90 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Januaky 9, 1914. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ these limits of depth and give only the figures for the total amount of coal at depths down to 6,000 ft. from the surface. For foreign countries the depths appear to have been chosen quite arbitrarily, and are expressed—now in metres, now in feet—often in a manner not easy to understand. Thus, for example, the United States adopts limits of 3,000 ft. and 6,000 ft., while Queensland and New Zealand consider only the 4,000 ft. limit, and the figures for India mainly refer to depths of about 1,000 ft. Thus it will be seen that the praiseworthy object of the Committee to produce comparable statistics has failed, as perhaps might have been anticipated by those conversant with mineral statistics in foreign countries. Yet we are fortunately able to draw a comparison in the case of the British Isles between the estimates of the Boyal Commission and those of the present day. We give the figures below, for seams of 1 ft. and upwards, at depths not exceeding 4,000 ft.: — Royal Commission, Royal Commission, Toronto Congress 1871. 1905. • Report, 1913. Tons. Tons. Metric tons. 90,207,285,398 ... 100,914,668,167 ... 181,611,902,920 It is, however, necessary to remember that the huge total given above for 1913 is subdivided into three classes, as below :— Actual reserve... 135,292,562,553 Probable reserve 30,094,840,367 Possible reserve 16,254,500,000 The figures for 1913 are in metric tons equivalent to 1,000 kilogs., or, approximately, 2,204 lb.; whereas the Boyal Commission figures are English tons of 2,2401b. The difference is inconsiderable unless minute accuracy is desired. What is the lesson from these figures ? Bapidly as we have been increasing our coal output in the 40 years or so that have elapsed since the 1871 report, we have, roughly, doubled our coal reserves in the same period—a result which would appear paradoxical to those who have not followed the rapid advances in geological and mining science that have taken place in recent years. Let us review briefly the main causes for this large increase in the estimated coal supplies of this country. Ireland may be dismissed from considera- tion, for the estimates of Prof. Grenville Cole and Mr. Lyburn closely agree with the 1905 figures. The figures for England show both increases and decreases. Amongst the former, the Kent coalfield figures for the first time. In 1905 the Geological Committee reported of this area that an estimate of its coal resources was impossible, the limits being so doubtful. Of this coalfield, Dr. Strahan now ventures upon a qualified estimate of 2,000,000,000 metric tons, founded upon a purely hypothetical aggregate thickness of 10 ft. of coal under an area of some 150 square miles on land and 13 square miles of sea. With regard to the decreases, the most notable is perhaps the extent of the concealed coal- field of Notts and Yorks. Prof. Kendall, in 1905, was extremely sanguine as to the large area of this concealed coalfield, which he estimated to cover 3,885 square miles, and to contain 35,000,000,000 tons of workable coal. The Boyal Commission of 1905 were not able to accept the whole of this extension, and reduced the area to 2,550 square miles, and 23,000,000,000 tons of available coal. Great interest has centred round the rapid development of this important area, but the tendency of recent opinion has been rather to approach the more cautious line of the 1871 Commission than to magnify the area as indicated by Prof. Kendall’s report. Dr. Strahan accordingly indicates the eastward limit of this coal- field by a line drawn approximately coinciding with the valley of the Trent. He says that explorations made since the date of the Boyal Commission have not supported the view of further extension eastward of the Trent valley, although the limit in a south- easterly direction has not been determined. The area of extension is thus reduced to 760 square miles over and above the 1,376 square miles of proved coalfield. The total area of this coalfield is thus brought to 2,136 square miles, and rather less than 1,000,000,000 tons of coal, within this area, are believed to lie beyond the 4,000 ft. limit of depth. With regard to the figures for Scotland, it is stated that the estimates given are those made in 1905 for the Boyal Commission by Mr. I. S. Dixon, less the amount of coal raised since that date. Yet we find an increase in the figures from 15,681,456,356 English tons in 1905 to 21,376,493,624 metric tons in 1913. It can only be assumed that the gross quantity for 1905 instead of the net available quantity has been taken in this case. Developments in the South Staffordshire and Warwickshire coalfields also contribute in some degree to an enlarged estimate. It is, in fact, very difficult to follow out in detail the causes for the largely increased total reserve of coal in the United Kingdom shown in this volume. Nor does this question much concern us from our present standpoint. Of far greater moment is it to reflect upon the possible results of recent and future extensions of our proved coalfields, such as those of Kent and Doncaster. That these new areas will soon be important factors in the competitive market seems to be inevitable. The enormous difficulties that have been encountered in certain sinkings, as at Thorne and Dover, might well be expected to check the embarkation of capital in such undertakings; and there can be little doubt that under any nationalisation system such enterprises would not be carried through. It is a feature of private, as opposed to State, ownership that risks can be taken which could not be faced by a Govern- ment acting in the national interests. So we see the remarkable result of new developments outstripping depletion, and coal resources which are growing in spite of an unprecedented expansion in output. These figures afford an eloquent answer to those who preach the doctrine of the reduction of output in the interests of posterity. Trade Summary. The London coal trade continues brisk. The partial lull on Monday, owing to the change to milder weather, has been followed by a very firm tone, since the cold weather has set in again. Public orders are plentiful. The depot trade is steady and the trolleys are busy. Bakers’ nuts and all house nuts are firm. Colliery supplies are not yet back to the normal, and the rough weather along the coast has seriously hampered the shipping. Slacks are again very weak, but small nuts are improving in demand. Manufacturing coals are selling more freely, but coke is still very dull. The prompt market at Newcastle is easy. Loading turns are congested. The forward prospect in the Durham coal trade is rather more subdued. At present supplies are short of require- ments. Lancashire house coal is in better request. The call for bunkers and furnace coals is easy. Slacks move off freely. In West Yorkshire the demand for house coal is well maintained, and manufacturing sorts are being heavily purchased. Rolling stock is scarce. The position of South Yorkshire steam coals is one of suspended animation. All other classes of fuel are in good demand. Except in regard to the export branch, the trade in Derbyshire coals is very satisfactory. Very little business has been transacted at Cardiff, and the market is easy. Owing to the New Year holidays, business in Scotland has been at the minimum. ___________________________ Tar Products.—Things are quiet, and in the absence of much business, prices are somewhat nominal. Benzols keep firm, but there is not much change in pitch or naphthas. Creosote is steady. Crude carbolic is fairly steady but crystals continue weak. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s ................................ Do. 50’s ................................ Do. 90’s North _________.......................... Do. 50’s North __.............._______________ Toluol ...................................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)............ Do. crystals (40 per cent.)................. Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ... Crude ditto (in bulk) ....................... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............ Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ..................... Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ..................... Do. (f.o.b. gas companies) ................. 1/1 to 1/li /Hi to 1/ /log to /ii 1/1 to i/u /34 /% /5i /Si- 39/ to 40/ 39/ to 40/ [Benaols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at makers51 works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. tw£.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market is very quiet, and prices are nominally lower. There is really nothing doing for forward delivery, so that values are more or less meaningless in this section. Prompt business also is slack, which is hardly surprising for the time of year. Closing prompt prices are:— London (ordinary makes)........... Beckton (certain terms) ........... Liverpool_____...................... Hull ............................. Middlesbrough .................... Scotch ports....................... Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... JS12/2/6 JS12/10/0 .£12/17/6 .£12/16/3 .£12/15/0 £13/ 10/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, loss 2| per cent, dis- count j 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality 5 allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] C01TI1E1TAL WOTS IWTES. ___________________________________________________ France. La Societe des Charbonnages de Szurduk is the name of a new company which has just been formed in Paris, with a capital of .£48,000, to acquire and carry on certain collieries at Szurduk, Hungary. The Office des Cokes, with a capital of 225,000 fr., has been established with headquarters at 26, rue de Berlin,, Paris. The board includes MM. Antoine, Bernot, Beroux, Boissady, Delpeuch, Dessouches, Dupui, Franck-Puaux,. Guibourg, Landie, Martin, Noblet, Pingault, Salomon,, Truille, and Widemann. The Carmaux Miners’ Syndicate has instructed its delegates to the extraordinary congress of miners, which is to meet at Lens on January 25, to vote in favour of a general strike for March 1, in the event of the Senate not finding a satisfactory solution regardin g miners’ pensions and an eight hours day. Colliery Finance.—Our Paris correspondent says, in' their financial aspect, the French colliery companies - have very little cause for satisfaction, for the values of their shares are still very much on the down grade. The usually active market in them has fallen to nil, and with the- certainty of increased taxation and social legislation, there is no prospect of any immediate improvement. The shares of the Courrieres Collieries closed the year on the level of about 4,840 fr., a drop of 185 points in the month of December alone, or 570 points since December 1912. Yet the financial standing of the company is perfectly sound. It has had to face enormous expense in. reconstructing the workings since the catastrophe of. 1906, but it has accomplished this from its own resources—• a sufficient tribute to the provident systems of finance previously adopted. The liquid working capital has now been restored to its level of 10,000,000 fr., which is what it was before the catastrophe. The Bruay Colliery, one of the soundest of the North of France group, which was practi- cally the only one unaffected by the recent strike, saw its.. shares closing the year at under 1,400 fr., a loss of over’ 50 points in the month and 300 points in the year. This- mine will be one of those most severely affected by the coming tax on coal extracted, when this measure shall have - passed the Senate, possibly within a few weeks. This tax, as explained in a recent article, is in practice an impost- upon the shareholders, since the amount available for dividend in a mine is taken in relation to the coal produced, hence a figure of so much per ton is arrived at. When this figure touches 2 fr. per ton, a 20 per cent, tax comes into operation on any surplus. Bruay coal is equivalent in quality to a second-grade Newcastle, and has a ready sale* among industrial consumers in France. There is usually very little free Bruay coal to be purchased in the* market. The nearest rivals to Bruay coal in quality are Lens, Lievin and Maries, the two former slightly better, the last named slightly inferior. These also are under the cloud of financial depression. The Lens dividend recently declared was considered fairly satisfactory, working out at about 3^ per cent, income at present prices, but the mine was one of the most severely affected by the November strike, and it will be called upon to increase in the near future its already very heavy expenses for workmen’s benefit schemes. Among others of the big colliery group, the shares of the Anzin collieries show about the biggest depreciation, and stand now on a really decently remunerative basis—-■ viz., 8,000 fr. They have lost 130 fr. in December, and.. 600 fr. over the year. Germany. The production of pig iron in Germany during 1’913“ amounted to 19,291,920 tons, as compared with 17,868,909n tons in the previous year. Hamburg Coal Trade.—Mr. H. W. Heidmann, of Hamburg,- writes:—The imports of coal into Hamburg have been,in. December :— From Northumberland and Durham... Yorkshire, Derbyshire, &c.... Scotland ................... Wales ..................... Coke................... Total............... The total imports of coals into Hamburg have been during^ the year:— From N orthumberland an d D urham Yorkshire, Derbyshire, &c.... Scotland................. Wales ................... Coke................. ________ ________ Total.................. Coal Syndicate Report for November.—Total coal raised’ 7,901,848 tons (7,652,816 tons in 1912), or 337,377 tons- (317,215 tons) per working day. Calculated distribution. 6,036,509 tons (5,890,472 tons), being 261,938 tons (244,165, tons) per working day, or 94’76 per cent. (92’84 percent.) of the participation. Total coal distribution for Syndicate account 7,702,298 tons (7,456,695 tons), or 333,072 tons (309,086 tons j per working day. Deliveries, including local sales, miners'"1 house coal and supplies to pits’ own ironworksCoal 1913. 1912c Tons. Tons. 207,029 ... 230,621' 61,346 ... 57,231 107,843 ... 111,734 6,576 7,215, 251 — 383,045 ... 406,801 1913. Tons. 2,667,506 765,840 1,389,238 106,982 1,466 1912.. Tons. 2,645,034,. 609,536. 1,308,676 73,720. 1,559/