1402 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 19, 1914. which is freely obtained for current business, and this figure is also quoted for best coal, both for this and next month. The Greek Government are again in the market as well as the Turkish Government; and it is reported that the Russian Government are also making enquiries for still further supplies for the Baltic. These demands have caused a considerable amount of speculation on ’Change, and there is no question that the unsettled state of the relations between Greece and Turkey has affected the Welsh coal market to no small degree. It is evident that these Governments intend purchasing the best quality coals so as to secure the greatest efficiency for their large war vessels. There is, however, one disquieting feature at present existing, and that is, the action of the marine engineers on tramp steamers. So far as the position in the Bristol Channel is concerned, although no actual suspension has yet taken place, the owners are doing their utmost to get the ships away, and there has been considerable loading pressure at the various ports in consequence. The general comment on the attitude of the men is that they have selected the worst possible time for making the demand for increased wages, as it is notorious that at the present time a number of boats have been actually laid up, and a still greater number are running at a loss. The general opinion appears to be that, if the demand is insisted upon, a still further number of boats will be withdrawn from the market. The shipments of coal last w ek showed a substantial decrease, probably owing to the fact that outputs were very much restricted, consequent upon the prolongation of the Whitsuntide holidays. From Cardiff there were exported 325,638 tons as compared with 431,540 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 105,882 tons. At Newport there was a decrease of 45,608 tons, at Swansea there was an increase of 4,680 tons, and at Port Talbot an increase of 1,879 tons. Chartering for the week was fairly satisfactory, and amounted to 307,110 tons, or an increase of 148,480 tons over the preceding six days, but it must not be forgotten that in the preceding week there was a stoppage of three days owing to the holidays. As stated a week ago, there are enquiries on the market from all directions, although not for very large quantities. The German Navy are inviting tenders for 22,000 tons, and the Norwegian Navy for' 10,000 tons ; but, as a matter of fact, it is difficult to conclude business direct with the collieries because of the high prices which are at present ruling. Current quota- tions for best Admiralty coals are on the basis of 21s. to 22s. per ton, superior seconds 19s. 9d. to 20s. 3d., and ordinaries 18s. 6d. to 19s. per ton. Monmouthshire coals have been rather irregular, chiefly owing to the tonnage position ; but, with a greater influx of steamers, there has been a firmer tendency, and prices for Black Veins are now 17s. 3d. to 17s. 9d. per ton, western-valleys 16s. to 16s. 6d. per ton, and eastern-valleys 15s. 6d. to 16s. per ton, with lower grades in proportion—in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. The small-coal market has developed a slightly sagging tendency, and prices are a trifle easier as compared with a week ago. Best bunkers are quoted at 10s. 9d. to Ils. 3d. per ton, but the latter is considered to be an outside price. Ordinary qualities are 10s. 3d. to 10s. 6d. per ton, and cargo sorts 8s. 6d. to 8s. 9d. per ton, although the former is probably a more accurate representation of the state of the market. In bituminous coals there has been a certain amount of slackening in the demand, but prices have not fluctuated to any great extent. No. 3 Rhondda large is still at 17s. 6d. to 18s., and No. 2 qualities at 13s. to 13s. 6d., with other grades in proportion. The coke market is neglected, and prices seem to be a matter of negotiation. For special foundry 27s. to 29s. is still being demanded, ordinary 22s. to 25s., and furnace 19s. to 20s., the latter figure being slightly higher than the prices which have ruled for some time past. Patent fuel shipments continue to be heavy, the total exports from the Channel last week being no less than 37,414 tons. Of this quantity, the Crown Company despatched 13,294 tons, the other local makers 2,000 tons, Swansea 3,820 tons, and Newport 8,300 tons.’ Prices generally are unaltered, the best brand still commanding 21s., and second grades 19s. to 20s. Pitwood is a trifle easier, and is now selling at 20s. to 20s. 6d. per ton. The Customs returns for the month of May, which are just to hand, show that the total exports of coal from Bristol Channel ports during the month amounted to 2,453,229 tons, compared with 2,187,753 Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals 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— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Current prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 18/6-19/ 10/9-11/ 10/3-10/6 8/6- 8/9 8/ - 8/6 18/ -18/9 16/ -17/ 15/9-16/3 14/9-15/3 15/ 14/ 11/6 17/3-17/9 16/6-16/9 15/ -15/6 14/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6-18/ 14/9-15/ 12/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 8/6- 9/ 21/ 19/ -20/ 27/ -29/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -20/6 L’st week’s prices. 20/ -20/6 19/9 18/6 10/9-11/ 10/6-10/9 8/9 7/ - 8/ 18/ -18/9 16/ -17/ 16/ 15/ 15 14/ 11/6 17/3-17/6 16/9 16/3 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 15/ 12/3-12/6 13/6-13/9 11/6-11/9 9/6- 21/ 19/ -20/ 29/ -30/ 22/ -25/ 17/ -19/ 21/ Last year’s prices. 20/6-21/ 19/6 18/ -18/6 10/9-11/ 9/6 8/ - 8/3 7/ - 7/6 19/6- 20/ 15/9-16/3 15/6 14/6 14/ 13/ 11/ 17/9 17/3-17/6 17/ -17/3 16/6 20/ 18/ 17/6 15/6 !3/ 14/ -14/6 12/6 8/ - 8/6 24/ 22/ 31/ 28/ -29/ 24/ -25/ 22/ tons in the corresponding month of last year. Of this quantity, Cardiff exported 1,699,716 tons, against 1,414,306 tons ; Newport, 306,726 tons, against 268,420 tons ; Swan- sea, 294,265 tons, against 296,451 tons ; and Port Talbot, 134,314 tons, compared with 175,450 tons in the corre- sponding month of last year. The following table shows the quantity of coal exported from the chief Bristol Channel ports to the principal foreign countries of the world and the British possessions during May 1914, as compared with the corresponding month of 1913 :— Russia May 1914. Tons. 72,663 . May 1913. Tons. .. 55,370 Sweden 24,843 .. .. 18,869 Norway 26,031 1,650 Denmark (including Faroe Islands) 5,336 . 1,018 Germany 26,497 . 24,960 Netherlands 7,747 . 7,797 Java — 6,107 Other Dutch possessions in the Indian Seas — 7,012 Belgium 30,594 .. .. 38,452 France 583,723 ., .. 560,829 Algeria 70,038 .. .. 56,658 French Somaliland 11,714 .. — Madagascar — 5,728 Portugal 58,854 .. 59,646 Madeira 2,003 .. .. 13,430 Spain 84,265 .. ,. 97,197 Canary Islands 40,600 .. ,. 61,256 Italy 483,798 .. .. 394,303 Austria-Hungary 21,757 .. .. 11,396 Greece 28,772 .. .. 21,518 Bulgaria 11,566 — Roumania 45,287 .. .. 19,719 Turkey (European) 11,933 .. 4,686 „ (Asiatic) 8,462 5,897 Egypt 142,912 .. .. 125,367 Tunis 22,465 14,825 Chile 42,422 ,. 64,982 Brazil 76,208 .. .. 105,647 Uruguay 86,014 .. .. 40,630 Argentine Republic 278,259 .. .. 212,485 Gibraltar 5,444 .. .. 16,867 Malta and Gozo 18,312 .. .. 21,020 Protectorate of Nigeria 9,269 .. 3,578 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 6,058 .. — Mauritius and Dependencies 7,838 .. — Aden and Dependencies 16,449 . 18,121 British India 27,692 .. . 12,196 Ceylon and Dependencies... 23,375 .. . 26,155 Canada — 7,004 West Africa (French) 3,406 .. . 12,764 „ (Portuguese)... 2,077 .. . 10,181 East Africa (Italian) 5,284 .. — IRON. With a further drop in the prices of block tin of another £2 per ton, Welsh tinplate manufacturers have had to make still greater concessions in prices. While the un- settled state of the market continues it is not to be expected that there will be any great rush for orders, but once buyers realise that quotations have about touched bottom, there is bound to be a reaction, and an improvement must take place. Shipments last week amounted to 138,870 boxes, and receipts from works 142,102 boxes. Stocks in the warehouses and vans are now 232,179 boxes, as compared with 228,947 boxes the previous week, and 370,616 boxes the corresponding period of last year. Prices for Bessemer standard cokes are now 12s. to 12s. 3d., but there are indications that makers will refuse to accept a lower figure than 12s. lid., and for oil sizes 18| by 14 sheets prices are 12s. 3d., and 20 by 10 size 17s. 6d. In the galvanised sheet trade there has been a little more enquiry, especially from India, but no business of any importance has yet been fixed. Some works are now quoting <£10 12s. 6d. to <£10 15s. for 24-gauge corrugateds, which is lower than any prices prevailing for a very considerable time. The steel trade is anything but healthy, and the Ebbw Vale works are still closed down, owing, it is said, to the very large importation of foreign plates and bars at a price approximating less than <£4 per ton. Welsh tin bars are still officially quoted at £4 11s. 3d. for Siemens, and <£4 10s. for Bessemer qualities, but it is an open secret that considerably less than these figures is being accepted by works in need of specifications. In some works substantial orders have been received for steel rails, and the mills have been fairly well occupied. There is no improvement in the iron ore trade and prices are still 15s. 6d. to 16s. for best rubio with a proportionate reduction for inferior qualities. In scrap metals there is very little doing. Heavy wrought has declined to 48s., steel /scrap 47s., cast scrap 52s. 6d., double-headed iron rails 60s., steel rails 55s., mixed sections 50s.. and new steel crop ends 53s. Welsh pig iron is 62s. 6d. to 63s. f.o.t. Llanelly. COAL. There is no further improvement to report in any part of the local market, and with the exception of one or two kinds the enquiry is exceedingly dull. Both the anthracite and steam and bituminous markets are all moving slowly, and new business is scarce. The depression which appears to Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas........ Culm ................ Duff ................ Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small .........*.... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/0 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 12/6-13/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 8/6- 9/6 10/9-11/3 L'st week's! prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 12/ -13/ 6/3- 6/6 4/6- 6/ Last year's prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -20/6 16/6-17/6 12/6-13/6 18/6-20/6 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 7/6- 8/ 5/ - 6/6 16/ -17/ H/ —12/ 8/6 - 9/6 11/ -11/6 17/ -18/ 14/ -15/ 10/ -11/ 11/6-12/6 be in the ascendant throughout the country largely affects the former trade, as the enquiry from inland is as dull as it can very well be. The slack time experienced at the manufacturing works throughout the district is also having a detrimental effect on the position. Best anthracite large has a fair enquiry, but all the other kinds are being sold at low figures. Machine-made kinds are also difficult to place, but culm is rather scarce. Bunkers and small steams are very easy, whilst bituminous kinds are in little demand. This week's prices are :— Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week resumed normal condi- tions ; the condition of the coal trade continued inactive, but there was considerable activity in the export of patent fuel. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 102,970 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was very little business doing. All classes of anthracite large were freely offered for immediate delivery at low figures. Red Vein large was plentiful, at low prices, but there was very little demand. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were slow. Both rubbly culm and duff maintained their steady position. In the steam coal market, smalls were firm, whilst other descriptions were unaltered. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current L'stweek’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 22/ -24/ Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 18/6-20/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/6 Red Vein large do. ... 12/9-13/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -13/ Machine - made cobbles (net) 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/6 22/ -23/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/ -24/ French do. do 21/9-23/9 21/9-23/9 23/ -24/ German do. do 21/9-23/9 21/9-23/9 23/ -24/ Beans (net) 15/6-17/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-19/ Machine - made large peas (net) 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 11/6-13/6 Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm(less 2£ p.c.) 6/6- 6/9 6/6- 6/9 7/6- 8/ Duff (net) ..... 4/3- 4/6 4/3- 4/6 5/3- 5/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2|p.c.) 18/6-20/ 18/6-20/ 19/6-21/ Seconds do. 13/6-15/6 13/6-15/6 16/ -17/ Bunkers do. 10/6-11/9 10/6-11/9 13/6-14/6 Small do. 8/3- 9/ 8/3- 9/ 8/ - 9/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/6 Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 15/ -16/6 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 13/9-15/ Patent fuel do 17/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 20/ -21/ IRON. In the Morriston district the tin-plate trade was not so brisk last week ; the Forest and Worcester works were only working six hours per day. As far as the American and Canadian trade was concerned, only four mills were working for Canada instead of 26 a few years ago. The steel- smelting furnaces were all going well, and the establish- ments collectively registered a heavy output of tin bars, mostly for local tin-plate works. Activity prevailed at the Mannesmann Tube Works, and the outlook was promising. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 138,870 boxes, receipts from works 142,102 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 232,179 boxes. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 18. Dublin. As far as house coal is concerned business shows a decided falling off with the advent of summer, but there is a fair enquiry for works coal for contracts, and also for steam coals. There is no further change in prices, but the local merchants are anticipating reductions at the collieries to which quotations at this side will proportionately respond. Present prices in the city are as follow :—Best Orrell, 26s. to 27s. per ton; Abram, 25s. to 26s.; best Wigan, 24s.; best Whitehaven, 24s.; Pemberton Wigan, 22s.; kitchen nuts, 21s.; Orrell slack, 20s.—all less Is. per ton discount. Steam coals from about 22s. per ton; best coke, 20s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Wolfhill, Queen’s County, are :— Large coal, 20s. per ton ; small coal, 18s. 4d.; nuts, 16s. 8d.; beans, 15s.; peas, 12s. 6d.; culm (coarse), 10s.; culm (in pond), 3s. 4d.; culm (fine), 5s. ; prices, retail, from 5d. to Is. per hundredweight—all at the pit mouth. The output at these collieries is increasing steadily, as is also the demand. The coal is stated to be equal in quality to Welsh coal, and is now more extensively in request for contracts at the inland districts. The collier vessels arriving in this port during the past week amounted to 45, as compared with 55 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Liverpool, Glasgow, Garston, Partington, Troon, Port Talbot, Newport, West Bank, Workington, Irvine, White- haven, Preston, and Ellesmere Port. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 21,500 tons. Belfast. Locally the coal trade continues to be extremely quiet, although many of the large consumers are now placing their contracts for the usual 12 months’ supplies. Inland requirements are increasing, and prices continue to be easier for some classes. Quotations remain unaltered, viz.:—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. per ton; Scotch slack, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Supplies are very plentiful, and merchants’ stocks largely accumulating. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Garston, Girvan, Irvine, Maryport, Ayr, Ardrossan, Preston, Troon, Workington, Sharpness, Neath Abbey, West Bank, Glasgow, Partington, Swansea and Ellesmere Port.