COLLIERY GtJ ARMAN.

January 2, 1914.

causing the slump when the demand became quieter. So
far as profits are concerned, makers have had to pay
remarkably high prices for slacks, and during the latter
part of the year their experience has been of a most
unfavourable character. The year opened with the
demand at its zenith, and prices were even 21s. to 22s.
per ton for ordinary brands at the ovens. However,
there was a gradual fall, and with the arrival of March
the demand for coke, which had been especially large
from the Middlesbrough district, fell away considerably.
The quieter state in the iron trade has also affected the
North Lincolnshire district, which takes a greater bulk
of the coke made in South Yorkshire, and as contracts
fell out consumers showed no anxiety to renew these,
and prices began to fall—dropping to 16s. per ton in
June. Such was the outlook in the pig iron trade, that
smelters, would not entertain the idea of renewing
substantial contracts, pref ering to take their chances in
the open market, which was showing so much weakness.
Cokemakers began to talk of combination to deal with
the position, as they could not obtain any substantial
reduction in the price of slack, whilst unable to find
satisfactory .values for their products. A substantial
effort was made to restrict the output by the damping
down of beehive ovens, but it was of no avail, and in
July 13s. per ton could only be obtained for good class
coke. The position at the end of the year was practically
unaltered, and there was an absolute lack of confidence
in the pig iron trade, which caused smelters to practi-
cally ignore the question of making future arrangements.
As stated, several new batteries of ovens have been
started, or are being built, and it is a very difficult
problem to solve as to what effect the extra output
will have on the industry in the future. Eighty ovens
in the by-product plant of the Old Silkstone Collieries
Limited, at Barugh, near Barnsley,. are now in full
operation, and the company are. entertaining the ques-
tion of producing a smokeless fuel. A new battery is
being worked at the Wombwell Main Colliery, and
during the year plants at other collieries have come into
full operation.

Colliery Developments.

In regard to the extension of the coalfield, although
the year has hardly witnessed the same activity as in
other years in the Doncaster district, several new enter-
prises have been pushed forward. It is noteworthy that
in this connection the majority of the new ventures are
in the hands of capitalists who already hold a large
interest in the area, and appear to be dividing the risk
entailed by the further exploitation of the Barnsley
thick bed. The Askern Main and Yorkshire Main
collieries have been opened out after difficulties had
been overcome caused by the striking of the fault. The
Manvers Main Company are pushing forward operations
at their new colliery at Barm borough, and good progress
has been made with the Rossington colliery. Arrange-
ments have been made to sink to the Barnsley bed at
Harworth on the Selby estate of Lord Galway, whilst
the prospective working of the same bed under Doncaster
has been advanced by the transfer of the leasehold from
Earl Fitzwilliam to Sir Arthur Markham, M.P.,who has
very great interests in the district. There is also talk
of sinking operations being commenced at Barnby Dun.
Nearer Barnsley considerable attention is being paid to
the greater working of the Parkgate seam, which pro-
duces a class of steam fuel which is obtaining greater
popularity in the market. Earl Fitzwilliam, the owner
of the Elsecar and other collieries, has commenced
sinking at Greasborough, where an area of about 3,000
acres is available. The Wath Main Company have
followed the example of some of their neighbours in
sinking to the Parkgate bed, and just.outside Barnsley,
at Darton, Mr. Henry Jaggar is sinking to the Parkgate,
Silkstone, and other thinner beds. Amongst other enter-
prises talked of, within Barnsley itself a small colliery
is being opened out, to work the Haigh Moor seam, and
possibly more may be heard of the development of the
thinner seam above the Barnsley bed in the town and
within a short radius of the borough.

DERBYSHIRE AHD NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

The coal trade of this district during the year 1913
experienced a period of great prosperity—one that
has not been equalled for many years past. The year
opened with excellent prospects, and the hopes of those
engaged in the industry have been fully realised. There
has been throughout the 12 months a well-sustained
demand for all classes of fuel. In the early months of
the year supplies were very much below the demand, and
consumers found considerable difficulty in obtaining
sufficient fuel to enable them to utilise their plant to its
full capacity. From the beginning of the year to its
close, perhaps the strongest demand which the market
experienced was for steam, coal, the whole output of
which was readily absorbed, notwithstanding the greatly
increased tonnage that came on to the various markets
from the newly-opened collieries in the Doncaster
district. In addition to the ordinary demand for steam
coal for shipment, Russia in an unexpected manner
became a buyer of an exceptionally heavy quantity of
this class of fuel for shipment to the Black Sea ports,
and prices in consequence rose substantially. The larger
portion of this tonnage was bought for shipment after
the close of the upper Baltic ports, when in an ordinary
way this branch of the coal trade becomes exceedingly
quiet. This supplementary purchase has, therefore,
had a remarkably strengthening effect upon the market,
and enables colliery owners to face with confidence the
opening of the new year. Fuel for manufacturing
purposes has been in active demand throughout the past
year. The requirements of the iron and steel trades
have been exceptionally heavy for the various classes of
coal used in connection with the iron and steel trades,
cobbles and nuts for gas-producers being in particularly
strong demand during the whole of the 12 months.
Prices of these qualities have been on a higher level than

SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE.

The year just terminated has been a very prosperous
one. Not only have prices for current business ruled
uniformly high, but on the contracts fixed in November
an advance of 9d. per ton was obtained, as compared
with the prices accepted in the autumn of 1912. Perhaps
the greatest fluctuations which have taken place have
been in connection with small coal. Owing to the excep-
tional activity in the iron and steel trades in the early
part of the year, a very sharp advance took place,
bunkerings realising as much as 16s. and cargo qualities
from 14s. to 15s. per ton. Some consumers became
alarmed at the condition of the market and early placed
contracts for best qualities of small on the basis of
10s. 6d., and in one or two cases even at Ils. per ton.
But subsequently, as the metal industries began to wane,
buyers were able to make purchases over this year at 8s.
to 8s. 6d. For best steam large current prices never
fell below 18s. 6d., whilst at one period as much as
22s. 6d: to 23s. was paid, but mainly the prices ruled at
from 20s. to 21s. Monmouthshire coals were in propor-
tion. High as these prices are, the profits realised by
the colliery companies do not bear favourable comparison
with those made a quarter of a-century ago. Speaking
at the annual dinner of the chartering clerks, Mr. D. A.
Thomas said that when he became sales agent to the
Cambrian Collieries 25 years ago they only got 9s. a ton
for their coals, yet the profits made were larger than
to-day, when coals were at 18s. per ton. The output,
though of course considerably greater than formerly, is
declared to be 25 per cent, less per man than in 1899.
This is attributed in great measure to the high wages
earned by the miners. The wage rate has been advanced
to 60 per cent, above the standard, so that it has now
attained the maximum. The last 2J per cent, granted
in May last was tantamount to an increase in the wages
of the members of the Federation of about £126,000.
Owing to this circumstance, the men take longer and
more frequent holidays than they formerly did, with the
result that the output has dropped more in South Wales
than in any other part of the United Kingdom. There
have been a number of sectional strikes during the year,
arising mainly from efforts made to compel miners to
continue their subscriptions to the Federation. The
officials of this body in June tried to induce the members
to increase their subscription from Is. per week to
Is. 4d. per week, but it resulted in failure. This led to
some very straight talking by the leaders, who told the
delegates at the conference that in the matter of sub-
scriptions the South Wales Federation was the “ black-
leg ” of trades unionism ; but although it was pointed
out that since the Federation had come into existence
the men had received five millions more in wages, and
that during the last 14 years out of £900,000 received
from all sources no less than £565,000 had been returned
in strike pay, the men rejected the proposal to increase
the subscription by a huge majority. At the conference,
representing 159,000 members—the largest total ever
registered—there was a majority of 26,000 against the
proposal. Shipowners have made huge profits during
the year, one or two firms admitting a gain of over
£100,000; but, as far as can at present be seen, their day
is over. Tonnage is now much more plentiful, and the
year closed with freights to Genoa at 7s., and to other
ports in the Mediterranean in proportion.

Several important changes have been made during
the year in the conditions under which the coal is
shipped at the port. Amongst others the charges for
coal mixing have been raised by the dock companies,
and now the charges are 2d. per ton where single wagons
are mixed, ranging from that figure down to |d. per ton

they have touched for many years past. The early part
of 1913 witnessed a very heavy and pressing demand for
slack for steam-raising purposes, and, until the month
of July, it was almost impossible for collieries to satisfy
the numerous requirements that were made upon them
for this fuel. Prices advanced until they touched 9s.
per ton at the pit, the highest figure quoted for many
years. With the turn of the half-year, however, the pig
iron trade began to show signs of weakness, which, in
turn, caused a falling off in the demand for coke, and
which compelled colliery owners to reduce the number
of ovens at work. This unexpected course of events
was the means of throwing on the market a large
quantity of slack, for which it was not prepared, and
caused prices to fall from 2s. to 3s. per ton. Towards
the close of the year, there were indications that the
worst of the position had been seen and that matters
would right themselves. This sudden change in the
condition of the market for slack has not affected prices
for forward delivery as seriously as might have been
expected, and contracts have, in a great many instances,
been recently renewed at figures which show an advance
upon those made a year ago. House coal has held its
own in a remarkable manner, in spite of the mild
weather which was a feature of the year. If cold
weather had been experienced, it is believed that prices
would have reached the highest figures known for many
years. Even favourable as the climatic conditions have
been to the consumer of domestic fuel, stocks are lower
at the collieries than they have been for many years.
Gas coal has been a firm market throughout the year,
and an advance of Is. per ton has been secured for new
contracts. Steam coal for locomotive purposes has
shared in the generally strong demand for fuel, and
advances of from 9d. to Is. have been paid by several
railway companies for their annual requirements.
Complaints are general as to the reduction of the out-
put of coal, owing to the irregular attendance of the
workmen. It is feared that no improvement in this
respect can be looked for so long as the present high
rate of wages remains in force. As a reduced output
means a proportionate increase in the cost of production,
there is very little hope of relief to the consumer of coal
in the shape of lower prices for some time to come.

for lots of eight wagons. Another rather drastic change
was that brought about by the coal trimmers, who
insisted on having a half-holiday on the Saturday.
Though the men were offered overtime at the rate of Is.
per hour from one o’clock till four and 2s. 6d. per hour
from four o’clock till six, or a total of 8s. for working
from one till six, they refused to comply. This placed
Cardiff at a disadvantage as compared with other
districts, the coal trimmers in the North having agreed,
on payment of overtime, to finish the loading of vessels
anxious to get away on the Saturday. Shipowners were
naturally very sore at the refusal of the Cardiff men to
fall into line, as not only are vessels delayed in sailing,
particularly coastwise, but in some cases tips are pre-
vented from being brought into readiness for the com-
mencement of work on the Monday morning. But
experience has proved that the change has not been
fraught with so much evil as was anticipated, as in
many cases the half-holiday has resulted in a speeding
up of loading operations both on the Friday and
Saturday morning. Saturday, August 30, also marked
another important epoch at the port. The old pilotage
service, hitherto performed by sailing cutters, on that
date gave place to a steam service. The 93 pilots who
serve the docks at Cardiff and Penarth now work on a
rota system, with two weeks on duty and one week off
duty. All their earnings are pooled, and after deducting
expenses are divided proportionately. A very strenuous
attempt was made by the Cardiff Dock and Railway
Company to increase their charges, but though the Bill
which they promoted, and which sought to increase
from 2d. to 4d. the maximum charge for tipping, was
carried through Committee in both the Lords and
Commons with, of course, some important alterations
in the charges originally submitted, it was thrown out
in the House of Commons. Another important change
effected by the colliery companies was that relating
to discounts. Hitherto in all contracts it had been
customary to quote a price subject to 2J per cent, dis-
count in 30 days, but experience had proved that this
led to a good deal of misconception, and it was thought
that its abolition and the quotation of a net price would
be the more satisfactory in the end to both buyers and
sellers. Though, of course, the proposal met with some
opposition, it soon obtained remarkable unanimity
amongst all concerned.

The South Wales coalfield was the scene in October
of the most disastrous explosion which has ever occurred
in this country. It took place at the Senghenydd
Colliery of the Lewis-Merthyr undertaking, situated
at the head of the Aber Valley near Caerphilly, and
resulted in the loss of 439 lives, or nearly half of the
men who were in the mine at the time. What was the
cause of the explosion is not yet known, as at the time
of the despatch of this report the enquiry ordered by
the Home Office had not taken place. Work was
partially resumed in December in that part of the mine
which escaped the blast.

The most important financial arrangement in con-
nection with the collieries was that announced in
March, whereby it was sought to unify the Cambrian
Combine, so that instead of the four companies (the
Cambrian, Glamorgan, Naval, and Britannic Merthyi/)
being under separate management, they were all
merged into one undertaking, with a capital of a million
pounds in 6 per cent, preference shares and £900,000
in ordinary shares. The output of coal was stated to
be a little over three million tons per annum, but it is
expected that the opening up of the new seam at the
Naval Colliery and also that at Gilfach Goch will
shortly raise the total to four million tons. Messrs.
D. Davis and Sons, Ferndale, have also added to their
holdings the interest which Messrs. Furness, Withy
and Co. held in the Griffin Nantyglo collieries. The
output of this undertaking is a million and a-half
tons per annum. The Ferndale properties yield one
and three-quarter million tons, and the Welsh Naviga-
tion 500,000 tons, so that Messrs. D. Davis and Sons’
total is now 3,750,000 tons per annum.

January.

The year opened with every prospect of exceptional
prosperity. The Custom House returns of the shipments
in January showed a very substantial increase, the total
exports to foreign countries being 2,693,368 tons, or
258,361 tons more than in the corresponding month of
1912. From Cardiff alone there were shipped 1.632,784
tons, an increase of 18,015 tons, whilst from Newport
the increase was 126,728 tons, from Swansea 84,939 tons,
and from Port Talbot 17,987 tons. At first chartering
was very slow, but the month had not far advanced ere
a record quantity of tonnage was taken up, the vessels
engaged for the port of Cardiff alone representing a
carrying capacity of over half-a-million tons. This gave
a fillip to prices, and best steam large, which opened at
18s. to 18s. 6d., jumped up 9d. to Is. per ton. In the
first week of the year there were threats of a strike of
sailors and firemen, but they were never taken seriously,
and when the shipowners voluntarily raised the wages
of the men engaged on monthly boats to £5 10s. per
month, and of those employed on weekly boats to 34s.

—per week (an all round increase of 10s. per month), there
was nothing more heard of any intention to strike.
Very few buyers came into the market, as most of the
contractors, through the six weeks’ stoppage during the
national strike in March and April, 1912, had still large
arrears of coal due to them. The only purchase of any
moment was that made by the Russian Marine, who
placed orders for between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of best
Admiralty coals for shipment over the Baltic season.
The price which they paid worked out at about 19s.
colliery screened, less 2% per cent. This contract might
have been arranged at fully Is. per ton less in the
previous October or November, when specifications were
first sent out, but it was thought by adopting a waiting
policy easier terms might be obtainable. There was a
big enquiry for small coal, due to the exceptional