November 20, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1073 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 19. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Business in the West of Scotland is characterised by healthy conditions, and with a strong demand in existence the collieries are optimistic regarding the future. Shippers, on the other hand, are of the opinion that the pronounced shortage of tonnage, coupled with the difficulties in connection with chartering, is bound to have a depressing effect on coals, but the fact remains that best splints and ells are still very firm. Navigations are steadier, while washed nuts of all sizes are very strong. Shipments for the week amounted to 116,976 tons compared with 123,416 in the preceding week, and 98,362 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 10/9-12/9 12/ -12/3 11/9-14/3 11/6-11/9 10/3-10/6 10/ -10/3 L’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices. 10/9-12/ ' 13/ -14/6 12/ —12/3 ' 13/ -13/6 11/9-14/3 1 13/3-16/3 11/6-11/9 13/3-13/6 10/3-10/6 12/3-12/6 10/ -10/3 10/6-11/ IRON. There has been no alteration of note in the Scotch pig iron trade during the past week. Notwithstanding further reductions in prices, makers have not improved their position, and customers are continuing their policy of buying from hand to mouth, and only in rare cases are they venturing to commit themselves further ahead. The export demand is fairly satisfactory in the circumstances, as shown by the shipments, which disclose a smaller decline than might have been expected. At the present rate of production makers can easily supply all demands both for ordinary and haematite iron and stocks in makers’ yards still show a tendency to accumulate. There are 71 furnaces in blast in Scotland compared with 70 in the preceding week, and 79 in the corresponding week of last year. The prices of makers’ iron are as follow :—Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 62s. 6d., No. 3, 61s.; Govan, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 61s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 66s. 6d., No. 3,62s.; Clyde, No. 1, 67s. 6d., No. 3, 62s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 68s., Nos. 3, 63s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 61s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 61s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 68s., No. 3, 63s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d. per ton. While business in the Glasgow pig iron warrant market has not shown any expansion during the past week, prices have been steadily advancing on the generally satisfactory war news, and the cessations of big additions to store. Cleveland iron closed at 49s. 4|d. per ton cash buyers which represents an advance of 4d. per ton on the week. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians is proceeding on a quiet scale, and the collieries are up against hard times, while the closure of the Forth ports by the Admiralty will render the position more difficult than ever. The clearances from the various ports amounted to 46,437 tons for the week compared with 52,601 in the preceding week, and 126,850 tons in the corresponding week of last year. / Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities Current prices. 11/ -11/3 w/ 11/6 10/6 10/3 L’st week’s prices. 11/3 10/ -10/3 11/6 10/ 10/3 Last year’s prices. 13/6-13/9 12/ -12/6 13/9-14/ 12/3-12/9 10/9-11/3 Treble nuts Double do Single do The conditions in the coal trade in the Fifeshire district are moderately good. At the time of writing a fair number of boats are available, but these are gradually being over- taken, and taking into account the high rates of freights now being asked from the East coast, and also the scarcity of tonnage, the outlook is far from promising. Business is largely confined to navigations, first-class steams and washed produce. Shipments during the week amounted to 65,880 tons compared with 69,172 in the preceding week, and 122,696 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best screened navigation coal 15/6-15/9 15/6-15/9 16/9 Unscreened do 13/6 13/6 14/9 First-class steam coal 11/9 11/9 13/3-13/6 Third-class do 10/ 10/ 11/ -11/3 Treble nuts 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 13/3-13/9 Double do 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 12/ -12/3 Single do 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week were 229,293 tons against 245,189 in the preceding week, and 347,908 tons in the same week of 1913. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. During last week 61,922 tons of coal and 1,475 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 88,344 tons of coal and 4,241 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 47,887 tons of coal and 4,499 tons of coke, a decrease of 11,133 tons of coal and an increase of 3,810 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments aggregated 39,995 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 55,500 tons. The week’s shipments from these three places therefore totalled 155,778 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 32,721 tons when compared with the clearances for the week previous. This very considerable decrease was solely due to the inability of shippers to procure tonnage in sufficient quantity at rates which left transactions barely profitable. The manner in which Tyne coal freights have advanced in recent days cannot be characterised as anything short of scandalous, for it is quite clear that the sum total of all the reasons advanced by ship owners as an excuse for the present high level of freights—viz., the shortage of shipping due to the requisitioning of tonnage for Admiralty purposes, the increased labour costs consequent on naviga- tion dangers in the North Sea and the advanced rates now payable in respect of war risks insurance—is not sufficient justification for present rates. It is doubtful also whether the shortage of tonnage, inevitable under the circumstances, has not been artificially accentuated by ship owners adopting a very real laying-up scheme. The result of these high freights is that coal business is almost impossible of transaction. Some cargoes, of course, must be despatched under any circumstances; in respect of these, shippers and receivers are in many cases sharing the burden of increased rates of carriage. In other cases, however, where business can wait it is having to wait. Meanwhile other districts and other countries are cutting in to the disadvantage of this district. It is reported from Italy, for example, that large quantities of German coal are being imported by rail. It is also certain that several Spanish customers who required coking coal from Durham have sent their tonnage to South Wales, there to load Welsh steam smalls in lieu of the Durham coal. Ship owners may yet find that their eagerness to secure the golden egg has seriously impaired the laying capacities of the goose for some considerable time to come, inasmuch as it is not always easy to recall trade which has been lost under such circumstances as now prevail. Certain it is that none of the responsibility for this driving away of trade need be felt by the collieries, for prices quoted are now at the lowest point consistent with the paying—not the profit making, but merely the paying— capacities of the pits, in view of the short time worked, and the fact that most maintenance charges are as high as ever. There has been some further ease in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment this week in order to facilitate business, the changes having been as follow:—Blyth steam seconds, 3d. reduced on the week; Tynes, do.; unscreened, 6d. lower; smalls, Tynes, 3d. cheaper ; gas seconds, easier ; unscreened Durham bunkers, 3d. down; Northumbrians, do.; and gas coke, 6d. decreased. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. The Nykoping municipality want 1,000 tons of Londonderry, Old Pelton Main or Wearmouth gas coals, for delivery before December 15. Tenders have been forwarded. The Gothenburg Gasworks require 6,000 tons of Durham gas coal for shipment up to the end of the year. The Crown Agents for the Colonies are in the market for the supply of about 4,000 tons of steams, to be delivered at Gibraltar during 1915. The Egyptian Coastguard Adminis- tration is enquiring for 4,330 tons of Cardiff and Newcastle large coals for delivery next year. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 13/ 13/ 14/6-14/9 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 12/6 12/6 14/6-14/9 Secondary, Blyths 10/9 10/9-11/ 12/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 11/ 11/ -11/3 12/6-13/ Unscreened 10/ -10/6 10/ -11/ 11/6-12/6 Small, Blyths 8/3 8/3- 8/6 7/6 Do. Tynes 7/6 7/6 6/6 Do. specials 9/6 9/6 8/6- 9/ Other sorts:— Smithies 10/6 10/6 13/6-14/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 12/6 12/6 15/6-16/ Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 10/9-11/3 11/- 11/3 13/6 Special gas c ?als 13/ 13/ 15/6-16/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 10/6-11/9 10/6-12/ 13/ -13/9 Do. do. N orthumbr ians 10/6-10/9 10/9-11/ 11/6-12/6 Coking coals 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 13/6-13/9 Do. smalls 9/6—10/ 9/6 -10/ 13/ -13/3 House coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/6 Coke, foundry 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 21/ -23/ Do. blast-furnace 18/ 18/ 18/ -19/ Do. gas 11/ -12/ 11/6-12/6 16/3-17/6 Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Advances in freights have checked business in coal, and buyers abroad are now limiting their purchases in view of the necessary high delivery prices. Northern firms, however, report enquiries from France, Italy, and Spain. France is in need of gas coal and coking sorts, enquiry on Italian account is for gas kinds, and Spain’s demand is for coking coal. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 12s. 6d., second kinds run from 10s. 9d. to Ils. according to quality, and special Wear gas coal ranges from 13s. to 13s. 3d. Bunker coal is in moderate request. Ordinary Durhams are 1( s. 3d. to 10s. 4|d. f.o.b., bests Ils. 4£d., and specials 12s. 6d. Coking coal is fairly well taken up, but quotations vary considerably. Unscreened kinds run from 10s. to Ils., and coking smalls range from 9s. 6d. to 10s. 3d. Local consumption of coke is rather heavy, and firms necessitated to buy have to pay prices they consider much too high. Sellers still ask, and report that they are able to obtain, up to 17s. 3d. for Durham beehive blastfurnace coke of average quality delivered at Teesside works. Best foundry coke for shipment is quoted 20s. f.o.b. and upwards, gashouse coke is 12s. to 12s. 3d. IRON. Satisfactory accounts are given of practically all branches of the iron and steel industries. Works are well employed, and there are substantial enquiries in the market. Certainly Admiralty regulations have curtailed shipments, but load- ings of pig iron for Norway, Sweden and Italy are continued. Deliveries of pig iron by sea to Scotland are falling away owing to high freights and difficulty in securing steamers, with the result that supplies by rail to customers north of the Tweed are increasing. The difference in freight and railway rate is now little. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig has once more reached 50s., f.o.b. Nothing below that figure is now named for early delivery, and any enquiry for delivery over periods in the early part of next year elicits a quotation of quite 50s. 6d. No. 1 Cleveland pig is 52s. 3d., No. 4 foundry which is rather scarce 49s. 7|d., No. 4 forge 49s. l|d., mottled 48s. 6d., and white iron 48s. 3d.—all for early delivery. Haematite pig is rather unsettled. Merchants complain a good deal of vexatious delays in obtaining license for shipment, rendered essential by the declaration of haematite as contraband of war. Values, at the same time, are decidedly firmer, chiefly due to the rather rapid advance in foreign ore. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast brands were 61s. 6d. to 62s. Foreign ore prices are now difficult to fix. There are buyers on the basis of 18s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, whilst sellers ask up to 19s. 3d., and some of them are not keen to commit themselves. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are now 6s. 3d. Imports of foreign ore to the Tees to date this month are returned at 52,317 tons. In manufactured iron and steel, producers are pressed for deliveries, and there are more enquiries for joists, plates and angles. Values all round are well maintained. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The coal trade is very slack, the shrinkage in the export demand being particularly marked. House coal is in rather better demand than it was a week ago, but manufacturing requirements are dull, and, generally speaking, the Cumberland coal trade has not been in such a depressed state for some years. The enquiries for all sorts, both for Ireland and home consumption, are decidedly weaker. Last week, only eight steamers left the Maryport dock for the Irish ports compared with from 16 to 20 for previous weeks. The stormy weather, no doubt, interfered considerably with the sailings last week, but it hardly accounts for the extra- ordinary diminution in tonnage for the cross-Channel market. Nearly every department of the coal trade is suffering from the scarcity of boats, and in some cases the high level of freights, but it is not improbable that the large stocks accumulated by Irish merchants during September and the beginning of October has had something to do with the present depression. So far, however, the collieries have been working fairly regularly, but unless there is a speedy improvement it will be impossible to maintain anything like full employment. At a time like this it is not difficult to see what an immense advantage the introduction of the new by-product ovens has been to the Cumberland collieries, for without them some of the pits could barely have worked half time under the present circumstances. At the time of writing the prospect is not a bright one, but apparently times of depression are inevitable after periods of prosperity, and the coal trade has had a good run up to the end of October. There is, of course, just the chance that there may be a small spurt at the beginning of next month, but so far there is no indication of a recovery setting in. The export trade from the Elizabeth Dock, Maryport, last week only amounted to 2,780 tons, a decrease of 4,200 tons compared with the previous week. The cargoes were mainly for Belfast, Coleraine, Drogheda, Bally waiter and Fairhaven. With the exception of 200 tons from St. Helens, the whole of the shipments were from the Brayton Domain Colliery. The shipments from Workington amounted to 1,240 tons. Coke is a firm trade, and the whole of the by-product ovens are in full employment. The home supply is being freely absorbed, and in addition to this, local smelters are consuming about 3,000 tons of east coast coke in West Cumberland. East coast coke is now obtainable at from 20s. to 23s. per ton. The price of coal is unchanged, and best house coal is quoted at Is. 2|d. per cwt. in bags, or 23s. 4d. per ton, delivered in cartloads, with washed nuts at 21s. 8d. per ton. Current L’st week’s Best Cumberland coal, at pit prices. 20/6-21/ prices. 20/6-21/ Flimby best coal „ 20/ 20/ Washed nuts „ 19/2 19/2 Old St. Helens best coal „ 19/2 19/2 Best house nuts „ 17/1 17/1 Oughterside best coal 20/ 20/ Washed nuts 18/4 18/4 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b 14/6 14/6 13/6 Bunkers „ 13/6 Coal for gasworks 14/6 14/6 South-West Lancashire. COAL. Keener weather is bringing forward a better demand for household coals and in some of the favourite qualities there is already a little progress. Forges are not by any means working full time, and their takings of screened coal are proportionate. With regard to shipping, bunkering require- ments under contract are as indicated last week, perhaps rather better than they were, but still on the whole below average. Open sale bunkering continues quiet. There are various enquiries for shipment to the Continent, but owing to difficulties of freight and finance arising from the war, the result in actual business does not amount to much. Quotations for screened Lancashire steam coal range as before from 12s. to 12s. 9d. f.o.b. according to quality. The coastwise and cross-Channel trade has scarcely as yet responded to the difference in the temperature. There is just an average shipment in progress. It is exceptional now where any slack is being put on the floor. The demand has been steadily on the increase and the output is not what it was. There is a marked tendency on the part of