January 17, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 135 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL, There is now throughout the steam coal market a firm tendency to quotations both for prompt and future delivery. At present collieries are very full, and have plenty on their hands to provide supplies for the next five or six weeks, beyond which neither buyer nor seller are pushing their enquiries. Just now the actual business being done is very limited, colliery salesmen being very confident as to the trend of values, and will not relax a penny, while buyers express themselves equally confident that when some of the heavy contracts now about to be shipped are cleared away there will be a general relaxation. The present disposition of the freight market adds colour to their views, as there is now not much tonnage about for later than 10 days ahead, and freight showing a stronger tendency. Smalls participate in the higher values ruling and continue in good demand, more especially for bunkering purposes. House coal values remain unchanged, a steady trade prevailing both for inland delivery and export. Steady deliveries of pitwood have been coming in, while values, which inclined to go Is. higher early in the week, have fallen back to previous level of 21s. to 21s. 6d. ex-ship. Latest approximate quotations may be taken as follow:— Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Wes tern-valley s, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals . Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 17/9 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/9 16/6 to 17/ 16/ to 16/3 13/3 to 13/6 12/3 to 12/9 11/6 to 12/ 13/6 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6 21/ to 22/ 22/ to 24/ 27/ to 30/ Last week’s prices.’ 16/9 to 17/ 16/3 to 16/9 15/9 to 16/ 15/3 to 15/9 12/9 to 13/3 11/9 to 12/ 11/ to 11/6 13/ to 13/3 14/3 to 14/6 14/6 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 20/6 to 21/ ! 22/ to 24/ : 27/ to 30/ IRON. The local iron and steel market has been quiet this week pending to-day's quarterly meeting at Birmingham, against which many matters are being held over. Works all round continue to be well employed, and, although there are not many actual orders being booked, quotations are very firm, and have an upward tendency. Tin-plate bar and sheet bar mills are exceptionally active, despite the heavy arrivals of foreign bars, of which 10,000 tons came in last week alone. For Welsh bars quotations are very firm at £5 17s. 6d. Bessemer and £5 17s. 6d. to Siemens. Steel rails are quoted .£6 10s. to £6 15s. for heavy sections, with ’works fairly busy, but new enquiry scarce. The present output of pig iron is large, but not sufficient to deplete the heavy arrears of deliveries. Quotations for Welsh haematite are firm at 91s. 6d. to 92s. 6d. delivered to works in the district, while for prompt delivery of small lots makers are getting quite their own figures. There is very little business of importance moving in the tin-plate department. Most works are well placed with orders for some weeks to come, and quotations remain firm on a basis of 15s. 4|d. to 15s. 6d. Bessemer and 15s. 6d. to 15s. 7|d. Siemens for I C's 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. COAL. “So far as this market is concerned, everything is very rosy. There is a good supply of tonnage, a big demand for coal, and prices are satisfactory." In these expressive phrases was the present condition of the market described by one of the best known experts on 'Change. The only .fly in the ointment is the difficulty in obtaining tips, with the result that here and there colliery proprietors have to accept comparatively low prices in order to get their wagons cleared by those who are in the happy position of being able to ship promptly. Normal prices of best steam coals are anything between 18s. 9d. and 19s. 6d., but even the latter figure has in some exceptional cases been exceeded. Coalowners are still most optimistic in their views as to the future. Provided that plenty of tonnage is forthcoming, they say they have no reason to expect that current quotations will not only be maintained, but even improved upon. It is very significant that foreign buyers, though it cannot be said that they have become reconciled to the levels which have been attained, have now quite made up their minds that high prices will have to be paid in the future in order to secure their requirements. There is no question that there is a world-wide scarcity of coal, particularly as regards the lower grades, the shortage of which has become accentuated by the great activity in all industries. By way of example, Germany in numbers of cases is now actually buying coal from the Welsh collieries instead of competing with them in neutral markets. Such a state of affairs has not been experienced for a very con- siderable time. Not only have the Germans withdrawn coal formerly placed on the market, but they have become large buyers themselves. An interesting sidelight has been furnished on this question within the last few days.1 The demand for coke at present is more than can be supplied, and makers are practically dictating their own prices. The returns from the iron makers fully prove this fact. There has been a large quantity of tonnage taken up at the principal Welsh ports within the last few days. At Cardiff alone last week, both for the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and Greece, the number of vessels engaged was almost phenomenal. The present position of Eastern policy is no doubt the cause of the Powers laying in stock at the various strategical depots. The total chartering transactions last week covered over half-a-million tons, which practically represents a record for Cardiff and Barry. The present week has also commenced well. The engagement of so much tonnage probably means busy times ahead, but it is feared that the dock accommodation will fall far short of what is required. This is a burning question; the lack of more accommodation has already had, and will continue to be, a very detrimental effect on the prices of coal. In some quarters it is estimated that it has already entailed a loss to coalowners of Is. to Is. 6d. per ton. In other words, had there been more tips available there would have been greater pressure for coals on the part of buyers, which in all probability would have sent up prices over Is. per ton. Freights, in consequence principally of the difficulties of stemming, are all on the easy side, and this, of course, has a tendency to increase the demand for coal, especially of the cheaper kinds, which are relatively dearer than best. It is calculated that there is a shortage of Russian coal to the extent of about 800,000 tons, which will have to be made up mainly by the English and Welsh collieries. The Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Railways are in the market for about 38,000 tons of Monmouthshire large and through coals, and also for 10,000 tons of patent fuel. The Italian States railways are reported to have purchased over 20,000 tons of Yorkshire coal on a c.i.f. basis. There is a big demand for small coal, and high prices are being realised for all qualities. In Monmouthshire coals further advances are reported. No. 3 Rhondda bituminous coals are quoted at 18s. 6d., but some of the best collieries are still accepting 17s. 6d. For No. 2 coals there is more demand for small than for large coals. Shipments of patent fuel keep well up to the average. The Crown company shipped during the week 13,641 tons, Swansea 1,176 tons, and other makers 1,880 tons. For best brands 24s. is asked. No buyers can be found at that figure, but 23s. has been obtained on several occasions. The demand for coke is as strong as ever. Pitwood for prompt delivery is 21s., but contracts have been made over the next six weeks on the basis of 20s. 6d. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 18/9 to 19/6 18/3 to 18/6 17/6 to 18/ 15/ 14/9 13/6 to 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 18/6 to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 16/ to 16/3 14/6 to 15/3 14/9 to 15/ 13/ to 14/ 14/6 17/9 to 18/ 17/6 to 17/9 17/3 16/6 to 16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6 to 17/9 15/9 to 16/ 14/3 to 14/6 16/ 14/6 13/6 23/ to 24/ 22/ to 22/6 33/ to 34/ 32/ 25/6 to 28/ 21/ Last week's prices. 18/6 to 18/9 18/ 17/6 to 17/9 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 13/ to 13/3 12/9 17/9 to 18/3 17/ to 17/6 16/ to 16/6 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 12/9 to 13/3 14/6 to 15/ 17/ 16/9 16/3 15/9 19/ 18/ 17/6 to 17/9 16/3 to 16/6 14/6 to 15/ 15/9 to 16/ 14/9 to 15/ 13/6 to 14/ 23/ 20/ to 21/6 33/ to 34/ 30/ to 31/ 25/ to 27/ 21/6 Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through... Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through... Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2£ per cent. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. The tin-plate trade continues very dull. Compared with the corresponding week of six months ago, there are 22 less tin-plate mills now operating, but one-half of those are idle owing to the Balkan War. A. meeting of makers was held the other day to consider the advisability of closing down some of the works, but nothing came of it. It is worthy of note that of the total quantity of 480,910 tons of tin-plates exported from the United Kingdom last year, no less than 444,642 tons were shipped at Swansea. This means an increase of 12 000 tons, notwithstanding the stoppage caused by the national coal strike. In the galvanised sheet trade there has been an increase during the year of 8,000 tons, and the Swansea Harbour Trust have decided to spend over .£3,000 in the erection of additional warehouses. There is rather more enquiry for tin-plates for delivery during January and February, but prices show no tendency to rise in the same proportion as raw materials. With tin and bars at their present high figures, the margin of profit left on tin-plates is almost at vanishing point. Bessemer standard cokes are selling at 15s. to 15s. l^d., and oil sizes at 15s. 6d. and 22s. Whether the scarcity of stocks in the United States will cause any improvement in the trade it is as yet impossible to say, but it is said that the American Steel Corporation are being strongly pressed for steel sheets, and will therefore be unable to turn out as many tin-plates as formerly. Imports of steel during the week have been very small, and the Welsh mills are experiencing a very busy time. Quotations for tin bars remain firm at .£5 17s. 6d. to j£6, but premiums of at least 2s. 6d. per ton are being paid for early delivery. Not much business is doing in galvanised sheets, and 24-gauge corrugateds are still obtainable at J>12 5s., though there are some makers who ask rather more. After a stoppage of nine weeks operations have been resumed at the four spelter producing establishments at Swansea. The settlement places matters much as they were prior to the strike, plus 13s. to be divided amongst the hands engaged on Sunday in charging the furnaces. This is the third attempt on the part of the men to abolish Sunday labour, and on each occasion it has proved a failure. The rail mills are very busy. Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds have booked orders for 7,000 tons of 88| lb. rails for the East India Railway, and 4,000 tons of 75 lb. rails for the Indian States. All departments of the Dowlais Works are very busy, the blast furnaces, as well as the Bessemer and Siemens, being in full operation, and a furnace which has been out of blast for some time is now being rapidly got ready for work again. Welsh pig iron continues steady at 87s. 6d. f.o.t. Best rubio iron ore is 22s., seconds 20s. 6d. Almeria ore is 21s. to 21s. 6d. Imports during the week have been very heavy. Scrap metals are firmer, heavy wrought being 57s. 6d. to 60s., heavy steel and cast 62s. 6d, to 65s., and new steel crop ends 75s. Swansea. GOAL. Considerable activity characterised the trade of the port during the week. There was a good supply of tonnage available and shippers of coal and patent fuel were busy. The shipments amounted to 113,517 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change this morning and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was steady. There was an excellent demand for Swansea Valley large, and with a good supply of ready tonnage, prices were, if anything, a shade firmer. Red Vein large was also very firm. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were a strong market. There was a brisk demand for rubbly culm, whilst duff was also in good request, with last prices fully upheld. In the steam coaj market there was no alteration and this department closed steady. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Last week’s Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand prices. prices. picked) (net) 23/6 to 25/6 23/6 to 25/6 Secondary do Big Vein large (less 2| 21/6 to 22/6 21/6 to 22/6 per cent.) 19/ to 21/ 19/6 to 21/6 Red Vein large do Machine - made cobbles 15/9 to 16/6 15/9 to 16/6 (net) 21/9 to 23/9 21/9 to 23/9 Paris nuts (net) 23/6 to 26/9 23/6 to 26/9 French do. do 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 27/ German do. do 24/ to 26/9 24/ to 26/9 Beans (net) Machine-made large peas 20/6 to 23/6 20/6 to 23/6 (net) 12/ to 14/9 12/ to 14/ Do. fine peas (net) — — Rubbly culm (less 2% p.c.) 7/3 to 7/9 6/9 to 7/3 Duff (net) Steam coals:— 4/9 to 5/6 4/9 to 5/6 Best large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 19/ Seconds do. 14/9 to 17/ 14/9 to 17/6 Bunkers do. 13/6 to 16/6 13/6 to 17/ Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— 10/6 to 11/9 10/6 to 11/9 Large (less 2|p.c.) Through - and - through 17/9 to 19/ 17/9 to 19/ (less 2| pc.) 15/ to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 Small (less 2| per cent.) 13/6 to 15/6 13/6 to 15/6 Patent fuel do 18/9 to 20/ 18/ to 18/6 IRON. The steel trade continues to be in a most flourishing state and, although every available furnace is at work, tin bars are scarce at local works. Compared with the corres- ponding week of six months ago, there were 22 less tin-plate mills operating last week in this district, one-half of these being idle, owing to the depression caused by the Balkan War. The shipments of tin-plates were 109,255 boxes, receipts from works 117,817 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 347,513 boxes. The Mannesmann Tube Works were busy and the foundries and engineering works had ample orders on hand. Llanelly. COAL. The demand for most coals in this market just now is good. The weakness which was noticeable last week has disappeared for the time being and prices are, if anything, firmer for most sorts. The heavy weather of late has not helped the market in the least and several boats are overdue in coming to port, with the result that cargoes are under load, awaiting shipment. Bunkers have again become firmer and prices are about 6d. to Is. per ton higher than they have been for the past couple of weeks. The inland trade is still on the weak side and buyers seem to be in no hurry to have coal sent on. Very high prices are being received from the manufacturing works for spot lots, quite 3s. per ton higher than normal times. This week's prices are:— Anthracite:— Best malting large Secondary do Big Vein large Red Vein do Machine-made cobbles ... German nuts French do Paris do Machine-made beans Do peas Rubbly culm Duff Other sorts:— Large steam coal Through-and-through ... Small Bituminous small coal ... Current prices. 24/6 to 25/6 22/6 to 23/ 19/6 to 21/6 14/6 to 16/ 22/ to 23/ 25/6 to 26/ 24/6 to 26/6 24/ to 26/6 22/ to 22/6 12/6 to 13/6 7/ to 8/ 4/9 to 5/6 16/ to 17/ 14/ to 15/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/6 to 13/ Last week’s prices. 24/6 to 25/6 23/ to 24/ 19/6 to 21/6 14/6 to 16/ 22/ to 23/ 25/ to 25/6 24/6 to 26/6 25/ to 26/6 22/ to 22/6 12/6 to 13/ 6/9 to 7/3 5/ to 5/6 16/ to 17/ 14/6 to 15/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/6 to 13/ Mr. W. C. Mountain, the well-known consulting electrical and mechanical engineer, of Sun Buildings, Newcastle-on- Tyne, notifies us that he has appointed Mr. J. E. Mace wan as his resident engineer in Glasgow, his office address being 131, West Regent-street. Hall Goal Export*.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, January 7, 1913, is as follows:—Amsterdam, 425 tons; Alexandria, 6,794; Antwerp, 944 ; Bombay, 674; Bremen, 1,308; Christiania, 659 ; Copenhagen, 2,580 ; Drontheim, 307 ; Ghent, 487 ; Gothenburg, 1,252 ; Harlingen, 556 ; Hamburg, 6,830 ; Harburg, 2,169 ; Husum, 514 ; Kallundborg, 932 ; Karachi, 502; Libau, 3,809; Oporto, 1,356; Oxelosund, 2,006; Port Said, 4,983 ; Riga, 2,466 ; Reval, 3,238 ; Rotter- dam, 17,943 ; Rouen, 307 ; Svendborg, 655 ; Stockholm, 2,836 : Stettin, 244 ; Terneuzen, 720 ; Windau, 201 ; total* 67,697 tons. Corresponding period last year, 60,071 tons.