March 20, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 631 Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 18/3-18/6 17/9-18/ 17/3 11/ 10/6-10/9 7/9- 8/3 6/6- 7/3 17/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 16/6 15/6 14/3 13/3 12/ 17/ 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/3 15/3-15/6 20/ 18/ -19/6 17/6-17/9 14/9-15/ 12/ -12/3 14/6-14/9 11/- 11/6 8/6 21/ -21/6 20/ 25/ -27/ 21/ -23/ 18/ -20/ 20/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-19/ 18/ -18/3 17/6 11/ -11/3 10/6-10/9 8/9- 9/ 7/6- 8/ 17/9-18/ 15/6-16/ 16/6 15/6 14/6 13/6-13/9 12/ 17/6-17/9 17/ -17/3 16/6 15/3-15/9 20/ 18/ -19/6 17/6-17/9 14/9-15/ 12/ -12/6 14/9-15/ 11/9 8/9 21/6 20/ -21/ 27/ -28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 20/6 Last year’s prices. 19/6-19/9 19/ -19/3 18/6-18/9 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/3 14/6 13/6-14/ 18/6-19/ 17/3-17/9 17/ 15/9-16/ 15/9-16/ 15/ -15/3 15/9-16/ 18/ 17/6-17/9 17/3 16/6-16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6-18/ 16/6-16/9 15/9 16/ -16/3 15/6 14/6 25/ 23/6-24/ 33/ 30/ 24/ -27 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 Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through 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 Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. several instances short time is being worked. Welsh pig iron is a trifle easier, the quotation now standing at 64s. 6d. to 65s. f.o.t. In iron-ore there is practically nothing doing, best Rubio being offered at 18s., second qualities 16s. 6d. to 17s. and Almeria 17s. 3d. With regard to the location of the new Mannesmann Tube Works at Newport, it is stated that the foundations will be commenced within a very few weeks. In scrap metals business is dull, and quotations are practically unaltered. Swansea. GOAL. The returns of the trade of the port during the past week were much under last year’s average; the slump in the coal trade materially affected the shipments of both coal and patent fuel, which only amounted to 82,100 tons. A large attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was no improve- ment in the general condition of the anthracite coal market, the demand continued very poor. Swansea Valley large showed little improvement, with values still inclined down- wards, whilst only a moderate demand was noticeable in Red Vein large. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were easy, but rubbly culm maintained its strong position, with prices further advanced. Duff continued a steady market. In steam coals the tendency was again easy, whilst prices underwent no important change. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— Best malting large prices. prices. prices. (hand picked) (net) 21/6-24/ 21/6-24/ 22/6-24/6 Secondary do. Big Vein large (less 2J 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -21/ per cent.) 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/ 16/6-18/3 Red Vein large do. ... Machine - made cobbles 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9 14/3-14/9 (net) 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 22/ -23/9 Paris nuts (net) 23/6-25/ 23/6-25/ 23/6-26/ French do. do 23/6-25/ 23/6-25/ 23/6-25/6 German do. do 23/6-25/ 23/6-25/ 23/6-25/6 Beans (net) Machine - made large 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/6 18/3-21/6 peas (net) 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 11/3-13/ Do. fine peas (net) — — : Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 6/ - 6/6 5/9- 6/3 8/6- 9/ Duff (net) Steam coals:— 4/ - 4/6 4/ - 4/6 5/6- 6/ Best large (less 2| p.c.) 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/6 19/ -20/ Seconds do. 14/9-15/9 14/9-15/9 16/3-17/ Bunkers do. 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 16/ -17/ Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— 7/ - 8/3 'll - 8/3 13/ -15/6 Large (less 2|p.c.) ... Through-and-through 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ (less p.c.) 14/ -15/9 14/ -15/9 16/ -17/ Small (less2| p.c.) ... 10/3-11/3 10/3-11/3 14/9-16/ Patent fuel do 17/3-17/9 17/3-17/9 20/ -20/6 IROBL Last week there was a good output of tin-plates from the various mills in the district. All the works were operating full time with the exception of the Duffryn bar-rolling mill, which was idle on Monday. The bar-rolling mills and sheet mills, as a rule, were actively engaged. The galvanised sheet trade was also brisk. Steel-producing establishments were kept fully employed, and there was a good sale of tin bars. The pig-iron trade continued good. The Mannesmann Tube Company were having a good call for their weldless tubes, both for the home and foreign markets. There was a very heavy shipment of tin-plates last week, amounting to 170,780 boxes, receipts from works were 101,326 boxes, whilst stocks in the dock warehouses and vans were 381,511 boxes. Llanelly. The position of the coal trade locally at the moment is very unsatisfactory, and the prospects for an improvement are remote for at least the next few weeks. Orders are most difficult to get, and new business is scarce. There is nothing in view which can in any way assist sellers in expecting an improvement. Prices have been reduced almost as low as they can very well go, but the reductions which have been made have not resulted in a big increase in orders. Stocks are accumulating largely, and pits will very soon be idle. The most difficult sorts to place are anthracite, and the position has not been so unfavourable for years. The Continental demand is not near what it should be, and it looks as though buyers there have sufficient stocks on hand. Bituminous smalls are going very well, and prices are holding firm for delivery over the next six months. Small steams are weak. Prices this week are:— Prices f.o.b. Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large 21/ -23/ Secondary do 19/ -20/ Big Vein large 16/ -18/ Red Vein do 14/6-15/6 Machine-made cobbles 21/ -23/ German nuts 21/ -23/ French do 21/ -23/ Paris do . 21/ -23/ Machine-made beans ... 17/ -21/ Do peas 12/ -13/ Rubbly culm 5/9- 6/3 Duff 4/ - 5/9 Other sorts:— Large steam coal 16/ -17/ Through-and-through... 11/ -11/6 Small 9/ -10/ Bituminous small coal... 11/ -11/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -18/ 14/ -15/ 19/ -21/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 16/ -21/ 11/6-12/ 6/ - 6/3 3/ - 4/6 Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 17/6-19/6 14/6-15/ 20/ -21/ 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 23/ -25/ 19/ -21/ 12/ -12/6 8/ - 8/6 5/ - 6/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 9/ -10/ 11/ -11/6 18/ -18/6 14/6-15/6 13/ -14/6 12/6-13/ TIE IH« OIL TMDE. Thursday, March 19. Dublin. The coal trade upon the whole continues to be active, more particularly the household branch, the weather generally having been very inclement since the month opened. The country trade shows no appreciable falling off, and there is now no difficulty in forwarding supplies either by rail or canal. Prices of all qualities are unaltered, but the end of the month may probably see further reduc- tions in house coals. Quotations in the city are as follow :— Best Orrell, 28s. per ton; Abram, 27s.; best Wigan, 26s.; Whitehaven, 26s.; best kitchen, 24s. ; steam coals from about 22s. per ton; best slack, 22s.; best coke, 23s. per ton delivered—all less Is. per ton discount for cash ; house coal, retail, Is. 9d. per sack. The collier vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 60, as compared with 84 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Preston, Ayr, Glasgow, Partington, Mary port, Newport, Workington, Campbeltown, Troon and Liverpool. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 26,500 tons. Develop- ments are shortly expected in connection with the Slievardagh coalmines. It is stated that a project is on foot for reopening these coalfields, which, it is estimated, contain about 15 million tons of coal. Belfast Business, both locally and inland, continues to be fairly active for the season, and there is a good supply in the port at present of most classes. Some qualities of steam coal are a little easier, although quotations are unchanged. Prices of house coals are unaltered, viz.:—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. Rates for steam coals:—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. The freight market is easier, with rates unchanged, although early reductions are anticipated. Notwithstanding the heavy storms of the past week, coal cargoes arriving compare well with previous weeks, being chiefly from Irvine, Girvan, Ayr, Troon, Garston, Glasgow, Liverpool, Neath Abbey, Partington, Ardrossan, Maryport, Cardiff, Ellesmere Port, Newport, Workington, Point of Aire, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, West Bank, Clyde Bank, Preston and Birkenhead. TIffi Tll-FLITE TIME Liverpool. There is practically no change in the position. The tone of the market is quiet, second-hand lots still being offered at about 3d. per box below makers’ prices. Squares and odd sizes were in rather better demand and figures for these are maintained at 13s. 6d. to 13s. 7|d. basis. Oil-sizes are quiet. Makers’ prices to-day may be called:—Coke tins: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 1b.), 13s. 3d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 26s. 6d. to 26s. 9d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 13s. 7|d. to 13s. 9d. per box; I C 14 x 18| (124 sh. 110 lb.), 13s. 7|d. per box; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.) 13s. 7^d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 19s. 3d. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 13s. 7id. basis for approved specifications. Ternes are steady at round 23s. for I C 28 x 20. Charcoal tins rule easy at 15s. 6d. per box and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters meet with a steady demand and prices are firm as follow C W 14 x 20, 12s. 6d. to 12s. 9d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 25s. to 25s. 3d. per box; C W 14 x 18f, Ils. 7|d. per box; C W 20 x 10, 15s. to 15s. 3d. per box.—all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Both the Manchester and Salford Education Committees on Monday dealt with the question of the maintenance of the Manchester School of Technology. A conference is to be held with representatives of authorities round Manchester to discuss the question of increased contributions towards the cost of maintenance. MIKIK AM OTHER H0TES> The Black Diamond (Chicago) states that American coal operators have made a move towards the exclusion of foreign coal from the Panama Canal zone. Col. George W. G-oethals, chief engineer of the canal, who is now in Washington, was visited by Representatives Moore and Edmonds, of Phila- delphia ; Hughs, of West Virginia, and Langley, of Kentucky, who asked his support for the movement. These Congressmen told Col. Goethals that unless the coal trade of the canal zone was restricted to dealers of the United States, foreign bottoms would bring most of the coal to the zone and the profits would go to foreign dealers. Col. Goethals told the delegation that the Canal Commission had held that any dealer could bid on coal for the Government store- houses, but pointed out that the matter was entirely within the control of Congress if that body desired to legislate on the subject. Representative Edmonds has introduced a resolution restricting the leasing of Government coal bins to American dealers, and will urge the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to report this resolution favourably. Several foreign coal companies have made application for space in the coaling plant that the Govern- ment is now building at Panama. One of these companies is the Deutsches-Kohlen-Depot, of Hamburg, Germany. The Navy Estimates for 1914-15 have now been issued. One of the causes of an increase in expenditure for the current year is the increase to the extent of Jj400,000 for fuel and fuel services, due to the increased horse-power of the Fleet and the continued building-up of the oil fuel reserve, including tank vessels and storage. A strong protest is being made by the Baltic and White Sea Shipping Conference, in a circular to shipowners, against the fixing of their vessels ahead of the present freights. Why, it is asked, should the owners in periods of depression give away their tonnage at rates such as are bound to mean a considerable loss to the steamer ? The secretary of the conference reports that the steamers known to be laid up in this country and on the Continent are:—Denmark, 5 ; Finland, 8; Germany, 27; Great Britain, 74; Italy, 2; Norway, 8; Spain, 20; Sweden, 80; making a total of 224. In accordance with the decision reached by the Federal District Court at Columbus (Ohio) in a case tried in December, 1912, that the combination was a violation of the Anti-Trust Law, the same Court has now ordered four coal roads, including the Lake Shore and the Chesapeake and Ohio lines, to dispose of their holdings in the Sunday Creek Coal Company and the Continental Coal and Coke Company. Mr. Benjamin Freeborough, of Sheffield, one of the original directors of Hadfield’s Steel Foundry Co. Ltd., and for some years a director of the Brightside Foundry and Engineering Company Limited, who died January 14 last, aged 77 years, left .£18,844 gross, «£17,889 net personalty. At a meeting of the Manchester Association of Engineers, held on Saturday, March 14, Mr. Frank Shuman read a paper on “ Sun-power Plant,” in which he gave details of the cost of construction, maintenance and labour of sun-power plant, and endeavoured to show conclusively that it could be used profitably in the tropics, where coal is very expensive. He gave a description of a plant which had been set up at Cairo to generate steam from the sun’s rays, which were absorbed by long troughs fitted with mirrors and concentrated upon a boiler swung at the focal point. The plant was capable of giving on an average 50 brake-horse-power. At the annual meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, a proposal of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce was carried :—“ That, in view of the fact that Mr. Justice Parker’s comments in Hatschek’s case in the year 1909 as to the extent of the onus devolving upon any applicant who seeks revocation of a patent for non-working under section 27 of the Patents and Designs Act, 1907, have deprived that section of its effectiveness, this association urges upon his Majesty’s Government to amend the rules in such terms as will place the burden of proof on the patentee, while adequately safe- guarding him from vexatious and frivolous applications, an effect which was the object of those who drafted the Act of 1907.” A deputation is to be sent to the President of the Board of Trade. Messrs, the Harland Engineering Company inform us that owing to the continued expansion of their business they have found it necessary to remove to larger premises, and in future their head office address will be 196, Green- gate, Salford, Manchester, where they have erected new premises comprising offices, works and stores. Protracted deliberations of the Scottish Steel Makers’ Asso- ciation took place on Friday, no definite conclusion being arrived at, and the meeting adjourned. The association is evi- dently averse from pushing its investigations into the alleged underselling of a member too far, as it is obvious that the expulsion of even one member at the present juncture would inevitably mean an all-round reduction of prices, while, on the other hand, his retention is incompatible with the existence of the association. A reduction in the price of plates in order to meet foreign competition was suggested, but this was declared not feasible without previous consulta- tion with the North-east of England Makers’ Association.