1228 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Deeember 11, 1914. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ were also one or two for export of the second class qualities of steam coal. Colliery representatives reported full order books, and there would be no difficulty in working full time were it not for the exceeding scarcity of empty trucks. Some of the pits have only been able to make four days for this reason. The movements of mineral traffic are also : ausing a good deal of dissatisfaction, instances being given jf trucks occupying ten days to travel 50 miles or less. The house coal pits are full of orders and business with London especially is very active. The difficulty of getting supplies coastwise has caused a great increase in the demand from merchants on the south of the river, and also on the south coast. It is said that the railways carrying supplies over the river are so congested that many of the depots in the south of London are practically without coal. A good deal of buying has been done this week, and pit prices in consequence have firmed up considerably. In the coastwise trade there is scarcely anything doing, as freights are high and boats are exceedingly scarce. In the West Riding markets merchants are fully employed, as the demand has increased to a marked extent since our last report. Pit prices are very firm, and the better qualities are scarcely procurable. Current quotations :—Haigh Moor selected 18s. to 19s., Silkstone best 17s. to 18s., Silkstone house 16s. to 17s., secondary sorts 13s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. There seems to be a considerable scarcity of gas coal. All the pits are busy, not only on contract account, but in dealing with the very considerable open market sale. It is said that some of the works in the south of England and in the suburbs of London are very short of gas coal, and some considerably higher prices have been paid this week for prompt supplies. The demand for factory fuel keeps good, especially for the better qualities. Stocks in colliery sidings are now light, and are composed of the smaller slacks. A much better demand is being experienced from the Lancashire district. Washed furnace coke shows very little change on the week, best qualities being quoted at about Ils., with secondary descriptions as low as 10s. at the ovens. The demand from Frodingham has improved sharply, and better supplies are also being taken by the iron and steel works in the Midlands. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 15/ 15/ 14/6-15/ Wallsend & London best 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 14/ -14/6 Silkstone best 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/ 14/ -14/6 Do. house 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 House nuts 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -18/ Silkstone best 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ Do. house 14/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 14/6-15/6 Other qualities 13/6-14/ 13/ -14/ 14/ -14/9 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/ -12/6 Gas nuts 9/6-10/3 9/6-10/3 11/ -11/3 Unscreened gas coal ... 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/9-10/3 Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Large double-screened engine nuts 9/6-10/6 9/6-10/6 9/9-10/6 Small nuts 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/3 Rough unscreened engine coal 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/3- 9/9 6/9- 7/3 Best rough slacks 7/3- 7/9 7/3- 7/9 Small do. 6/3- 6/6 6/3- 6/6 6/ - 6/6 Coking smalls 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 Coke:— Price at ovens : Furnace coke 10/6-11/ 11/ 12/ -12/6 Barnsley. i COAL. In most branches of the trade there has been consider- ably more activity shown during the week to the export business. There has been a considerable recovery in regard to hards, and it appears very possible that if the restrictions can become less rigorous, and freights more reasonable, a brisk business will be possible, especially with France and Italy. Coal owners are also having to deal with other troubles owing to the congested state and delayed traffic on some parts of the railway, which is necessarily causing a diversion of traffic to the west coast. There are also strong complaints of the shortage of wagons, but despite these obstacles the collieries continue to work from four to five days per week. During the week some action has been taken in respect to the railway companies’ contracts, and there are hopes that this important matter may be more speedily settled than was the case a year ago. Practically all the railway companies have invited tenders, and though it is difficult to ascertain exactly what state the negotiations have reached, there are indications on both sides that efforts are being made to effect a settlement under the very extraordinary conditions now prevailing, and to arrange for supplies during the whole of the year, rather than was previously thought in the way of short period contracts. In regard to large steams there has been a decided stimulus given to business during the week, and a stronger enquiry has been felt for best quality fuel, and prices have recovered a little, but more satisfaction is expressed at the stronger tone prevailing, because of the prospect of shipments being possible during the winter months, whereas in previous years Baltic ports have not been available. Secondary descriptions, although still produced in a considerable degree beyond the demand, have also shown some improve- ment, and for prompt business better prices have been obtained. The enquiry for good classes of manufacturing fuel has been exceedingly well maintained. This, possibly, is due to the desire to lay in stocks to cover the holidays which it is expected will be taken by the pits, though it does not follow that the engineering districts will enjoy a similar respite. The demand for washed nuts is almost beyond the supply, and best slacks are not so freely avail- able as was the case previously. The improved working in the cotton districts, coupled with the extra demand from the West Riding textile firms, has done something to relieve the markets of the heavy stocks of rough slacks, but prices are much on the same level. The gas coal collieries continue to find full employment, and there is more being done on foreign account, with prices showing a tendency to harden. In respect to the house coal trade the colder weather has brought with it a rush of orders, especially for the best classes of coal. The collieries with a reduced output are unable to meet the demand as formerly, and more business is being done with secondary sorts, both in the nearer as well as the London and southern markets. Although there has been some little revival in regard to the demand for coke the position is not materially altered, though for some classes buyers are now willing to pay slightly increased prices. Prices at pit. 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/ -14/6 Secondary do 10/9-11/6 10/9-11/6 11/ -12/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 12/3 Secondary do 9/3- 9/9 9/ - 9/9 11/ -11/3 Best washed nuts 10/3^0/6 10/3-10/6 11/3-11/6 Secondary do 9/6 9/6 10/3-10/6 Best slack 7/ 6/9- 7/ 7/ - 7/3 Rough do 5/9- 6/ 5/6- 5/9 6/ Gas coals ••— 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 10/6-10/9 10/ -10/6 12/ -12/3 Hull. COAL. The near approach of the Christmas holiday period has had a stimulating effect upon the Humber coal trade, and much more activity has been manifest, exporters with immediate committments coming into the market more freely. Under these circumstances and a good inland demand, prices of steam coal have steadily advanced. Best South Yorkshire hards have assumed quite a firm tone, and have readily commanded 13s. to 13s. 3d. for prompt shipment, while Derbyshire and Nottingham steams have also firmed up to 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d. Grimsby or Immingham. There has been also a fair demand for secondary sorts, both for export and home consumption, York- shire doubles being worth Ils. 9d. to 12s. 9d., singles Ils. 3d. to 12s. 3d. and smalls 8s. 3d. to 9s. 6d. There is an improved demand for house and gas coal, West Hartleys having advanced to 12s. 6d., while Silkstone screened gas are steady at 13s. 3d. The export demand continues to be principally for France and Italy, and a fair but not so active enquiry for Scandinavia. The trouble, however, still is that of transport. Shipping tonnage is very scarce, and owners with convenient boats can command practically their own terms. This week 17s. has been paid for one steamer for Genoa, while for others up to 18s. is asked, and for Rouen the rate has ranged from 12s. to 14s., the latter having been paid for a 1,600 ton steamer. Goole to Dieppe has been done at 13s. 3d. for a small steamer. Forward business is under way to some extent, and one or two small contracts are reported fixed up at 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d. for best Yorkshire steam hards, but as a rule collieries are asking higher prices. Much business is not expected to eventuate until there is news of the railway contracts. The Swedish State railways are in the market for 25,000 tons of steam coal, for January-March delivery, and this is regarded as most likely to go to Derbyshire, should the prices be agreeable. To date the total export from Hull for the 11 months of the year is 1,280,479 tons less than the corresponding 11 months of 1913, and the receipts from collieries 5,254,216 tons, or 2,144,160 tons behind last year. The Grimsby November export was 71,706 tons, an increase of 1,534 tons due to some Immingham trade being done there. The Immingham foreign export was 47,173 tons, and that of Goole 37,366 tons. The aggregate Humber foreign export was 342,013 tons as against 624,092 tons in November last year. The total quantities sent from the whole of the Humber ports to Sweden was over 137,000 tons, and to France 97,000 tons. The London and coastwise shipments from the Humber were 145,032 tons against 211,658 tons in November last year. Chesterfield. COAL. The coal trade of the district is in a fairly satisfactory condition. The wagon difficulty, however, tends to restrict the output somewhat seriously, and the irregular working of the pits from this cause adds considerably to the cost of production. There is a steady demand for house coal, and prices remain firm. Stocks are light in colliery sidings. Coal for manufacturing purposes continues in brisk demand and the prospects in this branch of the trade are very good. Owing to the scarcity of wagons already referred to, it is impossible to keep consumers supplied with fuel with anything like regularity, and this causes much inconvenience and loss to customers. Cobbles and nuts suitable for gas producers are the kinds of coal that are most urgently wanted. Prices of these have a hardening tendency. There is a satisfactory change for the better in respect of slack for steam raising purposes ; the demand is steadily improving and prices are gradually moving upwards. There is this week a firmer tone pervading, the export trade. Steam coal is in greater request, and prices up fully 9d. per ton for prompt shipment. There is also a brisk demand for washed double-screened nuts, prices of which are advancing and are 6d. per ton higher than they were a week ago. Washed slack is much wanted, but supplies are limited owing to the provision which collieries are making for their own requirements for coke making during the Christmas holidays. This class of fuel is dearer, in sympathy with small coal generally. There is a fairly good demand for coke and prices are firm at 10s. 6d. to Ils. per ton at the ovens. 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/ 12/6 Nuts 10/6 10/ 11/6 Slack 7/6 8/ IRON. Pig iron is in much better demand, and certain classes of finished iron are in greater request. Prospects generally are certainly more hopeful. Nottingham. COAL. The position of affairs in the coal trade of Nottingham- shire is much the same as a week ago. There is a fair demand for household fuel, the recent short spell of cold weather having assisted sales at the local landsale depots, and merchants are purchasing with rather more freedom both in the district and neighbouring counties. At the same time the tonnage which is being sent away is hardly up to the average for the time of the year, but it must be regarded as satisfactory. Prices are being well main- tained. In the branch for steam coal there is a good, steady demand in the home market, manufacturing fuel, particularly the best qualities, being a feature of the market. With consignments for export on a small scale, the output is exceeding the demand somewhat, and values are not on the whole steady. Attention is being directed towards the renewals of railway companies’ contracts, but so far it has not been made known as to what the rates are likely to be. The slack market continues to be more active. In some cases stocks have almost entirely disappeared, and for better class qualities slight advances 'are being asked. There is a fair amount of gas fuel going out of hand, but principally on contract account. 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/ 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 6/6- 7/ 5/9- 6/ 5/6- 6/ L’st week’s 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/ Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/6 13/ -13/6 ii/ -12,; 11/6-12/ 10/ -11/ 7/9- 8/ 6/9- 7/3 6/6- 7/3 ________________ Leicestershire. COAL. Another change has taken place in the conditions of trade in this coalfield, and it is certainly one which was not anticipated when the war broke out. The alteration is due to the great and increasing difficulty in securing transport on the one hand and the great increase in business on the other. The scarcity of wagons is very marked. The requirements of the military authorities are so great and continuous that on many mornings there are only 10 to 15 wagons in the sidings where there ought to be at least 100 under normal conditions. In addition to this at some collieries there is trouble and delay in getting trains away when the wagons have been loaded up. Just at this very trying period orders come rolling in for very large quan- tities of all classes of coal, which it is quite impossible to deliver within a fair and reasonable period. The only alternative is to decline to book further orders at present, and this is going on at every colliery. Thus it comes about that the aggregate output, which has already been much reduced by so many men having joined the Colours, has to be further curtailed in accordance with the Wagon supply. Half-day and three-quarter day workings are quite common, although there are abundant orders on hand to take up every ounce of coal as soon as it is raised. Prices are extremely firm and tend to harden. The best household coal is in very strong request, while all manufacturing fuel is cleared off as fast as it reaches the pit banks, and users are calling for larger deliveries. Main cobbles for kitcheners are in urgent demand, and prices are 6d. to 1 s. per ton dearer. The want of continuity in the arrange- ments of the railway companies are extremely trying to colliery managers. 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....................... ______________________________ 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 9/6-10/6 9/ -10/6 8/6- 9/3 8/6- 9/3 10/ -11/ 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ 7/6- 8/ ___________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Transport conditions have not improved either on rail or road, and trade is carried on under difficulties. Prices show an upward tendency, but is not general. This week there has been a spurt in the demand for manufacturing fuels in anticipation of Christmas. A fairly strong demand is also experienced for domestic fuel. The average quotations remain as under: — Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 18/6 18/6 18/6 Do. seconds deep 16/ 14/6 16/ 14'6 16/ Do. best shallow 14/9 14/ Do. seconds do. 13/9 13/9 Best hard 14'6 14/6 15/ Forge coal 10/6 10/6 11/ 7/6 Slack j Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 16/6 16/6 16/6 cobs 14/6 14/6 14/ Best hard spires ! 15/ 15/ 15/ Forge (steam) 1 10/6 10/6 11/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 10/ Small (do.) | 8/ 8/ 8/3