August 14, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 369 Birmingham. COAL. The market was more normal on Thursday. The public panic has subsided and prices are not likely to be further enhanced, beyond, perhaps, a little extra for cartage. The difficulties of this department have been increased by the commandeering of so many horses. The trade for manufac- turing fuel will suffer by so many works going on short time. Recent quotations stand. They are : Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... Do. seconds deep Do. best shallow Do. seconds do. Best hard ............ Forge coal............ Slack ................ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked cobs ............... Best hard spires ..... Forge (steam) ........ D.S. nuts (steam) .... Small (do.) ... Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. 17/6 17/6 18/ 15/ 15/ 16/6 13/6 13/6 14/6 12/9 12/9 13/ 14/6 14/6 14/ 10/6 10/6 11/ 7/ 7/ 8/6 15/6 15/6 16/ 13/ 13/ 13/9 14/6 14/6 14/6 10/6 10/6 10/ 9/6 9/6 9/6 8/ 8/ 8/6 IRON. Thursday’s market offered ample evidence of the disturb- ance which the war is causing in the South Staffordshire iron and steel trades. Everything was uncertain and tentative, and prices, which have gone up with a bound, are subject to alteration almost from day to day. In some branches, indeed, it is difficult to obtain quotations at all. Higher prices, unfortunately, do not mean trade activity. The sudden stoppage of imports of Belgian and German material, and the temporary collapse of the export trade, which is very large volume, has depressed many industries. Works employed on Government orders are working under extreme pressure—the Birmingham Small Arms Company this week received an order for 3,000 rifles a week until further orders —but in the general engineering works short time is inevitable. The railway carriage and wagon works are badly hit, as they have large contracts for delivery abroad. Galvanising works are in some instances closing down altogether because of the drying up of supplies of sheet bars and spelter; others will follow as stocks disappear. In the abnormal circumstances it is impossible to state firm prices. In pig-iron, for instance, the increase asked for varies from 5s. to 10s., the preference being naturally given to regular customers. To meet the fresh advance in pigs makers of finished • iron have been compelled to advance values. Makers of gas strip put on <£1 a ton earlier in the week, making the range of quotations =£7 to <£7 5s., according to size of order. Relieved of the pressure of foreign competition, producers of small rounds, squares, and flats have raised prices to <£7 10s. a ton delivered Birming- ham, which represents an advance of about 17s. 6d. a ton. The advance in second-class bar iron is, roughly, from 15s. to 20s. a ton, and the current quotation is £7 10s. at works. Marked bar makers decided to raise prices from £8 10s. to <£9. Wire makers, who get the bulk of their raw material from abroad, declared an advance of <£2 a ton. Finished steel is now £1 a ton dearer than it was a fortnight ago, and billets 15s. a ton. Forest of Dean. COAL. All the house coal pits are kept as busy as possible, merchants ordering supplies as though we were in the depth of winter. Stocks have been depleted, and the coal raised is consigned straight away to the buyer. A large number of orders have come in from the inland merchants, but the demand appears to be easing down a little at the time of writing. Business in shipments is exceptionally strong, and several vessels have been loaded during the week. All descriptions of steam coal are in heavy request, and the pits are on full time. The collieries are not taking advantage of the situation, and prices remain unaltered. 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 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. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that the crisis caused by the sudden declaration of war with Germany found the south coast merchants with sufficient stocks for immediate requirements, but there have been but few importations since the outbreak of hostilities. A few steamer cargoes have arrived from the east coast upon which five guineas per cent, had to be paid for insurance, but on those from the west coast the importers have not thought it necessary to cover against war risks. Some amount of coal is being taken direct from collieries by rail. Welsh steam coal is very scarce, best qualities being unobtainable. Steam freights are quoted very firm for prompt shipment. A boiler exploded at the Thornhill Iron and Steel Works, near Dewsbury, on Monday, and as a result 31 men were injured. One has died, and several are not expected to recover. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. • Thursday, August 13. Dublin. Locally, business continues to be very active, although merchants have been endeavouring to discourage the rush for supplies as far as possible during the week. At the present moment there are thousands of orders unfulfilled owing to the Government having taken over a very large number of the horses belonging to the various firms, and it is almost an impossibility to supply the inland districts. There is no scarcity of coal, although the movement of troops has considerably interfered with regular shipments. The advances made in city prices are about 2s. per ton, quotations for cash being as follow :—Best Orrell, 28s. per ton; best Wigan, 26s.; kitchen coal, 25s.; Abram, 27s.; Welsh steam coal, 23s. per ton; best coke, 24s. per ton delivered. The collier vessels arriving in the port during the past week only amounted to 41, as compared with 60 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Garston, Cardiff, Manchester, Campbeltown, Ardrossan, Preston, Glasgow, and Maryport. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 17,500 tons. At the Wolfhill collieries, Queen’s County, prices of best coals have been increased by about 5s. per ton. The officials at the Pigeon House Fort electricity station have been notified that the large reserves of steam coal there would possibly be commandeered for naval purposes. Belfast. Various influences have somewhat limited the supplies, but it is stated that there is nothing to warrant any alarm with regard to prices, which are not likely to be materially advanced. Merchants have been much busier than is usual at this season in the household department, but as some of the local industrial concerns will soon be working short time, a falling off in their fuel requirements is inevitable. Quotations are about as follow :—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house coal, 23s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 16s. to 17s. per ton; Scotch slack, 11s. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; Navigation steam and Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. From July 19 to August 1 the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 86. Coal laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Irvine, Ellesmere Port, Ardrossan, Ayr, Glasgow, Garston, Preston, Manchester, and Point of Aire. COALMINING IN VICTORIA IN 1912. The annual report of the Secretary for Mines, Victoria, for the year 1912 states that the production of coal, although showing a slight increase, was again satis- factory, amounting to 589,142 tons, valued at £258,455 at the pit, or 8s. 9d. per ton. Of this total the State mine, Wonthaggi, raised 455,658 tons, the Jumbunna Coal Company, Jumbunna, 53,305 tons, and the Austral Coal Company, Korumburra, 31,506 tons. The Jumbunna Company paid one dividend of £2,250, making its total distribution to date £33,750. Brown coal to the extent of 3,942 tons was obtained at Altona, and 70 tons at Morwell. Although the State coalmine has now been placed by Act of Parliament under the control of the Commissioners of Bailways, the pioneering and geological work was carried out by officers of the Mines Department. Owing to the want of capital funds, developmental work was almost at a standstill for some time, and the coal was obtained mainly from pillars. Now that money has been made available, a vigorous policy of development has been inaugurated, with a greatly increased profit. The profit for the financial year ended June 30, 1912, was £9,833, which with that of £24,102 carried forward from the previous year, shows a total of £33,935. The profit was less than the estimate for the reason stated, want of capital funds, and also owing to a strike lasting from April 4 to May 17. The miners refused to continue working three shifts. The abolition of the third or night shift was agreed to with a consequent reduction in the hewing rate from 3s. to 2s. 9d. per ton. On this rate the men earned 13s. 6id. per day. The average earnings for the 250 days the mine worked was 13s. 8d» per day. Nos. 9 and 10 shafts are now opening up good areas of thick coal, which is being transported by endless-rope haulage to the screening plant at No. 5 shaft. The total output to the end of 1912 was 1,165,717 tons, valued at £491,378. The estimate of the amount of coal 2| ft. thick and over is 26J million tons, but with the introduction of coal-cutters, thinner seams are now being extracted. In one part of the No. 5 shaft area a seam 18 in. thick is being mined with one of these machines. Besides saving about Is. per ton as compared with hand mining, there is a reduction of 10 per cent, in slack, which is equal to an increase in price of 5d. per ton. So that with the large area of coal in thin seams the estimate of 26^ millions of tons available has to be greatly extended. The boring by three drills proved two workable beds about 270 ft. apart to the north of the workings at No. 5 shaft. These areas will be entered by the McBride inclined tunnel, commencing from the surface and extending for about a mile. The general manager, Mr. Broome, reports:—“ I feel sure if the additional capital required to complete the develop- ment and equipment of shafts ... be provided, this year’s operations will be attended with such results as will tend to demonstrate that the Victorian State coalmine is a practical and profitable enterprise, and that in it the State possesses a sound, solvent, and valuable asset.” The subjoined is the scale of wages as fixed by the Coal Miners Board to be paid to any person employed mining for coal other than firemen, boiler attendants, or engine-drivers:— All rates are per week of 48 hours except shaft-sinkers in wet shafts, who are to get £3 6s. for 36 hours’ work. The other rates are for shaft-sinkers, £3 6s.; machine men, £3 3s.; miners, brushers, timbermen. and repairers, stone-drive men, fillers working with coal-getters, black- smiths, and carpenters. £3; second men on machines, £2 18s.; roadmen, £2 15s.; skip repairers. £2 Ils.; wheelers, bracemen, and weighmen, £2 10s.; pit- bottomers, set-riders, clippers (underground), winch drivers and labourers (underground), £2 9s.; shovellers and fillers not working with coal-getters, £2 8s.; pumpers, furnacemen, and screen hands, £2 6s.; labourers (surface) and blacksmiths’ strikers, £2 5s.; shunters, tippers and clippers (surface), £2 4s.; water balers £2 3s. The number of apprentices who may be employed within any place shall be one apprentice to every three or fraction of three workers engaged and receiving not less than 43s. per week of 48 hours. The lowest prices or rates of payment payable to apprentices shall be per week of 48 hours :—First year, 15s. • second year, 20s.; third year, 25s.; fourth year, 30s. ; fifth year, 35s.; sixth year, 40s. The number of improvers who may be employed within f • any place shall be one improver to every three or fraction of three workers engaged and receiving not less than 43s. per week of 48 hours. The lowest prices or rates of payment payable to improvers shall be per week of 48 hours:— (a) When employed below the surface—17 to 18 years of age. 30s.; 18 to 19 years, 35s.; 19 to 20 years, 40s.; 20 to 21 years, 45s. (b) When employed on the surface—14 to 15 years of age, 18s.; 15 to 16 years of age, 20s.; 16 to 17 years of age, 25s.; 17 to 18 years, 28s.; 18 to 19 years, 33s.; 19 to 20 years, 38s.; 20 to 21 years, 43s. Any employer may fix and pay piecework rates for any work provided such rates shall be fixed so that an average worker can earn not less than the minimum wage determined by the board. The rate for extra time worked shall be time and a-quarter for the first two hours, and thereafter time and a-half. On Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, New Year’s Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Eight Hours Day, or any day observed in lieu thereof, the rate of pay shall be time and a-half. The following statement shows the quantity and value of coal raised from each mine during 1912 :— Company or mine. Locality. Quantity raised. Tons cwts. Value at, mine. £ s. State Coal Mine ... Jumbunna Coal Wonthaggi ... . 455,658 15 ... 184,056 9 Mine Jumbunna ... . 53,305 11 ... 32,530 3 Austral Coal Outtrim, Howitt & British Consoli- Korumburra... . 31,506 3 ... 18,339 17 dated Powlett North Woolamai Col- Outtrim . 24,325 19 ... 12,460 4 lieries Coal Creek Pro- Powlett . 16,107 11 ... 6,510 7 prietary Leases... Kilcunda Coal Korumburra... , 4,829 10 ... 2,428 8 Mining Kilcunda . 2,709 7 ... 1,779 11 Co-operative Colliery Limited 700 0 .. 350 0 Totals — ... 589,142 16 .. ,. 258,457 19 To the end of 1912 the total quantity of coal raised has been 4,667,054 tons, valued at £2,436,016:— Quantity Value at Value To Dec. 31,1891 .. raised. Tons cwt, 77,913 13 pit’s mouth. £ 72,685 per ton. s. d. ... 18 8 During 1892 23,363 7 20,044 ... 17 2 99 1893 91,726 0 49,167 ... 10 8 1894 . 171,659 15 94,999 ... 11 1 99 1895 . 194.226 10 ... 118,400 ... 12 2 1896 . 226,562 3 ... 113,012 ... 9 11 99 1897 . 236,276 17 ... 108.640 ... 9 7 1898 .. 242,859 10 ... 103,099 ... 8 6 99 1899 . 262,380 0 ... 113,522 ... 8 8 99 1900 .. 211,596 3 ... 101,599 ... 9 7 1901 . 209,329 3 ... 147,191 ... 14 7 >9 1902 . 225,164 7 ... 155,850 ... 13 10 99 1903 64,200 8 40,818 ... 12 9 99 1904 ,. 121,741 12 70,208 ... 11 6 99 1905 . 155,135 12 79,035 ... 10 2 1906 .. 160,630 13 80 283 ... 10 0 J* 1907 ,. 138,584 11 79,681 ... 11 6 99 1908 ,. 113,462 2 64653 ... 11 5 1909 .. 128,172 19 76,870 ... 12 0 1910 . 369,059 6 ... 188,977 ... 10 6 1911 .. 653 864 8 ... 298.829 ... 9 3 99 1912 .. 589,142 16 ... 258,455 ... 8 9 Totals .. 4,667,053 16 ... 2,436,017 ... — THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Many tar products become important articles in time of war, notably benzols, carbolics and sources of picric acid. At present prices remain practically unchanged, but it is not feasible to attach much importance to actual quotations for the moment. Nominally, things remain where they were at last week’s prices. Sulphate of Ammonia.—Though at present trade is likely to be disorganised considerably, the outlook for sulphate is encouraging. Apart from the importance of ammonia salts for the production of explosives, there is every prospect of an improved demand due to European disturbances, which is likely to lead to higher prices. At the moment it is futile to give precise prices for spot or forward, the latter being dearer already. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. All export orders having been suspended, it is doubtful if any of the works will restart until the outlook is clearer than at present. There are a few enquiries being made, but makers are quoting high figures, and “ subject to withdrawal without notice,” so practically no transactions worth noting have been entered into. Stock lots are changing hands at higher prices : 12s. lO^d. was reported paid for I C 14 x 20 (112 sb. 108 lb.) cokes, and 11s. 9d. for wasters, although holders generally are asking more money.