7^ tfiE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. OCTOBER 2, 1914. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ coal on the market. Supplies of steam coal are plentiful, and prices of screened Lancashire steam coal range from 12s. to 12s. 9d. f.o.b., according to quality. A fairly satis- factory trade is progressing in the shipments of household coals for the coastwise and cross-Channel service. With regard to slack, the margin of excess of production over demand is becoming narrower, and, with the increased consumption which may be expected any time now con- sequent upon the decrease in the temperature, may shortly cease to exist. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:—. / Best ____.*.............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium........____...... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen_____............. Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack • ...... Common do. Current prices. 17/ 16/6-16/9 15/3 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/3-13/9 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/9 9/ 8/ - 8/6 L’st week’s prices. 17/ 16/6-16/9 15/3 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/3-13/9 11/6-12/ 12/ -13/ 9/9 9/ 8/ - 8/6 Last year’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/3-14/ 10/3 9/6 9/ owing to the cooler weather. It is thought that no advance in current pit prices will take place. Representative pits quote as follow : Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s. ; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. The gas coal pits have worked nearly five days this week, and practically the whole output is needed to satisfy contract requirements. It is reported that the Halifax Corporation have bought 120,000 tons within the last few days at an average reduction of Is. Id. a ton compared with last year. It is said that a very much larger proportion than usual of gas nuts has been purchased. There is considerable business passing for prompt delivery of the better class gas coals to works in the South of England. Stocks of manufacturing fuel are negligible as the limited supply is absorbed in the heavy woollen district, where business generally is very brisk on account of Government requirements. Best slacks and washed nuts are relatively the firmest, and there is also an improvement in the price of coking smalls. There is a good deal of irregularity in quotations of washed furnace coke, some makers quoting 12s. 6d. and others 13s. 6d., and even more than that for forward business. It is reported that one or two batteries of ovens have been relighted in the expectation of a much better demand for coke. Barnsley. _________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday, and the somewhat sharper weather has caused a little improvement in the demand for house coal. Furnace coal is very quiet, and shipping business is also dull. The call for slack does not improve, some more spinning mills having shut down this week. Prices consequently are easier. Generally, prices are as at foot:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best _______............. Medium....__________ Common___:___..____ Furnace coal......_____ Bunker (f .o.b. Partington). Best slack .....______ Common slack .......... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 17/3-18/ 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ 12/6 12/6 14/ 14/ 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 8/6- 9/ 8/6- 9/ Last year’s prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 IRON. There was a fairly good attendance on ’Change in Manchester this week, and prices are, generally speaking, without alteration. Forges are still busy at the association rates of <£8 5s. for crown bars, <£7 15s. second quality, £9 2s. 6d. hoops. Steel works are also busy, and are asking <£6 f£>r billets, and =£7 15s. to £8, less 2| per cent., for bars. Wagon builders and foundries are slack. Heavy engineers and boiler makers have not found any improvement. ________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was well attended, and business on the whole was fully up to expectations in view of the near approach of the end of the quarter. It was reported that the pits had been able to work on the average slightly more than four days this week, with very little additions to stock and a fuller supply of empty trucks. The position at the collieries with regard to pit wood shows very little change, but a good deal of interest is being taken in the appointment of a commission representative of the Board of Trade to go to Canada and Newfoundland. With reference to house coal the • suggestion contained in our last report of an early advance in public prices in London has materialised during the week, lowest summer prices being withdrawn last Friday, and an all-round advance of Is. per ton registered. This has the effect of increasing sliding scale contracts by $d. per ton, and generally quotations from the Yorkshire pits have improved to this extent. The very best qualities continue scarce, but supplies of secondary sorts are ample, Further coastwise sales are reported, the qualities chiefly in demand being Silkstone house and washed house nuts. In the local trade end of the month considerations have checked the demand, but there is a better feeling generally in the retail trade ______________________________________________________ COAL. Although there has been considerable variation in the demand on foreign account for steam coal, generally speaking the position is of a fairly firm character. The volume of business still continues to occupy the pits about four days per week, although the enquiry for special sorts again justifies in some cases a five days working per week. There seems little likelihood of the daily output being improved, owing to the fact that daily a considerable number of miners are joining the army, and they are not being replaced. Buyers recognising this aspect of the situation are more inclined to make larger arrangements in respect to forward supplies, but coal owners are not inclined to encourage this at the present range of prices. The export by way of Hull consists in a material degree of cargoes for Russia by way of Archangel, and for France and Italy, whilst business is fairly brisk also with Norway and Sweden. The extent of business, however, is, in the opinion of many, simply confined to such dimensions as the necessary arrangements for shipping and payment can be concluded. On home account there is also a fairly substantial enquiry for good large steams, but in respect to secondary sorts, generally speaking the production is equal to the demand, and the position is hardly so strong as was the case a week ago. The demand for washed steam nuts on home account continues to be particularly good, and the output is fairly cleared, owing to the greater activity in the engineering centres. Secondary grades of this class of coal, however, are not so active, and the orders are easily dealt with. The improved working in some of the manufacturing districts has led to the larger consumption of best slacks, which have made a considerable recovery on the week, but rough slacks are still rather quiet. The larger delivery of gas coal under contract is enabling this class of pit to work more regularly, and there are a fair number of enquiries on the market for supplementary deliveries to enable stocks to be accumulated to provide for the possibility of the reduced working by collieries. In regard to house coal, the brisk demand of recent weeks has been well maintained, but possibly the position may become rather quiet, owing to the fact that generally the winter advance of Is. per ton has been made dating from the 1st inst. Orders for the best class of coal have not been fully complied with, but with few exceptions the required deliveries of secondary sorts have been readily made. With respect to coke, although there may be some little change, as a whole the position is about the same as a week ago. Pig iron manufacturers are more inclined to make contracts for longer periods than which have been in force of late, but producers are not inclined to conclude arrangements for very far ahead. Prices are firmly maintained, and the output is about fully absorbed. Prices at pit. Leicestershire. > COAL. The whole of the pits in this coalfield are now very fully engaged, and the output is maintained at the full limit of five and a-half days. The number of men engaged, however, is very considerably less than at the corresponding period last year, large numbers having joined the army for the duration of the war. The demand for all the best classes of coal for household purposes is increasing every day, withi the result that prices tend to gradually harden, but no new ‘ list has been issued as yet. The London business for kitchen cobbles and nuts is now of large volume, and a prolonged period of activity has apparently been entered upon. Two months of war experienced, and the way in which difficulties have been met and mastered without any violent fluctuation in values or of any serious reductions in the wages earned by the workmen is a matter upon which the colliery managers are to.be heartily congratulated. The spirit of co-operation for the common good of all has been splendidly exemplified. There is now a full and constant demand for manufacturing fuel, which seems to be wanted to meet actual requirements, and the result is that there are no stocks left at the pit banks. There is also a very healthy demand for steam coal, with very firm prices. The shipping business is still quite suspended, the coal from this coalfield having to be sent to east coast ports which cannot be utilised. English-grown larch is being further brought into use for pit props. The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district:— Per ton at pit. ________________ 1 Current prices. 13/6-14/6 , 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/3 10/6-11/3 9/6-10/ i ------- . 7/9- 8/3 : 2/ - 2/3 conditions have now been Best household coal .............. Second, hand picked ...................... Deep screened cobbles ..’........... Deep large nuts .................. Baker s’ nuts________.................... Small nuts ...................... Deep breeze........................................ Peas ......................................... Small dust .....................____ Deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers ......................... Steams, best hand picked .......... Steams, seconds .................. Cobbles and nuts for kitcheners .... L’st week’s prices. 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/6 ! 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 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 revised price lists became general on October 1, and the approximate figures are given below. In anticipation of the advanced rates there was a bigger demand for house coal last week. Works fuel is steady, and slacks are plen- tiful, although there is no glut. Prices :— Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... " seconds deep best shallow seconds do. Pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/6 14/ 15/ Wallsend & London best 13/6-14/ 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 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 11/6-12./6 Haigh Moor best 17/ -18/ 16/9-17/9 17/ -18/ Silkstone best 15/6-16/6 15/3-16/3 16/ -17/ Do. house 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 15/ -15/9 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/6-15/ Screened gas coal 10/6-11/ 10/9-11/6 12/ -12/6 Gas nuts.......; < 9/6-10/3 9/9-10/6 11/ -12/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 9/3- 9/9 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Washed nuts....' Large double-screened 10/6-11/3 10/9-11/6 11/ -11/6 engine nuts 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 10/ -10/6 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/6-10/3 engine coal 9/3- 9/9 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Best rough slacks.. 7/3- 8/3 7/3- 8/3 8/ - 8/6 Small do. 6/ - 7/3 6/3- 7/6 6/ - 7/3 6/9- 7/3 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/3- 7/6 6/9- 7/3 Furnace coke ...... 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals — prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 16/6 15/ -15/6 16/ Best Barnsley softs 16/ 15/ 15/3-15/6 Secondary do 13/ -14/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/ 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 14/ -14/3 12/ -14/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/9-11/ Best hard coals 11/3 11/3-11/6 12/9 Secondary do 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 11/6-11/9 Best washed nuts 10/9 10/9 11/6-11/9 Secondary do 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 10/3-10/9 Best slack 6/9 6/9 8/ - 8/3 Rough do Gas coals:— 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 6/6- 7/ 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 12/6-12/9 12/3-12/6 12/6-13/ • Hull. Do. Do. 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. 18/6 ■ 17/6 18/6 16/ 15/ 16/ 14/6 13/6 14/8 13/9 12/9 14/ 14/6 14/6 15/ 10/6 10/6 11/ 7/ 7/ 7/6 16/6 15/6 16/6 14/6 13/ 14/ • 15/ 14/6 15/ 10/6 10/6 11/ 9/6 9/6 10/ 8/ 8/ 8/3 COAL. The position in the Humber coal market can best be described as quiet. Very little new business is passing or can possibly mature until some practical solution of the foreign exchange difficulty is made apparent. A fair amount of coal is, however, coming over the rails for shipment under contract, and this is being sent chiefly to Northern Scandinavian ports in neutral bottoms. Little is now being sent to Russia viA Archangel, the requirements of the Russian State Railways having been met for the time being. On the whole the shipments are not so heavy as they were a fortnight ago, and the docks are therefore compara- tively quiet, Prices in the absence of demand have eased off, and best South Yorkshire steam coal is now quoted at 14s. to 14s. 3d. for prompt shipment at Hull, Grimsby or Imming- ham ; and Derbyshire and Nottingham steams up to 24s. Grimsby or Immingham. Secondary sorts are not sought after. House coals are an improving market, and some enquiry for gas coal for export is reported. The freight market, except for the Mediterranean and South America, is very quiet and rates have advanced, 9s. now being asked for Genoa and 12s. for Buenos Ayres. IRON. The market was again well attended, and partook some- what of the nature of a preliminary to the quarterly meeting next Thursday. Contrasted with the beginning of the quarter the position is very different. Then business was dwindling and prices were falling. Since the outbreak of the war there has been a revival of demand, prices have been advanced, and the market has been swept clear of foreign competition. Present symptoms are again in the direction of weakness, though it has not yet developed to any great extent. Still reports from pig iron centres denote less buy- ing than a month ago, and consumers are able to have more say in the matter of terms. Supplies of Northamptonshire grey forge are obtainable at about 56s. 6d. to 57s. 6d. Staffordshire cinder forge is about 55s., part 58s. to 59s., and Derbyshire 58s. to 59s. The finished banches have not witnessed any material alteration during the week. The leading marked bar houses are well supplied with business, both on account of Government work and the high-class engineering industries of the district, which are wonderfully well employed. No immediate change is anticipated on the £9 basis, with the usual 12s. 6d. extra for the Earl of Dudley’s Round Oak brand. Makers of unmarked bars are not quite so happily situated. Full time has not been worked at some of the mills in the district, and the plant at others which started on Monday has not been fully employed. The market level is about £7 15s. a ton delivered Birming- ham, and for common iron in the Darlaston and Wednesbury districts £7 10s. In special cases £7 7s. 6d. may be accepted for nut qualities. Small rounds, squares, and flats are maintained at £8 2s. 6d. to £8 5s. A slightly more active demand falls to be recorded for galvanised sheets. Some large Government orders are expected shortly, and by arrangement these will be divided amongst the priilcipal houses. The export side is-hampered by financial consider- ations and high freights. Prices may be said to range from £13 15s. to £14 15s., but the only business at the higher figure is for small lots for the home trade. Steel works are busy. Bessemer sheet bars and billets are quoted £5 7s. 6d. to £5 10s. Bessemer qualities, and 2s. 6d. to 5s. extra for Siemens. Angles are £7 2s. 6d., and joists £7 5s.