August 7, 1914. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 314 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. have decided to increase their stocks considerably, and this may have the effect of hardening prices, but at the present time everything is in a state of unsettlement, and no idea can be given as to how long current pit prices may hold out. Manufacturing Fuel.—As many of the big factories and dye-works in the Bradford and Leeds district suspended work for from four days to a week, the consumption of this class of fuel has been on the light side. The output, however, has been limited, and stocks are not heavy. Prices, on the whole, are unchanged. Washed Furnace Coke.—The output of the ovens is still more than sufficient for consumers’ needs, and prices for washed patent oven coke average from 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton at the ovens. Forward business has been entirely suspended for the time being. Barnsley. COAL. There was practically no attempt to do business at the local market on Wednesday, and the whole position appeared to be beyond calculation. The effect of the war on the district has already been of a very marked character, and obviously it will be a matter of difficulty to keep at work where the greater part of the output is usually exported, and in this respect the new and large collieries are bound to be almost compelled to set down, and thousands of miners will be thrown idle. The stoppage of the trawlers will also add to the trouble, whilst the railways, with less demands upon them, will also require a diminished supply of coal. It is expected that, generally speaking, about three days per week will be adequate for home require- ments, but this will only consume certain classes of fuel, and the difficulty will be in regard to the large steam coal, which in most cases will form the bulk of the production. The trouble is also greatly accentuated at the present owing to the large number of wagons which are held up with loads at the ports, and there is also considerable dislocation in the home traffic in consequence of the demands on the railways. On the other hand, owing to the already reduced working of collieries there is a scarcity of certain classes of engine fuel, which has caused a consider- able rush for supplies, and which has had the tendency to stiffen prices, though there is no material advance in quotations at the moment, but the needs of national requirements will also make increased demands on certain home manufactures. There is also the possibility of exports in certain directions to replace contracts from other countries, but at the moment the whole position is of so complex a character that no definite arrangements are possible, and the situation will have to be dealt with day by day. The values of large steams are firmly held, the Admiralty requirements being a possible factor in the situation, and about Ils. 9d. per ton is still demanded for the best hards, with secondary sorts a little stronger. Steam nuts are particularly good to sell, whilst the house coal trade is bound to be affected owing to the rigorous economy which will be exercised at home. Current L’st week’s Last year's House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 14/6 Best Barnsley softs 14/9-15/ 14/9-15/ 13/9-14/ Secondary do 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11/ -13/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/ 12/9-13/ 13/ -13/3 Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 11/ -12/ Best hard coals 11/9 11/9 13/ Secondary do 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 12/ Best washed nuts 10/9 10/9 11/9-12/ Secondary do. 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 10/9-11/ Best slack 6/9-7/ 6/9- 7/ 8/3- 8/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 7/6- 8/ Screened gas coals 11/6 11/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/6 10/6 11/6-12/ Gas nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/ -12/9 Furnace coke 1 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 13/ -13/6 Hull. COAL. With the commencement of hostilities in the North Sea, the coal export trade at the Humber ports has been entirely suspended, and exporters are now in the position of waiting the course of events in the hope, which may be deferred for some time, that ere long navigation will be again open and exports resumed. The war has happened at a very awkward period, in the very height of the Baltic season, and at present it seems improbable that the large quantities waiting shipment to the Baltic upper ports can be delivered this season. When the North Sea is again con- sidered safe, trade can be resumed with the northern Continental ports. Large quantities of coal, many thousands of tons, are in the sidings and ships in dock ready to take it. Some merchants have reported to have made arrangements with the Government, and this has led to considerable shipments for the British Fleet, which has relieved congestion somewhat. Shipments London and coastwise have continued without much inter- ference, several vessels having left during the week. One large contract for London gasworks has, however, been diverted on to the rails. Business on the Humber Coal Exchange is now reduced to land sales for home consump- tion. A better demand for house coals is reported, but manufacturing fuel is in poor demand. No quotations of prices are possible. Chesterfield. COAL. It is hardly necessary to say that the war has cast a gloom over the coal trade, and it will be impossible to work the pits generally more than two or three days per week. The railway companies have already intimated the collieries that no more deliveries of coal must be made to the Humber ports. This is a serious blow to pits whose output consists chiefly of steam coal for export. Fuel for home consumption must necessarily come into smaller demand, and the out- look generally is a very serious one. House coal is being ordered pretty freely, and this, it may be said, is practically the only class of coal for which there is any demand. The amount of business being done in slack for boiler firing is on a very small scale, and this will inevitably be reduced still further almost directly. The large steel works of Sheffield are very quiet this week owing to the holidays. A better idea of the condition of things will be formed when operations are resumed next week. Prices at pit. Current L'st week's Last year's prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 12/ 12/ 14/6 Secondary do 11/ 11/ J. J-j x-r 12/6 Cobbles 10/6 10/6 12/ Nuts 9/6 9/6 11 Slack 7/6 7/6 9/ ________________ Nottingham. COAL. Up to the end of last week there had been a fairly good demand for house coal considering the time of the year, best qualities selling with more freedom than of late, and merchants displayed a tendency to order forward. The public, too, commenced to buy more readily, some mani- festing an anxiety to get in a stock for the autumn. Secondary sorts were in improving request. It is not anticipated that the war will have any serious effect, for a time at any rate, on the home demand. There has been no material change in the slack market. As regards values, last week's quotations are practically in force, but it is impossible to say what changes may take place in the near future in consequence of the war. __________________ Leicestershire. COAL. Quite a new set of circumstances have arisen in conse- quence of the declaration of war, and in view of the uncertainty regarding the future, all the colliery proprietors in this district are acting on very safe and prudent lines. For the moment there is a great influx of orders which are more in number and in extent than can be dealt with, and the stocks generally are on a very small scale. A large number of the orders are of a panicky character, and the coal is obviously in many cases not required for anything like immediate use. In some cases colliery proprietors have requested that the orders be cut down by one-half, the other half to be forwarded and dealt with at a later period. This action has been brought about with the view of meeting all legitimate and urgent requirements, and reserving all others till the sudden pressure has been relieved. Thus, it is calculated the collieries will be able to equalise the output of coal for a long period, and thus provide as much employment as possible in the event of a trying time ahead being experienced. The best household coal is being taken up as fast as it comes to the pit bank, and prices are firm but not any dearer. Manufacturing fuel is in very fair demand, the object being to replenish the depleted stocks, but it is not yet certain how the consumption will be affected under the abnormal conditions. The best cobbles for London requirements are selling much more freely, and there is only a quiet steady business in steams. The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district:— Per ton at pit. s. d. s. d. Best household coal ................... 12 6 to 13 6 Second, hand picked....... .................. 11 6 to 12 6 Deep screened cobbles ................ 11 3 to 12 3 Deep large nuts ....................... 10 6 to 11 0 Bakers' nuts________........................... 10 0 to 10 6 Small nuts ........................... 9 0 to 9 3 Deep breeze........................... 8 6 to 9 0 Peas ................................. 7 9 to 8 3 Small dust ........................... 2 0 to 2 3 Deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers 9 0 to 10 0 Steams, best hand picked.............. 9 0 to 9 6 Steams, seconds ....................... 8 3 to 8 9 Cobbles for kitcheners ................ 9 3 to 9 9 _________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. Very little business has been done so far this week in connection with the coal trade of the Cannock Chase dis- trict. Some of the collieries attempted to make a start on Wednesday morning, but owing to the number of absentees there was not much done. Other collieries started this (Thursday) morning. Business is very unsettled owing to the war, and there appears to be a good deal of uncertainty as to how it will affect the demand. Birmingham. COAL. The prices given below may still be regarded as official, but the market is in a state of instability. The public have been clamouring for supplies, and naturally have had to pay extra, the amount varying according to circum- stances. They have made the rod for their own backs. Prices will probably be cheaper a month hence than they are now. Being holiday week, the pits have been closed, and the demand for works fuel has been little. 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 10/6 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. People on ’Change—and there was a surprisingly large number—evinced a much more lively interest in the war despatches than in business. One of the first fruits of the war is the entire suspension of deliveries of foreign material. Thousands of tons of raw steel and iron are on order from Germany and Belgium, but merchants and customers are being advised that delivery cannot be under- taken. Several of the principal galvanising houses are also declining orders by reason of the fact that supplies of sheet bars and spelter from the Continent are not obtainable. As the majority of the large works of the district are closed down for the week, it is impossible to ascertain how far they will be affected by the mobilisation of the Reservists and Territorials, but there is no doubt that the displacement of labour will be felt. The crisis has undoubtedly stimulated prices, but very little actual business was done. Satisfaction was expressed at the reduction of the Bank rate, a step which will no doubt have a steadying influence. A day or two ago finished steel jumped up 10s. a ton, and raw material has followed in proportion. The withdrawal of German, Belgian, and French bars and billets represents to this country, according to an approximate estimate, a difference of about 45,000 tons a week. The English output possibly does not meet more than half the requirements of the country, and the enhanced prices were in the circumstances inevitable. Smelters were asking on an average 2s. a ton more for pig iron, common forge working out at about 50s. to 51s., and Staffordshire part- mine at 52s. to 53s. For manufactured iron buyers were asked to pay a lot more. A good many firms engaged in the bar industry were not quoting at all; in some instances as high as <£7 and <£7 10s. were quoted, which was regarded as a polite way of saying they had none to sell. For nut and bolt qualities sellers asked <£6 7s. 6d. to .£6 10s. These were some of the figures going round the market, but there was no stability about them. At the best they were only tentative, and in the circumstances business was limited. Everybody is pursuing a waiting policy. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The colliers for the most part only took a short holiday, and the majority of the pits were at work on Wednesday. Orders for truck loads have been coming in thick and fast this week—the result of the war—and the collieries are making good time in the house coal department. The steam coal pits are all rushed for coal, and the pits are as busy as possible. Prices show no change. 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/ 1 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 8/ Large 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/ -13/6 Small 8/ - 8/6 8/ - 8/6 10/ -10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f .o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ___________________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 6. ___________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The general state of trade in this locality has been any- thing but satisfactory this week, and little business has been transacted. Monday being Bank Holiday, the pits were off work, and the war fever having commenced, the men in the majority of cases absented themselves on Tuesday, with the consequence that several collieries were unable to resume work on that day. Since then there has been a shortage of tonnage, and it is most difficult to get sufficient trucks for loading the output. With regard to prices, at the time of writing there has been little or no change, and the figures quoted last week may be taken to represent this week’s market also. __________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The present turmoil in the business world has permeated the coal trade entirely, and all ordinary landmarks have become obliterated. Shipments of coal are steadily taking place, but in much less quantities than at normal times, and more of the very best qualities than of any other. As to values, nothing can be said at present, as there is practically no market, and under present conditions no figures can be given that are at all reliable. The shortage of pitwood is the outstanding feature of the trade, and until regular supplies can be secured will continue to give trouble. Deliveries from France are bound to be erratic for a long time to come, as the bulk of the labouring section has been withdrawn from its usual avocation to rejoin the colours. Chartering is at a complete standstill outside Admiralty business. Cardiff. COAL. Events have moved rapidly last week, and what was then only a shadow, or a fear, has now become a terrible reality. As far back as Thursday last, Admiralty agents were busy in Cardiff, and a meeting of colliery salesmen was convened in order to discuss the situation, more particularly with the view of supplying home navy requirements. Between 25 and 30 collieries are on the Admiralty list, and the first enquiry which went out was whether the collieries were prepared to give supplies over the holidays. The miners themselves had decided to abstain from work during the first three days of this week, and the coal trimmers had agreed to take a holiday on Monday and Tuesday. Meetings were called of both sections of the men, and the miners decided that as they had already made their arrangements