906 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 24, 1914. has been found that even a concentrated spray, con- stituting a veritable water curtain, cannot be regarded as an infallible safeguard against an explosion that has been already initiated. The stonedust zone system does not seem to have greatly impressed the German mineowners up to the present time. Even general stonedusting throughout the mine appears not to be favoured, mainly on the score of the alleged dangers of stonedust to the health of the miners. Some interest has, however, been displayed in the Kruskopf apparatus, a system of stonedust troughs disposed in a frame, which can be suspended on hinges, somewhat like an ordinary air door, and is slammed by the shock of an explo- sion, with the result that the dust is scattered in a cloud in the path of the explosion. Extinguishers of this type have been tried at Rossitz and at Gelsen- kirchen, the stonedust being replaced by water or by hermanite, a solution of hygroscopic salt, and the results are generally considered to be promising and better than M. Taff a nel’s arrangement at Lievin. The view is largely held that by a suitable arrange- ment of these Kruskopf troughs at intervals along the galleries a high degree of safety can be ensured, and several Westphalian mines have already adopted them. As an example of the open mind which appears to characterise the typical German mineowner, Cremer’s wet peat linings are stated to be in actual use in a few collieries, but there is as yet no available evidence of their degree of efficiency. In Germany there are many who hold a view somewhat divergent from that held in this country respecting the intensity and propagating capacity of firedamp explosions in the absence of coaldust. The serious disasters at Radbod and at Lothringen are believed to have been of this type, and in Germany this fact may tend somewhat to discredit any remedy designed to deal with coaldust alone. On the whole, we think that the attitude of the German mineowners towards this important question is worthy of greater consideration than it has yet received in this country. Whether their views are right or wrong, they are frankly sceptical with regard to some of the conclusions which have been arrived at elsewhere; and a little scepticism is not unwhole- some as a corrective to too rapid a generalisation, just as the “professional pessimist” is regarded as a necessary component of modern business organisations. .: THE .WELSH ML MD IROE TOMES. Thursday, April 23. lorth Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The general demand for various grades of fuel continues on the whole to be satisfactory, and all the collieries are able to work full time, and apparently have a plenitude of empty wagons in which to load their output. In the house coal trade there is, of course, a little falling off in orders, owing to the exceptional weather prevailing, and now that the strike is averted, buyers are not pressing so anxiously for supplies, but prices continue to remain unaltered up to the time of writing. In regard to the gas coal business, arrears on account of old contracts are being made up, and new contracts are now being settled. Several have been fixed up locally during the past week, apparently at practi- cally the same prices as last year. Several more are on the market for settlement during the next few days. Steam coal is in brisk demand. Railway companies are pressing from all sides for supplies. Coal for manufacturing purposes has an average sale, the local brickmakers taking a good share of the cheaper grades, and the steel and iron works of Denbighshire and Flintshire account for a good quantity of small fuel. In the shipping trade matters are fairly satisfactory at the Mersey ports, but now that the Yorkshire strike is over, coals will be offering freely from that quarter, after they have made up leeway with suspended contracts, which will affect the tonnage from North Wales for shipping purposes. The prices ruling for the various classes of fuel at the time of writing are as follow:— Prices at pit f.o.r.:— Best house coal ........ Secondary do......... Steam coal........... Gas coal ............ Bunkers .............. Nuts ;............... Slack ............... Gas coke (at works) ... Prices landsale:— Best house coal ..... Seconds ............. Slack ................. Current prices. 15/6-16/ 14/3—15/ 12/6-13/6 13/ -13/9 12/ -12/6 12/ —12/6 7/ - 8/9 13/4-15/ 18/4-20/ 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 L’st week’fr prices. 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 13/ -13/9 13/ -14/ 12/3-12/9 11/3-12/3 6/9- 8/6 13/4-15/ Last year’s prices. 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/6 13/6-14/6 12/ —13/ 11/6-12/6 7/ - 9/6 15/ -17/6 18/4-19/2 18/4—20/ 16/8-17/6 16/8-18/4 10/ -12/6 10/ -12/9 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The steam coal market has not exhibited any great change during the past week, the most important tendency developed being an easier tone for sales a month ahead. Shipments have been consistently heavy, and with a sufficient supply of tonnage how in port to ensure another good week’s output from the docks. Stocks are not now nearly so heavy as they were, neither have colliery out-turns yet regained their normal quantity, yet so persistent is the holding-off policy of buyers that there is undoubted weakness for booking ahead. Many buyers are quite confident in their belief of a further reduction in values, pointing to the recent slowness of chartering as evidence in support of this contention, and the freight market for the last day or two certainly supports their view, orders being scanty and rates inclined to unsteadiness, but with a fair quantity of tonnage offering. For quite prompt business rates continue firm, and for very best qualities of large coals even a shade advanced. Smalls, both for export and bunkering are quoted at unchanged rates. The pitwood trade maintains an unwonted steadiness, good French fir commanding 19s. 9d. to 20s. ex-ship. Coke and patent fuel show no alteration from last quoted rates. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Current prices. 17/ -17/6 16/6-16/9 15/9-16/3 : 15/3-15/6 ! 8/9- 9/3 8/ -8/6 7/6- 7/9 ! 9/ - 9/3 I 12/9-13/ 13/3-13/6 Steam coals :— Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y B est E astern-valleys ... Secondary do. ...' Best small coals .....J Secondary do..........J Inferior do...........I Screenings............J Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Patent fuel ........! Furnace coke .........I Foundry coke .........I L’st week’s prices. 17/ -17/3 16/3-16/9 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 8/9- 9/3 8/ - 8/6 7/6— 7/9 9/ - 9/3 12/9-13/ 13/3-13/6 Last year’s prices. 18/6-18/9 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/6-16/9 14/3-14/6 13/3-13/6 12/9-13/ 14/6 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ 18/9-19/ 17/6-18/ 22/ -24/ 27/ -28/ 29/ -31/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ I 19/9-20/ I 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ IROR. There is no improvement to report in the conditions of the local iron and steel trades since the holidays. Very little fresh business has been transacted, and very few enquiries.have come along. Bar mills continue to be fairly well engaged, but the demand for tin-plate bars is at present only moderate, and the outlook is none too pro- mising. Imports of foreign bars for the week total over 11,700 tons, Continental quotations remaining steady. There is no improvement in the rail department; the demand for rails remains very poor, and no orders of any great importance have been put through during the past few weeks. Quotations are as last reported. Work at blastfurnaces is moderately good, but .with little fresh business being transacted. Prices remain approximately as last reported. Iron ore is a quiet market at unchanged rates. The tin-plate trade continues very quiet. Works are not very well placed as regards orders, and the present outlook is very unsatisfactory, the trend of values being downwards. Following will be found latest approximate quotations ::—Steel rails: heavy sections, £6 10s. to £6 15s.; light sections,£6 15s. to £7. Tin-plate bars: Bessemer steel, £4 10s. to £4< 11s. 3d., Siemens steel £& Ils. 3d. Tin-plates : Bessemer primes, 20 x 14, 12s. 10|d. to 13s.; Siemens primes, 20 x 14, 13s. to 13s. l|d. Finished black-plate, .£9 10s. to <£9 12s. 6d. Pig iron: Welsh haematite, 67s. to 67s. 6d. delivered locally. Cardiff. COAL. A holiday feeling still prevails on this market, and very little business is being transacted. As indicated last week, the exceptional spell of fine weather induced many colliers to prolong their holidays beyond the official allowance of three days, and even at the time of writing outputs are very much restricted. The men are returning to work slowly, but it is not anticipated that normal production will be resumed until next week. The result of this is that many collieries are very comfortably off until the end of the month, and they are quoting high prices. As much as 20s. is being asked for best Admiralties, but no transactions have been reported at this figure, although in several instances parcels have changed hands at 19s. 6d. Generally speaking, however, the market may be gauged by a quota- tion of 18s. 6d. to 19s., but dealings at the former figure are few and far between. The total stoppage of the collieries for three days had the effect of greatly reducing the stocks on the sidings, and as the shipments during the week amounted to 315,981 tons, an enormous number of coal- laden wagons were liberated, so that colliery people are now in a very independent position, and will have no difficulty in providing the requisite number of empties for some time, to come. The shipments from Cardiff showed a decrease of 124,247 tons compared with the corresponding week of last year, but this is due to the fact that the holidays intervened. Had this not been the case, it is probable that the exports would have exceeded half a million tons, as there is plenty of tonnage available, and the difficulty of obtaining tipping accommodation has again come to the front. Only on Tuesday this week there were as many as 12 steamers waiting their turn for a tip at Barry, and the same state of affairs, in perhaps a less acute form, prevails at Cardiff and Penarth. At Newport the shipments were 101,583 tons, or a decrease of 20 4 )5 tons; at Swansea 28,923 tons, or a decrease of 29 848 tons; and at Port Talbot 12 242 tons, or a decline of 33,615 tons. Charterings for the week amounted to 149,030 tons, or 68.890 tons less than in the corresponding week of last year. This falling off is also attributable to the holidays. No information is yet to hand as to the Argentine business, to which reference was made last week, but the result is expected in the course of a few days. The Bulgarian State Radways are in the market for about 12 000 tons of locomotive coals, but it is not considered probable that they will take best steams. Another enquiry is by the Hamburg American line for best Welsh coal. The first shipment is intended for the “ Imperator” about the middle of May. Notwithstanding the frequent notes of alarm ab ut Germany making inroads into the coal trade of this country, it is somewhat significant that when they themselves require supplies for their crack liners they resort to South Wales for their requirements. Now that the Yorkshire strike has been settled the stringency in second-class Admiralties has been somewhat relaxed, although at the present time they are firmly quoted at 18s. 3d. Ordinary qualities are obtainable round about 17s. 9d. The small coal market is again firmer, though at the time of writing the tendency was easier than at the end of last week, when 9s. 9d^ was paid for a parcel of cargo quality. Best bunkers are now realising Ils. 6d. to Ils. 9d., and in some cases even 12s. is talked about; best ordinaries Ils. 3d. to Ils. 6d., and cargo sorts 9s. to 9s. 6d. Monmouthshire coals remain steady, and quotations show practically no change. Black Veins commanding 17s. 6d., western-valleys 17s., the best of the easterns 16s. 6d. per ton, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. In bituminous coals the market is almost featureless, except that prices are well maintained, and in several instances Are rather firmer than they were a week ago. Best households are still held at 20s., notwithstanding the warm weather, and secondary qualities at 17s. 6d. to 19s. 6d. No. 3 Rhondda large realises 17s. 9d. to 18s., No. 2 15s., and other qualities in proportion. The expected increased demand for cokes, owing to the Yorkshire strike, has not been realised, and quotations remain unaltered. Special foundry is 29s., ordinary 22s. to 25s., and furnace 19s. Shipments of patent fuel last week were light, the total quantity only amounting to 14,304 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 1,504 tons and Swansea 13,800 tons. Prices still rule at 21s. for best brands and 19s. to 20s. for second grades. There is an enquiry on the market for about 11,000 tons for the South of France for delivery between June and December. Pitwood is rather firmer at 20s. per ton. According to the London Customs Bill of Entry Coal Tables, the shipment of coal from Cardiff to foreign countries during the month of March amounted to 1,624,112 tons, compared with 1,600,699 tons in the corresponding month of last year, or an increase of 23,413 tons. From Newport, the shipments were 455 674 tons, or an increase of 49,917 tons, from Port Talbot 139,203 tons, or an increase of 1,174 tons, and from Swansea 245,137 tons, or a decrease of 29,772 tons. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 18/6-19/ 18/3 17/9 11/6-11/9 11/3-11/6 9/ - 9/6 .7/ - 8/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/ 16/ 15/ 14/6 13/6 11/6-12/ 17/6 17/ . 16/6 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/9-18/ 15/ 12/3-12/6 15/ 12/ -12/6 9/ 21/ 19/ -20/ 29/ 22/ -25/ 19/ 20/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-19/ 17/9-18/3 17/6-17/9 11/6-11/9 10/9-11/3 8/9- 9/ 7/ - 8/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/ 16/ 15/ 14/3-14/6 13/3 11/9-12/ 17/6 17/ -17/3 16/6-16/9 15/3-15/9 20/ ' 17/6-19/6 17/6-18/ 14/9-15/ 12/3-12/6 14/ -14/3 11/6 8/9- 9/ 21/ 19/ -20/ 27/ -28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ 19/6-20/ Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/6-21/ 20/ 15/6-15/9 15/ 14/3-14/6 14/ 19/6-20/6 18/ -19/ 18/ 16/9-17/ 16/6 15/6' 16/ 19/ -19/3 18/9 18/6 17/9-18/ 19/6 17/6 18/6 17/6 16/6 17/6 16/ 14/6 26/ 24/6-25/ 31/ -32/ 29/ 25/ 21/6 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 Wes tern-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 ar® usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. Considering that the holidays intervened, the shipments of tin-plates last week were very satisfactory, amounting, as they did, to 148,562’ boxes. Receipts from works only totalled 88,961 boxes, so that stocks in docks warehouses and vans now only amount to 296,594 boxes, compared with 356,195 boxes in the previous week and 491,307 boxes at the corresponding date last year. It is estimated that over 200 mills were idle throughout the week, so that production during the past few days has been materially restricted, and makers hope that this fact will have a beneficial bearing on prices. At the time of writing Bessemer standard cokes do not command more than 12s. 10id. to 13s., and even lower figures are reported to have been accepted by works in need of prompt specifications. Oil sizes 18| x 14 are 13s. 3d., and 20 x 10 at 18s. 9d. New business is scarce, and at the moment the outlook is not promising. The galvanised sheet trade continues in a depressed con- dition, but makers refuse to make concessions, and 24-gauge corrugateds are still quoted at .£11 to .£11 5s. Imports of foreign plates and bars last week amounted to slightly under 10,000 tons, and prices of Welsh bars are maintained at £4 Ils. 3d. for Siemens and £410s. for Bessemer qualities. After being closed down for three weeks the Ebbw Vale Works have been restarted. The steel rail industry is quiet, and orders are badly needed to keep the mills going. Welsh pig iron is 64s. f.o.t. Business in scrap metals is dull, quotations being as follow:—New steel crop ends 57s., heavy wrought 49s., light wrought 35s., steel scrap 50s., cast 55s., double-headed iron rails 65s., steel 60s., and mixed sections 52s. 6d. The iron ore market is weak, best rubio offering at 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d., seconds 16s., and Almeria at 16s. 6d. Swansea. COAL. Owing to the holidays and the depressed condition of the coal trade, the returns of the port last week were little more