146 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 16, 1914. coals. Pitwood supplies have been quite sufficient to meet buyer’s requirements, values remaining steady at 19s. 6d. to 20s. for good wood ex-ship. A fair amount of chartering continues to be done. Tonnage offering is sufficient to prevent any increase in freights, which just about maintain their recent level. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, loss 21 per cent. the output will be from 100,000 to 200,000 tons per annum. The shipments of patent fuel last weak aggregated 22,785 tons, of which the Crown Company exported 13,655 tons, other local makers 540 tons, and Swansea 8,590 tons. The pitwood market is still weak, best French fir not realising more than 19s. 9d. per ton. Steam coals :— Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings............ Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts :— Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke ......... Foundry coke ......... Current prices. 17/9-18/3 16/9-17/ 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/ 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 8/3- 8/6 13/3-13/6 13/9-14/3 18/ -19/ 17/ —18/ 19/6-20/ 19/-20/ 23/ -25/ L’st week’s prices. 18/ -18/3 16/9-17/ 16/6-16/9 15/9-16/ 8/ - 8/3 7/6- 7/9 7/3- 7/6 8/3 13/3-13/6 13/9-14/3 Last year’s prices. 17/9-18/ 17/3-17/9 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/3 13/3-13/6 12/3-12/9 .11/6-12/ 13/6 14/6-15/ 14/6-14/9 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 23/ -25/ 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/6 21/ -22/ 22/ -24/ 27/ -30/ IRON. The conditions of the local iron and steel trades remain much the same as last week. Values are unaltered, but there is a likelieood of improvement in some quarters. At bar mills, work is good, and output well up to the average of the past few weeks. Owing to the improvement in the tinplate market, there is a better demand for tinplate bars. Work at rail mills continues good, with a better enquiry coming along. Prices are steady at last figures. Blast furnaces are well engaged, most being booked well forward, while the present trend of values is upward. Iron ore quotations are unaltered. The improvement in the tinplate market lately reported is being well maintained. Works are busy on current orders, and prices are firm. Latest approximate quotations are as follow:—Steel rails: heavy sections, .-£6 10s. to £6 15s., light sections, £6 15.3. to £7. Tinplate bars (Welsh) : Bessemer steel, £4 10s. to £411s. 3d., Siemens steel, £4 Ils. 3d. Tin-plates: I C 20 < 14 Bessemer primes, 12s. 9d. to 12s. 10|d.; IC 20x14 Siemens primes; 12s. 10|d. to 13s. Pig iron: Welsh haematite 67s. 6d. to 68s. delivered locally. Cardiff. SOHILo The position of affairs from a producers’ standpoint is not at all satisfactory, although the general feeling is that the tone is slightly better than a week ago. Tonnage has been very scarce, with the usual result—that people in a position to supply a prompt boat are able to obtain material con- cessions from nominal quotations. Collieries have been asking 19s. 6d., but in many cases they have accepted less for ready boats, and it is reported that one cargo changed hands at the end of last week at as low as 18s. 6d., but, of course, in a transaction of this character there were exceptional circumstances, and such a price cannot be considered as representing the true state of the market. Chartering has been more satisfactory, the amount of tonnage taken up representing 402,680 tons, or an increase of 171,370 tons over the preceding six days. On one day alone the engagements entered into represented over 108,000 tons. The bad weather, however, has interfered seriously with arrivals, and in many cases vessels have been several days late. This has had the effect of creating a congestion of traffic, and some collieries have had all their work out out to liberate their wagons, and so provide full work at the pits. In passing, it may be said that the collieries are working well, and outputs are exceeding the amount anticipated, with the result that there has been an ample supply of coal to fulfil immediate requirements. Bayers have not been slow to take advantage of this state of things, and, except in cases where it was absolutely necessary, have held aloof from the market in order to still further depress prices. As tonnage is likely to arrive more freely within the next few days, sellers are quoting con- siderably more firmly for future than for current business, and the present weakness is looked upon as only a temporary lull, inasmuch as it is well known that middlemen have sold a large quantity of coal over the year without having covered themselves, and sooner or later they will be bound to come into the market to fulfil their obligations. In the meantime, however, they are taking the fullest advantage of the present position to depress prices as much as possible. Shipments last week amounted to 357,668 tons, or an increase of 8,547 tons over the corresponding week of last year; but at the other Bristol Channel ports there were decreases all round, Newport showing a falling off of 56,732 tons, Swansea a decrease of 4,811 tons, and Port Talbot a decline of 25,738 tons. As already indicated, the current price of best Admiralty coal is 19s. to 19s. 61., with superior seconds at 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d., and ordinary seconds from 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. Monmouthshire coals are fractionally easier, in sympathy with Cardiff steams, although for the best grades little alteration is shown. Black Veins are still quoted at 18s., western-valleys 17s. to 17s. 6d., and the best of eastern varieties at 17s. to 17s. 3d., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. Small coals remain fairly steady, but the outlook is not considered so promising in this class of fuel as for the large steams. Best qualities are quoted at Ils., ordinaries at 10s. 6d. to 10?>. 9d., and cargo sorts at 7s. 6d. to 8s. In Rhondda bituminous coals, No. 3 large is nominally held for 17s. 6d. to 18s., But some sellers have been glad to accept the lower figure. In No. 2 qualities there has been a drop of 6d. to 9d. per ton, and the price now ruling is 14s. 6d. to 15s. In through-and-through and small grades there is little alteration. The coke market is still weak and prices are purely nominal, 28s. being asked for special foundry, 22s. to 25s for ordinary and 19s. to 20s. for furnace qualities. So far as the patent fuel trade is concerned, there is very little new business, but makers are well booked with orders which will carry them half through the year and quotations are well maintained. In this connection it may be of' interest to note that the exports are on the increase— especially from Cardiff—and extensions are being made to cope with the rapidly-developing trade. At the Crown Works, for example, new plant is being laid down and by March it is expected that the capabilities will be increased from 14,000 tons per week to over 20,000 tons per week. This, however, is not the only extension. The Anchor Company have acquired new premises at Barry. There it is expected Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 19/ -19/6 18/6-18/9 17/6-17/9 11/ 10/6-10/9 7/6- 8/ 6/9- 7/3 18/6-19/ 16/6-17/ 16/6 15/6 14/6 13/9 12/ 18/ 17/3-17/6 17/ -17/3 15/9-16/3 21/ 18/ 17/6-18/ 15/6 12/ -12/6 14/6-15/ 11/9-12/ 8/6 22/6 21/ 28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ —20/ 19/9 L’st week’s prices. 19/6-20/ 19/3-19/6 18/ -18/3 11/ 10/9 7/6- 8/ 7/ - 7/3 18/6-19/ 16/6-17/ 16/6 15/6 14/9 13/9 12/ 18/ 17/6 16/9 15/9-16/3 21/ 18/ 17/6 15/ 12/3-12/6 15/3-15/6 12/ 8/3- 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/ 28/ 23/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 19/9-20/ Last year’s prices. 18/9-19/6 18/3-18/6 17/6-18/ 15/ 14/9 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 18/6-19/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -16/3 14/6-15/3 14/9-15/ 13/ -14/ 14/6 ■ 17/9-18/ 17/6-17/9 17/3 16/6-16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6-17/9 15/9-16/ 14/3-14/6 16/ 14/6 13/6 23/ -24/ 22' -22/6 33/ -34/ 32/ 25/6-28/ 21/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best banker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Bost washed poas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys ...... Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Coal and patent fuel quotations are for net cash in 30 days. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton leas. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. Stocks of tinplates are rapidly accumulating in the docks warehouses, and the output for several weeks past has bsen largely in excess of the shipments. Last week the receipts from works totalled 135,226 boxes, whereas the exports only amounted to 79,230 boxes, so that the stocks on hand are now 386,450 boxes. Notwithstanding this heavy surplus, the tone of the market is distinctly better, and most makers are optimistic as to the future. In spite of the depression which has existed throughout the past year, the Board of Trade returns show that the exports of tin- plate* constituted a record, the increase over 1912, being 13,798 tons. There was an increase of nearly 20,000 tons to the United States, but this was discounted by a falling off of nearly 25,000 tons to Roumania owing to the Balkan war. Now, however, that the war is over, and the Roumanian market is again reopened the prospects are brighter, and a busy time is anticipated in the near future. Bessemer standard cokes are quoted at 12s. 91. to 125. 10H-, 14 x 18| 13s. 3d. to 13s. 4|d., and 20 x 10 sizes 18s. 9d. In the galvanised sheet trade, the recent sharp advance in prices has rather militated against new business, and it has been difficult to convince intending buyers that the higher quotations have come to stay. The consequence is that orders have been somewhat restricted, but makers are adhering firmly to their quotations of .£11 5s. to .£11 10s. for 24-gauge corrugateds. The official returns show that the shipments last year exceeded all previous reords by 169,394 tons in quantity and £1,421,572 in value. Makers are busy, and there is a fair enquiry both from India and South America. New galvanising furnaces were lighted in the Llanelly district last week, which will ultimately pro- vide employment for 200 men. There has been a falling- off in the importation of foreign iron and steel, the total last week being under 8,000 tons. In the local pig iron trade prospects are rather brighter, and quotations are firm at 65s. f.o.t. Prices of bars are strongly maintained, Siemens qualities being £4 Ils. 3d. and Bessemer £4 10s. A sharp fall has taken place in iron ore, best rubio now offering at 17s. 6d., seconds at 16s. to 16s. 6d., and Almeria at 17s. 3d. Prices of scrap metals show little alteration, new steel crop ends being 58s., steel scrap 53s., heavy wrought 52s., cast scrap 55s. to 57s. 6d., double-headed iron rails 65s., steel ditto 60s., and mixed sections 52s. 6d. At a meeting of the Steelworkers’ Sliding Scale Association last week the report of the auditors for the three months ending November 30 was considered, with the result that it was resolved that the wages payable to the workmen from January 1 remain as at present. Swansea. OAL. The returns of the trade of the port last week were not quite so satisfactory as during the previous week. Both the coal and patent fuel trades were inactive; the ship- ments together totalled 96,464 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change this morning, and a very strong tone was in evidence on the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large was in brisk demand, and values were again marked up. Red Vein large was also hardening. Machine- made nuts and cobbles were in excellent request, whilst rubbly culm and duff met with a strong demand at higher values. Strong conditions prevailed in the steam coal market; large was firm, but bunkers were slightly easier. Table of prices will be found on next column. IRON. , The iron and steel trades during the past week were satisfactory. There was a good yield of pig iron at the blastfurnaces, and the production of steel ingots was quite up to the average. There was an improvement at the bar- rolling mills at Cwmfelin and Landore. and a steady improvement was shown at the bar-rolling mill of the Duffryn Works. There was some difficulty in getting bars at the loc J steelworks, and it would seem that the Welsh Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Bast malting large (hand picked) (net) 21/6-24/ 21/6-24/ 23/6-25/6 Secondary do. 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ 21/6-22/6; Big Vein large (less 2j percent.) 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 19/ -21/ Red Vein large do. ... 14/6-16/ 14/6-16/ 15/9-16/6 Machine - made cobbles (net) 21/6-24/6 23/6-26/ 21/6-24/6 23/6-26/ 21/9-23/9 23/6-26/9' Paris nuts (net) French do. do. 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/ 24/ -27/ ' German do. do 23/6-25/6 23/6-25/6 24/ -26/9 Beans (net) 16/9-18/9 16/9-18/9 20/6-23/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 12/ -14/ Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm (less 2% p.c.) 6/3- 6/6 6/ - 6/3 7/3- 7/9 Duff (net) 4/3- 4/6 4/3- 4/6 4/9- 5/6' Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/6 17/6-19/ Seconds do. 14/9-15/9 14/9-15/9 14/9-17/ Bunkers do. 12/ -13/6 12/9-14/ 13/6-16/6- Small do. 7/ - 8/ 7/ - 8/ 10/6-11/9 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2|p.c.) ... 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 17/9-19/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) 13/9-14/6 13/9-14/6 15/ -15/6 Small (less21 p.c.) ... 10/3-11/3 10/3-11/3 13/6-15/6 Patent fuel do 17/3-17/9 17/3-17/9 18/9-20/ tin-plate bars were not equal to the demand. The tin' plate trade was brisk throughout the district. Alterations to plant were being made at many of the works, but all the mills available were fully operating. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 79,230 boxes, receipts from works 135,226 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans, 386,460 boxes. Llanelly. mi. The position is still keeping satisfactory for most kinds of coals in this district, and collieries are all at full work. The market has picked up better than most people imagined, and prices are also higher. This is accountable perhaps by the improvement in the various local steel and tinplate trades which has had a strong effect on the market. Th©' continuation of the wintry weather is also making a run oil stove and greenhouse coals, and collieries are getting full orders, with prices advancing. Paas are also in very good demand. The suitability of this sort for boiler purposes is- getting more known. Bituminous coals are in very good demand, and prices are higher than they have been for some time. The colliery people are quite optimistic regarding the next few months, and for manufacturing: coals there should be a good demand. Prices this week are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein .do......... Machine-made cobbles German nuts........ French do. .......... Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do peas......... Rubbly culm.......... Duff ................ Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 14/6-15/6 18/ -20/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 23/ —25/ 20/ -22/ 12/6-13/6 6/ - 6/6 3/9- 5/ 16/6-17/6 12/ -12/6 9/ -10/ 11/ -12/ L’st week’s prices. 22/ -24/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 14/6-15/ 19/ -21/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 20/ -22/ 12/6—13/6 5/6- 6/ 3/6- 5/6 Last’years’ prices. 24/6-25/6 22/6-23/ 19/6-21/6 14/6-16/ 22/ -23/ 25/6-26/ 24/6-26/6 25/ -26/6- 22/ —22/6 ■ 12/6-13/6 7/ - 8/ 4/9- 5/6 ■ 17/ -18/ 13/ -14/ 9/ -10/ 11/ -11/6 16/ -17/ 14/6-15/6 10/6-11/6;. 12/6-13/ Til BFPMWBTS Tar Products.—There is very little change in the general, position, prices for the most part being steady. Pitch is unaltered. Benzols steady, with perhaps a slightly easier tendency in the north for 50’s. Naphthas and carbolics remain unchanged, either as to price or position. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s .................................. l/ltol/l| Do. 50’s .................................. /ll|tol/! Do. 90’s North .................................. 1/ Do. 50’s North ......................;........... /10^ Toluol ........................................ /102 to/Il Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)............ 1/1 to 1/1|. Do. crystals (40 per cent.)...................... /3| Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ... /9| Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................... /5-J- Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ................. /3| Piteh (f.o.b. east coast) .................... 39/ to 40/ Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ..................... 39/ to 40/ Do. (f.o.b. gas companies) ............... — [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids,, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at makers” works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. ncL'J Sulphate of Ammonia.—Now that the markets have settled back to normal conditions, there is a very quiet demand for sulphate, and prices all round are decidedly easier. There is really very little business passing, while there is nothing doing at all in the forward market. Closing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes)................. £12/0/0 Beckton (certain terms) ............. — Liverpool................................ £12/16/3 Hull .................................... £12/15/0 Middlesbrough ........................... £12/13/9 Scotch ports........................ £12/15/0—£12/17/6" Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 10/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, loss 2| per cent. di&> count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.']