February 14, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

341

tons. How serious was the effect which the gales had on
the movement of vessels, it is only necessary to mention
that some sailors made no less than three ineffectual
attempts to round the Lizard. Even when the weather
moderated there were other difficulties to encounter. Dense
fogs prevailed in the Channel, and very few vessels entered
the port over the week-end. Most of the collieries found it
extremely difficult to provide full work for their men, and
buyers who had ready tonnage at hand, and in a position
to place it beneath a tip, nave been able to obtain substantial
reductions from the quoted prices; indeed, sales of best
s earn coals have been made in several instances by collieries
at less than 18s. in order to clear wagons. As regards
future business, however, colliery salesmen are still very
optimistic. They look upon the present state of affairs as
temporary, and, given an adequate supply of tonn*g\
confidently predict that prices will soon recover. As a
matter of fact, the price quoted now for best Admiralty
coals for forward delivery is anything between 19 . a id
3 9s. 6d. per ton, and that that is not too sanguine a v e v t >
take is confirmed by the price at which the Greek G >vem-
ment have just concluded a contract. They are evidently
determined to keep their navy in the highest possible state
of efficiency, and so they have purchased one of the best, if
rot the highest-priced coal in the market—that of Messrs.
D. Davis and Sons, of the Ferndale Collieries. The quantity
bought is between 40,000 and 50,000 tons, and though as
usual the price has not been disclosed, there is good reason
for stating that at least 20s. is being paid, less 2| per cent,
discount. The coal is to be double-screened, and delivered
betwt e.i the date of the acceptance of the contract
and th« »md of May next. Apart from the large quan-
tises of c al t' ao are being purchased by the Greek
and Au-iuinn Governments, another factor has to be
taken into con*-.deration in gauging the probable course
of the market. One is that the arrears, which,
through disi<Cition caused by the national coal
sirk?, w -re left < ver until the first six weeks of the
i»-» s-nr.	row being pretty well overtaken. Large

q-umiiis <f h-it uoal were bought last year at com-
ly h;w pncHF, say round about 17s. per ton. With
ah* o ption io is bJievei that prices will tend to stiffen,
brCM U^M >'ii k lemen, who chiefly hold this coal, will have no
umhh < t k ior sale. In addition to these factors, there is a
well grounoed belief that depots abroad are by no means
• w r-t- ck <d. In some cases, in fact, stocks are low. At
<»a, for example, very little coal has been shipped
curing toe last three weeks or a month. This port is a
vwry big market for South Wales coal, yet from January 26
to February 6 or 7, only four steam ire of an average
rngwer f 4 000 tons had discharge t t'---er<-—a most unheard-
of circumstance. The explanation given is that as freights
to the Adriatic have gone up to 14s., shipowners will not
entertain an offer of 12s. for Genoa. The normal difference
between the rate of freight to the Adriatic and Genoa is
fid. to 91. a ton, whereas during the last week or two the
the difference has been 2s. As the duration of the voyage
in each case is practically the same, and the conditions
of discharging also the same, it is not surprising
that the owners of decent sized vessels, instead of
going to Genoa, prefer to take the more profitable freight.
The small coal market is rather dull, and from the same
causes as affect large coal—namely, the rough weather and
the difficulty in obtaining tips. Best bunkerings do not
command more than 15s., whilst for cargo qualities the
quotation ranges from 13s. 3d. to 13s. 93. It is satisfactory
to learn that at the Barry Dock and Railway meeting, the
Earl of Plymouth said the railway directors had decided to
erect six additional coal hoists on the south side of Ko. 1
Dock at a cost of about .£150,000, which, of course, includes
the necessary sidings. Unfortunately, however, these will
not be ready for another 18 months, but when in working
order it is calculated that they will each tip about 1,000
tons of coal per day, or 1.800,000 tons a year. At the rate
at which colliery developments are taking place, it is
feared that even these additions will not be adequate to
meet future requirements. Chartering transactions last
week were on a more satisfactory scale, the vessels engaged
representing a registered tonnage of 344,000 tons as
compared with 261,000 tons in the previous six days With
the greater supply, freights are easier, Genoa having
receded to Ils. 6d., or 6d. below the previous week.
Monmouthshire coals are not quite so firm, best Black Veins
selling at 17s. 3d. and western-valleys 3d. less—in each case
f.o.b. Cardiff. There is no material change in bituminous
coals, collieries willingly accepting 17s. 6d. for No. 3 Rhondda
large and 15s. 9d. to 16s. for No. 2 qualities. Shipments of
patent fuel for the week showed a marked decline, the
Crown Company only shipping 6,279 tons (and other local
makers 4 580 tons), Swansea 9,480, and Newport 2,000 tons;
24s. is still firmly quoted for best brands and all transactions
are of a hand-to-mouth character. For delivery two
months hence 23s. 61. has been accepted. The coke market
keeps very strong. Pitwood is a shade weaker, the price being
from 20s. to 20s. 6d. The Custom House returns of the exports
from the Brist >1 Channel during the past year furnish some
interesting comparisons. For the twelve months the
exports amounted to 26,125.744 tons, an increase of 925,958
tons as compared with 1911. The appended table shows
the increase or decrease to each country specified:—

	Total exports.	Increase.	Decrease.
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Russia 		487.224	... 115,179 ...	—•
Sweden 		229,344	... 74,077 ...	—
Norway 		141,645	... 39,515 ...	—
Denmark		37,914	...	6,849 ...	—
Germany		245,182	—	9,297
Netherlands 		161,989	... 17,180 ...	—
Java		28,231	...	3,819 ...	—
Dutch possessions in			
Indian Seas		9.910	—	7,433
Belgium 		317,818	—	113,816
France		5,791,285	... 319,896 ...	—
Algeria 		551,727	—	3,585
French Somaliland...	31 641	...	6,249 ...	—
Madagascar		20,869	...	6,618 ...	—
Bourbon 		4 308	—	1,413
Portugal 		649,146	94,488 ...	—
Azores 		35,228	...	8,094 ...	—
Madeira 		148 705	... 64 477 ...	—
Spain 		1,054.400	... 163,725 ...	—
Canary Islands 		738,017	—	18,734
Italy		5,309.374	... 241,668 ...	—
Italian East Africa	29,627	... 13,636 ...	—

	Total exports.	Increase.	Decrease.
	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
Austria-Hungary ...	145,202 .	—	21,244
Greece 		312,719 .	.. 46,210 ...	—
Bulgaria 		19,745 .	—	42,905
Roumania 		163,197 .	— 		10,535
Egypt 		1,740,246 .	—	154,347
Tripoli		13,024 .	..	4,026 ...	—
Tunis 		123,401 .	.. 23,741 ...	—
Siam		1,966 .	—	6,148
China 		24,186 ..	.. 10,123 ...	—
Japan 		15,521 .	243 ...	—
Cuba		8.347 .	..	3,742 ...	——
Mexico		23,419 .	527 ...	—
Peru		21,034 .	.. 14,919 ...	—
Chile		459,710 .	.. 13,746 ...	—
Brazil 		1,389,717 .	.. 24,603 ...	—
Uruguay 			724,367 .	—	62,780
Argentine Republic 2,850,473 .		.. 122,428 ...	—
Channel Islands		76 496 .	.. 13,124 ...	—
Gibraltar		235,575 .	..	9,421 ...	—
Malta 		378,991 .	.. 41,013 ...	—
Cape of Good Hope	14,724 .	—	15,147
Mauritius 		21,724 .	.. 12,204 ...	—
Aden		191,307 .	.. 25,866 ...	—
British India 		85,543 .	—	11,434
Straits Settlements	14,162 .	—	9,399
Ceylon		241,507 .	—	35,023
Wei-hai-Wei 			11,224 .	..	6,121 ...	—
Hong Kong		29,116 .	—	16,817
Canada		11,714 .	—	872
Bermudas 		11,167 .	— . .	590
British West Indies	7,129 .	—	5,896
Falkland Islands ...	5,294 .	664 .’.	—
Turkey (European)	102,571 .	—	43,146
„	(Asiatic)...	107,038 .	— ...	32,619
Crete		9,015 .	..	6,146 ...	—
West Africa, German	Nil	—	10,234
„	French	103,620 .	—	1,566
„ Portuguese	277,828 .	14 801 ...	—
„	British	86,907 ..	707 ...	—

The largest increases were to France, Italy, Spain, Russia,
Sweden and the Argentine Republic. The largest decreases
were to Belgium and Egypt. Owing to the stoppage of the
collieries in this country in March and April last, Germany
benefited considerably, their total exports for the year
being 31,143,115 tons, or 3,736,922 tons more than in 1911.
To Austria-Hungary there was an increase of 1.261,025
tons, as well as large increases to Belgium, France, Holland,
Rusd i. Sweden, Italy and Spain. Bat German imports
were mss last year than in 1911. From Great Britain they
only amounted to 8,988,432 tons or 434,213 tons less than in
the previous 12 months.

Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated).

Steam coals:—

Best Admiralty steam
coals .................

Superior seconds.......

Ordinary do............

Best bunker smalls......

Best ordinaries.........

Cargo qualities ........

Inferior smalls.........

Best dry coals .........

Ordinary drys ..........

Bast 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 .............

Pit wood (ex-ship) ..-....

Current
prices.

18/3 to 18/9
17/6 to 17/9
16/9 to 17/

15/

14/6

13/3 to 13/9

12/6

17/3 to 17/9

16/ to 16/3
16/6

15/ to 15/9

15/6

14/9 to 15/
15/ to 15/3

17/3
17/
16/6
16/

19/6
18/

17/6

16/6

15/6

15/9 to 16/
15/3
13/9
24/
23/
33/
31/
28/

20/ to 20/6

Last week’s
prices.

18/6 to 19/
18/3

17/9 to 18/
15/3 to 15/6

15/

14/

13/3 to 13/6
18/ to 18/6
16/6 to 17/
16/3 to 16/6
14/9 to 15/6
15/ to 15/6
14/6 to 15/
15/3 to 15/6

17/6 to 17/9
17/3 to 17/6

!7/

16/9

19/6
18/

17/6
16/3
15/6

16/
15/
14/
24/
23/

32/ to 33/

30/
28/
20/6

Coal and patent fuel quotati ms are for cash in 30 days less
2A per cent. Rnondda 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 tinplate trade appears to be going from bad to worse.
Although the shipments last week were slightly above the
receipts from works, and stocks have been reduced to
424,000 boxes, the disheartening statement was made at
the Swansea Harbour Board meeting on Monday that
during the month of January there was a falling off in the
export of tinplates and galvanised sheets to the extent of
10,000 tons. The heaviest decline was to Roumania, which
took 1,700 tons less than in the corresponding month of
last year. It is felt on all hands that there will have to be
a drastic stoppage of mills to put an end to the present
over production, which has been brought about principally
by the gradual loss of the Standard Oil Company’s business,
the Canadian trade, and a large amount of the South
American business. Block tin, though lower by £2 per
ton, still rules at .£223 10s , which means a serious loss to
tinplate makers who are unable to get more than 14s. 7|d.
to 14s. 91. for standard cokes, and 15s. 3d. and 21s. 6d. for
oil sizes. A number of behinders at Pontardawe have
struck work for an extra 61., and about 200 men have been
thrown out. There has been a slight check in the demand
for tin bars, and prices are easier, £5 17s. 6d. being now

quoted for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities. Imports
of steel during the week only totalled about 7,000 tons. It
is stated that the promoters of the scheme for the erection
of new steel works between Dinas Powis and Cadoxton have
secured an option over 100 acres of land, and that there is
every probability of the scheme going through. Four fine
new stacks out of 11 intended to be erected in connection
with the extension of the Port Talbot steelworks have been
completed. There is nothing new to report in the galvanised
sheet trade. Business is of a very dragging character, and
24-gauge corrugateds are freely offering at .£12 co -£12 2 < 6 1.
It is reported that Messrs. Guest, Keen and Netti dulls
have secured a contract for 20,000 tons of 80 1b. rails for
South Africa. Welsh pig iron is steady at 87s. 61. f. ».r.
In iron ore there is no change. New steel crop ends sr.j
still held for 75s., but heavy steel scrap has fallen 2s. 6d.
per ton, being quoted now at 62s. 6d. to 65s.

Swansea.

COAL.

Bad weather was again experienced throughout last
week, which adversely affected the trade of the port. B »ch
the coal and patent fuel trades were quiet, thu shipments
amounting to 89,765 tons. There was a good attendance ou
’Change this morning, and the conditions prevailing on the
anthracite coal market were without any material altera-
tion. Swansea Valley and Red Vein large were freely
offered for immediate delivery at further reduced price*,
but there was practically no new business done. M camo-
made nuts and cobbles were fairly steady ; beans, h-»wew,
were weak. Rubbly culm was in strong demand, and a
further advance in quotations was noted. Duff was firm.
The steam coal market was a little easier, although values
were not materially affected. The closing quotations were
approximately as follows :—

Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days).

>•	Current		  L *St Whvk’o
Anthracite:—	prices.	prices.
Best malting large (hand		
picked) (net) 		22/6 to 24/6	22/6 to 24/1
Secondary do		20/ to 21/6	2* i/d to 21/6
Big Vein large (less 2j		
per cent.) 		17/ to 19/	17/ to 19/
Red Vein large do		15/9 to 16/6	15/9 to 16/6
Machine - made cobbles		
(net) 		21/9 to 23/9	21/9 co 23/9
Paris nuts (net) 		2 • /6 c > 2 / '	23/6 co 2 /6
French do. do		2 /i u-27/6	24/ to 27/
German do. do		2^1 to27/6	2»/ to 27/
Beans (net) 		1-1 t.2 1	18/6 to 21/6
Machine-made large pea>		
(net) 		11/3	13/	11/3 to 13/
Do. fine peas (ner)	—	—
Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c )	7/9	8/	7/9 to 8/3
Duff (net)		.’/3Co 5/9	5/3 to 5/9
Steam coals:—		
Best large (less 2| p.c.) ...	17/9 to 19/	17/9to 19/
Seconds	do.	13/IL 17/	15/6 co 17/
Bunkers	do.	13/6 c 15/6	1 /»to 1 /
Small	do.	12/o do 14/	12/6 to 14/6
Bituminous coals:—		
No. 3 Rhondda—		
Large (less 2|p.c.)		18/ to 19/	18/3 to 19/6
Through - and - tbr »ugt>		
(less 2| p.c.)		15/ t-Hfi/	15/ to 16/
Small (less 2 j per or. n .)	14/ to 15/	14/ to 16/
Patent fuel do		2../ r ■ ../*	20/ ’0 20/6

iKUrt,

Good and regular output* of pig iron were registered at
the blast furnaces last w^k. and the wnole of the steel-
smelting establishmmc* H- ivHiy engaged. Tin bars
were in good demand, ant operations at the la'ge sh*et
mills and galvanism< pl ifit* a'-o so far unaff c <wd by tne
depression which has u idoubrellv set in in the tin-plate
section of the trade. Ton s up mnt< of tin-plates last we^k
were 116 585 boxes rAc-upt* from w »rks 95.125 b xes, and
stocks in the dock wareheusvs aud vans 423,901 b;xas.

Llanelly.

COAL.

There is no improvement in the anthracite market this
week, and with tn« exceptio i < f ohhot two kn is tne demand
is very slow. Tne ur-SHnt spring-like weather is causing a
falling-off in the h >r" cub urtl huJ st >v - kinds, and srocks
are now accumul «.tng. Collieries are finding it a difficult
matter to keep goinK tub time, and will be compelled to
close down for occa-ion-u .mv* on e s an improvement takes
place. Rubbly culm and duff «res arce. S> many of the
collieries have ta»<eri t > ^crMH-in ? th- «r c» d that not near
the quantity of culm is now made. Toe demand for steam
and bituminous kini* is roma kalue, a d collieries are
unable to execute unything hk~ tne number of orders on
hand. The m inuf ^enuring work* are complaining bitterly
that they can v»t g t The qu-niitiea contracted f -r, and
often have to p»y nevernl shiil ng- per r,. n exrra for spot
lots to keep g ing. The cdhr»ie* staee that they are
unable to do bet e'\ a* *-u'pur,* hm fJlen away in some
instances as much a* 50 per cent. H >u-e co<ls a»e also
very scarce because r » mucn <>f tiwno’v <* being went from
the colliery un crooned f<»»- shipment. Prices this week are :—

		
	Cuz V-1 t	Last week’s
Anthracite:—	’»cices.	dhchs
Best malting Urge		23/ t. 24/	23/ to 24/
Secondary <io		2 / to 2//	21/ to 23/
Big Vein largr*		18/ n.2j	19/ t« 2o/
Rad Vein do			)*/6 to I. /6	14/6 to 15/
Machine-made c »b»»te- ...	2J .. 2 1	22/ to 23/
German nu s 		23/ ,..25/	23/ to 25/
French do		23/ ,..25/	23/ to 25/
Paris do			2>/ to 26/	24/ to 2 /
Machine-made b^an- 		20/ to2//	20/ to 22/
Do	p-a-		l-'/l to l -'I'i	lz/6 iol-/6
Rubbly culm 		8/ to b/3	8/ to 9/
Duff 		../ to 1/	4/6 to 5/
Other sort-:— Large strain coal		17/ to I' M	17/ to 18/
Tbroagh-and-rhroiiv'n ..	1 I / to 1 5/6	‘4/ to 15/
Small		I2/;,...13/	1 / to 12/
Bituminous - mad	...	13/ ->14/	12/6 no 13/6