July 10, 1914. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 85 proprietors of Leicestershire and Derbyshire at joint meetings held very recently. The colliery proprietors agreed and declared that they would not indulge in a rate war—not at any price—but all the same they are now cutting prices in a way which does not improve the outlook. Slight concessions to meet special circumstances and exceptional conditions have now merged at length into reductions of a very substantial character, amounting in some cases to as much as from 6d. to 9d. per ton below the terms of last season. The London trade is very quiet, and there is no prospect of any revival for a couple of months. The shipping business is flat and quite unsatisfactory, with an indifferent outlook and no signs of revival at present. The reductions in prices do not apply to bakers’ nuts, which sell well, while engine fuel is in active demand with short supplies at full quotations. Cobbles are 3d. per ton lower, and dust is also a trifle cheaper. The following are the prices which generally prevail at the collieries in this district:—Best household coal 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. per ton at the pit; second-hand (picked), 11s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton; deep screened cobbles, Ils. 3d. to 12s. 3d. per ton; deep large nuts, 10s. to Ils. per ton; bakers’ nuts, 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton; small nuts, 9s. 3d. per ton; deep breeze, 8s. 6d. to 9s. per ton; peas, 7s. 9d. to 8s. 3d. per ton; small dust. 2s. to 2s. 3d. per ton; deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers, 9s. to 10s. per ton; steams, best hand-picked, 9s. to 9s. 6d. per ton; steams, seconds, 8s. 3d. to 8s. 9d. per ton; cobbles for kitcheners, 9s. 3d. to 9s. 9d. per ton. _________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. The coal trade generally throughout the Cannock Chase district is in much the same quiet condition as when last reported, and it is not likely that there will be much improvement during the present month. The collieries are working irregularly, some of them doing very little more than half time. The demand for domestic fuel continues quiet, and there is very little change in the enquiry for manufacturing sorts. Railway and canal sales are quiet, and there is not much doing at the landsale depots. Birmingham. COAL. Interest in the coal trade relates rather to the future than the present. Enquiries are moving for winter contracts. The Birmingham Corporation have completed their contracts for gas coal, but prices have not been allowed to transpire. For manufacturing fuel trade is slow. Quotations :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week's Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 17/6 17/6 18/ Do. seconds deep 15/ 15/ 16/6 Do. best shallow 13/6 13/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 12/9 12/9 13/ Best hard 14/6 14/6 14/ Forge coal 1016 10/6 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ 8/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 15/6 15/6 16/ cobs 13/ 13/ 13/9 Best hard spires .... 14/6 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 10/6 10/6 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 9/6 Small (do.) 8/ 8/ 8/6 IRON. The quarterly meeting was well, if not largely, attended. There were fewer visitors from South Wales, Lancashire and Yorkshire. This is usually regarded as the least important of the quarterly meetings. It comes between seasons, when people are preparing for holidays. On this occasion also it found trade at a low ebb. Since last quarter day the course of the market has been disappointing. Business has steadily declined, and prices have weakened until now there are all round complaints of the small margin of profits. The closing down of the furnaces in the Black Country is a sign of the times. It is an indication not only of the bad trade, but also suggests that manufacturers are prepared to take this drastic step rather than work at a loss. A fair amount of business was transacted to-day, on the top of some good sales during the week, but, on the whole, the market was a rather tame affair. Prices were stationary almost all round. In some of the branches an effort was made to raise the level, but customers did not respond. Makers of small rounds, squares, and flats tried for a modest half-crown a ton extra without success, and the top price remains at <£6 12s. 6d., with many sales at £6 10s. It was in accordance with expectations that no departure was made from the price of marked bars. The basis has stood at <£8 10s. since January, and throughout the year the general engineering trades of the district have been sufficiently active to keep this branch well employed. It was felt, too, at the present juncture no advantage in the way of increased business would accrue from a reduction, while it might tend to weaken other branches already yielding little profit. The unmarked bar mills are averaging about four days a week. Some sales are being made as low as <£6 7s. 6d. and <£6 8s. 9d., delivered Birmingham, and <£7 10s. is high-water mark. Common iron is £6 2s. 6d. for nut qualities and £6 5s. for bolt iron, competing against Continental material at £5 7s. to £5 8s. Galvanised sheet prices remain at £10 15s. to £11 for export, the chief business being done between these figures. Black sheets are weak pending the opening of the autumn trade. The quotation for hard doubles is £7 10s. for merchant qualities, £7 12s. 6d. to £7 15s. open annealed, with 12s. 6d. extra for lattens. The decreased output of pig-iron keeps prices at recent rates. Copper sheets were advanced from £76 to £78 a ton, and the Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Association reaffirmed the following prices :—Coke, un- assorted, 26s., charcoal 39s., and best charcoal 32s. per cwt. Staffordshire tin plates, 23s. to 39s., I C basis, per box. One or two good orders for bridges for India have recently been placed in this district. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal pits are still averaging four days work in the week—for the period of the year this is considered satisfactory—and, if anything, stocks are below the average for July. Shipments are still good, and most of the output just now goes to the dock; railborne orders are on the scarce side, merchants only ordering sufficient to cover their immediate requirements. Slack coal and steam smalls are well placed. The steam coal pits are all making good time. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 15/6 Rubble 15/9 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ 14/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 10/ Large 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/6-14/ Small 8/ - 8/6 8/ - 8/6 10/ -10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _____________________________ THE COAL DUST QUESTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. In New South Wales exhaustive enquiries have been made by the committee appointed by the State Government as to the best means of preventing explosions arising from the presence of coal dust in mines, and a report has been furnished, one of the principal findings being that coal dust is in itself explosive, and does not require to be mixed with an inflammable gas in order to explode. With regard to lights in mines, it is recommended that the use of electric wires should be prohibited in places where fire- damp exists in quantity; and it is urged that some stringent precautions be taken against the introduction by workmen of matches, tobacco, and cigarettes into the underground workings. The following recommendations were made by the Committee :— “ At those collieries where coal dust is carried from the surface by the intake air into the underground roadways, either by way of shafts or tunnels, steps should be taken to prevent this. “ Of several methods suggested, your committee is of opinion that the exhaust system by means of pipes and fans, where applicable, is the most efficient. In the case of new collieries the screens should not be erected within 80 or 100 yds. of the shafts or tunnels. “ As there are many very small collieries in the State and others where the chances of an explosion are very remote, power should be given to the Minister to grant an exemption partially or wholly from these provisions. Watering. “ Whilst recognising the value of watering where thoroughly done, we adhere to our previously expressed opinion as to the superiority of stone or incombustible dust, provided it can be obtained of a suitable character, and, whichever method is adopted, a set of regulations in connec- tion therewith should be drawn up and enforced. “ In those cases where a spray of water can be applied to the tops of full coal tubs, in the course of their transit to the shaft or tunnel mouth, without any deleterious consequences, it would have the effect of reducing the deposit of coal dust on the haulage roads, and, where applicable, its adoption is recommended. “ The attention of colliery managers should be directed to the necessity of maintaining the coal tubs in a good state of repair, with a view to minimise the deposit of coal dust on the underground roads throughout the various methods of haulage from the working faces to the screens. Incombustible Dust. “ The committee is of opinion that as an alternative to watering, the treatment of coal dust by an incombustible dust, so as to maintain such an excess of incombustible matter in the mixed dust as to prevent explosions of coal dust occurring, or being carried along the roads, should be embodied in any new legislation in regard to this matter. “We are aware that as the Coal Mines Regulation Act is at present, coal dust is not a matter which comes within the scope of section 28 (which gives the inspectors power to serve notices in matters of danger, which if not remedied becomes the subject of arbitration), and, in view of the great danger arising from the presence of coal dust in any mine, it is essential that it should be brought within the scope of that section. “ Following upon this, the committee is convinced that there are certain mines and portions of mines where the treatment of stone dust would not absolutely remove the danger, and where the complete treatment by stone dust is commercially impracticable. In such cases, however, a par- tial application of stone dust would ensure a considerable degree of safety, particularly in minimising the destructive effects of an explosion once initiated, and your committee believe that a partial application would not be outside the resources of the companies concerned. It would, therefore, not be unreasonable to enforce a limited treatment under such conditions. Lights in Mines. “ Where safety lamps are now used by the workmen, elec- tric safety lamps, such as have been proved to be thoroughly efficient and reliable, should be adopted in their places. Ordinary safety lamps, such as have passed the Imperial tests, should be used by the officials for the purpose of detect- ing inflammable gas. A reasonable time should be allowed for these changes to be brought about. “ In order to prevent prohibited articles, such as matches, tobacco, pipes, cigarettes, etc., being taken into mines where safety lamps are used, steps should be taken to bring this offence more prominently before underground workmen, such, for instance, as ringing a bell and requesting those about to go underground to leave such articles on the surface. A system of searching persons before they commence work, in order to see if any prohibited articles have been taken under- ground, should be more frequently adopted than at present. This should be arranged somewhat on the lines indicated by section 35 (2) of the Imperial Coal Mines Act of 1911.’’ Greater Safety. The committee make a series of recommendations to ensure greater safety in blasting operations. The erection of a Government testing station is recommended to avoid possi- bilities of using explosives subject to chemical changes. The committee urge that the use of electricity should be prohibited as a motive power at or near the working faces or in the return airways of collieries where firedamp is given off in such quantity as to be indicative of danger. The Minister for Mines (Mr. J. H. Cann) made the follow- ing minute concerning the report :—“ I should like the sum- mary of the committee’s recommendations to be brought into harmony with our present law. I do not mean that legis- lative enactment be attempted for each recommendation, but power should be taken to give effect to such as it may be found expedient to adopt by way of regulation. “ I am fully convinced that all inspectors should be given power to notify coal dust as being dangerous. I am not satisfied about distributing additional dust as a cure. I cannot see why what is called by some ‘ inert dust ’ should not become again coated with coal dust, the same influences being at work on the coal dust. Most stone dust is dan- gerous to health. I do not like the ‘ boiled or fried ’ method of prevention.’’ ___________________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 9. Dublin. There is nothing in the way of improvement to report, the continuance of very warm weather having reduced the demand for house coal almost to vanishing point, although business offering on contract account is sufficient to keep the trade moving. Quotations remain* unchanged for all qualities, in spite of the firmer position in some of the districts at the other side. 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 22s. per ton; best coke, 20s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Arigna, County Leitrim, are :—Best coal, from 15s. lOd. to 18s. 4d. per ton; nuts, 13s. 4d.; culm, 10s.—all at the pit mouth. At Wolfhill, Queen’s County, pit mouth prices 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. Operations at these collieries are progressing very satisfactorily and demand is increasing. An extensive order has been placed during the week by a large inland firm for coal for suction for gas purposes. The collier vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 46, as compared with 51 the week previously, chiefly from Troon, Ayr, Garston, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Maryport, Newport, Glasgow, Point of Aire, Preston, Partington, Campbeltown, Ellesmere Port, Saundersfoot, Swansea, W'est Bank and Llanelly. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 22,845 tons. Belfast. Matters locally are about as quiet as they possibly can be as regards house coals, but a good many contracts for steam coals are being arranged, prices being lower in most instances than those of last year. It is thought probable that advances will be made in Scotch coals at an early date, owing to the attitude of the miners. There is no further change in prices of any of the qualities in this port so far. Quotations are:—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.; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton; Welsh steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Garston, Ayr, Ardrossan, Maryport, Girvan, Neath Abbey, Preston, Swansea, Workington, Point of Aire, Glasgow, Troon, Irvine, Partington, Newport and Cardiff. __________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The feature of the week is the marked improvement in the price of crude carbolic acid, though it must be admitted that crystals have not advanced propor- tionately. As regards other products, there is little or no change, prices generally being well maintained with a fairly normal enquiry. Nearest values are:— Benzols, 90’s ................................ Do. 50’s ................................. Do. 90’s North ......................................... Do. 50’s North .......................... Toluol ....................................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) .......... Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ........ Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................ Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............. Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ..................... Do. (f.a.s. west coast) __.................... Tar (ex-works, London) ...................... /10| to 111 /10 /10to /10I ZiO /10J 1/1 to 1/2 /3i . /9| 31/6 to 32/ 30/6 to 31/6 24/3 to 28/3 Sulphate of Ammonia.—The change that has come over the market, particularly in the forward positions, again affords an example of the need for protecting the market against the “bearing ” tactics of speculative buyers. With the revived demand that was bound to come, sellers are faced with absurdly low prices as the basis of negotiations, albeit they were little better than paper values. Fictitiously inflated quotations are bad enough, but to allow buyers to give currency to prices, at which no one will sell, as being in any way indicative of the state of the market, is simply fatuous. Closing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes) .......... £10/5/ Beckton (certain terms)............ £10/2/6 Liverpool ......................... £10/12/6 ............................... Hull................................ £10/10/ Middlesbrough..................... £10/10/ Scotch ports ....................... £10/15/ Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 9/101 ________________________________ The Lilleshall Company Limited, we are informed, have just received an order from the Darton Colliery Company Limited for a new headgear to be erected at their new colliery at Darton. This headgear will be 55 ft. high to centres of pulleys, which will be 14 ft. in diameter.