January 21, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 183 No. 4 forge, 66s. 9d.; and mottled and white 66s. 3d. East coast haematite pig is still very scarce, and the general market quotation for Nos. 1, 2, and 3 delivered over the first quarter of the year is 83s. A few cargoes of foreign ore were sold last week on the basis of 22s. 9d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, and that may be quoted as the general market quotation. Freights Bilbao-Middles- brough have been fixed at 6s. to 6s. 3d. and it is now difficult to obtain vessels at below the latter figure. There are no new features in the manufactured iron and steel industries. Works, though going at full pressure, are unable to fully satisfy customers, and under such favourable conditions values tend upward but no actual advances have been made. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The inland household trade is feeling the change of weather, and business is more brisk than it has been hitherto this winter. Telephonic communication has been resumed after an interval of more than a week, and the trade generally is getting into its accustomed channels again. The call for screened coals for forge and manu- facturing purposes shows no signs of abatement, requirements being for maximum quantities. With regard to shipping, bunkering requirements under contract are fully up to the high level of recent weeks, and the amount of open sale enquiry is distinctly above the average. A good deal of delay and inconvenience is experienced at the tips through the bad working of railway traffic. There is probably not very much surplus coal on the market, and quotations for screened Lancashire steam coals range from 13s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. f.i.b., prices being firmly held. The coastwise and cross channel quantities improved with better weather and more regular sailings. There is nothing new to report in reference to slacks and the small fuel trade. Supplies move off as raised, and prices for forward delivery are in sellers* favour. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week's House coal:— prices. prices. Best ... 16/3 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 16/9 16/6 Medium 14/6 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 1. 15/3 15/ K itchen 12/3 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) 13/6 to 13/9 13/6 to 13/9 JS Greened forge coal 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Best screened steam coal (f.o.b.) 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 Best slack 10/3 10/3 Secondary slack ’ 9/6 9/6 Common do 9/ 9/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The improvement reported last week in the house coal trade continues and prices are unchanged. Furnace coal meets with a steady enquiry and business in shipping coal continues good. The demand for slack is good, but seems to be fairly met by supplies coming forward. Prices generally are as follow:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week's 1 House coal:— prices. prices. Best 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ Medium 15/3 to 16/ 15/3 to 16/ Common 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Furnace coal 12/6 12/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 14/ 14/ Best slack 9/6 to 10/ 9/6 to 10/ Common slack 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ IRON. The market in Manchester on Tuesday last was fairly well attended. Pig iron is still very brisk, and prices are well maintained. All forges are pulled out of the place for deliveries, present prices being crown bars .£8 15s., second quality .£8 5s., hoops £8 12s. 6d., sheets £9 7s. 6d. Steel- works are working at full pressure, and are asking £8 10s. to £8 12s. 6d., less 2| per cent, for bars, and £6 12s. 6d. net for billets. Ironfounders and heavy engineers are fairly well employed. Wagon builders are extremely busy. Textile machinery makers are also very busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire Leeds. COAL. The Yorkshire Coal Exchange was attended by about the average number of traders on Tuesday, and business in all departments was good. The bulk of the enquiries from the merchants present concerned steam-raising sorts, although a fair amount of house coal changed hands. South York- shire collieries were well represented, and there were also present a good number of shippers from the Humber ports. The pits have not been able to work full time again on account of scarcity of empty wagons and the congestion of traffic on the railways. Strong complaints were made with regard to the time occupied in getting supplies through from the collieries to the depots, and instances were given of loaded trucks occupying eight days to travel 17 miles. Prices, all round, were firmly held, especially for forward business. House Coal.—The improvement in house coal noted last week has been maintained, and stocks in colliery sidings have been greatly reduced. London merchants and factors have taken fuller supplies of the best qualities, in addition to taking full contract tonnage. Factor's stocks at the re-labelling junctions are also lower on the week, and with better reports of the retail trade from the London depots, all pit prices are firmer. Coastwise shipments have been better this week, but the scarcity of small boats, particularly sailing vessels, is still marked, and freights in consequence are high. In the West Riding industrial centres merchants are fully employed, as the demand from the public shows considerable improvement. So far, chief attention has been given to the cheaper grades. Current pit prices:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s. ; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 16s. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 15s. 6d.; ordinary house coal, 14s. to 15s.; secondary sorts, 13s. to 14s. Gas Coal.—At many of the collieries contract deliveries of screened gas coal and nuts are in arrears. There is considerable open market buying, and prices continue to show marked firmness. The export trade is brisk, and there are a large number of Continental enquiries circulating* For January shipment, f.o.b. Hull figures average as follows:—Screened gas coal, 14s. 9d. to 15s. 6d.; gas nuts, 13s. 91. to 14s. 6d.; unscreened gas coal, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. Manufacturing Fuel.—The strike in connection with the dyeing trade at Bradford is still unsettled. The stoppage of these works, however, seems to have had little effect upon manufacturing fuel, all descriptions of which are scarce and dear. There are no stocks at the pits, and reserves at the depots are also light. Coking slacks are difficult to buy, and washed nuts are even scarcer than last week. Furnace Coke.—There is no difficulty in getting 21s. to 22s. at the ovens for prompt deliveries of the best grades of washed coke. For forward business, however, buyers are holding back, preferring to risk the open market rather than pay the high prices quoted. Enquiries from Middles- brough are still numerous. The bulk of the local make is going to Frodingham, the Midlands, and the local iron and steel works in the Leeds district. House coal:— Current Last week's Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Wallsend & London best 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Silkstone best 13/3 to 13/9 13/3 to 13/9 Do. house 12/6 to 13/ 12/3 to 12/9 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull: • 11/6 to 12/ 11/6 to 12/ Haigh Moor best 16/9 to 17/6 16/6 to 17/6 Siltstone best 16/3 to 16/9 16/ to 16/9 Do. house 15/3 to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 13/6 to 14/3 13/6 to 14/3 Screened gas coal 12/9 to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Gas nuts 11/9 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit : 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 12/3 to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 engine nuts 11/3 to 11/9 11/3 to 11/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 11/ to 11/6 10/9 to 11/6 engine coal 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Best rough slacks 9/9 to 10/3 9/6 to 10/ Small do. 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 Furnace coke 21/ to 22/ 21/ to 22/ Barnsley. COAL. There has been very little change in the general position during the week, and buyers continue to find supplies are only of a limited character, with the result that prices generally are very strongly maintained as last quoted. The delays in dealing with the traffic have passed away, which has relieved the position of consumers somewhat, but collieries are again well cleared of stocks, although they are working full time. The extra demand for export by way of Hull continues to have a good influence on the business for large steam coal, and there were indications at the local market that prices are tending towards a sharp rise—a fact which will still further retard the completion of the remainder of the forward business, which still hangs in abeyance. The best sorts were sold at 12s. 9d. per ton for current delivery, and short contracts were taken at 12s. 6d. per ton, whilst secondary descriptions of hards are again quoted at from Ils. 9d. to 12s. per ton. There con- tinues to be very considerable buying by the railway companies and other large concerns to supplement contract deliveries Colliery representatives report almost a dearth of small steam coal of any description, and where any supplies could be secured higher prices were again paid, but on the whole there is not a great deal of business in this direction being done beyond the arrangements made under contracts. The best nuts again almost equal the price of the best large, and on coke-making account there was perhaps a larger demand than ever for slacks. The dyers* strike at Bradford has had practically no effect on the general trade. Gas companies continue to find it necessary to come into the market to secure general supplies owing to their regular contract deliveries proving insufficient during the present cold weather. With respect to the house coal trade there was a little stronger enquiry met with, particularly from West Yorkshire and nearer districts, the London trade not having showed any material activity. However, the increase of orders was sufficient to materially reduce stocks at collieries, and business was done at strictly list quotations, there being a strong feeling that the trade would quickly become more of a normal character for the period of the year. The stronger demand for coke, not only from the regular districts of Lincolnshire and the Midlands, but also from the north, was perhaps keener than of late, and in spite of all efforts to increase the production there is still a shortage to meet the demand. Contracts continue to be fixed up at about 21s. per ton over* the year, and where prompt delivery could be given for special lots, even higher prices were made for ordinary brands. Prices at pit. Current Last week's House coals:— prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/ 15/ Best Barnsley softs 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Secondary do. 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 13/ Best house nuts 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/6 to 11/6 10/6 to 11/6 Best hard coals 12/9 12/9 Secondary do 11/9 to 12/ 11/9 to 12/ Best washed nuts 12/6 12/6 Secondary do. 11/6 11/6 Best slack 9/6 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 8/6 8/6 Screened gas coals 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Gas nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Furnace coke 21/ to 22/ 21/ to 22/ Hull. COAL. With practically no free coal on offer, the market has been somewhat restricted, and prompt lots, chiefly in second holders* hands, have continued to command the high price which has ruled since the new year. Collieries are all reported exceedingly busy supplying contract deliveries, and some arrears still remain to be caught up. Under these circumstances, and a strong demand both home and foreign, the prices for steam coals of all kinds remain very firm, and what forward business is in hand is being done at about 15s. 6d.» or even more, for delivery within the next few weeks. The appearance in the field somewhat earlier than usual of the Swedish State Bail ways for their supplies, has had a strengthening effect, and although tenders are not due in for a fortnight, yet great interest is manifested in the price the Swedish Government will have to pay. All nuts and smalls are scarce and in good demand, late rates being fully maintained. House coals there are in plenty, and though there is no improvement in price they are moving off somewhat better. A fair quantity of coal is being shipped at the docks, mostly under contract, the quantity being above the normal for the time of year. Turns at the appliances are easy, and loading conditions generally good. Owing to the difficulty in arranging matters the freight market has been dull, but shows signs of more activitye The demand for the Baltic is small, and rates about 6s. to 6s. 3d. for Reval, Libau or Riga. There is a stronger demand for the Mediterranean, and a steamer has been fixed to-day at 10s. 10|d. for Genoa. Near Continental rates are easier, Amsterdam having been done at 3s., and Rotterdam at 3s. 3d., while the London rate is also lower. A new Mediterranean charter has been approved by Hull and Newcastle charterers, subject to some slight alterations. The following are the Prices f.o.b. Hull (prompt shipment). South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards..; Washed double - screened nuts Un washed double- screened nuts Washed single - screened nuts Unwashed single-screened nuts Washed smalls Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— Hartleys Rough slack Pea slack Best Silkstone screened gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— 1 Best steam hards Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Current prices. 16/ 15/ to 15/6 14/ 14/6 to 15/ 13/6 14/ to 14/6 11/9 13/6 to 13/9 11/9 to 12/ 11/ 14/9 , 13/6 15/9 15/6 13/6 13/ 15/ 14/6 15/6 to 15/9 15/3 to 15/6 Last week's prices. 16/ 15/ to 16/ 14/ 14/6 to 14/9 13/6 14/ to 14/6 12/ 13/6 to 13/9 11/9 to 12/ 11/ 14/9 13/6 15/9 to 16/ 15/6 13/6 13/ 15/ 14/6 15/6 to 15/9 15/3 to 15/6