Port
Talbot 57,095 tons, and Swansea 47,607 tons. Naturally,
the war in the Balkans gave a considerable impetus to
the market. Several of the leading collieries received
very urgent enquiries, but while the situation in the

the price disclosed. To the disappointment of many
collieries the Cunard Steamship Company, who consume
about a quarter of a-million tons per annum, placed
their orders in the north. The Argentine Central
Railways gave out orders for 380,000 tons. The Lewis-
Merthyr and Standard companies each received 150,000
tons at 16s. lOJd. net, and Hood’s Glamorgan Colliery
Company 80,000 tons at a few pence less. The Buenos

Ayres Great Southern Railway Company arranged for
j the bulk of their supplies, which for the year usually
! amount to 350,000 tons. Most of the coal taken was
! Monmouthshire Black Veins at about 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d.,
less 2J per cent., an increase of Is. to Is. 3d. per ton on
* the previous year’s contract. There was also a good
i deal of contracting done for small coal—in fact, buyers
seemed more anxious to cover their requirements for
this commodity than for large coal, and one colliery,
producing good cargo small, entered into contracts for
■ the supply of something like 100,000 tons at 9s. 6d. per
I ton. This was about Is. 6d. in excess of the price
obtained at the close of 1911 for shipment over the then
ensuing 12 months. Another colliery obtained as much

as 11s. a ton for a portion of their output. For prompt
shipment prices kept very steady all through the month
on the basis of about 10s. 6d. to Ils. for best bunker-

For 55,000 tons of patent fuel for the same railway,
Messrs. Tabb, Burletson and Co. secured the contract,
at 37*80 fr., the fuel to be that known as the Star patent
fuel. The Algerian State Railways contracted with
Messrs. A. Cape and Co., of Paris, for the supply of
54,000 tons of Arrow fuel, at about 17s. 6d. f.o.b.

Shipments occasionally were very heavy, and in one
week from Cardiff alone there were despatched no less
than 422,000 tons, which, with two exceptions, was the
largest quantity exported since the middle of May. The
question of obtaining better facilities for tipping still
provoked considerable discussion, and the statement
that progress was being made with the preliminaries for
the erection of five new tips at Barry gave considerable
satisfaction.

East remained so uncertain, shipowners were reluctant	November.—The principal event in November was the

to allow their vessels to proceed to any port where
they would be likely to be intercepted by Grecian
or Italian warships. Happily, the fear, so far as
Italian warships were concerned, proved to be
groundless, for in the earlier part of the month the
announcement was made that peace had been concluded
between Turkey and Italy, and the Italian Government
chartered no less than from 20 to 25 vessels for the

placing of the Admiralty contracts for the supply of
steam coals for 1913. These contracts usually amount
in the aggregate to about a million and a-quarter tons,
and, of course, considerable interest is always taken in
the result, as the prices obtained generally give a lead
to succeeding contracts. There was the usual attempt
to prevent the prices leaking out, but the general
opinion was that they averaged from 16s. to 17s. net,
with a slightly higher figure for some of the premier
qualities. For the supply of coal for the naval
manoeuvres, it was understood that 6d. per ton extra
would be paid. The Austrian Lloyds Steamship Com-
pany, for the delivery of about 250,000 tons of best
steam coals for the year, agreed to pay from about
16s. 9d. to 17s., less 2J per cent. The bulk of this
contract was divided between the Lewis-Merthyr and
North’s Navigation collieries. There was unusual
pressure for coals all through the month, particularly
for the Mediterranean and Turkish waters, it being
officially stated that there were over 100 war vessels
requiring bunkering coals. Fortunately there was a
good supply of tonnage, the termination of the Baltic
season having led to the liberation of a large number of
vessels, whilst the congestion on the railways, both on
the Continent and in America, had appreciably reduced
the employment of steamers. The result was that
there was a very welcome fall in freights—Genoa
dropping to 12s. 3d., Port Said to 12s., and others in
proportion. This was Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. less than 14 days
previously. The question of tipping accommodation
became once more a burning one. Many shippers,
owing to their inability to obtain loading berths, had to
pay heavy demurrage charges. It was complained, too,
that there was a lack of engine-power to deal with the
traffic coming down from the collieries. Happily there
is some prospect of relief within a reasonable period.
The Cardiff Railway Company are erecting several new
tips alongside the Queen Alexandra Dock, the whole of
which are likely to come into operation before the
termination of the next half-year. The Barry Dock
Company are also providing additional tipping accom-
modation. Prices of coals advanced materially during
the month, as much as 17s. 9d. to 18s. being paid
for best colliery screened descriptions, Ils. 6d.
to 12s. for best bunkering small, and 10s. for
cargo qualities. Of the 380,000 tons of small coal
required by the French State Railways, it was reported
that Messrs. E. W. Cooke and Co. secured about 100,000
tons, whilst smaller quantities were allotted to Messrs.
Pyman, Watson and Co., Messrs. Moxey, Savon and Co.,
and Mr. Charles le Borgue, of Paris. The price paid
was reported to be about 20*05 fr. (inclusive of the
French tax) and delivered into trucks at a French port.
Monmouthshire coals ruled much firmer, Black Veins
realising 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., Western Valleys 15s. 6d. to
16s., and Eastern Valleys (best) 15s. f.o.b. Cardiff. The
Egyptian State Railways placed a further portion of
their contracts for 1913. Tenders had previously been
invited for 300,000 metrical tons of Monmouthshire and
ordinary Cardiff steams, but, owing to the high prices
quoted, the authorities did not buy more than half the
quantity. Amongst the local merchants who secured
orders were Messrs. Pyman, Watson and Co., Messrs.
Moxey, Savon and Co., Messrs. Thomas Stephens and Co.,
Messrs. Watts, Watts and Co., and Messrs. H. C. Vivian
and Co., and it was understood that the prices obtained
ranged from 15s. 6d. to 16s. per metrical ton, less 2A per
cent.

The exports during the month were very satisfactory.
From the whole of the Bristol Channel ports they
amounted to 2,614,539 tons, as against 2,236,608 tons in
the corresponding month of 1911, being an increase of
377,931 tons. From Cardiff alone the shipments
amounted to 1,702,814 tons, an increase of 184,337 tons,
while from Newport there was an increase of 82,308,
from Swansea 24,300 and from Port Talbot 74,313 tons.
An attempt was made by the coalowners’ association
to obtain a reduction in the wage rate of 2| per cent.
They based their claim on the fall in prices of both
large and small coal which had taken place during the
quarter for which the books were audited. Although at
the time of the national strike prices jumped Is. 2d. per
ton and reached 17s. 5d., they pointed out that in July
they fell to 16s. 2d., and in August to 16s., whilst in
September the price was only 16s. Id. The men refused
to concede the reduction, and when the matter was
referred to the arbitrament of Viscount St. Aldwyn, he
decided against the masters.

December.—The last month of the year was an excep-
tionally busy one. The Swedish Naval Department
placed an order with the Ferndale Colliery Company for
about 20,000 tons of their coals. Though the price was
not officially disclosed, there was reason to believe it
amounted to 18s. per ton, less 2| per cent. There was
also an extraordinary demand for coal from Russia. In