t June 26, 1911. THE COLLIERY GUABJ3IAK. 1481 THE COAL AMD IRON TRADES. Thursday, June 25. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. There has been no change of note in the West of Scotland coal trade since last report, and the market continues fairly steady. Best ells are in fair request for shipment towards the end of the month, but the supply is greater than the demand, while business in secondary qualities is somewhat irregular, and prices continue easy. The position of splint coal, though still good, is not so strong, and it is anticipated that supplies will be available within the next few days. Navigations continue active, but ordinary steams show no improvement. In smalls, treble nuts have not undergone any change, but doubles and singles are much busier, and prices have firmed up considerably. Shipments from the district have been satisfactory and amount to 125,979 tons, compared with 109,986 tons in the preceding week, and 97,664 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. 10/6-12/6 11/ -11/3 10/6-14/ 11/3-11/6 10/6-10/9 9/9-10/3 L’st week’s prices. 10/6-12/9 11/ -11/3 10/9-14/ 11/3-11/6 10/6-10/9 f 9/6-10/ i Last year’s prices. 12/9-13/3 12/6-13/ 14/ -14/6 '12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 IRON. Business on the Glasgow pig iron warrant market has been extremely dull during the past week, the turnover amounting to only 3,500 tons, which is the lowest total for any complete week for a considerable time past. Prices are unaltered and the closing quotation was 51s. 2d. per ton cash buyers for Cleveland iron. Middlesbrough stores have been drawn on to the extent of 3,187 tons during the week, and now stand at 81,598 tons. Business with consumers continues very quiet, and makers are experiencing’ great difficulty in disposing of their outputs of ordinary qualities, while Scotch haematite has been quoted at 62s. and lower without bringing out any increase in the volume of business. The import of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middles- brough and district amounted to 7,943 tons during the week. Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 61s. 6d., No. 3, 60s.; Govan, No. 1, 61s., No. 3, 60s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 65s. 6d., No. 3, 61s. 6d. ; Clyde, No. 1, 67s., No. 3, 62s. ; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder, and Langloan, Nos. 1, 67s. 6d., Nos. 3, 62s. 6d.; .Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan .or Troon, No. 1, 61s., No. 3, 60s. ; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 60s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 67s. 6d., No. 3, 62s. 6d.; Carron at Grangemouth, No 1, 68s., No. 3, 63s. per ton. The depression in the various branches of the finished iron trade has become more acute within the past few days. Black and galvanised sheet makers, who hitherto have managed to keep their works fairly well employed, are beginning to feel the effects of the depression in the other branches, and in most cases employment at the works is irregular. Malleable iron makers are as badly off as ever, and prospects^cannot be called encouraging. ------------------ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, 147,325 tons of coal and 1,714 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 9,598 tons of coal and a decrease of 2,907 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 63,281 tons of coal and 3,343 tons of coke, a decrease of 427 tons of coal and an increase of 3,236 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 97,246 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 1,647 tons. Another sale of best Blyth steams, for delivery up to the end of the year, has been effected at 13s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b., this making the third such transaction at that figure during the last few days. It is reported that the Vladikavkaz Railways, of Russia, which, some time ago, bought a large quantity of British steam coals, have concluded purchases of Russian coal for delivery over the next three years. In view of these purchases, it is regarded as unlikely that these railways will again enter the market this year for coal from this country. The Bergen Gasworks, which recently received tenders of from 10,000 to 15,000 tons of gas coal for delivery over 12 months, are stated to have decided to postpone allotment of all save 5,000 tons of Durhams. An enquiry is in circulation, on behalf of several Scandinavian whaling companies, for 25,000 tons of steams—half Welsh and half North-country—for delivery over 12 months from August. There is exceedingly little doing in the prompt coal market this week. The local race holidays have greatly curtailed production at the collieries, and have provided a counter- attraction which makes the transaction of business very irksome to those attendant on ’Change. There is some little forward enquiry, mainly in the way of “ feelers ” for next week and later, and the early prospects of the Blyth coal market, in particular, are regarded as very healthy. There is an improved supply of tonnage, despite the marine engineers’ strike, and this circumstance should tell in favour of the market as soon as the holidays are finished. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied very little during the week, the only alterations being as follow:— Best Blyth steams are 3d. cheaper, special steam smalls are similar reduced, unscreened Durham bunkers are 3d. lower, and gas coke is weaker. 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 cgals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do.< smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 14/ -14/3 13/6 12/ 12/ -12/6 10/6-11/6 9/ 8 8/9 12/6 13/ 12/ -12/3 13/6 11/3-12/6 10/9-11/9 12/ 11/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 12/6-13/ L’st week’s prices. 14/ -14/3 13/6 12/ 12/ -12/6 10/6-11/6 9/ 8/ 8/6- 9/ 12/6 13/ 12/ -12/3 13/6 11/3-12/9 10/9-11/9 12/ 11/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 13/ Last year’s prices. 14/9-15/ 14/6-14/9 13/ —13/3 13/3-13/6 11/6-12/ 8/6 8/ 10/ 13/6-14/ 14/9 13/3-13/6 14/9-15/ 13/41-14/ 11/6-12/ 13/3-14/ 13/ -13/6 15/6-16/ 24/ -26/ 20/ 18/6 being paid. Recent fixtures include : — Coasting : London, 3s.; Hamburg, 3s. 4|d.; Rotterdam, 3s. l|d.; Antwerp, 3s. 9d.; Rouen, 4s. 3d.; Calais, 3s. 7|d. Bay: Bordeaux, 6s.; La Rochelle, 5s. 3d. Baltic : Cronstadt, 5s. 6d.; St. Petersburg, 5s. 6d.; Lubeck, 4s. io|d.; Koenigsberg, 4s. 6d. Mediterranean Genoa, 7s. 6d.; Port Said, 7s. 6d.; Alex- andria, 8s. lid.; Marseilles, 8s.; Leghorn, 8s. 3d.; Palermo, 8s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Toes. COAL. The fuel trade is steady, and there are expressions of confidence in the near future. Enquiries that are being made, in fact, indicate a good forward market, and alto- gether the situation is fairly satisfactory. Considering the season of the year, deliveries of gas coal are good. Best Durham gas coal is 13s. to 13s. 3d., and second kinds are 12s. 3d., whilst up to 15s. is named for Wear specials. Bunker coal is in moderate request, and ordinary Durhams run from Ils. to Ils. 3d. f.o.b., best kinds Ils. 6d. to 12s., and specials 14s. to 14s. 6d. Though demand for household coal is now at its slackest, sellers show no disposition to give way, and they quote from 15s. 6d. to 16s. 10|d., according to quality. Coking coal is fairly well taken up, at from Ils. 3d. to 12s. Coke is hardly so strong as it has. been, but good prices are still being realised. Local con- sumers are taking considerable supplies of both Durham and Yorkshire kinds. Durham blast-furnace coke of average quality is still in the neighbourhood of 17s. 6d. delivered at Teesside works, but Yorkshire kinds are selling at a good deal below that figure. Foundry coke for ship- ment is round about 20s. f.o.b.; gas coke ranges from 12s. 6d. to 13s. IRON. Extreme quietness continues to characterise the iron market. Values of Cleveland pig are upheld by the scarcity of iron, and the fact that the already very excellent statistical situation continues to improve. At the same time, buyers act with very great caution, and will not commit themselves forward. The haematite branch of the staple industry is characterised by marked weakness, and further, concessions have failed to bring buyers in to any extent. Current quotations are considerably below cost of production, and as there seems little likelihood of relief by the cheapening of raw material, at all events in the near future, there is every reason to believe that more furnaces will be put out of operation before long. The temporary damping down of the three furnaces at Jarrow leaves only 71 in blast on the north-east coast—the lowest number blowing for many years past. The Jarrow furnaces, how- ever, will in all probability be blowing again next week. No definite news is to hand yet concerning the Russian rebate on imported iron. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 51s. 6d. f.o.b., 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 hsematite 59s. 3d. to 59s. 6d.—all for either early or forward delivery. Foreign ore is lifeless, but sellers see no reason to alter the.stand they have taken for some time past, and in the continued absence of transactions they still base market rates on 17s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for best rubio. There is little or nothing new to report concerning the various branches of the manufactured iron and steel industries. Orders are scarce, and some firms are getting short of work. The Cargo Fleet Iron and Steel Company have booked an order for 4,000^tons of^steel rails. Quotations all round’are stationary. — — O —1■’• Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians district is fairly active and the tone of the market is steady. Collieries could do with more orders for steam coal, but on the other hand, smalls are busy, particularly double and single nuts. The clearances at the ports amounted to 108,078 tons, compared with 108,083 tons in the preceding week, and 102,842 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 11/3 11/3 13/3-13/9 Secondary qualities 10/ -10/3 10/3 11/9-12/3 Treble nuts 11/ 11/ 12/9-13/ Double do . . i, 10/9 10/9 12/3-12/6 Single do. 10/6 10/6 11/9-12/3 Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 106,005 tons of coal and 130 tons of coke, as compared with 100,325 tons of coal and 315 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1913, being an increase of 5,680 tons of coal and a decrease of 185 tons of coke. Owing to race week, business is confined to very narrow limits. There is, however, a fairly good enquiry for loading after the holidays, best steams being specially in demand. Practi- cally all the collieries are idle to-day, and in all probability will not restart before Friday. Collieries are still suffering for want of tonnage, and the trouble with the engineers is not helping matters—in fact, contract business is being postponed, buyers preferring to await events. Prices do not show much change. Smalls are somewhat scarce and dearer, gas sorts nominal, bunkers shade cheaper. The different qualities of coke remain unchanged. The following are the current market quotations :— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. South-West Lancashire* COAL. The demand for household coal is at summer level, and screened coal for forges and manufacturing purposes is not required to anything like the full extent of the capacity of the various works. The demand in bunker coal remains quiet, with ample supplies of fuel. Shipping still very flat; this applying both to regular and outside steamers, and there is a fair amount of tonnage laid up in this port; Prices of screened Lancashire steam coal may be said to be 12s. 9d. to 13s. f.o.b. tips Liverpool, up to 13s. 6d. for the best descriptions, although for spot lots about 3d. less is being taken in some cases. Shipments of household coal for coastwise and cross-Channel trade are fair having regard to the period of the year. Slack is still rather in excess of immediate requirements. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). There has been an improvement in the Eifeshire district, and collieries are now in a strong position. Tonnage is plentiful owing to heavy arrivals at Methil and Burnt- island. Navigation coals are well placed and cannot be secured without considerable notice, while first-class steams are in much the same position. Third-class steams are not so busy^ and collieries in most cases could overtake more business in this quality. Double and single nuts are in heavy demand, and prices are firm. Shipments from the district amounted to 111,091 tons, compared with 109,835 tons in the preceding week, and 112,754 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Current prices. 15/9-16/ 14/ 12/6-12/9 9/9-10/ 10-6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 L’st week’s prices. 15/9-16/ 14/ 12/6-12/9 9'/9-10/ 10/9-11/ 10/6-10/9 10/ -10/6 Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do Lastyear’s prices. 16/9-17/3 14/6-15/ 14/3-14/9 11/9-12/9 13/ -13/6 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals Ordinary do Other sorts :— Lambton screened South Hetton do Lambton unscreened ... South Hetton do Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened Do. smalls Smithies Peas and nuts Best bunkers Ordinary bunkers Coke:— Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... Gas coke Current prices. 13/6 12/3 16/ 15/ 14/3 14/ 12/3 12/3 15/9 12/6 12/3 13/6 15/6 13/3 12/ 21/ 20/ 13/ L’st week’s prices. 13/6 12/6 16/ 15/ 14/6 14/3 12/6 12/3 15/6 12/6 12/3 13/9 16/ 13/ 12/6 21/ 20/ 13/ Last year’s prices. 15/3 14/ 17/6-18/ 16/ -16/6 15/6 15/3 13/9 13/6 16/6 13/6 13/3 13/ 16/- 16/6 14/ 13/6 24/6 21/ 18/ The outward freight market is inactive owing to the holidays, and the tendency is for rates to ease off a little, except for Baltic destinations for which good rates are still House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) Screened forge coal..., < Best scrnd. steam coal f.o. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ......... Common do............... b. Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 17/ 17/ 16/6-16/9 16/6-16/9 15/3 15/3 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/ 13/3-13/9 13/3-13/9 11/6-12/ 11/ -12/ 12/9-13/6 12/9-13/6 9/9 ' 9/9 9/ 9/ 8/ - 8/6 8/ - 8/6 Lastyear’s prices; 16/3 16/6-17/ 14/6 15/ -15/6 12/3 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/6-14/3 10/6 9/9 9/3 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance of members on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Trade in house coal continues in small proportions, with no change in prices. Furnace coal meets with poor enquiry, and prices are somewhat easier, and the same remark applies to shipping coal. The call for slack is fair, but there are plentiful Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports amounted to 345,148 tons, compared with 327,904 tons in the preceding week, and 313,260 tons in the corresponding week of 1913. 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/ 9/6-10/ 8/6— 9/ 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/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 8/6- 9/ 9/ - 9/6