March 28, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 651 whilst No. 1 is 68s. to 68s. 3d., No. 4 forge 65s. 3d. to 65s. 6d., and mottled and white iron each 64s. 9d., all for early delivery. East coast haematite pig is still scarce, and efforts to buy mixed numbers at 81s. 6d. meet with little success. Foreign ore is lifeless, with market rates still nominally based on 21s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for best rubio, but orders could be placed on lower terms. Freights Bilbao- Middlesbrough are down to 6s. 9d. There are no new features of moment in the manufactured iron and steel industries. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Very little work was done in this district until Wednes- day morning, as, although the pits recommenced on Tuesday, it was in many cases, with a very poor turn-out of miners. The household trade continues in an active condition, and a considerable amount of pressure is being experienced for some of the more favourite grades. With regard to shipping, the stoppage at Garston is now in its fourth week, and no sign of a settlement of the dispute is in sight. Owing to the cessation of supplies during the holidays, there is now no congestion at the other shipping points, but the relief can only be temporary in the absence of a settlement at Garston. Little or no free coal is available at the moment, and there is every prospect of a strong demand for steam coal after the holidays. There is urgency also with regard to shipments of household coal for the coastwise and cross- Channel 1 rade, and naturally some difficulties arise where the traffic gets out of its accustomed channel and has to be shipped at ports that are not usually taken. Slacks continue to be pressed for, mainly because the stoppage at the pits has been of longer continuance than that of the users. Prices are firm, both for open sale and for forward delivery. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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 16s.; other qualities, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Gas Coal.—There is likely to be a very heavy demand for gas coal during the next few weeks, as reserves at the works have been considerably reduced during the holidays* Contract deliveries, on the whole, are fairly well in hand, with the exception of gas nuts. Business, both in the open market and for forward, has been quiet this week, but a fair number of tenders are to be sent out during the next few days. Manufacturing Fuel.—All the smaller varieties are scarce, and this applies particularly to coking smalls, which are slightly dearer on the week. Stocks at the pits are practically nil, and there is also very little in reserve at the depots in the Leeds and Bradford districts. Pit prices are firm, but without official alteration. Washed Furnace Coke.—The ovens have been kept at full work during the holidays, and there has been no difficulty in selling the output. The demand from Frodingham, the Midlands and the Leeds district is heavy, and considerable buying in the open market is taking place. Current sales realise 18s. to 19s. per ton at the ovens, with forward business over the next three months at about the latter figure. to contracts, and so far coalowners feel encouraged by what has been done with regard to their demand for an increase of Is. to Is. 6d. per ton on last year’s rates, but many consumers are still holding back, and are likely to do so for some little time. In regard to house coal, the demand is somewhat quieter after the holiday rush, but many collieries were in arrear with deliveries, and the position in regard to prices remains about the same as last week- There is no improvement with respect to the coke industry,, the demand continuing to bs rather flat, and prices are consequently weak when compared with a couple of months ago. Hull. 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-ob) ................ Best slack............... Secondary slack ......... Common do................ 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 14/3 13/6 to 14/3 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ 13/9 to 14/9 13/9 to 14/9 10/6 10/6 9/9 9/9 9/3 9/3 South Lanoashlro and Chashlra. GOAL. Being holiday time, as might be expected, there was a poor attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and business was not much in evidence. Slack seems to be the only thing which is meeting with any enquiry. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ........ Do. house ......... House nuts .......... Prices f.o.b. Hull : Haigh Moor best...... Silk stone best ..... Do. house ......... Other qualities...... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal ... Gas nuts ............ U necreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts ......... Large double-screened engine nuts ......... Small nuts .......... Rough unscreened engine coal ......... Best rough slacks ... Small do. ........... Coking smalls ....... Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ........ Current Last week’s prices. prices. 14/ to 14/6 13/9 to 14/3 13/ to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 : 13/ to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 16/6 to 17/6 16/6 to 17/6 16/ to 16/6 16/ to 16/6 15/ to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 13/6 to 14/3 13/6 to 14/3 12/3 to 12/9 12/3 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/ 11/6 to 12/ 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 11/6 to 12/3 11/6 to 12/3 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/6 8/ to 8/6 18/ to 19/ 18/ to 19/ COAL. After the holiday the market has about resumed its usual activity, though supplies of coal are short and will not resume their normal volume for a day or two. A distinctly noticeable feature is the all-round firmness of prices, and this,, apart from the fact that second holders have been able to command up to 16s. 3d. for handy lots of Yorkshire steams for prompt shipment. The near approach of the opening of the Baltic season has stimulated enquiries, and from all accounts there is a very big latent demand for export. Owners are holding firmly for the higher prices for early season delivery, and buyers are becoming reconciled to having to pay above existing contract prices. Telegraphic advices from the upper Baltic ports indicate that the open- ing of navigation may be expected about the third week in April, so that that means loading for Cronstadt will begin in about ten days from now. Both Derbyshire and Nottingham steam hards have advanced in price, in sympathy with Yorkshires. Slack and small coal are also dearer, but unscreened gas coal is lower. Shipments at all the Humber docks continue on a fairly heavy scale, but “ turns ” at the appliances are, as a rule, prompt. On account of the holiday, there has been little chartering of steamers. Baltic open ports have been fixed at 5s. 9d. to 6s., while 5s. 9d. is still asked for first open water at Cronstadt and early April. Mediterranean rates have shown a slight upward tendency. Recent fixtures for Hull loading are:—Mediterranean Genoa-Savona (4,600 tons), 9s. 3d.; Ancona (4,700 tons), 11s. 6d.; Port Said, 9s. 6d. Baltic: Libau (2,600 tons), 6s.; Pernau (1,200 tons), 6s.; Riga (1,100 tons), 6s. South America: Conception (4,000 tons), 18s. 6d. From Grimsby; Gefle (1,800 tons), 5s. 9d. The following are the approxi- mate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull, &c. Barnsley. 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. There was a very poor attendance on ’Change, people not having got back from their Easter holidays. Of the few representatives that were there we learn there is no change in prices, and they do not expect there would be much doing until quarter day. Yorkshire and Derbyshire^ Leeds. COAL. There was no market at the Hotel Metropole on Tuesday. The pits have worked about four days this week, but the output has been below the average. A considerable clearance of traffic has been effected by the railway companies during the holidays, and empty wagons are fairly plentiful. Stocks in colliery sidings are practically nil, and prospects for trade during the next few weeks are satisfactory. House Coal.—There was a strong demand for all descrip- tions of house coal right up to the holidays, and many of the pits have a fair number of orders left over. Business with London was better, and there are fair accumulations of empty private wagons on hand at the collieries. Reports from the London depots indicate a quiet state of things in the retail trade, the principal demand running on the cheaper grades. In the coastwise trade, a good many shipments have been made, both at Hull and Goole, during the holidays, and stocks at both ports are nominal. Coasting tonnage is fairly plentiful, and freights a shade easier. In the West Riding, merchants are pretty well employed, considering the interruption of the holidays, and prices are firmly maintained at the official lists, which COAL. With the collieries only restarting work on Wednesday after the holidays, there was not a large attendance at the local market, and buyers find it hardly possible to fix up any immediate business. The stronger enquiry on Russian account during the previous week has given the market very considerable strength, and coalowners, having to contend with a considerably reduced output, and the prospective further advance in wages, are not in the humour to rush business. However, judging from the enquiries which fire circulating in this district, the coming shipping season is bound to be very active, and there is a considerable feeling on the part of consumers that it would be to their advantage to deal with the surplus tonnage which they have to dispose of with a sparing hand. No doubt values were considerably inflated on the other side of the holidays owing to the rush for special deliveries, and the experience for the next week or so would be keenly watched to see if the increases which are being obtained are not of a temporary character. For the present, how- ever, there was no indication of accepting any lower prices, and best hards were again quoted at 12s. 6d. per ton, with secondary descriptions from 9d. to Is. per ton less. The railway companies who find their stocks are very low are amongst the more pressing of consumers for deliveries, and are largely taking secondary grades of large steams. The position of small steam coal is much the same as last week and manufacturers are still having to find a market in which tonnage is scarce and prices are remarkably firm. In regard to gas coal, a decided move is expected with respect Current Last week’s South Yorkshire:— prices. prices. Best steam hards Washed double - screened 16/ to 16/3 15/3 to 15/6 nuts Unwashed double- 14/9 to 15/ 14/9 to 15/ screened nuts Washed single - screened 14/ to 14/3 14/ to 14/3 nuts Unwashed single-screened 14/6 to 14/9 14/6 to 14/9 nuts 13/6 to 13/9 13/6 to 13/9 Washed smalls 12/ 12/ Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— 10/9 10/ Hartleys 13/6 13/6 Rough slack 11/ to 11/3 10/9 to 11/ Pea slack Best Silkstone screened 10/6 10/ gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened 14/9 14/9 gas ccal Derbyshire and Notts:— 12/9 13/ Best steam hards 15/9 15/3 to 15/6- Do. (Grimsby) 15/6 15/ to 15/3 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 ... 15/9 15/3 Do. do. (Grimsby) 15/6 15/ Chesterfield. 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 14/3 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/6 11/3 to 11/9 12/ to 12/6 11/6 9/ to 9/6 8/ to 8/6 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 12/6 18/ to 19/ Last week’s prices. 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/ to 12/6 11/ to 11/6 12/6 11/6 9/ to 9/6 8/ to 8/6 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 12/6 18/6 to 19/ COAL. Owing to the intervention of the Easter holidays, the pits of the district were idle from Thursday in last week to- Wednesday in the present week. The output of coal has necessarily been very substantially reduced, and many industries will be put to loss and inconvenience as a result. There is an active demand for house coal, and collieries are considerably in arrear with deliveries. Stocks at the collieries are practically exhausted. The demand for coal for manufacturing purposes is exceedingly brisk, and all qualities are pressingly required. The stoppage for the holidays has been exceptionally short at most of the large Sheffield steelworks where no reserve stocks of fuel are held. For this reason, fresh supplies are now most urgently needed. Slack for steam-raising is scarce and dear, and many concerns experience much difficulty in keeping their plant fully at work. Railway companies are pressing for extra deliveries of steam coal for locomotive use, but it is impossible for collieries to supply all that is required at the moment. The demand for steam coal for export is becoming increasingly strong, and prices are steadily advancing. An active shipping season is in prospect, with prices higher than they have been for several years. For washed nuts and washed slack there is a very brisk demand, and buyers find it well nigh impossible to procure all they require of this class of fuel. The coke market is-