July 3, 1914,

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

30

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

work involved. The effect in some districts, especially
in West Yorkshire, has been to threaten the very
existence of the relief funds. The extinction of
these organisations would, doubtless, be not
unpleasing to the men’s leaders, but we are assured
that to restrain employers from indulging in such
acts of goodwill would result in much inconvenience
even to the trade unions, who would be very glad if
the owners would act as their collectors.

On the other hand, so far as we. can see, this Bill
would upset some very carefully-devised arrange-
ments under the Mines Acts, in regard to check-
weighing, pit-head baths, &c., and it was made
abundantly clear before the Truck Acts Committee
that the logical consequence of making fines illegal
would be to increase the number of prosecutions and
send into the police-court many men who had been
guilty of nothing more than a momentary aberration.
Likewise, the Truck Committee put, in a very
forcible manner, the objections to dismissal and
suspension as a form of punishment.

The Royal Commission on Mines, who heard much
evidence on the subject from all sections, came to the
conclusion that “in the special conditions of mining,
the power to fine is useful, and that it would not be
desirable to take it away altogether.”

__________________

CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES.

__________________________________________________________

Belgium.

Two new shafts, lined throughout with ferro-concrete, have
recently been completed at Espinoy, Belgium, in connection
with the collieries of the Societe Eranco-Belge Charbonnage
de Forte-Taille, of Montigny-le-Tilleul.

France.

Our correspondent writes :—Prices continue to be main-
tained in the coal markets of the North of France, despite
the efforts of competitors and the reductions in Belgium.
Colliery shares, however, have gone duller again, and have
been subject to strange fluctuations on the Lille Bourse,
without any ostensible reason for the movements. It is
true that markets view with a great deal of displeasure the
trend of the political atmosphere. Socialistic tendencies
are becoming more and more preponderating in Parliament.
It is thus seriously anticipated that at an early date we
shall be faced with further proposals to lay new burdens
upon the already heavily taxed collieries, apart from the
eight hours day and the suppression of overtime, which, of
course, came into force on July 1.

There can be now no doubt that the output will suffer
from these measures—at least at the start—for I can find
no settled plan for speeding-up the work so far agreed upon.
Masters and men are still engaged in discussing the sub-
ject, and the latter show a distinctly belligerent spirit. It
may be pointed out once more that whereas the average
daily output per underground worker was 1,034 kilogrammes
(or roughly, a ton a day) in 1890, it has now fallen to 911
kilogrammes per man, a reduction of 12 per cent.; but,
on the other hand, in the last 20 years the wages of the
underground worker have risen from 4'57 fr. average per
day to 6*90—a 33 per cent. rise. So that whereas it cost
4’42 fr. average per ton to bring coal to the pithead in 1895,
it now costs 6*69 fr.—a difference of 50 per cent.

During the first fortnight of June, which provided 12
working days, exactly the same number as last year, the
North of France coalfield despatched 63,602 10-ton wagons
by rail, as compared with 64,541 wagons in the same period
of 1913—939 wagons less. The average despatch per work-
ing day was thus 5,300 wagons this year, and 5,378 last year.

The Lens collieries have been having trouble through
infiltration of water, especially troublesome in one of their
pits. The company has been sparing no pains to combat
this, and they report that it has been remedied now. The
Ligny collieries have been very fortunate with their develop-
ment work. In their No. 2 shaft they have opened up a
new level at 400 metres, recutting seams already met in
their higher levels, and so proving the regularity of their
deposit. They have also opened up new levels at 270 and
333 metres, having found a regular seam 1*60 metres in
thickness. Naturally these developments greatly add to
the value of this colliery, which was previously very little
heard of. The Clarence Colliery appears to be recovering
rapidly from its trouble last year, and is also opening up
new seams, especially in the Cauchy part of the concession.
According to its last balance-sheet, the company has enough
liquid capital to pursue its work without difficulty. The
borings made have struck coal bearing strata at 75 metres,
and are now down to 220 metres in coal ground, giving every
promise of regularity. It will, however, probably be
some time yet before the production from this source can
become remunerative.

As regards the Centre of France, it is almost unnecessary
to repeat that prices are firm, and business brisk. Although
great secrecy is maintained as to the negotiations going on
between the colliers and the miners’ unions regarding the
application of the Eight Hours Law, it is understood that
the committee of the miners’ federation, in accord with the
views of the delegates who recently waited upon the col-
lieries, have rejected the plans proposed by the masters—
whatever these may be. They state that they will not
publish the details until they shall have drawn up counter
proposals and laid them before the mine owners.

Great interest continues to be shown in the work of the
Blanzy collieries in the Mions district, as well as of the
numerous other prospectors who have followed their lead.
The new coalfield might become very important, especially
as there are good iron ore deposits in the neighbourhood,
which have been successfully worked for many years. There
are already schemes proposed for making a new metal-
lurgical centre of the district, and it is true that the big
Loire works, if they had an abundant supply of pig iron
and steel at their doors, as well as increased coal reserves,

would no longer be tempted to seek further afield, as they
are now doing in the East and North. Of course, it will be
some time yet before the real value of the Mions coalfield
can be ascertained.

The Montrambert collieries in the Loire basin are showing
a considerable increase in their output this year, and if the
present rate is maintained, they should be at least 100,000
tons ahead of last year. They have now struck their eighth
seam, and it is stated that the coal is of much superior
quality to the upper levels. It will, however, be about a
year yet before the new shaft will be fully operative.

An interesting event in the French colliery world was
the marriage on Monday of M. Alfred Elby, son of the
managing director of the Bruay collieries, with Mdlle.
Germaine Hennion, daughter of the Prefect of Police of
Paris. The ceremony had quite a political flavour, for the
bride’s sponsors were M. Leon Bourgeois and M. Georges
Clemenceau.

The metallurgical situation here remains much the same.
There are no signs of immediate improvement, but it is
thought the bottom of the crisis has been reached, and that
things cannot go worse. Belgium, however, tends to be
weaker, especially for export business, and Germany has
relapsed into dulness after the recent little spark of activity
has been extinguished. The approach of the holidays is to
some extent responsible, and also the irritating delay in
renewing the “ B ” Steel Syndicate agreement. The way
the negotiations have been going leaves their success in
some doubt. The next meeting is on July 10, and in the
meantime the market must remain depressed.

The iron works of the Centre of France are kept busy
with their armament and navy business, and they are expect-
ing a big order for 10,000 heavy shells for the navy. At
the same time, it is expected that the French and Belgian
factories will be asked shortly to tender for a very big quan-
tity of rolling stock for the Russian railways. In connection
with this the Russian Government will admit the goods duty
free in order to help the builders.

It is reported here from Buda-Pesth that the Rapp-Rom-
hany collieries have asked their creditors to grant them a
moratorium for the payment of a debt amounting to 520,000
crowns. The collieries, which have a share capital of
1,000,000 crowns, recently were in negotiations with a group
of banks in Paris and Vienna to issue 600,000 fr. worth of
debentures, but owing to the state of European stock markets
this fell through.	___________________

Germany.

Fuel Traffic in Ruhr Harbours During May.—Total rail-
way consignments of coal, coke, and briquettes to Ruhrort,
1,499,964 tons; Duisburg, 462,893 tons; Hochfeld, 40,404
tons—or 2,003,261 tons in all. Shipments outward to
Coblenz and places higher up river, 870,391 tons; places
below Coblenz, 29,478 tons ; Holland, 824,956 tons ; Belgium,

494.360	tons; France, 59,356 tons; other destinations, 34,723
tons. Total shipments from Ruhrort, 1,521,584 tons; Duis-
burg, 454,185 tons; Hochfeld, 45,054 tons; Rheinpreussen,
119,996 tons; Schwelgern, 89,399 tons; Walsum, 92,047 tons
—total, 2,313,265 tons.

Ruhr Coal Market.—Although the volume of traffic con-
tinues good, it is doubtful whether the June figures will
reach the same level as in Max since the whole of the output
—restricted as it is—will hardly have been disposed of. As
regards the various grades, the demand for coking coal is
still receding, it being found impracticable to market the
coke output anything like completely, and stocks are there-
fore growing. The export trade keeps good, both France,
Belgium, and Holland having taken large consignments of
late, in spite of the unfavourable change in the economic
situation there. The Rhine has been in good condition of
late, and large shipments have been going forward to South
Germany: but, owing to the slackness of trade there, a good
deal has had to be stocked.

Coal Market in South Germany.—The situation remains
without any important change. The house coal trade is
quiet, though there has been a slight revival in some kinds,
large bituminous nuts going off more freely, and broken cokes
being in good request for July delivery in particular. Prices,
however, are unsatisfactory, cutting rates being frequently
quoted, especially in tenders for supply to small communi-
ties. In fact, some of these offers are much below cost of
production of good quality fuel. Anthracite and large smithy
nuts are very quiet, buyers having filled up at the low April-
May rates. Of late, Belgian anthracite has been coming by
water to this market in larger parcels than heretofore. Lig-
nite briquettes are moving satisfactorily, but there is no
advance as compared with last year. Owing to the abun-
dant rainfall the river has been in good condition, and craft
have been getting, up as far as Strassburg without lightening
cargo. In fact, it has been possible to get larger quantities
up as far as Basle than could be done last summer.

Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—The position is unchanged,
though signs of improvement are not wanting. Neverthe-
less, the deliveries are not so extensive as to prevent stocks
accumulating at the pits. Industrial coals are the slowest
trade, by reason of the protracted depression in the iron
industry. The condition of the river has improved of late;
but traffic is still delayed to a certain extent. House and
gas coals are naturally m poor request, but coking coals are
going off fairly well, in spite of the less satisfactory situa-
tion of the cokeries. Exports to Austria-Hungary are still
much below former level, though somewhat improved of late.
Russian consignments are considerable, but much delay is
being experienced at the frontier. In the eastern and north-
eastern districts English competition is being felt rather
keenly, and compels reductions in price. The coke market,
without being positively bad, is less active than before,
especially in the smaller kinds used for heating purposes;
and even in the larger kinds stocks are getting bigger.

Coal Syndicate's Fuel Exports in 1913.—Coal : Holland,
6,538,653 tons (5,861,540 tons in 1912); Belgium, 3,900,874
tons (3,923,879 tons); France, 2,123,208 tons (2,067,934
tons; Switzerland, 413,717 tons (408,738 tons); Italy,

797.361	tons (586,727 tons); Austria-Hungary, 161,113 tons
(59,191 tons); Russia, 423,330 tons (190,194 tons); Denmark,
168,052 tons (173,112 tons); Sweden, 133,823 tons (66.998
tons); Norway, 20,848 tons (12.553 tons); Spain, 300,890
tons (150,073 tons); Greece, Turkey and Balkan States,
198,467 tons (143,033 tons); Asia Minor and North Africa,
230,607 tons (190,304 tons); W., S.W., S. and E. Africa,
8,161 tons (4.699 tons); South America, 32.894 tons (43,063
tons); Great Britain, 9,850 tons (42,872 tons): the Far East.
56.294 tons (35.600 tons); other countries. 83.953 tons (43.927
tons); total. 15.602.770 tons (14.001,439 tons). Coke:
Holland, 176,715 tons (163.052 tons): Belgium. 311.433 tons
(386,465 tons); France, 2.250.214 tons' (2.337,480 tons):
Switzerland, 253,336 tons (250,197 tons); Italv, 173,151 tons

(183,517 tons); Austria-Hungary, 276,672 tons (289,923
tons); Russia, 259,320 tons (207,147 tons); Denmark, 37,105
tons (43,017 tons); Sweden, 199,582 tons (199,110 tons);
Norway, 56,420 tons (60,393 tons); Spain, 42,347 tons
(49,068 tons); Greece, Turkey and Balkan States, 63,874
tons (66,975 tons); Asia Minor and North Africa, 8,765 tons
(8,213 tons); W., S.W., S. and E. Africa, 2,150 tons (3,085
tons); U.S.A, and Mexico, 93,965 tons (87,393 tons); South
America, 126,417 tons (96,546 tons); Great Britain, 6,135
tons (28,710 tons); Far East, 22,229 tons (21,938 tons);
Australia and Hawaii, 24,653 tons (17,968 tons); other
countries, 16,850 tons (18,300 tons); total, 4,401,433 tons
(4,519,631 tons). Briquettes : Holland, 274,462 tons
(287,676 tons); Belgium, 412,275 tons (402,872 tons);
France, 311,366 tons (351,376 tons); Switzerland, 100,891
tons (85,710 tons); Italy, 119,099 tons (129,462 tons); Aus-
tria-Hungary, 42,940 tons (5,295 tons); Russia, 18,217 tons
(23,586 tons); Denmark, 99,707 tons (97,358 tons); Sweden,
5,128 tons (2,839 tons); Norway,-------(12,641 tons); Spain,

7,382 tons (11,366 tons); Portugal, 3,956 tons (1,525 tons);
Greece, Turkey and Balkan States, 37,478 tons (35,672 tons);
Asia Minor and N. Africa, 127,585 tons (134,346 tons); W.
S.W., S. and E. Africa, 29,329 tons (25,569 tons); U.S.A,
and Mexico, 13,200 tons (11.000 tons); South America, 36,393
tons (34,258 tons); Great Britain,-----(10,301 tons); Far

East,------(7,104 tons); other countries, 3,384 tons (14,717

tons); total, 1,642,792 tons (1,685,763 tons). The total
coal exports thus show’ an increase of 1,598,331 tons, coke a
decrease of 118,198 tons, and briquettes a decrease of 42,971
tons as compared with the previous year.

Russia.

The Imperial Duma has adopted without debate the Bill
introduced by the Council of Ministers, to permit the import
of coal from abroad for the States and private railways,
free of duty from July 17 until the end of the year.

So far this year there has been a large increase in the
output of coal and anthracite from the mines in the Donetz
district of Russia, the returns for the four months ending
with April last showing a total of 9,894,410 tons, as con-
trasted with only 8,142,730 tons in the corresponding four
months of last year.

___________________________________________

THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Thursday, July 2.

_________________________________________________

North Wales.

Wrexham.

COAL.

The principal item of interest in this coalfield during the
past week has been the labour lispute at Hafod Colliery,
Ruabon. Trade generally is very slack hereabouts just
now. Owing to the spell of tropical weather, house coal
orders are at a premium. Other grades of coal find a
moderate market, and the majority of the local pits find a
difficulty in working anything like full time, though the
fact of one of the largest mines in the district playing,
rather tends to help the others, seeing that this colliery’s
output is off the market. Prices have not varied very much
during the past week, and last week’s figures may be taken
to fairly represent current quotations.

I Current

Prices at pit f.o.r.:—	I prices.

Best house coal ......; 14/6-15/9

Secondary do..........! 13/6-14/6
Steam coal............' 12/3-13/

Gas coal..............; 12/3-13/

................

Bunkers.............. 12/ —12/6

Nuts ................ 11/3-12/3

Slack .................. 6/ - 7/6

Gas coke (at works).... 13/4-15/

Prices landsale:—

Best house coal ...... 18/4-20/

Seconds .............. 16/8—17/6
Slack ................ 10/ -12/6

L’st week’s Last year’s
prices. prices.
14/9-15/9 14/ -15/
13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6-
12/3-13/ : 12/6—13/6
12/3-13/ : 13/ -14/
12/ -12/6 ' 12/3-12/9
11/3-12/3 11/3-12/
6/ - 7/6 : 6/6- 8/
13/4-15/ | 15/ -16/8
18'4-20/ • 18/4-19/2
16/8-17/6 ; 16/8-17/6
10/ —12/6 10/ -12/6

_______	_______

Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c.

Newport.

COAL.

An uneventful week, so far as variation of prices is
concerned, has passed in the coal market. There is to-day
almost no change from the values prevailing when last
writing, the position, if any alteration has taken place,
being in prices taking a wider range. There is an improve-
ment in the scope of enquiry, but this does not sufficiently
materialise to satisfy the aspirations of sellers. These
are, however, better off than recently, and in some cases
aver that they cannot accept further commitments for a
time. Despite the great lack of uniformity in quotations,
there is a universal inclination to quote very firm prices for
all forward business, sellers having great confidence in the
course of events. Through coals, smalls and coke partake
of the general tone of the market, the latter showing most
signs of weakness. Patent fuel is about the same as last
quoted. Pitwood supplies are in excess of the demand, and
values are based upon 18s. 3d. for good French fir ex-ship.
In the freight market tonnage is freely offering, while rates
have an easier tendency.

Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 21 per cent.

	Current	L’st week’s Last year’s
Steam coals :—	j	prices.	prices.	prices.
Best Black Vein large...	17/ -17/6	17/3-17/6 17/3-17'9
Western-valleys, ordin’y	15'9-16/9	16/ -16/6 16/9-17/
Best Eastern-valleys ...	15/6-15/9	15/6-16/	16 / -16 6
Secondary do.	15/ -15/3	15/ -15/3 15'6-16/
Best small coals 		8' - 8 6	8/ - 8'3 1 8/6- 9/
Secondary do		7/6- 7'9	7'6- 7/9: 7/6-8“
Inferior do		7/ - 7/6	6/9- 7/ ; 7/ -7 b
Screenings		8/3— 8/6	' 8/3	’ 8'9- 9' ■’
Through coals 		11'9-12/	12 / -12 /6 13 '9-14 '6
Best washed nuts		12/ -12/3	12/ -12/3 , 14'9-15/3
Other sorts :—		
Best house coal		18/ -19/	18/ -19/	18/ -19'
Secondary do		16 6-17 6	16'6-17/6 17/ -18'
Patent fuel 		19' -20/	19 ' -20 ' 20'6-21-
Furnace coke		17 6-18;	17 '6-18 6 23 ' -25'
Foundry coke 		20/ -23'	20' —25/ ' 26/ -28/