February 14, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN, 339 next month, but merchants are sellers at 82s. 6d. Values of foreign ore have been lowered by ninepence per ton- Market quotations are now on the basis of 22s. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, and it is reported that even less would not be refused. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are down to 5s. 9d. Producers of all descriptions of manu- factured iron and steel are very busily employed. Quotations are stationary. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is nothing fresh to report with regard to the household coal trade. The deliveries naturally compare poorly with this time twelve months ago, as then every nerve was being stretched to make provision in view of the threatened stoppage. Bunkering requirements are well maintained, and although loading arrangements are still interfered with through delay to steamers owing to the recent severe weather, the demand for steam coal generally for shipment is very satisfactory. Supplies are appreciably helped by the quiet state of the house trade, a good deal of common house coal being sent for bunkers. Quotations for screened Lancashire steam coals are much as before. In the household, coastwise, and cross-Channel shipments there is only an average trade in progress. There is a little easement in regard to the position of slack, or at all events the commoner qualities, and generally the quantity avail- able seems equal at the moment to the demand. Prices are firmly held to both for open sale and for contract renewals. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s prices. prices. 16/3 16/3 16/6 to 16/9 16/6 to 16/9 14/6 14/6 15/ to 15/3 15/ to 15/3 12/3 12/3 13/6 to 13/9 ’13/6 to 13/9 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 10/6 10/6 9/9 9/9 9/3 9/3 House coal:— Best .............. ... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen................. Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal....... Best screened steam coal (f-o.b.) ............... Best slack................ Secondary slack .......... Common do................. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. Enquiries for house coal continue very quiet for the time of the year, but there is no alteration in prices. Furnace coal is in good demand, and shipping coal is fairly steady. Slack still occupies the premier position, although perhaps the demand is not at the moment quite so keen as it was, the mild weather rendering less artificial heat necessary for the cotton mills. Prices generally are as at foot. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s prices. prices. 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 12/6 14/ 14/ 10/ to 10/6 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 House coal:— Best .................. Medium .............. Common .............. Furnace coal .......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack............. Common slack........... Yorkshire and Derbyshire; Leeds. COAL. The pits in West Yorkshire have averaged about five days’ work this week, and the output has been moved to the various markets daily. House coal continues sluggish and stocks in colliery sidings have not been reduced since our last report. Wagons have again been scarce, and con- siderable broken time has resulted from this cause. House Coal.—Very little is doing with London factors and merchants, who, it is reported, are picking up stocks. Reports from the depots indicate a very quiet state of things, the public ordering only from hand to mouth. Factors’ stocks at the relabelling junctions are considerable, and there is some underselling in order to avoid siding rent. The coastwise trade is also dull and lifeless, the only sorts selling at all readily being the very cheapest. Coasting tonnage continues scarce, and freights are high. Business in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax, the Colne and Spen valleys, and the heavy woollen district is slow, merchants reporting a quiet demand from the public, with the exception of bagging sorts. Official pit prices are unchanged, and average as follow:—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 14s. to 15s.; secondary sorts, 13s. to 14s. Gas Coal.—The full output of the pits is still being moved, as contract requirements are exceptionally heavy. A good deal of open market business is being done at prices which average about Is. 6d. per ton higher figures than were quoted in June. It is understood that a meeting of gas coal owners has been held this week, the business being to fix the approximate values for the coming com tracting season. Nothing definite has been done, and far as the secondary qualities are concerned there is a further meetings are to be held. The export demand for healthy demand from all districts within easy reach of this house coal is still good, and representative collieries quote part of the coalfield. The easier tone in coke which was about as follow, per ton f.o.b. Hull:—Screened gas coal, 14s. 9d. to 15s. 3d.; gas nuts, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d.; unscreened gas coal, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. Manufacturing Fuel.—There is very little change in the position of this class of fuel. Washed nuts, small nuts and coking slacks are in very active demand, but rough slacks show some weakness. The strike in connection with the Bradford Dyers’ Association still continues, and this may account to some extent for the weakness in rough slacks. Furnace Coke.—There is a huge consumption of washed furnace coke, and all the ranges of patent ovens in the district are kept fully employed. Open market business is plentiful, spot lots realising up to 20s. per ton at the ovens, with short-tarm contracts about the same price. 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/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Do. house 12/6 to 12/9 12/6 to 12/9 House nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/6 to 12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull : Haigh Moor best 16/9 to 17/6 16/9 to 17/6 Sil is stone best 16/3 to 16/6 16/3 to 16/6 Do. house 15/ to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 Other qualities 13/6 to 14/3 13/6 to 14/3 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 12/9 to 13/3 12/9 to 13/6 Gas nuts 11/9 to 12/6 11/9 to 12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 11/3 to 11/9 11/3 to 11/9 Small nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Rough unscreened engine coal 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Best rough slacks 9/3 to 9/9 9/6 to 10/ Small do. 8/6 to 8/9 8/6 to 9/ Coking smalls 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 Cokei:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/6 Barnsley* COAL. The prevalence of fog during the past few days has speedily led to the disorganisation of business, and so congested is the traffic on the railways that for periods of several hours some of the companies have absolutely refused to accept any further tonnage. Although the collieries are finding the return of wagons to be much more satisfactory in the present active state of trade, the slightest interruption almost stops the working of pits after a short period. This condition of affairs interferes seriously with deliveries on contract account, and leads to the realisation of stocks on hand, which is slightly affecting prices. In regard to large steam coa], the position for the moment is in favour of buyers, and shippers are finding it possible to still hold aloof from placing tonnage in the hope of pulling down prices. The attitude of coalowners in regard to forward contracts, however, is little changed, and recent experience is supporting their action in still seeking for 12s. 6d. per ton for best hards for the shipping season. The railway companies and other large consumers continue to buy in the open market and add to their contract supply owing to the active state of trade, but nearly all quotations are rather weaker, being about 3d. per ton less on the week. There is also an easier tendency prevailing in respect of smaller steam fuel of all descriptions, though the weakening in the position from the coalowners’ point of view is, perhaps, not at present very material. Buyers, however, are able to lay hands on nuts and slacks at reduced figures, and are hopeful in the near future to do business at lesser prices than have ruled of late. The supply of slacks is particularly larger, although on coke-making account there is still a good demand, but prices of all descriptions of this coal for current business are a little less. Gas coal collieries continue to find business active, and have no difficulty in making the higher prices which they have obtained during the last few weeks. There is little change in the position regarding house coal, and the general experience continues to be that the better qualities of fuel are not being taken, with the result that prices for spot lots are lower, but so Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstone...... Best Barnsley softs. Secondary do. Best house nuts .... Secondary do...... Steam coals:— Best hard coals .... Secondary do...... Best washed nuts . Secondary do. Best slack........ Rough do.......... Gas coals:— Screened gas coals . Gas nuts ......... Furnace coke ....... Current prices. 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/6 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/3 to 12/6 11/6 12/ to 12/3 11/ to 11/3 9/ to 9/3 8/ to 8/6 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 19/6 to 20/ Last week's prices. i5/ 14/ to 14/6 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/6 11/9 12/3 to 12/6 11/3 to 11/6 9/6 8/6 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 20/ to 21/ noticed a week ago continues, and business is now readily- done at from 19s. 6d. to 20s. per ton for ordinary brands at the ovens. Hull. GOAL. The market has been quiet, as it usually is when the point zero in the ’tween-season period has been reached. Best steam coal on spot has further receded, and second holders, in whose hands it principally is, are not able to command more than 15s. f.o.b., the price thus nearly approximating to that ruling on the Tyne. Colliery owners, however, are maintaining their prices very firmly, and are fully confident that when the Baltic demand begins in real earnest prices will go higher, and keep on a high level throughout the season. They are expecting a big foreign trade, and if this coincides with a heavy home consumption their optimism may be amply justified. Nuts and smalls are still in good request, and prices are well maintained, while house and gas coals are unchanged. A fair quantity of coal is going for export, mostly under contract, but the appliances are not working at any pressure, shipments being below the average. Moreover the prevalence of a very thick fog is retarding operations very much. The freight market is very dull, and in an almost stagnant condition, though rates are somewhat above those of last week, fixtures including Hull to Reval 7s. 3d. for a medium-sized steamer, Hull to Genoa (steamer 4,000 tons) Ils., Immingham to Barcelona 10s. 9d., and Grimsby to Stavanger 7s. The following are the approxi- mate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull:— Current Last week’s South Yorkshire:— prices. prices. Best steam hards Washed double - screened 15/ 15/3 to 15/6 nuts Un washed double- ' 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 15/ screened nuts Washed sin gle - screened 14/ to 14/3 14/ nuts Unwashed single-screened 14/6 to 14/9 14/6 to 14/9 nuts 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Washed smalls 14/ 14/ to 14/6 Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— 10/6 10/9 Hartleys 13/6 13/6 Rough slack 11/ to 11/3 11/3 to 11/6 Pea slack Best Silkstone screened 10/ 10/ to 10/6 gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened 14/9 14/9 gas coal ». Derbyshire and Notts:— 13/6 13/6 Best steam hards 15/3 15/6 Do. (Grimsby) 14/9 15/ Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) 13/6 13/6 (Grimsby) 13/ 13/ Derbyshire large nuts ... 14/6 14/6 Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/ 14/ Nottinghamshire hards ... 15/ 15/6 Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/9 15/ Chesterfield GOAL. The week has brought no improvement in the demand for house coal, and this branch of the trade is very quiet— much quieter, indeed, than is usually the case at this time of the year. The London market is in a weak condition* which is reflected in the limited number of orders that colliery agents are able to pass on to the collieries. Prices are, on the whole, fairly firm, and stocks at colliery sidings are by no means large, the inference being that a fair proportion of this class of fuel is being sold for other purposes, such as gasmaking and for consumption at the various iron and steel works. Fuel for manufacturing use is as much called for as ever, and consumers are very strongly pressing for supplies, particularly for cobbles and nuts for gas furnaces. For these classes of coal collieries are full of orders, with the prospect of a regular business for some time to come. All qualities of steam coal are in great requisition. The demand for slack for boiler-firing shows no signs of weakening; on the contrary, the pressure for deliveries is renewed, and customers are now com- plaining of short supplies. Prices remain firm at the level to which they have recently been advanced. There are no stocks of slack on colliery premises, and coalowners are unable to add to their commitments for this fuel. There is a satisfactory demand for steam coal for locomotive pur- poses, and heavy deliveries continue to be made daily. In the export trade matters are very quiet at present, and they will probably remain in this condition until the opening of the shipping season, when it is expected that business will be resumed on an active scale. Despite the limited amount of business that is passing at the moment prices are very firm, and they will almost certainly rise with the commencement of the Baltic season, when it is generally believed that an exceptionally strong demand for steam coal will set in. Collieries are in a strong position from the fact of their having already sold a fair proportion of their prospective output of coal over the remainder of the year. Good shipments of cobbles and nuts are being made to near Continental ports, and enquiries for forward