January 2, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

17

1913 as compared with 4s. IJd. in 1912 and 3s. 4d. in
1911; Hamburg, 3s. 9Jd., 4s. 5Jd., 3s. 6|d., respec-
tively ; Rouen, 5s. 4d., 6s. 5|d., 5s. O^d.; Cronstadt,
5s. 7d., 6s. IJd., 4s. 5Jd.; Swinemunde, 5s. Id., 5s. 6Jd.,
4s. 2Jd.; North Norway, 5s. 6|d., 6s. 7id., 5s. 2^d.;
Bordeaux, 5s. 8Jd., 6s. 9|d., 5s. 7d.; Bilbao, 7s. 3M.,
7s. 2d., 6s. 2Jd.; Port Said, 9s. 7>d., 10s. 2|d., 7s. 3Jd.;
Alexandria, 9s. lljd., Ils. lOJd., 7s. 6|d.; Constanti-
nople, 10s. 9Jd., 14s. 3.'>d., 7s. 4d.; Genoa-Savona, 9s. 6d.,
Ils. 9d, 7s. 9|d., Marseilles, 8s. llfd, Ils. 3Jd, 7s. 5Jd.;
and Barcelona, 9s. 8Jd., Ils. 9|d., 8s. 3d. Rates of
freight were very good during the bulk of the year, but
latterly there has been a serious slump, and the outlook
is anything but good from the shipowners’ standpoint.

DURHAM.

The year 1913 will no doubt stand out as one of the
most prosperous years experienced by Durham coal-
owners, satisfactory profits having been made. The
beginning of the year saw the whole of the pits working
at full stretch, while the output moved away as quickly
as it was raised to the surface, and this full time move-
ment continued all through the year. Prices for
almost all descriptions of coal towards the close of the
year were appreciably higher than those ruling in
January, and there is every confidence in the future
prosperity of the trade, as in nearly all directions the
trade is satisfactory, the output is no greater than meets
the demand, and producers have full order books for
prompt shipment, with very little surplus coal to sell.
It is assumed in some quarters that there will be a decline
in prices, but considering the present pressure and
bookings there is no reason why a strong demand should
not continue well into February-March. The new year
might work wonders in the nature of a slump if all
the contracts closed on December 31. As things are,
however, current contracts in many cases overlap the
opening months of 1914, and there are a large number
of arrears to carry over. The home and export demand
has been at high pressure; towards the close of the
year the depression in the iron trade led to a decline in
coke prices, and also had a weakening effect on coking
fuel, but the export demand for the latter was so fully
sustained that prices did not appreciably fall, and after-
wards rose slightly, in sympathy with bunker coal.
There has not been any wide fluctuations in prices
during the year, some having moved within narrow
limits; this applies to bunker coal as well as for other
descriptions of fuel. The trade in bunker coal has
enjoyed a very satisfactory course during the year, and
a good deal of contracting has been done for shipment
over this year. It is estimated that the coal shipments
from the Port of Sunderland will amount to about
4,850,000 tons. In 1912 the coal strike interfered, and
the shipments were only 4,453,262 tons, but the figures
for 1913 have only twice been exceeded in the history
of the port and are the largest since 1905. It was fully
expected that a record would be established, but during
the latter part of the year the monthly returns were not
up to the high average of the earlier months.

LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.

The coal trade of this district for the past year may
be broadly summed up as a period of regular work and
higher prices, it being quite exceptional where broken
time has been resorted to even during the summer
months. There have been one or two stoppages, and
deterrents to the smooth running of the trade from
other causes, the non-union question being responsible
for a stoppage of a block of collieries in the Wigan
district in July, and another in the Haydock and Gol-
borne district which commenced early in August and
lasted until almost the end of September.

Earlier in the year (during March and April) there
were labour difficulties at Garston, the port being closed
for some weeks for the shipment of coal. During that
time the best that could be done had to be done with
unusual ports, or a partial cessation of supply. In the
early autumn, trouble arose at the Manchester and
Partington Docks, but this was not of long duration.
Trouble began in Dublin also during August, and ship-
ments of coal to this port have been interfered with
more or less from then until the present time.

House Coal.

With regard to the inland household trade, the prices
in force at the commencement of the year continued
undisturbed until the end of September, giving place
then to winter prices, which were from lOd. to Is. per ton
of an advance. The demand during the first four months
of the year was of a satisfactory nature, and May had
arrived before the trade showed much signs of easement.
Throughout the summer, although the actual consump-
tion was low, fair supplies of coal were taken, over and
above actual needs, in order to replenish the usual
stocks kept at the various yards, and which had been
entirely cleared in the earlier part of the year. In Sep-
tember a considerable pressure sprang up in anticipation
of the advance in price, and, as a consequence of this,
October and November were very quiet and below the
average. A somewhat improved demand set in early in
December, and probably at the close of the year this
branch of the trade had quite as much as it could do to
keep pace with the orders coming in. With regard to
prices, with the exception of some selected coals, which
command up to 18s. per ton, good quality coals may be
said to rule at about 17s., with medium sorts at 15s. 3d.
and kitchen coals at about 13s.. all per ton at the pit.

Forge Coal.

Forges and other users of round screened coal for
manufacturing purposes were drawing full supplies at
the commencement of the year, and very satisfactory
quantities were being dealt with in this branch of the
trade until well into June, with prices at from 12s. 6d.
to 13s. per ton at the pit. Since then, however, there

has been a considerable easing in the demand, many of
the forges working broken time or single turn. This did
not have any material effect, however, upon prices, as
there has been throughout the year sufficient call in
other avenues of trade to take away any surplus that
from time to time arose.

Bunkering.

January commenced with a continuance of the brisk-
ness that had been in evidence for months, easier freights
helping matters. Fogs and rough weather were the only
deterrents. Prices ruled at about 14s. for the commoner
qualities, with 15s. for the best grades, f.o.b. Garston,
but values had eased by the end of February, 13s. 6d. to
14s. 3d. being more nearly what was obtainable. The
Garston strike affected both March and April to a con-
siderable extent, glutting other ports by adding to them
an unexpected tonnage. Contract renewals came up
about the month of May, the advance for these being in
the neighbourhood of 2s. Open sale prices also had
touched 14s. and 14s. 9d. Throughout July, August,
and the major portion of September, although bunkering
for cargo boats was easier, the excursion traffic was of
considerable assistance in keeping up the tonnage.
Quotations were easier during the summer months—
13s. 3d. to 14s. becoming more accepted figures, and
these had further eased by November to something like
13s. to 13s. 9d. The Balkan troubles and the lessening
of sailings to the Mediterranean affected the October
supply and there was only a moderate demand. It was
well into December before a little stiffening in price
was felt, this latter being natural in view of the approach
of the holidays.

Cross-Channel Trade.

Shipments of household coals for the coastwise and
cross-Channel trade were very much interfered with
during January and February by the weather, otherwise
the demand was fair, and prices ranged from 13s. for
the common coals to 16s. 9d. for the very best, f.o.b.
By February the commoner qualities had hardened and
13s. 6d. was more nearly the selling price. In March
the service was disorganised through the strike, but

Chart showing the maximum and minimum quotations
of Lancashire coals for each month in 1913.

.GT

IG/-

)5/-

ffest lancashire house coa/s (at pit)

io/-

>3/-

ua/-





after the resumption of work a heavy demand com-
menced and continued all through May, 13s. 9d. to
14s. 6d. for common to 16s. 9d. to 17s. for the best
being about the figures obtainable.

During the whole of the summer shipments have
been more than a summer average, there being depleted
yards to refill. Excluding Dublin, where the strike has
been so long in progress, a very good year for quantities
has been experienced. No serious movement in prices
occurred during the summer months and those last
named are still the figures near which business is being
done at the time of writing.

Slacks and Small Fuel.

In January this branch of the trade was exceedingly
firm, with scarcely enough being produced to fully
satisfy customers’ needs. In February 6d. per ton
advance was put upon open sale prices. This demand
continued with perhaps a little easement during March
and April, but in the early summer and since then, the
demand has scarcely equalled the supply, prolonged
holidays at the cotton mills and trouble m certain of the
manufacturing towns, with generally lessened consump-
tion in the metal trades probably accounting for it. No
serious difference, however, was made in quoted open sale
prices, although spot lots changed hands at prices below
list, and the year closed with something like 10s. for the
best grades, 9s. 3d. for good medium rough slacks, and
8s. 9d. for the common grades, per ton at the pit.

Gas Coal.

Contrary to the preceding year, gas companies came
into the market early and were anxious to renew.
Almost the whole of the sales were made at Is. per ton
advance upon expiring contract prices. In some cases
where a very low-priced contract was expiring the
advances ranged up to Is. 6d. per ton.

Locomotive Supplies.

The summer renewals with the railway companies for
locomotive coal of ordinary grades were made at about
Ils. 6d. per ton into trucks. There were exceptions to
this price to the extent of a few coppers both up and
down, where the fuel tendered for was outside the usual
category.

The output is less by from 8 to 10 per cent., caused on
the one hand by irregularity of attendance on the part
of the men, and perhaps by their not working so
strenuously on the other.

WEST YORKSHIRE.

It will be found, we think, when the accounts are
taken, that the year 1913 has been probably the most
prosperous year in the West Yorkshire coal trade that
has been known since 1900. All through the year
prices have ruled high, and although the output has not
been anything like what it ought to have been, yet
balance-sheets will be very pleasant reading, and the
year from almost every point of view has been
successful. It is true that costs have gone up—wages,
rates and materials, are all higher—but the average pit
prices have increased in even greater proportion. The
year has been free from serious disputes, and, on the
whole, there has been less friction than might have
been anticipated with regard to the working of the
Minimum Wage Act. Advantage of the good times
has been taken at many of the older places to modernise
the screening and other plant on the surface, and
quite a number of new washeries have been erected.
In addition to these things several batteries of coke
ovens have been built, while to one or two others
there have been important additions. During the
early part of the year the railway congestion interfered
very considerably with the transit of minerals and there
was a great outcry raised about delay to rolling stock.
The position of things on the railways improved as
the year wore on, and the great scarcity of empty
wagons noted during the first half of the year has to
some extent been removed by the more regular working
of the traffic. A largely increased quantity of coal has
been sent to the ports for export, more particularly to
Russia. In this market during October and November
big quantities of screened steam coal have been shipped
for the Black Sea ports for the use of the Russian State
Railways. It is to be feared, however, that the ex-
porters have in several cases done the trade an injury,
as many inferior descriptions of coal were sold, and we
understand that in one or two cases cargoes were
actually refused. A large amount of business is still
expected with Russia, and a good deal of attention is
being paid to that market at the present time. Among
the interesting events may be mentioned the continued
success of the Yorkshire Coal Exchange, which is held
at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds. This Exchange has now
been incorporated as a limited liability company, and
the membership continues to increase. Branches of the
Coal Trade Benevolent Society have also been estab-
lished at Sheffield and Hull, as well as at Leeds and
Bradford. The year has been remarkably free from
serious failures, and, although merchants’ profits have
suffered considerably by the high colliery prices,
generally their engagements have been met, and there
has been no really serious case of financial failure. With
regard to the future, opinion on the whole is optimistic.
Although at the present time the iron and steel trades
are passing through a period of depression and the chief
industries of this part of the country are also quiet, it is
felt generally by those best qualified to judge that the
period of depression is likely to be a short one. It is
thought that, provided there is no international trouble
and if the financial situation becomes a little easier, it is.
likely that before the middle of this year the set-back
may have passed. At all events, colliery owners are in
no hurry to sell forward at low prices.

House Coal.

London Markets.—The business generally with London
and the southern and eastern counties in house coals
showed a considerable improvement as compared with
1912. At the beginning of the year the weather was
mild, and there was a quiet time as regards the retail
trade. Representative collieries quoted the following
pit prices for London:—Haigh Moor selected, 14s. to
14s. 6d.; Wallsend and London best, 13s. to 13s. 6d.;
Silkstone best, 13s. to 13s. 6d.; Silkstone house, 12s. to
12s. 6d.; house nuts, Ils. 3d. to Ils. 9d. About the
middle of January there was a distinct improvement,
and special prices were withdrawn. The early part of’
February was again quiet, and merchants at the London
depots were not ordering from the collieries, but were
engaged in picking up ground stocks. In March there
was a spell of very severe weather, and this led to a
very strong demand from London, which continued
right up to the end of April. In April, there
were several meetings of owners interested in the
London house coal trade, and it was decided that the
prices of new contracts should be advanced by Is. per
ton. This decision, by the way, also applied to business
with the local markets. Although buyers generally
resented this further advance, the number of contracts
placed on the whole was larger than anticipated, and was
certainly considerably in advance of the previous year.
About this time contracts were reported for Haigh Moor
best house coal at 14s. summer, and 15s. winter, with
Silkstone best 13s. 6d. at the pit for the whole of the
twelve months. At the latter part of May lowest sum-
mer prices were declared on the London market, and
these continued in operation until the early part of
September, when they were withdrawn, although quite
a number of merchants continued to sell at special prices
all through October. A large number of stocking orders
were given out for delivery during June, July and
August, amongst them being a big tonnage of Silkstone
best at 13s. per ton at the pit. A further sale of Silk-
stone best was reported at 12s. 9d. at the pit. About
the middle of June the news of the settlement of the
London County Council contracts imparted consider-
able firmness to the position of forward business.
It was reported that this authority had bought
115,000 tons of various qualities of coal, and had
paid Is. advance for house coal, and from Is. to 2s. 6d.
per ton advance on other grades. The half-year ended