686 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Map ch 27, 191L noticeable in the ^section for domestic fuel, the colder weather having undoubtedly been a helpful factor. For better-class fuel the demand is very satisfactory and, in some cases, owners are only just able to meet immediate requirements, but no inconvenience is experienced in dealing with orders for secondary and common qualities, which are on a moderate scale for the time of the year. In the steam coal section the outlook is improving. While the home demand is showing signs of expanding, the export trade is beginning to display rather more activity. Values at the same time are inclined to advance, more especially as regards best quality hards. A change for the better has set in in reference to the slack market, most qualities having been in fair request, with the result that rates are manifes- ting a hardening tendency. The position in regard to gas fuel and coke is practically unchanged. Prices at pithead. a low ebb. Makers of galvanised corrugated iron sheets have orders on their books to keep them going until the ©nd of Xpril, and these are steadily being added to. The minimum price of the leading houses is Xll 5s. per ton, but that figure is not general throughout the trade. Black sheets for galvanising, while they have not given way further, show no improvement, and are quoted <£7 10s. to £7 12s. fid. delivered in the district. Finished steelmakers are better off for work since the recent revision of prices, and the new arrangement for the control of output in tin- plates has had a good effect, reports from Wales being fairly cheerful. Trade in the Cradley district is less brisk, though there is still a good deal doing for cables, chains and anchors. sellers showing more decision, especially as regarding forward quotations. To-day's current values show a general though slight movement upwards, this tendency both relating to prompt shipments and forward requirements. Through coals and nuts partake of the improvement, but coke remains unmoved. House coals meet an easier demand, with quotations practically unchanged since last May. The pitwood trade has been hampered by the scarcity of wagons, sellers experiencing much difficulty in getting purchases to take delivery. Good wood can now be obtained round about 19s. 6d. ex ship. In the freight market there has been a little improvement in outward chartering, with but little change in rates, which remain steady. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, loss 2^ per cent. Hand-picked brights ....... Good house coals........... Secondary do............... Best hard coals ........... Secondary do. Slacks (best hards) ....... Do. (seconds) .o0..o.60... DO. (SOft) Current prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/9-11/3 9/9-10/ 7/3- 7/6 6/3- 7/ 6/3- 6/9 L'st week's? prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ . 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/ 7/ - 7/3 6/ - 6/6 6/3- 6/9 Last year’s prices. 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/6 11/6-12/3 10/6-11/ 8/ - 9/ 7/6- 8/ 7/6- 8/3 0ML. . A considerable amount of irregularity is being experienced in the house coal trade of this coalfield. The better qualities, suitable for domestic purposes, are in very slow request; merchants are buying very sparingly and it is as much as collieries can manage to keep going four or five days in the week. Stocks of most descriptions are gradually accumulating. Prices remain unchanged. The steam coal pits are making good time but outputs show a shrinkage. There is not much stock to be noticed. Prices at pithead. » ML The condition of business in this district remains much the same as for some weeks past. On the average, it has maintained, all things considered, a satisfactory amount. The collieries will work a fairly full week, approaching five days. Stocks on hand at the collieries are very light or non-existent. Merchants are fairly busy and there are very small stocks on hand at the wharves. The demand for household coal is about the same; the demand for the better qualities has fallen off. Steam coals are still in good request and do not show many signs of declining at present. Local merchants are fairly busy, they are not feeling any rush, but their trade is not altogether unsatisfactory. Quotations are without alteration. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 17/6 17/6 16/6 Forest 16/6 16/6 15/6 Rubble 16/9 16/9 15/9 Nuts 15/ 15/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 10/ Large 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/ -14/ Small 8/ - 9/ 8/ - 9/ 10/ -11/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Steam coals :— Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin'y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do. ........ Inferior do. ......... Screenings............ Through coals ........ Bost washed nuts...... Other sorts Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke ......... Foundry coke ......... Current prices. 16/9-17/3 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/ 15/ -15/3 .8/6- 8/9 7/9- 8/ 7/ - 7/6 8/9 12/3-12/9 13/ -13/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ L’st week’s prices. 16/9-17/3 16/ -16/6 15/6-16/ 1-1/9-15/3 8/3- 8/9 7/6- 7/9 7/ - 7/3 8/6- 8/9 12/3-1.2/9 13/ -13/3 Lass year's prices. 17/6-17/9 17/ -17/3 16/ -16/6 15/6-16/ 14/3-14/6 13/3-13/6 12/6-13/ 14/6-14/9 15/3-15/6 14/6-14/9 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 W -?5/ 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/ 22/6-23/ 28/ -28/6 29/ -31/ South Staffordshire lorth Worcestershire Warwickshire- Hednesltad. ■ 0@AL. The coal trade generally throughout the Cannock Chase district is in much the same condition as when last reported, and will probably continue fairly brisk until the Easter holidays. Many of the collieries are still working practically full time. Although quotations are unaltered there is an easier tendency in prices. The demand for house coal is fairly well maintained, and for fuel for manu- facturing purposes there is little change to report. Slack is fairly plentiful. There is a slight falling off noticeable in business at the landsale depots. Bk-miuglsam. Sales of household coal keep up and the supply is restricted. Prices continue firm at mid-winter quotations, and no change is likely to be made this side of Easter. Manufacturing fuel and slacks are less active, but here again, with the exception of odd lots, values are upheld. This week's quotations ;.re:— Prices at pit. De™sis Cornwall and South Coast. Plymouth. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that there has been an average demand for house and steam fuel during the past fortnight. Steam freights are quoted easier, and from the east coast forward quotations for coal contracts are ruling as low as those of last summer. Lancashire and Stafford- shire quotations are firmly maintained. Tenders for some small Government contracts are being put in at low rates for the best known qualities of coal. THE WELSH ML MP 1101 TOMES- Thursday. March 26. Current L'st week’s Last year's Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 18/6 18/6 18/ Do. seconds deep 16/ 16/ 16/6 Do. best shallow 14/9 14/9 14/6 Do. seconds do. 14/ 14/ 13/ Best hard 15/ 15/ 14/ Forge coal 11/ 11/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/6 7/6 8/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 16/6 16/6 17/6 cobs 14/ 14/ 13/9 Best hard spires 15/ 15/ 14/6 Forge (steam) 11/ H/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 10/ 10/ 9/3 Small (do.) 8/3 8/3 8/3 liorth Wales. Wrexham. ML. The general condition of the coal trade of this locality is unchanged. In some departments the demand is well maintained, while in others a little weakening has been observed. With the decision of the men to hand in their notices on the minimum wage question at a number of collieries in this area things have become lively, and buyers of all kinds are sending in their wagons for extra supplies for fear of a stoppage. The general opinion, however, is that the matter in dispute will be amicably settled before the date on which the notices will expire. Apparently there is no falling off in orders for house coal, prices consequently are good, and buyers have difficulty in obtaining a sufficiency of the better class house coal to meet their requirements. The demand for seconds, too, is quite equal to the supply available. A considerable tonnage of gas coal has been despatched on account of contracts. Several enquiries in connection with renewals are now on the market. Sellers are endeavouring to get advances on last year's prices, and there appears to be a prospect of them being able to do so. The contracts which are now open for tenders are not large ones, however, and until the large ones coma into the market, the standard cannot be fixed with any definiteness. In regard to steam coal the railway companies, of course, are taking their full contract quantities; but there has been a slight slump in the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes. There has been no great variation of late in the coal for shipment, an average tonnage has been disposed of at fair prices. Nuts continue to be very scarce, and what are sold in the open market realise good prices. There is little change in slack, and none in gas coke. Present prices are as below :— Prices at pit. IRON. There is very little change to report in the condition of the local iron and steel trades. Most departments are rather quiet, and not a great deal of fresh business is being put through. At bar mills work is fairly good, with a normal output, with quotations as last reported. Imports of foreign bars for the week total over 14,000 tons, Continental quotations remaining steady. Rail mills remain rather quiet. Little fresh business is coming along, while very little enquiry is on the market. Prices are steady at last figures. Blastfurnaces are well engaged on current orders, with a quiet outlook. Welsh haematite values remain unchanged. Iron ore is as last quoted. The tin-plate market remains quiet; specifications are not coming to hand as wished, and. officially prices remain unaltered:—Steel rails: heavy sections £6 10$. to £6 15s., light sections £6 15s. to £7; tinplate bars : Bessemer steel 10s. to £4 Ils. 3d., Siemens <£4 Ils. 3d. Tinplates: Bessemer primes 20 x 14 13s., Siemens primes 20 x 14, 13s. Hd- to 13s. 4|d.; finished blackplate £9 10s. per ton; niof Welsh haematite, 67s. fid. to 6Ss. 6d. delivered locally, j Cardiff, OOAL. The coal market during the past week has again been in a very unsettled condition, owing to the great lack of prompt tonnage. The recent gales have delayed the arrival of expected steamers, and in many cases even when they have reached the port they have had to go into dry dock for repairs before loading could be proceeded with. The result has been that shipping arrangements have been greatly disorganised, and stocks increased to such a large extent that numerous stoppages took place at the collieries on account of the shortage of empty wagons. In the early days of this week arrivals of steamers were on a more satisfactory scale, but the accumulation of wagons standing had increased so much that it will take some time to reduce the number to anything like normal proportions. With the arrival of tonnage in more adequate quantities, the eternal question of the inadequacy of tipping accommodation is once more to the front, and the position is going to be seriously discussed by the Chamber of Commerce inorder to determine what action shall be taken in the near future. ' IRON, Business was of meagre dimensions, though in view of the quarterly meeting next Thursday this was not surprising. There is a feeling, however, that, bad as the present position is, the worst has not been reached, and the small margin of profit left after providing for heavy cost of production shows no signs of mending. The depression is felt most acutely, perhaps, in the pig-iron branches. Sales are insignificant, stocks continue to grow despite the fact that the output has been considerably curtailed, and prices are unremunerative. Northampton- shire forge commands not more than 47s. 6d. to 49s. 6d. per ton, Staffordshire common 48s. to 49s., part-mine 50s. to 51s., and Derbyshire 51s. to 52s. There is little activity in the finished branches. Makers of standard bar iron are fairly well supported by rolling stock, engineering and agricultural implement firms, and business is done on the basis of £8 10s. per ton. The market level for good second- class bars is not more than .£6 12s. 6d. and some sales are made at 2s. 6d. under that figure, and a quiet trade is being done in nut and bolt iron at from .£6 5s. to .£6 7s. 6d. a ton, delivered Darlaston, less 2| per cent, for monthly cash. This is in connection with Belgian No. 3 iron at about .£5 10s. per ton net cash. Gas strip shows no improve- ment, and while the official price is upheld at .£6 15s. for lots of 25 tons and upwards, sales are effected at £6 10s. a ton delivered. Hoop iron and steel works are running an average of four days a week. Speculation is entirely absent, and merchants keep their stocks at Current L’st week’s Last year's Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 15/6-16/6 15/3-16/3 15/ -16/ Secondary do 14/6-15/6 14/3-15/ 14/ -15/ Steam coal 13/ -13/6 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/6 Gas coal 13/ -13/9 13/ -13^9 13/ -14/ Bunkers 12/3-12/6 12/ -12/6 12/6-13/ Nuts 11/3-12/3 11/3-12/3 11/ -12/ Slack 6/9- 8/6 6/6- 8/6 6/6- 9/ Gas coke (at works) ... Prices landsale:— 13/4-15/ 13/4-15/ 15/10-17/6 Best house coal 17/9-19/2 17/6-19/2 18/4-20/ Seconds 16/8-17/6 16/8-17/6 16/8-17/6 Slack 10/ -12/6 10/6-12/6 10/ -12/6 South Wal®sg a®- Newport. COAL There has been for a day or two distinct signs of a better feeling in the coal trade. Tonnage supplies have come along in greater quantity, easing for the moment the great pressure upon siding accommodation, and lack of empties which has been so hampering work at the collieries. The market now shows more strength than for some little time, Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 18/ -18/3 17/9-18/ 17/3-17/6 11/ 10/6-10/9 8/3- 8/6 6/6- 7/3 17/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 16/ 15/ ' 14/6 13/6-13/9 11/9-12/ .17/ 16/6 16/ -16/3 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6-17/9 14/9-15/ 12/ -12/3 14/ -14/3 11/6-12/ 8/9 21/ 19/ -20/ 25/ -27/ 21/ -23/ 18/ -20/ 19/6-20/ L’st week's 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/ Last year’s prices. 19 '6-20/ 19/ -19/3 18/6-18/9 15/3-15/6 14/9-15/ 14/ -14/ 13/6-13/9 18/6-19/ 17/3-17/9 16/9-17/ 15/6-16/ 15/9-16/ 15/ -15/ 15/6-16/ 17/9-18/ 17/3-17/6 16/6-16/9 16/3-16/ 19/6 17/6 17/6-18/ 16/6-16/9 15/9 16/ -16/3 15/6 14/6 24/9-25/ 23/6-24/ 33/ 33/ 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—1 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.