290 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 5, 1915. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ has been rendered more difficult, so owners who are now offering rather freely are accepting rates a little lower than those of recent fixtures rather than remain idle. , Smalls remain in 'scanty 'supply, and with a good demand are gain- ing strength. Throughs, nuts, etc., are also firmer. House coals are almost unobtainable at the moment. Never in the history of the trade has there been such difficulty in obtain- ing supplies for local consumption, but this can be only a temporary matter, and will soon adjust itself as more labour is attracted to the pits. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— iest 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. 18/3-18/9 17/9-18/3 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 12/9-13/6 12/3-12/6 11/9-12/ 13/ -13/6 14/3-14/6 16/ -16/3 L’st quot’d prices. 17/6-17/9 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 16/3-16/6 11/9-12/3 11/ -11/3 10/ -10/3 12/ -12/3 13/6-14/ 15/6-15/9 Last year’s prices. 17/3-17/9 16/9-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/6-15/9 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 8/6 13/3-13/6 13/9-14/ 20/ -20/6 20/ -22/ 24/ -25/ 18/6-19/ 17/ -17/6 19/ -20/ 20/ -22/ 24/ -26/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 20/ -20/6 23/ -25/ IRON. The tone of the market continues strong, and in some departments it is difficult to obtain quotations. Enquiry still improves,'and makers in most instances will only enter into further commitments on advanced prices. The future is viewed with considerable confidence, and much interest is shown as to what limits prices are likely to advance. Tin-plate and sheet bars have further advanced to .£6 for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities, with the certainty of further increases. Enquiry is good, and anxiety is shown on the part of users to cover fully their- requirements as far ahead as possible. Bails are strong, at last figures, another large contract having been secured, by local mills. Welsh haematite is again firm, at 92s. 6d. to 93s. 6d. delivered to works in the district, but makers are well sold, and only little fresh business is being put through. Iron ore is much higher, at 25s. nominally for best Bubio c.i.f. Newport. The improvement' reported last week in tin-plates is being well maintained; in fact, the market has gained considerable strength on the week, prices having advanced 9d. to Is. per box. Latest values are based upon 14s. 9d. to 15s. for Bessemer or Siemens primes, 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. COAL. Arrivals of tonnage have been much better during the past week, especially at the latter end, with the result that collieries are in a stronger position to stem than they were a little while ago. The only drawback is the difficulty in . obtaining tips, and numbers of vessels have had to wait for days before being able to secure a loading berth. Ship- ments last week from the four chief ports of the Channel amounted to 383,222 tons, compared with 605,700 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 222,484 tons. These figures, however, do not include the shipments on Admiralty account. From Cardiff alone the exports were 212,964 tons, against 376,873 tons, or a decrease of 163,909 tons. From Newport there were shipped 80,824 tons, or a decline of 28,518 tons; from Swansea, 67,614 tons, or a falling off of 14,517 tons; and from Port Talbot, 37,360 tons, or a decrease of 15,540 tons. Chartering during the week was fairly satisfactory, the amount of tonnage taken up being 212,280 tons, compared with 230,400 tons in the pre- ceding six days, or a decrease of 18,120 tons. The total charterings for the month ending January 30 amounted to 1,102,100 tons, or a decrease of 820,730 tons, compared with January last year, but again it must be borne in mind that the very large number of steamers engaged on Admiralty business are not included in these figures. The Swedish State Bailway contract, as was expected, has, for the most part, gone North, and no portion of the business has been placed in South Wales. Although tenders were invited for 175,000 tons, only about 128,000 tons has been allotted. The bulk of this has gone to the Tyne and to Scotland, but a _________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 21/ 21/ 18/6-19/ Superior seconds 19/6 20/ 18/3 Ordinary do 18/3-18/6 18/ -18/6 17/9-18/ Best bunker smalls 15/ 14/3 11/ -11/3 Best ordinaries 14/6 13/9-14/ 10/9-11/ Cargo qualities.. 12/6-13/ 11/ -12/ 7/9- 8/3 Inferior smalls 11/6-12/ 9/6-10/6 7/ - 7/6 Best dry coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 1 1 1 / 18/ -18/6 Ordinary drys 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/9-17/3 Best washed nuts 18/6 18/6-19/ 16/6 Seconds 16/6—17/ 16/6-17/ 15/6 Best washed peas 16/ -16/3 15/6-16/ 14/3-14/6 Seconds 14/6-14/9 14/6-14/9 13/3 Dock screenings 13/ 12/6 11/6-11/9 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 18/6-18/9 18/9 17/9 Western-valleys 18/ -18/3 18/3 17/3 Eastern-valleys 17/6-17/9 17/9-18/ 16/9 Inferior do 16/3-16/9 16/6-17/ 15/9-16/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 20/ 20/ 21/ Second qualities (at pit) 17/6-19/6 17/6-19/6 18/ No. 3 Bhondda— Bituminous la^ge 17/6 17/6 17/6-17/9 Through-and-through 16/3-16/6 16/6 15/ Small 15/6-16/ 15/6 12/ -12/6 No. 2 Bhondda— . Large 16/6-17/ 16/6 14/9-15/ Through-and-through 15/ 15/ 11/9 Small 12/6-12/9 12/ -12/6 8/9- 9/ Best patent fuel 22/ 1 . 1 .21/ 22/ -22/6 Seconds 19/ -20/ 19/—20/ 20/ -21/ Special foundry coke I 1. 31/ -34/ 30/ -33/ 27/ -28/ Ordinary do. 25/. -29/ 25/ -29/ 22/ -25/ Furnace coke 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 19/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 28/ -28/6 27/9-28/3 21/ -21/6 small parcel of about 8,000 tons is reported to have been secured by an American company. Generally speaking, the local market is firm, with an advancing tendency. Best Admiralties are still about 21s., with second qualities at 19s. 6d., and ordinary grades 18s. 3d. to 18s. 6d. Mon- mouthshire coals are also feeling the benefit of the more plentiful supply of tonnage, but, as previously indicated, there is a difficulty over the tipping question. Best Black Veins are 18s. fid. to 18s. 9d., western valleys 18s. to 18s. 3d., and the better class easterns about 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. The demand for washed coals still continues, and recent quotations have been well maintained. Very large shipments are being made to France of small coal for use on the State railways, with the result that there is a con- siderable scarcity, and prices have reached abnormal figures. Best bunkers have been done at as high as 15s., ordinaries at 14s. 6d., whilst cargo qualities have changed hands at 12s. 6d. and 13s., and a freely-expressed opinion on ’Change is that even these quotations do not indicate top level. In Bhondda bituminous coals, there is only a moderate demand for No. 3 large at 17s. 6d., but through and through qualities are relatively higher, at 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., whilst smalls have risen to 15s. fid. and 16s. No. 2 large is also dearer, at 16s. 6d. to 17s., with other grades in proportion. Coke is in strong request, special foundry, which is being largely consumed in the Midlands, being 31s. to 34s.; ordinary, 25s. to 29s.; and furnace, 20s. to 22s. Shipments of patent fuel have been on a more liberal scale than for some weeks past, and amounted during the past week to 28,987 tons. For the first time since war broke out Swansea showed an increase compared with the correspond- ing period of last year, the figures being 14,033 tons, against 13,994. tons. From Cardiff the shipments were 8,696 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 5,590 tons; and Port Talbot 6,258 tons. There are numerous enquiries on the market, chiefly on French account, and manufacturers seem to be in for a busy time. The high price of small coal is having an effect on production, and best grades of fuel have been advanced Is., to 22s. per ton. The freight market still remains in an abnormal condition, although there has been a slightly easier tendency in several instances. The sinking of four merchant ships in the Irish Sea, however, is not likely to improve matters, and there is little prospect of any material reduction for some time to come. Pitwood is in fair supply, and commands 28s-. to 28s. 6d. per ton. The Custom House returns of the coal shipments for last year to foreign countries and British possessions from the Bristol Channel furnish interesting reading. In only 17 instances have increases been recorded, of an unimportant character, whilst decreases have taken place in the ship- ments to 44 countries, many of them being of very large amounts. IRON. There has been an improvement in the shipment of tin- plates during the past week, but production is still in excess of exports, and stocks are accumulating rapidly. The high rates of freight are exercising a detrimental influence on the market, and manufacturers are contemplating making a request to the Government to take action, or to be more liberal in the granting of licences to ship to neutral countries. The output last week (amounted to 73,006 boxes, and there were shipped 65,129 boxes, leaving stocks in the dock ware- houses and vans at 340,454 boxes. Prices again show an ‘upward tendency, owing to the cost of raw materials, and Bessemer standard cokes are quoted at 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. Oil sizes are 15s. and 21s. 3d. respectively, but there is little business passing at these figures. Tin bars are offering at £5 15s. to £6, and a further advance is anticipated. In the galvanised sheet trade there is little change to report. The demand is extremely slow, and many mills are still closed down. Spelter has advanced to £37 per ton, and 24-gauge corrugateds are now being quoted at £13 10s. to £14. In the heavy steel trade works are busy, and orders are plentiful. A French railway contract for 10,000 tons of steel rails has been secured by Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold. Pig iron is again in the ascendant, and quota- tions this 'week are 90s. to 92s. 6d. f.o.t. Iron ore is also dearer, and 25s. to 26s. 6d. is now being asked for best Bubio, 23s. for .seconds, and the same price for Almeria ore. These rates, however, include a freight of 10s. per ton from Bilbao. Scrap metals are very firm, new steel crop ends being 77s. 6d., cast scrap 57s. 6d., steel 67s. 6d., heavy wrought 60s., light wrought 40s., double-headed iron rails 72s. fid., steel ditto 70s., and mixed sections 65s. per ton. Swansea. COAL. There was less activity displayed in the' trade of the port last week, compared with the preceding period, chiefly owing to the shortage of ready tonnage. The shipments of coal and patent fuel were only moderate, amounting to 79,731 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was without improvement. Swansea Valley large was freely offered for ____________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/6-24/6 21/6-24/ Secondary do. 20/6-21/6 20/6-22/6 19/6-21/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 18/ -20/ 18/6-22/ 19/ -20/6 Bed Vein large do. ... 17/9-18/6 17/3-17/9 15/9-16/9 Machine-made cobbles (net) 26/6-30/6 25/6-30/ 21/6-24/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/6-26/ French do. do 31/ -35/ 29/6-35/ 23/6-26/ German do. do 31/ -33/6 29/6-33/6 23/6-25/6 Beans (net) 19/6-21/6 18/6-22/ 16/9-18/9 Machine - made large peas (net) 12/9-13/3 13/6-15/ 13/6-14/6 Do. fine peas (net) — — — Bubbly culm (less 2|p.c.) 3/9- 4/ 3/9- 4/6 2/9- 3/6 5/9- 6/3 Duff (net) 2/9- 3/3 4/3- 4/9 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) 19/9-21/6 18/9-21/6 19/6-21/ Seconds do. 17/ -18/6 16/6-17/6 14/9-15/9 Bunkers (net) 13/3-14/6 13/6-14/6 11/ -12/ Small (less 2| p.c.) 8/6-11/ 6/6- 8/9 6/9- 8/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Bhondda— Large (less 21 p.c.) ... 20/6-21/6 18/6-19/6 18/ -19/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 14/ -14/9 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 12/6-13/ 10/ -10/9 10/3—11/3 Patent fuel do 16/9-17/6 15/ -16/6 17/3-17/9 immediate delivery at easier prices, but Bed Vein large was firmly held at last figures. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were eagerly enquired for at high prices. There was little or no demand for rubbly culm and duff. In the steam coal market there was a steady feeling in evidence; smalls were very strong, whilst other varieties maintained their firm position. IRON. Trade conditions during the past week in some instances showed further improvement. The tin-plate trade was the worst placed, a number of mills being idle. The production of pig iron at the blastfurnaces was quite up to the average. There was no sign of the sheet mills re-starting. The production of steel ingots was large at all the local works, and a still more strenuous time was predicted. The Mannes- mann Tube Works reported satisfactory progress, and were doing well in all departments, whilst the iron foundries and engineering shops were busy. The shipments of tin-plates were 65,129 boxes, receipts from works 73,005 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 340,454 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the coal market is a very difficult one, orders for practically all kinds are very plentiful, but the trouble is to have the coal conveyed to the customer. Tonnage is still scarce, and the very big demand from the French and other Continental markets, besides home ports, cannot be attended to as they should. In consequence, the con- gestion of traffic around the docks and in the “ await order siding ” is very great, and collieries are quite unable to get empties back to keep pits going. There is also much diffi- culty being experienced in getting wagons back from inland, and trucks are away for weeks at a time, which means a serious loss to the colliery. There are big enquiries in hand from the French markets, and if sufficient boats could only be obtained there would be much activity shown in this quarter. Some of the large sorts are not going so well, and collieries are glad to accept lower figures for spot lots. The machine-made kinds, however, are still going well, and prices are being fairly well maintained. There is a big scarcity in the manufacturing fuels, and works find it more difficult almost daily to get their supplies attended to. Prices for all these kinds are firm, and will in all probability con- siderably advance. The week’s prices approximately are :— Prices f.o.b. iL’st week’s ! prices. ; 21/ -24/ ! 20/6-22/ I 19/ -21/ , 16/ -17/ i 27/ -29/ 31/ -34/ ; 31/ -35/ ! 31/ -35/ ( 1&/ -21/ I 13/ —13/6 3/6- 4/ 2/9-3/ 18/ -20/ 13/6-14/6 8/ -9/ : 10/ -11/ Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large... 22/ -23/6 Secondary do........! 19/ -21/ Big Vein large.......I 18/ -20/ ......... Bed Vein do.........I 17/ -18/ Machine-made cobbles... 30/ -32/6 German nuts.......... 29/ -31/ French do..........i 30/ —33/ Paris do...........j 30/ -33/ ............... Machine-made beans ... 20/ -22/ Do. peas... 12/6-13/6 ................. Culm ................ 3/6— 4/ Duff................. 3/ - 3/6 Other sorts Large steam coal..... 20/ -21/6 Through-and-through... 13^6-14/6 Small ...............i 8/6-10/ Bituminous small coal..., 11/6-12/6 Last year’s prices. 22/ -24/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 14/6-15/6 20/ -22/ 23/ -25/ 24/ -26/ 23/ -25/6 18/ -22/ 12/6-13/6 5/9- 6/ 4/ - 6/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/6 9/ -10/ 11/ -11/6 _____________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 4. Dublin^ The situation with regard to coal supplies for this side has assumed a serious aspect owing to the appearance of hostile craft in the Irish sea this week, as practically all the sailings of. colliers have been abandoned for the present, and no coal is now arriving in the port. Fortunately some large consignments came in last week from cross-Channel ports, which exceeded the delivery for any week of the present year, otherwise coal would now be hardly procurable. Stocks are at low ebb, and should the present deadlock be of any duration, a coal famine will be inevitable. Quotations are all withdrawn, being subject to alteration, but house coals at the moment are 32s. per ton for best qualities, and 30s. for second coal, being further advanced Is. per ton since last week. Steam coals are no higher, being from about 24s. per ton, coke 24s. per ton delivered. The demand continues to be very brisk, and there has been more business than usual in patent fuel and turf owing to the very high prices ruling for coal. The coaling vessels arriving in the- port during the past week amounted to 61, as compared with 47 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Troon, Glasgow, Swansea, Garston, Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Newport, Partington, Ellesmere Port, Cardiff and Llanelly. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 27,000 tons, as against 18,500 tons the previous week. Belfast. The difficulties experienced of late in the carrying out of the coal trade owing to the shortage of supplies are now considerably increased by the temporary closing of the port in consequence of the submarine raid, as the cross-Channel coal traffic is now suspended. A further advance of 4s. per ton in house coals is announced, and it is probable there will be a still further increase with the continuance of the war, and the high freights now ruling. The following are current quotations:—Best Arley house coal, 36s. per ton ; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s.; Prices of steam coals are subject to alteration from day to day, and all quotations are withdrawn. The total advance in prices of house coal here since the war started is 8s. 6d. per ton. Stocks are almost depleted, and there appears to be no immediate prospect of bringing them up to a good business standard. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Whitehaven, Preston, Ayr, Garston, Troon, Glasgow, Manchester, Ardrossan, Partington, Girvan, Birkenhead, Sharpness, Maryport, Ellesmere Port and Silloth. A contract in connection with the Irish Lights service is open for the usual yearly supplies of house and steam coal. ________________________________ Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds Limited.—At their meeting yesterday, the directors declared an interim dividend for the six months ended December 31, 1914, at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum bn the preference shares, and 10 per cent. per; annum on the ordinary shares, both free of income-tax, the same to be paid on February 26.