July 17, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 143 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 16. Scotland.“Western District. COAL. Business in the West of Scotland has been brisk through- out the past week, and the market is very firm. Best ells have been busy, and seconds have also been in good demand. The amount of business done in best splints has been unusually heavy for this time of the year. Ordinary qualities are in better demand, but this is chiefly due to the fact that consumers are adding to their stocks in view of the possibility of labour troubles. Navigation qualities maintain their position while ordinary steams are not yet very satisfactory. Smalls have been in great demand and large quantities are moving off principally on export account, although the local industrial demand has also been respon- sible in a measure for the improved position. Shipments from the district amounted to 117,168 tons, compared with 113,420 tons in the preceding week, and 106,183 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L'st week’s Last year's prices. prices. prices. Steam coal 10/9-12/9 10/6-12/6 11/9-14/ Ell 11/3-11/6 11/3-11/6 12/ -12/6 Splint 11/3-14/6 10/9-14/6 12/9-14/6 Treble nuts 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 12/ -12/6 Double do 10/9—11/ 10/9-11/ ! 11/9-12/ Single do. 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 i 11/3-11/6 IRON. Business in the Glasgow pig iron warrant market has been on similar lines to those of the preceding week. The total amount of business done only amounted to 3,500 tons. The tone of the market was firmer and the price of Cleveland iron, which advanced to 51s. 6|d. owing to the threatened lock-out of the Scottish miners, closed at 51s. 4d. cash buyers, showing a gain of 2d. per ton on the week. The number of furnaces in blast in Scotland is 69, compared with 70 in the preceding week, and 88 in the corresponding week of last year. The pig iron trade generally is dull, and prices are still showing a weakening tendency. Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1,61s., No. 3, 59s. 6d.; Govan, No. 1, 60s. 6d., No. 3, 59s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 65-s. 6d., No. 3, 61s.; Clyde, No. 1, 66s., No. 3, 61s.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 66s. 6d., Nos. 3, 61s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 70s., No. 3,65s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 61s., No. 3, 59s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 61s., No. 3, 59s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 66s. 6d., No. 3, 61s. 6d.; Carron at Grange- mouth, No 1, 67s., No. 3, 62s. per ton. The import of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 5,691 tons for the week. The manufacturing branches of the trade continue in an unsatisfactory position, and it is likely that the holidays commencing this week will be longer than usual. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The coal trade in the Lothians district has shown considerable improvement during the past week, a fair amount of business having been placed for round coal. The miners in this district do not go on holiday until the middle of August, and consequently the collieries have secured orders which would otherwise have gone to Fifeshire or Lanarkshire. The clearances from the ports reached the total of 124,617 tons, compared with 99,825 in the preceding week and 65,657 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices generally are firm. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year's Best screened steam coal... prices. 11/6 prices. 11/ -11/3 prices. 12/9-13/ Secondary qualities 10/6 10/ -10/3 11/9-12/ Treble nuts 11/6 11/3-11/6 12/6-13/ Double do 10/9-11/ 10/9 ' 12/ -12/6 Single do 10/6-10/9 10/6 11/3-11/6 The position of the trade in the Fifeshire district continues firm. Collieries are actively employed in fulfilling their obligations before the holidays, and it is expected that the pressure at the loading ports will be severe. Navigation coals are all booked up for some time, and first-class steams are in a similar position. Treble and double nuts are difficult to obtain, and prices are firming up. The total shipments amounted to 120,969 tons, against 126,602 in the preceding week and 122,052 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 15/9-16/ 14/ 12/6-12/9 10/ -10/3 11/- 11/9 10/9-11/3 10/3-10/6 L’st week’s prices. 15/9-16/ 14/ 12/6-13/ 10/ 11/ -11/6 10/9-11/ 10/ -10/6 Lasty ear's prices. 16/9-17/ 14/6-15/ 14/3-15/ 11/9-12/9 13/9-14/ 12/9-13/3 11/6-11/9 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports amounted to 362,754 tons, compared with 339,847 in the preceding week and 293,892 tons in the corresponding week of 1913. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e wcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, 161,399 tons of coal and 2,643 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 30,803 tons of coal and 1,641 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 57,184 tons of coal, and 3,614 tons of coke, a decrease of 7,098 tons of coal, and an increase of 2,387 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 85,384 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 11,214 tons. There has been a considerable volume of forward trans- actions reported during the week. Several fairly large sales of ordinary Tyne bunkers for delivery up to the end of the year have been made at from 11s. 3d. to 12s. per ton f.o.b., according to slight variations in quality. For ship- ment from September to the end of the year, best Blyth steams have been sold by the colliery at 13s. 9|d. f.o.b., but for further similar business, 14s. is now firmly asked. An offer of 13s. 10|d. for this class of coal for October-March shipment has been declined. Merchants are stated to have bought considerable quantities of best steams for delivery to the end of December at about 14s. for D.C.B. quality. These sales are believed to represent purchases to cover previous commitments. It is stated that Tyne and Blyth steam smalls have been purchased in fair quantities from holders in Norway at from 4|d. to 6d. per ton less than is quoted locally. Ten thousand tons of best Blyth steams for October-December delivery are reported sold at 13s. 9d. per ton f.o.b., and a similar quantity for January-March shipment at 13s. 6d. Later advices with reference to the purchases of British steam coals by the Russian State Railways show that some 240,000 tons of bests—New- castle, Yorkshire and or Derbyshire—have been bought through Russian merchants for delivery over the Baltic seasons of 1915 and 1916. The price agreed upon by the railways authorities is stated at 17s. per ton c.i.f. St. Petersburg. The merchants who have taken the contract will still have to cover for their requirements on this side, but, of course, will be in no immediate hurry. One hundred thousand tons of Durham gas bests are stated to have been sold for delivery over next year at 12s. f.o.b., and 50,000 tons of Durham seconds for similar delivery at from Ils. 3d. to 11s. 6d. Durham seconds for delivery over the rest of the present year are reported disposed of at Ils. 6d. Further offers of 12s. per ton f.o.b. for best Durhams for delivery over next year are stated to have been made, but declined, by the collieries, who are averse to making arrangements so far ahead. Two cargoes, of about 4,000 tons each, of New Pelton-Holmside coals have been sold for August-September delivery at Constantinople at 21s. c.i.f. With the freight to Constantinople at 8s. 6d. just now, this only leaves 12s. 6d. f.o.b. The Toulouse Gasworks have arranged for 30,000 tons of Durham gas coal, for delivery vid Bordeaux ; the Tarbes Gasworks for 10,000 tons, vid Bayonne; and the Beziers Gasworks for 30,000 tons, vid Cette. The two former contracts have been arranged with a Bordeaux firm, and the latter with Newcastle merchants. In each case, Lambton and New Pelton-Holmside coals are to be taken at c.i.f. prices stated to allow Ils. for Lambtons and 12s. for better qualities—very low figures when calculated on present rates of freight. In each case, delivery is to be over 12 months. The Centre Midi Gas Syndicate has arranged for 60,000 tons of Durham gas coal, for shipment vid St. Nazaire and Rochefort. The bulk of this contract is stated to be for bests at 12s., with a balance of seconds at 11s. The La Rochelle Gasworks are stated to have arranged for their supplies of gas coal—quantity not stated—with a Newcastle firm of merchants who have undertaken to supply New Pelton-Holmside coals over two years at a c.i.f. price of 21 fr. 50 c. (about 17s.). The Aarhus Gasworks invite offers, by July 20, of 26,000 tons Durham best or Wear special gas coals, for delivery from August to February. Considerable enquiries for gas, coking and bunker coals are being made by merchants for next year's delivery. Buyers are hoping to be able to obtain a considerable reduction on the present year’s figures, but this hope may not, of course, materialise in fact. The possibility of a lock-out of Scottish miners over the four- days week question is, naturally, attracting a good deal of attention locally. Should it occur, there is bound to be a considerable amount of business diverted in this direction. Despite shipping shortages, largely contributed to by the marine engineers’ struggle for higher wages, there has been a fair volume of prompt business during the week, and the market has been, on the whole, very steady. The only changes in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment are as follow :—Tyne steam seconds are 3d. to 6d. advanced ; Tyne seconds are 3d. cheaper; Blyth smalls are 6d. increased; special smalls, 6d. more; gas seconds, 3d. reduced; specials, 3d. improved; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 3d. more ; Northumbrians, similarly increased ; coking smalls, 6d. higher ; and gas coke, ditto. Later.—Some 15,000 tons of steam seconds for July- September shipment have been sold at 12s. per ton f.o.b. The collieries are stated to have sold over 100,000 tons of Durham gas bests for delivery over next year, at 12s. per ton f.o.b., and to have renewed contracts for nearly 400,000 tons of seconds for similar delivery, at from Ils. to 11s. 3d. per ton f.o.b. 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 cjals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 14/9-15/ 14/ -14/6 12/ 12/ -12/3 10/6-11/6 9/ 8/ 9/ - 9/6 12/6 13/ -13/3 11/9-12/ 13/6-13/9 11/6-12/9 10/9-11/9 12/ 11/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 12/ -14/ L'st week's prices. 14/9-15/ 13/9-14/ 12/ 12/ -12/6 10/6—11/6 8/6 8/ 8/6- 9/ 12/6 13/ -13/3 12/ -12/3 13/6 11/6-12/6 10/9-11/9 12/ lf/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 12/ -13/6 Last year's prices. 15/ 14/9-15/ 13/ 13/ -13/6 11/9-12/6 9/3-9/44 7/9- 8/ 10/ 13/6-14/ 14/101 13/6-14/ 15/ -15/6 13/ -14/3 12/ -12/6 13/6-13/9 13/ -13/6 15/6 23/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 18/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 86,450 tons of coal and 540 tons of coke, as compared with 104,725 tons of coal and 100 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1913, being a decrease of 18,275 tons of coal and an increase of 440 tons of coke. Although there is no material change, the coal market continues firm, loading terms are lengthening out and, in consequence, coal of most classes is somewhat scarce for prompt shipment ; the unsettled labour feeling in Scotland is reflected here, the enquiry for early loading being on a larger scale. Best steams are in active request, gas descriptions are firmer, and best gas coke has ruled strong. Bunkering qualities are in better request, enquiries for gas, coking and bunker coals coming forward from merchants for delivery over next year, but not much business is doing, as buyers are looking for a considerable reduction on this year's contract rates. Good second-class gas coals are understood to have been sold over next year at Ils. 3d. per ton, f.o.b. The Beziers Gas Works contract is said to have been placed for Lambton and New Pelton Holmside coal at 11s. for Lambton and 12s. for New Pelton Holmside, c.i.f. 30/40,000 tons through Cette, the same coal will be supplied to Toulouse through Bordeaux 30,000 tons and 10,000 tons to Tarbes through Bayonne. The Aarhus Gasworks are enquiring for 26,000 tons special Wear gas, shipment August/February. Current quotations are approximately as follows:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current prices. L'st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 13/6 13/6 15/3 Secondary do. 12/3 12/ 14/ House coals:— Best house coals 16/ 16/6 16/6 Ordinary do 15/ 15/6 15/6 Other sorts :— Lambton screened 14/6 . 14/6 15/6 South Hetton do. 14/3 12/3 14/3 15/3 Lambton unscreened ... 12/3 13/6 South Hetton do 12/3 12/3 13/3 Do. treble nuts 15/6 16/ 16/6 13/6 Coking coals unscreened 12/6 12/3 Do. smalls 12/3 12/ 13/3 Smithies 15/ 13/6 13/ Peas and nuts 15/6 15/6 14/ Best bunkers 13/3 12/9 14/ Ordinary bunkers 12/3 12/ 13/3 Coke:— Foundry coke 21/ 21/ 23/6 Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... 20/ 20/ 20/ Gas coke 13/ 13/ 18/ The demand for outward tonnage has been above the average, but as there has been a liberal supply of tonnage, rates in all directions are easy. Recent fixtures include :— Coasting : London, 3s. 3d. ; Antwerp, 3s. 10|d. ; Calais, 3s. 9d. ; Havre, 4s. 3d. ; Hamburg, 3s. 7|d. Bay : Bordeaux, 6s.; Bayonne, 6s. 6d.; Nantes, 6s.; La Rochelle, 5s. 9d.; Rochefort, 5s. 10|d. Baltic : Cronstadt, 5s.; Petersburg, 5s. 6d.; Koenigsberg, 4s. 10|d ; Memel, 4s. 9d.; Riga, 5s. 6d. ; Helsingfors, 4s. 9d. ; Pillau, 4s. 6d.; Sundswall, 4s. 9d.; Fairwater, 5s. l|d.; Malmo, 5s. l|d. Mediterranean: Genoa, 7s. 6d.; Marseilles, 7s. 3d.: Venice, 8s. 4|d.; Naples, 8s. 3d.; Algiers, 7s.; Civita Vecchia, 7s. 9d.: Port Said, 7s. 6d.; Alexandria, 8s. 9d. ; Constantinople, 8s. 6d. Middlesbrough-«n-Tees. COAL. Firmness continues to be the characteristic of the fuel market. Several excellent orders have been placed, and the values of all qualities are steadily maintained. Sellers are optimistic regarding a continuance of this buoyancy. The quotations for Durham specials are 13s. 9d. to 14s., whilst for household bests 18s. is asked, and Durham ordinary bunkers realise Ils. 9d. Best gas coal 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d., seconds 12s. to 12s. 3d., and Wear specials 14s. 6d. Coking coal, unscreened, is offered at Ils. 9d. to 12s., and smalls Ils. 6d. to Ils. 9d. For foundry coke quotations vary from 19s. to 20s., whilst blast-furnace coke is firm at 17s. 6d. delivered at Middlesbrough. Gas house coke 12s. 6d. to 13s. IRON. The exports of iron and steel so far this month are not quite so satisfactory as for the corresponding, period of July last, when the average daily clearances reached 3,443 tons per working day. To date this month the shipments are, approximately, 2,600 tons per working day. Production is a little above the actual demand. Connal's stocks show an increase to date this month of almost 1,500 tons. Neverthe- less, the sellers of pig iron steadily maintain the price of Cleveland No. 3 g.m.b. at 51s. 6d., prompt delivery, though very little changes hands, buyers limiting their demands to the smallest possible quantity sufficient to cover their daily needs. Warrants stand at 51s. 4d. cash buyers, and 51s. 6d. sellers. Haematite does not find a ready sale, east coast mixed numbers being offered at 59s., and No. 1 quality 6d. more than is asked for mixed numbers. Foundry iron is steadily maintained at 51s. 3d., and forge No. 4 quality 50s. 9d., but in some cases slightly less would be accepted. Blastfurnace coke is firm at 17s. 6d. per ton delivered at furnaces, and rubio ore, 50 per cent, quality, 17s. ex-ship Tees. The manufactured iron and steel makers are finding increasing difficulty to secure new contracts—a fact which in some cases is causing some uneasiness, for to keep the works fully going new business must be forthcoming. Quotations are, however, steadily maintained. Steel ship plates and angles are <£6 5s. and £5 15s. respectively, iron angles <£7, steel joists <£6 12s. 6d.—all less 2| per cent, discount. Common iron bars £7, best bars =£7 7s. 6d., cast iron columns <£7 7s. 6d., cast iron railway chairs .£4 5s., light iron rails £7, all net at works. Galvanised corrugated sheets, 24 in. gauge, <£11 5s., less customary 4 per cent. South-West Lancashire. COAL. House coals remain in the same quiet state. There is a little stocking going on here and there at country yards where room is available, and that is helping the pits some- what. Forges and manufactories using screened coal are