February 12, 1915. 341 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ are unable to say when they will be executed. Coal for manufacturing purposes is urgently wanted, more especially for the large armament works which must be kept fully supplied at all cost. Cobbles and nuts are extremely scarce, and high prices are being paid for any that can be obtained. Slack for boiler firing is in great request, and the price of the best brands is now from 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton at the nit. Even at these figures buyers are unable to secure all the supplies which they require. Steam coal for locomotive use is in strong demand, and railway companies are much inconvenienced owing to short supplies. Their reserve stocks are now being drawn upon very frequently. The export market maintains its strong position. The price of hards is now 15s. 6d. to 16s. at the pit. There is a brisk demand for all qualities. The coke market is firm with a good demand for the various sorts. Prices at pit. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The situation is much the same as a week ago, with this exception, that the public appetite for supplies is somewhat satiated. Works, however, find great difficulty in obtaining supplies, and in some operations have been suspended for days at a time. Nor is there any immediate prospect of improvement. Prices remain on the following basis. Prices at pit. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 11. Best house coals Current prices. 18/ L’stweek’s prices. 17/6. Last year’s prices. 15/6 Secondary do 17/ 16/6 13/6 Cobbles 16/6 16/ 12/6 Nuts 14/6 14/6 11/6 Slack 10/6 10/ 8/ IRON. The condition of the iron. industry is satisfactory. Pig iron is in better demand at firm prices, and finished iron orders are more plentiful. The advanced prices of bar iron are firmly maintained. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 20/ 20/ 18/6 Do. seconds deep 19/ 19/ 16/ Do. best shallow 18/6 18/6 14/9 Do. seconds do. 17/6 17/6 16/6 14/ . Best hard 16/6. 15/ Forge coal 14/ 14/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 10/ 10/ 7/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/6 19/6 16/6 cobs 17/6 17/6 14/ Best hard spires 18/ 18/ 15/ Forge (steam) 13/6 13/6 11/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 10/ Small (do.) 11/6 11/6 8/3 _________________ Nottingham. COAL. With the limited output consequent upon the exceptional circumstances arising through the war, the pressure upon collieries for fulfilment of orders has not shown any falling •off in Nottinghamshire during the past week, and the position is such that values continue to display an upward tendency. So far as the domestic fuel section is concerned, the demand is perhaps a trifle lighter than a week ago, as 'deliveries by rail to merchants in the district are being carried out with less delay, and at the same time the milder weather which prevailed last week has had a rather steadying effect. Nevertheless, the collieries are unable to adequately meet requirements, more particularly of better •class qualities, and the scarcity of certain kinds is so marked that carters at landsale depots have to wait some time before they can get supplies. The demand for steam coal •continues to be brisk, some of the manufacturing centres in the home market putting through large orders. Outside contracts, there is keen competition for the comparatively small amount of fuel obtainable and prices are high. Slacks are in strong request, buyers being eager to get supplies of almost any description and for accommodation lots exceptional rates are being paid. Eor gas coal there is a very satisfactory demand, and prices are firm. 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. 18/ -19/ 17/ -17/6 15/ -16/6 15/ -16/ 14/ —15/ 9/ -10/ 8/6- 8/9 8/6- 9/ L’stweek’s 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 Last year’s prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ 6/6- 7/3 6/9- 7/6 _______ _______ Leicestershire. COAL. The deficiency of transport facilities continues to dominate the position of affairs in this coalfield, and business has to be carried on under very strenuous condi- tions. Orders continue to flow in day by day, but a large proportion of them cannot be entertained, even although very tempting premiums are being offered. All the collieries have been denuded of stocks, and coal merchants are so anxious to obtain supplies of some kind or other that they are urging sellers to fill their wagons with whatever they have available at the moment. Every effort is being made to keep the pits working, but the stoppages limit the working period to four and a-half to five days per week at the utmost. The number of firms engaged on Government contracts of a most important character continues to increase, and these firms must have the preference in the matter of coal supplies. This takes up a large percentage of the total output, and is likely to do so for a very considerable period. Contractors have also to be kept going as far as possible, so that the quantities which can be disposed of at the premiums offered grow less instead of greater. The reserves in the hands of large coal merchants who anticipated their requirements several months ago have now disappeared, so that a hand-to-mouth policy has to be rather rigidly enforced all round. The delays in transport both outwards and inwards are extremely great. Manufacturing fuel is in exceptional demand, and the whole of the output is allotted as fast as it reaches the pit banks. Prices have again been slightly raised, but they are subject to the conditions which prevail at the moment. The official rates which are generally in force at the collieries in this district are as follow :— IRON. The market revealed a continuance of the active tone in most branches during the last few weeks, and also, though in a lesser degree than recently, of sensitiveness in respect of prices. The demand is such that manufacturers have booked business into next quarter, and other enquiries are submitted. There are, however, some exceptions to this state of things. The welded tube trade, for instance, is one of those that have been heavily hit by the war. There has been a big drop in exports, and the home consumption of tubes has also been seriously effected. Cost of production, on the other hand, has risen materially, and in this, as in practically all manufacturing trades, coal shortage is a source of great trouble and anxiety. Production is curtailed thereby, and some mills have to be stopped until supplies are obtained. The marked bar houses have so far made no alteration on their basis of £9, preferring apparently to retain the present standard to give steadiness to the trade. With unmarked bars ranging from £8 to <£8 5s., and Crown bars 10s. higher, there are those who think an advance justifiable, and almost inevitable, but makers themselves seem not to be quite convinced that the boom in other departments is on a sufficiently stable basis to enable it to be maintained. They are, therefore, chary of taking any precipitate action which might upset the market. In unmarked bars the tendency is still upward, and the increased prices are easily obtainable, while nut and bolt iron is as high as =£7 10s. to £7 15s. Small rounds, squares and flats are quoted <£8 12s. 6d. to <£8 15s., and for steel rounds 10s., and in some cases 20s., more are asked—prices which are sufficiently prohibitive to prevent any but those in actual need from buying. Galvanised sheets are unchanged at .£13 for export, and 5s. to 10s. extra for home trade. A little more business is reported from India, but it is not of large bulk, while, on the other hand, American makers are getting into the Canadian market. With spelter at <£40 to <£41 the situation is somewhat serious. Black sheets are quoted <£8 5s. to <£8 10s. for hard doubles, but there is little margin in these figures, as sheet bars stand at £6 12s. 6d. and Siemens qualities as high as <£7. Gas strip is now <£7 15s. to <£8, or from 30s. to <£2 a ton more than it was prior to the war. There is practically no change in pig iron prices, and selling has dropped considerably. North- amptonshire covers a wide range of 57s. to 60s., Derbyshire is 60s. to 61s., and Staffordshire part-mine 60s. As regards steel there is great difficulty in getting deliveries, and more with the idea of staving off customers some houses are quoting a premium of 10s. on the recent advanced rates. More semi-material is coming from America. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The coal market of this area is certainly developing a firmer tone for all classes of fuel, and sellers are being very hard pressed In order to cope with the present demand. There is still considerable difficulty in getting sufficient wagons in which to load the output, but things are slightly better in this respect at the time of writing than they have been for weeks past, and apparently all the collieries of the locality are able to dispose of their output daily, and to work full time. The continued shortage of output con- siderably handicaps the full discharge of orders, and limits the supply of coal for the open market, as it is found impos- sible to obtain the required tonnage to deal, with the various contracts on hand. The prices are continuing to advance, and for the merchants’ business another Is. per tons has been put on, and at the landsales a corresponding advance has taken place, in some cases Is. 8d. per ton, with a result that the retail price for a good house coal in this locality is about 23s. 4d. to 25s. per ton. There, is every prospect of a still further advance in the near future. With reference to the gas coal, the gas companies are crying out bitterly for supplies, and while every effort is being made to give them sufficient to keep them going, it is quite impossible to give them any to lay in stock. As a consequence, in some cases the gas companies are reducing the gas consumption, with a view to conserving their stocks of gas and coal as much as possible. Prices are advancing considerably for this class of fuel. In regard to the steam coal trade, things are a little brighter in the local industrial world, and this has created an increased demand for steam coal of the cheaper grades, and has improved the sale of slack, both as regards tonnage and price. The railway companies continue to press for deliveries on account of their locomotive con- tracts, but, in common with ether contractors, they have to be content with a fair proportion of the present output. The establishment of the Army camps at Rhyl, Whitchurch, and Oswestry has created an additional market for cheap coal, and tenders are now being invited for the supply of fuel to the War Office for these camps during the winter months. The billeting of troops at the seaside resorts also increases the demand for coal in those towns, as in the winter time, in the ordinary course, there is very little coal used in the boarding houses, which this year are full of the military. Nuts are in great demand, and as the supply is limited, there are few available for the open market. There is an increased demand for gas coke, but the price is unchanged. 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 L’stweek’s prices. 17/ -18/ 15/6-17/ 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/ 12/ -13/ 6/ - 7/6 11/8—13/4 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 23/4-25/ 20/ -21/8 20/ -22/6 18/4-20/ 10/ -13/4 10/ -13/4 Last year’s prices. 15/6—16/6 14/6-15/6 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/9 12/6-12/9 11/6-12/ 6/6— 9/ 13/4-15/ 17/6-19/2 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 Prices at pit. Be§t 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 [L’stweek’s prices. I prices. 16/6-17/6 : 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 1 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 i 14/ —15/ 14/ -15/ ; 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 ■ 13/ -14/ 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 i 11/ -12/ 9/3-10/ ' 8/9- 9/9 3/ - 3/6 : 2/6- 3/ 12/9-13/3 i 12/3-12/9 12/ —13/ i 11/6-12/6 11/ -12/ ; 10/6-11/6 12/9-13/3 j 12/3-12/9 11/ -12/ [ 10/6-11/6 ___________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. All the collieries are still being greatly pressed for the despatch of house coals. The abnormal demand continues, and there is a delay of about three weeks in executing’ orders. Merchants apparently do not know what to do to supply their customers, and colliery owners do not know what to do to get sufficient to supply the merchants. All household qualities are advanced a further 2s. per ton since our last report, quotations now being on the basis of block 21s. 6d. at pit and 23s. 3d. per ton f.o.b. Lydney or Sharp- ness. Workmen’s wages are put up 10 per cent, this week, making 25 per cent, increase since December 1. All the steam coal collieries are inundated with orders, but the majority of them have their reduced outputs committed very largely to contracts booked before the enhanced prices obtained. Prices at pithead. _________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Great pressure continues in the steam coal market, values advancing almost daily as the result of a brisk demand, combined with the present shortage of supplies. It cannot be said that a great volume of business is being done, as most collieries are well sold forward, and it is now made plain that they have generally under-estimated the extent to which their outputs are reduced by the withdrawal of men from the war. Most of the coal now changing hands is being sold by mercants, colliery salesmen having little to dispose of at the moment, while for future business they are very firm indeed, being in no way disposed to discount current' values. A good deal of tonnage remains in dock to be loaded, stems being well filled for the remainder of the month. Outward chartering is not too brisk at present, owing to the difficulty of arranging dates. Rates for all Italian ports are firm, there being otherwise little move- ment in the market. Perhaps the most striking feature just now is the advance in values of small coals, the supplies of which are extremely scarce. House coals, too, continue a very tight market, 'buyers having exceptional difficulty in obtaining deliveries, while the demand continues strong both for inland consumption and export purposes. Patent fuel is a firm market, likewise coke. Pitwood is -again dearer, the prevailing scarcity forcing prices up, until it is difficult to find what values really are. Nominally 31s. to 32s. is being quoted for best French fir. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. House coals:— Block .............. Forest ............. Rubble ............i Nuts ............... Rough slack......... Steam coal:— Large............... Small .............. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 21/6 19/6 17/6 20/6 18/6 16/6 20/9 18/9 16/9 19/ 17/ 15/ 10/6 8/6 6/6 16/ -17/* 15/ -15/6 12/6-13/ 10/6-11/6* 9/6-10/ 8/6-9/ * Outside contracts. Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ______________________________ Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.—The fourth general meeting of the 24th session of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, will be held, by courtesy of the council, at the rooms of the Geological Society, Burlington House, Picca- dilly, London, W., on Thursday, February 18, at 8 p.m. The following papers will be discussed :—“ Notes on Some Gold Occurrences in Ashanti,” by Mr. J. Morrow Campbell; “ Some Features in the Mining Problems of the East Wit- watersrand Area,” by Mr, W. -G, Holford; “Prospecting Tin Land in Malaya,” by Mr. W. B. Middleton. 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. 19/6-20/ 19/ -19/6 18/3-18/9 17/9-18/3 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 17/ -17/6 21/ 19/ -20/ 20/6-21/6 22/ -24/ 125/ -27/ L’stweek’s 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 Last year’s prices. 17/3-17/6 16/9—17/ 16/3—16/6 15/9-16/ 8/3- 8/9 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 8/6- 8/9 12/9-13/3 13/6-13/9 — 18/ -19/ — 17'/ -18/ 20/ -20/6 19/9-20/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 24/ -25/ 23/- -25/ IRON. Hardly as much business is reported being put through as a week ago, but the tone continues strong? and what alterations there are, being all of an upward character. Despite, the fact that enquiry continues good, makers are not anxious to add to their commitments. Most works are well