466 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 27, 1914. tons of British steam coals for delivery over the ensuing season, and the Russian Vladikavkas railways for about 96,000 tons for like shipment. Tenders are wanted at once. Delivery is to be via Novorossisk. The Swedish State railways have received tenders of 611,000 tons of steam coals for delivery over the ensuing year. Offers are said to have been based on from 13s. to 13s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. for best Blyths, 13s. 6d. for best Yorkshire hards, and 12s. for Scottish coals. It is reported, however, that some merchants have offered best Blyth steams at 16s. 9d. per ton c.i.f., which would only leave about 12s. 6d. f.o.b. A quantity of best Blyth steams is stated to have been sold by second- hand holders for mid March shipment at 13s. 3d. f.o.b. The contract to supply the Esbjerg gasworks with 17,000 tons of Wear gas specials is reported to have been arranged at 16s. 9d. c.i.f. Large quantities of bast Durham bunkers are stated to have been sold for March-December delivery at from Ils. 3d. to Ils. 4|d. f.o.b., whilst ordinaries for similar shipment have been sold at 10s. 7|d. f.o.b. The prompt coal market has been quiet during the week. In the steam coal section buyers and sellers alike are inclined to hold off pending the settlement of the Swedish railways' contracts. Prices have altered very little on the week, the only changes in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment being as follow:— Second steams, Blyths, 3d. reduced; Tynes weaker; special smalls, 3d. advanced ; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, a shade stronger; coking coal, 3d. to 6d. cheaper; and smalls, 3d. down. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best,Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 13/3-13/6 13/3-13/6 14/6-14/9 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 13/ 13/ 14/6-14/9 Secondary, Blyths 11/6-11/9 11/9-12/ 13/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 11/6-12/ 11/9-12/ 13/6-13/9 Unscreened 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 12/6-13/ Small, Blyths 6/9 6/9 10/6 Do. Tynes 6/3 6/3 10/ Do. specials 7/6- 7/9 7/6 11/ -11/6 Other sorts:— Smithies 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 14/ -14/3 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 13/3-13/6 13/3-13/6 14/3 Secondary gas coals (Pela w Main or similar) 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 13/6-13/9 Special gas coals 13/6 13/6 14/6-15/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 11/9-12/9 11/74-12/9 13/6-14/6 Do. do. Northumbrians 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/ 13/ Coking coals 11/9-12/3 12/3-12/6 14/ -14/3 Do. smalls 11/3-11/9 11/6-12/ 13/6 House coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/ Coke, foundry 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 27/6 Do. blast-furnace 18/ 18/ -19/ 24/6 Do. gas 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 17/6 Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 93,755 tons of coal and 1,255 tons of coke, as compared with 106,700 tons of coal and 1,535 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1913, being a decrease of 12,945 tons of coal and 280 tons of coke. Quiet conditions prevail in the coal market. There is a lack of interest on the part of buyers, and with ample supplies of practically all descrip- tions, the tone is easy, but without any material change in prices. Consumers continue to press for concessions with moderate success and merchants are still suspending further future operations, pending the result of the Swedish State Railways allotments. Steams are fairly steady and this applies to best gas. Coking and bunkering qualities are, however, quiet and the turn easier. Households are steady and coke is unchanged. Loading turns are readily arranged;. 10,000 tons of ordinary unscreened Durham bunkers have been sold at 10s. 7-|d. f.o.b., shipment March to December. The Esbjerg Gasworks have contracted for 17,000 tons of Wear special gas at 16s. 9d. c.i.f., shipment over the season. Quotations are approximately as follow :— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 13/9 14/ 15/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 12/3 12/3 13/6 Best house coals 16/6 16/ 17/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 16/ 15/ 15/6 Lambton screened 14/3 14/6 15/ -15/3 South Hetton do 14/ 14/3 15/ -15/3 Lambton unscreened ... 12/9 12/3-12/6 14/ South Hetton do. 12/6 12/6 14/ Do. treble nuts 15/6 16/ 16/6 Coking coals unscreened 12/6 12/6 13/6-14/ Do. smalls 12/3 12/ -12/3 13/9 Smithies 15/ 15/ 14/ -14/6 Peas and nuts 15/3-15/6 15/6 16/ Best bunkers 13/ 13/3 14/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 12/6 12/3 13/6 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 21/ . 20/ 27/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 19/6 19/ 24/6 Gas coke 14/ 13/9-14/ 17/6 GOAL. The fuel market is quiet and easy. For the time being there is little attempt to transact forward business, and traders are engaged in quietly meeting current require- ments. As is usual at this season of the year, deliveries of gas coal are falling away, but they are still fairly heavy. Best Durham gas coal runs from 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d., and second kinds from 11s. 9d. to 12s. 6d. Bunker coal is in rather good request, and prices are said to be a trifle stiffer. Ordinary Durhams are Ils. 9d. to 12s. f.o.b., better sorts 12s. 3d., bests 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d, and special kinds 13s. 6d. Demand for household coal is falling away a little. Ordinary household is 17s., and bests 18s. Coking coal is in moderate demand and 12s. to 12s. 9d. rules for unscreened kinds, whilst smalls range from 11s. 9d. to 12?. 3d. Coke is dull, and values show a marked downward tendency. Quotations vary very considerably and are difficult to fix. Average blastfurnace qualities are round about 16s. 9d. delivered at Teesside works. Foundry coke ranges from 20s. to 22s. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is in the neighbourhood of 13s. 6d. IRON. Once more quietness characterises the pig iron market, but with a good deal of buying still necessary to meet ordinary spring and summer needs, the slackness may be of short duration. For the time being, however, values are very easy. Small imports of German iron to Wales and to Scotland have had a depressing influence on trade here, and other detrimental contributions are the dull state of the stock market, and a fall in copper. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 51s. f.o.b., and some second hands might accept a trifle below that figure, whilst No. 1 is 53s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 50s. 6d., No. 4 forge 50s. 3d., and mottled and white iron each 50s., all for early delivery. Haematite pig is falling, but is still rather dear as compared with values of Cleveland pig. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 stand at 62s. 6d. for early delivery, which is Ils. 6d. above the current rate of No. 3 Cleveland, whereas the usual difference in normal times is 8s. to 10s. There is little or nothing passing in foreign ore, but sellers are not disposed to make concessions, and most of them hold out for rates that have ruled for sometime past. Market quotations are based on 18s. ex-ship Tees for best rubio. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The inland household demand is still very much as reported last week, and with the exception of some special grades deliveries are reasonably up with orders. Forges and other users of round screened coal continue to take only moderate supplies. The requirements of bunkering fuel under contract, if anything, are ahead of what they were last week, but outside enquiry shows no change, being only quiet. Prices of screened Lancashire steam coals remain about as last reported, viz , 13s. to 13s. 3d. f.o.b. for ordinary quali- ties, and up to 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d. for the best descriptions. The demand from merchants for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade for household coal is still in excess of what can be supplied. Shipments proceed briskly, and with open sale prices firm without alteration. With full work at the pits, slack is perhaps a little on the surplus side, and in places small quantities are being put to stock, but nothing of very material moment. Prices at nit (except where otherwise stated). 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 scrod, steam coal f.o.b. Best slack Secondary slack Common do Current prices. 17/ 16/9-L7/3 ■ 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/6-14/3 12/3-12/6 13/ -13/9 9/9-10/ 9/ - 9/3 8/6- 8/9 L’st week’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/3-12/6 13/ —13/9 9/9-10/ 9/ -9/3 8/6-8/9 Last year’s prices. 16/3 16/6-16/9 14/6 15/ -15/3 12/3 13/6 12/6-13/ 13/3-14/3 . 10/6 9/9 9/3 South Lancashire and Cheshire. GOAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The demand for house coal seems to be on the downward track, and while list prices remain unaltered concessions sre made for spot lots. Furnace coal is unchanged, and the demand for shipping coal is somewhat uncertain with irregular prices. The call for slack is only moderate and ample supplies are offered. 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 was a good attendance on ’Change on Tuesday last, but there is no material change to report. Pig iron remains as last reported; the markets here at the moment are pretty well stagnant. Both forges and steelworks are slack. The association price for Crown bars is still kept at £7 5s., second quality £6 15s., hoops £7 17s. 6d. Steel- works are quoting about £5 net. for billets and £6 10s. less 24 per cent, for bars. Practically all trades in this district are short of work, and any new business that is about is keenly sought after. YortaWr® art MpWm Leeds. COAL. The was a full and representative attendance of traders at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Business in most departments was satisfactory, there being a specially good demand for prompt parcels of steam coal for shipment. Reports from colliery representatives indicated that the pits had been able to work about five days without serious additions to siding stocks. Empty wagons are very scarce and broken time results from this cause in many instances. House Coal.—There is no improvement in the demand for house coal from the distant markets. London merchants find contract deliveries more than adequate to meet their needs, as the retail trade in London is very quiet. Official pit prices are unchanged, but concessions have been made on the secondary qualities of Silkstone house coal. The coastwise trade is a shade better, and shipments to the south coast and the Thames wharves show a considerable improvement. In the West Riding markets merchants are fairly well employed, chiefly dealing with small parcels of the cheaper qualities. Current 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. 6d. to 16s. 61., secondary sorts, 14s. to 15s. 6d. Gas Coal.—Full time work is general at the gas coal pits and stocks in colliery sidings are practically nil. The deliveries ex contracts are still on a winter scale, and as there is a fair amount of enquiry for prompt shipment of spot parcels, the position is regarded as satisfactory. There is a good deal of uncertainty, however, in regard to forward business, and it is anticipated that nothing definite will be done until the result of the London gas coal contracts is known. Manufacturing Fuel.—In the Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds districts, more factory fuel is going into consumption, as trade generally is a little better. Pit prices show no alteration, except that coking slacks are slightly cheaper. Washed fuel continues to maintain a good price. Washed Furnace Coke.—Makers of patent oven coke are severely handicapped by the continually lowering prices. Sales are reported this week at 10s. 6d. per ton at the ovens, and even at this figure buyers are only taking supplies from day to day. Forward business is practically at a standstill. A new battery of ovens at Ackton Hall Colliery is expected to commence operations within the next few weeks. House coal:— Current L’st week’s List 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 12/6-13/ Silkstone best 13/ -14/ 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/ Do. house 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 12/ -12/6 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull: 11/9-12/3 11/9—12/3 11/ -11/6 Haigh Moor best 16/9-17/9 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/3 Silkstone best 16/ -17/ 16/3-17/ 16/ -16/6 Do. house 15/ -15/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ 13/ -14/ Screened gas coal 11/3-12/ 11/3-12/ 12/6-13/ Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 11/6-12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit : 9/3-10/ 9/3-10/ 11/ -11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 11/6-12/ engine nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 11/ -11/6 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 10/9-11/3 engine coal 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 10/9-11/3 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 7/9 8/9- 9/3 Small do 6/6- 6/9 6/6- 6/9 8/ - 8/6 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/ - 6/6 6/3- 6/9 8/ - 8/6 Furnace coke 10/6-11/ 11/ -12/ 18/ -19/ Barnsley^ COAL. The demand generally at the local market was of more steady character, but there was considerable apprehension shown owing to the disturbed state of affairs in the district. The strike has spread, and now about 14,000 hands are idle. The fact that the negotiations between the representatives of the owners and men have broken down suggests that the position may become more serious. However, there was nothing like a scare shown by either buyers or sellers, which suggests that the output of the present time is still ahead of the demand. The export trade, without showing any direct improvement, possesses a better tone, and nego- tiations for forward business came within nearer range of settlement than for some time past. The enquiry for prime hards is more encouraging, and prices are firmly held, but with regard to secondary descriptions there is still a weakness, although the position of sellers has improved on the week. The demand for washed nuts continues to be more active, and with the output reduced there has been no difficulty in obtaining a slight advance on the week for the best classes of this fuel. In a similar way the best slacks are also affected, the production falling considerably short of the enquiry, with the result that secondary grade fuel is in more active request. There is not much doing in regard to gas coal, contract supplies evidently being sufficient to meet the situation. The house coal trade has found a little stimulus during the week, but generally the demand is hardly up to expectations. There is still, however, a little difficulty in obtaining ready supplies of the best grade fuel, but on the whole the volume of business is disappointing. There is no change to report with regard to the coke trade, and although prices are weaker forward business is still neglected. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 14/ -14/6 Best Barnsley softs 15/ -15/3 15/ —15/3 Secondary do. 12/6-14/ 12/6-14/ 11/6-13/ Best house nuts 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 Best hard coals 11/3 11/3 12/ Secondary do 10/9 10/6-10/9 11/ -11/3 Best washed nuts 11/ 11/ 12/ ' Secondary do. 10/3 10/ -10/3 11/ -11/3 Best slack 7/3 7/ - 7/3 9/ - 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 6/ 6/ 8/ - 8/6 Screened gas coals 12/ -12/3 12 1-12/3 12/6-13/6 Unscreened do 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 — Gas nuts 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 Furnace coke U/ -12/ 11/6-12/ 19/ -19/6 Hull. GOAL. The Humber coal market is a shade quieter this week, but with the possibility of the strikes in South Yorkshire reducing output prices are firm. Best association South Yorkshire hards are fully steady at 14s. f.o.b., while the firmness also applies to Derbyshire and Nottingham steams, which stand at the same figure for shipment at the Lincolnshire ports. Prices of secondary sorts are practically unchanged, washed nuts continuing to be in good request. Small coal is somewhat easier, and there is not much doing