March 20, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 599 delivered at Teesside works.] jFoundry coke is in the neigh- bourhood of 27s. 6d. and gas-house coke rangedjfrom 16s. 6d. to 17s. IRON. Pig iron quotations are irregular, and business is slack. Values of Cleveland pig are higher than they have been for more than a month past, but buyers and sellers both continue to act with much caution, fully realising the nervous state of the market, and how easily it is influenced by operations of speculators. No. 3 g.m.b. is 65s. to 65s. 3d. f.o.b., and the same rates are named for No. 4 foundry, which quality is even more scarce than other kinds, whilst No. 1 is 67s. 6d., No. 4 forge 64s. 9d., and mottled and white iron each 64s. 3d. —all for early delivery. There is a good demand for east coast haematite pig for this month, but as there is practically no iron to be had for early delivery, very few sales are recorded. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are quoted 81s. 6d. to 82s There is little or nothing passing in foreign ore, and market quotations remain nominally on the basis of 21s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Freights Bilbao- Middlesbrough show a further downward movement, vessels having been fixed at as low as 4s. 10|d. The manufactured iron and steel industries present no new features of moment. Producers of all descriptions are busy, and report specifica- tions coming in freely, but new orders are scarce. Quotations are upheld. Principal market rates stand:—Common iron bars, £8 15s.; best bars, .£9 2s 6d.; best best bars, .£9 10s.; packing iron, .£6 15s. ; iron ship plates, <£8 2s. 6d.; iron ship angles, £8 15s.; iron ship rivets, £9 15s.; steel bars (basic), £7 17s. 6d.; steel bars (Siemens), .£8 5s.; steel ship plates, .£8 5s.; steel ship angles, £7 17s. 6d.; steel joists, £7 7s. 6d.; light iron rails, £7 to £7 5s.; heavy steel rails, £6 15s.; steel railway sleepers, £7 ; and galvanised corru- gated sheets, .£12 15s.—shee‘s less 4 per cent, f.o.b., railway material net, and all other descriptions less 2| per cent. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The pits in this district will cease work for the Easter stoppage on Thursday night, commencing again on Tuesday morning in Easter week. In consequence of this stoppage, there is a considerable pull in every department of the industry. The improved demand for household coal is maintained, and, in addition, there is an extra call to provide an adequacy for the week-end. Full supplies of screened coal for forge and manufacturing purposes continue to go into consumption. Apparently no effort is yet being made to bring about a settlement of the dispute at Garston Dock. The effect of the complete stoppage of work there is every day being more seriously felt, as the other loading points are quite unable to cope with the additional work thrown upon them. Although working night and day, the amount of coal shipped is by no means what might be expected, owing to delays in getting wagons to the tips through the congested state of the sidings, and this, in turn, affects the collieries by the shortage of empty wagons. Prices have advanced, and for screened Lancashire steam coal range from 13s. 9d. to 14s. 6d. or 14s. 9d. net f.o.b., very little fuel being available before the holidays. The coastwise and cross-Channel trade is entirely upset by the trouble at Garston, and there is no doubt merchants are eating into their stocks in consequence of lack of fresh cargoes arriving. Slacks continue firm in tone, both for open sale and contracts for forward delivery, and there is trouble in finding an adequacy to see manufac- turers whose holidays are less than those at the pits over the stoppage. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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 Current prices. 16/3 16/6 to 16/9 14/6 15/ to 15/3 12/3 13/6 to 14/3 12/6 to 13/ 13/9 to 14/9 10/6 9/9 9/3 Last week’s ptices. 16/3 16/6 to 16/9 14/6 15/ to 15/3 12/3 13/6 to 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 13/6 to 14/3 10/6 9/9 9/3 Smirth Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The attendance at the Manchester Coal Exchange this week was above the average, probably the nearness of the Easter stoppage accounting for it. The household coal demand is rather on the better side although devoid of urgency. Furnace coals rule steady, and shipping coals continue in good demand with prices firm at full list rates. Slacks and small fuel of all sorts are in request, and prices firm. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................ Medium .............. Common .............. Furnace coal .......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack............. Common slack .......... Current prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 Last week’s prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 IRON. A very quiet market up here, no buyers to be met. All works very busy, but are glad to get a chance of repairs, &c., during the week-end holidays. Prices remain quite firm, but there is no business to report. Yorfeshfir* and Derbyshire Leeds. COAL. The Yorkshire Coal Exchange was very largely attended on Tuesday and considerable business was put through. There was a brisk demand for all qualities, especially for prompt delivery. The pits have worked about five days this week, as there has been considerable scarcity of empty wagons. The output has been cleared and also stocks in the sidings. The pits in West Yorkshire are expected to work on Good Friday, and will stand for Easter Monday and Tuesday. House Coal.—The keen wintry weather of the past few days has caused a sharp improvement in the demand for house coal from all the markets. London merchants and factors have taken better supplies of the higher-priced qualities, and factors’ stocks at the re-labelling points have been considerably reduced. Reports from the London depots indicate considerable activity in the retail trade and prices show greater firmness. The coastwise trade is also better, more enquiries are coming through from the south coast and the Thames wharves, but prices in this branch of the trade are still in buyers’ favour. Freights show some little recovery and the supply of small shipping tonnage is insufficient to meet the needs of the merchants. At the West Riding depots there is a considerably bigger turnover of house coal, and many of the merchants have been enabled to lift part of their ground stocks. The secondary qualities are particularly in demand, but more attention has been paid this week to best coal. 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 16s.; other qualities, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Gas Coal.—The full output of the pits is moved without much difficulty. Contract requirements are still very heavy and any surplus tonnage sells readily in the open market. Several tenders have been sent out this week at prices which show an advance on the expiring contracts of is. to Is. 6d. per ton. The latter figure is most firmly quoted where gas nuts are concerned. Manufacturing Fuel.—There has been quite a rush for slacks, small nuts and washed fuel this week, both for inland consumption and export. Coking slacks are exceed- ingly scarce and considerable difficulty is anticipated in keeping the ovens working through the holidays. There are no stocks at the pits. Washed Furnace Coke.—There is very little change in the position of furnace coke. Washed samples of patent oven coke realise 18s. to 19s. per ton in the open market, and as for forward business, there is very little being put through. Extra deliveries are being pressed for, both for Frodingham and the Midlands. House coal:— Current Last week’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 13/9 to 14/3 13/9 to 14/3 Wallsend & London best 12/9 to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 Silkstone best 12/9 to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 Do. house 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/ House nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/ toll/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull: Haigh Moor best 16/6 to 17/6 16/3 to 17/3 Silk stone best 16/ to 16/6 15/9 to 16/6 Do. house 15/ to 15/6 14/9 to 15^3 Other qualities 13/6 to 14/3 13/6 to 14/ * Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 12/3 to 13/ 12/3 to 13/ Gas nuts 11/6 to 12/ 11/ to 12/ Unscreened gas coal ... 11/ to 11/6 11/ toll/6 Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 11/6 to 12/3 12/ to 12/6 Large double-^creenec engine nuts 11/ toll/6 11/ toll/6 Small nuts 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 Rough unscreened engine coal 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 Best rough slacks 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 Small do. 8/31") 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 Coking smalls 8/ to 8/6 8/ to 8/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 18/ to 19/ 18/ to 19/ Barnsley. COAL. There has not been a great deal of new business transacted during the week owing to the approaching holidays, and collieries are fully occupied in supplying the orders on hand. The strong enquiries for large steam fuel for the Baltic ports has continued to strengthen the market in a considerable degree, and on home account, especially for the railways, there has been strong pressure felt for delivery of larger quantities in view of the holidays. Special lots of fuel where available have made considerably more than the advanced prices of a week ago, but buyers have found considerable difficulty in obtaining any surplus tonnage. The active state of affairs has contributed to more being done in regard to forward contracts for shipment, and buyers are having to pay something like the figures which the coalowners named a considerable time ago. At the present time from 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d. has to be paid for the best quality of large steams, though secondary descrip- tions show rather more variation, but higher prices are paid where accommodation can be given. The enquiry for all kinds of small steam coal continues to be of a very strong character owing to the desire of the various industrial concerns to obtain adequate supplies to carry them over the expected prolonged holidays at the pits. Prices remain firm at the rates quoted last week. In regard to gas coal contracts, although there has been a good deal of enquiry during the week, it is not expected that much progress will be made in concluding matters until after the holidays, but the coalowners still continue optimistic in the belief that they will obtain the advance of from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton which they are asking for on the rates of expiring contracts. The demand for house coal, particularly of a secondary grade character, is well sustained^and last week’s prices are again obtained, producers of the best quality fuel holding stocks rather than accepting lower figures. There is no change in respect of the coke industry, the demand still continuing to be of a rather sluggish character, and prices lack firmness, but are about as quoted last week. Prices at pit. House coals:— Current prices. Last week’s pi ices. Best Silkstone 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 15/ Best Barnsley softs 14/ to 14/3 14/ to 14/3 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 toll/6 10/6 toll/6 Best hard coals 12/ to 12/6 11/9 to 12/3 Secondary do 11/ to ll/6 11/ toll/6 Best washed nuts 12/6 12/6 Secondary do. 11/6 11/6 Best slack 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 Rough do.... Gas coals:— 8/ to 8/6 8/ t>8/6 Screened gas coals 12/6 to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Gas nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Furnace coke 18/6 to 19/ 18/6 to 19/ Hull. GOAL. The firmness in the market for steam hards continues, and has been accentuated by a pre-holiday demand, and the reports that the Russian State Railways, through merchants, were taking a much heavier tonnage than was originally asked for. A great deal of the mystery surrounding the Russian enquiries over the past eight weeks has been dispelled by the latest announcement, and the report that a large quantity of the coal has already been bought. It seems likely that a very considerable proportion of it, taken from South Yorks and Derbyshire, will be shipped from the Humber ports within the next few weeks in order to restore the very depleted stocks of English fuel at the Baltic ports. Best Yorkshire steam hards are quoted to-day at 6d. advance over last week’s prices for prompt shipment, while Derbyshires have advanced about 3d. All secondary sorts are steady at last week’s rates. The easier tendency in the freight market and the lower rates offering have induced more activity among shippers, several steamers for Cronstadt first open water having been taken up at 5s. 9d„ which is now top value. In the Mediterranean direction rates are on the basis of 9s. Genoa. Plenty of tonnage is offering and rates do not show immediate signs of advancing. Fixtures : Cronstadt, several steamers 5s. 9d. f.o.w. and end April; Reval, 6s. to 6s. l|d. and 6s. 3d.; Bordeaux, two steamers, 5s. 6d., Videy Ils., Riga 5s. 6d., Libau 5s. 6d„ Genoa (steamer, 2,400 tons) 8s. 9d., Genoa- Savona 9s., option Brindisi 9s. 9d., Rotterdam 4s. 3d. The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull, &c..— South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards Current prices. 15/3 to 15/6 14/9 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 14/6 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 12/ 10/ 13/6 10/9 to 11/ 10/ 14/9 13/ 15/3 to 15/6 15/ to 15/3 13/6 13/ 14/6 14/ 15/3 15/ Last week’s prices. 14/9 to 15/ 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 14/6 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 12/ • 10/ 13/6 , 10/9 toll/ 10/ 14/9 15/ 15/3 15/ 13/6 13/ 14/6 14/ 15/3 15/ Washed double - screened nuts Unwashed 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:— Best steam hards Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards ... Do. do. (Grimsby)