January 30, 1914. THV COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 249 THE COAL MO IRC® TRADES. Thursday, January 29, Scotland.—Western District, COAL. The trade in the west of Scotland is in a very satisfactory position at present. There is a decided improvement in the industrial demand, and tonnage is arriving in large quantities. The present low rates of freights is having a beneficial effect on the export trade, and the increase in ship- ments is the outstanding feature of the trade. Business in ell coal is very brisk, the best qualities being taken up immediately on production, and supplies for this month's ■loading are extremely difficult to arrange. First-class splints are now unobtainable until after the end of this month. The position of navigations and steams is satis- factory, and prices generally are firm. Trebles are still plentiful, but doubles and singles are in active request. The shipments for the week amounted to 107,198 tons compared with 77,737 tons in the preceding week, and 87,813 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year's prices. prices. prices. Steam coal..... 18/ -14/ 13/ -14/3 13/6-14/ Ell ..... 13/3-13/6 13/3 13/6-14/ Splint 13/ -16/ 13/—16/ 14/6-15/ Treble nuts 12/3-12/9 12/6-12/9 13/6-14/ Double do 11/6-12/ 11/6-11/9 13/ -13/6 Single do 11/ -11/3 11/ -11/3 13/ -13/6 IRON. The tone of the Glasgow pig iron warrant market has been firmer throughout the week. Although the amount of business transacted only amounted to 13,000 tons, prices have been tending upwards in sympathy with the tin and copper markets, the stronger advices from abroad and the reduced bank rate. Cleveland iron closed at 50s. lOd. per ton cash buyers, representing an advance of 5d. per ton on the week. The number of furnaces in blast is 66, compared with the same number last week, and 92 in the corresponding week of 1913. Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No.l, 63s., No. 3, 61s. 6d.; Govan, No. ls 62s., No 3, 60s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 68s., No. 3, 64s.; Clyde, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Lang- loan, Nos. 1, 70s., Nos. 3, 65s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No.l, 71s.. No. 3,66s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 63s. 6d., No. 3, 62e. 6d.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1,65s., . No. 3, 63s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Carron, at Grangemouth, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s. per ton. The import of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 7,618 tons. Enquiries for black and galvanised sheets are now more numerous, and makers ; are able to keep plants fully employed. The amount of fresh business is not large, but makers are of the opinion that the lowest level of prices has now been touched, and that an improvement in demand will soon be evident. No ■change can yet be reported in the position of the malleable iron trade. There is an absence of new business and foreign competition continues to affect local makers, who are finding it extremely difficult to obtain additional orders. follow ’’^g, 15 000 tons ; Halmstedt 8 000 tons; Varbsrg 6 000 tons 5 Uddevalla, 4,000 tons; Gothenburg, 90 000 tons- Stockholm, 130,000 tons; Ricksgransun, 30>0 tons; ’ Lule.69,000 tons; Skelleftea, 6,000 tons; Ornskjoldsvik, 35,06 0 8,000 tons; Sundsvall 45,000 tons; Rudik. ,vall> 10i000, tons >8tu"s "£d> °;000 tons; Trelleborg, 15,06 0 tons ^’5 60>?,00 to.as and 15,000 tons bunk ',ra' Excepting where otherwise mentioned, of course, stex are required. The quan- tities mentioned total 621,0 00 ton,s and are to be delivered from April. In addition, the . usual quantities of smithy coal, anthracite and foundry coke ai erequired. Twenty thousand tons of Wear gas specials are si . to have been sold for delivery over 12 months, commei "cmg July at 13a 61. per ton, f.o.b. It is reported that crx ~^racts for patent blast- furnace coke have been made for de. ove^ ^he current half year at from 16s. to 17s. per ton, aobvsred in Middles- brough. Twenty-five thousand tons Durham bunker specials have been sold for delivery ov«. r months, com- mencing February at 14s. per ton, f.o.b. ^ie Lynkoping Gasworks invite tenders of 3,000 tons of .am gas bests, to be in by January 30, delivery over a year Norrkoping, but local merchants are chary of tendering oa account of the smallness of the quantity required to be each month, and the difficulty, therefore, of estimating rates of freight. Tenders to supply the Kiel Gasworks wi#b .40,000 tons of Durham gas coal have been submitted, and the allotment is expected in the course of a few days. to the continued depression in coke Messrs. Pease anti Partners have decided to put out a further batch of cok© ovens at their Ushaw Moor and Esh Winning collieries, a course which will throw a good deal of coking coal on the market. It is feared that the great fire at the Harton Coal Company's staiths will result in some congestion at Tyne Dock, whither steamers hitherto bunkering at the Harton staiths will be diverted. There is a somewhat better tone in the prompt coal market this week. Loading turns are really receding to quite manageable dimensions, and buyers have therefore more inducement to operate. F.o.b. quota- tions for prompt shipment have varied as follow:—Best steams, Blyths, are from 6d. to 9d. dearer; Tynes are weaker; seconds, Blyths, 3d. advanced; Biyth, smalls, stronger ; Tynes, 3d. increased ; specials, 6d. more; smithies, easier; gas bests, 3d. up; seconds, 3d. higher; specials, 6d. reduced; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, in seller's favour; coking coal, 6d. reducsd ; smalls, similarly fallen; house- holds, weaker; and gas coke, 6d. higher. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered on the week. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. ScoHmjL— Eastern District. COAL. Trade in the Lothians is on a fair scale, but steam coal is ; a trifle easy both for the best .and ordinary qualities. Smails, however, are in good demand and prices are compara- tively good. The shipments for the week amount to 89,649 tons compared with 85,311 tons in the preceding week, and • 96,980 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coa] • Secondary qualities...... Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 12/ 11/ 12/9-13/ 11/6-11/9 10/3-10/6 L’st week’s prices. 12/6-12/9 11/3-11/9 12/6-13/ 11/9 10/9 Last year's prices. 13/3-13/6 12/3-12/6 13/6-14/ 12/9-13/ 12/ -12/6 Steam coals:— Beat,Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls ...... House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 14/3-14/6 14/ -14/6 11/9-12/ 12/ 11/ -12/ 7/ 6/3 7/6-8/ 12/6-13/ 13/6-13/9 12/6-13/ 13/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/ 12/ -12/6 12/ 15/ -16/ 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/ L'st week's prices. 13/6-14/ 14/6 11/9 12/ 11/ -12/ 6/9-7/ 6/ 7/6 13/ 13/3-13/6 12/6-12/9 14/ -14/6 11/9-13/ 10/ -11/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 15/6-16/ 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/6 Last year's prices. 15/ 15/ -15/6 14/ 14/3 13/ -13/6 10/6 10/ 10/6 15/ 15/ 14/3 15/3 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 15/ 14/6 15/6-16/ 30/ 27/ 19/ Sunderland. The Fifeshire collieries are extremely busy owing to the amount of tonnage in port. The inland demand is also good and the position in this district is very satisfactory. Ship- ments amounted to 123,071 tons against 112,978 tons in the preceding week, and 111,829 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L'st week's- prices. Last year's prices. Best screened naviga- tion coal ■16/6-16/9 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ ■ Unscreened do 14/3-14/9 15/ 14/6-15/ First-class steam coal... 12/6 12/6 13/9-14/ Third-class do. 10/9 10/9 . 12/3-12/6 Treble nuts 12/6-13/ 12/6-12/9 13/ -14/ Double do 11/3-11/6 11/3-11/6 13/ -13/6 Single do 10/6 10/6-10/9 12/ -12/3 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports amounted to 320,071 tons compared with 276,026 tons in the preceding week, and 296,622 tons in the same week last year. ML. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 108,765 tons of coal (no coke), as compared with 92,940 tons tons of coal and 625 tons of coke for the corresponding period period of 1913, being an increase of 15,825 tons of coal and a decrease of 625 tons of coke. The coal market all round is a little steadier. Best gas qualities have improved in price and bunker coals are in better request. In view of more ovens being put out, coke is inclined to improve, although very little business is being done. Gas coke is steady, coking coals are more freely offered and previous prices are barely maintained. A parcel of 25,000 tons of special Durham bunkers is reported to have been sold at 14s. f.o.b. Tyne Dock, for shipment over 12 months, and the sale of 20,000 tons of Wear special gas is reported for delivery over 12 months (commencing July) at 13s. 6d. f.o.b. The household trade is quiet and coals are obtainable on easier terms. Current quotations are approximately as follow:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. The outward freight market is fairly active and in most directions rates are maintained. Recent fixtures include : Coasting: London 3s., Antwerp 3s. 9d., Hamburg 3s. 7id., Havre 4s. 3d., Calais 4s. Bay: Bordeaux 5s., Bayonne 5s, 5d., St. Nazaire 4s. 7|d., Lisbon 5s. 3d. Baltic : Halm- stadt 4s. 9d., Reval 4s. 6d., Pillau 5s. 6d’ Mediterranean : Genoa 8s., Catania 8s., Marseilles 7s. 7|d., Nice 8s., Leghorn 8s., Alexandria 8s. 4|d., Port Said 8s. and Constantinople 8s. 9d. TOIL, The coal market is steadier with a rather better tone. Deliveries of gas coal are still fairly good and values are well upheld. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 14s. to 14s. 3d.., whilst second kinds range from 12s. to 13s., and special Wear sorts are quoted up to 15s. 6d. Bunker coal is in good request, and ordinary kinds run from 12s. to 13s., f.o.b., and specials are 13s. 6d. to 15s. A parcel of special quality is reported to have been sold at 14s. f.o.b., delivered over 12 months. Coking coal is steady, but as some believe coke ovens are to be stopped there will be more on the market shortly. Both unscreened and smalls run from 12g. to 13s. Coke prices are somewhat unsettled. The position is undoubtedly weaker, but there are rather wide ideas as to values, and it is not easy to fix quotations. Most local consumers are still inclined to hold off in the hope of being able to buy on still lower terms than are now named. Round about 17s. 6d. is quoted for average blast- furnace kinds delivered at Teesside works, and doubtless contracts could be made at a lower price. Foundry coke for shipment is in the neighbourhood of 21s. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is quoted 13s. 74d. WOT. Pig iron is steady, and a moderate amount of business is reported. Traders now speak hopefully of the near future, and a brisk spring business is anticipated. Deliveries are checked by the icebound condition of many Continental ports, and so soon as the navigation season is fully open again shipments should increase, and the statistical state of the staple industry consequently improve. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig has this week been sold at 51s. 6d. f.o.b., but can now be bought at 51s. 3d., which is the general market quotation ; whilst No. 1 is 53s. 9d.; No. 4 foundry, 50s. 9d.; No. 4 forge, 50s. 6d.; and mottled and white iron each, 50s. 3d.—all for early delivery, 6d. above these rates being asked on forward account. East coast hsematite pig shows an upward movement. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are now quite 62s. 6d. for early delivery, and forward contracts have been made at 63s. As was anticipated, genuine enquiries for foreign ore have seen sellers give way, and best rubio is now on sale at 18s. 3d. ex-ship Tees, upon which basis other foreign ores are ruled. There are firm offers to buy on the basis of 18s. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are firm at 4s. 3d. There is a better feeling in finished iron and steel. Manufacturers are well employed, and they report a few orders coming in. Quotations all round are well main- tained, and prices of some descriptions may be advanced before long. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Although the weather cannot be called severe, the house- hold trade is in a very animated condition, and generally collieries are behind with orders. Screened coal for forges and manufacturing purposes is much the same as previously reported, the demand being short of full quantities. With respect to shipping, there is a steady demand on contract account, and a fair amount of business on outside account. Coal on spot, however, is not over-plentiful, but notwith- standing prices are in some cases a little easier for Lancashire steam coal than was the case a month or so ago. Possibly this is caused to some extent by Yorkshire fuel having been offered in this market in one or two cases at low figures for spot lots. Prices for Lancashire steam coals range from 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d. for ordinary grades up to 13s. 9d. or 14s. f.o.b. for the best qualities, although, as indicated, these are being shaded in certain cases. In the coastwise and cross- Channel trade more is being asked for by merchants than there is available, and the demand for all qualities is keen. In slacks, the output as raised moves away, most users being under full consumption. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Newcastle-upon-Tyne. SOAL. During last week 146,025 tons of coal and 604 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 13,405 tons of coal and 26 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston shipments amounted to 50,437 tons of coal and 6,822 tons of coke, an decrease of 2,522 tons of coal and an increase of 6.822 tons of coke. The Blyth clearances aggregated 93,665 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 1,332 tons. Details of the requirements of the Swedish State j Railways show that the ports of discharge are to be as Gas coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year's prices. Special Wear gas coals 14/ -14/3 14/ 16/ Secondary do. House coals:— 12/9-13/ 12/9-13/ 14/6-14/9 Best house coals 17/6 18/ 17/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 16/6 17/ 16/ Lambton screened 14/6 14/3 —. South Hetton do 14/6 12/9 14/3 — Lambton unscreened ... 12/9 — South Hetton do. 13/ 13/ ' — Do. treble nuts 16/ 16/ — Coking coals unscreened 12/9 13/ 15/ Da. smalls 12/6 12/9 14/6-15/ Smithies 15/6 15/6 15/ Peas and nuts 16/3 16/ 16/ -17/ Best bunkers 13/9 13/9 15/ Ordinary bunkers ... Coke:— 13/ 13/ 14/3 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 22/ 21/ 31/ Teesside furnaces) ... 20/ 19/6 26/ Gas coke 13/9-14/ 17/ 19/ House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Medium................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Kitchen................ Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) Screened forge coal..... Best sernd. steam coalf.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/3-14/ 10/ 9/3 8/9 L’st week’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/3-14/ 10/ -10/3 9/3- 9/6 8/9- 9/ Last year’s prices. 16/3 16/6-16/9 14/6 15/ -15/3 12/3 13/6-13/9 12/6-13/ 18/6—14/6 10/3 9/6 9/ mJ OOAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The house coal trade is now very brisk and prices are firm. Furnace coal is without change. The demand for shipping coal is fairly brisk, but prices are inclined to be on the easy side. Slack is in good request and prices are a little steadier. Full supplies are offering. 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 Last year's prices. prices. 17/3-18/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/9 35/3-16/ 13/3-14/ 12/6-13/ 12/6 12/6 14/ 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/ 9/ - 9/6 8/6- 9/