684 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. a Mabch 27, 1914. THE COAL AHO IROH TRADES. Thursday, March 26. Scotland,—Western District. COAL. Th© coal trade in this district continues quiet and without any feature of note. Best ells are plentiful and can be easily secured round about 12s. per ton, while the position of secondary qualities is even more unsatisfactory, although Ils. is the lowest price yet taken. The demand for splint is rather better, owing to the fact that concessions have been made in order to get stocks cleared off. Navigation coals are also now beginning to feel the influence of the depression and prices are easing slightly, and the cheaper qualities of steam coals are very inactive. In smalls, trebles are unchanged, but doubles and singles are somewhat scarce and prices are flrm. Shipments for the week amounted to 99,845 tons, compared with 100,653 in the preceding week and 102,003 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’t Last year’s Steam coal prices. 12/ -13/6 prices. 12/ -13/6 prices. 13/6-14/ Ell 12/ 12/ —12/3 13/9-14/6 Splint 12/3-14/ 12/6-14/3 15/ -lf/6 Treble nuts 11/9-12/ 11/9-12/ 14/ -14/6 Double do 11/ -11/3 11/ —11/3 13/9-14/3 Single do 11/ -11/3 11/ -11/3 13/6-14/ IRON. The Glasgow pig iron warrant market has been very inactive throughout the past week and business has been quite featureless. The total turnover for the week only amounted to 6,000 tons. Cleveland iron has not fluctuated to ary extent, and the closing prices of 50s. 6d. per ton cash buyers, 50s. 8d. one month, and 51s. three months, are practically the same as in the preceding week. There are 73 furnaces in blast in Scotland, the same number as in the previous week and 18 fewer than in the corresponding week of 1913. Middlesbrough stock has been further reduced by 5,160 tons during the week, and now amounts to 124,324 tons, compared with 214,220 tons in the same period of last year. Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 60s. 6d.; Govan, No. 1, 61s., No. 3, 60s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 66s. 6d., No. 3, 62s. 6d; Clyde, No. 1, 68s., No. 3, 63s.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 68s. 6d., Nos. 3, 63s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 71s., No. 3, 66s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 61s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 61s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Carron, at Grangemouth, No. 1, 69s., No. 3, 64s. per ton. Consumers of the ordinary brands of pig iron continue to purchase only against their immediate requirements, but owing to the decreased production makers are disposing of their outputs fairly well, and stocks are not accumulating to any extent. Scotch haematite is very quiet, and while 65s. per ton is still quoted, it is understood that business can be done at 63s. per ton. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The position of the trade in the Lothians is a trifle better, and orders for round coal are a little more plentiful, but collieries have a great deal to make up in this depart- ment. In smalls, treble and double nuts are plentiful but singles are difficult to arrange for prompt delivery, and prices remain firm. At Grangemouth 38,712 tons were shipped, Granton 8,720, Leith 29,373, and Bo’ness 6,078— total 82,883 tons, compared with 88,103 tons in the preceding week, and 80,131 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’at week’s Last yearns prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal 11/3 11/3 13/3-13/6 Secondary qualities 10/6 10/6 12/3-12/9 Treble nuts 11/9 11/9 13/3-13/9 Double do 10/9 10/9 13/ -13/3 Single do 10/3-10/6 10/3 12/6-13/ Navigation coals continue to be the outstanding feature in the Fifeshire coal trade, having maintained their price in face of the general weakness. The inadequate supply of tonnage at the ports has been causing the collieries some anxiety, but they are managing to get along as yet without further reduction in prices. Trebles and doubles are slack, and collieries are inclined to make concessions in order to get stocks cleared off. Singles, on the other hand, are moving off in good quantities, and prices are firm. The total clearances at the ports amounted to 84,442 tons, compared with 95,829 in the preceding week and 96,642’tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened naviga- tion coal Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. 16/6-16/9 16/6-16/9 16/3-17/ Unscreened do 14/9 14/9 14/ -14/6 First-class steam coal... 12/6 12/6 13/ -13/6 Third-class do. 10/6 10/6 12/ Treble nuts 11/9-12/ 11/9-12/ 13/3-13/9 Double do 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 13/ -13/3 Single do 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 12/6-13/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the week amounted to 267,170 tons compared with 284,585 in the preceding week, and 278,776 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. OOAL. During last week 155,419 tons of coal and 633 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 57,513 tons coal, and a decrease of 92 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to .60,118 tons of coal and 100 tons of coke, an increase of 22,235 tons of coal, and a decrease of 193 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 94,286 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 20,721 tons. These general large increases are, of course, partly due to the fact that last year the work of the week was interrupted by the incidence of Good Friday. The principal business of interest in the local coal market this week has been the negotiation on the part of the metro- politan gas companies for their supplies of gas coal over the 12 months commencing with June. It is as yet impossible to glean the facts as to the whole amount of coal taken up. The purchases, however, include 200,000 tons of Horden coal at a price which has not been divulged; 200,000 tons of Harton coal at 14s. 3d., c.i.f., and 200,000 tons of Wear- mouth at 15s., c.i.f., or about Ils. 3d. and 12s. per ton, f.o.b., respectively and a quantity of Hebburn coal at 10s. 7|d., f.o.b. It is stated that as yet no New Pelton-Holmside coal has been obtained, the companies and the collieries not yet having been able to agree as to prices. The companies are stated to be offering from 12s. to 12s. 6d., f.o.b., for bests. More business has been lost to Westphalia this week. Of 160,000 tons of gas coal required by the Rotterdam Gas- works, for delivery over 12 months, only the order for 10,000 tons has come to Durham, at about 12s., f.o.b., Germany securing the bulk of the contract. One of the small inland Dutch gasworks, which hitherto has always placed its annual order for 20,000 tons of gas seconds with Durham, is stated to have allocated its contract to West- phalia. The pi ice has not transpired. The contract to supply the Danish State Railways with 90,000 tons of steams for the mechanical department has gone, it appears, as to bulk, to Westphalia; local merchants have secured the order for 18,000 tons of Scottish coal at prices which have not been made known. It is still hoped that the order for 30,000 tons of steams for the marine department will come to this district, although with onerous contract conditions, which include no strike clause, there is no great degree of anxiety for the order. The contract to supply the Bremen Gasworks with 40,000 tons of gas coal has gone mainly to Yorkshire and Scotland; 10,000 tons of Hebburn coal have, however, been taken at Ils. 3d. f.o.b. The order for 81,680 tons of steams for the Norwegian State Railways, delivery over 12 months, has been divided chiefly between Scotland and Yorkshire, only 5,000 tons of Broomhill West Hartleys at 17s. 2d. per ton c.i.f. Christiania, for April-September delivery, having been placed in this district. Ten thousand tons of best Durham unscreened bunkers have been sold for April-December shipment at 12s. l|d. f.o.b. A quantity of Tyne gas primes for delivery over the rest of the year has been sold to merchants at 12s. 6d. f.o.b. Sales of ordinary Durham bunkers for April shipment have been made at Ils. 10|d. f.o.b. The Consumatori Gasworks, Turin, are are stated to have purchased 30,000 tons of Durham gas seconds for May-October delivery at 18s. 10|d. per ton c if. Savona. Best Blyth steams for shipment up to mid-April have been sold at 13s. 9d. f.o.b. The British Admiralty invites offers of 50,000 tons steam nuts and 20,000 tons best steams for delivery over 12 months to the dockyards at Portsmouth, Chatham and Devonport. Tenders are required f.o.b., and not, as hitherto, c.i.f. It is understood that the Admiralty is making its own arrangements for steamer tonnage in which to carry the coal. The Norwegian Main Railways invite tenders of 19,000 tons of steams (Lambton, Wallsend, South Hetton or Shireoaks) for delivery this year. A Rotterdam buyer wants offers of 35,000 tons of Durham coking coal for April-December shipment. The prompt coal market has been somewhat firmer this week. The enquiry is good, supplies are scarce, and turns are lengthening. The course of events in the Yorkshire coal- field, where labour troubles are feared, is being watched with much interest. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow during the week:—Best steams, Bly ths, are from l|d. to 3d. dearer; Tynes, 3d. to 6d. more; unscreened, 6d. advanced; smalls, Blyths, 3d. up; Tynes, 3d. higher; specials, 6d. more; smithies, 3d. dearer; gas seconds, 3d. up; specials, 6d.increased; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 3d. higher; Northumbrians, 6d. advanced; coking Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best,Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes ( Bowers, &.c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Current prices. 13/74-13/9 13/6-13/9 11/ 11/3-11/6 10/6-11/ 7/9- 8/ 6/6 -7/ 8/- 8/6 12/9-13/ 13/3-13/6 12/ -12/6 13/6-14/ 12/3-13/3 10/6-11/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/6 18/ 12/6-13/ L’st week’s prices. 13/6 13/ -13/6 11/ 11/3-11/6 10/ -10/6 7/6- 7/9 6/6- 6/9 7/6- 8/ 12/6-12/9 13/3-13/6 11/9-12/3 13/6 12/ -13/ 10/ -10/6 12/ -12/6 12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/6 18/ 13/ -13/6 Last year’s prices. 15/6 15/6 14/ 14/3-14/6 13/ -13/6 11/ 10/6 12/ 15/6 15/6 14/9 15/6 14/9-15/6 13/ -13/6 15/6 14/6 15/6-16/ 27/ 23/ -24/ 17/ Small, Blyths .. Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (PelawMainor similar) Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas coal, 6d. up; smalls, ditto; and gas coke, 6d. reduced. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Later.—The total purchases of the London gas companies are now stated to exceed one million tons. The c.i.f. prices agreed upon include 13s. 10|d. per ton for good ordinary Durhams and 15s. for Wear specials. The f.o.b. contracts range from 10s. 7^d. to Ils. per ton for ordinaries, and 12s. to 12s. 3d. for specials. Sunderland. GOAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 91,015 tons of coal and 200 tons of coke, as compared with 65,800 tons of coal and 590 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1913, being an increase of 25,215 tons of coal and a decrease of 390 tons of coke. The South Metropolitan Gasworks are stated to have bought a large quantity of Horden at about Ils. f.o.b., delivery over 12 months, but details have not transpired, and the sale of 10,000 tons of best Durham unscreened bunkers is reported at 12s. l|d., April to December. The Turin Gasworks contract for 30,000 tons of best secondary Durham has been fixed up at 18s. 10|d. c.i.f., shipment May to October. For the past few days the coal market has been characterised by a very steady tone, and though the labour troubles in York- shire have been deferred, the position is unchanged here. Loading turns are fairly well filled, and producers and holders of coal are able to command full prices. Stsam smalls are particularly in request, and are now bringing higher prices. The gas trade is quiet, but bunkering qualities are having a good sale, and prices have hardened somewhat. Coke is quiet. Current quotations are approxi- mately 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 13/6 16/ Secondary do. House coals:— 12/ 12/ 15/ Best house coals 15/6 17/ . 16/6 Ordinary do Other sorts:— 14/6 16/ 15/6 Lambton screened 14/3 14/3 16/ South Hetton do 14/ 14/ 16/ Lambton unscreened ... 13/ 12/3 15/3 South Hetton do. 13/ 12/3 15/3 Do. treble nuts 15/ 15/ 17/6 Coking coals unscreened 12/6-12/9 12/6 15/3 D j. smalls 12/6 12/ 15/ Smithies.... 15/ 15/ 15/ Peas and nuts 15/6 15/3 17/9 Best bunkers 14/ 13/ -13/6 16/ Ordinary bunkers ... Coke:— 13/ 12/3-12/6 15/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 19/6 20/ -21/ 27/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 19/ 19/ 25/ Gas coke 13/6 13/6 16/6 Outward coal freights are about the same, the tone, if any- thing, being better for the Baltic and near Continental trades. Fixtures include :—Coasting : London 3s. l|d., Havre 4s., Hamburg 3s. 3d., Calais 3s. 7|d., Rotterdam 3s. 3d., Boulogne 4s., Antwerp 3s. 6d. Baltic: Memel 4s. 3d., Ronneby 4s. 3d., Sundswall 4s. 3d., Cronstadt 7s. coke. Bay: Bordeaux 5s., Bayonne 5s. 3d., Rochefort 5s., St. Nazaire 4s. 9d., Lisbon 6s. l|d. Mediterranean: Genoa 8s., Algiers 6s. 3d., Palermo 7s. 10|d., Marseilles 7s. 3d., Catania 7s. 6d., Malta 6s., Naples 7s. 6d.» Constantinople 7s. 9d., Oran 6s. 3d., Civita Vecchia 8s. 3d., Port Said 7s. 3d , and Las Palmas 7s. MiddtabPough-oa-TeM. GOAL The fuel market is very steady and firm. There are reports that purchases have been made by the London gas companies at about 10s. 6d. to 10s. 7id. for second-class gas coal and 12s. for qualities of a good kind, though not generally recognised as bests. It is stated here that out of the 130,000 tons of coal required by the Danish State Railways some 80,000 tons have gone to the Westphalian Syndicate. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 13s. 4|d. to 13s. 6d., and seconds Ils. 9d. to 12s. 6d. There is a fairly good demand for bunker coal, and ordinary kinds run from Ils. 10|d. to 12s. l|d., whilst best sorts are 12s. 3d. to 12s. 9d., and specials round about 13s 6d. Household coal is strong. Ordinary kinds stood at 17s., and bests at 18s. Coking coal is moderately taken up at prices ranging from 12s. to 12s. 9d. for unscreened kinds. Coke is anything but plentiful, and values are fully upheld. With output curtailed, and consumers anxious to lay in stocks to see them over tke Easter holidays, local requirements are not easily met. Average blastfurnace qualities are fully 17s., delivery at Teesside works. Foundry coke for shipment ranges from 20s. to 21s. f.o.b., and gashouse coke runs from 13s. 6d. to 14s. IRON, The relief in the political situation has strengthened the iron market, and induced traders to display more inclination to operate than for some time past. The upward movement in copper and tin has also had a somewhat beneficial influence on iron, and with the spring and summer demand coming along, and the opening out of the shipping season, the volume of trade promises to be much enlarged. Though in some parts of the Continent customers are still holding back, due principally to the continued over-production of pig iron in Germany, merchants report a growing demand from abroad. The removal of the Russian import duty on pig iron is not likely to benefit this district to any great extent. It is reported that already Germany has secured an option for a quarter of a-million tons of pig iron for Russia. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is steady and firm at 51s. 3d. f.o.b.; No. 1, which is scarce, is fully 54s.; No. 4 foundry is 50s. 9d.; No. 4 forge, 50s. 6d.; and mottled and white iron each 50s. 3d.—all for either early or forward delivery. There are complaints of difficulty experienced in securing full deliveries of east coast haematite pig. The supply is undoubtedly hardly adequate, but in spite of this quotations are rather easy. Both makers and merchants offer Nos. 1, 2 and 3 at 62s. for either early or forward delivery. Foreign ore is lifeless, and market rates remain nominally on the basis of 18s. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. The various branches of the manufac- tured iron and steel industries present few new features of