October 30, 191A THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 923 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, 88,459 tons of coal and 795 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 60,655 tons of coal and 1,673 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 35,800 tons of coal and 3,162 tons of coke, a decrease of 17,622 tons of coal and 542 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 52,538 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 41,496 tons. The total shipped from these three places, therefore, was 180,754 tons, an increase of 4,397 tons when compared with the clearances for the week before. Practically the only reason why the shipments were not hugely in excess of these figures was that tonnage was—and still is—so exceedingly scarce, and, consequently, rates of freight so exorbitantly high. There is more than a mere suspicion amongst coal shippers that shipowners have formed some- thing akin to a ring for the purpose of “ bulling ” the market for their tonnage. The owners allege, as reasons for the highness of freights, the considerable amounts that have to be disbursed in insurance against war risks, the fact that the requisitioning of collier tonnage by the Admiralty has rendered the supply*of handy vessels much more ‘ limited, and the further fact that homeward rates are so bad just now that, in the voyage out and home is to pay at all, high outward rates must be charged. Whatever be the reason for the shortage of vessels and the dearness of ocean transport at present, the fact remains that the local coal market has been almost strangled now for some weeks because of these adverse factors. During the week under review, the volume of business done has been exceedingly limited. There is a first-class enquiry for fuel from France and Italy, and the coaling stations, poor customers recently, are now increasing their demands. Shipments to France and Italy are only limited by the vessels which can be secured at reasonable figures—but the limitation is exceedingly serious, and it is to be hoped that shipowners -will be satisfied with the high rates of freight now prevailing, and will send their vessels to the north-east coast in something like adequate supply. The contract to supply the Swedish State Railways with 20,000 tons of steam coals for shipment up to the end of the year has gone to Scotland for Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly qualities, much to the disappointment of local merchants. That to supply the Gothenburg Gasworks with 4,000 tons of gas coal has been arranged for Londonderry coal at about 12s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., shipment over November-December. The Amsterdam Gasworks are stated to have purchased 8,000 tons of Durham gas coal for like delivery. The Egyption State Railways are reported to have fixed up for their annual requirements of 400,000 tons of Welsh steams, but there is no word yet as to the fate of the tenders of 60,000 tons of Lambton steams which were sent in. The Norwegian State Railways invite immediate offers of 5,000 tons of best Blyth steams for November shipment to Dra.mmen. According, to telegrams received from Sweden, that country is now receiving regular supplies of coal from Germany, probably from Silesia. Coal supplies are urgently needed by Italian towns on the Adriatic side, and it is announced that, in view of the danger to shipping in the Adriatic, the Italian Government has decided to reduce the rates of carriage of coal by railway from the west coast to the east, in order that supplies may be got in from that direction. This should mean, if tonnage be available, a considerable improvement in our trade with such places as Venice and Ancona. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment are quite steady on the week, excepting for a 6d. reduction in smithies, colliery owners realising that, even if they could afford to do so, it would be folly to make any con- cession in price, for such reduction would mean no extra business. As a matter of fact, however, prices are now at their lowest remuneretive point. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 13/ -13/3 13/ -13/3 14/6-14/9 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 12/6 12/6 15/ Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings 11/ 11/ 12/6-12/9 or West Hartleys) ... 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 11/9-12/6 Small, Blyths 8/3 8/3 7/9 Do. Tynes 7/6 7/6 6/6- 6/9 Do. specials Other sorts:— 9/6 9/6 8/6- 9/ Smithies Best gas coals (New 11/ 11/ -11/6 13/6-14/ Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals 12/6 12/6 15/ (Pelaw Main or similar) 11/- 11/3 11/ -11/3 13/6 Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, 13/ 13/ 15/ -15/3 Durhams Do. do. 10/6-12/ 10/6-12/ 12/6-13/6 N or thumbr ians 10/9-11/3 10/9-11/3 12/ -12/6 Coking coals 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 13/ -13/6 Do. emails 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 13/ House coai 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/6 Coke, foundry . .. 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -22/6 Do. blast-furnac-o 18/ 18/ 17/6-18/6 . Do. gas 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 16/6-17/9 Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. There is not much new to report concerning the fuel trade. The dearness of tonnage is a drag upon transactions. The high freight to Genoa is preventing business with Mediterranean ports. Deliveries of gas coal are on a fairly good scale and best kinds are firm, but other classes are weak. Best Durham gas coal is 12s. 6d., second quality is in the neighbourhood of Ils., and up to 13s. 3d. is named for special Wear gas. Bunker coal is in moderate request. Ordinary Durhams are 10s. 6d. to 10s. 7|d., f.o.b., bests Ils. 9d., and specials 12s. 6d. to 13s. Values of household, coal are well maintained. Coking coal is fairly well taken up. Unscreened kinds range from 10s. 3d. to Ils., and smalls 9s. 9d. to 10s. 3d. Coke is in moderate request for shipment at from 20s., f.o.b. for best foundry. Gas house coke is round about 12s. 3d. Prices asked for blastfurnace coke for local consumption are above what users are prepared to pay, with the result that there is little business passing. Consumers will not renew expiring contracts at current rates, and as a consequence, most of the transactions recorded were of the hand to mouth kinds. Some forward business has been done, however, in inferior coke. Sellers continue to take a firm stand, and ask 17s. 6d. for average beehive Durham blastfurnace coke delivered at Teesside works. Lower grade beehive has been sold for delivery up to February next at 16s. and upwards according to quality. IRON. Extreme quietness characterises the pig iron market. Business is very slack, and is restricted to sales of small parcels for early delivery, no disposition being shown to contract ahead. Values of pig iron are falling. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland is 49s. 6d. f.o.b.; No. 1, which is rather scarce, 52s.; No. 4 foundry, 49s. to 49s. 3d.; No. 4 forge, 48s. 9d.; and mottled and white iron, each 48s. 6d. East coast haematite pig is very weak, and there is practically no demand just now on either home or foreign account. Home consumers are said to be very well bought. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are offered freely by both makers and merchants at 62s. 6d., and probably a firm offer to buy at even 62s. would receive favourable consideration. A small business has been done in No. 1 haematite at 63s. There is nothing doing in foreign ore, and values are not easy to fix. In the continued absence of transactions sellers still quote on the basis of 17s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, but would doubtless accept less. Consumers report that they have fairly large stocks, and they express the opinion that quotations should not be above a basis of 17s. Producers of manufactured iron and steel are turning out a lot of work, but in some departments there are indications of slackening. Manufacturers of shipbuilding, and of construc- tional work are not so actively engaged as they have been. Billet makers are busy, and there are a few enquiries in the market for rails. Quotations all round are stationary. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal trade has undergone a slight change since last week, and things are now much quieter than they were at the beginning of September. Landsale is well maintained, and manufacturing requirements are fairly steady, but export demand has fallen off considerably since a week ago. This sudden change came as a surprise following on the brisk business of a month ago, but it is only expected to be temporary, and it is fully anticipated that trade will brighten up again at the beginning of November. So far only two collieries have been slightly affected, and with this exception practically the whole of the pits are still in full employment. This is the first period of slackness that has been felt since the outbreak of the war. With a more plentiful supply of labour at Whitehaven and other places outputs are said to be steadily increasing. The places of the men who enlisted and who were employed at the Whitehaven collieries are being gradually filled up by hewers from other districts, and the Workington Iron and Steel Company are bringing Northumberland miners to their colliery at Lowca. The shipments at the local ports for the Irish market were much below the average last week. The export tonnage from Workington amounted to 2,190 tons The shipments from Maryport amounted to 5,380 tons, compared with 5,609 tons last week and 9,010 tons a fortnight ago. The cargoes were mainly for Belfast, Dublin, Carrickfergus, Cork and Bally waiter. The ship- ments from the various collieries were as follow :—Brayton Domain 2,340 tons, Allerdale 1,650 tons, St. Helens 1,390 tons. Coke makers are very busy, and local smelters are taking all they can secure for the by-product ovens. Best Cumberland coal, at pit.... Flimby best coal „ ....... Washed nuts „ ....... Old St. Helens best coal „ ..... Best house nuts „ ....... Oughterside best coal........... Washed nuts..................... Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b..... Bunkers „ Coal for gasworks............... Current prices. 20/6-21/ 20/ 19/2 19/2 17/1 20/ 18/4 14/6 13/6 14/6 L’st week’s prices. 20/6-21/ 20/ 19/2 19/2 17/1 20/ 18/4 14/6 13/6 14/6 IRON. The iron trade is at present in a very quiet condition. The whole of the 21 furnaces in West Cumberland and North Lancashire are in full employment, but prices are easier, Bessemer mixed numbers being quoted at from 71s. to 72s. per ton f.o.b. at the usual ports or warrants at cash at 66s. per ton. There is not much business doing, however, and consumers are only buying in quantities to cover their more immediate requirements. At the same time it is not expected there will be any further diminution in production and, under the circumstances, things are perhaps better than they were before the war commenced. Special iron is in fairly good demand, and it is stated its smelters possess good order books. At Barrow, Bessemer mixed numbers are quoted at 73s. net. f.o.b., but business is only small and for prompt delivery. The stocks in storing yards at both Barrow and Workington are said to be very low. A large percentage of the iron made at Moss Bay, Derwent and Barrow is going into immediate consumption, while eight furnaces are in special iron, the bulk of which is being consigned to the Midlands for the use of armament and ammunition makers. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have two furnaces at the Oldside works on ferro- manganese, for which there is said to be a steady demand. The present quotations are from <£12 to <£12 10s. for the home trade. The shipments of ferro-manganese for Workington last week from Liverpool amounted to 670 tons. The steel trade both at Barrow and Workington is very slack, and the outlook in the rail trade is anything but bright. The iron ore industry is very brisk, all the mines being in full employment. The present quotations are from 15s. to 21s. net. per ton at the mines. South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the inland household trade the natural increase that one expects at this time of the year is scarcely as yet with us. There is a little noticeable improvement, but not of much account. There is nothing new to report with regard to screened coal for manufacturing purposes. It is fair, but not by any means at the maximum. With regard to shipping, there is little or no change to report. Contract bunkering requirements are still only poor owing to the limited number of sailings of the regular liners, and there is no improvement in open sale enquiry. The transference of the Danish butter boats back to the east coast has appreciably affected shipments on this side. Supplies of Lancashire steam coals are fully ample, and quotations remain as last reported, viz., from 12s. f.o.b. for the cheaper descriptions, up to 12s. 9d. or thereabouts for best qualities with a tendency to shade a little to secure business. There is a fair trade in progress in the shipments of household coals for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade. With regard to slacks, there is nothing to be said which is new. The consumption is very much reduced from 12 months ago, and although the pits are not putting out the tonnages they did then, there is still some little surplus which is being stocked at the pit mouth. 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 sernd. 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/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/3- 9/6 8/6- 8/9 8/ - 8/3 L’st week’s Last year’s 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 prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/ -14/ 10/3 9/6 9/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance of members of the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday last and a little better enquiry for house coal, but it will require a decided change in the weather to alter the present position of buyers materially. Furnace coal continues to be in moderate request, but coke is scarcely so much enquired for at the moment as it was a month or so ago. In shipping there is no great change, most of the shipments in progress being on contract account. In slacks, although better time is talked of by the consumers it is not here yet, and in the meantime there is rather more produced than there is a ready sale for. List prices are as at foot. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 17/3-18/ 17/3-18/ 17/3-18/ Medium 16/ -16/9 16/ -16/9 16/ -16/9 Common 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ Furnace coal,. 12/ 12/6 12/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 13/ -14/ 14/ 14/ Best slack » 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Common slack 8/ -9/ 8/6- 9/ 9/ - 9/6 IRON. There was only a moderate attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday last and there is very little change to report as regards the trade in this district. Pig iron remains about the same as last reported. The association price of bars remains at <£8 5s. for Crown, £7 15s. second quality, hoops £9 2s. 6d., sheets .£8 15s. Steel works are busy with bars at £7 15s., less 2| per cent. Billets <£5 17s. 6d. net. Heavy engineers and boiler makers report not much doing. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a full and representative gathering of traders at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and business generally was better than for some weeks. A fair number of orders for prompt parcels of house coal were given out, and there were also a fair number of enquiries for the better qualities of gas coal. It was reported that an average of four days have again been worked at the pits, with individual cases of full time work. Empty wagons House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ Wallsend & London best 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -14/6 Silkstone best 13/6-14/ 13/6—14/ 14/ -14/6 Do. house 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/6 House nuts 11/6-12/ 11/6—12/ 11/6-12/9 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 17/ -17/6 16/9-17/6 17/6-18/6 Silkstone best 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 16/6-17/6 Do. house 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 15/ -16/ Other qualities 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/6-15/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/ -12/9 Gas nuts 9/6-10/3 9/6-10/3 11/3-12/3 Unscreened gas coal ... 9/3- 9/6 9/3- 9/6 10/ -10/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 10/3-10/9 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 9/9-10/6 Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/3— 9/9 Rough unscreened engine coal 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/9-10/3 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 8/ 7/9- 8/6 Small do. 6/ - 6/9 6/ - 7/ 6/-- 7/ Coking smalls w/ w/ 6/ - 7/ 6/3- 7/3 6/6- 7/ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 10/6-11/ 11/6-12/ 12/