January 2, 1914-. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. the last two weeks of March, there was a large increase in business generally. Shipments were un- usually heavy, foreign exports bulking largely. It was reported that a considerable proportion of the contracts for 80,000 tons for the Russian railways had been booked by Scotch shippers. The home demand was very active and prices firm. Best house coal was sold delivered in Glasgow at 23s. 9d., best parlour coal 22s. 6d., treble nuts 19s. 9d., anthracite doubles 35s., and anthracite singles 22s. 9d. per ton. The demand for hard furnace coal for manufacturers’ use was also on a very extensive scale and with a strong request for all large coal the position of the trade was very satisfactory. In the East of Scotland collieries were engaged making arrangements for the Baltic season. The inland trade showed great activity, and in some instances advances were made under con- tract for delivery to merchants and consumers for delivery over a period. In the last week of March vessels were admitted to the new dock at Methil for loading. Second Quarter. The second quarter of the year opened with trade in a healthy condition in all departments, and while prices in some cases were not so high as in the middle of February, on the other hand some qualities showed an increase and quotations all round were firm. The shipping demand, which had fallen oft to some extent, made a good recovery. Some apprehension regarding supplies was caused at this time owing to the scarcity of labour at the mines. All classes and qualities of coal were in increasing demand throughout the month. Owing to changes in the weather conditions the pressure for household coal had somewhat abated, but business in small hard coal for manufacturing was extremely active. Of the contracts fixed for the Danish State railways, only some 17,000 tons were taken from Scotland owing to the prices quoted for German coal being considered to be below those of this country. Towards the end of the month there was an easier tendency in the market owing to the advance of the season. Shipments, however, continued exceptionally brisk, particularly at Glasgow, where it was expected that a strike of quay labourers for an advance of Id. per hour for night work would curtail shipments; but, instead of a reduction, shipments were largely increased. Trade on the east coast was correspondingly active. The recently-opened extension of the dock at Methil had already made a manifest difference in returns. Another cause of the betterment in trade was the fact that the railway and harbour companies were working more harmoniously with the coalmasters. Best screened navigation coal was now quoted f.o.b. at Methil or Burntisland 17s. to 17s. 6d.; unscreened 15s. to 15s. 6d.; first-class steam coal 15s. 3d. to 16s.; third-class 12s. 9d.; treble nuts 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d.; doubles 13s. to 13s. 3d., and singles 12s. 6d. to 12s. 9d. per ton. Throughout the greater part of the month of May the position of the trade was well maintained. The demand for household coal was unusually heavy for the time of the year. Shipments were, on the whole, well up to the average of the pre- ceding weeks, and a large business was done from the Fife ports to the Baltic. Towards the end of the month, the supplies of large coal became much larger and there was an easier tendency, but owing to the large quantities being taken under annual contract, and also the demand on the part of municipalities for gas contracts, prices were practically unaltered. Collieries, however, experienced difficulty in disposing of treble and double nuts, and in consequence prices were some- what easier, treble and double nuts being quoted 12s. 9d. to 13s. 3d. per ton. Trade in the West of Scotland was greatly interfered with owing to sectional strikes, which kept a large number of men unemployed. Business on the east coast was also under the influence of labour troubles at this time, the dock labourers at Grangemouth having struck work, causing great inconvenience to shipping, and as the men on strike included those who dealt with the forwarding of pit props, it was feared the supply would run short at the collieries. The volume of business transacted in the month of June was not so large as in May, the supplies of coal at the collieries being considerable, due in some measure to a quieter demand for manufacturing purposes and for shipment, and prices were easier. Steam and ell coal f.o.b. Glasgow were selling at 3d. less, while splint coal was 3d. to 6d. below former figures, the quotations being for steam 13s. to 13s. 6d., ell 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d. and splint 14s. 3d. to 14s. 9d. per ton. While splint coal had gone back in price at this time, contracts over a period were dearer than in the preceding year. This was shown by the annual gas contracts arranged by the Glasgow Corpora- tion. Offers were received from about 100 tenderers and 700,000 tons accepted for delivery over 12 months at a figure which was Is. 8d. per ton in excess of the price paid in 1912, and 3s. lOd. more than was paid in 1911. The market generally continued to show a weakening tendency up to the end of June, chiefly due to a slackening in the demand in consumption all round and also to labour disputes affecting various trades. Owing to the weather con- ditions household coal was much easier, the price for shipment having receded considerably. In the western district outputs continued on a large scale, and with the reduced demand both for home use and export prices suffered accordingly, steam coal being 3d. to 6d. per ton cheaper. Steam coal was quoted f.o.b. at Glasgow 12s. 9d. to 13s. 3d.; ell, 12s. 6d. to 13s.; splint, 14s. to 14s. 6d.; treble nuts, 12s. 6d. to 13s.; doubles, 12s. 6d. to 13s.; and singles 12s. to 12s. 6d. per ton. On the east coast collieries were comparatively well employed. The shipping demand was considerable, and although the inland consumption was not well maintained the position generally was fairly satisfactory. Prices were comparatively easy, the quotations in the Forth district being 3d. to 6d. lower than in the beginning of the year. Best screened steam coal f.o.b. Leith 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d.; secondary qualities, Ils. 9d. to 12s. 3d.; treble nuts, 12s. 9d. to 13s.; doubles, 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d.; and singles, Ils. 9d. to 12s. 3d. per ton. Conditions in the Fife- shire district were on practically the same lines. A fairly good general business was being done, but any special demand was confined almost wholly to the best qualities of navigation coals. Although prices showed some decline over the three months, they were still on a comparatively firm basis. Best screened navigation coal f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland, 16s. 9d. to 17s. 3d. ; unscreened, 14s. 6d. to 15s. ; first-class steam coal, 14s. 3d. to 14s. 9d.; third-class, Ils. 9d. to 12s. 9d.; treble nuts, 13s. to 13s. 6d.; doubles, 12s. 6d. to 13s.; singles, 12s. to 12s. 6d. per ton. Third Quarter. The position of the trade was not now as satisfactory as formerly. Shipments, both on the east and west coasts, were greatly interfered with through a recurrence of labourers’ strikes at the docks. At this period also a large quantity of extra coals were thrown on the market, due to the general slackness in the various trades and to the fine weather. Household coal was now selling at a reduction of Is. 6d. per ton for home use, and with holidays taking effect in different places the manufacturing consumption was greatly reduced, and a number of the collieries were idle on account of strikes. The miners had at this time claimed a further advance in wages, and Sheriff Mackenzie, the arbiter, decided that the men should receive at once an additional 6J per cent, on the 1888 basis, making their pay 7s. 6d. per day. Towards the end of July business increased in activity x particularly in the Clyde district. In consequence of the advance in wages coalmasters were firmer in their terms, and with numerous holidays taking place coal was less plentiful. Shipments were of considerable amount, a large business being done with Irish ports, and local shipments, parti- cularly heavy for the time of the year, and some fairly Chart showing the maximum and minimum quotations of Scottish coals for each month in 1913. 20/ ie/ n/ i*/ »2/ ’•/ i