570 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 11, 1914i. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The attendance at the market on Tuesday was again below the average, and business was quiet. It was reported that the pits in West Yorkshire had worked from three and a-half to four days this week, the demand being about sufficient to absorb the output. In some cases, however, through shortage of empty wagons, ground stocking has had to be resorted to. The difficulties of the position with regard to pit timber are becoming more serious, and it is said that there are only sufficient stocks on the average to last for three weeks. In some cases English timber is being used. The demand for house coal from the London district is satisfactory as regards best qualities—indeed, some of the collieries are still a fortnight behind with their deliveries. Secondary sorts, however, are very plentiful, and owing to the warmer weather prices have eased off. There has again been a fair amount of business done in the coastwise depots and the Thames wharves from Goole, but prices have varied very considerably. It is said that a cargo of Silkstone best has been sold this week at 15s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. G-oole. In the West Riding markets merchants report a quiet state of affairs in the retail trade, with the principal demand running on the cheaper qualities in bags. Specialised sorts, such as washed house nuts and cobbles, meet a fairly ready sale. Pit prices officially are unchanged, and average about as under:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. The great majority of the new gas coal contracts have now been fixed up, and deliveries on these contracts are being accelerated with a view to increasing stocks at the works. There is some open market buying also for some of the larger Yorkshire works, and supplies are being sent from this district to the south of London. Gas nuts are very scarce, and are relatively the strongest feature of the market. Manufacturing fuel is in rather better demand this week, as some of the factories in the Bradford and Huddersfield districts, and also in the heavy woollen district, are working rather better. Pit prices for these qualities are firmly held on the whole, with a distinctly firmer tone for coking* slacks. Washed furnace coke is still dearer. Some makers quote 13s. to 13s. 6d. per ton for ________ _______ short term contracts. A considerable tonnage is being despatched to the Middlesbrough district, but the demand ____________________________________________________ from Frodingham shows some ease as compared with last week. The under-mentioned pit prices may be taken as the average realised on current sales :— House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ 14/ 14/6-15/ Wallsend & London best 13/ -14/ 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ Silkstone best 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 13/9-14/6 Do. house 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 12/6-13/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 11/6-12/ Haigh Moor best 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Silkstone best 15/3-16/3 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Do. house 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 14/9-15/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/3 14/3-14/9 Screened gas coal 10/9-11/6 11/ -11/6 12/ -12/6 Gas nuts 9/9-10/6 10/ -10/6 11/ -12/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit : 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 10/9-11/3 11/ -11/6 11/3-11/9 engine nuts 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/3-10/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/9 10/ -10/6 engine coal 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Best rough slacks 7/3- 8/3 7/3- 8/3 8/ - 8/6 Small do. 6/ - 7/ 6/ - 7/ 7/ - 7/6 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/3- 7/6 6/3- 7/6 7/ - 7/6 Furnace coke 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/ 12/6-13/ Barnsley. COAL. The working of the collieries this week has been consider- ably interfered with owing to the Doncaster race meeting, which has not only prevented the ordinary working of the traffic, but a large number of men have, as usual, made holiday on several of the days. In regard to business generally, there continues to be a steady improvement, and particularly so in regard to the steam coal trade which has shown substantial recovery on export account. There has been a good enquiry circulating for best large steams for shipment to Russia and for the Italian State Railways, and subject to proper arrangements being made, there is a prospect of a fairly busy time ahead. Also in regard to fuel for Admiralty purposes the district has had a better experience, and the tonnage required has been such as to keep some collieries at work for five days during the week. On the whole the pits have made about four days working. The supply of best large steams in the open market is not large, and prices are very firm as a week ago, whilst coal- owners prefer not to quote very far ahead. The secondary descriptions have shown some improvement, but the restricted output more materially enables prices to be kept at the old level. Generally, the enquiry for steam nuts is also more brisk, and the best classes are being largely taken by engineering firms who have large contracts in hand. Prices are about the same as a week ago although secondary descriptions are perhaps rather more freely met with. In regard to slacks, now that the holiday season in the Lancashire cotton districts has about concluded, there is a better enquiry although the consumption is not yet up to the average, but best slacks are not very difficult to dispose of. There has been little change with regard to the house coal trade owing to the exceptional weather and reduced working on the part of collieries is sufficient to meet the situation, whilst prices are not affected compared with a week ago. The stronger tone in respect to coke has been well maintained, and again there is considerable enquiry for best class coke from the Cleveland district, whilst the North Lincolnshire firms are also taking a large tonnage. Prices although not showing any further advance have remained very firm as quoted a week ago. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 15/ Best Barnsley softs 15/ 15/ 14/3-14/6 Secondary do 12/ -13/6 12/ -12/3 11/ -13/6 Best house nuts 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 12/9-13/ 13/ —13/3 11/ -13/ Secondary do 10/9—11/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 11/3-11/6 11/3-11/6 13/3 Secondary do 10/3-10/9 10/3-10/9 12/ -12/3 Best washed nuts ... 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 11/6-12/ Secondary do 9/9—10/ 9/9-10/ 10/9-11/ Best slack 6/9 6/9 8/ - 8/9 Rough do 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 6/6- 7/6 Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/ 10/ 11/6-12/ Gas nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 12/ —12/9 Furnace coke 11/9-12/ 11/9-12/ 12/6-13/ Hull. COAL. Though, of course, the Humber coal market is still a long way from regaining its normal appearance, the slight improvement seems to be continued, and there would be nothing to stop a fair amount of business being done between now and the end of the year once the way to a better foreign exchange is made open. There are some hopes that the Government aid in this direction will have an easing effect. Meanwhile there is a fair enquiry from abroad, and prices show a hardening tendency, best South Yorkshire steam hards having advanced to 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. f.o.b. Hull, Grimsby, or Immingham. Secondary sorts are in less request and are about unchanged, while there is a moderate demand for manufacturing small coal at 9s. Derby- shire and Nottinghamshire steams are worth about 14s. 3d. Grimsby or Immingham. West Yorkshire Hartleys are ’in fair demand at Ils. 6d. to 12s. Shipments at Hull continue to increase in volume, the risk of coming into contact with submerged mines being minimised by the warning given by the Admiralty. In the freight market, however, there is very little doing, and quoted rates show an easier tendency, with plenty of tonnage offering. Leicestershire. COAL. The conditions are still very variable in this coalfield, but on the whole there has been a steady return to the normal state of affairs. There is, it is true, still some considerable interruption to the ordinary course of business by military necessities occupying the lines, and thus stopping the supply of empty wagons. In spite of this, however, the bulk of the pits will be working four and a-half to five days this week. The consumption of household coal is lessened by the very warm weather which prevails, and the great pressure which has prevailed to deliver supplies is gradually disappearing. The orders and the enquiries are not so extensive as they have been for the past month, but they are still sufficient to clear off the whole of the coal as fast as it comes to the surface. The London demand for house- hold coal is now getting within moderate limits, and this is taken as an indication that the bulk of the laying in of special reserves of stocks has been completed. This is regarded as very satisfactory, because it is expected that the whole of the diminished output will be wanted during the whole of the autumn and winter seasons. The number of men employed has been greatly reduced by the calls of the army during this crisis, and at present it looks as if full time were assured for a considerable period. Manufac- turing fuel, and all coal for steam-raising purposes, is absorbed as fast as it is secured, and prices are very firm. This state of affairs is gratifying, when it is remembered that so many factories are at present only working half- time. The shipping trade for the moment has disappeared ; but even then every colliery in this district is clear of stocks of every kind. 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 10 0 to 10 6 Steams, best hand picked.............. 9 6 to 10 6 Steams, seconds ....................... 8 6 to 9 3 Cobbles and nuts for kitcheners ........ 10 0 to 10 6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The coal trade has a “ between seasons ” aspect. The public is not buying largely, and this is reflected at the pits. Merchants continue to resist the higher scale of 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 14/6 Forge coal 10/6 10/6 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ 8/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 15/6 15/6 16/ cobs 13/ 13/ 13/6 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 15/ Forge (steam) 10/6 10/6 10/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 9/6 Small (do.) 8/ 8/ 8/6 prices issued from some collieries, but it is obvious that a substantial rise must take place at the beginning of October, if not before. The poin^ round which interest seems to centre is the proportion in which the undoubtedly extra cost of output is to be borne by the owners, the merchants, and the public. IRON. The market was well attended, and was pervaded by a tone of quiet confidence, which was accentuated by the more cheerful news from the seat of operations. Substan- tial Government orders for military and naval supplies, which involve the consumption of great quantities of iron and steel, are in hand. The demand for the home market, too, is on the whole satisfactory, though shipping business is naturally suffering. It is regarded as a hopeful sign that the prohibition against the export of galvanised sheets was withdrawn on Wednesday. Orders on hand will now be despatched, but business must of necessity continue on a restricted scale, while the supply of spelter remains scarce, and the Government have first claim on what is coming. Supplies are now beginning to arrive from America, and will continue throughout September and October. Some orders for galvanised sheets are being placed at <£14 10s. per ton. The higher price does not affect contracts, but naturally some preference is given to the new and urgent orders, for which more money is obtained. In the matter of pig iron, current contracts are keeping makers fairly busy, particularly for forge iron. Stocks are not heavy, and new furnaces are gradually being put into blast again. Prices remain steady at last week’s rates, representing an advance of 10s. to 12s. on those in operation prior to the war. Puddled bar are quoted £5 12s. 6d. to £5 15s., or £1 more than they were a few months ago. Branded b ars are unchanged at <£9 a ton; for merchant qualities nothing is offered under <£8, and some few ask 2s. 6d. more; while for common iron for nut and bolt purposes consumers have to pay <£7 10s. to £7 15s. delivered Darlaston. In this branch a large German trade has already been captured, at least temporarily. A fair demand exists for gas strip at £7 10s. to £7 15s., and for steel strip and hoops the price is £8 5s. to £8 10s. There is a good demand for hoop iron for military purposes. No further advance has been notified in steel quotations. All the works are well occupied, but at the ironworks output is restricted by the heat. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, September 10. __________________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The general trade prospects of the coal trade in this locality are somewhat better than they have been during the past week or two, and most of the collieries are working fairly good time, and are able to dispose of their output when not handicapped for want of empty wagons. In most cases, however, the output is very much reduced owing to the smaller number of men employed as a result of the recruiting, it is stated that at Penygraig a new seam has been discovered which is about 4 ft. 6 in. in thickness, and a new shaft is to be sunk there, at a site about 250 yards from Tynycoed Colliery, which will give employment for a number of men when developed. Orders for house coal are fairly numerous, and a number of enquiries are now out for tenders for the winter supplies to the various schools and public institutions of the locality. The demand for steam coal has improved during the past week. This, to a certain extent, is due to the fact that certain works which had been closed down temporarily owing to the war, have been reopened, and the men will be employed as long as it is possible to go on. The men at most of the local brickworks are working full time, though in some instances it has been found necessary to put them on short hours. The question of great moment to the coal owners is the future supply of timber. Negotia- tions are being entered into to purchase home grown timber in case of a shortage. Several shipments have been made of North Wales coal during the past week, and prices are ruling fairly steady. There is a moderate demand for slack, which will no doubt improve as soon as the industrial works, which have been reopened, get into their full swing again. There is no change in the price of gas coke, though the demand is a little improved through tenders being required for supplies for heating apparatus in schools, &c. The ruling prices may be taken as below ;— s. Per ton. d. s. Best house coal ... 14 6 to 15 Seconds do ... 13 6 to 14 Steam coal ... 12 Oto 12 ________ Gas coal _______ ... 12 3 to 12 Bunkers ... 12 0 to 12 Slack ... 6 Oto 7 Gas coke (at works) ... mdsales— ... 11 8 to 13 Best house coal ... 18 4 to 19 Seconds do ... 16 8 to 17 Slack ... 10 0 to 12 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The general aspect of the steam coal trade to-day shows inactivity on the part of buyers, with unrelenting firmness of sellers’ quotations. Both seem inclined to await the course of events rather than do an active part in moving business. The freight market just now is quite favourable, rates being easy, and tonnage in plenty offering for outward business. The most interesting item of the week has beon the Egyptian Railways enquiry for 360,000 tons of Welsh colliery screened, and 40,000 -tons of North of England (Lambton) coals. The Welsh coals usually supplied are Monmouthshire Black Veins and the best grades western valleys, in quantities of 30,000 tons for December and January, and 50,000 tons for each succeeding month until July, but these quantities may be varied by the buyers. Up to quite recent years Welsh coal only was taken, but during the past two or