October 9, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 775 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ show a firmer tendency for all French ports and for the Mediterranean, but for South American destinations rather an easier tone prevails. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings............ Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal........ Secondary do.......... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ......... Current L'st week’s Last year's prices. 16/9-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6; 7/ - 7/6 6/ - 6/9 5/ - 6/ 7/3- 7/6 11/9-12/ 12/3-13/ prices, i 17/ -17/6 i 16/6-17/ 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 7/ - 7/6 6/ - 6/9 5/ - 6/ 7/3- 7/6 11/9-12/ 12/3-13/ prices. 16/9-17/ 15/6-15/9 15/3-15/6 15/ -15/3 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 6/6- 7/ 8/ 12/ -12/3 13/3-13/9 Cardiff there were despatched 44,543 tons, of which London took 11,840 tons and Bristol 11,682 tons. Shipments to Southampton were nil, and to Liverpool only 480 tons. From Newport there were shipped 60,027 tons, of which Bristol received 7,415 tons, Dublin 7,595 tons, Cork 5,950 tons, Waterford 4,510 tons, and Southampton 4,150 tons. From Port Talbot the shipments were 7,590 tons, Briton Ferry 9,845 tons, and Swansea 18,513 tons. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/6 18/ -19/ 21/ -23/ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/6 18/ -19/ 21/ -23/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -21/ 24/ -25/ IRON. Business locally in the iron and steel trade is very quiet, and at the moment only small enquiry is on the market. Work fs again reported moderately good at bar mills, but current contracts are being rapidly worked off, and no fresh buying is taking place on a large scale. Quotations remain nominally unaltered. Rail mills remain in much the same position. Specifications are slow in coming to hand, and, with a limited enquiry, values are inclined to ease. There is little alteration at blast furnaces, where business is slow. Iron ore shows little doing, and quotations easy. Tin-plates are quiet, with works fairly well engaged; stocks are increasing, and although good hopes are held, the future is viewed with some amount of anxiety. Cardiff. COAL. There is practically no change in the position of the market, except that quotations are wide, and there is a tendency to easiness in best descriptions. The great bulk of the output from the principal Admiralty collieries is still being retained by the Government for naval purposes, but there is a good deal of uncertainty as to how long this state of affairs may continue. Permission is being granted to ship under contract to coaling depots, but there is reason to believe that the quantity of free coal on the market is very small, as contractors are naturally anxious to take delivery under their contracts wherever possible. For this reason, it is very difficult to gauge values, as so much depends on the position of the collieries with the Admiralty. Some of the best firms are still quoting 22s., but this is generally con- sidered top value, and between 20s. and 21s. may be taken to more accurately gauge the present position of the market. The financial difficulty is gradually being surmounted, more especially in the case of France, Italy and Spain, and there appears to be a feeling that some action will be taken by the Government with reference to the sums owing to the collieries in this district for coal supplied to foreign buyers, and more especially in the case of Russia. At the commencement of the war, it was stated that the amount due approximated a million sterling, and that idea at that time was scouted as being excessive. From information which has been carefully obtained by the Chamber of Commerce, however, it has been discovered that the amount exceeds a million and a-half. A scheme has been suggested by which the Government should advance a certain proportion of the debts admittedly due, but which merchants cannot remit, chiefly through financial stress, but what form this relief is going to assume is not at present known. There is no doubt that some of the smaller firms are being seriously inconvenienced owing to their inability to collect the amounts due to them, and any solution of the difficulty would be cordially welcomed. A much needed stimulus would be given to the market, and trade would soon regain its normal condition. There is an absence of new business, but it is expected that the Egyptian State Railways’ deal will have a material effect on the contractual period which is now approaching. Tenders for 360,000 tons have to be in Cairo by the 15th inst., and the result will probably be made known within a few days afterwards. Superior second Admiralties are quoted at 20s. 6d., and ordinary descriptions 17s. 9d. to 18s., which is a trifle in advance of last week’s price. There has been no improvement in the position of Monmouthshire coals, and the accumulation of stocks, with the resultant shortage of wagons, has had the effect of causing temporary stoppages at some of the pits. Prices have been somewhat irregular, but current rates are on the basis of 17s. 3d. for Black Veins, 16s. 9d. for western valleys, and 16s. 3d. for the best easterns, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. In the small coal market there has been a decidedly better tendency, and best bunkers now command 8s. 3d. to 8s. 6d., ordinaries 8s., and cargo sorts 6s. to 7s. In bituminous coals there is little change. No. 3 Rhondda large is unaltered at 17s. 6d., but small is slightly lower. In No. 2 qualities there is an easier tone, and prices generally are about 3d. lower. The coke market continues to improve as far as demand is concerned, and prices are firmly maintained. There were heavy shipments of patent fuel last week, several cargoes being sent to Archangel for consumption on the Russian railways. Complete figures are not available, but the Crown Company despatched 19,347 tons, which is an usually large quantity even in normal times. Coal shipments from the four principal ports last week approximated 350,000 tons, or about 30,000 tons more than in the preceding six days. As compared with the exports in the corresponding week of last year, however, there is a decrease of nearly 200,000 tons. From Cardiff there were shipped 244,000 tons, from Newport 49,000 tons, from Swansea 51,000 tons, and from Port Talbot only 8,600 tons. Charterings showed a slight improvement, the amount of tonnage taken up last week being 195,050 tons, or an increase of 4,950 tons over the preceding six days. These figures, of course, exclude the vessels engaged on time charter by the Admiralty. According to the official return issued by the Statistical Office of the London Custom House, the amount of coal shipped coastwise from the Bristol Channel ports during the month of August was 122,960 tons, compared with 231,816 tons in the corresponding period of last year. From l Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 20/ -22/ 20/6 17/9-18/ 8/3- 8/6 8/ 6/ - 7/ 5/ - 5/6 19/6-20/ 17/ -17/9 15/ 14/ 14/ 12/9-13/ 8/6- 9/ 17/3 16/9 16/3 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/ -14/6 10/6 14/ 10/6-11/ 7/6 18/ 16/ -17/ 27/ -30/ 22/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 21/6-22/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 17/6-18/ 7/9- 8/3 7/3- 7/6 5/6- 6/6 4/6- 5/ 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 15/ 14/ 13/9 12/9-13/ 8/6- 9/ 17/3-17/6 16/9-17/3 16/3-16/6 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/ -14/6 10/6 -11/ 14/3 11/ 7/ - 7/3 18/ 16/ -17/ 27/ -30/ 22/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 21/ -22/ Last year’s prices. 20/ -20/3 19/ -19/6 17/9—18/ 10/6 10/ -10/3 7/3- 7/9 7/ 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ 16/ -16/6 15/ 14/6 13/6 11/9 16/9-17/ 16/ -16/3 15/9 15/3 20/6 17/6-18/ 17/ 15/ 12/3-12/6 13/ -13/6 11/ 7/6- 8/ 22/3 20/ -21/6 28/ 26/ 20/ -21/ 23/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals :— : Best house coals (at pit) ! Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large j Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— , Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) values were in most cases a shade harder. Unfortunately the demand for rubbly culm and duff was to all intents and purposes at a standstill, and orders for both these com- modities would be welcome. In the steam coal market there was an excellent demand for large coal, but smalls were in poor request, with values easier. IRON. Last week a decided improvement characterised the tin plate trade, and nearly all the mills were in full operation at the Morriston group of works. Alterations and improve- ments to machinery continued, and two new mills are to' be started at the Worcester Works, whilst other works in the district were busily engaged. Employment was fairly good at the bar mills, but things still look gloomy for the sheet industry. The aggregate production at the blast furnaces was heavy, there being a good demand for pig iron. Orders were slowly increasing for bars at the local steelworks, and things were fairly brisk in all departments. The shipments of tinplates were 39,021 boxes, receipts from works 57,670 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 247,170 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market here appears to be slightly improving and probably owing to the colder weather and the approach of winter, enquiries are better than they have been for some time. The chief difficulty now appears to be shortage of tonnage, and collieries at the moment have a number of cargoes awaiting shipment, but are unable to get boats. Orders are more plentiful from both France and Italy, and the financial strain appears to be easing. Most of the anthracite kinds have a better demand, and prices are not so easy as they were. The horticultural qualities are going better and prices are firmer. There is, however, little change in the demand for steam and bituminous small. Large sorts are in good request. Prices this week are;— IRON. Business in the tin-plate trade still continues dull, and prices exhibit a slight sagging tendency. Officially, prices for Bessemer standard cokes are 13s., but business has been done at 12s. 10^d., and even 12s. 9d. is being accepted for prompt loading. Oil sizes, 18| x 14 sheets are 13s. to 13s. 3d., and 20 x 10 sizes 18s. 9d., with a shade less for good specifications for early loading. Shipments last week amounted to 39,021 boxefe, whilst receipts from works were 57,670 boxes. This cannot be regarded as quite satisfactory, and stocks have increased to 247,170 boxes. There are nearly 250 mills still idle. In the galvanised sheet trade the recent Government orders have afforded a welcome reliefj but outside business is not coming in, and trade in a week or two will be as stagnant as before the war. For 24-gauge corrugateds, <£13 10s. is now being asked, or a reduc- tion of 30s. per ton compared with a month ago. The heavy steel trade is very slack, and new orders are urgently needed to keep works going. Canada and America are making strenuous efforts to secure the business which is known to be on the market, and it is doubtful whether any of the substantial orders will come this way. Welsh bars are a trifle easier, both Siemens and Bessemer qualities being quoted at £5 2s. 6d. Pig iron is 71s. 6d. to 72s. f.o.t. In iron ore there is practically nothing doing, and best rubio is quoted at 17s. 6d. to 18s., seconds at 16s. to 16s. 6d., and Almeria at 17s. per ton. As a result of the audit of the b loks of the Iron and Steel Sliding Scale Association, the men at the associated works will submit to a reduction of | per cent, in wages as from August 31 last. In scrap metals there is a brighter outlook, but business is not very brisk at the moment. Prices are quotably unaltered. Swansea. COAL. There was a considerable set-back in the trade of the port last week. Very little tonnage was available, and the shipments of coal and patent fuel only totalled 43,888 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change, and there was a brighter outlook generally on the anthracite coal market ; enquiries for nearly all descriptions were better, whilst Current i L'st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— ; prices. prices. prices. Best malting large . 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 20/6-22/6 Secondary do. 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -20/ Big Vein large . 16/ -18/ 16/ -18/ 17/6-18/6 Red Vein do . 13'6-14/ s 13'6-14/ 13/6—14/6 Machine-made cobbles.. .' 20/ -22/ • 20/ -22/ 19/6-20/6 German nuts . 21/ -23/ . 217 -23/ 23/ -25/ French do . 21/ -23/ ■ 21/ -23/ 23/ -24/ Paris do . 21/ -23/ : 21/ -23/ 23/ -25/ Machine-made beans .. .• 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ Do. peas..... . 13'6-14'6 13/6-14'6 12/6-13/ Culm . 6/ - 6/3 : 5/ - 5/6 6/ - 6/3 Duff :.. .. 3/9- 5/6 3/9- 5/6 5/ - 7/ Other sorts:— Large steam coal . 16/ -18/ ! 16/ -18/ 17/6-18/ Through-and-through.. . 11/ -11/6 10/ -10/6 11/ -11/6 Small . 8/6- 9/6 8/6- 9/6 9/ -10/ Bituminous small coal.. . 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 10/ -11/ _____________________________ Experts avd of Coal Tar Products.—Th? follow- ing shows the values of coal tar dves imported into the United Kingdom in September and the nine months ended therewith :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. Alizarine and anthracene £ £ £ £ dyestuffs ........... 15,433 ... - ... 182,113 ...131,970 Aniline and naphthalene dve stuffs ........... 118,752 ...9,974 ...1,145,758 ...950,247 Synthetic indigo....... 4,620... — ... 57,203 ... 48,971 Other coal tar dye stuffs — ... — ... 562 ... 154 The quantity of aniline and naphthalene dye-stuffs imported in September was 1.820 cwt. The values of the coal products exported in September were as follows :— September. Jan.-Sept. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... Secondary do. Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) .......... Red Vein large do. ... Machine - made cobbles (net) ............. Paris nuts (net) ..... French do. do......... German do. do......... Beans (net) .......... Machine - made large peas (net)........... Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net) ........... Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... Through-and-through (less 21 p.c.) _____ Small (less 2| p.c.) ... Patent fuel do......... Current prices. 20/ -22/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 12/6-13/6 19/3-21/3 21/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 18/6-19/6 12/ -13/ 4/ - 4/6 3/ - 3/6 18/ -20/ 13/6-15/6 10/3-11/ 7/6- 8/6 17/ —18/6 10/ -10/9 16/6-17/6 L'st week’s Last year's prices. prices. 20/ -22/ 21/6-24/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/6 16/6-17/6 ! 17/6-18/6 12/6-13/6 ; 14/6-16/ i 19/3-21/3 ' 21/6-23/ — ' 23/6-26/ 21/ -23/ I 23/6-25/6 21/ -23/ ’ 23/6-25/6 18/6-19/6 i 16/6-18/6 12/6-13/6 i 12/6-13/6 4/ - 4/6 ' 6/ - 6/3 3/ - 3/6 ' 4/6— 5/3 18/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 13/6-15/6 14/ -15/ 10/3—11/ 11/ -12/ 7/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ I — 13/6-14/6 I 10/3-10/9 : 10/6-11/6 t 16/6-17/6 | 18/ —19/ Coal products, not dyes .— 1913. - £ 1914. £ 1913. £ 1914. £ 4— 1 Id C5" Aniline oil and toluidine 1,921. .. 5,329.. 22,796.. 24,065 tr: Anthracene — — 1,310 . 712 c £ - Benzol and toluol 23.437. 10.7 . 23^,404.. . 144,016 o Carbolic acid 13,573 . . 1,771 . . 143.384.. . 84.978 Coal tar, crud*1 3,356 159.. 14,649.. 7,620 Coal tar, refined and U-- varnish 5,953.. . 1,982.. 50,112.. . 44,384 r ■; Naphtha 2,119.. — 17,214.. . 15,311 Naphthalene 4,2 9 1,233.. 28.610.. 20,078 Pitch 27,035.. .13,992 771,227.. 612,838 Tar oil, creosote, &c. ... 22,155.. . 6,185.. . 473,126.. . 404,846 Other sorts 18,576.. . 6,186.. . 228,698.. . 187,609 Total 122,404.. .36,847.. 1,987,530.. 1,546,457 Coal tar dye stuffs -. 16,506.. .22,906.. . 132,753.. . 139,915 The following quantities of the above products were exported in September :—Coal products, not dyes : Aniline oil and toluidine. 219.097 1b.: benzol and toluol. 125 galls.: carbolic acid. 1.306 cwt.: coal tar, crude. 592 cwt.: do., refined and varnish, 89.187 galls. ; naphthalene. 2.942 cwt. ; pitch. 152,532 cwt.*, tar oil. creosote, etc.. 199.064 galls.; other sorts, 18,801 cwt.: coal tar dye stuffs. 6.484 cwt. The export of some of the above products has now been prohibited. Exports of sulphate of ammonia are also shown :— September. Jan.-Sept. To 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. £ £ £ • £ Germany............... 5,193... — ... 74.018... 43,087 France................. 8,906... — ... 109,086... 26,105 Spain and Canaries.... 66,983... 57,363... 682.615... 668,242 Italy ......... 4,691... 3,076... 71,^50... 45,632 Dutch East Indies .... 60,970... 5.365 . 489,729... .-437,156 Japan ................. 166,712.,102.173 1,089.416..- 910,201 U.S. of America ______ 15,383... 86,257... 2^4,’92...' 375,154 British West India Islands (including Bahamas and British Guiana) .......... 2,794... 16.720... 97,610... 100,298 Other countries ...... 36,104.. 23,364... 445,189... 289,987 Total........... 367,736 . 294,318 . 3,261,105. . .2,895,862 The following quantities were exported in September :— Spain and Canaries, 5.220 tons: Italy. 292 tons; Dutch East Indies, 415 tons: Japan, 8.905 tons: U.S.A., 7,607 tons; British West Indies, 1.496 tons; other countries, 1,936 tons;