970 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN, May 9, 1913. THE LOHDOfl COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 8. The London coal trade for the past week has been exceptionally slow. Very few orders have been received, and the trade has been largely confined to the execution of orders on hand. The stocks, however, are beginning to accumulate, and the outlook for household qualities does not appear very bright in view of the approaching summer months. The only redeeming feature is that the shipping department still continues vigorous and active—taking away from the London market large quantities of house and steam coal which usually floods the market at this season of the year. The Baltic ports are now open, and the demand is unusually strong. The Mediterranean ports are showing a considerable shortage in tonnage, but the early settlement of the Balkan War difficulty will open up a strong demand for all classes of fuel in that direction. The market generally is firm, as far as prices are concerned, but he trade doing is very feeble, and the orders are simply from hand to mouth. The main reason for this is undoubtedly traceable to the fact of the lowest summer prices not having been settled yet. Merchants are very slow to buy, except for actual requirements, until the settlement of the summer prices takes place, for fear of a lower price being offered; and the general public invariably wait until the merchants recommend the laying in of the yearly supply. So many of the London houses, however, are unable to take in more than a weekly or fortnightly supply—especially in the west-end flats—and the gas companies are catering in the east-end, and in the South London districts, almost exclusively for gas cookers, so that the summer trade is reduced to a very small area in the Metropolitan district, except for the orders for stock coal, and these are invariably withheld until the prices are more tempting. In the sea- borne market no cargoes are again offering for either Durham or Yorkshire coal, all the vessels arriving being either under contract or originally sold. Thirty-six cargoes were reported on Monday's market as arriving in the River Thames, and seven on Wednesday's market. The rail- borne section has been very busy lately with the question of the renewal of contracts, and colliery representatives are firmly maintaining the advance of ,1s. per ton on all fixed prices as compared with last year. Sliding scale arrange- ments, however, are mostly in favour this year, and, with a higher minimum, many have been closed at 3d. per ton advance on last year's scale. In a few cases the collieries have settled at a less advance than Is. per ton, and reports are freely circulated of renewals being made at 6d. and 9d. above last year. The bulk of the merchants, however, are holding back from any settlement until midsummer is nearer. The retail trade is quiet, and depots are all reporting a slow delivery trade both for dealers and the general public. Public prices are likely to reduce Is. per ton after Whitsuntide, and it is generally anticipated that this will form the basis for the lowest summer prices. Steam coals are moving now freely, and the demand is fairly strong. Both slacks and small nuts are also in good demand. The tonnage going for shipment is far greater than usual. The requirements for the coming holidays should induce a brisk demand for all qualities of household fuel, but although the weather continues cold and wet the deliveries are unusually small. On Wednesday’s market a greater willingness to meet the buyers with a slightly lower price was noticeable. 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. Yorkshire. Wath Main best coal................. Do. nuts........................ Birley cube Silkstone............... Do. branch coal .................. Do. seconds....................... Barnsley Bed Siikstone.............. West Riding Siikstone .............. Kiveton Park Hazel ................. Do. cobbles.................... Do. nuts....................... Do. hard steam................. New Sharlston Wallsend ............. Wharncliffe Silkstone coal.......... Do. Flockton Main .............. Do. Athersley house coal........ Newton Chambers best Sik stone...... Do. Grange best Silkstone Do. Hesley Siikstone ... Do. Rockingham selected Do. Rockingham Siikstone Derbyshire. Wingfield Manor best................ Do. large nuts.......... Do. small nuts.......... Do. kitchen coal............. West Hallam Kilburn brights......... Do. do. nuts .................. Do. London brights ............ Do. bright nuts................ Do. small nuts ................ Manners Kilburn brights............. Do. do. nuts ..................... Shipley do. brights ................ Do. do. nuts ..................... Mapperley brights................... Do hard steam .................. Cossall Kilburn brights............. Do. do. nuts...................... Trowell Moor brights................ Do. do. nuts..................... Grassmoor Main coal................. Do. Tupton ..................... Do. do. nuts.................... Current prices. 13/ 12 11/6 15/ 11 12/6 12/ 13 13/ 12 11/ 14/ 14/ 13/6 11/6 15< 14/ !3/ 13/6 13/ 12/ 11/9 9/6 10/ 12/ 11/9 11/ 10/9 9/6 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 11/6 1'/ 12/6 H/ 12/ Last week’s prices. 13/ 12 H/6 15/ 11 12/6 12/ 13 13 12/ 11 14/ 14/ 13/6 11/6 15/ 14/ 13/ 13/6 13/ 12/ 11/9 9/6 10/ 12/ 11/9 11/ 10/9 9/6 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 11/6 12/6 11/ 12/ Derbyshire—(cont). Current prices. Last week's prices. Clay Cross Main coal 12/6 12/6 Do. do. cubes 12/ 12/ Do. special Derbys 11/9 11/9 Do. house coal 11/ I1/ Pilsley best blackshale 12/6 12/6 Do. deep house coal 10/6 10/6 Do. hard screened cobbles 10/ 1°/ Hardwick best Silkstone 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/ 12/ 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/ Bestwood hard steam coal 12/ 12/ 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 Do. do. bright nuts 11/3 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 /, 1 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts L 11/ 11/ 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 1°/ 1°/ Do. cobbles or small hards 10/6 10/6 Do. nuts 10/6 10/6 Whitwick steam 10/6 10/6 Do. roasters 10/6 10/6 Do. cobbles 10/6 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 1°/ 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/ Cannock Chase deep main 17/ 17/ Do. Deep kitchen cobbles ... i‘/ 12/ 12/ Do. best shallow main 14/ 14/ Do. shallow kibbles 13/6 13/6 Do. best brights 13/ 13/ Do. yard cobbles 13/6 13/6 Do. yard nuts 12/6 12/6 Do. bakers' nuts 10/3 10/3 Do. screened bards 11/ 11/ From Menn. Dinham, Faveui and Oo.’i Report. Friday, May 2.—There was only a steady enquiry for seaborne house coal to-day, no cargoes of either Durham or Yorkshire being on offer.- Cargoes 21. Monday, May 5.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, no cargoes being on offer. Cargoes 36. Wednesday, May 7.—The seaborne house coal market was very quiet to-day, with no cargoes reported sold. Cargoes 7. West Ham Town Council have accepted the offer of Cory and Son to supply the following coal to the electricity works during a period of 13 months :—5,947 tons of peas, 10s. 2d. per ton; 6,000 tons do, 13s.; 41,000 tons do., 16s. 3d.; 6,881 tons of rough, 10s. 2d. per ton. THE RUFFORD COLLIERY ACCIDENT. Report to the Miners’ Federation. The appointed representatives (Messrs. H. Smith, York- shire, and B. Kenyon, Derbyshire) of the Miners’ Federa- tion of Great Britain to attend the enquiry into the winding disaster at the Rufford Colliery, Mansfield, by which 14 lives were lost, in their report, state that they are of opinion that this was a pure accident, but, in summing up, make the following recommendations, viz.:— 1. That no such temporary structure ought to have been allowed, but something permanent, like what has since been put up. 2. There ought to have been an overwinding apparatus in use, already there but not installed, as their contention was that it did not come into operation until July of this year. We were sorry to hear the agent state that before the accident it was his intention to apply for an exemption under the new Act, which we hope, after this experience, will not be granted by the Home Office. 3. The system of lighting was by an electric cable put down the pit with a single globe lamp attached to it. We are under the impression that portable lamps ought to have been used, not all the lights depending on one cable. 4. When water is being drawn the D link ought to be used, not a clivy, as was used here, as this is subject to become detached, and proved the weakest part in all the apparatus for winding. It drew the clivy practically straight out. The report adds : When Mr. Mottram, H.M. inspector of mines, was put in the box, he informed us that he commenced his duties as inspector in September last year, and that there had been only one or two inspections during that time of the sinking of this pit, which was 160 yards down. This goes to show that inspections are not made often enough. In our opinion they ought to be examined at least once a month. As to overwinding appliances which have been installed since the accident, we hope when Mr. Walker issues his report it will be with a strong recommendation that two sets of engines for raising men will be provided in case of emergency, and that the D link will be compulsory. A different system of lighting and roped ladders in case of accident. THE IRISH SOL TRMDE. Thursday, May 8. Dublin. A fairly good business continues to be done in most branches of the coal trade, and sales of house qualities are still above the average for immediate requirements, there being as yet no indication of any reduction in the high prices ruling. City prices remain unchanged as follow :— Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 24s.; best Orrell slack, 21s.; steam coals from 22s. per ton upwards ; best coke, 23s. per ton; house coal, retail, Is. 8d. per sack. Irish coals at Arigna, from 9s. 2d. to 15s. lOd. per ton at the pit mouth. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 56, as compared with 62 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Liverpool, Troon, Girvan, Newport, Irvine, Llandulas, Workington, Burryport, Ayr, Whitehaven, Cardiff, Maryport, Point of Aire, and Campbeltown. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 20,800 tons. Belfast. Demand for house coal has fallen off slightly, otherwise business is steadily active, and prices continue to be firm and unchanged. Quotations in the city are:—Best Arley coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current quotations ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 24s per ton ; Scotch household, 20s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 17se to 18s.; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam coal, about 20s. per ton; English steam slack, 17s. per ton delivered. There is a now a fairly good supply in this port. Cargoes arriving during the week were chiefly from Sharpness, Garston, Ardrossan, Glasgow, Cardiff, Maryport, Irvine Preston, Manchester, Girvan, Ayr, Partington, Troon, White haven, Silloth, Ellesmere Port, Newport and Workington. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There has beep a fair enquiry during the past week or so, and a steady business was done in tin-plates for ship- ment over the next few months. Prices are better, but makers say still below cost of production ; there are certainly no anxious sellers for forward delivery, unless at an advance on current rates, which may be called:—Coke tins, I C 14 x 20 (112 sh 108 lb.), 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 28s. 6d. to 29s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. 91. to 15s. per box; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 7^d. to 14s. 9d. per box; I C 14 x 18$ (124 ffi. 110 1b.), 14s. 7|d. to 14s. 9d. per box; IC20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb), 20s. 9d. to 21s. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 14s. 6d. to 15s. basis. Ternesare in moderate demand at 24s. 6d. to 24s. 9d. per box for I C 28 x 20. Char- coal tins are in fair request; quotations run 17s. 6d. basis and upwards according to tinning. Coke wasters are steadily asked for. Quotations:—C W 14 x 20, 13s. Ijd. to 13s. 3d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 26s. 6d. to 27s. per box ; C W 14 x 18$, 12s. 9d. to 12s. 10|d. per box; C W 20 x 10, 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d. per box—all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent.