January 2, 1914.

TSE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

19

spite of the extension of facilities—there would have
been considerable congestion. Roughly, somewhere
about 10 million tons will have been sent to the two
ports during the year, the increase in each of both cases
being somewhere about a million tons for the year. In
the case of Hull, it should be pointed out that the extra
traffic is practically all new business ; but the volume of
trade at the other port has been swollen at the expense
of Grimsby, which has shown a decided decrease.
Another feature of the year, so far as the returns
relating to Hull are concerned, is the fact that on
several occasions, whilst other ports have shown a
decreased trade, the business on the Humber has been
increasing—especially so when a comparison is made
with the more closely competing district having near
access to the Tyne. This was apparent in January,
February, May and June. The comparison of the trade
at Hull during the early part of the year is hardly
reliable, owing to the fact that in 1912 the miners’
strike occurred, but trtide opened out in very brisk
fashion and during the first two months of the year
nearly 220,000 tons more had been sent to Hull. At
the close of the first quarter the tonnage had reached
1,802,520 tons, an increase of nearly half a million tons,
and at the close of June, in spite of the fact that the
business during the second quarter of 1912 was of an
abnormal description, the increase had been more than
maintained. The aggregate exceeded four million tons,
which was easily a record for the first six months in any
year at the port and exceeded the figure of 1912 by one
million tons. In July and August the volume of trade
weakened a little—about 5,000 tons short in July but
130,000 tons less in August. There was a slight
recovery in September and the total over the nine
months then exceeded six million tons, an increase of
about 850,000 tons. During October another 50,000
tons increase was put on, but in November there was a
decline of about 30,000 tons. The total at the close of
the 11 m ntlis was nearly 7,400,000 tons, and, judging
by the active state of business during December, it
seems very likely that the aggregate for the year will
have reached eight million tons, which, of course, easily
creates a record in the history of the port. It is
interesting to notice that so recently as ten years ago
the business at the port was only about one-half the
figure for last year. About three-quarters of the extra
trade has been on account of the increased demand
from abroad, and the remaining one-quarter of the total
—about 200,000 tons—represents the increased con-
sumption of coal for bunker purposes at the port. The
extra demand has not been due in any measure to the
capture of new markets, and in this direction practically
the only feature is the increased buying for the Russian
State Railways. Owing to the shortage of home supplies
an extra tonnage had to be dealt with after the normal
close of the Baltic ports. This coal has been sent by way
of the Black Sea ports, in which direction hitherto very
little business has been done from Hull. During the
three months September to November nearly 100,000
tons have been sent from Hull in this direction, whilst
from Immingham almost an equal increase has been
shown. The increased export from Hull which is about
three-quarters of a million tons for the year, as already
indicated, has been for old-established markets. For
the first time the traffic of the Baltic ports has exceeded
one million tons for the year, equal to about 25 per
cent, of the whole foreign trade done from the port.
Germany as usual ranks as the second best customer,
and at the end of the 11 months about 700,000 tons had
been shipped direct to German ports, an increase of
about 200,000 tons. On the other hand, the business
with the Dutch ports, which is also part of the German
trade, had been maintained, the total being near 400,000
tons. With regard to Sweden, although the South
Yorkshire coalowners did not show any great interest
in certain classes of contracts for that country, the
export continues to be an average one, although
last year there was an increase of about 40,000 tons.
The business done with South America, which reached
a quantity of about a million tons for the year,
also showed slight improvement, and other increases
occurred in the exports to Austria to the extent of
11,000 tons, Belgium 24,000 tons, Denmark 35,000 tons,
France 43,000 tons, Spain 24.000 tons, and the only
decrease of any moment was in the cases of Italy (nearly
20,000 tons) and Ea&t Indies (15,000 tons). In regard to
the sources of supply as already indicated, the newer
and larger collieries have obtained the bulk of the
increased trade, although, on the other hand, it is note-
worthy that several firms, after having participated
prominently in the foreign business, have evidently found
a more satisfactory market at home for their fuel. The
well-known Denaby and Cadeby firm appear likely to have
nearly equalled the record of 1910, when they sent over
one million tons during the year. Last year’s total is

’ nearly 400,000 tons in excess of the previous year.

As an instance of what the newer collieries are likely
to do, the case of Bullcroft may be cited. Last year
they sent about 300,000 tons to the port, an increase of
nearly a quarter of a million tons on the previous year,
when of course the colliery was only being opened out.
Maltby, another new colliery, which only reached a daily
output of 100,000 tons last August, at the end of
November had sent 133,817 tons, an increase of 60,000
tons. The Grimethorpe and New Frickley collieries,
although the second largest contributors to the port
with about 450,000 tons, showed a decrease of 100,000
tons compared with the previous year. Bentley, with
about 300,000 tons, maintained their tonnage, and other
collieries in this district sending over 200,000 tons
were Aldwarke Main, Brods worth, Dalton Main,
Man vers Main. The several collieries which are work-
ing the Parkgate seam have shown a little increased
business, but, as indicated, the increased volume of trade
has practically been taken by the more extensive
concerns.

With regard to values on the whole, coalowners

have maintained a firm and steady level through out
the year. At the opening they entered upon the
delivery of the new railway contracts with Is. 6d. per
ton advance, making Ils. 6d. per ton for the year, whilst
on current account the best hards were mating 12s. per
ton, and secondary kinds from the Barnsley Bed Ils. 6d.
per ton. The upward tendency of prices was shown in
February when another advance from 3d. to 6d. per ton
was being obtained, and so good was the prospect that
the Great Central Railway Company, who at this
period had to renew certain contracts, had to pay Is.
per ton more than the price of contracts settled in the
previous December. During March and April supplies
were scarce and prices advanced, it being recorded that
13s. 9d. per ton was paid for a special consignment of
best hards. In May the top price of the year for large
steams was reached, from 13s. 6d. to 14s. per ton being
paid, but this checked business, and the activities of
middlemen caused prices to be cut, so that in June
best hards were back to about 13s. per ton, with
secondary descriptions 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d. per ton, with
a slight lapse at the latter end of June owing to the
disposition of buyers not to enter into forward contracts.
There was later a slight rally, but the temporary slump
affected the secondary descriptions of fuel rather than
the best kinds. During August the rush of new business
on behalf of Russia gave the market a much stronger
tone, and during September a number of railway contracts
were renewed on the basis of 12s. 6d. per ton for the
best hards.

As showing the state of business, an unusually early
move was made in regard to the renewal of contracts
over 1914. This step was taken by some of the Grimsby
steam trawler companies, who in past years have shown
a very intelligent anticipation of the position. In
November it was announced that arrangements had
been completed for the supply of a substantial propor-
tion of the three-quarters of a million tons which the
trawlers are calculated to use during the year, at 12s. 6d.
per ton for the best qualify hards. Although this state-
ment was strongly denied, it was nevertheless the fact
that the bargain had been completed, and closely followed
the action of certain railway companies in paying a
similar figure for renewals of contracts. Acting upon
this basis, the associated coalowners demanded from the
railway companies an increase of Is. per ton for the
contracts during 1914. Up to the time of writing, the
consumers have shown almost an indifference to the
request, and the North-Eastern Company did not even
ask for tenders up to a short period before the end of
the year. This company, who are estimated to take half -
a-million tons from the Midland coalfield, had obtained
renewals at a reduction of Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per ton, in
the north, but it should be pointed out that whereas
they paid somewhere like 2s. 6d. per ton advance in the
north for the 1913 contracts, the South Yorkshire coal-
owners accepted Is. 6d. per ton. The trawler companies
have announced a campaign of retaliation which is not
new. They have arranged to send part of their fleet to
coal on the Tyne, but the South Yorkshire coalowners
have an accurate idea of the value of their coal for use
in the trawlers and the necessity of quick access to
and from Grimsby, that they are not likely to be
frightened by the intimation of opposition, nor is there
likely to be the same dissension amongst coalowners of
South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, as was the case in
previous years.

Some of the more important contracts which have
come to the South Yorkshire district during the year
included 30,000 tons best hards for Italian State Rail-
ways at 12s. 9d. per ton in January, and also 40,000 tons
small steams for Copenhagen. The Swedish State
Railway contracts attracted little notice from local
coalowners in February. In April 30,000 tons were
placed for the Norwegian Railways at about 16s. per
ton f.o.b. In July it was reported that St. Petersburg
merchants had contracts to supply 70,000 tons of district
coal at 20s. 9d. per ton c.i.f., and the opinion prevailed
at that time that supplies could not be obtained at that
figure. Later in the same month contracts for about
80,000 tons for the Russian railways were placed in the
district. In September the Grimethorpe and Frickley
Collieries secured the renewal of the contract to supply
a quarter-million tons to the Cunard Steamship Co.
The fuel is a mixture of large steams, nuts and slack,
and it is reported that the price paid was less than that
of 1912, when the figure was 10s. 6d. per ton. In
October after the district had failed to obtain several
lots of new business for the Baltic ports, there came
the announcement that with the exception of a com-
paratively "small proportion the new business for Russia,
to the extent of half-a-million tons, was to be placed
in South Yorkshire. The tonnage, which was to be sent
by way of the Black Sea ports between October and next
March, was expected to be placed at considerably less
prices now that the shipping season had come to an end.
The bulk of the coal which has been bought is stated to
be of a secondary character and no substantial amount
of the be-t hards have been available. This extra busi-
ness has done more than anything else to cause the
remarkable activity which has been experienced during
the closing part of the year.

Manufacturing Fuel.

In regard to all kinds of manufacturing fuel the year
has proved in several respects to have been a most
remarkable one. The opening of the year came with a
demand for steam nuts and slacks which was unpre-
cedented. The price in the current market then ruled
about as follows :—Best washed nuts, 12s. 6d. per ton
(equal to the price of best large steams); secondary
sorts, Ils. 6d. per ton ; best slacks, 9s. 6d. per ton ; rough
slacks, 8s. 3d. per ton. The abnormal demand was due
to the extraordinary activity in the iron and steel trades
and the huge output of coke. In regard to the latter
aspect of the situation, slacks had become too valuable
for coalowners to retain to feed their own coke ovens,

and they resorted to the practice of crushing large soft
coal in order to provide slack, which, compared with not
a long period ago, had become an extremely valuable
product. It was remarkable how well sustained was the
rush for small steam fuel and, in' fact, in April prices
even became firmer, but about May the position became
more in favour of buyers. This was caused by the
fact that coke manufacturers were tempted to deal with
a weakening position by restricting their output, but so
far as the business in nuts is concerned there was no
surplus tonnage, although the prices became a little
weaker. It was remarkable, however, how firm the posi-
tion continued to be in spite of the quieter state of trade
and, so far as nuts were concerned, it was not until the
last quarter of the year that the position weakened; but
even then there was almost as strong an enquiry for the
best quality nuts, which were realising an average price
of about 10s. 9d. to Ils. per ton. In regard to slacks,
the slump affected the rougher kinds, which began to
accumulate substantially at the pits and, although prices
fell, coke manufacturers were still loud in their com-
plaints at the cost of this material, and there was always
a keen enquiry for the best quality slacks, which, towards
the end of the year were still realising from 6s. 9d. and 7s.
per ton, whilst contracts for future supplies were not
difficult to make.

House Coal.

So far as the volume of business done, the year has
been of about an average character. Perhaps in this
branch of the trade the added costs of production and
other matters have told rather keenly on the thin seam
collieries, and there have been few periods when the
demand has been exceedingly vigorous. The larger
collieries working the Barnsley bed have, with their
well-sustained working, produced a large tonnage of
soft coal, which has had the effect of keeping prices
fairly steady. The demand for the best class of
Barnsley Thick bed softs for London and the eastern
counties has been fairly well sustained, although the
competition from Derbyshire and Nottingham coalfields
for the southern trade has been felt more keenly. At
the opening of the year prices were about as follow :—
Silkstone, 14s. 6d. to 15s. per ton; best Barnsley, 14s.
to 14s. 6d. per ton; seconds, Ils. 6d. to 13s. per ton;
house nuts, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton; and secondary
sorts, Ils. 6d. to 12s. per ton. During April it became
known that the collieries would seek an increase of from
Is. to Is. 6d. per ton on the new contracts from June,
and this announcement caused a rush of business.
Owing to stocks being laid in, sellers were so well
placed that they refused to make the usual Is. per ton
reduction for the summer months. The demand was
good, but towards the end of June the bulk of the
house coal contracts had been renewed at Is. per ton
advance on the previous year, and the price was brought
up to a more general level. The business, however,
continued very slow until the approach to September,
when the public became scared owing to the probability
of an extra Is. per ton being added for the winter
rates. There was a rush for the better class of
fuel, and this had the effect of the advance being
imposed earlier than was intended, but towards the
end of September the increase was generally applied.
Owing to the mild weather subsequently the demand
was below the average, and there was every indication
that more use was being made of gas for heating pur-
poses, which is considered to be satisfactory except in
times of severe cold. In the early part of December the
demand for all classes of house coal became more exten-
sive, and prices had a greater degree of firmness about
them. The trade in second class fuel for the West York-
shire and the Lancashire districts has on the whole
proved substantial, and less has been heard of prices
being cut, than in previous years. Towards the close of
the year values stood at about as follows:—Silkstone,
15s. 6d. to 16s. per ton; best Barnsley softs, 15s. to
15s. 3d. per ton ; seconds, 12s. 6d. to 14s. per ton; best
house nuts from 12s. 6d. to 14s. per ton; and secondary
sorts up to 13s. per ton.

Gas Coal.

In regard to this section of the trade the year will
have provided a more satisfactory experience. The
greater proportion of the output has again been under
contract, and the active state of trade with the known
added costs in proportion has enabled producers to
obtain an advance of something like Is. per ton on the
previous year. This was only natural, considering the
fact that during the early part of the year supplies were
being given in the contracts at prices which were less
than the values in the open market. It was reported
that several Metropolitan companies had bought York-
shire coal at 12s. 6d. to 13s. per ton over the year, but
generally speaking, although Is. 6d. per ton advance had
been demanded, about Is. to Is. 3d. per ton is the
increase which has been paid. The Bradford Corpora-
tion are reported to have paid only Is. per ton advance,
and no doubt many large consumers took precautions
not to contract fortheir full requirements, and rely upon
purchasing in the open market. Towards the close of
the year they got a slight advantage, but were seeking
new contracts, and on the whole it is doubtful whether
they have gained any benefit from the making of sec-
tional contracts, as generally the amount of fuel on offer
in the market has not been large. The export of gas
coal from the district has been exceptionally large,
especially for South America.

Coke.

Probably no branch of the industry has shown such
a great fluctuation during the year as that of coke-
making. The boom in business during the previous
year attracted a good deal of attention, with the result
that several collieries decided to embark more largely in
the industry by installing batteries of by-product ovens,
either in place of the old beehive pattern or as a new
enterprise. This caused a remarkable extension in the
output, which has had the inevitable effect of partially