August 21, 19.14. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 429 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES. France. Havre Goal Trade.—The following particulars, relating to coal imports, are extracted from the reports of H.M. consular offices in the Havre district :— 1912. Tons. Havre 820,127 1913. Tons. 950,022 Caen- British .... 429,201 468,259 German .... 53,749 81,000 Dieppe .... 229,293 326,113 Honfleur .... 141,722 164,589 Trouviile-Deauville .... 70,200 77,732 Treport and Eu .... 23,081 ...... 38,551 Fecamp .... 37,174 44,243 Havre exported 458,560 tons of coal in 1913, as against 359,345 tons in 1912. At Dieppe coal shows an increase of 96,820 tons, but as last year there was, owing to the strike, a reduction of 89,147 tons on the previous year, the increase over 1911 is 7,673 tons. The strike may also be answerable for the import of 10,588 tons of German coal, the first since 1903, when large quantities were imported from a similar cause. Increased imports of coal and pitch at Honfleur are due principally to the new company (Houillere d’lmportation et d’Aglomeres), which has bought the important business of Levy freres. Bordeaux Pitwood.—According to the British Consul at Bordeaux, exports, classed under props, poles and rough stakes, and consisting almost exclusively of pit props, amounted in 1913 to 447,530 tons, as compared with 365,090 tons in 1912. The increase of 82,440 tons was specially due to the very high prices paid to the proprietors by Bordeaux dealers, who, unable to come to the usual agreement amongst themselves, were fiercely competitive. During 1913 the selling prices to the United Kingdom were on an average similar to those existing throughout 1912, with, however, a slight rise. The lowest prices were paid during the winter months, varying between 14s. 9d. to 15s. 9d. f.o.b. Bordeaux per English ton. From April to July 10 prices rose progressively to 18s. f.o.b. Bordeaux, and then gradually declined to 15s. 3d. in December. Bordeaux is the proper supply port for pit props destined for the United Kingdom, shipments of these being made regularly throughout the year, whereas Bayonne stocks are somewhat irregular and uncertain, that port being over supplied at one moment and short at another. This is due to Bayonne being situated in the region of the large pine trees, which are only exploited during the winter months, and used for railway sleepers rather than pit props. Bordeaux, on the contrary, is more in the centre of the smaller trees, which are destined solely for pit props. The exportation of pitwood amounted to 208,168 tons. The rate of freight during 1913 was from 6s. to 6s. 6d. per ton. The exportation of pitwood from Bayonne is expected in the near future to assume greater proportions. The berths at Boucan which are in course of construction, com- bined with the railway facilities, will enable steamers to load immediately on their arrival and obtain quick despatch. 20,754 tons of pit wood were shipped from La Rochelle to the Bristol Channel, as compared with 10,097 tons in 1912 and 2,232 tons in 1911. Exports of pit wood from Pauillac to ports in the Bristol Channel are always on'the increase, as will be seen from the following figures :— Tons. 1909 .................... 36,753 1910 .................... 35,703 1911 .................... 41,942... 1912 .................... 43,387 1913 .................... 48,464 Coal Trade of Bordeaux.—According to the report of Mr. Consul Rowley, of Bordeaux, the importation of coal, patent fuel and coke during the year 1913 was as follows :— From Coal. JWL* Coke. Met. tons. Met. tons. Met. tons. United Kingdom... 1,667,480 ... 42,254 ... 291 Germany ....... 57,152 ... 104,515 ... 18,900 Total ... 1,724,632 ... 146,769 ... 19,191 The increase of 268,432 metric tons of coal from the United Kingdom, compared with imports for 1912, is due to the Orleans Railway Company having diverted the greater part of their coal consignments from St. Nazaire to Bordeaux; consequently, this increase is only due to a change of ports, though at first sight it would appear that a handsome increase had been made by the United Kingdom. On the other hand, the advance in German supplies is worthy of notice, considering that that country only commenced exporting coal, patent fuel and coke to Bordeaux as recently as 1909, with 24,000, 47,000 and 1,800 metric tons respectively. The figures for the United Kingdom during that year were respectively 1,521,000, 47,000 and 7,000 metric tons. If the 260,000 metric tons which have this year been imported by the Orleans Railway Company into Bordeaux instead of St. Nazaire, be added to the quantity imported into Bordeaux in 1909, it will be found that, instead of an increase from the United Kingdom, there has been a falling off of about 90,000 metric tons, whereas Germany has gone on steadily increasing her trade, and has more than doubled her shipments to Bordeaux in the space of five years. One reason why British coal has not made the headway it should have done in the last few years is the uncertainty of supply, caused by strikes, which have naturally retarded deliveries and occasioned serious diffi- culties to foreign buyers, whereas in Germany there have been no strikes for six or seven years, the miners and mine owners knowing full well that labour upheavals in foreign countries spell gain to them by providing new markets for their coal, and thus increase their trade. Imports of patent fuel from the United Kingdom to Bordeaux increased by 6,888 metric tons during 1913, the figures being 35,366 metric tons in 1912, as compared with 42,254 metric tons in 1913. Imports from Germany amounted to 104,515 metric tons, a decrease of 8,512 metric tons from 1912. Coke shows a further falling off from the United Kingdom, although the total is not worth mentioning, viz., 291 metric tons as against 373 metric tons in 1912. Imports from Germany increased from 4,157 metric tons in 1912 to 18,900 metric tons in 1913. In 1913 the total importation of British coal to Bayonne was 397,817 tons, being an increase of 72,323 tons on the previous year. There was no increase in the quantity of German coal imported. The quantities imported during the past three years are as follow :— 1911. 1912. 1913. Scotch Met. tons. Met. tons. Met. tons. 97,613 . 84,106 . 93,500 Welsh . 121,684 ’ . .. 135,287 . .. 191,949 North Country .. . 118,324 . ... 106,101 . .. 112,368 _____________________ German 63,500 . 72,167 . 70,167 Total 401,121 .. 397,661 467,984 During the year 1913 the prices of coal fluctuated as follows :— £ s. d. £ s. d. Glasgow ............. 1 2 6 to 1 6 0 Cardiff ___................ 1 6 6 „ 1 10 0 Newcastle............. 1 0 0 „ I 2 0 Sunderland nuts....... 1 7 0 „ 1 9 0 At La Rochelle 528,312 tons of coal were imported in 1913, of which 32,776 tons came from Germany; 14,570 tons of patent fuel were brought from the United Kingdom. During the second half of 1913 the Pauillac Blast Furnaces Company had to cease work, owing to the impossibility of obtaining coking coal from the United Kingdom. This state of affairs was the direct outcome of the British coal strike of 1912. Unable to obtain the necessary supply many of the furnaces had to be extinguished, which stoppage caused them much damage, and hindered the commencement of work again during the latter part of 1913. There was, consequently, no importation of Newcastle coking coal during the year, which was a serious loss to the trade of Pauillac, as the average quantities imported during 1908-12 amounted to 48,502 tons. Being unable to obtain British coking coal, the company had to buy the material from Germany, and received during the early part of 1913 27,319 tons from that country, as against 9,210 tons in 1912. Imports of Cardiff coal amounted to 7,074 tons, or say an increase over 1912 of 1,527 tons. This excess is due to the ever increasing number of liners now bunkering at Pauillac. Some 65,000 tons of coal were consumed at Limoges, of which some 15,000 tons were shipped from Newport. Prices for French coal were steady, that for Welsh coal delivered at Limoges was £1 9s. per ton, or say a little cheaper than the French article, due to cheaper freights. ________________________ Italy. The British Vice-Consul at Civita Vecchia reports that during the last two years the importation of coal has steadily recovered the falling off in 1911. In 1913, 453,670 tons were imported, valued at £555,857, as compared with 390,757 tons, valued at £453,638, in 1912; and 319,458 tons, valued at £345,014, in 1911. In addition, 3,250 tons of coke, valued at £3,770, were imported. The latter all came from Belgium, but the whole of the coal imported was derived from the United Kingdom. Sicilian Imports of Coal.—The coal trade of Sicily, by ports, during the year 1912-13 was as follows :— Carried in Port of entry. 1912. 1913. British ships, 1913. Tons. Tons. Tons. Palermo .. 225,846 .. .. 211,618 ... 83,217 Messina .. 169,719 .. .. 178,575 . ... 71,468 Catania .. 151,400 .. . 144,200 . ... 87,000 Syracuse 8,991 .. .. 25,988 . ’ • • t OK 900 Augusta .. 152,884 .. .. 57,119 . Licata .. 30,400 .. .. 31,916 ... 14,648 Porto Empedocle .... .. 28,432 .. .. 35,592 . ... 20,151 Marsala 250 .. 880 . — . Trapani .. 31,200 .. .. 20,867 . ... 4,688 Milazzo .. 23,914 .. ______ .. 19,798 . ______ ... 9,095 ______ Total............. 823,036 ... 726,553 ... 315,599 At Palermo, with the exception of 12,948 tons (Emden 7,800 tons, and Philadelphia 5,148 tons), the coal came entirely from British ports. Of the quantity imported at Messina, 10,465 tons were German coal, and 7,660 tons came from the Netherlands. At Catania 7,000 tons of German coals were imported. At Syracuse the 83,107 tons were imported for:—Italian State railways, 15,985 tons; Navigation Societa Sicilia, 10,003 tons; Italian Government, 27,119 tons ; industries and navigation, 30,000 tons. The German quota was 3,000 tons. Coal Imports in 1913.—The importation of coal showed a considerable increase in 1913. Again, nine-tenths of the total quantity imported was of British origin. Imports from Germany and the United States were also somewhat in excess of the corresponding figures for 1912, but the other supplying countries seem to have lost ground. The impor- tation of coal into Italy during the years 1911-13 is detailed hereunder :— Country. 1911. Tons. 1912. Tons. 1913. Tons. Austria-Hungary... ... 85,363 ... 177,307 ... 133,838 Belgium ... 23,160 24,363 4,358 France ... 100,110 ... 170 565 ... 164,674 Germanv ... 442,935 ... 889,501 ... 949,113 United Kingdom .. ...8,767,352 ... 8,637,219 ... 9,386,159 Netherlands ... 157,676 75,494 72,564 United States ... 14,068 68,032 93,529 Other countries ... 5,218 14,747 6,625 Total ...9,595,882 ...10,057,228 ...10,810,860 ________________________ Portugal. Pit wood Exports.—The amounts of pitwood exported through Lisbon were as follow :— Metric tons. £ 1911 .............. K'6,575 ... 70,875 .... 1912 .............. 92,060 ... 41,852 1913 .............. 125,000 ... 74,519 The exportation in 1913 has nearly recovered from the drop which took place in 1911-12, and is almost as large as in 1910. Complaints have been made in the Press that the export of props, in spite of the export duty imposed in 1911, is denuding the mountains of trees and neutralising the work of re-planting. Coa> Imports:—The amounts of coal and coke imported in 1911-13 are given below :— English tons. 1911 ............................. 692,577 1912 .................... 770,952 1913 .................... 825,293 This large increase in 1912-13 is mainly due to the greater demand for bunker coal caused by the prosperous state of the shipping trade in those years. Forty more German steamers called at Lisbon in 1913, compared with 1912, some of them of large size. The shipping boom, however, has to a considerable extent died away, and it is expected that there will be much less coal imported in 1914. Spain. In 1913 the import of coal at Madeira decreased on account of absence of competition in prices between the different coaling depots, and out of the total import 7,615 tons of German coal were imported by the German coal depot at this port. Coal Trade of the Canary Islands.—The coal, all British, supplied to steamers at Tenerife and Las Palmas for bunkering purposes during the past five years has been as follows .-— Tons. 1909 ...................................... 484,000 1910 .................... 1,052,643 ........ 1911 .................... 1,073,000 1912 .................... 1,347,036 1913 .................... 1,160,000 Of whicO to— Tenerife ............ 349,060 Las Palmas........ 810,940 Note.—About 436,563 tons of Durham and about 723,437 tons of Welsh. British firms supplied 974,904 tons of the total quantity in 1913, the balance, 185,096 tons, practically all Welsh, being the share of the business falling to the German depots at Tenerife and Las Palmas. This latter coal was supplied almost exclusively to German merchant ships. The feature of the coal trade in the Canary Islands in 1913, says Mr. Consul Croker, is the remarkable manner in which sales were maintained in spite of the higher prices charged as compared with 1912. Reference has been made in previous reports to the ruinous competition between the coaling firms which started in the year 1910 and culminated in the year 1912, when both at Las Palmas and Tenerife steamers requiring bunkers were supplied at several shillings per ton less than cost price. Shipments in the year 1909, before the competition started, amounted to 484,000 tons, and in 1912 the quantity had risen to 1,347,036 tons. In 1913 reasonable prices were again reverted to, but although the difference to shipowners was about 10s. to 12s. per ton, the total shipments amounted to about 1,160,000 tons, only 187,000 tons less than the record year above referred to. These continued high figures can to some extent be attributed to the effective though costly advertisement the islands received during the local coal war, as highly convenient and efficient bunkering stations, and also to the large profits enjoyed by shipowners in the recent trade boom. When highly remunerative freights were ruling, owners naturally fill up their steamers to the utmost limit with cargo, and make more use of foreign bunkering stations than when cargo is scarce and freights are low. Another reason is the advent of North Country coal as alternative to Welsh; this is offered at 3s. 6d. per ton less than the best of Welsh, and many shipowners find that with this difference in price it pays them to take it. It is hardly to be expected that the enormous shipments referred to will be permanently kept up, but it is to be hoped that the increased business will to a large extent be maintained. ontracts for the year 1914 have been concluded at the following prices: Best South Wales coal, £1 10s. per ton; best North Country coal, £1 6s. 6d. per ton. Freights on coal to the islands in 1913 averaged 9s. per ton, but there has been a big drop since the beginning of 1914, and the most recent charters have been at 6s. 6d. per ton. ________________________ Switzerland. Coal Imports in 1913.—The following table shows the imports of coal into Switzerland during 1913 :— 1912. 1913. Tons. Tons. Germany 1,489,039 ... ... 1,590,577 Austria-Hungary 7,449 ... 5,340 France 218,149 ... 196.934 Belgium 152,836 .. 130,494 Holland 17,502 ... 15,750 Great Britain 27,095 ... 30,358 Total 1,912,070 ... ... 1,969,454 In addition 439,495 tons of coke and 968,530 tons of briquettes were imported, nearly the whole of which came from Germany; in 1912 411,288 tons of coke and 864,402 tons of briquettes were imported. _____________________ Turkey. Approximate figures of coal importation at Constantinople in 1913 :—Cardiff 100,000 to 110,000 tons, North Country 70,000 to 80,000 tons, Turkish about 300,000 tons. Approxi- mate prices c.i.f. Constantinople wereCardiff £1 10s., North Country £1 4s., Turkish £1. The Balkan war had very material effect upon the consumption of British coal, owing to restriction of imports during a considerable portion of the year. It also gave a considerable impetus to the sale of Turkish coal, and increased the prices of the latter. During the early part of the year the import prices were much higher than the average above mentioned, but the drop in prices after the wat brought down the average for the year. The Societe Ottomane d’Heraclee sold In 1913 425,903\ons of coal, screened and washed, average price f.o.b. at Zoungouldak £1, an advance of 4s. on the 1912 price; 166,570 tons were supplied as bunker coal at Zoungouldak and Constantinople. The other mines on the Heraclea coal- field produced about 400,000 tons, viz.:—At Zoungouldak 43,000 tons, Cozlou 177,000, Kilimli 98,000, Aladja Aghzi 7,000, Candilli and Tchamli 68,000, Amasra 6,000, °and Tchatal Aghzi 1,000 tons. The average price of this coal was about 15s. 6d. f.o.b., an advance of 3s. 6d. on the 1912 price. The steady rise in price should be noted. In 1911 the company’s coal fetched 12s. 6d., and the other 6s. to 7s. In all, 369,611 tons of British coal were imported into Turkey in 1912, the value being £424,000 ; the total imported from all countries amounted to 421,779 tons valued at £513,000.