410 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 20, 1914. in moderate call. There is a good enquiry for shipping coal, but full supplies are offered and prices are on the easier side. Slack is meeting with fair enquiry, but prices are somewhat weak, large quantities of lower priced slack from counties on the east side of Manchester being offered on the market. Generally prices are as below : 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/ 10/ -10/ 6 9/ - 9/6 . IRON. There is no improvement to report, the markets being very quiet. Pig iron remains in a lifeless condition and the slight improvement in the warrant market has not been maintained. Good foundry iron can be bought at about 56s. 61. Manchester. Forges are on short time. The association price is unchanged for bars, £7 5s., with second quality .£6 15s., hoops £7 17s. 6d. Steelworks are also on short time and soft billets might be taken at £5, with foreign material being dumped in at considerably less. The heavier engineers are rather busier. Boilermakers do not seem to get any improvement and any offers made are at prices which are absolutely unrem unerative. Wagon- builders could do with more work. Foundries are slack. Leads. cm. The Yorkshire Coal Exchange was pretty well attended on Tuesday, a fair number of shippers from the Humber ports being present. A meeting of the members was held under the presidency of Mr. J. Charlesworth, when it was decided to incorporate the Exchange as a limited liability company with guarantees. Business on’Change was said to ba fairly satisfactory, there being a good many enquiries for prompt shipment of steam coal and washed nuts. The pits have worked about full time this week, as empty wagons have been rather more plentiful. House Coal.—-The demand is even quieter than last week, very few orders indeed coming through from the distant markets. Reports from the London depots indicate that th© retail trade is unusually quiet, and in consequence supplies of coal in colliery and railway wagons are at a discount. Pit prices are quotably unchanged. In the coastwise trade the stormy weather has played havoc with small tonnage, and there is a very large number of loaded trucks at both Hull and Goole. In the local markets merchants report a fairly good demand from the public for the cheaper grades, but best qualities are quiet. Pit prices may be quoted as under :—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 15s. 61. to 16s. 61., secondary sorts, 14s. to 15s. 6d. Gas Coal.—The pits have no difficulty in working full time and in keeping clear of stocks. The bulk of the output is needed to satisfy contract deliveries, but there are also a fair number of enquiries for prompt shipment of unscreened gas coal. Inland new business is scarce. Pit prices generally are firm. Manufacturing Fuel.—With the improvement in the industrial position the demand for slacks and nuts shows an expansion. Washed fuel is in particularly good request, and full list rates for these qualities are being realised. The weakest part of the market is in small slacks and coking smalls, which are offered at special prices. Washed Furnace Coke.—The output is far larger than market requirements, and prices have again suffered. Sales of patent oven coke are reported at as low as Ils. at the ovens, with special sorts from Ils. 6d. to 12s. Buyers are not contracting forward even at these low prices, preferring to buy from hand to mouth. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/9-14/3 Wallsend & London best 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 12/9-13/3 Silkstone best 13/6-14/6 14/ -14/6 12/9-13/3 Do. house 13/ -13/6 13/ -14/ 12/3-12/6 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull : 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 11/ -11/6 Haigh Moor best 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/3 Silkstone best 16/3-17/ 16/3-17/ 16/ -16/6 Do. house 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 13/3-14/ Screened gas coal 11/3-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/9-13/3 Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 11/9-12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit : 9/3-10/ 9/6-10/ 11/ -11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 11/9-12/3 engine nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 11/3-11/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 11/ -11/3 engine coal 9/3- 9/9 9/6- 9/9 10/9-11/3 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 7/9 9/3- 9/6 Small do 6/6- 6/9 6/6- 6/9 8/6- 8/9 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/3- 6/9 6/6- 6/9 8/3- 8/9 Furnace coke 11/ -12/ 11/6-12/ 19/ -19/6 Barnsley s COAL. Owing to the demolition of the King’s Head hotel, where the market has been held for upwards of 60 years, new quarters have had to be sought, and the Exchange for the future will be held at the Queen’s Hotel near the station. The formal opening took place on Wednesday under the presidency of Mr. Thomas Marsland (Silkstone). In most sections of the trade there was considerably more activity shown, and evidently the prospect of further labour trouble in the district had aroused some little anxiety. For the moment the strike which has occurred at John Brown and Co.’s collieries in the Rotherham district, throwing about 10,000 hands idle, owing to the new minimum wage, has not extended to other parts of the district, but the fact remains, that there is considerable unrest prevailing which might quickly develop into a stoppage in sympathy with the men now out in the district referred to. The stoppage has had an indirect effect on the demand for large steam coal both for exporb and home requirements, but there has been nothing approaching a panic. The trade has become more steady, and although exporters have remained inactive in regard to making arrangements, prices have considerably stiffened on the week, and the best hards are now quoted at Ils. 6d. per ton equal to the figure which the railway and other companies are paying on current contracts. The enquiry for secondary descriptions is also better, and prices show more firmness, but so far as forward business is concerned the position is little altered, and coalowners are still adopting a firm attitude in regard to prices. A strong enquiry continues to be reported with regard to manu- facturing fuel especially with respect to washed steam nuts, which, owing to the comparatively limited tonnage on offer, continue to make the prices which have prevailed of late. The enquiry for slacks is also strong, and there is a slight improvement with regard to rougher kinds. In regard to the house coal trade the mild weather has naturally caused the demand to become somewhat quieter, but there is no difficulty in disposing of the better class fuel, but the output of other descriptions is in excess of the demind, and prices are hardly so firm as they were a week ago. The position of affairs in respect to the coke trade continues to be very unsatisfactory as far as the makers are concerned, and buyers are still able to obtain their supplies at less prices than a fortnight ago. Prices at pit. House coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 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/ 13/ -14/6 11/6-12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 Best hard coals 11/3 11/ -11/3 12/ Secondary do 10/6-10/9 10/6 11/3 Best washed nuts 11/ 11/ 12/ Secondary do 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 11/ -11/3 Best slack 7/ - 7/3 7/ - 7/3 9/ - 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 6/ 6/ 8/ - 8/6 Screened gas coals 12/ -12/3 12 /-12/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 — Gas nuts 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 Furnace coke 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 19/ -20/ Manufactured iron is in quiet demand and prices are steady. .There is not much doing in pig iron. Engineers and wagon-builders are actively employed. Hull. COAL. The improved tone in the Humber coal market has been maintained for prompt delivery, though the demand is not by any means out of the way. Best South Yorkshire hards, which after a long period of weakness recovered last week to 14s., are again firm at that figure, while Derbyshire and Nottingham steams are also steady at the same value for shipment at Grimsby or Immingham, and the customary 3d. more if sent round to Hull. There also continues a good market for washed Yorkshire doubles, which are slightly higher on the week and nearly approximate to the best steams in value. Manufacturing fuel is in active request and rough slacks are inclining dearer. The demand for house coal is easing off. With regard to forward requirements there is reported to be a better disposition on both sides to come to terms, and in the next four or five weeks prior to the Opening of the Baltic season it is quite likely that a fairly con- siderable amount of business will have been fixed up. The coalowners have still plenty of faith in the future of the market, though speculators are said to have sold heavily ahead at less than current prices. Shipments at the docks are only moderate. The freight market continues dull, and rates being easier in the Baltic direction are in favour of shippers. To-day 5=. 4d. has been paid for 2,500 tons steamer Hull to Reval, while other rates on offer include Riga 5s., Libau 4s. 9d., Windau 4s. 6d. to 4s. 7|d., Swedish Sound 4s. 3d. Rates for Mediterranean destinations are, if anything, a little higher Genoa-Savona being offered at 7s. to 7s. 3d., and Alexandria 7s. Black Sea ports are quoted on the basis of Odessa 8s. 3d. For the near Continental ports business has been done at 4s. 6d. Hull to Rouen for a 1,600 ton steamer, and at 5s. l|d. Hull to Bordeaux. The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull:— South Yorkshire:— Bost 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. 14/0 13/9-14/ 13/ 13/3 12/6 9/6-10/ 9/ -9/3 13/ -13/6 9/3- 9/6 8/3- 8/6 14/ 12/ 14/3 14/ 12/6 12/3 14/6 14/ -14/3 14/3 14/ L’st week’s prices. 14/ 13/6 13/ 13/3 12/6 9/6-10/ 9/ - 9/3 13/ -13/6 9/ - 9/3 8/3- 8/6 14/ 12/ -12/6 14/3 14/ 12/6 12/3 14/3 14/ 14/3 14/ Last year’s prices. 14/6-14/9 14/6-14/9 14/ 14/6 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10/ 13/6 11/ -11/3 10/ 14/9 13/ 15/3 14/9 13/6 13/ 14/6 14/ 15/ 14/6 ChQEterfieldc GML The demand for house coal of all kinds is well maintained and no difficulty is experienced in disposing of the whole output. Prices remain firm. Stocks are exceptionally light. There are no signs of falling off in the requirements of the various classes of fuel for manufacturing purposes; indeed, the demand is as strong as ever. So long as the heavy steel trades of Sheffield maintain their present state of activity, a good business in cobbles and nuts for gas- producers is assured. The best qualities of slack for boiler firing are in good request, but the secondary sorts are in plentiful supply and prices of these are at present weaker. The cotton mills of Lancashire are not so pressing in their demand, and deliveries of slack to that market are on a smaller scale than they have been during the past few months. Gas coal is in quieter demand. Steam coal for locomotive use continues in steady request and substantial deliveries are going forward daily to the various depots. There is a marked improvement in the export trade and prices are a shilling a ton higher than they were a fortnight ago. There is a strong demand for steam coal for prompt shipment, and if this is maintained over the next few weeks it will have an important effect upon the prices that collieries will quote for contracts for shipments during the approaching season. Most pits are now well placed for orders and full time is being worked. There is a brisk demand for cobbles and nuts for near Continental ports and prices are very firm. Washed nuts are in particularly active request at prices that show an advance of sixpence per ton since the beginning of the present month. Supplies of this class of fuel are not by any means plentiful. The coke market continues in a quiet condition, demand and prices showing no signs of improvement. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 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 J1/6 11/ Slack 7/9 8/ 9/ 00 AL. The trade in Nottinghamshire continues of a satisfactory character on the whole, for while in one section a falling off has been noticeable, this has been counterbalanced by an improvement in another department. In the domestic fuel branch the comparatively mild weather for the time of the year has had a steadying effect, and orders are coming to hand only moderately. With the exception of best qualities, collieries can now cope comfortably with immediate requirements, and in view of the approach of spring, merchants are not inclined to buy on a large scale. Nevertheless, a fair business is being done, and values are being well maintained. For steam coal there has been a much improved demand, due in a great measure to the increase in orders on export account. This improvement is very welcome, following on the quiet tone which had characterised this department, and prices during the past week have shown a firmer tendency. There is not much change in the slack market, bests continuing to go out of hand fairly well, but other sorts are in moderate request. In common qualities a few spot lots are being offered at lower rates. Gas coal and coke are meeting with a steady sale. 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/ 10/9-11/ 9/9-10/6 7/6- 8/ 6/ - 7/ 6/6- 7/3 L’st week’s prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ 6/6- 7/3 6/9- 7/6 Last year’s prices. 11/6-13/ ’ 11/6-12/6 10/6-12/ 11/6-12/ . 10/ -11/ 8/6- 9/ 7/6- 8/ 7/6- 8/6 Leicestershire. COAL. There is yet a good business being done in this district. The demand is for practically all descriptions of coal, but there is not so good an enquiry as there has been for best steam coals and kitchen cobbles. Best household coals are still rather slow. The amount of current business is cheerful, and in conj unction with the orders on the books enables the collieries to make a pretty full week. Steam coals, except for the best steams, are much wanted, and so also are bakers’ nuts. Deliveries from the collieries con- tinue full, and stocks as yet do not appreciate. Local merchants are doing a fair amount of business. Quotations are much the same, but there may be a little easement in best steam. South Staffordshire, Worth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesfos?d. SML. The condition of the coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district has undergone very little change since last reported. On the whole a fairly good business is being done, and the collieries are well employed, but the demand is not quite so pressing as a few weeks ago. There is not quite so much activity in the house coal trade, but there is very little change noticeable in the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes. Slack is in fairly good request. There has not been any falling off since last report in business at the landsale depots.