710 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 4, 1913. be increased beyond the quantity actually weighed out by a percentage equal to the percentage decrease of moisture. (d) If the moisture exceed the standard percentage by weight, the weight of coal to be paid for shall be decreased below the quantity actually weighed out by a percentage equal to the percentage increase of moisture. Provided always that the Purchasers shall have the right to reject the whole consignment if the total moisture exceed one and a-half times the moisture given in the table of standards. (e) If the percentage of small coal be less than the standard percentage by weight, the weight of coal to be paid for shall be increased beyond the quantity weighed ont by a percentage equal to one quarter of the percentage decrease of small coal, percentages to be taken on the bulk and not on the standard. ( f) If the proportion of small coal exceed the standard percentage by weight, the weight of coal to be paid for shall be decreased below the quantity actually weighed out by a percentage equal to one quarter of the percentage increase of small coal, provided always that the Purchasers shall have the right to reject the whole of the consigment if the proportion of small coal exceed 25 per cent, by weight, percentages to be taken on the bulk and not on the standard. Table of Standards to be Applied in Connection with Guaranteed Coals. A. Bituminous Durham and Yorkshire. Moisture. Small Coal Through Per cent. f Inch square Mesh. Per cent. 1. Washed Double Nuts. 13,250 B.T.U’s 2. Washed Single Nuts. 8 ... i ... 15 13,000 B.T.U's 3. Washed Peas. 9 3 • • • 8 171 12,750 B.T.U's B. Bituminous Scotch Washed 1. Washed Double Nuts. 10 Coals. ... | ... 20 12,750 B.T.U's 2. Washed Single Nuts. 10 ... 2 15 12,500 B.T.U’s 3. Washed Peas. 11 3 ... 8 20 12,000 B.T.U’s 13 ••• 20 C. Semi-Bituminous and Pseudo-Anthracite Welsh Coals. 1. Washed Large Nuts. Washed 14,300 B.T.U’s 2. Washed Small Nuts. 5 15 13,900 B.T.U's 3. Washed Peas. 6 3 8 20 13,350 B.T.U's 6 • • • 20 D. Bituminous Durham and 1. Double Nuts. Yorkshire Dry Screened Coals. 12,750 B.T.U’s 2. Single Nuts. 5 ... | ... 171 12,500 B.T.U's 3. Peas. 6 3 8 25 12,250 B.T.U's..... 6 ... | ... 25 Eh Bituminous Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Dry Screened Coals. 1. Double Nuts. 12,250 B.T.U’s 9 .. 1 ... 15 2. Double Screened Small Nuts. 12,000 B.T.U’s 9 ... 20 3. Pea Nuts. 11,500 B.T.U’s 10 >•• 1« ... 20 Bituminous Leicester-Warwick and South Staffordshire Dry Screened Coals. 1. Double Nuts. 12,000 B.T.U's 10 .. 1 ... 15 2. Double Screened Small Nuts. 11,750 B.T.U’s .. 10 ... t • .. 20 3. Pea Nuts. 11,250 B.T.U’s .. 12 ... i3a . .. 20 British Thermal Units shall be ascertained on Coal dried at 220 degs. Fahr, for an hour by means of a Mahler Bomb Calorimeter. Moisture shall be represented by the total loss in weight of the Coal as delivered after air-drying and exposing to a temperature of 220 degs. Fahr, for one hour. The percentage of sulphur shall be based on the analysis of the Coal “ as received/' and must not exceed 2 per cent. The sieves used for determining the percentage of small” shall be of square mesh with openings in the clear to the sizes given. It will be noticed that the table of standards, of which there may be some criticism on the ground of excessive generalisation, does not depend upon the “ash unit/’ which is a feature of American specifications, this factor being sufficiently covered, it is believed, by the provisions as to calorific value. On the other hand, contrary to the practice observable in most of the Transatlantic examples, the presence of sulphur is specifically penalised. We are given to understand that the table has actually been compiled on the basis of tests and analyses covering a great variety of samples and a lengthy period of time, but it is probable that further experience may dictate modifications and extensions at some points. Much will depend upon the adoption of a system of sampling and testing that is likely to promote confidence. And, in this connection, we are informed that the question of devising a suitable test has been relegated to the Engineering Standards Committee. The general conditions of contract on the whole will be favourably entertained by contractors, and the pro- vision as to independent arbitration is a welcome sub- stitute for the present practice in many cases of leaving the decision without appeal to the engineer. It will be seen also that a reasonable understanding has been reached as regards costs and demurrages, and that in the event of emergencies considerable latitude is extended to the contractor. As we have already stated, the specification has now been accepted by some of the principal firms of contractors, as well as by a considerable proportion of the municipal authorities. The extent to which the proposal, in this or other forms adapted to special and local circumstances, will be adopted remains to be seen, but we believe that evidence of sufficient interest has already been forthcoming on the part of authorities and merchants in the provinces and abroad, to support the anticipation that further progress on these lines will not be confined to the electrical undertakings of the metropolis. The full form of tender, &c., may be obtained from Mr. Harold Wright, care of Messrs. Gardner, Locket and Hinton Limited, 3, Fenchurch-avenue, London, E.C., at a price of 10s. per copy. THE LOKDOH COAL TOM Thursday, April 3. The London coal trade for the past week has shown a good deal of activity, and buying has been on a larger scale than was anticipated. The cold weather during the holidays may possibly have had a good deal to do with it, but the brisk trade has been well sustained, even though the weather has turned milder. The pressure for house coal has proved very conclusively that all stocks in the London area have been kept very low recently, and the extra demand has brought the orders directly . into touch with the collieries. The volume of trade since the holidays has perceptibly increased, and both factors and merchants have ordered freely. No attempt has been made at present to alter prices. On Monday a dense fog settled like a pall over London, and the weather was fairly mild, but there was a good attendance on market, and business was fairly active in all kinds, both for household fuel, as well as for manu- facturing qualities. The brisk enquiry is largely due to the strong demand for shipping, and the shortage of merchants' stocks. Prices are firm, and the outlook seems to anticipate a continuance of the present prices, with a certainty that there will be no reduction in public prices at present. Steam coals also are firm, and forward orders are freely given. Very little trade was done on Wednesday's market beyond buying for replenishing purposes, the depots in many cases being depleted. The Seaborne market has now been very stationary for a considerable period. No quotations are issued, and from market to market no sea cargoes are on offer. The last quotation for best Wallsend was 21s. 6d. and this was given in September last, and although the figure has been returned week after week, the price is looked upon as being nominal only. Thirty-five cargoes are reported in the Thames for Monday's market, and only five on Wednesday, none of these being on offer. The shipping season practically begins this week, and already the Humber ports are preparing for an increasing tonnage. The effect of this upon the London market is that huge quantities of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire qualities are entirely withdrawn from the Thames and the London buyers are dependent on the railborne traffic almost exclusively. The contracts for steam coal which expire at the end of March are reported to have been renewed at an advance of 9d. per ton as compared with last year. The small coal market is still very firm and the demand good. Bakers’ nuts and kitchener cobbles are selling freely, but all prices are stationary and have [for many months past ruled fairly low. Market quotations (pit mouth) : Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations. Current Last week's Yorkshire. prices. prices. Wath Main best coal 13/ 13/ Do. nuts 12/ 12/ Birley cube Silkstone 11/6 11/6 Do. branch coal 15/ 15/ Do. seconds 11/ 11/ Barnsley Bed Silkstone 12/6 12/6 West Riding Silkstone 12/ 12/ Ki veto n Park Hazel 13/ 13/ Do. cobbles 13/ 13/ Do. nuts . 12/ 12/ Do. hard steam 11/ 11/ New Sharlston W^ allsend 14/ 14/ Wharncliffe Silkstone coal 14/ 14/ Do. Flockton Main 13/6 13/6 Do. Athersley house coal 11/6 11/6 Newton Chambers best Silkstone 15/ 15/ Do. Grange best Silkstone 14/ 14/ Do. Hesley Silkstone 13/ 13/ Do. Rockingham selected 13/6 13/6 Do. Rockingham Silkstone 13/ 13/ Derbyshire. Wingfield Manor best 12/ 12/ Do. large nuts 11/9 11/9 Do. small nuts 9/6 9/6 Do. kitchen coal 10/ 10/ West Hallam Kilburn brightts 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Do. London brights 11/ 11/ Do. bright nuts 10/9 10/9 Do. small nuts 9/6 9/6 Manners Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Shipley do. brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Mapperley brights 12/ 12/ Do hard steam 11/9 11/9 Cossall Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ Do. do. nuts 11/9 11/9 Trowell Moor brights 11/6 11/6 Do. do. nuts 11/ 11/ Grassmoor Main coal 12/6 12/6 Do. Tupton 11 11/ Do. do. nuts 12/ 12/ Derbyshire—(cont). Clay Cross Main coal Do. do. cubes Do. special Derbys Do. house coal Current prices. 12/6 12/ 11/9 11/ Last week's prices. 12/6 12/ 11/9 U( Pilsley best blackshale 12/6 12/6 Do. deep house coal 10/6 10/6 Do. hard screened cobbles 10/ 10/ ' Hardwick best Silkstonq 12/6 12/6 Do. Cavendish brights 11/6 11/6 Do. cubes 11/6 11/6 Nottinghamshire. Clifton picked hards 12/ 12/ Do. small hards 11 11/ Do. deep large steam 12 12 Annesley best hards 12 12/ Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 Linby best hards 12/ !2/ Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 Digby London brights 12/ 12/ Do. cobbles 12 12/ Do. top hards 13/ 13 Do. High Hazel coal 14/ 14/ Best wood hard steam coal 12/ 121 Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 Hucknall Torkard main hards 12/3 12/3 Do. do. cobbles 11/3 11/3 Do. do. nuts 11/ 11/ Do. do. High Hazel H P. ... 14/9 14/9 Do. do. London brights 12/3 12/3 Do. do. large nuts 12/3 11/3 12/3 Do. do. bright nuts 11/3 Sherwood H.P. hards 12/ 12/ Do. hard steam 10/6 10/6 Do. brights ... 11/3 11/3 Do. cobbles 11/3 11/3 Do. large nuts 11/9 11/9 Warwickshire. Griff large steam coal 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. bakers’ nuts 11/ 11 Do. loco Two Yard hards 13/6 13/6 Do. Ryder nuts 11/6 11/6 Do. do. cobbles 12/6 12/6 Nuneaton steam coal 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ H/ Haunchwood steam 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ 11/ Wyken steam coal 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ 11 Exhall Ell coal spires 12/6 12/6 Do. large steam coal 10/9 10/9 Leicestershire. Snibston steam .* 10/6 10/6 Do. cobbles 10/3 10/3 Do. nuts 10/6 10/6 South Leicester steam 10/ 10/ Do. cobbles or small hards 10/6 10/6 Do. huts 10/6 10/6 Whitwick steam 10/6 10/6 Do. roasters 10/6 10/6 10/6 Do. cobbles 10/6 Do. nuts 10/6 10/6 Nether seal hards 17/ 17/ Do. Eureka 12/6 12/6 Do. kitchen 10/6 10/6 Ibstock kibbles 10/ 10/ Do. large nuts 10/ 10/ Do. bakers' nuts 9/6 9/6 Do. Main nuts 10/ 10/ Do. hards 9/6 9/6 Granville New Pit cobbles 11/6 11/6 Do. Old Pit cobbles 10/6 10/6 North Staffordshire. Talk-o'-th'-Hill best 13/6 13/6 Sneyd best, selected 14/6 14/6 Do. deeps 14/ 14/ Silverdale best 15/ 15/ Do. cobbles 14/ 14/ Apedale best 13/6 13/6 Do. seconds 13/ 13/ Podmore Hall best 13/6 13/6 Do. seconds 13/ 13/ South Staffordshire (Cannock District). Walsall Wood steam coal, London brights 13/ 13/ Do. shallow one way 12/ 12/ Do. deep nuts 11/6 11/6 Cannock steam 11/ 11/ Coppice deep coal 13/ 13/ Do. cobbles 12/ 12/ Do. one way 12/ 12/ Do. shallow coal 12/ 12/ 17/ Cannock Chase deep main 17/ Do. Deep kitchen cobbles ... 12/ 12/ Do. best shallow main 14/ 14/ Do. shallow kibbles 13/6 13/6 Do. best brights 13/ 13/6 12/6 10/3 11/ 13/ Do. yard cobbles 1 13/6 12/6 10/3 11/ Do. yard nuts Do. bakers’nuts Do. screened hards From Meim. Dinham, Fa vans and Co.i Report. Friday, March 28.—There was no alteration in the sea- borne house coal market to-day—no cargoes available. Cargoes 18. Monday, March 31.—There was a slight improvement in the tone of the seaborne house coal market to-day, but no transactions reported. Cargoes 35. Wednesday, April 2.—The seaborne house coal market was quiet to-day — no cargoes apparently on offer. Cargoes 5. The Banknock Coal Company Limited have purchased the mineral estate adjoining the coalfields at present wrought by them at Banknock, Stirlingshire, and it is intended to sink pits and work the extensive seams of coal.