754 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 11, 1913. reduction in prices. An improvement has manifested itself in the steam coal branch, and activity prevails in nearly every department. Industrials are in brisk request, whilst orders for shipment are increasing in number and quantity. For small steams the demand is keeping up exceedingly well. The prospects of this branch of the trade are very encouraging. As to slacks, the position continues to be favourable, there being a good sale for nearly all descriptions. In consequence of some works having comparatively little stocks, gas coal is selling more freely. The trade in coke is reasonably satisfactory. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights Good house coals.... Secondary do........ Best hard coals .... Secondary do........ Slacks (best hards).. Do. (seconds)..... Do. (soft)........ Current prices. 12/ to 13/6 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 11/6 to 12/ 11/ to 11/6 8/ to 8/9 7/6 to 8/ 7/6 to 8/ Last week’s prices. 12/ to 13/ 11/ to 12/ 10/6 toll/ 11/ to 12/ 10/ toll/ 8/ to 9/ 7/ to 8/ ton. Prices at the beginning of the quarter ranged from j£8 12s. 6d. to .£8 15s. The Gas Strip Association decided to make no alteration on their basis price of .£810s. to .£8 12s. 6d. a ton according to size of order. The state of this industry was reported to be fairly satisfactory. Steel strip is now obtainable at £8 10s. to .£8 15s., which represents a slight decline. The galvanised sheet branch remains weak, and while the Balkan trouble lasts it can scarcely be expected to improve. Quotations vary from <£11 15s. to .£12 a ton, f.o.b. Liverpool, a drop of 12s. 6d. to 15s. compared with the January rates. Black sheets are in moderate demand ; prices for singles are .£8 7s. 6d. and for doubles .£8 10s. The Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Association met during the afternoon, and revised their list of prices to bring them more into accord with the price of tin and the cost of production. Thus for best charcoal 14 to 20 gauge prices were fixed at 34s. per cwt. and charcoal at 32s. per cwt., these figures representing an advance of .£1 per ton. Twenty-one to 24 gauge best charcoals are unaltered at 36s. and charcoal at 34s. 6d. per cwt.; and 25 to 27 gauge 39s. and 37s. according to quality. Coke unassorted was fixed on the basis of 28s. with the usual extras, and best Staffordshire tinned plates 26s. to 35s. I.C. basis. Steel sections remain as before, but demi-products are down to £5 12a. fid. to £5 15s. Bessemer and 2s. 6d. additional Siemens qualities. Leicestershire. COAL. Taking business all round, it may very well be described as being good. There is a very good amount of business already in hand, and the demand continues. In fact, the condition of business shows but little alteration, if any, from that which has prevailed for some weeks. The output is being fully maintained, and stocks are mostly very light in consequence of the heavy deliveries made. Household coal is in fairly good demand for the best qualities and rather better for the others—middle and small coals. The activity in the steam coal market shows no slackening. There is a brisk demand for nearly all kinds, and an especially good enquiry for nut slacks. Local merchants are not quite so busy as they have been. In face of the good business being done, as may be expected, quotations are particularly firm, and the present rates appear likely to continue for some time. At any rate, no alteration is anticipated at present. Lydney. Forest of Dean. GOAL. The demand for the house coal of this district continues unusually good for the time of the year. All the collieries are able to put in full time, and stocks are practically non- existent. Good shipments are made, whilst the inland trade continues satisfactory. Steams of all descriptions are still in heavy request, and the collieries are hard pressed to cope with the demand. Prices at pithead. rates quoted. Smalls are equally scarce and firm as large* coals, and collieries being well-stemmed, sellers are meeting a fair enquiry with an unmistakably firm tone to their quotations. Doubtless an element of uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the May Day stoppage assists to harden their determination, for, with the future so difficult to forecast, a quantity of business will be undoubtedly placed on the market by those desirous of protecting themselves against a possible cutting off of supplies. In the freight market, a satisfactory number of fixtures is reported, the latest tendency being quieter, with owners inclined to hold off a little for better rates. IRON. In view of the important quarterly meeting at Birmingham to-day, business has generally been quiet this week, several important matters being deferred for consideration at the meeting. Work continues good at bar mills, and although quotations are hardly so strong as a week ago, there has been no reduction of official figures. Imports of foreign bars continue in exceedingly heavy quantities, the week’s arrivals totalling over 12,000 tons. There is a little more- doing at rail mills, with* a better enquiry coming along, but no alteration to report in current values. The market in Welsh haematite shows no change from last report, work is good, a satisfactory quantity of orders are on hand, and a full output assured for some little time. Iron ore values remain unaltered. The tin-plate department continues the most satisfactory feature of the trade. Still further mills are stopping, prices are yet more disorganised, while the outlook shows no silver lining yet to the depressing clouds which so darken it. Latest quotations :—Welsh haematite, 88s. to 89s., delivered to local works. Steel rails : Heavy sections, .£6 10s. to .£6 15s.; light sections, j£6 15s. to .£7. Iron ore : Best rubio, 21s. 6d. to 22s. c.i.f. Newport. Tin- plates, 20 x 14 x 112, Bessemer primes 14s. 3d., Siemens primes 14s. 3d. to 14s. 4|d. nominal. Cardiff. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. House coals -.— Block......... Forest ..... Rubble ..... Nuts ....... Rough slack. Steam coal:— Large ...... Small....... Current prices. 16/6 15/6 15/9 14/ 10/ 13/6 to 14/ 10/6 to 11/ Last week’s prices. 16/6 15/6 15/9 14/ 10/ 13/6 to 14/ 10/6 toll/ COAL Throughout the Cannock Chase district the demand for nearly all qualities of coal is keeping up remarkably well, and a continuance of this brisk demand appears likely, but unfortunately the output has been somewhat seriously interfered with this week in consequence of trouble between the union and non-union men. Several of the collieries were lying idle on Monday and Tuesday, but it is generally expected that the trouble will right itself in a day or two, as the percentage of men now out of the union is very small. There is very little coal in stock and prices are well maintained. The house coal trade continues satisfac- tory and there is a brisk demand for fuel for manufacturing purposes. Birmingham Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a limited demand house, steam and gas coal. Wholesale buyers are rather inclined to stand off to see if the markets will become more normal during the present month. Freights are consider- ably weaker, and another charter from the east coast has been effected at 5s. to Plymouth on practically the old conditions of charter. for COAL. Trade continues firm at last week’s prices. The trouble in the Cannock Chase district has caused serious stoppages and consequently short supplies. Even when the pits are in full operation all the output is wanted. Slacks are still scarce. Quotations:— THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday. April 10. North Wales. Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— House coal, best deep....... ~ seconds deep best shallow seconds do. Do. Do. Do. Best hard Forge coal Slack ... Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder ... Do. hand - pickea cobs ................ Best hard spires ...... Forge (steam).........,. D.S. nuts (steam) ..... Small (do.) ...... Current prices. Last week’s prices. 18/ 18/ 16/6 16/6 14/6 14/6 18/ 13/ 14/ 14/ 11/ 11/ 8/6 8/6 16/ 16/ 13/9 13/9 14/6 14/6 10/ 10/ 10/ 10/ 9/ 9/ Wrexham. With regard to the general coal trade, the demand is somewhat the same as at last time of writing. The house trade is falling off a little, but the locomotive, steam coal and bunker trade is fairly brisk, and gas coal is in good demand. A few more contracts have been settled at an average advance of Is. 6d. per ton. Prices ruling at the time of writing are as follow:— Prices at pit f.o.r. — Best house coal ..... Secondary do....... Steam coal ........ Gas coal .......... Bunkers........... Nuts .............. Slack............. Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— Best house coal ... Seconds............ Slack.............. Current prices. 14/9 to 16/ 13/9 to 15/ 11/9 to 13/ 13/ to 14/ 11/6 to 12/6 11/ to 12/ 6/6 to 9/6 15/10 to 17/6 Last week’s prices. 14/9 to 16/ 13/9 to 14/9 12/ to 13/6 13/ to 14/ 12/ to 13/ 11/ to 12/ 6/9 to 9/6 15/10 to 16/8 IRON The quarterly meeting of the South Staffordshire iron trade attracted a large attendance from the Midlands, South Wales, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The number of visitors from Wales was certainly not so large as is usually seen on these occasions, and the reason ascribed was that tin-plate producers were not willing to accept further orders at present unremunerative prices. It was reported that more mills were closing down and that generally the state of this important industry was unsatisfactory. A feature of the market was the determined effort made to bring pig iron down to a level more proportionate to that of finished iron. To some extent it succeeded, but not to that which consumers desired. There was, for instance, a difference of 2s. a ton between the price buyers were willing to give for Derbyshire pig, and that at which smelters were willing to sell. The lowest they would take was 67s. net, which represents a shilling fully below last week’s rates, and is 5s. a ton below the prices ruling at the beginning of the quarter. Northamptonshire brands were also down. A few sales were recorded at as low a figure as 64s. a ton for grey forge, and values ranged between that figure and 66s. Prices for similar iron at the beginning of the quarter were 72s. 6d. Staffordshire common forge was 65s. to 66s., and part-mine 69s. to 70s. In finished branches the quarter has opened fairly well for marked bars, which are in good request for engineering purposes. No alteration was made in the basis price, which has stood at .£10 a ton since last December. For unmarked bars the demand is not so active, but it is anticipated that there will be an early resumption of buying at the lower basis of .£8 5s. a 18/4 to 20/ 16/8 to 18/4 10/ to 12/6 18/4 to 20/ 16/8 to 17/6 10/ to 12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL Shipments of coal have been exceedingly heavy during the past week, and there yet remains an ample supply of tonnage to be dealt with. Free coal is now scarce, buyers finding it difficult to obtain supplies even at the higher Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2£ per cent. Current prices. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... 18/6 to 18/9 Western-valleys, ordinary 18/ to 18/3 ---------------- J 17/3 to 17/9 16/9 to 17/ I 15/ to 15/6 14/3 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 . 15/3 to 15/6 16/ to 16/6 15/6 to 16/ Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals ., Secondary do...... Inferior do....... Screenings ....... Through coals...... Best washed nuts .. Other sorts:— Best house coal .. Secondary do...... Patent fuel ....... Furnace coke ...... Foundry coke...... Last week’s prices. 17/6 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/6 16/6 to 16/9 16/ to 16/6 14/6 to 15/ 13/9 to 14/ 13/ to 13/3 14/9 to 15/ 15/6 to 16/ 14/6 to 15/ 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/ 23/ to 25/ 28/ to 28/6 29/ to 31/ 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/ 22/6 to 23/ 28/ to 28/6 29/ to 31/ COAL. The views which have been consistently held by far-seeing colliery salesmen—that there was a shortage of coal throughout the world, and that, sooner or later, this would be manifest to the most casual observer—is now receiving ample verification. At present the demand is greatly in excess of the supply, with the result that prices are not only very firm, but advancing. Collieries producing best Admiralty coals are so well sold that they are not in a > position to undertake any more business to any considerable extent for some time to come. Whilst here and there sales have been made at 20s. 6d., a large number of cargoes have been bought for loading from May 1 as far ahead as the end of July at 21s., and even the higher figure has been offered in some cases without meeting with any response. Many of the collieries say their stems are so full that they are unable to risk further additions to their order books without rendering themselves liable to the payment of heavy demurrage. As regards best Admiralty seconds, they are quoted at 20s. 3d. to 20s. 6d., whilst the lowest price quoted for even the cheaper kinds is 19s. per ton. On top of the present congestion is the fact that the French Government are in the market for no less than 20,000 tons of best Admiralty coals for shipment in May, and for a similar quantity for - shipment in June, so that it is easily surmised there is no prospect of any relaxation of prices for some time. Moreover,. there are other large requirements to be fulfilled, particularly for the Russian, Greek, Austrian and Italian Governments,. it being said that for the Russian State Railways alone Messrs. Paul Boeckel Limited, of St. Petersburg, have- purchased no less than 80,000 tons. It is evident, therefore, that unless labour troubles ensue, the prospects of the coal trade are very rosy. Of course, the question of non- unionism may cause sectional stoppages, but it is not expected that these will be of a very serious nature, though there is no doubt that considerable time will be lost with the consequential curtailment of output. There is another' factor also to be taken into consideration, and that is the general stoppage throughout the trade on May 1 for the holding of the annual Federation meetings. This will be followed later by the Whitsuntide holidays with three days’ actual stoppage of work and broken time for the remaining three days of the week. At present the men are not by any means turning out as large a quantity of coal as they did prior to the Easter holidays. This is reflected in the shipments, which last week from the port of Cardiff only amounted to 307,000 tons. Tonnage is plentiful, the number of vessels in the docks for several days averaging nearly 250, but there is no disguising the fact that the outputs are not equal to the demand, and that, through the inability chiefly of the collieries to stem, rates just now are very easy, Genoa having been done at as low as 8s. 6d. This, again, is a “bull” factor so far as prices are con- cerned, for as has been pointed out time after time, with any sensible decrease in freights there is invariably an increase in the price of coal. Demurrage is still being incurred on all sides, although the pressure does not appear to be quite so great as it was some little time ago. At the same time, collieries are asking v^ry long hours for loading, and 200 hours for a 5,000 tonner is by no means an unusual time to demand. With the more active chartering at present going on, the tonnage taken up last week being about 370,000, there is not likely to be any improvement in this respect. Not a little interest has been excited on ’Change by the report that at a recent meeting of the Government Contract Committee the present system of tendering for Admiralty contracts was criticised, and the opinion expressed that it might be to the advantage of the public if open tendering prevailed. Those, however, who gave vent to this opinion, were apparently ignorant of the very onerous conditions under which the contracts are arranged. Both the Lords of the Admiralty and their agents are quite convinced that the present system of - tendering by collieries on the Admiralty list is the best. What advantage would accrue if open tendering were allowed, it would be difficult to say. So far as the small coal trade is concerned, it is still affected by the strike which threatens to take place in Belgium on Monday next. The price of small coal still keeps up to the phenomenal figures which have prevailed for the past two or three months. At the time of writing cargo qualities were selling at very little short of 15p. per ton, whilst best bunkerings were quoted up to 16s. Monmouthshire coals are very firm. Many collieries are quite unable to under- take additional business, and as the amount of free coal on the market is very small prices show a substantial increase,. as much as 19s. f.o.b. Cardiff being paid for best Black