May 1, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 957 THE COAL AKO IM® TRADES. Thursday, April 30. Scotland—M®rn District COAL, Th© west of Scotland coal trad© has fallen off to some extent and th© market is much easier, and quotations ar© lower all round. Ell coals, however, are the exception, and are fairly well booked for the next week or two, but even here prices are shaded slightly. Splint coal is much quieter and fresh business is particularly slow, and the position is not relieved by the scarcity of tonnage to the Mediterranean ports. Navigation qualities are also easier, while steams ar© practically the same as in th© preceding week. In smalls, trebles and doubles are plentiful, but singles are strong. The shipments amounted to 111,081 tons, compared with 118,538 in the preceding week and 92,136 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal............ Ell .................. Splint................ Treble nuts .......... Double do............. Single do............. Current prices. 12/3-14/ 12/ 12/ -14/ 11/9-12/ 11/ -11/3 11/ L'st weekVLast year's prices. ! prices. 12/3-13/9 13/6-14/ 12/ - -12/3 ; 13/9-14/3 12/3-15/ ; 14/9-15/3 12/ -12/3 13/3-13/9 11/ -11/6 i 13/3-13/9 11/6-11/9 : 13/3-13/9 IRON, The Glasgow pig iron warrant market has again been quiet throughout the week, the amount transacted being about 7,000 tons. Prices hav© remained steady, and Cleveland iron closed at 50s. 8|d. per ton cash buyers, showing a gain of l^d. on the week. The position of the trade has not improved, and consumers still confine their purchases to actual necessities. The number of furnaces in blast is still 72, the same as last week, but 20 fewer than in the same period of last year. Stocks of pig iron in Middlesbrough stores have decreased during the week by 6,176 tons, and now amount to 104,564 tons. The amount of pig iron imported into Grangemouth during the week from Middlesbrough and district reached the total of 9,927 tons. The prices of Scotch makers' iron are unchanged, and are as follow:—Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 62a., 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. The manufacturing branches of the trade are in much the same position as last week, and an increase in the volume of business passing would be eagerly welcomed. at 13s. per ton, f.o.b., for large and 7s. 3d. for smalls. The collieries are now asking some advance on these figures. Quantities of second-class Durham unscreened bunkers are seated to have been sold for similar shipment at Ils. 3d. per ton, f.o.b. It is reported that Russia is likely to be a very large tbuyer of British coal this year. There is a big industrial development in progress in that Empire, and therefore her fuel requirements are likely to expand out of all proportion to her own ability to supply her needs. Last year about 3,000,000 tons of coal were taken from this country by her; this year, it is estimated, the quantity should be in the neighbourhood of 4,000,000 tons. The Brussels gasworks are stated to be enquiring for their annual supplies of gas coal and to have invited tenders from Durham and Yorkshire. A large coal merchant who has sold Durham coal to Barlin on an extensive scale is stated to have been successful in persuading the buyers to give him the option of supplying Westphalian coal and to hav© taken advantage of the alternative to the tune of three cargoes thus far. The reason is, of course, to be found in the relatively high prices of the home product. Best Bly th steams for May-September loading are said to be in negotiation at 13s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b. There is a very much improved feeling in the prompt coal market this week. Orders ar© very much more numerous, loading turns are well filled into the second week of May and prices are once more on the up grade. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow:—Best Blyth steams are from 6d. to 9d. dearer on th© week; Tynes, from 3d. to 9d. higher ; Bly ths, seconds, 6d. reduced; unscreened, stronger ; smalls, Bly ths, fid. more; Tynes, 6d. more; specials, from 6d. to Is. increased; gas seconds, 3d. to 6d. cheaper; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, easier; Northumbrians, firmer: coking smalls, 6d. more; and gas coke, from Is. to Is. 3d. advanced. Other descriptions of fuel are steady. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians coal trade is fairly brisk, although orders for round coal could be more plentiful and prices generally are lower. Shipments for the weak reached the total of 113,783 tons, compared with 116,029 in th© preceding week and 93,758 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Steam coals:— Beat, Bly ths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes(Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blytha Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (PolawMainor similar) Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 .12/ 12/ -12/6 11/3-11/6 8/ - 8/3 7/ - 7/6 8/6- 9/ 13/ -13/6 13/9-14/ 12/6-13/ 14/ 11/6-13/ 11/3-11/9 13/ -13/6 12/6-13/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 13/ -13/9 L’st week’s prices. 13/6-13/9 13/9 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 7/6- 7/9 6/6- 7/ 8/ 13/ -13/6 13/9-14/ 13/ -13/3 14/ 12/ -13/ 11/ -11/9 13/ -13/6 12/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 11/9-12/9 ■Last year's prices. 16/9 16/9 14/ -14/3 ' 14/6 13/6 ; 12/ 11/ 12/3 ! 15/6 ' I0/ S 15/3 16/ 15/3-16/3 ;13/6-14/ 115/6-16/ I 15/ ; 16/ -17/ 27/6 24/6 18/ Middlesbffough-ott-Tees. OOM. Th© fuel market is firmer, but just at present there is very little forward business passing, a feeling of uncertainty prevailing with regard to th© future. Though there is practically no buying, beyond purchasing against current requirements, sellers take a firm stand. Deliveries of gas coal ar© good for the season of th© year, and best Durham qualities range from 13s. 9d. to 14?., whilst second kinds are 12s. 9d. to 13s., and Wear special sorts, which ar© scarce, 15s. The fairly large demand for bunker coal is met by a very ample supply. Ordinary Durham bunkers run from 12s. to 12s. 6d. f.o.b., bests are 13s. to 13s. 3d., and specials 14s. to 14s. 6d. As is usual at this time of year, quietness characterises the household coal branch, and quotations vary from 15s. 6d. to 16s. 10|d. Coking coal is in good request at 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d. Cok© is very strong, and the supply is none too plentiful. Manufacturers are making no mor© than is absolutely essential to satisfy customers, pointing out that under existing conditions it pays them much better to sell their coal than convert it into coke. Local consumption is on a fairly heavy scale, and average blastfurnace coke is now fully 17s. 3d. delivered at Tees-side works. Foundry coke for shipment runs from 20s. to 21s. f.o.b. Gas cok© ranges from 13s. to 13s. 9d. IRON. All branches of the iron and steel industries are well employed, and so far as pig iron is concerned the statistical situation is not only better than for some years past, but is daily becoming increasingly strong. Practically the only stock of pig in existence is the iron in public warrant stores, which, for the first time since Novembar 1908, are below 100,000 tons, the withdrawals during April averaging 900 tons per working day. The unsettled political situation continues to detrimentally influence th© market, and unfavourable reports from America and Germany assist to hinder business. Pig iron orders on North German account are! anticipated, and further negotiations with Russia are reported. There is a suspicion that warrants may be “ cornered." No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 51s. 9d. f.o.b.; No. 1, which is scarce, is quite 54s. 6d.; No. 4 foundry, 51s. 6d.; No. 4 forge, 51a.; mottled and white iron, each 50s. 9d.; and Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast hsematit© pig, 61s. 9d.—all for either early or forward delivery. There is nothing passing in foreign ore, and market rates remain nominally on the basis of 17s. 61. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. In manufactured iron and steel, orders are scarce, and specifications are being given out sparingly. Producers of shipbuilding material have most ground for complaint. Joist manufacturers and sheet makers ar© very well placed. Quotations all round are stationary. Current Best screened steam coal Secondary qualities... Treble nuts .......... Double do............. Single do............. prices. 11/9 10/9-11/ 11/9 11/. 10/9-11/ L'st week's prices. 12/6-12/9 11/6-11/9 \12/ -12/6 jll/3-11/9 10/9-11/3 Last year's prices. 13/6-14/ 12/3-12/9 12/9-13/ 12/6-12/9 12/3-12/6 The position of the trade in the Fifeshire district continues satisfactory and, with a considerable amount of tonnage available, collieries are kept active. Navigation qualities are well booked and first-class steams are busy, while third-class qualities are also in good demand. Trebles and doubles are more plentiful, but singles are firm. The clearances from the ports totalled 124,669 tons for the week, against 128,575 in the preceding week and 130,166 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 90,230 tons of coal and 1,500 tons of coke, as compared with 90,910 tons of coal and 835 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1913, being a decrease of 680 tons of coal and an increase of 665 tons of coke. The coal market has a firmer tone. Whilst there is very little contracting ahead or any special buying beyond present requirements, the market appears more buoyant in almost every department, and as there is somewhat of a scarcity offerings up to the middle of next month, prices again tend higher. There is a strong demand for best steams for early shipment, and other classes of steam are in request. Gas coals are steady, Wear specials being scarce. Smalls are inclined to b© on the easy side, but coking coals are firmer. Gas coke is steady, but blast- furnace kinds are dull and easy. Best bunkers are well taken up, but ordinary kinds are being offered in excess of demand. It is reported that th© Brussels Gasworks ar© enquiring for a large quantity of English gas coal. Current quotations are approximately as follow :— SOTth-West Lancashire. COAL. Th© inland household trade is gradually falling off as the season advances. Orders for many of the special grades are still in arrear, although being gradually overtaken. Prices are unchanged. The demand in steam coal on con- tract account is below the average, and is partly accounted for by restricted sailings of regular steamers. For outside bunkering there is only a moderate enquiry, and prices have eased off. With somewhat keen competition, coal seems to be mor© plentiful, and there is now a good quantity of Yorkshire steam fuel in sidings here. Present prices for ordinary screened Lancashire steam coal 13s. to 13s. 3d. f.o.b., up to 13s. 6d. or 13s. 9d. for the best descriptions, about represent the market. The coastwise and cross-Channel trade for household fuels continues in a satisfactory condition. In slacks, with the pits still on full time, there is a little excess, mostly in the commoner qualities, and here and there a little is being put to stock at the pit mouth. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— • Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, not) Kitchen............... Common (f.o.b. Grata., net) Screened forge coal..... Best sernd. steam coalf.o.b. Best slack.............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current 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 L’st week’s Last year’ prices. prices. 17/ 16/3 16/9-17/3 16/9-17/ 15/3 14/6 15/ -15/6 15/3-15/6 13/ 12/3 13/9-14/6 12/3-12/6 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/3-14/ 13/9-14/6 9/9-10/ 10/6 9/ - 9/3 9/9 8/6- 8/9 9/3 Current prices. L'st week's prices. Last year’s prices. Best screened naviga- tion coal 16/ 16/6-17/ 17/ -17/6 Unscreened do 14/9 15/ 15/ -15/6 First-class steam coal... 13/ 13/ 10/3 15/3-16/ Third-class do. 10/3 12/9 Treble nuts 11/9 11/9-12/ 12/6-13/ Double do 11/ 11/ -11/6 13/ -13/3 Single do. 10/6-10/9 11/ -11/3 12/6-12/9 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the week amounted to 349,533 tons compared with 363,142 in the preceding week and 316,060 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 166,390 tons of coal and 2,708 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 20,109 tons of coal and 632 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 61,173 tons of coal and 1,178 tons of coke, an increase of 2,310 tons of coal and 1,178 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments aggregated 105,792 tons of coal and coke, an inereas© of 13,030 tons. There has not been a great many items of forward business this week. There is a very healthy demand for best steams for shipment up to the end of the year, and considerable quan- tities of Bly ths are stated to have been sold for such delivery Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year's Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 15/ 14/ 16/ Secondary do. House coals:— 13/ 13/3 15/ -15/3 Best house coals 16/9 16/6 18/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 15/6 15/6 17/ Lambton screened 14/ 14/3 16/6 South Hetton do 14/ 14/3 16/6 Lambton unscreened ... 13/ 13/ 15/6 South Hetton do. 13/ 12/9 15/6 Do. treble nuts 15/6 15/9 17/ Coking coals unscreened 13/ 12/6-12/9 15/6-15/9 Do. smalls 12/3 12/6 . 15/3 Smithies 14/ 13/9-14/ 16/ Peas and nuts 16/ 16/3 17/ Best bunkers 14/ 14/ 16/3 Ordinary bunkers ... Cok©:— 12/6 13/ 15/6 Foundry cok© Blast-furnace coke (did. 20/ 20/6 27/ Teesside furnaces) ... 19/ 19/6 24/6 Gas cok© 13/6 13/9 17/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. GOAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The demand for house coal has got down almost to summer level but prices are generally maintained. There is no improvement in the demand for furnace coal, but there is a somewhat better enquiry for shipping coal, with steady prices. Slack continues to move away in good quantities with ample supplies offering. Prices are, if anything, steadier than was the case a month ago. 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 Last year’s prices. prices. 17/3-18/ 16/6-17/ 16/ —16/9 15/3-16/ 13/3-14/ 12/6-13/ 12/6 12/6 14/ 14/ 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 The outward freight market is weak in all directions. Recent fixtures are:—Coasting: London 2s. 10|d., Rotterdam 3s., Hamburg 3s. 3d., Caen 4s. lO^d., Antwerp 3s. 7|d. Havre 4s. 6d., Boulogne 3s. 6d. Bay: Bordeaux 4s. 9d., St. Nazaire 4a. 7|d., Cadiz 7s. Baltic: Fairwater 4s. 3d., Helsingborg 4s. 3d., Cronstadt 4s., Lubeck 4s. l-|-d. Medi- terranean: Genoa 7s., Palermo 7s. 6d., Civita Vecchia 8s., Porto Vecchio 7s. 9d., Marseilles 7s. 3d., Naples 7s. 6d., Port Said 6s. 10|d., and Las Palmas 7s. 3d. IRON. There is no market to speak of here, no confidence in the trade at all, although one hears of one or two foreign quotations having been withdrawn for steel. Good foundry pig iron keeps in the neighbourhood of 56s. 6d. to 57s. Manchester, with forge about 50s. to 51s. 6d. Warrington. Nearly all th© works are on short time. Forges maintain their associated price of £7 5s. for crown bars, second quality <£6 15s., hoops £7 12s. 6d., sheets .£8 10s. Steelworks are