January 1, 1915.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

31

Prices at pit.

Best house coals 		Current prices. 13/6	L’stweek’s prices. 13/6	Last year’s prices. 15/6
			
Secondary do		12/6	12/6	13/6
Cobbles 		11/6	11/6	12/6
Nuts 		10/6	10/6	11/6
Slack 		7/6	7/6	8/

IRON.

There is a firmer tone in the pig iron market and prices
are moving upwards. Finished iron is in better demand,
and it is probable that quotations will be advanced shortly.
Prospects are good.

average Is. all round at the pit head, and will make house-
hold coal dearer by about Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. than before the
war. The advance has been caused mainly by increased
cost of production. Up to Christmas a steady call was
experienced for manufacturing fuel, and there is no reason
to anticipate any falling off, as the industries of the district
are fairly busy. The basis quotations are:—

Prices at pit.

THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Thursday, December 31.
___________________________________________

Nottingham.

COAL.

The ordinary run of trade has naturally been upset by
the Christmas holiday, and with fog1 prevailing on one or
two days in the past week some congestion was caused on
the railways. Work was resumed at most of the collieries
in Nottinghamshire at the commencement of this week,
and, although orders have not come to hand as freely as
before the holiday, owners have a fair amount on hand.
The demand in the domestic fuel section is good, and, with
the weather being of a more wintry condition than recently,
best and second rate qualities are going out of hand very
satisfactorily, whilst common sorts are having a better sale
at the local landsale depots. Values are firm, and in one
or two instances prices have been on the up-grade. In the
steam coal branch the trade in the home market continues
to be satisfactory, industrials being the most active.
Supplies at the collieries are on a much reduced scale, and
some pits have to rely on the present output to meet new
orders. For immediate deliveries, slightly advanced prices
are demanded. Gas coal is rather quieter than last week.
The slack market continues favourable, best and second
class qualities being in strong request, and in some instances
owners have a difficulty in satisfying the demand. As a
result, values are manifesting an upward tendency.

Prices at pithead.

	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/	16/	16/
Do. best shallow	14/6	14/6	14/9
_________________	Do. seconds do.	13/9	13/9	14/ ■
Best hard 		14/6	14/6	15/
Forge coal		10/6	10/6	11/
Slack 	  Warwickshire:—	7/	7/	7/6
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) 		10/6	10/6	11/
D.S. nuts (steam) 		9/6	9/6	10/
Small	(do.)	8/	8/	8/3

Hand-picked brights .....

Good house coals.........

Secondary do.............

Best hard coals..........

Secondary do.............

Slacks (best hards) .....

Do. (second) ..........

Do. (soft).............

Current
prices.

14/ -15/

13/ -13/6

12/6-13/
10/6-11/

10/ -10/6

7/ - 7/6
6/3- 6/6
6/3- 6/6

L’stweek’s
prices.
14/ -14/6
12/6-13/6
11/6-12/
10/3-10/9
9/6-10/
6/6- 7/3
5/9- 6/3
5/9- 6/3

Last year's
prices.
14/ -14/6
13/ -13/6
11/6-12/6
11/6—12/
10/ -11/
7/9- 8/
6/9- 7/3
6/6- 7/6

——■ 1	________

Leicestershire.

COAL.

The sanguine hopes that after the Christmas holidays
the serious troubles in regard to the supplies of empty
wagons would be considerably relieved have not been
realised; on the contrary, work has been resumed under
very trying conditions. The wagon supply was deplorably
bad—in some cases only 5 to 10 per cent, being available of
the ordinary number. The orders had been flowing in
more freely both as regards numbers and extent, and it was
-disappointing to all concerned to have to restrict the
working to half-days. In addition, there were many
complaints as to delays in deliveries, the transport of
wagons even for short distances occupying more than a
week. A circular has been issued reducing the contract
quantities by one-fifth on account of the diminution in the
output, brought about by the scarcity of labour and the
shortage of the wagon supply. Under these circumstances
contractors will only receive 80 per cent, of the quantities
contracted for. Jn addition to this, prices of all the best
qualities of coal have been again advanced by Is. per ton,
and other grades by 6d. to 9d. per ton. It is feared that
unless there is a speedy improvement in the number of
wagons available some further important changes will
become inevitable. These alterations are foreshadowed by
the acceptance of orders in some cases on the distinct
undertaking that they will be subject to the prices in force
on the day when the order is executed. The persistent
stoppages of the output, together with the smaller number
<of miners engaged, presents a serious problem in the
management, the heavy and increasing establishment
charges having to be met by a much smaller tonnage. As
a rule, there are no stocks of any kind on hand at the pits,
and this fact alone justifies the action of users of manufac-
turing fuels in increasing their reserve stocks of supplies
to meet unexpected emergencies. The following are the
prices now generally current at the collieries in this
district:—

Per ton at pit.

IRON.

The market was sparsely attended. Most of the works
resumed on Wednesday after the holiday stoppage, but some
of those not engaged on Government work will be closed
till the end of the week. While buying was deferred by
many consumers till nearer the quarterly meeting, a fort-
night hence, reports indicated a healthy business sentiment
in the industries of the district, and, generally speaking, the
feeling is inclined towards optimism for the immediate future.
Pig iron makers in the supply districts of Northamptonshire
and Derbyshire are in a stronger position than for some time,
and are unwilling to sell far into next year except at
enhanced prices. Values have been creeping up for several
weeks, and now Northamptonshire stands at about 53s.,
Derbyshire 56s. to 58s., Staffordshire cinder 53s., Stafford-
shire part mine 56s. Foundry iron is wanted in large
quantities, and a ready sale is found for all kinds
of scrap iron. A broader demand' is also experienced
for bar iron, and second class qualities are firm at
<£7 5s. to <£7 7s. 6d. Branded bars are maintained
at <£9, and the mills continue in full production.
Galvanised sheets have made some recovery in price, due,
however, to higher cost of production rather than better
trade. Spelter and sheet bars are dearer, and wages tend in an
upward direction. The minimum price for export is <£11 5s.,
and no new contracts for the home trade are made under
<£11 10s. For small rounds, squares and flats <£7 10s. is
about the market level (three-eighths basis). Steel
rounds are usually about the same as iron, but for the
time being they are about 5s. a ton higher, by reason of
the high cost of billets, which range from <£5 7s. 6d. to
<£5 12s. 6d. for Bessemer, with the usual 2s. 6d. to 5s. extra
for Siemens qualities. While there is no great activity in
the strip trade, a fair business is done at <£7 2s. 6d. to <£7 5s.
for gas strip, and <£7 15s. to £8 for steel strip. Steel
makers generally have their books well filled with orders
for war material, and regard the future hopefully.

________	 -------________

Forest of Dean.

Lydney.	COAL.

Some of the collieries were at work on Monday this week,
but a full resumption was not general until Tuesday. A
strong demand is still in evidence for the house coals of
the district, and prices are advanced Is. per ton from
January 1. Slacks, too, are in better request, and stocks
are being gradually cleared. All the steam coal pits are
fully engaged, and there is some pressure in the enquiry.
There are practically no stocks.

Prices at pithead.

	Current	L’stweek’s	Last year’s
House coals	prices.	prices.	prices.
Block 		18/6	■ 17/6	17/6
Forest 		17/6	16/6	16/6
Rubble 		17/9	16/9	16/9
Nuts 		16/	15/	15/
Rough slack 	  Steam coal:—	7/6	6/6	6/6
Large		12/6-13/	12/6-13/	12/6-13/
Small 		8/ - 8/3	7/9- 8/3	8/6- 9/

Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness.

Best household coal ...............
Second, hand picked ...............
Deep screened cobbles .............
Deep large nuts ...................
Bakers” nuts.......................
Small nuts .......................
Deep breeze.......................
Peas ..............................
Small dust .......................
Main nuts for London kitcheners ...
Steams, best hand picked ..........
Steams, seconds ...................
Main cobbles for kitcheners ........
Main breeze.......................
_________________________________

| Current

I prices.

' 15/6—16/6

: 14/6-15/6

' 14/ -15/

5 13/6-14/6
i 12/6-13/6
! 11/- 11/6
i 9/6-10/

8/9- 9/3
' 1/9- 2/3
12/3-12/9
I 11/ -12/
' 9/6-10/6
I 12/3-12/9

8/6- 9/

L'st week's
prices.
14/6-15/6
13/6-14/6
13/ -14/
12/9-13/6
12/ -12/6
10/6-11/
9/ - 9/6
8/3- 8/9
1/6- 1/9
11/6-12/
10/6—11/6
9/ -10/
11/6-12/

8/ - 8/6

________	________

South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire
and Warwickshire.

Birmingham,	COAL.

By next week it will be possible to furnish the revised
January, prices. From several collieries in the Cannock
district the new lists had not been issued in time for the
market, but it may be assumed that the advance will

___________________________

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE.

Liverpool.

Makers are standing firmly to their quotations, and are
not anxious to sell forward. The demand, however, is not
good, and spot lots in second hands can be bought at low
figures. The Government restrictions in regard to exports
to neutral countries, although now being gradually removed
where possible, has greatly inconvenienced the trade.
Current quotations are firm for the first quarter of the
year, as follow :—Coke tins: IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 1b.),
12s. 9d. to 13s. per box ; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 13s. 3d.
to 13s. 6d. per box ; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 25s. 9d.
to 26s. per box; I C 14 x 18| (124 sh. 110 lb.), 13s. per
box ; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.), 13s. per box ; I C 20 x 10
(225 sh. 156 lb.), 17s. 9d. to 18s. per box; I C squares and
odd sizes, 13s. basis for approved specifications. Charcoals
are firm at 15s. basis and upwards, according to tinning.
Coke wasters are in quiet request. Quotations:—C W14 x 20,
Ils. 9d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 23s. 6d. per box ; C W 20 x 10,
14s. 6d. per box; C W 14 x 18|, lls.4|d. per box. All f.o.b.
Wales, less 4 per cent.

___________________________

It has been officially announced that the Stock Exchange
will re-open on Monday, 4th inst., for business under
severe restrictions. The latter has been imposed with the
object of safeguarding the London market against forced
realisation of securities and against operations for the
purpose of depressing prices, and also in order to close the
market directly and indirectly against the enemy.

North Wales.

Wrexham.

COAL.

The past year has certainly not been a very prosperous
one, and when records come to be read in the annual
balance-sheets, it is anticipated that in more than one
instance the balance on the year’s working will be on the
losing side. Still, taking all circumstances into considera-
tion, matters might easily have been worse. Perhaps, the
worst feature has been the necessity for closing two small
collieries entirely, owing to the inability to carry them on,
with the present high cost of production, except at consider-
able loss. As a set-off to this, however, two new collieries
are being sunk, one at Gresford, and another at Chirk. This
district has been fairly free from local labour disputes, and
of those which have occurred, the most important was that
in the test case in connection with the payment of fillers’
wages under the Minimum Wage Act, which was carried to
the House of Lords. The district, however, has been
materially affected by the many disputes which have taken
place at Liverpool and other Mersey ports, as during the
year practically the whole of the labour engaged with the
shipping trade has experienced disturbances, but at the time
of writing these notes, there is peace. Another matter
affecting the coal trade has been the continued congestion at
the shipping ports, which is now somewhat relieved. The
trade in' house coal has been everything that could be
desired throughout the year, and prices have varied but
little all along, though there are present indications that
advances will take place almost at once. A good trade has
been done, too, in gas coal, and the tonnage supplied will
be quite up to the average of past years, though the con-
tract prices have not been so good as the immediately pre-
ceding period. When prices come to be fixed again, in
view of the enhanced cost of getting coal at the present time,
prices will probably be increased. The steam coal has been
more variable than any other kind, which, of course, is only
what could be expected, the business having been affected
detrimentally in many ways, especially since the outbreak
of hostilities, as many industrial concerns have either been
closed down, or are working very short time, added to which
is the fact that for the past few months it has been excep-
tionally difficult to get wagons returned from any part of the
kingdom. This state of things, it is hoped, will in some
manner be improved at an early date. Since the Christmas
holidays there has been but little business done. In many
instances the men did not come to work on the Monday, and
as New Year’s Day is a holiday, the output during the past
week has been much below the average. Prices are as
below :—

Prices at pit f.o.r.: —

Best house coal ......

Secondary do..........

Steam coal............

Gas coal..............

Bunkers...............

Nuts .................

Slack ................

Gas coke (at works)...

Prices landsale:—

Best house coal __.....

Seconds ..............

Slack ................

Current
prices.
15/ -16/6
14/ -15/
11/6-12/6
12/ -13/
11/4-11/8
11/ -11/6
5/6- 6/6
11/8-13/4

19/2-20/
17/6-18/4
10/ —12/6

L'st week's
prices.

15/ -16/
14/ -15/
11/9-12/9
12/ -13/
11/4-11/9
11/ -11/6

5/3- 6/9
11/8-13/4

Last year’s
prices.

15/6-16/9
14/6-15/6
12/6-13/6
13/ -13/9
12/3-12/6
11/ -11/9
6/6— 8/6
13/4—15/

19/2-20/
17/6-18/4
10/ —12/6

17/6-19/2

16/8-17/6

10/ -12/6

_________________

Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac.

Newport.

COAL.

For several days now the coal market has maintained
steadily a welcome firmness of tone, and there are signs
that these strong conditions will continue. Ample tonnage
is in port, and further heavy arrivals are expected, while
stocks have been greatly reduced, and outputs are not nearly
up to the maximum production of collieries. In some cases
colliery salesmen have to decline orders which are conditional
on prompt delivery being made, so that it is no surprise to
hear of higher quotations in these quarters.’ Small coals
continue very scarce indeed, while enquiry is unabated.
Latest quotations reach even more than 11s. for best
qualities. Patent fuel and cokes are a little firmer, while
house coals do not show much variation. Pitwood remains
a very difficult commodity. Good wood is still very scarce,
while* buyers are eager to snap up any satisfactory parcels.
In some cases importers have obtained nearly 30s. for sorts
that were wanted. Three or four cargoes have just arrived
in port, and, when discharged, will tend to ease the situa-
tion. Fair activity is seen in the freight market, where
tonnage is not offering any too freely, in spite of the present
encouraging rates. These remain quite firm for all Mediter-
ranean ports, while ruling stronger for other French and
Peninsular, also all South American destinations.

Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days.

Steam coals: —

Best Black Vein large...
Western-valleys, ordin’y
Best Eastern-valleys ...
Secondary do.

Best small coals .....

Secondary do..........

Inferior do...........

Screenings ...........

Through coals ........

Best washed nuts......

Other sorts:—

Best house coal.......

Secondary do..........

Patent fuel ..........

Furnace coke.........__

Foundry coke .........

Current
prices.
18/ -18/3
17/9-18/
16/6-17/3
15/9-16/3
10/ -11/
9/6-10/
9/ - 9/6
10/6-11/

18/ -19/
16/6-17/6
16/ -17/

L’st week’s
prices.

17/6-17/9
16/9-17/3
16/ -16/6
15/3-15/9
9/6-10/3
8/6- 9/3
7/6- 8/3
10/ -10/3
13/ -13/3
15/3-15/6

18/ -19/
16/6-17/6
16/ -16/3
18/ -19/
21/ -23/

Last year's
prices.

17/9-18/3
16/9-17/3
16/3-16/9
15/6-16/

8/6- 9/
8/ - 8/6
7/6— 8/
8/9- 9/
13/3-13/6
13/9-14/3

18/ -19/
16/6-17/6
19/6-20/6
19/ -20/
23/ -25/

IRON.

Business in this district is quietly settling down after the
holidays, and works have now in most instances got into
full swing again. A fair amount of new orders have been
placed, and enquiry at the moment is coming along rathei
better than anticipated. With the single exception of tin-
plates, which continue the unsatisfactory feature of the