958 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 1, 1911. also on short time. Orders for wire billets are not coming forward at all; these can be bought from abroad at very low prices. In the meantime, makers keep their price up to about .£5. Steel bars are quoted at 486 5s. to £Q 12s. 6d., hoops <£7 7s. 6d., plates £7 5s. and £6 12s. 6d. There is no demand for anything, and nothing really to test the market. The same remark as to slackness applies to engineers, boiler makers, wagon works and founders. Leech. COAL. There was a very full and representative attendance of members at the weekly market on Tuesday, a large muster of local merchants and South Yorkshire colliery representa- tives being supplemented by traders from London and other districts. The actual business done was said to be unimportant, and concerned chiefly small parcels of steam coal and nuts for prompt shipment at the Humber ports. Very few orders indeed were given out for house coal, while gas coal and factory fuels were only in limited request. It was stated that the pits—with one or two exceptions where the men are still out through local dis- putes—had worked full time this week, with a demand sufficient to keep sidings clear of stocks. An abundant supply of empty trucks is available, and traffic is being worked through to destination fairly satisfactorily. House Coal.—There is no improvement in the demand for house coal from London and the eastern and southern counties. The question of contracts has been under con- sideration, but nothing has been done. With collieries asking the same prices as last year, and merchants insisting on considerable reductions, matters are at a standstill. Meanwhile quotations for May delivery are a shade easier. Coastwise shipments are now about the average, with quotations slightly more in buyers* favour. In Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield the retail trade is exceptionally quiet, the warm weather and the turn of the month combining to limit the requirements of merchants. Pit prices :—Haigh Moor, selected, 18s. to 19s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other qualities, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Gas Coal.—Many schedules of contract deliveries specify greatly-reduced quantities, while open market business is very quiet. With reference to forward business, several meetings of those interested in the production and selling of gas coal have been held. While nothing definite has been so far decided, it is understood that business shall not be accepted at anything lower than last year's figures. Manufacturing Fuel.—Good supplies have been got through to consumers and there is now no scarcity. Con- siderable quantities of slack and nuts from outside districts are still being used, but, generally speaking, these supplies have been carted off from the depots. In a few cases, belated trucks from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have been refused, and considerable difficulty has been met with in arranging disposal. Washed Furnace Coke.—Some of the furnaces damped down during the strike have not yet been restarted, as the iron and steel trades generally are passing through a period of marked depression. Under these circumstances there is only a limited outlet for washed furnace coke, while average prices per ton at the ovens is not more than 10s. 9d. Stocks are not heavy, as a lot of ovens are turning out only half their usual tonnage. Prices at pit. the newer collieries in the Doncaster district seems bound to have the inevitable effect. A fairly good enquiry pre- vailed at the local market for the best quality of large steams, and prices were firmly held at from Ils. 6d. to Ils. 9d. per ton. In respect to secondary sorts there was more anxiety shown on the part of producers than buyers, but coalowners are able to deal with the position fairly well, by wiping off arrears under contract for the railway companies, who during the stoppage had to utilise a con- siderable portion of their reserve stock. All kinds of manufacturing fuel were fairly well enquired for, but apart from washed nuts there was no keenness for deliveries, and evidently manufacturers have got substantial stocks on hand, and are looking for lower prices. Good slacks are also fairly well enquired for, but with the quieter state of the coke-making industry, there is no great run on rougher slacks. The output of gas coal is being entirely taken on contract account, and gas companies are being pressed to take in arrears of contract supplies. In regard to next year’s contracts there has been so far little movement made. The remarkable warm weather continues to play havoc with the house coal branch of the trade. Orders are scarce, but coalowners express a strong determination that winter prices will have to be paid, and they have found some support for their view in the similar action of the Lancashire coalowners. With respect to coke there has been no material change on the week, the demand is below the average and prices are, if anything, showing further weakness. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ Best Barnsley softs 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 14/ -14/3 Secondary do. 12/6-14/ 12/6-14/ 11/6-13/ Best house nuts 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 Best hard coals 11/6-11/9 11/6-12/ 13/ -13/9 Secondary do 11/ 11/ 12/9-13/ Best washed nuts 10/9-11/3 11/ -11/6 12/3-12/9 Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 11/6 Best slack 1 7/6 7/6 -8/ 9/3- 9/9 Rough do Gas coals:— 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 8/6- 8/9 Screened gas coals 12/ 12/ 12/3-12/9 Unscreened do 10/6 10/6 — Gas nuts 11/6 11/6 12/ Furnace coke U/ 11/ -12/ 17/6-18/ again. The spell of warm weather recently experienced has had a marked effect upon business in house coal, orders for which have seriously fallen off within the last few days. Merchants are reducing their stocks at the depots instead of ordering fresh supplies, hoping that by adopting this policy they may help in bringing about a reduction of prices. Business in coal for manufacturing purposes is satisfactory. There is a good steady demand for the various qualities required in the large iron and steel works of Sheffield and the district, and some kinds are difficult to obtain. Prices in these circumstances are firmly main- tained. Slack for boiler-firing is in better request, and values are steady. Collieries in this district no longer hold stocks of this fuel. Gas coal is in quiet demand at present. Steam coal for locomotive use is in good demand. The export trade is gradually returning to its normal condition, and there is now a fair arrival of shipping at the Humber ports. Loading turns at Hull and Grimsby now extend well into May, which promises to be a month of pretty considerable activity. Shipments of coal to the upper Baltic ports have already begun, and there is a brisk demand for the best brands of Derbyshire Top Hards, the price of which is firm at 143. to 14s. 3d. per ton delivered free alongside steamer at Grimsby. Washed nuts are in specially good demand, and prices are gradually moving upwards. The supply of ’ these nuts does not appear to be sufficient to meet the current requirements of the market. Cobbles are in satisfactory demand for near Continental ports, and some good orders are to hand. There is nothing new to report with regard to the coke market. Business is exceedingly quiet, and prices are weak. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’> Last years prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 14/6 14/6 14/6 Secondary do. 12/6 12/6 12/6 Cobbles 11/6 11/6 12/ Nuts 10/ 10/ 11/ Slack 7/9 7/9 9/ IROK. The condition of the iron trade of the district is unchanged. The demand for all classes of iron is poor, and some of the finished ironworks of the Sheffield district are unable to work more than half-time. House coal:— Currant L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 Walls end & London best 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 13/ -13/6 Silkstone best 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 13/ -13/6 Do. house 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 House nuts 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull: Haigh Moor best 17/ -17/6 17/3-18/ 17/ -17/6 Silkstono best 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/9 16/6-17/ Do. house 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/6 15/6-16/ Other qualities 14/ -14/9 14/ -14/9 13/6-14/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 12/3-12/9 Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/6 11/6-12/3 Unscreened gas coal ... 9/9-10/6 9/9-10/6 11/ -11/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 12/ -12/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 9/6-10/6 9/6-10/6 11/3-11/9 11/ -11/6 Small nuts 9/ -10/ 9/ -10/ Rough unscreened engine coal 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/3 11/ -11/6 Best rough slacks 7/6- 8/ 7/6- 8/ 9/3-10/ Small do 6/6- 7/ 6/6- 7/ 8/3- 9/ Coking smalls 6/6- 7/ 6/6- 7/3 8/6- 9/ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 18/ -18/6 Hull. COAL. A commencement has been made with the Baltic season, and the first cargoes for Cronstadt have been despatched this week. Vessels are also loading for other ports in the Upper Baltic, but the coal is coming over the rails only slowly, and the supply is by no means equal to the demand. One thing, there is plenty of cheap shipping tonnage wait- ing, and when the output at the pits is normal again there will be no difficulty in getting the coal away. In the Humber coal market there is more activity, and a fairly steady demand making itself felt, prices for the best steam coal have hardened, 14s. 9d. being asked for best South York- shire hards for prompt shipment. Whether this level will be maintained is, however, a matter of opinion, and will not be answered until things have developed a little more. One hears of next to nothing being done in forward business, and only pessimistic views as to the prospects of the season which has now begun. Certain it is that foieign orders are not so plentiful as they were a year ago. A redeeming featur?, however, is the lower prices and more reasonable shipping freights. Although there is an improvement daily, shipments at the docks during the past .10 days have not been abnormal. Plenty of steamers are on offer, but few have been fixed, owing to the difficulty in getting coal. Baltic rates are a little firmer, and after 4?. had been paid for a steamer for Cronstadt, 4?. 3d. was asked for that port or Reval, 4s. l-|d. Riga, 4l to 4s. 3d. Pernau, and 4?. Libau. In the Mediterranean direction there is little demand, and rates are absut unaltered at Genoa, Savona 7s., Alexandria 7s. 3d., Port Said 7s., and Civsta Vecchia 7s. 6d. The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull Scmiwhara. GOAL. Within the past week the trade in Nottinghamshire has manifested a return to spring-like conditions, following on the termination of the strike in South Yorkshire, and with the reduced demand there has been a decline in prices to practically those in force prior to the labour trouble. The warm weather is having an effect on the section for house- hold coal, the demand both at the local landsale depots and from merchants being on the slow side. The owners are consequently taking the opportunity of replenishing their stocks, which got run down earlier in the month. Another factor which has probably restricted business in this department during the last few days is the anticipation on the part of buyers that there may be a general reduction in quotations at the commencement cf May. At the time of writing, however, there does not appear any disposition to lower the present rates, and practically no forced selling is in operation. A fair amount of business is characterising the steam coal branch. Still, it cannot be said that exports are on an extensive scale, but an expansion in this direction is expected shortly. The sale of industrial fuel is satisfac- tory. Values all round are decidedly firm, with the result that contractors are not inclined to become speculative and are holding off until stocks have accumulated. Slacks are going out of hand moderately well at remunerative rates and, while there is an ample supply of some qualities, it is not easy to obtain very clu ap lots. Gas fuel and coke are in steady request. Prices at pithead. Barnsley s COAL. The effect of the dislocation caused by the recent strike has not yet passed away, and business in consequence has hardly returned to the usual swing. There seems to be little complaint of the absence of miners from work as was so justified prior to the strike, which means that the output will quickly become more than of an average character. The railway companies, of course, with the clearance made during the strike, are quite ready to deal with traffic expeditiously, but the arrival of tonnage at Hull is still disturbed, with the result that a big bulk of coal is in the sidings or in the docks. However, after making all allow- ance for these expected difficulties the fact remains that the demand is not to expectation, and the market is in a rather depressed state. Although the Baltic season has now opened, shippers do not appear to be in any hurry in dealing with their traffic, and it is evident there is going to be a keen struggle in regard to prices, for very little has been done in the way of forward arrangements, to cover the shipping season. Coalowners are not disposed to accept less prices than those which prevailed immediately prior to the stoppage, but on the other hand the huge output from South Yorkshire:— Current prices. L’st week’? prices. Last year’s prices. Best steam hards ......... Washed double-scr’ned 14/9 14/ -14/3 17/ nuts Unwashed double- 13/9 13/9 15/ screened nuts Washed single-screened 13/3 13/3 14/3-14/6 nuts Unwashed single-scr’ned 13/3 13/ 14/6-14/9 nuts 12/9 12/9 14/ Washed smalls 9/9 9/9 12/6 Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— 9/6 9/6 11/9 Hartleys 13/ -13/3 13/ -13/3 14/3 Rough slack 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 11/9-12/ Pea slack Best Silkstone screened 8/3- 8/6 8/3- 8/6 10/6-11/ gas coal Best Silkstone unscr’ned 14/6 14/ 14/6 gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— 12/3 12/3 13/ -13/3 Best steam hards (Hull) 14/3 14/ 17/3 Do. (Grimsby) 14/ 13/9 16/9-17/ Derbyshire nuts (d’bles) Derbyshire nuts (d’bles) 12/6 12/6 13/9 (Grimsby) 12/3 12/3 13/6 Derbyshire large nuts... 14/6 14/6 14/6 Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/ 14/ 14/ Nottinghamshire hards 14/3 14/ 17/ Do. do. (Grimsby) Leicestershire hards 14/ 13/9 16/9-17/ (Hull and Grimsby)... 14/ 14/ — Chesterfield. COAL. Now that the Yorkshire collieries have resumed work, conditions in the Derbyshire coalfield are quite normal Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals ......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (seconds) ......... Do. (soft) o. Current prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -13/ 10/3-10/6 7/3- 7/6 6/6- 7/ 6/3- 7/ L’st week’s prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 10/9-11/3 10/ -10/3 7/ - 7/6 6/3- 6/9 6/3- 6/9 Last year’s prices. 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/ 11/ -12/ 12/3-12/9 11/ -12/ 9/3-10/ 8/6- 9/ ,8/ - 8/6 South Staffordshire, ^orth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. GOAL. The household trade has fallen off severely, and the fact that arrangements are in progress for a revision of prices suggests that the collieries are realising the fact. The extent of the changes will not be known for a day or two. The demand for manufacturing fuel is as good as can be expected. Smalls and slacks are fairly plentiful at the moment, but another fortnight may make a big difference if time at the pits becomes broken. Meantime the old quotations hold. They are :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’f Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— prices. prices. prices. House coal,best deep ... 18/6 18/6 18/ 16/6 Do. seconds deep 16/ 16/ Do. best shallow 14/9 14/9 14/6 Do. seconds do. 14/ 14/ 13/ Best hard 15/ 15/ 14/ Forge coal H/ H/ 11/ Slack 7/6 7/6 8/6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 16/6 16/6 16/ Do. hand-picked cobs 14/ 14/ ' 13/9 Best hard spires 15/ 15/ 14/6 Forge (steam) 11/ 11/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 10/ 10/ 10/ Small (do.) 8/3 8/3 9/