1178 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN December 4, 1914. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ment work. Billets are eagerly sought after and demand <£5 15s. to <£5 17s. 6d. The trade of the district otherwise is nothing very great, but there is certainly a better feeling than we had to report last week. _________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a good market on Tuesday as regards both attendance and business. There was a strong enquiry for prompt parcels of house coal and also for washed engine nuts and best rough slacks. It was reported that the pits had worked from five days to full time, and that stocks in colliery sidings were considerably reduced and comprised chiefly the smaller qualities of slacks. The supply of empty wagons is still causing a good deal of trouble at the collieries, while the movements of traffic are again causing serious complaints. With regard to house coal, the demand is quite brisk, especially from the distant markets. London merchants with contracts in this district are not only taking full deliveries, but are buying fairly freely of the better qualities in the open market. As regards secondary sorts, these are moved with less readiness. It is stated that some of the collieries supplying best Haigh Moor and Silkstone house coal have sufficient orders in hand to keep them fully employed until the holidays. With regard to the coastwise trade, very little indeed is being shipped at either Hull or Goole, and many of the firms who usually rake supplies by water are taking them ex-rail. This applies particularly to merchants on the Thames, who are getting supplies through to some of the depots and then having them barged across. Local merchants report a good retail demand, all qualities sharing in the improve- ment. . Pit prices are very firm and may be averaged as under:—Haigh Moor selected 18s. to 19s., Silkstone best 17s. to 18s., Silkstone house 16s. to 17s., secondary sorts 13s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. The gas coal pits are very busy. Nine- tenths of the output is needed to satisfy contract require- ments, but there is a ready sale for the balance in the open market, as many of the works in London and the south of England are taking supplies ex-rail. New forward business is very quiet. Factory fuel is in good demand, and there is more firmness in pit prices. There is a very large consumption of these qualities in the heavy woollen districts while the demand from Lancashire has also improved. Washed nuts and other specialised fuel are very scarce. The improvement in the position of washed furnace coke noted last week is maintained, and very few makers quote less than Ils. for average samples of patent oven coke. Good deliveries are being taken in the Frodingham district, but to a less extent in the Leeds district, while the demand from the Midlands also shows some expansion. the present position of the market railway companies will be seeking concessions on the expiring rates. So far as all classes of manufacturing fuel are concerned the demand continues to be good, the best classes of coal still retain their firmness owing to the preference which is being shown for them. Washed nuts continue to be fully taken, and secondary sorts are making rather better values, whilst the best slacks are also well cleared, and owing to the greater activity in the cotton districts there is a stronger enquiry prevailing for rougher kinds of slacks. The demand for gas coal, both on contract and current account, continues to keep the collieries fully employed, and there is more activity in respect to house coal particularly for the best classes, which are hardly equal to the demand. There are some reports of a slight improvement in regard to coke, and on the whole the position of a week ago is not materially altered, and buyers are still able to obtain supplies at reduced prices. Prices at pit. chiefly wanted for France. Here again business is difficult owing to the scarcity of shipping tonnage and the very high rates of freights that are demanded. The pits of north Derbyshire are working very well, and with a better supply of wagons, little or no difficulty would be experienced in running full time. There is a slightly better feeling in the coke trade, where the demand is rather more active, with an improving tendency in prices. Coking fuel is in good demand, but supplies are somewhat below the needs of the market. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 13/6 13/6 15/6 Secondary do 12/6 12/6 13/6 Cobbles 11/ 11/6 12/6 Nuts 10/ 1°/ 11/6 Slack 7/6 7/ 8/ Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 15/ 15/ 15/ -15/3 Secondary do 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/6 12/9-13/6 13/ -13/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/9-11/6 10/9-11/6 11/ -12/ Best hard coals 10/9-11/ 11/3-11/6 12/ -12/3 Secondary do 9/ - 9/9 10/ ■ 11/ Best washed nuts 10 3-10/6 10/3-10/6 11/ -11/3 Secondary do 9/6 9/6 10/ -10/6 Best slack 6/9- 7/ 6/9- 7/ 7/ Bough do Gas coals:— 5/6- 5/9 5/6- 5/9 6/ Screened gas coals 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/6 Unscreened do 10/ 10/ 11/ -11/3 Gas nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 12/ Furnace coke 10/ -10/6 10/3-10/6 12/ IRON. A much better tone pervades the market for pig iron. There is a much improved demand and prices are moving upwards. Finished iron is in fair request, and orders are less difficult to find. Engineers and ironfounders are well placed for work. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 15/ 15/ Wallsend & London best 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ Silkstone best 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ Do. house 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ House nuts 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 Silkstone best 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Do. house 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 Other qualities 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ Gas coal, Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Gas nuts 9/6-10/3 9/6-10/3 Unscreened gas coal ... 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 Other sorts Prices at pit : Washed nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Large double-screened engine nuts 9/6-10/6 9/6-10/6 Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 Bough unscreened engine coal... ' 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 7/9 Small do. 1. 6/3- 6/6 6/ - 6/6 Coking smalls ............ 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 Coke:— Price at ovens : Furnace coke 11/ 10/6-11/ Last year’ prices. 14/6-15/ 13/9-14/3 13/9-14/6 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/3 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 14/6-15/6 14/ -14/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/3 10/ -10/6 10/3-11/ 9/9-10/6 9/ - 9/3 9/3- 9/9 6/9- 7/3 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 12/ -12/6 Barnsley. COAL. Generally speaking the tone of business continues to be of a steady character, with some branches showing a little more activity, and on the whole enabling the collieries to work four and five days per week. The fairly satisfactorily state of affairs is no doubt due in a more considerable degree to the reduced output which has to be dealt with owing to the continued reduction of men due to recruiting. With regard to the export trade there has been no material improvement, although the demand for France continues to be of a satisfactory character, but this includes several classes of fuel. Producers of the best large steam coal are still having to rely upon the home markets, and are not so much subjected to the keen competition prevailing at the ports owing to the surplus tonnage that is available. With respect to secondary descriptions of large steams the position from the coalowners* point of view is rather worse than a week ago, although the output is so materially reduced. The absence of normal exports is so material as to cause prices to be very weak, and values'for some classes of large steams are down to about 9s. peT ton. In respect to the large steam section a great deal of interest has been aroused as to what action the railway companies will take in respect to the renewal of the contracts which to a large extent fall out at the end of the year. So far as can be ascertained at present the companies do not appear to have made the usual general invitation for tenders, but it is reported that they have approached individual firms on the subject. The position of both sides is, of course, of a unique character, and no doubt nothing will be done as tar as the coalowners are concerned, until the situation has been weighed up at a meeting which it is understood is to be called at an early date. Opinions expressed indicate that the position may be met by the arrangement of contracts for only a short period, but no doubt owing to Hull. COAL. The prevalence of abnormally high freight rates continues to have a most restricting effect upon the Humber export trade, and unfortunately there appear only very dim hopes of any relief. If it were not for this strong adverse factor the market would in all probability be quite active, and the prospects of improvement which were noted two or three weeks ago realised. At the present there is a brisk demand from both France and Italy, where coal is urgently required—how urgently may be measured by the fact that importers are ready to pay the increased cost, represented in the case of France by a freight rate of Ils. to 12s., and in that of Italy a rate which is still maintained at the level of 18s. and more. Except, therefore, for urgent requirements business is almost impossible, and one hears of many orders for Scandinavian and other countries being held back until shipping tonnage can be obtained at a cheaper rate. The coastwise trade is better, and London gasworks are taking as usual large quantities. In the circumstances, large steam coal for export hangs fire, and prices are only weak on the basis of 12s. 6d. to 12s. 9d. for best South Yorkshire hards for prompt shipment at Hull, &c. Best Derbyshires are from 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d. Grimsby or Immingham. Secondary sorts are in no demand at all for export, but there is a fair land sale at Ils. 9d. to 12s. 6d. for doubles, and Ils. 3d. to Ils. 9d. for singles, with rough West Biding slack quoted 8s. 3d. to 8s. 6d. House coal is in moderate request on the basis of 12s. for best Hartleys, while Silkstone gas coal commands up to 13s. 3d. for screened. Some forward business for supplies over next year is stated to be in the market and subject to negotiation. At the docks shipments are not so heavy as in the beginning and middle of November, but no doubt would be greater were more ships available. The freight market, under the circumstances, has not been very active. More tonnage has been taken up for French ports, and as much as 13s. 6d. is reported to have been paid on the Tyne for a large steamer for Eouen, while smaller steamers from the Humber have commanded Ils. 6d. Bouen and 12s. Dieppe. In the Mediterranean direction 18s. 3d. is still quoted for Genoa. The coastwise rates have advanced, 6s. having been paid for a 2,000 tons steamer Hull to London, while 6s. 6d. is named as the figure in a contract to carry 10,000 tons between the same ports over December and January. Chesterfield. COAL. There is a fairly satisfactory demand for house coal, which will be greatly increased on the slightest appearance of colder weather, while the supply would not be so readily obtained owing to the comparatively light stocks that are now held at the collieries. The output of coal generally is much reduced, owing to the large number of miners that have joined the Colours ; added to this is the great diffi- culty in working the pits with any degree of regularity caused by the scarcity of railway wagons. There is a good demand for fuel for manufacturing purposes, especially for the large establishments in Sheffield that are engaged oji Government work. The requirements of these concerns are on an unprecedented scale, and the deliveries of cobbles and nuts that are going forward daily for gas-producers are heavier than ever they have been. Prices of these qualities are firm. There is, this week, a welcome improve- ment in the demand for slack for boiler firing, and orders are coming to hand much more freely from Lancashire, where the outlook in the cotton industry is more hopeful, and where the mills are beginning to work longer time. Steam coal for locomotive purposes keeps in steady demand, and the railway companies are taking full contract supplies. Some contracts expire at the end of the year, and tenders for a renewal of these are now invited. It will be very interesting to learn the prices quoted, as these will afford some indication of colliery owners’ views as to the prospects of the coal trade for 1915. At present it is a most difficult matter to decide how prices of coal are likely to move during the coming year. There is no change in the condition of the export trade, which remains exceedingly depressed. The demand for steam coal is poor and prices are weak. Derbyshire Top Hards can be had at 13s. to 13s. 6d. delivered at Grimsby, but even at these figures business is restricted. During the last few days a better enquiry is experienced for nuts and cobbles, which are _________________ Nottingham. COAL. The tone of the coal trade in Nottinghamshire continues to be of a satisfactory character, taking all the circum- stances into consideration, and most of the collieries are working about five days per week. A good trade is being done in the domestic fuel branch, the improvement noted a week ago having been maintained. The demand for better class qualities is, perhaps, more active than for other sorts. Still, secondary classes are going out of hand freely. With the reduced output consequent on numbers of men having joined the Army, stocks of certain qualities are diminishing, but it is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in coping with the demand, except it be due to a shortage of empty wagons. The business in the steam coal branch is fully up to expectation, for while the export trade is quiet orders in the home market are keeping satisfactory. There is a better demand for gas coal than of late, and values are showing a firmer tendency. Slacks continue to be in active request, particularly for best qualities, stocks of which are declining, and values are more stable than a few weeks ago. Coke is in fair demand. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. • 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 9/6 -10/6 8/6- 9/3 6/6- 7/ 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 14/ -14/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 6/3- 6/6 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ prices. 13/6-14/6 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 11/3-11/6 10/ -10/6 7/9- 8/ 6/9- 7/3 6/9- 7/3 ________ ________ Leicestershire. COAL. The position of affairs in this coalfield is a very trying one for colliery managers, and they hardly know what to expect from day to day. There is an abundance of orders for coal on hand, but this week the working had to be restricted to three and a-quarter days almost at every colliery. This unsatisfactory state of affairs was due entirely to the shortage of wagons consequent on the extensive requirements of the military authorities. It is very trying indeed for colliery managers to find that for every hundred wagons which they would have available, only a very few come to hand. On some mornings only 1 or 2 per cent, of the wagons are on the spot, and the result is that half time or only three-quarter time can be worked. This, with a diminished output through the calls of the Army on the men, makes it impossible for the time being to run the collieries at a profit. The general expen- diture on establishment charges is so heavy as to require constant watchfulness. The increase in the cost of stores is general, and amounts in the aggregate to a large sum annually. It is hoped that the supply of the necessary rolling stock will be more regular in the near future. Meanwhile, there is a continued influx of orders for the best classes of household coals, and there are no stocks on hand at any of the pits. Cobbles, too, are in very full demand both for London and the county at very satisfac- tory prices. The whole of the manufacturing fuel is cleared off as fast as it reaches the pit banks, and the periodic suspension of deliveries only makes users all the more eager to increase their reserves 6f stocks so as to be safe in the event of a more prolonged interference with the mineral traffic on the railways. With the exception of some small accumulations of dust at a few collieries, there is a general report—“no stocks, and no special prices.” The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district:— Per ton at pit. Best household coal .............. Second, hand picked .............. Deep screened cobbles ............ Deep large nuts .................. Bakers’ nuts...................... Small nuts ...................... Deep breeze...................... Peas ............................. Small dust ...................... Deep cobbles &■ nuts for London bakers Steams, best hand picked .......... Steams, seconds ... __.............. Main cobbles for kitcheners........ Main breeze...................... _______________________________ i Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 13/6—14/6 13/6-14/6 12 6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 12/3-13/3 12/ -12/9 12/ -12/9 11/6—12/6 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 10/- 10/6 ; 9/ - 9/3 9/ - 9/3 7/9- 8/6 7/9- 8/6 1/6- 1/9 1/6- 1/9 9/ -10/6 9/ -10/6 8/6- 9/3 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ 7/6- 8/