February 5, 1915. 289 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ peen exhausted. In the home market steam coals are in increasing request, and for supplies outside contracts higher rates are obtained, but there is comparatively little being placed on the open market. Shipments to the Humber ports are on a decreasing scale owing to the heavy freights now being charged. Small hards are difficult to ■obtain, and values are moving upward. There is a good business being done in gas coal, though special rates are quoted for supplies outside contracts. 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. 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 9/ - 9/6 8/3- 8/9 8/6- 8/9 L’st week’s prices. 15/ -16/ 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 8/ - 8/6 7/ - 7/6 7/ - 7/6 Last year’s prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/9-11/3 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/3 6/6- 7/3 6/9- 7/6 __________________ Leicestershire. COAL. The position of affairs in the Leicestershire coalfield grows more difficult day by day, and all sections of the trade are seriously affected. The delays in the movement of full wagons are due mainly to two causes, and railway experts state that the chief difficulty arises in consequence of the occupation of many important railway sidings by wagons filled with Government stores and also with wagons which it might/'become necessary to move to specific ■destinations at a few minutes’ notice in case of emergency. This military precaution dominates everything on the railways and makes serious delays inevitable. A secondary ■cause is the scarcity of labour available at destinations to unload wagons and to effect deliveries to merchants and •consumers. It is expected, however, that this serious trouble will be considerably relieved in the course of a few weeks. The inflow of orders continues, but colliery managers find it impossible to entertain a very large proportion of the business offered, although as much as 8s. per ton premium on contract rates is offered. The official price lists remain unaltered, but they are subject to the •conditions which prevail at the moment. Every effort is being made to carry out the terms of the contracts which have been entered into, and although contractors are willing to face the new position which has been created, yet the broad fact remains that colliery managers are unable to avail themselves to any appreciable extent of the high prices which prevail. The collieries in this district are under contracts which absorb roughly two-thirds of the normal output, and as the reduction in the number of miners employed and the stoppages in working necessitated by transport troubles have reduced the normal output by 20 per cent., the margin left by sale at the higher prices is ■comparatively small. Against this has to be placed the much higher- percentage of establishment charges on the total output. Preference is, of course, given to the very large number of firms in this district who are engaged on vital contracts for the Army and Navy, and the forces of •our Allies. After this the coal available is utilised in a hand-to-mouth way to meet the necessities of merchants. Coal merchants are compelled to pursue the same policy, and many orders accompanied by cash have to be refused. All round, every effort is being made to grapple with a grave difficulty, with a minimum of loss and inconvenience. Subject to these important limitations, the prices which now generally prevail at the collieries in this district are as follow:— Prices at pit. _________ IRON. The market was well attended, and remained sensitive and susceptible to every movement. All the conditions conspire to send up prices. Labour, ore, fuel, and freights are all dearer. Another advance in wages takes effect from Monday next, bringing puddling up to 10s. 3d. a ton, with the bonus. This is in accordance with the sliding scale of the Midland Wages Board, which regulates wages, not only in Staffordshire, but in large areas in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and South Wales. The selling price for November and December worked out at £7 8s. Id. a ton, or 2s. Id. more tban in the preceding two months. The difficulty of obtaining supplies of fuel and material is serious, and many works are on short time in ' consequence. It is a primary factor too, in artificially inflating prices. In, the light of circumstances, producers and consumers alike are walking warily. Pig iron makers are fairly well sold, and current business is on a restricted scale. Generally speaking, it is done around the following figures :—South Staffordshire common, 55s.; part-mine, 60s.; best all-mine, 90s.; cold blast, 130s.; Derbyshire, 60s. to 61s.; and Northamptonshire brands, 57s. to 58s. In bar iron the trend of prices continues upwards. For merchant bars £7 15s. is the minimum, and some firms quote <£8 delivered Birmingham. Nut iron is sold freely at £7 5s. and £7 7s. 6d., and bolt iron at £7 10s. delivered Darlaston. Large purchases of branded bars are being made' for Government uses. The basis price of <£9 remains undis- turbed. Yorkshire bars are now <£8 5s. to <£8 10s. Galvanised sheets have made another jump to <£13 a ton, Liverpool, and 5s. to 10s. extra for home trade. The continued rise in spelter and sheet bars is the primary cause. The former is quoted <£37 to <£38 delivered Birmingham, and bars cannot be obtained under <£6 12s. 6d. For gas strip <£7 10s. is quoted as a minimum, and some makers hold out for <£7 15s. The steel trade is as active as it can be, and last week’s enhanced rates are firmly upheld. There is a little more semi-raw steel on offer, and a good deal of business is in prospect. During the next six months it is expected that American supplies will reach this country in increasing quantities. A part cargo was reported to be on sale in the open market on Monday, but the terms did not transpire, and the coal was speedily bought. This is the first record of a transaction of this kind for many months past. Steam coals are wanted now, but the supply is short. South Yorkshire hards are quoted at 17s. f.o.b. in the Humber port, and Derbyshire hards at 16s. 6d. to 17s. f.o.b. Yorkshire gas coals are also quoted at 15s. 6d. f.o.b. Three of the enemy’s ships are reported to have been sent from Hull to London loaded with coal. Freights are still ruling high, but since the release of some of the prizes of war freights have been reduced. The Welsh coal market continues firm, but Admiralty sorts are quoted at 21s., and seconds 19s. 6d. f.o.b. Cardiff. The Swedish State Railways have contracted for about 130,000 tons of steam coal for shipment between now and the end of June, and the bulk of this is from Durham. The threatened strike in West Yorkshire is still an earnest topic of conversation on the London market. It is felt by many that the points in dispute are not worth a strike, especially in times like the present. The London County Council have abandoned the idea of establishing a huge electricity control over the streets of London. The reports from the various depots show how difficult it is at the present time to get a sufficient number of carmen and loaders to grapple with the orders on hand, and in many cases merchants have been compelled to decline further orders from the general public. Slacks and small nuts are selling freely, and as much as 8s. 6d. to 10s. has been quoted for nutty slack, and 13s. 6d. per ton at pit for small nuts. Lydney. _______ _______ Forest of Dean. COAL. There is no relief in the pressure on collieries for delivery of the house coals of this district. There is such an accumulation of orders on the books that the colliery owners are not anxious to increase their obligations to customers at the moment. All descriptions are in heavy request, while orders are coming in thick and fast, and buyers are undoubtedly much inconvenienced in the matter of obtaining anything like ample supplies for their requirements. In the shipping department stems are long, and there is delay in loading. The same condition of business obtains in the steam coal trade, and all the collieries are sadly in arrear with their deliveries. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— i prices. prices. prices. Block 19/6 . 19/6 17/6 Forest 18/6 18/6 16/6 Rubble 18/9 18/9 16/9 Nuts 17/ 17/ 15/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 8/6 8/6 6/6 Large 15/ -15/6 14/ 12/6-13/ Small 9/6-10/ 8/6- 9/ 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 prices. 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/ 11/ -12/ 8/9- 9/9 2/6- 3/ 12/3-12/9 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/6 12/3-12/9 |L’stweek’s I prices. i 16/ -17/ 1 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 I 13/ -14/ i 11/6-12/ ; 11/ -12/9 I 8/9- 9/ ' 2/6- 3/ 12/3-12/9 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/6 12/3-12/9 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 __________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The situation is still acute, but from what can be ascertained no further advances are expected. The public demand is still high, but it has to some extent subsided from the high water mark of the last fortnight. Many works find difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies, and some are working short time in consequence. An annoying feature is that large quantities of coal are standing loaded ■on sidings awaiting despatch. Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... Do. seconds deep Do. best shallow Do. seconds do. Best hard ............. Forge coal.............. Slack __................ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked cobs ...........______ Best hard spires ...... Forge (steam) ......... D.S. nuts (steam) ..... Small (do.) ...... Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. 20/ 20/ 18/6 19/ 19/ 16/ 18/6 18/6 14/9 17/6 17/6 14/ 16/6 16/6 15/ 14/ 14/ q 10/ 10/ 7/6 19/6 19/6 16/6 17/6. 17/6 14/ 18/ 18 15( 13/6 13/6 11 14/6 14/6 10/ 11/6 11/6 8/3 ____________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, January 29.—The seaborne house coal market was again without supplies to-day, but the colder weather gave a slightly better tone generally, but no business reported. Cargoes 15. Monday, February 1.—There was a fair enquiry for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but no sales reported. A cargo of Durham is on its way to London, but already disposed of, and a part cargo also arranged for, but prices were not obtainable. Cargoes 24. Wednesday, February 3.—There were no seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which remained unaltered, with a fair enquiry. Cargoes 10. ___________________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 4. ___________________________________________ ________ ________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a good demand for house and steam coal on the south coast and inland districts. The chief supplies are coming forward by rail; this is owing to the prevailing excessively high rates of steam freights. Those importers who own steamers, or who hold favourable freight contracts, are now the only ones chiefly concerned in importations by steamers. During the past few days there have been numerous arrivals of sailing colliers which had been delayed by a succession of rough weather. Owing to a scarcity of cargoes at some of the coal ports, there appears to be a slight easing in steam freights. ___________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 4. __________________________________________________ There is very little change in the pressure for coal on the London market and. the trade continues brisk. There is, however, a growing feeling amongst merchants that they must confine themselves more particularly to the coal bought under* contract, as the few trucks offering by the collieries on the open market leave them no margin for profit after paying the prices demanded ‘ by the colliery representatives. The pressure, however, for the small quantity available still continues. The bulk of the collieries' have withdrawn all current lists and quotations, but it is well known that they have a very heavy list of unexecuted orders on the books, and until a clearance is made of these old orders, no desire is felt to put more on the books, however tempting the price may be. Many collieries also are compelled to work short time from the non-arrival of empties, and in some cases special terms have been arranged for private owners* wagons, but refusing all orders in colliery or railway wagons. Railway companies are freely mentioning their sheer inability to send in better supplies of railway wagons, as so many of their empties have been commandeered for military requirements. The serious delay also in the goods and mineral traffic is occasioning a large amount of enquiry at headquarters, as the losses in this direction involve a very heavy amount, and un- questionably this transport question is at the root of the large increase in the cost of coal. Coke has also seriously advanced during the past few days, and prices have risen in many cases as much as 2s. 3d. to 2s. 9d. per ton. Twenty- four contract cargoes were entered for Monday’s market as arriving in the Thames, and 10 for Wednesday’s market, but as all were sold before arrival no prices were returned. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There has certainly been a busy time in coal trade circles of this locality during the past week, and every colliery in the district is working at full stretch. There has been a marked improvement in the manner in which empty trucks have come to hand, and the output of the different collieries has been easily disposed of. The chief difficulty has been that the pits have not been able to wind sufficient to cope with the demand. The demand for house coal of late has been abnormal, and it is impossible to get any quantity, excepting at very high prices, and even then the demand is far greater than the available supply. Prices have risen during the past week, and, owing to the shortage of men, some colliery owners have had to refuse orders which would amount to a considerable tonnage, and, as the men are still regularly leaving the colliery for the camp, the output is likely to be still further restricted in the near future. All gas companies having contracts are pressing for supplies on account of contracts, but colliery owners find it absolutely impossible to give them all they ask for; and -when the new contracts are made, it is obvious that higher prices will be asked for by sellers than the figures at which present con- tracts are having to be carried out. . There is also an improvement in the demand for steam coal, and there is no difficulty in disposing of all that can be obtained, and at good figures on the whole. As usual, the railway companies account for a large proportion of the tonnage, but several industrial concerns are now doing better, and are taking supplies. The high prices which are now ruling will seriously handicap this class of trade. With reference to the trade in coal for shipment, things are all sixes and sevens. Prices are good, but the recent trouble in the Irish Sea has upset the coaling of boats in the Mersey ports con- siderably, especially in regard to coasting steamers. Never- theless, a fair tonnage of North Wales coal has been sent down during the week for shipment. There is an improve- ment, too, in the demand for slack, which has consequently hardened a little in price. There is no difference in respect to -the gas coke trade, and it is rather strange that prices have not been advanced ere this. Evidently the majority of the gas works must hold large stocks. The ruling prices at the time of writing were as follow :— _________________________________________________ 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. 16/ -18/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/ 6/ - 7/6 11/8-13/4 20/ -21/8 18/4-20/ 10/ -13/4 IL’stweek’s ! prices. 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 5/ - 6/ 11/8-13/4 19/2-21/8 18/4-19/2 10/ -12/6 Last year’s prices. 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/3 12/6-13/9 13/ -13/9 12/ -12/6 11/ -12/ 6/6- 8/6 13/4-15/ 17/6-19/2 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 ________ _______ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Increasing firmness still characterises the isteam coal market, up to 18s. 6d. being the agreed price for very best Black Veins, with the lower grades quite up to the advance pro rata. There is now plenty of tonnage available for loading, and collieries have no difficulty in finding an outlet for all they can produce; in fact, some are scarcely able .to provide enough for their current requirements. Small parcels during the last few days have been difficult to secure, and have changed hands by inducement in the customary manner. With stems so congested as they are, chartering