May 22, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1129 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 21. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The coal trade in the west of Scotland has experienced a further decline in most departments. With the exception of best ells, splints and navigations, weakness is apparent and the supplies are in excess of the demand, and values are consequently easing. Ell coals are still quoted round about 12s. per ton for best brands, but prospects of future business are not by any means bright, and prices are barely maintained. Best splints are busy at firm prices, while navigation coals are strong and fair notice is necessary for these sorts. Smalls are easier, even singles, which have been strong for a considerable time back, are beginning to feel the depression. Shipments from the district amounted during the week to 102,837 tons, compared with 106,960 in the preceding week and 124,838 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. 11/ "13/ 12/ 11/ -14/ 11/6-11/9 10/9 10/6-10/9 L’st week’slLast year's prices. 11/ -13/ .12/ 11/3-13/9 11/9-12/ 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/3 prices. 13/6-14/ 13/9-14/3 14/9-15/3 13/ -13/6 ! 13/ -13/6 ; 12/9-13/ IRON. The Glasgow pig iron warrant market was moderately active during the week, and the turnover reached the total of 7,000 tons. Forward iron has been levelled to the same figure as cash iron, owing to the fact that a good many cash warrants have been taken off the market and are conse- quently scarce. Shipments have fallen off, and it is probable that the result of this may be a cessation of the withdrawals from Middlesbrough stores, the continued decrease in which has been mainly responsible for the firmness of the market lately. Cleveland iron closed at 51s. 6d. cash buyers, showing a gain of 3|d. per ton over the preceding week. Business with consumers is still quiet, and while some makers have made good deliveries others are experiencing’ some difficulty in disposing of their output, particularly of ordinary qualities. The imports of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 10,313 tons during the week. 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 Grange- mouth, No. 1, 69s., No. 3, 64s. per ton. Scotland.—Eastern District. GOAL. The market in the Lothians is steady. Best qualities are in good demand, but seconds could do with better support. Shipments amounted to 99,577 tons against 103,077 in the preceding week and 103,653 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Current prices. 11/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 11/6 prices. 14/ Secondary qualities 10/3-10/6 10/6 12/6-12/9 Treble nuts 11/ -11/3 11/6 12/9-13/ Double do 10/9 10/6-10/9 12/6-12/9 Single do 10/6 10/6 12/3-12/6 There has been a general falling off in the demand in the Fifeshire district and very little fresh business is being booked. Most sorts are plentiful and quotations are easier all round. The clearances reached the total of 106,607 tons compared with 121,612 in the preceding week and 133,109 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 16/ 16/ 17/ -17/6 Unscreened do 14/ 14/ 15/ -15/6 First-class steam coal 12/6-12/9 12/9-13/ 15/3-15/9 Third-class do 10/ 10/ -10/3 12/9 Treble nuts 11/ -11/3 11/ -11/6 12/6-12/9 Double do 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 13/ -13/3 Single do 10/ -10/6 10/3-10/6 12/3-12/9 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 309,021 tons, compared with 331,649 tons in the preceding week, and 361,600 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, 170,447 tons of coal and 4,619 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 57,502 tons of coal and 2,133 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 63,392 tons of coal and 1,492 tons of coke, an increase of 17,270 tons of coal and a decrease of 2,906 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 92,434 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 18,994 tons. The contract to supply the Ghent Gasworks with 60,000 tons of gas coal over three years has been placed for Durham seconds at about Ils. 9d. per ton, f.o.b. Some 20,000 tons of ordinary Tyne bunkers are stated to have been sold for delivery from June to December at Ils. 9d., f.o.b. The Brussels Gasworks are reported to have con- tracted for 70,000 tons of Durham gas coal, for delivery over 12 months. Details as to price are not to hand. The Trieste Gasworks are inviting tenders of 75,000 tons of Durham gas coal,, in three lots of 25,000 tons each, for delivery over 12 months. Tenders are wanted by the end of the month. With reference to the recent enquiry by the Russian State Railways for steam coals, it is understood that the business has been postponed, as the necessary authority of the Government has not yet been secured. The Memel Gasworks want offers, by May 25, of 4,000 tons of Durham gas bests and seconds, for delivery over 12 months. Tenders of from 25,000 to 50,000 tons of Durham gas coal, for delivery over 12 months, have been submitted to the Bruges Gasworks, and the allotment is expected very early. Business for early loading has been considerably hampered by congestion of loading turns and scarcity of suitable tonnage. Generally speaking, prices are very well main- tained. Best Blyth steams are at “famine prices" for delivery over the rest of this month, and are quoted at from 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. per ton for next month’s shipment. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow during the week:—Best Blyth steams are Is. 3d. per ton dearer ; Tynes, 3d. advanced ; unscreened, easier ; smalls, Blyths, weaker; Tynes, favouring buyers; and Durham unscreened I bunkers, 3d. higher. All other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. 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 Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 15/ 13/6-13/9 12/ 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 8/3- 8/9 7/3- 7/9 8/6 13/ 13/6-13/9 12/6-13/ 14/ 11/9-13/3 11/3-11/9 12/ -12/6 12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 13/-13/9 L’st week’s prices. 13/9 13/6 12/ 12/ -12/6 11/3-11/6 8/6- 8/9 7/6- 7/9 8/6 13/ 13/6-13/9 12/6-13/ 14/ .11/6-13/ 11/3-11/9 12/ -12/6 12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 13/ -13/9 Last year’s prices. 15/9-15/104 15/6-15/9 14/ 14/ 13/ 10/6 10/3 11/6 15/6 15/6-15/9 15/ 15/9 14/9-15/6 13/ -13/6 15/ —15/6 15/ 16/ -17/ 27/ 24/ 17/6-18/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 86,940 tons of coal and 55 tons of coke, as compared with 77,255 tons of coal and no coke for the corresponding period of 1913, being an increase of 9,685 tons of coal and 55 tons of coke. The coal market is steady, some sections are still affected by a shortage of tonnage owing to the withdrawal of the Spanish steamers, but there is a stronger general demand for coals this side of Whitsuntide. The best steam position is so strong that there is very little coal to be had over the next three weeks. Best gas coals are steady, but second-class gas qualities are a little easier. Bunkers are also on the easy side. Smalls are in good demand. Coke is less scarce, but prices are unaltered. The Ghent Gas- works are reported to have placed contracts locally for 30,000 tons, but particulars have not yet transpired. The Brussels Gasworks are also stated to have contracted for 70,000 tons of best gas coals at round about Ils. 3d. f.o.b. for 12 months delivery. The Trieste Company are inviting offers of 75,000 tons of Durham gas qualities, shipment over 12 months, tenders to be in by the end of the month. There is also an enquiry from Sulina for 40,000 tons of gas coke. A sale of 20,000 tons of good ordinary Tyne bunkers is reported to have been effected for delivery from June to December next at Ils. 9d. a ton f.o.b. Tonnage being scarce for Spanish and Mediterranean destinations, the freight market is firm. Recent fixtures include :—Coasting : London 3s. 44d., Calais 4s., Hamburg 3s. 9d., Honfleur 4s. 9d., Havre 4s. 3d., Cherbourg 5s. Bay: St. Nazaire 5s. 6d., Bayonne 6s. 2d. Baltic: Aalborg 3s. 9d., Memel 4s. l^d., Cronstadt 4s. 9d., St. Petersburg 4s. 9d. Mediter- ranean: Barcelona 9s., Oran 7s., Sulina 8s., Genoa 8s., Marseilles 7s. 3d., Nice 7s. 6d. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals :— Current prices. L’st week’s Lastyear’s prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 13/9 13/9-14/ 16/3 Secondary do. House coals:— 12/9 13/ 15/3 Best house coals 16/6 16/6 18/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 15/6 16/ 17/ Lambton screened 14/3 14/6 . 16/9 South Hetton do 14/3 14/3 16/6 Lambton unscreened ... 12/9 13/ 15/6 South Hetton do 12/9 12/9 15/6 Do. treble nuts 15/6 15/6 17/ Coking coals unscreened 12/3 12/6 15/3 Do. smalls 12/ 12/3 15/ Smithies 15/ 15/ -15/6 15/ Peas and nuts 15/9 15/9 17/6 Best bunkers 13/ 13/6 16/ Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 12/6 12/6 15/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 21/ 20/ 27/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 19/6 19/ 25/ Gas coke 13/ 13/6-13/9 18/ Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade keeps fairly steady, but business is rather quiet. Deliveries of gas coal are good for this season of the year, which is always a dull period. It is stated that the Brussels gasworks have bought some 70,000 tons of best gas coal at round about 11s. 3d. f.o.b. delivered over twelve months. The Trieste gasworks are in the market for 75,000 tons of gas coal. The current quotation for best Durham gas coal is 13s. 6d., whilst seconds stand at 12s. 6d., and Wear specials are in the neighbourhood of 15s. Bunker coals are in moderate request at varying prices. Ordinary Durham bunkers are 11s. 6d. f.o.b., best kinds 12s. 6d., and specials up to 14s. 6d. Household coal is now slow of sale, and prices run from 15s. 6d. and up to 17s. Coking coal is well taken up. Best unscreened range from 12s. to 12s. 6d., and smalls Ils. 6d. to 12s. Coke is none too plentiful, and values are well upheld. Some difficulty is experienced in securing adequate supplies for local consumption notwith- standing rather heavy arrivals of Yorkshire kinds. Durham blastfurnace coke of average quality is fully 17s. 3d. delivered at Teesside works, and several sellers are disposed to hold out for 17s. 6d. Gas coke runs from 13s. to 13s. 9d., and foundry coke for shipment ranges from 20s. to 21s. f.o.b, IRON. Notwithstanding the very healthy statistical state of the pig iron trade, values are weak, ancl prospects generally are egarded as discouraging. The depletion of stocks of pigs irron both in the public warrant stores and at makers’ yard, which has proceeded steadily for some months past, has been checked, but the process will probably be renewed with the heavier shipments in prospect before the end of the month. Current market prices of pig iron continue below cost of production, and there seems very little likelihood of the situation being relieved either by pig iron values improving, or prices for raw material cheapening. Buyers and sellers alike appear disinclined to operate. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 51s. 6d. f.o.b.; whilst No. 1 is 54s.; No. 4 foundry, 51s. 3d.; No. 4 forge, 50s. 9d.; mottled and white iron, each 50s. 3d. ; and Nos. 1, 2, and 3 East Coast haematite pig, 61s. 3d.—all for either early or forward delivery. Haematite is offered very freely at the foregoing* quotation, but buyers are not to be tempted at the figure, which could no doubt be shaded. There is nothing passing in foreign ore, and in the continued absence of transactions market rates remain nominally on the basis of 17s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Unsatisfactory accounts are given of nearly all branches of the manufactured iron and steel industries. Specifications are being given out sparingly, and new business is on a very limited scale. Quotations are unaltered. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The summer-like weather is having its effect on the inland household coal trade, and a little broken time has made its appearance at the pits. There will be later some stocks required to replenish wharves and yards, but it is early yet for this. There is nothing fresh to report with respect to steam coal from last week, the demand on contract account for liners being below the average, and with regard to bunker coal for outside steamers there is no expansion in enquiry. Excursion steamers are now beginning to run, and taking fair quantities of coal. Prices remain about same as last week, viz:—for ordinary screened Lancashire steam coal 13s. to 13s. 3d. f.o.b. up to 13s. 6d. for the best qualities. Possibly with the approach of the Whitsuntide holidays these may stiffen up a little. House coal shipments for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade are quieter. There is nothing new with regard to slacks. There is little surplus about which is being' stocked at the pits, but the broken time is lessening the difference between supply and demand. The few gas coal enquiries which have as yet made their appearance on the market have been quoted for at the expiring prices. Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 17/ 17/ 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Gar st on, net) 16/9-17/3 16/9-17/3 16/9-17/ Medium 15/3 '15/3 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 15/ -15/6 15/ —15/6 15/3-15/6 Kitchen 13/ 13/ 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) 13/9-14/6 13/9-14/6 13/9-14/6 Screened forge coal 12/ -12/3 12/ -12/3 12/6-13/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 Best slack 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 10/6 Secondary slack 9/ - 9/3 9/ - 9/3 9/9 Common do 8/6- 8/9 8/6- 8/9 9/3 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. While the Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday there was little business done. The demand for house coal is now but a small one, and forward prices are unaltered, but concessions are made in particular cases. Furnace coal is fairly steady and shipping coal is without change except that prices are on the easier side. There are ample supplies of slack offering, and prices are not very firm, comparatively low prices being taken for spot lots. Generally prices are as below. 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 prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 Last year’s prices. 16/6-17/ 15/3-16/ 12/6-13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 IRON. There is nothing new to report, the situation is quite unchanged with regard to the whole district. No. 3 foundry iron is quoted at 56s. to 56s. 6d., without any enquiry for forge iron. There is no improvement to report in the amount of work being done, and all mills—both iron and steelworks—are on short time. There is nothing to test the market. Heavy engineers generally are short of work. Wagon builders very slack; boilermakers the same. Foundries would like to have more enquiries.