October 16, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 823 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 15. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The coal market in the west of Scotland does not present any new feature, and although business at the moment is fairly satisfactory, there seems to be a rather pessimistic feeling regarding the future of the home market. The home demand during the month of September was compara- tively good, but since the beginning of October there ■ has been a decided falling off, and there does not appear to be any immediate prospect of an improvoment. On the other hand, however, the outlook in the export branch of the trade is better. The best qualities of ells, splints and navigation coals are all fairly well booked, and smalls of all sizes are in moderate demand. The shipments from the district during the past week amounted to 112,041 tons, compared with 107,653 in the preceding week, and 99,593 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coal prices. prices. 1 prices. 10/6-12/6 10/6-12/6 i 13/ -14/6 Ell 11/3 11/3 13/ Splint 11/3-14/3 11/ -14/6 11/6-12/ 13/ -15/ Treble nuts 11/9 13/9 Double do 10/ -10/6 10/3-10/6 12/3-12/6 Single do 10/ -10/3 10/3-10/6 11/ —11/6 IRON. Business in the Scotch pig iron trade continues dull, and the tone is distinctly quiet. Consumers generally are only purchasing against their immediate requirements, while the export trade shows no signs of improvement so far; Deli- veries also are only of moderate size, both in the case of ordinary and haematite iron, and stocks in makers’ yards are inclined to accumulate. There are 67 furnaces in blast in Scotland, the same number as- last week and 17 fewer than at this time last year. The imports of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 6,943 tons for the week. The tone of the Glasgow pig iron warrant market has been flat throughout the entire past week. The general position of the trade and the increase in warrant stores has been responsible for sales of Cleveland warrants, and at the close buyers’ quotation of 50s. per ton cash showed a drop of lOd. per ton on the week. The prices of makers’ iron, with the exception of Langloan, have been reduced Is. per ton, and are as follow:—Monk- land is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 63s. 6d., No. 3, 62s.. Govan, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 62s.; Carnbroe No. 1, 67s. 6d/ No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Clyde, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Gart- sherrie, Summerlee and Calder, Nos. 1, 69s., Nos. 3, 64s.; Langloan, No. 1, 72s., No. 3, 67s. ; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 62s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 64s., No. 3, 62s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1,69s., No. 3, 64s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d. per ton. The manufacturing branches of the trade remain in a similar position to the preceding week. The home trade is comparatively good, but the export branch of the trade continues poor. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians district is moderately good, considering the present conditions. Collieries, however, could do with more orders for round coal, and business, meantime, is confined largely to smalls. Shipments for the past week amounted to 70,212 tons, compared with 68,111 in the preceding week and 108,021 tons in the same week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened steam coal... prices. prices. prices. 11/3 11/3 13/ -14/ Secondary qualities 10/ -10/3 10/3 11/9-12/3 Treble nuts 11/9 11/9 13/9-14/ Double do 10/ 10/ -10/3 12/6-12/9 Single do 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 11/ —11/3 The greater proportion of the trade passing in Fifeshire is being done in screened navigation sorts, which are difficult to arrange. Business is, of course, adversely affected by the closure of the Baltic ports, and naturally third-class steams, the bulk of which goes to these ports, are off in the meantime. Smalls of all sizes are active, and prices are firm. The total clearances from the ports reached the total of 81,425 tons, against 71,033 in the preceding week and 123,078 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s Lastyear’s prices. prices. coal 15/6-15/9 15/6-15/9 17/ Unscreened do 13/6 13/6 15/ First-class steam coal 12/6 12/6 13/9-14/3 Third-class do 10/ 10/ 11/3-12/ Treble nuts 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 13/9-14/3 Double do 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 12/3-12/9 Single do 10/ -10/6 10/3-10/6 11/ -11/3 The aggregate shipments of coal from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 263,678 tons, compared with 246,797 in the preceding week and 330,692 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, 103,180 tons of coal and 597 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 33,610 tons of coal and 2,862 tons of coke, when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 48,267 tons of coal and 4,331 tons of coke, a decrease of 16,530 tons of coal and an increase of 3,402 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 55,078 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 35,072 tons. The shipments from the three places mentioned aggregated 211,453 tons, which places last week’s shipments amongst the highest recorded since the outbreak of war. The local coal market has been exceedingly dull during the week. No big transactions of any description are recorded. There is still a pronounced shortage of tonnage, shipowners hesitating to send their vessels into the mine-strewn area of the North Sea when it is possible to do business with greater safety on the south and west coasts. The result iq* that freights are very high, and consequently merchants allege that unless coal prices are reduced it is impossible to buy with any hope of doing so remuneratively. On the other hand, sellers are firmly convinced that any further decrease in quotations would lead to an absolute loss on sales. Under these circumstances only hand-to-mouth business is recorded. There is some little enquiry for coal for French ports. Italy is taking a good many cargoes of gas coals. Westphalia appears to be regaining its hold on the markets of Holland and Denmark. Gas companies, which under other circumstances would probably be con- tracting for supplies over a considerable period, are contenting themselves with acquiring such small lots as will meet their immediate necessities. A few of the best gas coal collieries are working fairly steadily, and the Blyth steam coal collieries also are moderately well employed. Most other collieries^ however, are very hard up for orders, and are working only intermittently. The fall of Antwerp has resulted in the cancellation of a tidy amount of business for that direction, and it is to be feared that little more trade will be possible with Belgium for some time to come. It is stated, by the way, with reference to the Swedish State Railways’ contract for steam coals for shipment to Narvik, which was cancelled by Scottish merchants at the beginning of the war, that several cargoes of coal have been delivered at Narvik from Spitzbergen, and that a cargo of American coal also has been imported. The information is interesting locally as indicating other possible competitors to those generally recognised. During the week f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied extremely little, the only changes being the following:— Steam smalls, Blyth, 3d. cheaper on the week; Tynes, 6d. reduced; gas bests, easier; seconds, 3d. lower; Durham unscreened bunkers, weaker; coking coal, 6d. fallen; smalls, 3d. to 6d. down; foundry coke, Is. decreased; and gas coke, 6d. cheaper. The Chilian State Railways invite tenders, to reach them by October 24, of 300,000 metric tons per annum of steam coals or briquettes. Alternative tenders for one year’s supply will be considered at the same time, should the tenders for three years prove unacceptable. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 13/ -13/3 12/6 11/ 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/3 7/6 9/6 11/ -11/6 12/3-12/6 11/- 11/3 12/6-13/ 10/6-12/ 10/9-11/3 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 11/6-12/6 L’st week’s prices. 13/ -13/3 12/6 11/ 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/6 7/6- 8/ 9/6 11/ -11/6 12/6 11/ -11/6 12/6-13/ 10/9-12/ 10/9-11/3 11/ -11/6 10/6-10/9 15/ -16/ 20/ -21/ 18/ 11/6-13/ Last year’s prices. 14/9-15/ 15/ -15/3 12/6-13/ 12/9-13/3 12/ -13/ 8/ - 8/3 6/9- 7/ 9/3- 9/6 14/ 15/3-15/6 13/9-14/ 15/6-16/3 12/9-13/9 12/6-13/ 13/3-13/6 13/ -13/3 15/6 19/ -21/ 17/6 17/ -18/ Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel market shows very little alteration. Enquiry is, if anything, slightly better. All grades of coal are offered freely, and buyers have no difficulty in arranging to cover their requirements. Deliveries of gas coal are on a fairly good scale, and best Durhams are 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d.; seconds are fairly plentiful, and run from Ils. to Ils. 3d.; whilst special Wear gas coal is 12s. 6d. to 13s. Bunker coal is quieter, and ordinary Durhams are quoted 10s. 71d. .to 10s. 9d. f.o.b. Demand for household coal is somewhat better at from 15s. to 16s. Coking coal is rather easier. Coking small can easily be purchased at 10s. to 10s. 3d., and unscreened kinds run from 10s. 6d. to Ils. Coke is pretty well taken up. Certain foundry kinds are quoted 19s. to 20s. f.o.b., but up to 22s. is asked for best sorts for shipment. Gas coke is obtainable at 11s. 6d., but best kinds are 12s. to 12s. 6d. Sellers of coke for local use continue to take a very firm stand, despite strenuous efforts of consumers to bring prices down. Up to 17s. 9d. is asked for Durham beehive blastfurnace coke of average quality delivered at Teesside works. Consumers consider the price much too high, but those necessitated to buy have to pay round about the figure named. Inferior Durham coke and Yorkshire kinds are offered at a good deal below the foregoing quotation. IRON. Business in pig iron is on a very limited scale. The blowing in of three furnaces at the Jarrow Works of Messrs. Palmer and Co. increases the number in blast on the north- east coast from 68 to 71, of which 35 are making Cleveland pig, 25 haematite, and 11 special kinds of iron. The re-starting of furnaces at Jarrow does not throw any additional iron on the market, as Messrs. Palmer consume the output thereof themselves. Many of the furnaces running on Cleveland pig are not blowing at full pressure. At the same time the output is a good deal in excess of requirements, with the result that stocks are accumulating. Cleveland pig prices are now much below cost of pro- duction, and several firms talk of putting furnaces out. Quotations for Cleveland iron are lower than they have been for nearly three years past. No. 3 g.m.b. is now obtainable at 49s. 3d. f.o.b., whilst No. 1 is 51s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 49s., No. 4 forge 48s. 9d., and mottled and white iron each 48s. 6d.—all for early delivery. East coast haematite pig is weak and lifeless, but prices are still relatively much better than those for Cleveland iron. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are now on sale at 64s. for either early or forward delivery. Values of foreign ore undoubtedly tend downward, but as there is no business passing it is difficult to definitely fix quotations. Sellers still base market rates nominally on 17s. 6d. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, but there is reason to believe that contracts could be made at 6d. less. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are firm at 4s. 6d. The manufactured iron and steel industries present few new features. Principal quotations are unaltered, but some descriptions threaten to cheapen a * little. Some falling off in demand for shipbuilding material is reported, and there are complaints that specifi- cations for contracts made some time ago are being given out rather sparingly. A few orders for railway material are in the market, and Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company have secured a contract for steel rails for South Africa despite keen American competition. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The coal trade continues to be exceedingly brisk, the export demand being mainly responsible for the increased activity. At the same time, local manufacturing require- ments are steady, and the return of colder weather conditions has had a quickening influence on household coal. At present Irish merchants are taking large quantities, and for the last month or so the supply has been altogether inadequate to the demand. Since the active recruiting commenced the output has diminished considerably at some of the pits in the west. At William Pit, Clifton, it is stated, there has been a decrease equal to about 120 tons per day owing to the shortage of labour. At collieries in the Aspatria, Maryport and Siddick districts, no inconvenience in this respect has yet been felt, but it is having a serious effect on pits at Whitehaven, Moresby, and Wythemoor. At Moresby a number of coke ovens have had to be put out owing to want of coal, and unless there is a speedy increase of output, ovens will have to be damped down all over the district. Efforts have been made to induce some of the Cumberland coalminers in the Newcastle district to return to their native county, but so far only a small number have responded. They appear to be labouring under the impression that after the war they will be no longer needed, and they will then be compelled to return to the east in search of employment. This, however, is an altogether erroneous idea, as the important developments which are taking place at Whitehaven, Lowca, and Risehow are bound to create vacancies in the near future for a still greater number of good coalminers. There is every indica- tion that after the close of. hostilities the Cumberland coal trade will enjoy an even greater period of prosperity. The shipments at the local ports for the Irish market were very heavy last week. From the Elizabeth dock, Maryport, 9,010 tons were exported, 2,700 tons being from the St. Helens Colliery. The cargoes were principally for Belfast, Londonderry, Carrickfergus and Bangor. Coke is in firm demand, and the local smelters are taking all the supplies they can secure. Present quotations are as follow :— Per ton. Best Cumberland'coal, at pit..... 20/6 to 21/ Flimby best coal „ ....... 20/ Washed nuts „ 19/2 Old St. Helens best coal „ 19/2 Best house nuts „ 17/1 Oughterside best coal ........... 20/ Washed huts ........................ 18/4 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b......... 14/6 Bunkers „ 13/6 Coal for gasworks .................. 14/6 IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade is quieter now than it has been since the war commenced. Bessemer mixed numbers are quoted at from 72s. to 73s. per ton f.o.b., with warrants at cash at 66s. This represents a decrease of between 2s. and 3s. per ton since October came in. This sudden change of tone was quite unexpected, for although business has been dull for a few days it was confidently expected that it would soon pick up again. Of course, it is not expected that there will be any reduction in output, for there is still a good demand for metal, but for the present business is merely of a hand-to-mouth character, and buyers are only covering immediate requirements, and judging from these things, it is not improbable that a still further depreciation of values may be expected. Under these circumstances, therefore, production will be influenced very greatly by the demand, and at a crisis like the present there is no desire among smelters to increase their stocks. The stock in the West Cumberland storing yard still stands at 3,048 tons, compared with 16,968 tons a year ago. At Barron, on Monday, Bessemer mixed numbers were quoted at 73s. 6d. net f.o.b., with warrants at cash at 66s., and merchants 70s. The output in Cumberland and North Lancashire is from 22 furnaces. At Workington the Workington Iron and Steel Company have eight furnaces in blast, three at Derwent, three at Moss Bay, and two at Old Side. Millom. Cleator Moor, and Distington have each two furnaces on draught. In the Furness district, Carnforth have one, Barrow five, and North Lonsdale two in operation. A large percentage of the output at Workington and Barrow is being absorbed by the steelworks, while North Lonsdale, Distington, Cleator Moor and Carnforth are making chiefly for the