194 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 23, 1914. corrugated sheets, 24 gauge, in bundles, <£11 5s. f.o.b.— sheets less 4 per cent.; railway material net at works; and all other descriptions less 21. per cent, discount. South-West Lancashire. COAL. . The weather has given the needful fillip to the household trade, and there is possibly not a colliery in the district that is able to deal with orders promptly. With regard to shipping, the demand for steam coal on contract account is about normal for the period of the year. There is a fair amount of outside enquiry, but the quantity of coal on the market for this trade is somewhat restricted. Thero is, however, no change to report in prices being obtained, these remaining abont the same as last week, viz :—13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d. for ordinary sorts, up to 13s. 9d. to 14s. f.o.b. for the best qualities of Lancashire steam coals. The coastwise and cross-channel trade for household fuels is in a very animated condition, and the enquiries for shipment are considerably in excess of the ability to supply. In slacks, the whole of the output is moving'away as raised, and there is rather a better tone as regards price. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Bost 17/ 17/ 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) 16/9-17/3 16/9-17/3 16/9 Medium 15/3 15/3 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) 15/ -L5/6 15/ -15/6 15/3 Kitchen 13/ 13/ 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) 13/9-14/6 13/9-14/6 13/6-13/9 Screened forge coal 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ ’ Best sound, steam coal f.o.b. 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ 13/6-14/6 Best slack 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 10/3 ‘ Secondary slack 9/3- 9/6 9/3- 9/6 9/6 Common do 8/9- 9/ 8/9- 9/ 9/ Sreto Lomita Mt! Ctaita. 0OAL. The attendance of members on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday was good. There is a brisk demand for all classes of house coal, and prices are firm. There is little, if any, improvement to note in furnace coal, but there is better business being done in shipping coal, and prices are steady. Slack is in fair demand, although the condition of the cotton trade is having some influence on this. Fall supplies are offering, but prices are inclined to be steadier than they were. The following is the general price list:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .............. Medium............. Common ............ Furnace coal ........ Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack........... Common slack ........ Current prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 L’st week's prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 Last year's prices. 16/6-17/ 15/3-16/ 12/6-13/ 12/6 14/ 9/6-10/ 8/6- 9/ IRON; There is no business to record, and buying generally is of a hand-to-mouth character. Good foundry pig iron can I be bought at 56s. to 56s. 6d. according to quality. Founders are really very slack, and the prices they are taking are almost unremunerative. Forges are still working short time, with bars at £7 5s., second quality .£6 15s., hoops £7 17s. 6d., sheets .£8 12s. 6d., steel offering at considerably under these prices. Steelworks are also on short time, and English billets are offered at about £5, with the foreigner considerably under this. Wagon builders are not so busy. Boilermakers are slack. The heavier class of engineers are perhaps a trifle better off. .'Lasdsu COAL. There was an exceptionally large attendance of traders at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and business in most departments was brisk. It was reported that the pits had worked full time, and that there are no stocks of house coal at the pits. The supply of empty wagons has again been unsatisfactory, and some of the pits have had to work broken time owing to the scarcity. House Coal.—If anything, the demand for house coal is stronger than last week, especially from London and the eastern and southern counties. Deliveries of the best qualities are quite a fortnight in arrear. A very large number of private wagons are being sent to the pits. Stocks in London are reported to be much reduced, and the same applies to the stocks at the wait-order junctions. In the coastwise trade there is a scarcity of small boats, particularly of sailing vessels, but in spite of this freights are a shade lower. The demand from the south coast showed considerable improvement on the week. In Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and other large centres merchants are fully employed, as the demand from the public is very full. Current pit prices : Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18*.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d., secondary sorts, 14s. to 15s. 6d. Gas Coal.—Although the pits are working full time, and the output is going into consumption, there is a distinctly weaker feeling with regard to forward business. This is probably owing to the reduced prices in the north. A fair amount of business is being done with the nearer Continental ports, and sales of unscreened gas coal are reported during the past few days at about 11s. 9d. per ton f.o.b. Hull. Manufacturing Fuel.—Rather better deliveries are being sent into the Lancashire markets, but business with Bradford and Huddersfield is still very quiet. Stocks at the pits are about the same as last week, and prices generally show very little change. Washed Furnace Coke.—The slight improvement noted during the past few weeks has given place to a further backward movement, and sales are reported this week at under 12s. per ton an the ovens. Stocks are considerable, and the outlook altogether is unsatisfactory. 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 jlu/ 12/6-13/6 .12/6-13/6 12/6-12/9 House nuts 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull: Haigh Moor best 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/9-17/6 Silkstone best 16/9-17/6 16/9-17/6 16/3-16/9 Do. house 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/3-15/6 Other qualities 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/3 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/9-13/6 Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 11/9-12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 11/ -11/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/3-12/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 9/9-10/6 9/9-10/6 11/3-11/9 Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 11/ -11/6 Rough unscreened engine coal 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 11/ -11/6 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 7/9 9/9-10/3 Small do 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 8/6- 9/ Coking smalls 6/3- 6/9 6/3- 6/9 8/3- 8/9 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 12/ 12/6-13/" 21/ -22/ Barnsleyi COAL. The quieter demand for large steams on export account continues to be emphasised this week and shippers are holding off with the result that there is a large tonnage unrealised at the Humber ports. Holders are realising at lower rates, which is causing a good deal of cutting and there is a weakness on forward account. Coalowners are now well sold under contract and are not pushing operations unduly, but in the main, future arrangements are being held up in a marked degree. The demand on home account, however, keeps fairly active, but there is a weakness prevailing, though the best brands of hards remain fairly firm at the quotations of last week. Secondary sorts are very freely offered and the extended output is requiring more placing than hitherto. In regard to railway contracts it appears the companies are apportioning their tonnage over a considerable area, and no doubt find a more extended competition prevailing. There has been no weakening of the strong enquiry for best washed nuts which are hardly so freely available as formerly and late prices are very firmly maintained. Secondary sorts make about 9d. to Is. per ton less, and as in regard to other classes of coal, a decided preference is being shown for the better quality. The demand for best slacks continues to be of a strong descrip- tion, though the output does not appear to be up to the maximum standard, but prices are very firm, though rougher grades are not selling so readily and buyers still meet with more offers. The enquiry for special lots of gas coal is also more brisk, but values are about the same as last quoted, though the tonnage under contract is of a substantial character. In regard to house coal the demand still generally exceeds the output, especially of the better sorts, which are being- enquired for from London and the eastern counties. Values are easily maintained and deliveries are hardly in arrear. With regard to coke the feature is a better enquiry for the beehive brand, which is now only produced to a limited extent. On forward account there is little doing and prices are still only rather weak. 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/ Best Barnsley softs 15/ -15/3 15/ -15/3 14/ -14/6 ' 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 11/6 11/3-11/6 12/9 Secondary do 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/3 11/9-12/ Best washed nuts 11/ -11/3 11/ 12/6 Secondary do 10/ -10/3 10/ 11/6 Best slack 7/ - 7/3 7/ 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 8/6 Screened gas coals 12 /-12/6 12/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 — Gas nuts c 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 Furnace coke 12/6 12/6 21/ -22/ Hull. GOAL. The only thing that can be said of the Humber coal market is that it is weak. Especially is this so in the steam coal section. In the absence of demand, South Yorkshire steam hards are again lower in value, 13s. 6d. f.o.b. repre- senting the top figure to-day for prompt shipment at Hull. There is plenty of this coal offering, and with little buying going on, the optimistic outlook of a month ago that prices would improve, does not appear likely to be realised—at any rate, just yet. By comparison, the best Derbyshire and Not- tingham hards are much higher in the scale of prices, the supply being no more than equal to the demand. With such a weak position exporters are less then ever inclined to commit themselves to forward business at the prices that are still being asked by the owners. Some negotiations are, however, in progress, and there seems ground for believing that the market will soon find a level and a basis for the season's business which has been so long delayed. There is an impression that prices will be permanently low throughout the season, and at least Is. 6d. to 2s. is spoken of as the difference between last year's c.i.f. prices and this. Secondary sorts and smalls are in fair demand for manu- facturing purposes, and prices are not much changed. Shipments at the docks are on the light side, as is usual at this time of the year, but they are hardly up to those of the corresponding period 12 months ago. In the freight market only a moderate amount of business is passing. On reports of ice, Riga and Revai are now quoted up to 5s. 9d., while other rates on offer are Libau 4s. 9d., Swedish Sound ports 4s. 6d., Bordeaux 4s. 10ld., and Genoa-Savona (which is slightly firmer) 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. To-day’s weather report from Riga states “ slight frost, W.N.W. wind. Domehals obstructed westwards where 16 steamers reported, in the ice. Icebreaker ( Jermach ’ with four steamers passed Markgraben going west this morning.” The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment, f.o.b. Hull. 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. 13/6 13/3-13/6 13/ 13/3 12/6 9/6-10/ 9/ 13/6 9/ -9/3 8/3- 8/6 14/ 12/ 14/9 14/6 12/6 12/3 14/3 14/ 14/9 14/6 L’st week’s 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 Last year’s prices. 16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ 14/6-14/9 13/6 14/ -14/6 12/ 13/6-13/9 11/9-12/ 11/ 14/9 13/6 15/9 15/6 13/6 13/ 15/ 14/6 15/6-15/9 15/3-15/6 GheBtepfield. GOAL. The demand for house coal continues active, and orders are plentiful. Stocks have practically disappeared from colliery sidings. Prices are firm, with a hardening tendency. Manufacturing fuel moves freely. Steelworks are excep- tionally active, and are requiring heavy deliveries of cobbles and nuts for gas producers. Slack for steam- raising purposes is in greater request, and prices are firmer. Gas coal is going off in satisfactory quantities, and steam coal for locomotive use moves equally freely. The export trade is quite even for January. It is not surprising, how- ever, that a period of calm should follow such a strenuous month as December proved to be. The demand for current shipment is poor, and enquiries for forward delivery are still, being held back. There is a growing demand for washed nuts and slack, and some substantial orders for these classes of coal have been booked recently. The coke market is unchanged, both as regards demand and prices. Prices at pit. Current prices. L'stweek’fc Last year’s 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 12/ Slack 8/ 8/ 9/ IRON. There is a little more doing in pig iron and finished iron, and the outlook is less gloomy than it has been of late. COAL. A rather more active tone has characterised the coal trade in Nottinghamshire during the past week, with the exception of the branch for steam coal. The more season- able weather has given an impetus to the domestic fuel section, nearly all qualities being in good demand. Best sorts, and especially hand-picked brights, have gone out of hand somewhat briskly of late, with the result that at some collieries the demand is fully equal to the supply, while at the local landsale depots the sales are on an increased scale. Practically all the soft coal pits in the district are on full time, and, if the weather continues favourable, owners’ stocks of ordinary qualities will be considerably diminished. With this increased activity in the house coal branch, values are firmer, and slightly higher rates are being asked for common qualities. In the steam coal section business is a shade quieter, consequent on a decline in regard to exports, and prices are displaying a weakening tendency. Industrial fuel is, however, in fairly satisfactory demand, and railway companies are taking good supplies on contract account. Better-class slacks are in active request, while common qualities are selling moderately, prices all round being steady. Apart from contracts, gas coal is in somewhat slow demand, but coke is selling better. 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/ 11/3-11/6 10/ -10/9 7/9- 8/ 6/6- 7/3 6/9- 7/6 L’st week’s 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 Last year’s prices. 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 10/6-11/6 8/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/3 Loicestorshfire. COAL. The continued cold weather has caused an unabated state of activity here. There is a very pressing demand for all sorts of coal, both household and steam-raising. As the