January 8, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 85 endurance, in order to meet the great national emergency of providing urgent requirements for the British, French, and Russian Governments. Colliery managers have thus very great responsibilities, which they are making every possible effort to meet. The output will, therefore, be a •very uncertain quantity for some time to come. At some places many train loads of coal are waiting for delivery to the south, and generally deliveries will be very uncertain, with more or less lengthy stoppages of the output. Prices are extremely firm all round, and some further adjustments of prices have taken place. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire . and Warwickshire. Birmingham, COAL. The revised prices are in operation; in some cases they are substantial, and an advance is even asked upon the figures quoted below in many instances. The trade has not settled down since the holidays, and a tremendous lot of arrears has to be made up. The work is being done under the greatest possible difficulties with regard to transport and labour, and merchants are not in a particularly happy plight. The new quotations are :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock’Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 19/ 18/6 18/6 Do. seconds deep 17/6 16/ 16/ Do. best shallow 16/6 14/6 14/9 Do. seconds do. 15/ 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 17/6 16/6 16/6 cobs 15/6 14/6 14/ Best hard spires 16/ 15/ 15/ Forge (steam) 11/6 10/6 11 D.S. nuts (steam) 10/6 9/6 10/ Small (do.) 9/ 8/ 8/3 IRON. The attendance at Thursday’s market was normal. In view of the quarterly meeting next Thursday enquiries were numerous, covering practically the whole field of production, and, as prices are not likely to fall, it may be expected that a lot of business will be put through during the ensuing week. Manufacturers in the district have heavy responsibilities for the supply of material in connec- tion with the war, and this fact helps to keep values very firm. These are not so high as they were at the beginning of the quarter, when they went up with a bound as a result of the rush of Government orders following the outbreak of hostilities and the wiping out of foreign competition, but they have recovered from the slump which followed the boom, and the market is again steadily rising. At the beginning of October Northamptonshire pig iron was sold at 56s. and 57s., Derbyshire at 58s. to 59s., and Staffordshire part mine 59s. A month later prices had fallen by at least 5s. to 6s. a ton ; now Northamptonshire forge has again risen to 53s. 6d. to 54s. 6d., Derbyshire to from 56s. 6d. to 58s. 6d. according to quality and customer, and Staffordshire part mine to 57s. 6d. Business is done in fair parcels. Finished iron has undergone a similar experience. Six weeks ago a reduction in marked bars from the £9 basis, to which figure they were raised in August, was expected, now makers have well-filled order books, and any change is likely to be in an upward direction. The range for second class bars is from <£7 7s. 6d. to <£7 10s. delivered Birmingham, the last mentioned being the minimum figure at which they stood three months ago. Nut and bolt iron remains at <£6 17s. 6d. to <£7 delivered Darlaston. An improved enquiry is reported for corrugated sheets, though naturally shipping business is carried on under difficulties. The quotations of <£11 5s. to <£10 10s. are maintained. The demand for gas stip is not more than moderate, and prices range from <£7 2s. 6d. to <£7 5s. Steel strip is <£7 15s. The steel works are in full swing. Military and Admiralty needs remain the backbone of the business, but apart from this a substantial trade is being done. Angles are in keen demand, and the call for joists, if not so pro- nounced, is steady. Angles have been advanced 10s. a ton, making them <£7 15s. for lots of 100 tons and upwards, and 2s. 6d. extra for smaller lots. Plates are also quoted 10s. dearer, unofficially. Billets range from <£5 15s. to <£5 15s., and for Siemens qualities up to <£6 in some cases. A slow trade is being done in copper sheets, and the price remains .at <£78 a ton. Forest of Dean. Lydney. * COAL. The colder weather is still having a beneficial effect on the house coal trade of this district, and the improvement noted in the enquiry for all descriptions is well maintained. The demand is fully equal to the output with the collieries working six days in the week, and stocks are practically nil. Good shipments are made, and railborne orders are very satisfactory. Slacks are going well, whilst all steam qualities are meeting with a brisk enquiry, all the pits working full time. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 18/6 18/6 17/6 Forest 17/6 17/6 16/6 Rubble 17/9 17/9 16/9 Nuts 16/ 16/ 15/ Rough slack >Steam coal:— 7/6 7/6 6/6 Large 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Small 8/ -9/ 8/ - 8/3 8/6- 9/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. D©¥on5 Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that the coal trade on the south coast has been conducted with unprecedented difficulty during the Christmas holiday period. Supplies generally have been much shorter than usual, while merchants have met with great trouble in delivering coal to their town and district customers, owing chiefly to the shortage of transport facilities caused bj^ military require- ments. Freights for prompt steamers have ruled very high, and the price of coal in some cases has been advanced for immediate shipment, although those for more distant dates are still quoted at about the normal rates. THE WELSH COAL AND IR0H TRADES. Thursday, January 7. North Wales. exham. COAL. As New Year’s Day was a general holiday for the colliers in this district, the general output was considerably reduced. On Saturday also only a small number of men returned to work. Since then matters have been fairly brisk, the demand for house coal has been keen, the landsale and merchants’ trade have been well maintained, and prices are on the advancing stage. Since the new year the prices have advanced for house coal to the extent of Is. per ton, and there is no doubt but that shortly steam coal and bunkers will advance comparatively. Peace has been restored at Liverpool, which enables shipments to be made in the Mersey port more quickly and to better advantage. Slack is still a drug on the market, but there are signs of a revival in the industrial departments, and this being so, prices should improve; but owing at the present time to so many industrial ventures being closed down, prices are in favour of buyers. Gas coke still remains at prices quoted for a considerable time past. There is a general tendency to advance prices in the landsales and the railborne business to the extent of Is. per ton. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. An impartial survey of the coal market to-day gives the impression that current values may be expected to recede a little, and that very soon, unless a great change alters the rate of chartering. There is no lack of steamers in dock, but all these are not available for coal cargoes, and a number will sail with bunkers only, being drawn away by the high freights offered abroad for homeward voyages. For more than a week past chartering has not been satisfactory, but the scarcity of steamers offering is now reflected in freights, which rule exceedingly strong. For Alexandria 22s. has been arranged, while for Italian ports, and also for South America, there have been substantial advances. Thus will the required tonnage be attracted, but whether quickly enough to prevent any disorder in values now ruling in the coal trade remains to be seen. For all qualities of large steams last week’s prices are unaltered, but for smalls at least Is. per ton more is being paid, while house coals, too, are well advanced. Coke is firmer, while the recent high prices for pitwood are maintained, though the arrival of several steamers now on the way will doubtless lessen buyers’ serious difficulties here. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 18/ -18/3 18/ -18/3 18/ -18/3 Western-valleys, ordin’y 17/6-18/ 17/9-18/ 16/9-17/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 16/9-17/3 16/6-17/3 16/6-16/9 Secondary do. 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/ Best small coals 12/ -12/9 10/ -11/ 8/ - 8/3 Secondary do 111 -11/6 9/6-10/ 7/6- 7/9 Inferior do 10/6-10/9 9/ - 9/6 7/3- 7/6 Screenings 12/6-12/9 10/6-11/ 8/3 Through coals 13/3-13/9 13/3-13/6 Best washed nuts 15/9-16/ — 13/9-14/3 Other sorts:— Best house coal 18/6-19/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Secondary do 17/ -18/ |16/6-17/6 17/ -18/ Patent fuel 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 19/ -20/ Furnace coke i, i. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ Foundry coke 23/ -25/ — 23/ -25/ IRON. Matters locally in the iron and steel trades remain very much the same as reported last week, work in most depart- ments continuing good, but, at the same time, only a small amount of fresh business is being put through. Prices all round continue firm, but the general feeling is to delay as far as possible all but very urgent orders until it is seen how the position develops at the quarterly meeting next week. Meanwhile, all departments are in full swing again, and for the present well-filled order books are reported. Output at bar mills is satisfactory, with values firm, on the basis of £5 2s. 6d. to £5 5s. for either Bessemer or Siemens. The future position is regarded with great uncertainty, for, despite the enhanced value of raw material, the position of the tin-plate trade continues to grow worse, and this is bound to react upon the bar mills. Steel rails are nominally unaltered, with work and enquiry moderately good. The pig iron trade is firmer, with Welsh haematite again advanecd to 79s. to 80s. delivered locally. The Blaenavon Company have restarted their big blastfurnace, and it is anticipated will blow in another within a few weeks. Iron ore is firm at 20s. 6d. to 21s. for best Bubio c.i.f. Newport. Stocks of tin-plates continue to increase, but despite all buyers’ pressure, prices have advanced l^d. to 3d. per box, which increase does not, however, cover the advance in raw materials. For future deliveries makers are exhibiting a firmer tone. Cardiff. COAL. The position of the trade in this district is rather curious. There is almost an impossibility to get first-class coal, owing to Admiralty restrictions, and in consequence there has been an exceptional demand for seconds or ordi- naries and Monmouthshires of all kinds. The difficulty in dealing with first-class Admiralty coals is exercising a detrimental effect in the market. For instance, commission may be given to ship a cargo two or three days ahead, but when it is a case of about 10 days or a fortnight ahead, the position is absolutely different. Permission might be given to export a cargo of 5,000 tons in three days, but in case of a boat being unobtainable, that particular cargo might be retained by the Admiralty, or it might be thrown on the hands of the shippers. In case the latter had not got a prompt boat, they would have this cargo on their hands, and would therefore be unable to command anything like the same price as if they had been selling to a man in the ordinary course of business. The result in that case would have been that the colliery owners would be only too glad to make material concessions to a buyer with a prompt boat, rather than run the risk of having t he colliery stopped through shortage of wagons. Foreign buyers are beginning to appreciate this difficulty, and, instead of buying best Admiralty coals, they are speculating in seconds and ordi- nary qualities, because they know there is less difficulty with regard to shipment. The result is that inferior coals have gone up in value, and are not much less than the prices demanded for the small quantities of the very best qualities which are now on the market. Best Admiralties are quoted at about 21s., seconds at 19s. 6d. to 20s., and ordi- nary qualities at 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d. Another factor which seriously militates against business is the exceptional high rate of freights at present ruling. For instance, 18s. 6d. is being paid for Genoa, which is a record; and other ports are in proportion. In fact, there is little indication at present of there being any modification in the Mediterranean for some time to come. There is a possibility of the Govern- ment making use of the German and Austrian tonnage, in which case this will afford a slight relief, but not to any great extent, as the present demands of trade are consider- ably in excess of the supply of tonnage. Shipments from the Bristol Channel last week amounted to 383,904 tons, as compared with 521,221 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 137,317 tons. Cardiff alone shipped 224,044 tons, or a decrease of 113,628 tons. New- port despatched 68,337 tons, or a falling off of 10,149 tons; Swansea, 66,358 tons, or a decrease of 4,132 tons; and Port Talbot, 25,165 tons, or a diminution of 9,408 tons. These, of course, are outside Admiralty shipments, the details of which are not published. With regard to the small coal trade, matters are booming, and higher prices are now being obtained than at any period during last year. Best bunkers command as much as 13s. 6d. to 14s., ordinaries 12s. 9d. to 13s., and cargo qualities Ils. 6d. to 12s. per ton. While on the subject of exports, it might be mentioned that the total charterings reported up to the end of the year amounted to 15,393,210 tons, compared with 18,970,553 tons in 1913, the difference, of course, being attributable to the war, and Admiralty requirements being excluded. As a matter of fact, it is believed that local shippers have had little reason to complain because their contracts have been protected by the war clause, and whatever coal they have been unable to ship abroad has been readily taken by the Admiralty. Charterings during the past week have not been satisfactory. True, it was a holiday week, but even accounting for two blank days in Christmas week, they showed a decrease of 8,850 tons; the total last week was 96,100 tons, compared with 104,950 tons, which is only about one-fourth of the .weekly requirement of the port. Although a good many enquiries are on the market, no con- tracts of any importance have been entered into, and both buyers and sellers seem afraid to commit themselves to any definite policy, while the present uncertain state of affairs continues. An unofficial return of the trade of Port Talbot shows that during 1914 the shipments amounted to 2,129,205 tons, compared with 2,764,439 tons, or a decrease of 635,234 tons as compared with 1913. Until the outbreak of the war it had been anticipated that the trade of the Port Talbot docks would have been at least three million tons in excess of 1913. There has been an increased demand for Monmouthshire coals, probably on account of the fact that the best Cardiff steams are so difficult to obtain. Prices have an upward tendency, and 18s.‘ 6d. to 18s. 9d. is now being quoted for Black Veins, 18s. 3d. for western valleys, and 17s. 9d. to 18s. for eastern valley qualities. Washed coals still remain at a high figure, owing to the very great demand from France, and the price is very little less than that of ordinary steam qualities of large. In bituminous coals there is not much alteration, except in small sorts. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 21/ 19/6-20/ 18/6-18/9 13/6-14/ 12/9-13/ 11/6-12/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/ 15/6 14/ 12/ 18/6-18/9 18/3 17/9-18/ 17/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 16/ 15/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 11/ -11/6 19/ 18/ -18/6 28/ -32/ 25/ -28/ 20/ -22/ 28/ -29/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ 18/ -19/ 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/ 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 19/ 18/ 16/ 15/ 10/6 18/ i7/ 16/ 15/6-16/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 18/ 15/6-16/ 13/ 15/ -15/6 12/6-13/ 9/ -10/ 18/ 17/ 28/ -32/ 25/ -27/ 19/ -21/ 28/ -30/ Last year’s prices. 19/6-20/ 19/3-19/6 18/ —18/3 11/ 10/9 7/6- 8/ 7/ - 7/3 18/6-19/ 16/6-17/ 16/6 15/6 14/9 13/9 12/ 18/ 17/6 16/9 15/9-16/3 21/ 18/ 17/6 15/ 12/3-12/6 15/3-15/6 12/ 8/3- 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/ 28/ 23/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 19/9-20/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries..- Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins We stern-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous la^ge Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship)