January 1, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

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Bowhill, or Lassodie, 15s. 8d.; Storlein, 8,000 tons
Lochgelly - Cowdenbeath, 19s. 9d., option Bowhill,
19s. 6d., free truck; Ornskoldvik, 10,000 tons Loch-
gelly or Cowdenbeath, 16s., option Lassodie-Bowhill,
15s. 101 d.; Ornskoldvik, 25,000 tons Life, option
Lassodie, 16s. OJd-; Skelleftea, 6,000 tons Life, option
Lassodie, 16s. 0^d.; Ricksgransen, 30,000 tons Fife,
option Lassodie, 17s. 5d.; Lulea, 39,000 tons Lochgelly-
Cowdenbeath, 16s., with same options at 15s. 8d.;
Trelleborg, 15,000 tons Aitken unscreened, 17s. 7^d.
Thus 262,000 tons of Scottish coal were taken in all. It
was at this time that the coal masters intimated a
claim for a reduction in miners’ wages amounting to
6J per cent, on the 1888 basis, equivalent to a reduction
of 3d. per day, and making wages 7s. 3d. per day. The
end of March found trade quiet and most grades of coal
very plentiful, the outstanding features being the strong
position of smalls generally and navigation coal in
Fife shire.

Second Quarter.

The beginning of the second quarter found business
in an uncertain state, and prices were inclined to
decrease still further. Quotations at Glasgow were
about Is. less all round than at the commencement of
the year, and were as follow:—8team coal f.o.b. at
Glasgow, 12s. to 13s. 6d.; ell, Ils. 9d.; splint, 12s. 3d. to
14s.; treble nuts, Ils. 9d. to 12s.; doubles, 10s. 9d. to Ils.;
singles, Ils. to Ils. 3d. per ton.. The prices f.o.b. at
Leith were for best screened steam coal, Ils. to Ils. 3d.;
secondary qualities, 10s. 3d. to 10s. 6d.; treble nuts,
Ils. 9d.; doubles, 10s. 9d.; singles, 10s. 6d. per ton. Best
screened navigation coal was now quoted f.o.b. at Methil
and Burntisland, 16s. 9d.; unscreened, 14s. 9d.; first-
class steam coal, 12s. 6d.; third-class, 12s.; treble nuts,
Ils. 9d. to 12s.; doubles, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.; singles,
10s. to 10s. 3d. per ton. The position of the trade,
generally, at this time was not very encouraging.
Fifeshire collieries were fairly busy, but were handi-
capped owing to a scarcity of tonnage. This state
of affairs continued for a week or two when, owing to a
strike in Yorkshire, business took a turn for the better.

The improvement did not last long, and the beginning
of May found the market again easier. Tonnage from
the west coast ports to the Mediterranean was scarce,
and splint coal much less in evidence. The Lothians
and Fifeshire had continued fairly brisk, but towards
the end of May the trade on the whole again showed a
distinct falling off. Shipments were fairly well up to
the average for the year. Just at this period the coal-
masters intimated a claim for a further reduction in
miners’ wages of Is. per day based on the prices obtained
since the last reduction. Tbe current rate at this time
was 7s. 3d. per day, fixed by Lord Balfour of Burleigh
in a decision dated April 27, 1914.

Business at the beginning of June was quite featureless.
The general demand was extremely slow, and the
collieries were in some instances inclined to cut prices
in order to induce business, but this had practically no
effect. The state of the market may be gauged from
the fact that the prices quoted in the tenders lodged
with the Glasgow Corporation for the supply of coal
for gasmaking purposes during 1914-15, amounting to
about 800,000 tons, were stated to be Is. 6d. per ton
below the figures in the preceding year. Lord Balfour,
intimating his decision in the second appeal for a reduc-
tion in miners’ wages, said : “ He was satisfied that the
prices obtained during March and April warranted a
reduction of 6J per cent, on the 1888 basis, equal to 3d.
per day, making wages 7s. per day.” While shipments
were still fairly welt up to the average for the year, the
total clearances from Scottish ports showed a decrease
of 400,026 tons compared with the same period of 1913.

Third Quarter.

Quotations at the beginning of July were f.o.b. at
Glasgow for steam coal, 10s. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; ell, Ils. 3d.
to Ils. 6d.; splint, 10s. 6d. to 14s.; treble nuts, Ils. to
Ils. 3d.; doubles, 10s. 6d. to . ^s. 9d.; singles, 10s. to
10s. 3d.: f.o.b. at Leith for bes screened steam coal,
Ils. 3d.; secondary qualities, 10s. to 10s. 3d.; treble
nuts, Ils. 3d. to Ils. 6d.; doubles, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.;
singles, 10s. 3d. to 10s. 6d. : f.o.b. at Methil and Burnt-
island for screened navigation coal, 15s. 9d. to 16s.;
unscreened, 14s. ; first-class steam coal, 12s. 6d. to 13s. ;
third-class, 10s.; treble nuts, Ils. to Ils. 6d.; doubles,
10s 6d. to 10s. 9d.; singles, 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton.
The outstanding features at this time were the firmer
position of ells and the brisker demand for smalls. The
industrial demand was quieter, owing to trade disputes
and dulness in the iron trade. Prices of household coal
were very firm, and retailers generally were asking
Is. 2d. per cwt. Conditions in the Lothians were now a
trifle better, while in Fifeshire shipments were heavy,
principally first-class steams and navigations. The
market was firm towards the end of July, and collieries
were busily engaged clearing up for the annual
holidays.

Business in the early part of August was largely
confined to local demands, and trade in the eastern
district was considerably curtailed owing to outbreak of
hostilities. Business was very uncertain, due in a
measure to Government restrictions, but on the with-
drawal of the Customs bond on coal cargoes to neutral
ports, an impetus was given to the export trade, and
values which had fallen prior to the outbreak of the
war showed signs of firming up. The effect of the war
was seriously felt in Falkirk and the surrounding
district. Work was considerably hampered by the
dislocation of the export trade, and as a consequence,
the pits at Dennyloanhead, Slamannan, Maddiston and
Shieldhill were closed and a large number of men were
thrown idle. In most of the other collieries in the
district miners were working short time, and in some
instances employment was scarcely available for half
the week.

The advent of September brought an all round
improvement in trade. Orders, however, were still

slow and business was not easy to conduct owing to
the difficulty of arranging satisfactory conditions of
payments. During this period one week was pretty
much like another and the market, generally speaking,
was quite featureless, while values were declining
steadily. Just at this time a serious shortage in the
pitwood supplies of the country was threatened. The
household and industrial demands were now much
below normal and stocks were accumulating. Trade in
the Lothians and Fifeshire was naturally very quiet
during this quarter and , the bulk of the business
transacted was for smalls.

Fourth Quarter.

The position of the business at the outset of the
fourth and last quarter of the year could be called
satisfactory. Conditions, on the whole, showed little
alteration, and while now and then a slight improve-
ment appeared to characterise certain departments, no
lasting change for the better could be reported. Values
were still on the decline, and were as follow: Steam
coal, f.o.b. at Glasgow, 10s. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; ell, Ils. to
Ils. 3d.; splint, 11s. 6d. to 14s.; treble nuts, Ils. 6d. to
Ils. 9d.; doubles, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.; singles, ^Os.* 6d.
Best screened steam coal, f.o.b. at Leith, Ils. 6d.;
secondary qualities, 10s. ; treble nuts, Ils. 6d.; doubles,
10s. to 10s. 6d. ; singles, 10s. to 10s. 3d. At Methil and
Burntisland, screened navigation coal was quoted, f.o.b.,
at 15s 6d.; unscreened, 13s. 6d. ; first-class steam coal,
12s. 6d.; third-class, 10s.; treble nuts, Ils. 6d. to Ils. 9d.;
doubles, 10s. 6d.; singles, 10s. 3d. to 10s. 6d. per ton.
Treble nuts were now more plentiful owing to the dis-
continuance of the Canadian trade. The east coast
trade was also greatly curtailed owing to the stoppage
of the Baltic shipments. The allotments in connection
with the Danish State Railways were announced during
October. Contracts to the extent of 60,000 tons were
placed with Scottish collieries and of 40,000 tons in
N orthumberland.

Chart showing the maximum and minimum quotations of
Scottish coals for each month in 1914.

13/

12/

11/

10/

Treble Nuts

Single Nuts

(F.o.b Methilor Burntisland} { _
( do • • do • do ) {A

15/-

3est Screened Navigation (Fob Methilor.Burntisland) {:

\Fo-h Glasgour}

(	.. do .. )

tn

Splint Nuts
EH Coals

$

8

19/-

18/-

I







A better tone prevailed in the west of Scotland
towards the end of October. Several additional blast
furnaces were put into operation, and there was also an
increasing demand from gasworks due to the approach
of winter. During the latter half of October a con-
ference of the Scottish Miners’ Federation was held in
Glasgow, when a proposal to form a new organisation,
to be known as the National Union of Scottish Miners,
was adopted. According to the constitution and rules
each county organisation shall have control of its own
affairs pertaining to the collection of dues and all other
matters, with the exception of strikes or lock-outs,
which shall be controlled by a central committee in
conjunction with the officials of the districts affected.
In the event of a dispute arising in any district
necessitating a stoppage of work, strike pay at the rate
of 12s. per member per week and Is. for each child
under fourteen years of age shall be disbursed from the
central fund, the management committee to have power
to call up levies to meet all requirements. Mr. Robert
Smillie was elected president, Mr. John Robertson vice-
president, Mr. William. Adamson treasurer. The new
union was inaugurated on October 31.

In the opening week of November the tone of the
coal trade generally was more satisfactory, and values
in the western district were firming np. The chief
feature was the strong position of ells and splints.
Business in the Lothians continued quiet, but conditions
in Fifeshire were more active. The bulk of the trade
in the Lothians was against contract. The high rates
of freights ruling at this period were curtailing the
export business to a considerable extent, and in the
Lothians and Fifeshire the clearances were thousands of
tons below normal. Work was still being. largely
interfered with, owing to a lack of suitable pit props,
and many experiments were tried in order to find a
reliable substitute for the usual wooden props.

The commencement of the last month of the year
found trade in a more encouraging position. Trade
conditions were gradually becoming more settled to the
changed circumstances of business, Practically all

23

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grades of coal were in active demand, the only weakness
being steams. Values also were improving, and col-
lieries experienced no difficulty in obtaining the
enhanced prices. The closing of the upper ports on the
Forth caused considerable dislocation to business in the
the Lothians district, with the result that trade
at the Leith docks was greatly congested. The closing
weeks of the year were characterised by an all round
increase in the volume of business. Collieries in the
west of Scotland were heavily booked, and values were
very favourable. Business in the Lothians and Fife-
shire was very active, and though shipments from those
districts were still greatly reduced, this does not
represent the actual volume of the export business, as
large quantities of coal are being sent by rail to west
coast ports for shipment. While trade in 1914 has not
come up to expectations, it must be remembered that
1913 was a record year, and, considering all the circum-
stances, business has never been so poor as might
easily have been the case. The close of the year finds
business again in a more favourable position, and with
conditions now more adjusted to the current methods
of business, the outlook is now more satisfactory than
could reasonably have been anticipated a month ago.
The fluctuations in prices have been considerable
throughout the year, and prices at tbe close show a* drop
all round compared with the beginning of 1914.

F.o.b. Glasgow.

January 19 ’ 4. December 1914.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d-
Steam coal	__........... 13	0	to	14	6	...	11	0	to	13	0

Ell „	.......... 13	9	„	14	0	...	13 6

Splint „	.......... 13	9	„	17	0	...	12	9	„	15	0

Treble nuts	.......... 12	9	„	13	0	...	11	6	„	12	3

Double „	.......... 12 6	...	11	3 „ 11	9

Single „	.......... 11 0	...	10	6 „ 10	9

F.o.b. Leith.

January 1914. December 1914.
s d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Best screened steam coal	12	0	to	12	6	...	11	6	to	11	9

Secondary qualities...	II	3	„	11	6	...	10	6	,,	10	9

Treble nuts .......... 13 0 ,, 13 3 ...	12 6

Double „	.......... 12	0	,,	12	3	...	10	6	,,	11	0

Single „	.......... 10	6	„	10	9	...	10	3	„	10	6

F.o.b. Methil and Bubntisland.

January 1914. December 1914.

Best screened naviga- s. d.	s. d. s. d.

tion coal ..............	17	. ... 15 6 to 15 9

Unscreened ...........	15	0	...	13 6

First-class steam coal ...	13	0	...	11	9 „ 12	0

Third-class ,,	,,	...	11	0	...	10	0 „ 10	3

Treble nuts ........... 13	0	to	13	3	...	11	6	,,	12	6

Double ,, ........... 12	0	„	12	3	...	10	9	„	11	0

Single ,, ........... 10	9	„	11	0	...	10	3	„	10	6

The aggregate shipments for the year amount to
13,695,271 tons, compared with 16,102,191 tons in 1913,
showing a decrease of 2,406,920 tons. This decrease is
largely accounted for by the substantial drop in ship-
ments from the east coast ports, where for the second
half of the year the clearances have averaged about
90,000 tons a week less than in the same period in 1913.

____________________________

TRADE AND THE WAR.

The United States Government has sent a long note to
Great Britain, insisting upon an early improvement of the
treatment of American commerce by the British Fleet.

At the annual meeting of the Cargo Fleet Iron Company
at Middlesbrough, on the 23rd ult., Mr. J. E. Rogerson,
presiding, said they started the past year with a good order
book, but prices were falling heavily. Up to the outbreak
of the great European war quotations and demand con-
tinued to fall, largely due to the enormous increase in
recent years of the productive capacity of the German
steelworks. The latter's central selling organisation had
carried on against them a commercial war for the past
10 years, not only in their home markets, but also in
colonial and foreign countries, and had given special
subsidies to its members on all finished or semi-finished
steel sold for export to our markets. That rebate had
usually been not less than 10s. per ton, but early in the
present year it was suddenly advanced to 15s., and British
steelmakers had to meet an onslaught on their markets
unequalled in all previous experience. Immediately on
the outbreak of war, however, orders for a large quantity of
steel which had been bought by British and other con-
sumers in Germany were cancelled, and placed with British
producers, largely to the benefit of our trade and country.
As a result prices for home standard products substantially
improved.

The Board of Trade desire to call the attention of any
persons who may hold shares or other property in trust for
enemies, to the provisions of section 3 of the Trading with
the Enemy Amendment Act, 1914, under which such
persons are required to give notice in writing to the
custodian forthwith and to furnish the custodian
with particulars. The custodian for England and Wales
is the Public Trustee, 3 and 4, Clements Inn, Strand,
London, W.C. The custodian for Scotland is the Account-
ant of Court in Scotland, New General Register House,
Edinburgh. The custodian for Ireland is the Official
Assignee in Bankruptcy, King's Bench Division, Four
Courts, Dublin. Any person who fails to comply with the
provisions of the section is liable on conviction to fine or
imprisonment or both.

An important step was taken on Tuesday in the
Government’s scheme for developing in this country the
manufacture of dye-stuffs and colours. It was announced
some time ago that Read, Holliday and Sons Limited,
chemical manufacturers, of Huddersfield, would form the
backbone of the new company it is proposed to form with a
capital of =£3,000,000, and that all that was required to
complete the arrangements was the formal sanction of the
shareholders. That sanction was unanimously given at a
meeting called especially for the purpose at the firm’s office
at Huddersfield. The enlargement of the works of this
company will now proceed as an essential part of the
Government’s scheme. It has been necessary to acquire a
site of land 15 acres in extent. The works already cover
an area of 150 acres and find employment for 750 men.
The firm was founded in 1830, and is the largest coal-tar
colour works in Great Britain,