January 10, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 75 delivered, which showed a reduction of 7d. to Is. 3d. per ton below the current market rates, but was at the same time 2s. to 2s. 8d. per ton higher than the prices paid under the preceding year’s contract. At the beginning of June, while there was a consider- able consumption of house coal, owing to cold weather, the retail charges in the larger centres of population were 9d. to Is.per ton lower than a fortnight previously. The call for splint coal was now greatly reduced, in consequence of the much smaller quantities required for gasmaking; but the demand for manufac- turing purposes, on the other hand, served to keep splint from falling to so low a level as had been experienced in some former times. There was a rather better feeling in the coal trade about the middle of June. Low prices had attracted local consumers and shippers, and sales quotations at Glasgow were for steam coal, 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d.; ell. 13s. to 13s. 6d.; splint, 13s. 6d. to 14s.; treble nuts, 14s. to 14s. 6d.; doubles, 13s. 6d. to 14s.; and singles, 12s. 6d. to 13s. per ton. Best screened steam coal was quoted at Leith 13s. to 13s. 6d. ; secondary qualities. 12s. to 12s. 6d.; treble nuts, 13s. 6d. to 14s.; doubles, 12s. 6d. to 13s.; and singles, 12s. to 12s. 9d. First-class screened navigation coal was quoted at Methil and Burntisland 16s. to 17s.; un- screened, 13s. 6d. to 14s. 6d.; first-class steam coal, 13s. 6d. to 14s.; treble nuts, 14s. to 14s. 6d.; doubles, 13s. to 14s.; and singles, 12s. 6d. to 13s. per ton. The foreign shipments during a part of September did not bulk so well as they had done in the preceding month. In Fifeshire, a steady demand was experienced for lower Baltic ports, but there was less doing in long-distance Board, and to the drafting of a new wages agreement in connection with a sliding scale. The latter, it was understood, would be made to rest upon a higher basis than that under which wages were regulated for many years in Scotland without resort to strikes. In the early part of November the miners at a number of collieries in Lanarkshire had to go on short time owing to the scarcity of wagons. A representative committee of coal masters, who had this question under consideration, ascertained that the delays complained of had occurred chiefly on the Caledonian system, there being very much less reason for complaint as to the working of the coal traffic on the North British and Glasgow and South-Western railways. The matter being thus narrowed to one company for the most part, it was felt by the committee that it would be the more were abo helped to some extent by an impression that got abroad in the markets that prices of coal were not unlikely to be higher this season than formerly, This impression seemed to rest mainly on two facts—the one being that costs of output were increasing, and the other that tenderers of coal under contract were now almost unanimous in quoting higher prices. An instance of this was found in the offers sent in to Glasgow Corporation for splint coal for the gas manufacture. It was understood that while 800,000 to 900,000 tons might be required for the twelve months, only about 500,000 would be fixed up at this time. The prices quoted ranged from 2s. to 2s. 6d. per ton above those put forward at the same time in 1911. It may almost certainly be assumed that for whatever supplementary quantities coal masters are asked to supply, somewhat higher rates will be charged, as prices advanced considerably in the latter part of 1912; but, of course, some six months of the contracts have yet to run. The Swedish State Railways contracts were placed about this time and the quantity asked for was about 475,000 tons. It had been stated that a large proportion of the coal was, on this occasion, likely to be drawn from Continental sources, and when the contracts were fixed it appeared that 120,000 tons were taken from Scotland, and 123,000 from Durham and Northumber- land. The prices obtained for the Scotch coal varied from 18s. 3d. to 19s. 7d. per ton, according to quality and conditions of shipment. There was at this time a heavy decrease in the shipments from the east coast, due to some derangement in tonnage and the almost total suspension of coal traffic with the Thames, owing to the London dockers’ strike. First-class screened navigation coal was now at 14s. 6d. to 15s. 9d. per ton. In the latter part of June the Glasgow Corporation Gas Committee provisionally fixed up from 500,000 to 600,000 tons of coal already stated to have been tendered for, and the larger proportion of it was splint coal (some also being of the finer ell qualities), the prices being 2s. to 2s. 6d. per ton above those of the preceding year. Third Quarter. There was a brisk demand for coal in the early part of July in anticipation of the annual trades holidays, during which the pits would be closed. A considerable increase occurred in the coastwise shipments, and current enquiries in connection with the export depart- ment seemed to indicate that a good business might be experienced in the near future. The run on single nuts became so strong that prices were advanced 6d. per ton ’ held with the view of devising means of having the for current month’s contracts. I unsatisfactory state of matters remedied. At this The volume of business in coal showed a considerable advanced stage of the season, when it was important improvement at the beginning of August. There was a ’ that loading should be promptly carried through, there hardening tendency in prices for certain qualities of ! were serious delavs at quite a number of the ports, and coal, and in several districts increases of 6d. to 9d. per the collieries were in a number of cases kept partly ton were intimated for supplies up till the end of the idle, month. The effort to enforce these advances failed in 1 some instances, however, owing to the increasing fulness of supplies. Good household coal was now delivered in Glasgow from 15s. 9d. to 16s. 9d., and treble nuts from 15s. lOd. to 16s. per ton. There was an improving demand for long-distance cargoes, notwithstanding advancing freights, the enquiry to Mediterranean and River Plate ports promising favourable results. A decided improvement in business took place at east coast ports, supplies from the collieries greatly increased, a comparative absence of frost, so that cargoes went to and a much larger number of vessels was available for loading. The clearances at the different loading ports now included a larger proportion of coal for abroad, and at the same time the coastwise and Irish traffic was well maintained, the full supply and moderate prices of coal serving to compensate for higher freights. A favourable condition of trade was experienced through- out the whole of the month. Coalmasters and merchants intimated advances in prices from the beginning of September. Whole coal was raised Is., and dross 3d. to 6d. per ton for manu- facturing consumption. House coal was raised Is. in the Lothians, and there was also an upward tendency in prices at both Firth of Forth and Fife ports. The f.o.b. easily dealt with. A strike of coal trimmers at Ardrossan greatly curtailed the coal traffic at that port towards the end of the year. House coal sold very well throughout November at firm prices, and a large demand existed for manufacturing qualities. It was reported that contracts were placed for about 30,000 tons of Scotch coal for the Russian State Railways. The coal shipments were much reduced at the beginning of December by the delays caused to vessels cargoes, the rising course of freights being a source of difficulty to shippers. It was reported about the middle of the month, that out of about 120,000 tons of coal required for the Danish State Railways, between October and March 60,000 tons, or one-half, had been placed with Scotch shippers, while the remainder had been ordered from Westphalia. Steam and ell coal were in moderate demand, but the call for splint was rapidly expanding with the course of the season. Stormy weather and high freights, restricted export business ; from extremely boisterous weather. While the shipment towards the end of the month, but there was at the ! business was thus restricted, the sudden occurrence of severe frosts led to an extraordinary demand for house coal for home use. The demand in Glasgow, for example, was so great that not a few households found it impossible to obtain supplies, and the retail coalmen obtained greatly enhanced prices without question. An impetus was given to business at this time, which con- tinued to affect the trade right on to the Christmas holidays. It became at one time very difficult for merchants to obtain coals so as to meet the require- ments of their customers, and the better sorts of house coal were selling wholesale at the pits at about 18s. per ton—a price which did not leave much margin of profit to the seller after haulage and other charges were met. The f .o.b. prices at Glasgow at the close of the year were for ell coal 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d., steam coal 13s. 6d. to 14s., splint 14s. to 14s. 6d., treble nuts 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d., doubles 12s. 9d. to 13s., and singles 12s. to 12s. 6d. per ton. Best screened steam coal was quoted at Leith 13s. to 13s. 6d., secondary qualities 12s. to 12s. 3d., trebles 13s. 6d. to 14s., doubles 12s. 9d. to 13s., and singles lls.9d. to 12s. At Methil and Burntisland first-class screened naviga- tion coal was quoted f.o.b. at 17s. to 18s., unscreened 15s. to 16s., first-class steam coal 13s. 9d. to 14s., doubles 12s. 6d. to 13s., singles 12s. to 12s. 3d., and dross 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton. The Advance in Prices. There has been a substantial advance in coal prices during the past year. Without taking into account the abnormal rates that prevailed during the national strike, but which are noted above, steam coal f.o.b. at Glasgow was 3s. per ton higher in December than in January, ell 2s., splint 2s., treble nuts 3s., doubles 2s. 9d. and singles 3s. to 3s. 3d. per ton. Steam coal f.o.b. at Leith advanced 2s. 3d., treble nuts 2s. to 2s. 6d.. doubles 3s. to 3s. 3d. and singles 3s. to 3s. 6d. At Methil and Burntisland the f.o.b. quotations of naviga- tion coal, for which there has been an excellent demand, are very substantially higher. Screened rose 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d., unscreened 3s. 6d., steam coal 3s. to 3s. 6d., treble nuts 2s. to 2s. 6d., doubles 2s. 6d. and singles 2s. 3d. to 3s. per ton. The figures for January and December are given below in each of the three principal shipping districts :— Clyde Ports. January. same time a large increase in the demand for house coal, and the requirements of manufacturers were on an unprecedentedly extensive scale. Fourth Quarter. The volume of coal shipments was unsatisfactory at the opening of October. At some ports, it is true, there was a plethora of vessels awaiting cargoes, but many of these vessels had been fixed to load with the produce of specified collieries, and had therefore to await their turn, as it was impossible to supply them all within the time usually required for loading. Complaints were also made of a short supply of railway wagons, this being a somewhat unusual circumstance for a long time past, but one which became more acute towards the end of the year. It was intimated that a general advance in prices would be made as from the beginning of the present month; but the heavy supplies of coal rendered this impossible so far as the shipment department of the trade was concerned. In fact, steam and ell coal rather cheapened as compared with the prices that were current a month previously. House coal was in request for home use, and best house coal was delivered in Glasgow at 21s. 9d., best parlour coal 19s. 6d., kitchen coal and treble nuts 18s. 9d. per ton, and when retailed by the cwt. good house coal brought lOJd. to Is. delivered in bags. Trouble with dock labourers had been more or less existent at some of the docks throughout the year, and it was now particularly troublesome on the east coast, where the coal trimmers insisted on leaving off work at one o’clock on Saturdays instead of four, which had hitherto been the custom. The despatch of vessels was thus seriously delayed. Towards the end of October very serious interruption occurred in the transmission of coals from the collieries to the ports in consequence of a scarcity of railway wagons. Remonstrances made with the railway people had little or no effect, and meetings of those interested were The shortage of wagons was all the more deplorable, because the railway people, with the sup- port of the Railway Commissioners, had decided not to allow the colliery proprietors to supply additional wagons of their own. The grievances became exceed- ingly inconvenient and irritating, but the railway authorities did not afford any remedy, except that one of the companies gave out orders for a number of new wagons in the closing weeks of the year. The season, although stormy, was distinguished by lower Baltic ports until about the beginning of November. When the trade in that direction ceased, a further shrinkage occurred in the shipments. It should be stated that in the early autumn the coal- owners claimed a reduction of wages, owing to a reaction in prices ; but as values subsequently improved to some extent this claim was abandoned. On the other hand, in the early part of November the colliers were granted an increase of 6J per cent, in their wages—equal to 3d. per day, which brought the day’s wage up to 6s. 9d. At the same time, it was agreed that both parties should allow the wages question to rest until the end of the year, and in the meantime address themselves to the selection of a permanent chairman of the Conciliation December. Steam coal s. 10 (*. R. 6—11 d. 0 ... s. 13 d. s. 6—14 d. 0 Eli coal 11 6—12 0 ... 13 6—13 9 Splint coal 12 0—12 6 ... 14 0— ’4 6 Treble nuts 10 6—10 9 ... 13 3—13 6 Double nuts 10 0—10 3 ... 12 9-13 0 Single nuts 9 3— 9 6 ... 12 0—12 6 Firth of Forth Ports. r. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Best screened steam c< al 10 9—11 3 ... 13 0—13 6 Treble nuts 11 3—11 6 ... 13 6—14 0 Double nuts 9 6—10 0 ... 12 9—13 0 Single nuts 8 6— 9 0 ... 11 9—12 0 Fife s. Ports. d. s. d. s. d. s d. Screened navigation coal 13 6—14 3 ... 17 0—18 0 Unscreened ditto 11 6—12 6 ... 15 0—16 0 Steam coal JO 0—11 0 ... 13 6—14 6 Treble nuts 11 0—12 0 ... 13 6—14 0 Double nuts 10 0—10 6 ... 12 6—13 0 Single nuts 9 0— 9 6 ... . 12 0—12 3 at Coal Shipments. The following table exhibits the coal the different Scotch ports during 1912, year’s figures being added for comparison :— shipments the previous