110 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 16, 1911. IRON. The markets here are dull and without interest. Good No. 3 Lincolnshire can be bought at about 56s. to 56s. 6d., with Derbyshire about 57s., but the foundries are not busy, and these prices do not tempt them to purchase more than from hand to mouth. The forges are on short time, and the Association makers keep their prices up to £7 5s. for Crown, .£6 15s. second quality, hoops £7 17s. 6d., sheets about .£8 12s. 6d. Steelworks are also on short time, with bars at .£6 12s. 6d. and billets .£5. Foreign prices consider- ably cheaper. There is no redeeming feature in the district except that the cold weather keeps the price of coal up. Leede, cm. . The pits in the West Biding have been able to work full time this week, as the supply of empty wagons has been fuller. All the output has been sold and some impression also made on stocks of manufacturing fuel. There are still a number of complaints about the large number of absentees among the miners, and the output for this reason is considerably below the maximum. House Coal.—The severe weather has caused the demand for house coal to continue very brisk, especially from the distant markets. Orders from London and the eastern and southern counties have been both urgent and plentiful, and some of the pits are behindhand quite a fortnight with deliveries of best coal. Revised price lists have, in many cases, been issued, but this has not checked the demand. Stocks at the various junctions are reported to be excep- tionally light and the retail trade in London very busy. There is more enquiry in the coastwise trade and a number of sales in leading qualities of Silkstone house coal were reported last week at about 15s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull. At the West Riding depots merchants are well employed and considerable progress has been made in the lifting of ground stocks. Pit prices: Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d., secondary sorts, 14s. to 15s. 6d. Gras Coal.—There is nothing very important to report this week. The full output is going into consumption and there is also a little buying in the open market. Forward business is dull, except with regard to the nearer Continental reports, from which there have come a number of enquiries during the past few days. Manufacturing Fuel.—There is a better tone generally in this branch of the trade, although prices are not officially altered. Stocks in colliery sidings are considerably reduced and there is a firmer tone generally about the prices. Washed Furnace Coke.—There are no stocks either in wagons or on the benches, and many of the ovens are now on full blast. The current demand is strong, any spot lots on offer selling at about 12s. 6d. per ton at the ovens. Forward buying, however, is not being done at present, on account of the unsettled outlook with regard to the price of iron and steel. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -14/6 Wallsend & London best 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 Silkstone best 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/3-13/9 Do. house 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-12/9 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull: 11/6-12/6 11/6—12/6 11/6-12/ Haigh Moor best 17/6-18/6 17/3-18/6 16/6-17/3 Silkstone best 16/9-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/9 Do. house 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -15/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 14/ —15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/3 Screened gas coal 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/6-13/6 Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 11/6-12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit : 9/6—10/ 9/6-10/ 11/ -11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/ -12/6 engine nuts 9/9-10/6 9/9-10/6 11/3-11/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 10/9-11/6 engine coal 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 11/ -11/6 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/ - 7/6 9/6-10/ Small do. 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 8/6- 9/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/3- 6/9 6/3- 6/9 8/3- 8/6 Furnace coke 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 21/ -22/ Barnsley < COAL. The main feature of the week has been the settlement of the railway and trawler companies* contracts. Although the coalowners through their association had adopted a firm position in demanding Is. per ton advance, they have not succeeded. The trawler companies, as in other years, put up a stiff fight, and events again proved the position of the market was against the coalowners. They have made purchases from collieries and districts which have hitherto not supplied them, and, in this way, they have been able to place tonnage which has led the coalowners to capitulate. It is stated that the trawler companies have arranged for about half-a-million tons, of which about half is small washed coal which will equalise the price to be paid for the supplies. They are stated to have secured contracts for large steams at from Ils. 3d. to Ils. 6d. per ton pit, and the smaller fuel at about 10s. 3d. Following upon this it was obvious that the coalowners could not maintain their demand of 1 s. per ton from the railway company, and the contracts have been quickly renewed with the companies at 11s. 6d. per ton for best hards, the same price that was paid last year. It is expected now this settlement has been made that operations will be of a more active character. On export account buyers have continued to hold off, believing that the volume of trade was weakening, although there is still a considerable buying in connection with the requirements of Russia. Owing to the quieter state of things on the Humber, coal in second hands continues to be sold at much less figures than those quoted at the collieries, and there is no doubt that the position is considerably weaker and again there is a slight reduction on the week. The enquiry on home account is hardly so brisk as formerly, and, in spite of the fact that the output has been reduced owing to the stoppages, the production available exceeds the demand, especially for steam coal of a secondary description. The enquiry for washed nuts continues to be satisfactory, especially for the better-class kinds, and values are fairly well sustained, but secondary grades are more freely on offer. There has been some slight improve- ment with regard to slacks, and stocks are perhaps not so heavy as a short time ago, and the best sorts still command the chief attention, with prices very firm. The enquiry for all classes of house coal continues to be strong and, owing to the holidays, full supplies have not been given. There is a good deal of pressure at the collieries for the best class of coal, though secondary descriptions are also moving off well and prices are fairly well maintained. There is a little better feeling experienced in regard to coke, but practically values have not improved. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year's House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ 14/ -14/6 Best Barnsley softs 15/ -15/3 15/ -15/3 Secondary do 12/6-14/ 12/6-14/ 11/6-13/ Best house nuts , 13/ -14/6 13/ -14/6 11/6-12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 Best hard coals 11/3-11/6 11/9-12/ 12/9 Secondary do 10/9-11/3 11/ 11/9-12/ Best washed nuts 11/ 11/ -11/3 12/6 Secondary do 10/ 10/ -10/3 11/6 Best slack 7/ 7/ 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 8/6 Screened gas coals 12/6 12/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/ -10/6 11/ -11/3 — Gas nuts t 11/6-12/ 12/ 12/ -12/6 Furnace coke 12/6 12/ -12/6 21/ -22/ Hull. COAL. The tone of the market this week can only be written down as quiet, with but little business passing, and prices on the whole rather weak. Second holders have been disposing of Best Yorkshire steam hards at 14s. for prompt shipment, but the volume of business has not been large. Derbyshire and Nottingham steam hards are also easier, but are worth 14s. 3d. for spot lots at Grimsby or Imming- ham. As regards secondary sorts and small fuel for manufacturing purposes values are about steady, and in some cases show a slight improvement on the week. The very cold weather is having a good influence on the house coal demand. Interest in the forward export trade has been revived by the report that the North Eastern Railway Company, following several of the Hull steam fishing companies, have been able to arrange their contracts for the year's supply of steam coal for the southern half of their system at last year's values as against the 9d. and Is. advance demanded of them. This should give a fillip to the export demand over this season, and enable a large amount of business to be transacted in the next few weeks. One thing that should help is the fact that coal freights for “ over the season " contracts are on a more reasonable level than last season, about 4s. now being the offer of shippers. During the week there have been only a few fixtures recorded, rates on offer to-day being for the Baltic Riga 5s. 6d. to 5s. 9d., Reval 5s. 4|d. to 5s. 6d.,Libau 4s. 9d. to 5s., and Swedish Sound ports 4s. 6d. The Mediterranean rate has recovered somewhat, and Genoa-Savona is now quoted at 7s. 6d. Hull to Barcelona has been done at 7s. 9d. for a 2,000 ton steamer, end of January loading. Advices received on 'Change to-day from Riga indicate 3 degs. of frost, accompanied by snow, with strong drift ice on the bar. The following are the approximate prices for prompt ship- ment f.o.b. Hull, &c.:— South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards Washed double-scr’ned nuts Unwashed double- screened nuts Washed single-screened nuts Unwashed single-scr'ned nuts Washed smalls Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— Hartleys Rough slack Pea slack Best Silkstone screened gas coal Best Silkstone unscr'ned gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— Best steam hards (Hull) Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (d'bles) Derbyshire nuts (d'bles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards Do. do. (Grimsby) Current prices. 14/ 13/3-13/9 13/ 13/3-13/6 12/6 9/ -10/ 9/ 13/6 9/ - 9/3 8/3- 8/6 14/ 12/ 14/6-14/9 14/3 12/6 12/3 14/ 14/3 14/6-14/9 14/3 L’st week’s prices. 14/3-14/6 13/6-13/9 13/ 13/ -13/3 12/6 9/6- 9/9 9/ 13/6 9/ 8/3- 8/6 14/ 12/ 14/9-15/ 14/6 13/ 12/9 14/ 14/ -14/3 15/ -15/3 14/9 Last year’s prices. 16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ 14/6-14/9 13/6 14/ -14/ 11/ 13/6-13/9 12/ -12/6 11/9 14/9 13/6 15/9-16/ 15/6 13/6 13/ 15/ 14/6 15/6-15/9 15/3-15/6 Chesterfield. 0©AL The present cold snap has caused a marked revival in the demand for house coal, for which orders are coming to hand freely. Prices are very firm, but they have not yet been advanced generally. A rise, however, may take place any day. There are no stocks held at the collieries. Gas coal is much called for. Fuel for industrial purposes continues in active demand, and all grades of cobbles and nuts for steelworks are in particularly brisk request. There is a perceptible improvement in the demand for slack for boiler- firing purposes, and prices are showing a hardening tendency. Stocks have recently rapidly declined. Steam coal for locomotive use is in steady request, and deliveries are on quite a satisfactory scale. The export trade remains in a quiet condition, and not much, if any, improvement is likely to take place during the present month. Foreign buyers show no inclination to enter the market yet, and they still hope that prices will come lower and thus justify the waiting policy which they have adopted since the close of the shipping season of 1913. Washed double screened nuts are in strong demand at present, and prices have advanced fully 6d. per ton since the beginning of the year. There is also an improvement in the demand for washed slacks and prices are slowly moving upwards. There is no change in the state of the coke trade. The demand may be described as steady, and the output of the ovens is now readily taken up. Prices show no change. There is a better demand for coking slack, the price of which is firmer than of late. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year's prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 15/6 15/6 14/6 Secondary do 13/6 13/6 12/6 Cobbles 12/6 12/6 12/ Nuts 11/6 11/6 11/ Slack 8/ 8/ 9/ IRON. Pig iron is coming into greater requisition, and prices are steadier. There is no change in respect of the finished iron department. The demand does not improve, but prices are now firmly maintained by manufacturers who believe that the bottom has been touched, and that a better state of things will come to pass with the advent of spring. GOAL. Taking the coal trade as a whole, the position continues to be satisfactory in Nottinghamshire, and the outlook is favourable. In the house fuel section the demand is of an active character, the more seasonable weather recently having helped to increase orders for nearly all qualities. Better class sorts have been in good request, and stocks of this class are rapidly decreasing at the collieries, but for seconds and common sorts the pits are well able to cope with orders at present, there being a fair amount of stock at some of the collieries. There is a good tonnage being sent to southern and eastern counties. In the present state of trade owners are experiencing no difficulty in maintaining prices. There is a somewhat quieter tone in the steam coal branch this week. This is due in some measure to a decrease in exports, whilst industrial requirements have hardly maintained their recent standard. The fact, too, that some merchants are hesitating to renew large contracts at the price demanded is also a retarding factor. Prices of steams are inclined to fall slightly. The slack market is keeping more favourable, best qualities being in good request. In both gas coal and coke a steady trade is being done. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights .... Good house coals........ Secondary do............ Best hard coals ........ Secondary do............ Slacks (best hards)..... Do. (seconds) ........ Do. (soft)............ Current prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 11/6-11/9 10/ -11/ 7/9- 8/ 6/6- 7/3 6/6- 7/6 L’st week’s prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/ 10/ -11/ 7/9- 8/ 6/6- 7/3 6/9- 7/6 Last year’s prices. 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-12/ 11/ -12/6 10/ -11/ 8/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/3 GOAL. The good business which has marked the opening of the year in this district continues unabated. If anything, there is a fuller demand all round. The wintry weather keeps a full demand active for household coal, and the requirements of trade maintain steam qualities in full request. The heavy deliveries are keeping down any accumulation of stock there might be, though the collieries will generally work a full week. The demand for house- hold coal of all qualities is good, especially for the middle qualities and for cobbles, and nuts. Steam coals of all sorts are in very good enquiry, with a particularly active enquiry for small nuts used in mechanical stokers. The demand for these latter is considerably increased. Local merchants are continuing busy, and they are much helped by the cold. The prospects of business at present are very cheerful, and a continuance of the activity seems assured for some time to come. The market quotations show no alteration, late rates, being firmly held. South Staffordshire, forth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. GOAL. The coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district continues in much the same satisfactory condition as when last reported. Orders are fairly numerous on the books, and are coming freely to hand. There is very little coal in stock, and prices on the whole are well maintained. The collieries throughout the district are working regularly, and most of them are very busy. The demand for house coal has been stimulated by the winterly weather, and is now very brisk. There is a fairly satisfactory demand for coal for manufacturing purposes. A good business is being done at the landsale depots. Birmingham GOAL. There has been an all-round “ speeding-up " in the coal trade. The wintry weather is having its effect in an increased demand for house coal, and the greater activity in trade since the new year opened has quickened the con- sumption of manufacturing sorts. Prices are hard, all concessions from the lists having been withdrawn. Quotations:—