January 23, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 195 collieries are clear of stock it means that the output is very full, and deliveries are full also. Merchants are as a rule very short of stock, and are urgently wanting their placed orders. In the prevailing conditions of business the market is very firm indeed, and an advance is being paid on extra supplies, especially household coal. Local merchants are now quite busy. The aspect of business is full of encourage- ment, and a very busy time is looked forward to for some weeks to come. South Staffordshire ISorth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COIL. There is very little change to report again this week in connection with the coal trade of the Cannock Chase district. Business generally is brisk, orders are plentiful, and most of the collieries are very busy. Prices, on the whole, are firmly held, and there is very little coal in stock. The house coal trade is in much the same satisfactory con- dition as when last reported, and fuel for manufacturing purposes is in good request. Railway and canal sales are brisk, and at the landsale depots a good business is being done. Birmingham. COAL. During the week there has been an extensive demand for household fuel, and there are practically no stocks at the pit. For manufacturing fuel trade is steady, and slacks are also doing well. Altogether there is a firm tone, and prices remain as last week:— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 18/6 18/6 18/ Do. seconds deep 16/ 16/ 16/6 Do. best shallow 14/9 14/9 14/6 Do. seconds do. 14/ 14/ 13/ Best hard 15/ 15/ 14/ Forge coal 11/ 11/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/6 7/6 8/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 16/6 16/6 17/6 cobs 14/ 14/ 13/9 Best hard spires 15/ 15/ 14/6 Forge (steam) 11/ 11/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 10/ 10/ 8/9 Small (do.) 8/3 8/3 7/9 IRON. The South Staffordshire iron trade maintains a very fair position in the matter of demand, though complaints are rife about low prices. Merchants keep pressing for further concessions which makers cannot grant, inasmuch as it would mean, they say, a loss on production. Sales of pig iron are not so heavy this week, because most consumers have taken advantage of the low prices to cover their requirements for the quarter. Specifications, however, are received by smelters with regularity, and stocks are diminishing. Prices stand as follow :—North- amptonshire 49s. to 50s. with 2s. extra for the superior brands; Derbyshire 51s. 6d. to 52s. fid.; Staffordshire part-mine 51s. to 52s. Staffordshire foundry iron is quoted at 92s. 6d., and in this department a better ratio of profit is being obtained than for forge qualities. The engineering trades of the district are busy, and this is reflected in the demand for standard bars, which since the recent drop have been in constant request. Merchant qualities at .£6 17s. 6d. delivered Birmingham are also doing well, though with few exceptions specifications are not of sufficient bulk to keep the mills on more than an average of four days a week. The wagon companies are large customers. Gas strip is unchanged at £7 to £7 2s. 6d., and steel strip is about £7 5s,, with a good deal of competition. No decline is noticeable in the galvanised sheet branch, the foreign market being remarkably good. Quotations are £11 7s. 6d. to .£11 10s. f.o.b. Liverpool. In the steel section, complaints are to be heard about the high cost of production in proportion to the prices obtainable. Makers of finished steel have to do business against keen competition from Belgium. Demi- steel products of local makes are quoted at £4 15s. to £5 a ton, with the usual extras for Siemens qualities. Conti- nental makes are 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per ton below those prices. The railway carriage and wagon works have orders which will keep them fully occupied for the current quarter. Forot of Lydnsy. COAL. The steam coal pits are kept at work five to six days in the week, but there is nothing in the way of pressure for any of the qualities produced. Stocks are about an average, and prices, on the whole, lack firmness. The house coal pits are making good time with the colder weather, but the demand is not a strong one for the winter season. The railborne trade is maintaining a good tone, but ship- ments are not heavy, though basin stocks are comparatively low. Slacks are well placed. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 17/6 17/6 16/6 Forest 16/6 16/6 15/6 Rubble 16/9 16/9 15/9 Nuts 15/ 15/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 8/ Large 12/613/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Small 8/6- 9/ 8/ - 9/ 8/ - 9/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Calendars are to hand from Messrs. Head, Wrights on and Co. Limited, and the Hunslet Engine Company Limited. m LMOTI OIL TRM1 Thursday, January 22. The London coal trade for the past week has been unusually brisk. The merchants report that orders from the general public have been very plentiful, and in many cases far beyond their power to execute. Colliery representa- tives have also received an unusual number of orders, and, during the week all list prices have been withdrawn, and the coal sold at various enhanced figures. House coal in particular has received a good deal of attention and orders are accumulating. Bakers’ nuts have also had a very strong demand, but kitchener cobbles and ordinary steam coals have been somewhat neglected. Slacks and small nuts have slightly recovered from the low prices earlier in the month, but even now the demand is not strong for these qualities. Serious inconvenience however, has been occasioned at the depots round King’s Cross and St. Pancras by the strike on the part of the loaders and carmen for an increase in wages in that neighbourhood. No change has been recorded in the current list prices from the various collieries, but as in every case the lists have been withdrawn, it is fair to assume that higher prices have been readily obtainable. A very important meeting was held on Tuesday last at the Chamber of Commerce between the executive of the London Coal Merchants’ Society and the representatives of the men, but, after a discussion lasting four and a-half hours, no decision was arrived at, but the leaders promised to bring the matter before the men at a mass meeting to be held the following day. Wednesday morning, however, woke up to the fact that all the men had ceased work in the troubled area and refused absolutely the masters’ terms. Some of the depots, particularly those in the East London district and the West- end, continued work. The various points at issue last week were conceded by the merchants, but during the present week a further sheaf of requirements was brought to the front, some of which have been conceded, but others form the basis for the present dispute. The extra amount claimed for screening the slack from the coal, picking out the faulty pieces and breaking up the large coal to cobbles or nut size, has been settled, but the general advance for loaders and carmen of Id. per ton above what has been paid hitherto, is still unsettled. Happily a large proportion of what is known as institution coal, and more particularly coal for the gas- works and large electric lighting stations would be unaffected by the present dispute, as the bulk of this coal is brought by sea into the River Thames and lightered to the various wharves by barges. Seaborne prices remain nominally at 2 Is. 6d. for best Wallsend, and 20s. 6d. for seconds. 33 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames for Monday’s market, and eight for Wednesday’s market, all however, sold or under contract. All colliery prices have been withdrawn. Measrs. Dinham, 0o.ss RepaHii Friday, January 16,—There was no decline in the demand for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but no supplies of either Durham or Yorkshire coming forward. Sharlston W.E. (York) 22s., Sharlston Main 20s. 6d. Cargoes 22. Monday, January 19.—There was a good demand for seaborne house coal to-day, and last prices were very firm in the absence of supplies. Sharlston best 22s., Sharlston Main 20s. 6d. Cargoes 33. Wednesday, January 21.—The demand for seaborne house coal continued good to-day, but no sales reported. Sharlston W.E. (York) 22s., Sharlston Main 20s. 6d. Cargoes 8. TIE ITO1 MM TOOK. Thursday, January 22. Dublin. Business has not fallen off in any direction, and the coal trade still displays a fair amount of activity, although here and there the work of delivery has scarcely been proceeding so smoothly. Traffic upon the quays is now rapidly assuming its normal aspect, and a remarkable accession to the arrivals at the port since last week was a number of colliers containing coal for the merchants in the provinces, where the scarcity of fuel has been most severely experienced since the outbreak of the present dispute. Prices in some centres were altogether prohibitive, but large quantities have now been despatched on wagons belonging to the various railway companies, and it is expected that, as the strike now appears to be breaking down, business with the country districts will shortly be fully resumed. There is no change in any of the city prices, viz.:—Orrell coal, 80s. per ton; household, 28s.; Orrell slack, 24?.; steam coals about from 25s. per ton ; best coke, 26s. per ton delivered; house coal, retail, 2s. per sack. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 58 as compared with 50 the week previously, chiefly from Newport, Preston, Liver- pool, Garston, Glasgow, Workington, Ellesmere Port, Troon, Irvine, Maryport, Partington, Ayr, Point of Aire, Bristol, Manchester, West Bank, Whitehaven, Runcorn, Llanelly, and Birkenhead. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 25,000 tons. Freights are tending downwards, present rates being about from 4s. 9d. to 5s. Belfast. There is no indication of any immediate change in prices, but it remains to be seen whether the coal trade will be affected by the increased dues under the Tonnage Act of 1907, which came into force this month. Business, both locally and inland, is fairly good, but the standing grievance with regard to the inadequate supply of railway trucks continues to cause delay and inconvenience over the Great Northern system. Stocks of some qualities of English house coal are still rather low in this port. City prices are as follow :—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton ; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current rates for steam coals ex-quay:—Scotch, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton ; Navigation steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton; Welsh steam coal, 18s. 6d. to 20s. per ton delivered. Cargoes arriving during the week were chief!v from Point of Aire, Preston, Neath Abbey, Partington, Maryport, Ayr, Troon, Workington^ Garston, Glasgow, West Bank, Ellesmere Port, Cardiff,. Ardrossan and Girvan. We regret to announce the death on January 15 of Mr- J. B. Marsaut. Mr. Marsaut, who was 79 years of age, was the managing director of the Besseges Collieries, but he was especially associated with the safety lamps and other appliances which bear his name. Mr. James McCormick, a figure well known in the Cumberland iron trade, passed away at his residence?- Curzon-street, Maryport, on Saturday morning. He was 58 years cf age. The death occurred at Hull this week of Mr. C. W. Jackson, who had been employed by the Hull and Barnsley Railway for a long period of years, and had latterly for many years held the responsible position of dock superin- tendent of the Alexandra Dock, and in this connection was known and widely respected by practically every coal exporter in the port. The deceased only retired from his position on December 31 last, and his retirement was due to ill-health. The death took place on Tuesday morning of Mr. George Roscoe, of Ravenhurst, Heaton, Bolton, sole proprietor of the Peel, Hull and New Lister collieries, Little Hulton, near Bolton. Deceased, who was about 60 years of age, was a member of the Manchester Geological Society. He was well known and highly respected in Manchester coal trade circles. Mr. E. L. Behenna, who died on Sunday last, was an. outstanding personality in the coal trade of West Wales. Originally engaged under the great firm of Cory Brothers and Co., he later became associated with Messrs. T. Williams and Sons, one of the partners in that firm (Mr. Evan Williams) being at present the chairman of the Coalowners’ Association. Mr. Behenna distinguished himself by his opposition to the coal tax, having worked out the case against that obnoxious measure in a most complete manner,, and he was one of the deputation which waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to present arguments against it. Locally he was very active in regard to Swansea’s new dock, and in the affairs of Llanelly Harbour Trust he took a leading part. He had a large Continental connection, and was especially well known in business centres of France. He had been laid aside for some time, and died from diabetes at a comparatively early age, not having reached 50 years. The death of Mr. John Atkinson Pendlington, engineer, occurred on the 15th inst. at his residence, Fairholm-road,. Newcastle. Mr. Pendlington served the Harton Coal Company Limited in their commercial and other depart- ments till 1893, when he was appointed secretary to the Electrical Coal-cutting Contract Corporation Limited.. Subsequently he acted as assistant manager of the firm of Messrs. Easton, Anderson and Goolden Limited, of Erith and London, general engineers. Later he founded the Tyneside Supply Company, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which later became the British Electrical and Manufacturing Company, of Newcastle and London. The death has taken place of Mr. Edward John Wilks,, formerly of Rutland Park, Clarkehouse-road, Sheffield, in his 81st year. Mr. Wilks was head of the firm of Messrs. Wilks Brothers and Co., ironmongers, Furnival-road, Sheffield, retiring about 10 years ago. Mr. Ellis Evans, manager of the Westminster Colliery Wrexham, has died suddenly. Mr. Evans was one of the best known colliery officials in North Wales, and had charge of the Westminster Colliery for many years. Mr. James Potts died at his residence, Roker-avenue Monkwearmouth, on the 19 th inst. Mr. Potts was formerly a partner in the now defunct Sunderland firm of Messrs. Harty, Lidgerton and Potts, ship chandlers, coal exporters and ship brokers. The death occurred on the 14th inst. of Mr. Bon jamin Freeborough, of Park Grange, Sheffield, a director of Hadfields Limited and, until about a year ago, a director of the Brightside Foundry and Engineering Company. The death has occurred of Mr. Benjamin Powell, of Pentrecawr. Deceased was well known in local mining circles’, having been colliery manager at Llangennech and Penclawdd for some years, and afterwards at the P wllmawr, Park, and Tydraw collieries of the Foxhole Colliery Company Limited, for nearly fifty years. In view of the approaching retirement of Mr. George B.. Black, district traffic superintendent, Aberdeen, and Mr. George Galloway, canals and docks superintendent, Grange- mouth, the directors of the Caledonian Railway Company have made the following appointments: — Mr. John MacGregor, district traffic superintendent at Carlisle, to be district traffic superintendent at Aberdeen ; Mr. John Newlands, district traffic superintendent at Oban, to be superintendent of canals and docks, Grangemouth ; Mr. W. H. Blackstock, district traffic agent at Newcastle, to be district traffic superintendent at Carlisle ; and Mr. Andrew C. Smyth, station superintendent, Buchanan-street Station,. Glasgow, to be district traffic superintendent at Oban.