670 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was only moderately attended, and there was not so much business in evidence as last week. There were a few enquiries, however, for prompt parcels of the best qualities of house coal and also a fairly ready sale for good quality rough slacks, but the demand for steam coal and smalls was very limited. Colliery representatives reported that the pits in West Yorkshire had been able to work four days this week, as the supply of empty wagons had been more liberal and the traffic has also been moved more expeditiously. The position with regard to pit props and mining timber becomes more precarious day by day. Several collieries are reported to be pretty nearly used up, and, so far, there does not appear much prospect of relief. The demand for house coal from the London market has shown a further improvement during the past few days. This is thought to be in view of a probable early advance in public prices in London, and also in order to secure fair stocks before the Is. advance on contracts comes into operation. The very best qualities of Haigh Moor and Silkstone best are scarce, some of the collieries declining to take further orders for delivery this month. There have been one or two sales of Silkstone house coal for the coastwise depots, medium qualities realising about 14s. to 14s. 6d. Merchants in the local markets report a quiet state of things in the retail trade, and this is reflected in the demand on the collieries. Pit prices, however, are officially unchanged, an average as under:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Deliveries of gas coal under the new contracts are satisfactory and the pits are able to work from four to five days, while stocks in the colliery sidings are said to be very low. It is reported that the Bradford Corporation Gas Committee have bought just over 200,000 tons at an average reduction of Is. per ton. The best qualities of gas coal and gas nuts have been tendered for at the reduction of 9d., and secondary sorts have been tendered for at from 9d. to Is. 3d. per ton reduction. Manufacturing fuel is in good demand for the heavy woollen district, but apart from this there is very little doing. Best rough slacks, nuts and coking smalls maintain a firm position, but ordinary slacks and unwashed nuts are difficult to secure. The weakness in the price of washed furnace coke is more marked this week, and open-market business is being done at about 12s. 6d. per ton at the ovens. The iron trade both in the Midlands and in the north is reported to be excep- tionally quiet. The prices quoted below, while not official, may be taken to represent current values in the open market:— Prices of coal and coke. House coal:— Current L’st week’s ’Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ 14/ 15/ Wallsend & London best 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 14/ -14/6 Silkstone best 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 Do. house 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 12/6-13/6 House nuts 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 12/ -12/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 16/9-17/9 16/9-17/9 16/6-17/6 Silkstone best 15/3-16/3 15/3-16/3 15/6-16/6 Do. house 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 15/ -15/6 Other qualities 13/ -13/6 13/ -14/ 14/6-15/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit : Screened gas coal 10/9-11/6 10/9-11/6 12/ -12/6 Gas nuts 9/9-10/6 9/9-10/6 11/ -12/ Unscreened gas coal ... 9/6—10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 10/9-11/6 11/ -11/6 ________ ________ 11/ -11/9 Large double-screened engine nuts 9/3- 9/9 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/9 Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/9 9/9-10/6 Rough unscreened 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 7/3- 7/6 Small do. 6/ - 7/3 6/ - 7/3 6/3- 7/6 Coking smalls 6/3— 7/6 7/3- 7/9 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/6 12/6—13/ Barnsley. COAL. In some respects business has shown a little improvement during the week, but on the whole there has been no material change. However, the collieries generally are working more regularly up to about four days a week, whilst a few pits producing the best class of steam coal continues to find practically full employment. In regard to the export of large steams the district has benefited on account of the demand for the Italian State Railways, whilst there is also more demand from French ports. The Admiralty are now placing larger orders at collieries in the district, so that, all things considered, the present position cannot be regarded as an unsatisfactory one. The market continues to be of a steady character, and this perhaps is more largely due to the fact that the output is still materially reduced even with fewer working days conse- quent upon the departure of a considerable number of miners for active service. Several district collieries are also finding a bigger outlet of a production by way of Partington and Liverpool. There is still, however, a difficulty in arranging foreign business owing to financial matters, but judging from the enquiry which is circulating it is expected that this will be shortly overcome. The demand for best hards is also a little stronger on home account, and prices have remained firm as about last quoted. Secondary descriptions of Barnsley bed seams have shown more improvement, but the output is still of such dimensions that the requirements of the markets are easily dealt with. The experience in regard to steam nuts appears to be of a varied character. Home engineering concerns busy on Government orders are taking a good deal of the best class of nuts, and prices are fairly well maintained, but with respect to secondary descriptions the position from a coalowners’ point of view is hardly so good. In the same way slacks are affected. Some of the manu- facturing districts in the West Riding, who are very busy, THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 25, 1914. are taking larger quantities of the better class fuel, but there still remains a difficulty in dealing with the pro- ductions of rougher slacks, although the enquiry for coke making purposes is of a more substantial character. The gas coal collieries are now working better owing to the larger deliveries which are being sought for on contract account, and there is more enquiry in the open market for supplementary lots on the part of gas companies. In regard to house coal the colder weather has again stimulated the demand, and additions to stocks at the collieries is now practically avoided. Values are a little firmer, but not advanced, and the demand for best class fuel is for the present exceeding the output. The enquiry for coke is hardly so strong when compared with recent weeks, and prices have eased off a little. Prices of coal and coke. 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 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/6 11/6-13/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 12/9-13/ 13/ -13/3 Secondary do 10/9-11/ 11/ -13/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 11/3-11/6 11/ -11/3 13/ Secondary do 10/6-10/9 10/3-10/9 11/9-12/ Best washed nuts 10/9 10/9-11/ 11/6-12/ Secondary do 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 10/6-11/ Best slack 6/9 6/9 8/ - 8/3 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/ -12/6 Furnace coke 12/3-12/6 12/3-12/9 12/6-13/ Hull. COAL. Though of course, business in the Humber coal market is limited in volume, the position is no worse than may be expected from the difficulties of foreign exchange and telegraphic communicati m. New transactions mature slowly, but an improvement is confidently hoped for ere very long. Meanwhile, prices of the best steam coal, which is most in request just now, remain fairly steady, the better inland demand by manufacturers having an influence in this direction. Best South Yorkshire hards are again quoted at 14s. to 14s. 6d. according to quality for prompt or nearly prompt shipment at Hull, Grimsby, or Imming- ham, whilst Derbyshire and Nottingham steams are quiet, but fairly firm at 14s. to 14s. 3d. Grimsby or Immingham. There is, however, very little demand for secondary sorts and small coal, prices for which are more or less nominal. Shipments from all the Humber ports to neutral countries are on a fairly large scale, though, perhaps, not in the volume they were a week or two ago. The appliances at the docks are moderately well employed, some additional work being occasioned by shipments on Government account. The Bennett Steamship Company of Goole have this week despatched a cargo of coal to Boulogne, the first to this port since the outbreak of war. A large quantity of coal is being sent from Hull to Italy several steamers having been chartered for the purpose. Except for those which have been secured at from 8s. to 8s. 9d. Genoa, and one or two to near Continental ports, very few fixtures are reported, and none at all for the Baltic, which is for the most part being done by foreign and neutral owners. The renewed activity of the German fleet and the loss of further vessels by sunken mines is a disturbing factor which makes local shipowners rather diffident in risking their ships. Leicestershire. COAL. Another very great change has come over the trade in this coalfield, and there is a great influx of new business, which will absorb all the output for some time to come. The early morning frosts and the advent of sharp weather has given a great stimulus to the demand for all descrip- tions of household coal, and there is considerable pressure for immediate deliveries. The winter contract prices come into force in a few days, and there has been a great increase in business on this account, which promises to be main- tained. During the week very extensive orders have been placed for London, and these will take a long time to clear off. The result is that all the collieries are now working their full five and a-half days per week, and there is now every indication that this satisfactory state of affairs will be maintained for several months. The whole of the output is at once absorbed, and there are practically no stocks whatever in the district. The general position has decidedly improved, and the future is regarded with much more confidence. There is a particularly active demand for kitchen cobbles and nuts for the London market at prices which are considerably in advance of contract rates. All kinds of manufacturing fuel sell with great freedom, and users do not yet seem to have created sufficient reserves. There is a very good demand for steam coal, but the shipping branch is still dormant. The following are prices now generally current at the collieries in this district " Per ton at pit. _________ 1 Current L’st week’s prices. Best household coal .............. 13/6-14/6 Second, hand picked .............. . 12/6-13/6 Deep screened cobbles ............ 12/3-13/3 Deep large nuts ................... 11/6-12/ Bakers’nuts....................... 11/6-12/6 Small nuts ............................................... 10/6-11/3 ....................... Deep breeze ....................... * 9/6-10/ Peas ............................. ; 7/9- 8/3 Small dust ........................ 2/ - 2/3 Deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers ......................... 10/ -10/6 Steams, best hand picked .......... 9/6-10/6 ................... Steams, seconds ................... 8/6- 9/3 Cobbles and nuts for kitcheners .... ( 10/ -10/6 prices. 13 6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11 /3 9/6-10/ 7/9- 8/3 2/ - 2/3 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The movement in the household coal trade so far has been slight. General manufacturing contracts are steady, and there is rather a plentiful supply of slacks. When the winter prices come into operation next week it will probably be found that household qualities are up 2s. over the summer rates, and 6d. to 9d. over the rates current at the corre- sponding period of last year. In manufacturing fuel the difference will be about 6d., and in slacks it is not expected there will be any change. The week’s quotations are as follow:— 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 IRON. The market was fairly well attended, but business was on the slow side. All round there seems to have been during the last 10 days a falling-off. Government requirements may be said to form the backbone of the trade at present. Certain branches are in receipt of substantial orders, for the execution of which large quantities of iron and steel are in demand. The tone of the market therefore was fairly strong, though not so strong as in recent weeks. Pig iron makers are doing less, users being for the most part well covered, and the prices of a month ago are not now obtainable. The following are about the current rates :—Staffordshire common, 55s.; part-mine, 59s. to 60s.; all-mine, 90s. to 95s.; foundry, 97s. 6d.; cold blast, 130s.; Northampton- shire forge, 58s. to 60s.; and Derbyshire, 60s. to 61s. In the finished branches the works are going practically full time, though complaints are heard that specifications against contracts are not arriving particularly freely. Marked bar makers are doing fairly well, and the basis is firmly upheld at =£9. This is rather a low figure in relation to the price of good second-class bars, which recently has been <£8 to <£8 5s. The difference between the two qualities is usually 30s. a ton, and now that the excitement caused by the war has subsided business is beginning to run in a more normal groove. This week <£8 is the top figure for unmarked bars, and many sales are made at £7 15s. delivered Birmingham. Common iron delivered in the Darlaston district sells freely at =£7 10s. to <£7 15s., and there seems plenty of work to keep the mills fully employed with their staffs depleted by the calls of the war. A slight recovery has been made in the export trade for galvanised sheets, and here again, with supplies of spelter becoming adequate and cheaper, values have receded. They range from £13 15s. to <£14 for export f.o.b. Liverpool, and <£14 to =£14 5s. for the home trade. Gas strip continues in fair demand at <£7 10s. to <£7 15s., and steel strip at <£8 5s. to <£8 10s. Copper sheets remain at <£76 a ton, and while new business is slow, orders which were held up in the earlier days of the war are now being released. In steel, business is rather better, but not sufficient to justify the attempt made a week ago to get 2s. 6d. advance on the association rates for sections. The quotations for demi- products are <£5 7s. 6d. to <£5 10s. for Bessemer qualities and <£5 10s. to <£5 12s. 6d. Siemens. _______________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Generally speaking the market remains just about the same. Benzols are firm and toluol continues to advance. Crude carbolic is the turn easier, but crystals remain unchanged. Creosote firm. Solvent naphtha is steady, and crude also. There is no change in pitch or tar. Nearest values are :— Benzols........................................ 1/1 Do. North.................................. /Il Toluol ........................................ 1/2 Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ........... 2/ to 2/1 Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ......... /8 Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... 1/1| Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................ /5| Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............. /3| Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ...................... 35/ to 35/6 Do. (f.a.s. west coast) .......................... 33/to 34/ Tar ...................................................25/3 to 29/3 ’ [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia. — The position is distinctly better, and a firmer feeling prevails both for prompt and forward business. It is true sales at low figures have taken place, but they are the exception, due to pressing stock, or capital realising necessities, and do not reflect the general tone of the markets. Closing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes) .......... £10/12/6 .......................... Beckton ........................... £9 12/6 Liverpool ........................ <£10/10 ............................... Hull...................................... £10/7/6 Middlesbrough.................... £10/5 to £10/7/6 Scotch ports ...................... £10/12/6 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 10/44 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis- count: 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.]