470 August 28 1914. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________... 1s a fairly ready sale for seconds, cobbles, house nuts and other secondary grades, and merchants on the whole are doing about 75 per cent, of their average turnover for this time of the year. Officially, pit prices are unaltered, but quotations vary considerably, each transaction being dealt with on its own merits. Practically nothing is being sent to Goole or Hull for the coastwise trade, but one or two of the larger towns on the south coast are taking supplies by rail. New business in gas coal has been checked since the outbreak of the war, and one or two authorities have deferred buying for a month or more. Meanwhile there is a moderately good outlet for the limited output, as one or two important works are taking the opportunity of increasing their reserves of coal. The few contracts booked during the past week have been at a reduction from last year's figures of from 9d. to Is. per ton. With regard to the industrial outlook there is a distinctly better feeling locally, and although the factories and other large industrial concerns in the district are working little more than half-time, those closely connected with trade anticipate an early improvement. Quotations for factory fuel are similar to those in operation a month ago with the possible exception of rough slacks, which are a shade easier. Makers of washed furnace coke report a still further increase in the demand both from Frodingham, the Midlands and the local iron and steel works in the Leeds district. Average samples are quoted at about Ils. ovens, with special qualities Ils. 6d. to 12s. The summary of pit prices given herewith, while not official, is based upon the average prices realised on actual transactions. House coal:— Current L'st week's Last year's ____________________ Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ 14/ 14/ -14/6 Wallsend & London best 13/6-14/ 13/ -14/ 13/6-14/ Silkstone best 13/ -13/6 13/ -14/ 13/6-14/6 Do. house 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 12/3-12/9 House nuts 11/ —11/6 U/ -12/ 11/6-12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Silkstone best 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Do. house 13/6-14/3 13/6-14/6 14/6-15/6 Other qualities 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 14/3-14/9 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 11/ -11/6 11/ -12/ 12/ -12/6 Gas nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -11/ 11/ -12/ Unscreened gas coal 9/6-10/ J.V/ 9/6-10/6 10/6-11/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 11/ -11/6 11/ -12/ 11/6-12/ Large double-screened engine nuts 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/6 10/6-11/ Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/9 10/ -10/6 Rough unscreened engine coal 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Best rough slacks 7/ - 8/ 7/ - 8/ 8/ - 8/6 Small do 6/ - 7/ 6/3- 7/ 7/ - 7/6 Coking smalls 6/3- 7/3 6/6- 7/ 7/ - 7/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 12/6-13/ Barnslay. COAL. The local holidays in the immediate district have caused collieries to be set down for at least one-half of the week and others a little longer, owing to the quieter state of trade due to the war. In regard to the export branch of the business, although there is a greater enquiry circulating there is yet but little increased activity in shipment, but the tone is much better, and an‘effort is being made to deal with the financial question. Although the home enquiry for large steams continues to be fairly active, the collieries almost entirely dependent upon export trade still find about three days per week will suffice to meet the demand, and prices are kept at a fairly steady level. There is rather more enquiry for steam nuts, owing to the greater activity in some of the engineering industries, and values remain as about a week ago. The holiday season, and the restricted working in the Lancashire cotton and West Riding textile districts continues to have a marked effect on the consump- tion of slacks, but, on the other hand, a bigger tonnage is now being taken for coke making owing to the improved demand. The enquiry for house coal keeps up fairly well, and for the moment colliery stocks are not being added to, and prices are fairly well maintained. Negotiations with regard to the renewal of the remaining gas coal contracts are being pushed forward with a little more expedition owing to the peculiar situation which exists, and reductions from 6d. to 9d. per ton are now being accepted by gas companies. The improved demand for coke, referred to a week ago, has been well maintained, and the restricted output is hardly adequate to meet the demand. Good class cokes are making as high as 12s. per ton, and this is a very firm quotation, and sellers are not inclined to push business at the moment, believing more satisfactory arrangements will be possible in the near future. House coals:— Best Silkstone Best Barnsley softs Secondary do. Best house nuts Secondary do Steam coals:— Best hard coals Secondary do Best washed nuts Secondary do Best slack Rough do Gas coals:— Screened gas coals Unscreened do Gas nuts Furnace coke Current prices. 15/ -15/6 15/ 12/ -13/ 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 11/6 10/3-10/9 10/9-11/ 9/9-11/ 6/9 5/9- 6/ 11/6-11/ 10/ 10/ -10/6 11/ -12/ L'st week’s prices. 15/ -15/6 15/ 12/ -13/ 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 11/6 10/6-11/ 10/9-11/ 9/9-10/ 6/9 5/6- 6/ 10/6-11/ 10/ 10/ -10/6 10/6-11/ Last year's prices. 14/6 13/9-14/ 11/ -13/ 13/ -13/3 11/ -13/ 13/3 12/ 11/6-12/ 10/9-11/ 8/ - 8/6 6/6- 7/6 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 12/6-13/ Hull. COAL. Though, of course, the state of the export trade of the Humber is far from normal, there appears to be a slightly more hopeful outlook than there was a few days ago, and TDE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. exporters are now encouraging the belief that some amount of business with our allies and neutral countries may yet be done despite the difficulties of arranging payment on this side and those of transport. The reduction in the price of Westphalian coal at the beginning of the year and the consequent loss of contracts by English and Scottish firms, seems now to be explained. Norwegian, Swedish and Russian firms threw over British collieries, and to-day they find themselves the victims of Germany's war plan, and particularly at a moment when shipments have to be expedited because of the winter closing of the Baltic ports. This week the Northern Continental Governments have come into the market with large demands to meet the failure of their Westphalian contracts. Some large contracts are reported to have been fixed on terms which cannot be considered otherwise than exceptional. Independent exporters have also enquiries afoot, but progress is slow, owing to the exaction of cash before shipment. Shipments to foreign destinations at the Humber ports last week did not exceed 50,000 tons, or about one-fifth of the usual quantity. More vessels, however, are loading this week. Under the circumstances the freight market has been very quiet, and only one or two minor fixtures to Norwegian and French ports are reported. Prices for coal are still largely nominal in the absence of any volume of business. Best South Yorkshire hards to-day are quoted aj; 14s. f.o.b. Hull, Grimsby, or Immingham, with doubles 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d., singles 13s. to 13s. 3d., and washed small 10s. to 10s. 3d. Best Derbyshire hards are worth about 13s. 9d. f.o.b. Grimsby or Immingham. Leicestershire. GOAL. The wholesale upset last week has been succeeded by something approaching normal conditions, but there remains a great shortage of empty wagons and a reduction in the output has still to be enforced. The demand for all descriptions of coal is maintained at an exceptionally high level, and great difficulty is experienced in dealing with urgent orders, It becomes more and more apparent to colliery managers that there is a great and general determination on the part of everyone to lay in some reserves of supplies to provide against contingencies during the coming winter, and that this widespread determination is likely to keep the pits very fully engaged for some time to come. All the coal produced is at once taken up at the pit bank and prices are very firm all round. At most of the pits working has been possible only four days this week on account of the shortage of wagons through their being required by the military authorities. Had a full supply of wagons been available, the pits would have been working a full week of five and a-half days. The London demand for the best cobbles is maintained at a very high level and this seems likely to continue. At all events there are no signs of any falling off. The demand for steam coal is improving and is now fairly good with quite a number of orders of fair extent. Manufacturing fuel is going off well as fast as it is produced. There are no stocks whatever at the pits and manufacturers are very anxious to keep very full stocks on their hands especially to make it certain that machinery may be kept running for the production of goods for the army and navy. Altogether, the position is sound and very healthy, with a brighter and more settled outlook. 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 ................... 13 6 to 14 6 Second, hand picked................... 12 6 to 13 6 Deep screened cobbles ................. 12 3 to 13 3 Deep large nuts _________....................... 11 6 to 12 0 Bakers' nuts............................ 11 6 to 12 6 Small nuts ............................ 10 6 to 11 3 Deep breeze............................ 9 6 to 10 0 Peas ........................................................ 7 9 to 8 3 Small dust ............................ 2 0 to 2 3 Main cobbles and nuts for London bakers 9 0 to 10 6 Steams, best hand picked............... 9 0 to 9 6 Steams, seconds ....................... 8 3 to 8 6 Cobbles for kitcheners ................. 10 0 to 10 6 ________ _______ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The pits are putting in four to five days a week. The household sales have dropped off, but a good demand is going on from country districts for stacking. The trade in manufacturing fuel is irregular, owing to the uncertainty which exists. The question of prices is coming to the front, but merchants seem inclined to resist any premature advance. Meantime the following quotations still hold the field 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. While prices are still irregular, the market all round has assumed a steadier tone, and this is largely due to the cautious action of makers of marked bars in not unduly rushing up prices. Speaking generally, the iron and steel industries are settling down on a more satisfactory basis than has been apparent at any time since the outbreak of hostilities. There is quite an active demand for material at higher prices, for the war, apart from cutting off Conti- nental supplies, has given a stimulus to the demand for all metals required by the Admiralty and War Office authorities. Pig iron producers in Staffordshire and in the large supply- ing districts of Northamptonshire and Derbyshire report that they have secured substantial business, and a number of furnaces that were damped down during the recent period of depression are being restarted. Not only have prices been raised, but smelters naturally operate with the utmost caution, and are declining to accept forward contracts. For ordinary forge iron quotations are in the neighbourhood of 58s. to 60s.; South Staffordshire part-mine, 61s. to 62s. 6d.; and Derbyshire iron, 63s. to 64s. A better demand is also being experienced for bar iron. Leading makers have booked orders from different firms who have Government contracts. For merchant qualities there is rather a wide range in the quotations, these varying from £7 10s. to I>8, but it seems that makers are dealing to a large extent with customers individually, without relation to any specified stan- dard. The common iron departments have naturally derived much benefit owing to the collapse of Continental competi- tion. On the other hand, consumers are buying as sparingly as possible, by reason of the drop in export trade. Some business is reported in galvanised sheets, in odd lots, at IT4 and 4-15 a ton, but there is really no free market. The spelter difficulty is an effectual bar to business, and a number of mills are idle. Some spelter is coming from America, but it is practically all utilised for Government requirements. The export trade for sheets has naturally fallen heavily owing to the general disorganisation and increased freights. For gas strip prices range from £7 10s. to £7 15s. Steel sections are unchanged; small steel bars are <£8 a ton; while sheet bars and billets remain as last week. Spiegel has again been advanced, and now stands at £6 10s. _________________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a restricted demand for house and steam coal. Buyers show an unusual amount of hesitation, in view of the high freights which have been asked by steamship owners and the heavy insurance against war risks. In some quarters a considerable reduction has been shown : 5s. to 5s. 6d. has been reported as having been done for handy-sized steamers from the Mersey and Clyde ports to south coast ports, and as low as 4s. 6d. from the Mersey to a Cornish port. _______________________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 27. _______________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Cardiff. COAL. There has been a vast improvement in the position of affairs since last week. The withdrawal of the triple bond on shipments intended for neutral and friendly countries had a stimulating effect on business, and there was an immediate rush for prompt shipment. The only remaining difficulty is a question of finance. It is estimated by people who are in a position to know, that not less than «£l,000,000 is locked up abroad, and according to the regulations of the moratoria prescribed in European countries, the great bulk of this money will not become payable until after the war is over. The matter was con- sidered at a largely attended meeting of the Chamber of Com- merce on Monday, and whilst some firms were in favour of the British moratorium being determined and ended, it was felt that 'the existence of indefinate moratoria in other countries would act detrimentally on British exporters unless similiar facilities were granted in this country The Chamber decided to recommend the Government to extend the moratorium until October 4 and thereafter as might be found desirable. With regard to current business the outlook is more satisfactory. Chartering during the past week amounted to over 200,000 tons, compared with 22,700 tons taken up in the preceding six days, and, when it is borne in mind that all the best Admiralty coals, and including a number of superior seconds, are exclusively retained by the Government, the position cannot be regarded as unsatisfactory. In many cases it is estimated that at least 10 per cent, of the workmen have been called to the front, and this, in the ordinary course of events, would mean a reduction of output in the same ratio; but this contingency has been more than equalised by the fact that the miners are working the extra hour per day. The net result is that the outputs of many of the best collieries are considerably in excess of anything that has been experienced for several years, and it is only fair that the colliers should have the credit for the part they are taking in these times of national stress and difficulty. During the past week there have been considerable demands both from France and Italy, and, the embargo having been taken off large coals to both these countries, great quantities are being shipped. In addition, there has been a heavy demand from France, particularly for small coal, in order to take the place of supplies which were formerly secured from Belgium, and it is anticipated that in a few days stocks in South Wales will be reduced to such an extent that almost normal conditions will prevail. At the time of writing it was reported that over 10,000 miners were idle owing to shortage of wagons, but this is a position that will right itself very quickly, if only the trade routes can be kept open. With regard to prices, there is still no quotation for best Admiralty qualities, the whole of which are being reserved by the Government. Seconds are offering at 19s. to 20s., and ordinaries at 18s. 6d. to 19s. The restarting of shipments to Italy has had a beneficial effect on the trade in Monmouthshire, and prices have quickly recovered. Black Veins are 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d., western-valleys 16s. 9d. to 17s., and the best of the easterns 16s. to 16s. 3d., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. There has been a very wide range in small coals, but at the time of writing a distinct improvement had set in, and quotations were on a firmer basis. Best bunkers realised 8s. 6d. to 9s., ordinaries 8s. to 8s. 6d., and cargo sorts 6s. to 7s. The demand for bituminous coals has been small, but prices generally show little alteration, No. 3 Rhondda large being 17s. 6d. to 18s., and No. 2 14s., with