200 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 23, 1914. to place are still dominating the market to a large extent. Bar mills are moderately well engaged, and continue to show an average output. Quotations for both Welsh and Continental bars show no alteration. At rail mills a quieter tone prevails, and fresh business here is really needed. Blastfurnaces report work good, output regular, with values firm, while iron ore is quiet—little being done at present. The tin-plate trade has been for a month past in a stagnant condition, mills now running almost wholly on old orders. CardiS. SOIL. There is very little change to report in the position of the market this week. It was generally expected that an improvement would set in at the commencement of the week, and a better tone certainly exists, but so far prices have not been materially affected. Tonnage has been coming up very slowly, owing to bad weather and other causes, with the result that stocks have been accumulating in the wagons, and in order to get these cleared, so as to keep the collieries working, low prices have been accepted from merchants who have been fortunate enough to have vessels ready for prompt loading. Naturally buyers have not been slow to take advantage of the position, and many of them are holding off the market in the hope that the present state of affairs will continue. Especially is this the case with middlemen who have entered into contracts over this year without having covered themselves, and their policy is to “ bear55 the market as much as possible, so as to enable them to enter into contracts at prices which will show a margin of profit and leave them free from anxiety as to the future. Chartering last week was very satisfactory, over 446 000 tons having been reported, or an increase of 43,560 tons over the preceding six days, and there is no doubt that a number of other fixtures were made, but which for private reasons have not been disclosed. When this tonnage begins to arrive in anything like fair quantities the , general opinion is that prices will show a hardening tendency and colliery salesmen therefore take an optimistic view of the future. Not only are they unwilling to enter into forward business at current rates, but considerably higher figures are quoted even for February loading. Another feature which has tended to depress prices for the moment is the fact that the British Admiralty are taking practically no coal at the present time. Their usual requirements are about 20,000 tons per week, and this coal is thrown on to the market. Shipments last week from the Bristol Channel showed a. substantial increase as compared with the corresponding week of last year, the only exception being Swansea, which bad a decrease of 2,809 tons. At Cardiff the exports were 416,978 tons, or an increase of 76,865 tons, and Newport and Port Talbot showed increases of 12,521 tons and 5,941 tons respectively. Current quotations for best Admiralties range about 19s. to 19s. 6d. per ton, but the first-named figure is considered to more accurately represent the true feeling of the market. Superior seconds realise from 18s. 3d. to 18s. 9d., and ordinary qualities 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. per ton. In sympathy with the easier tendency in Cardiff coals, Monmouthshire are also slightly lower, Black Veins being 17s. 3d. to 17s. 9d., western- valleys 17s. to 17s. 3d., and the best of the eastern valleys 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. In small coal a better feeling prevails. There is a fair enquiry, and prices are decidedly harder. The current quotation for best bunkers is from Ils. to Ils. 3d., best ordinaries 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d., and cargo sorts 7s. 9d. to 8s. In bituminous coals there is little alteration. Fancy house varieties still maintain their high level of 21s. for best and 18s. for secondary grades. No. 3 Rhondda large is a little lower and not more than 17s. to 17s. 63. is obtainable. No. 2 large is practically the same as last week—namely, 14s. 6d. to 15s.—but other grades are fractionally cheaper. The Custom House returns for the month of December have just been published, from which it appears that the exports from the Bristol Channel during the month amounted to 2,527,707 tons, compared with 2,486,237 tons- in the corres- ponding month of 1912, or an increase of 31,470 tons. The grand total for the 12 months amounted to 29,875 916 tons, as against 26,125,744 in 1912, or an increase of 3,750,172 tons. The following table shows the quantity of coal exported to the principal foreign countries and British possessions during December 1913, as compared with the shipments in December 1912:— Dec. 1913. . Tons. Dec. 1912. Tons. Russia . 8,356 23,647 Sweden . 8,604 15,661 Norway . 13,699 9,670 Germany . 14,878 19,064 Netherlands . 3,531 21,584 Java . 11,867 — Belgium . 31,937 27,511 France . 590,759 559,712 Algeria . 47,913 57,375 Madagascar . — 5,518 Portugal . 65,638 54,596 Madeira . 11,890 19,646 Spain . 106.236 86,903. Canary Islands . 59,926 80,349 Italy .. 452,585 519,132 Austria-Hungary . 9,582 17,621 Greece . 22,499 18,028 Bulgaria . 6,839 — Roumania . 25,722 — Turkey (European) . 15,853 — „ (Asiatic) □ 20,323 109 Egypt .. 187,293 191,565 Tunis , . 20,236 13,805 China (inclusive of Hong Kong, Macao, and leased territories) — 5,602 Chili .. 29,678 18,404 Brazil 136,756 136,946 Uruguay .. 49,280 70,456 Argentine Republic .. 341,130 287,653 Channel Islands .. 6,013 4,308 Gibraltar .. 16,407 22,140 Malta and Gozo .. 67,900 71,991 Aden and Dependencies .. 26,664 15,932 British India .. 25,676 19,016 Straits Settlements and Dependencies (including Labuan) .. 11,411 . 528 Ceylon and Dependencies. .. 26,115 . .. 29,770 West Africa (French) .. 6,303 . .. 16,437 „ (Portuguese) 17,084 ‘ . .. 17,015 The coke market continues very weak and quotations are purely nominal. Special foundry is offered at 28s., ordinary at 22s. to 25s., and furnace coke at 19s. to 20s. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to 31,929 tons, of which the Crown Company exported 10,729 tons, Newport 1,800 tons and Swansea 19,400 tons. Current prices for best brands still range about 22s. 6d., but for the second half of the year 21s. is being accepted. Second grades are about 20s. to 21s. Makers are busy on coni ’acts and very little free fuel is coming on to the market. . it wood still remains weak at about 19s. 9d. per ton, the s as last week. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where- stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 19/ -19/6 18/3-18/9 17/6-17/9 11/ -11/3 10/6-10/9 7/9- 8/ 6/3- 7/ 17/9-18/3 16/6-16/9 15/ -15/6 14/ -14/6 14./ 13/ 11/6-12/ 17/3-17/9 17/ -17/3 16/3-16/6 15/6-15/9 21/ 18/ 17/ -17/6 15/ 12/ 14/6-15/ 11/9-12/ 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/ .28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 19/9 L’st week’s 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 Last year's prices. 19/3-19/6 18/9-19/ 18/ -18/3 15/ 14/6-14/9 13/6-13/9 13/ 18/3-18/9 17/ -18/ 16/ -16/3 15/ 14/9-15/ 13/ -14/ 15/ -15/3 18/3-18/6 17/9-18/ 17/3-17/6 16/6-17/ 19/6 17/6 17/6-18/ 16/ -16/6 15/ 16/ -16/3 15/ 13’6-13/9 23/ -24/ 22/ 35/ 32/ 25/ -29/ 20/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Wes tern-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous largo Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-througb 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 la. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. There has been a better enquiry for tinplates, and prices, if anything, are a shade firmer. Orders are coming in more freely from the Eastern market, and some makers are stated to have sufficient work to carry them over the next three months. Shipments showed a marked improvement last week, and amounted to 101,699 boxes. The receipts from works, however, were still higher, and totalled 105,273 boxes, thus increasing stocks to 390,034 boxes, as compared with 396,014 boxes at the corresponding date of last year, 20 x 14 sheets are steady at 12s. 9d. to 12s. 10|d., 18| x 14 sizes at 13s. l|d. to 13s. 4y d., and 10 x 20 oil plates 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d. At Messrs. Baldwin's works in the Swansea district 12 mills which have been idle for a considerable period have been restarted, and work generally is more brisk than for several months past. This is reflected in the position of tin bars, which, if anything, are rather firmer. The association price has not been altered, but makers are obtaining Ils. 3d. for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities, and manufacturers outside the association are also holding out for these figures. Imports of foreign steel plates, bars, billets, and blooms last week exceeded 10,000 tons, and large importations of basic steel of German manufacture are likely to be made in the near future. In the galvanised sheet trade the position is practically unaltered. New business is somewhat scarce, but makers are well employed with orders for February shipment, and prices are well maintained, .£11 5s. to .£11 10s. being obtained for 24-gauge corrugateds. Pig iron is firm at 65s. f.o.t. Rail mills are busy, and it is stated that some of the works have received large orders, which will keep them well employed until Midsummer. In scrap metals, business is quiet, heavy wrought being 2s. down at 50s. New steel crop ends are slightly higher at 58s. 6d. to 59s., but other descriptions are unaltered, steel scrap being 53s., double-headed iron rails 65s., steel ditto 60s., cast scrap 55s., and mixed sections 52s. 6d. Llanelly. BOIL, There is no alteration to record in the coal market this week, and the position is much the same as last reported. All collieries manage to keep going full time, but for some qualities stocks are still excessive and sellers can do with more orders. For the machine made kinds the demand is very disappointing, and although the weather is so cold the demand is not near what it should be, and prices are not 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/ -15/6 19/ -20/ 23/ -26/ 23/ -26/ 23/ -26/ 19/ -22/ 12/6-13/6 5/6- 6/ 4/- 6/ 17/ -18/ 12/ -13/ 9/6-10/ 11/ -12/ L'st week's 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/ Last years prices. 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 15/ -16/ 22/ -23/ 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ 26/ -27/ 20/ -22/ 12/6-13/ 8/ - 8/6 5/ - 5/6 16/6-17/6 12/ -12/6 9/ -10/ 11/ -12/ 16/6-17/6 14/ -15/ 11/ -12/ 12/6-13/ firm. Most other kinds are fairly satisfactory and the coal is being sold as fast as it leaves the colliery. Bituminous qualities are going well, and prices are better than they have been. Steams, however, are still in poor request. Swansea. GOAL. During the past week the returns of the trade of the port showed much improvement as compared with the preceding week; both the coal and patent fuel trades were satisfactory, the shipments together amounted to 112,381. tons. There was a capital attendance on 'Change this morning, and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was very firm. There was a brisk demand for Swansea Valley large, especially the Genoa options, and this commodity was difficult to obtain, and a further advance in prices was noted. Red Vein large was also in excellent request. Machine-made nuts and cobbles, with the excep- tion of Germans, were firm, the latter displaying no appreciable movement. Rubbly culm was not in such good demand; duff, on the contrary, was brisk, and values moved in an upward direction. In the steam coal market a steady feeling was in evidence. Large was firm, but bunkers remained easy. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). 1 Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net) 21/6-24/ 21/6-24/ 22/6-24/6 Secondary do. 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ 20/6-21/6 Big Vein large (less 21} per cent.) 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 21/6-24/6 21/9-23/9 Paris nuts (net) 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/6 French do. do 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/ 24/ -27/ German do. do 23/6-25/6 23/6-25/6 24/ -27/ Beans (net) 16/9-18/9 16/9-18/9 19/ -21/6 Machine - made largi- peas (net) 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 12/ -14/ Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm (less2|p.c.) 6/3- 6/6 6/ - 6/3 7/9- 8/3 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/ 17/6-19/ Seconds do. 14/9-15/9 14/9-15/9 15/ -17/ Bunkers do. 12/ -13/6 12/ -13/6 13/6-16/ Small do. 7/ - 8/ 7/ - 8/ 11/6-14/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2jp.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/ -16/ Small (less2^ p.c.) ... 10/3-11/3 10/3-11/3 13/6-15/ Patent fuel do 17/3-17/9 17/3-17/9 18/9-19/ IRON. Last week there was an average production of pig iron at the blastfurnaces, and an increase was shown in the output of steel bars, all the furnaces being engaged. Reports from the works indicated a more satisfactory position in the tin- plate trade. Twelve mills at the works of Messrs. Baldwins were restarted. There was a steady demand for tin-plates, and progress was being made at all the local works. The corrugated sheet production was greater than at any period for last month. Employment was satisfactory in the weldless tube trade, and the foundries, engineering and fitting shops were busily engaged. The shipments of tin- plates last week were 101,699 boxes, receipts from works 105,273 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 390,034 boxes. British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation.—On Wednesday, at the Savoy Hotel, this powerful association held their annual dinner, the president, the Right Hon. Lord Ampthill, G.C.S.I., presiding over a company of about 450 members and guests. Amongst those present were the Right Hon. Lord George Hamilton, the Right Hon. F. E. Smith, Sir William Garforth (president of the Institution of Mining Engineers) Mr. A. Bruce Anderson (chairman of the association), Sir William Wiseman, Dr. Glazebrook, Dr. W. C. Unwin, the Hon.'Sir J. W. Taverner, Col. Holden, Mr. W. Duddell, F.R.S. (president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers), Ac. Mr. Bruce Anderson, in proposingthe health of “Our Guests," referred to the objects of the association, underlying which, he said, was the axiom that they could not attain maximum efficiency in the industry if individuals acted upon ideas that did not coincide with those held by the leaders in the industry. Combined interests should outweigh sectional differences, and that point should be impressed upon users. There were difficulties in the way of any national propaganda, notably the privileges of the municipal supply authorities and legislative impediments. Again, the manufacturers, in spending money in this direction, had no guarantees that orders would be placed with members of the association. The user should remember that it was national suicide to injure those to-day whom they might desire to help them to-morrow. Mr. F. E. Smith and Mr. Duddell replied, who referred to the assistance which agriculture could derive from electricity. Lord George Hamilton proposed “The Elec- trical and Allied Industries." The chairman, replying,, expressed his appreciation of the public spirit that had inspired the association to send out a complete set of elec- trical instruments, worth over £5,000, to the Hong Kong University. That could not but prove an advantage to British trade in the Far East in the future. He said it would undoubtedly benefit the working classes very greatly if surplus profits were put back into British industry instead of being sent abroad. Unfortunately, many manufacturers did not adopt this policy, because the position of British industry was not sound enough. As to the causes, one was that the Legislature lagged sadly behind the development of scientific industry. Mr. F. R. Davenport proposed the health of the chairman, who briefly responded.