February 19, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 395 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ business being done in steam coal for export, and high prices are paid for such lots as are obtainable. Sellers and buyers of coal find themselves in a difficult position with regard to the future, as neither side is able to estimate the trend of prices. The tendency, therefore, is to enter into contracts for short periods of delivery. Slack for boiler firing is in strong demand, with supplies very scarce. Best brands are realising Ils. 6d. to 12s. at the pit. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 18/ 18/ 15/6 Secondary do 17/ 17/ 13/6 Gobbles 16/6 16/6 12/6 Nuts 15/ 14/6 11/6 Slack 12/ 10/6 7/9 IRON. There is a steady improvement in the demand for all classes of iron, and orders are more plentiful than they have been for some time past, both for pig iron and finished bars. _________________ Nottingham. COAL. A. satisfactory feature in connection with the coal trade in Nottinghamshire during the past week has been the improvement in reference to transport facilities. Com- paratively little inconvenience is now being experienced with regard to the supply of railway wagons, and con- sequently the output at some collieries has increased, as full time coal turning has become practicable. Nevertheless, taking the county as a whole, the pits are not yet in a position to fully meet the demand. This is perhaps more especially the case in the domestic fuel section, the colder weather in the last few days having assisted to augment the orders at local landsale depots, while from the surrounding district and also from London and southern counties the demand is brisk. In the present state of affairs owners have no difficulty in obtaining recently advanced prices. In the steam coal section the output is readily absorbed, owners having plenty of orders on their books, in addition to which they have been unable to fully meet requirements on contract account. There is a decided scarcity of steam nuts, the price for which is advancing to .a high figure. There is keen competition for almost every •description of slacks, and values show a disposition to increase. Apart from contract supplies, gas coals are realising exceptionally good prices. 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/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 9/ -10/ 8/6- 8/9 8/6- 9/ L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. 18/ -19/ 17/ -17/6 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 9/ -10/ 8/6- 8/9 8/6- 9/ prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/9—11/ 9/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ 6/ - 7/ 6/6- 7/3 __________________ Leicestershire. COAL. Very strong resentment has been caused in all sections ■of the trade in this district by speeches here and by writings elsewhere by Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., reflecting on the patriotism of those in the coal trade on account of the rise in prices. These allegations are quite ;at variance with the facts. So far from abnormal profits being made at the collieries, in every instance the net profits show a very material decline on those of 12 months ago. As regards coal merchants, a very large proportion of the increased prices—if not the, whole—is absorbed by men, horses, and drays standing idle for several days per week in consequence of the inability to secure supplies. The severe weather has brought a large additional inflow of orders, which cannot be met. The working of the pits is reduced to about four and a-half days per week by reason ■of the impossibility of securing a sufficient supply of wagons, and this difficulty grows more acute every week. The outward transport of full wagons is attended by long and serious delays, which cannot be avoided owing to the ■enormous military requirements. The quantity of coal •consumed by firms engaged on the most vital Government contracts continues to increase, and these firms must have a first preference in the matter of supplies. In very urgent ■cases coal merchants and consumers are offering very substantial premiums over contract prices, but this affects so small a percentage of the output that the additional prices are more than absorbed by the extra cost involved by .a wide variety of causes. The whole of the output is shared up day by day in accordance with t the necessities of the moment. The general situation is such that no relief can be expected for some time, and in this centre of the kingdom, where such a vast national traffic has to be carried on the railways, it is feared that the difficulties will become even greater than they are at present. Manu- facturing fuel is in very great demand, and all collieries .are clear of stocks. The following are the official prices which now obtain at the collieries in this district, but they are subject to the modifications which have been indicated:— Prices at pit. 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. 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/6 9/3-10/3 3/ - 3/6 12/9-13/3 12/ -13/ 11/ -12/ 12/9-13/3 11/ -12/ iL’st week’s prices. 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 ; 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 i 12/ -12/6 i 11/6-12/6 9/3-10/ 3/ - 3/6 12/9-13/3 12/ -13/ 11/ -12/ 12/9-13/3 11/ "12/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Conditions in the coal trade have not improved on the week. Manufacturers are still clamouring for supplies, and business is hindered all round in consequence of shortage. Output was further restricted by the wet. Congestion on the railways. continues, and altogether the trade is dis- organised. The recent stiff prices are naturally firmly upheld. They are .- Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock- Chase) :— 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 A/ Q BIU1D UC nUPQ • 10/ 10/ 7/6 V CL_L W lUK-blllL t? • House coal, best Ryder.. 19/6 19/6 16/6 Do. hand-picked 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 IRON. The market was well attended, and the tone, while well maintained, has steadied. The rush of buying has slackened. Makers in branches employed on Government contracts have a glut of work, and are not anxious in respect to forward contracts. Government work still forms the backbone of the business, the general trade—the “bread and cheese” trade, as it is called—being slack. Prices are upheld all round, and in some branches have progressed still further. Galvanised sheets are a case in point. A week ago the quotation for export was <£13, during the week 5s. extra was demanded; now the leading houses have jumped to <£14 f.o.b., Liverpool 24-gauge, while the extras for thinner gauges have also been raised—for Wrexham. 26-gauge from 25s. to 30s., and for 28-gauge from 35s. to 45s. The higher cost of production is, of course, the reason, and work is also interrupted through coal shortage. Similarly, black sheets for galvanising are affected. For sheet bars some favourably-situated houses may pay £6 10s. or £6 12s. 6d., but £6 15s. is the general quotation for Bessemer qualities, and for Siemens £7 to £7 5s. is asked— practically the price of finished iron not long ago. The week has passed without any advance in marked bars, and no change is now anticipated this month. Makers are in a position of having orders to carry them beyond the current quarter. Makers of unmarked qualities are also doing as much as they can in the circumstances, and the market level is in the neighbourhood of £8 5s. a ton, while for nut and bolt iron prices around £7 15s. to £7 17s. 6d. delivered Darlaston. Small rounds, squares and flats run from £8 10s. to £8 15s. (three-eighths basis), and steel rounds are from 15s. to as much as 30s. a ton higher. Makers cannot get billets, and in addition they are very dear. Some American billets are arriving, but not in big lots. The market brought little movement in pig iron, and prices "are on the whole steady. Stocks are being reduced, the current output being taken up. Northamptonshire quotations range from 56s. upwards, Derbyshire is 60s. to 61s., Staffordshire cinder forge 55s. and part-mine about 60s. In the steelworks large contracts are under execution. Plates are wanted for a variety of military purposes, and values are stiff. The basis for angles is £8 5s. to £8 7s. 6d., and for joists £8 10s. ___________________------------------- Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal market shows little change from the conditions prevailing during the past few weeks. The demand for coals of all descriptions and in all directions is much in excess of available supplies. All the collieries are working full time and there are no stocks. Railborne orders have been less numerous this week, but there are a huge number of arrear orders on the books. Shipments are still heavy, and a few days’ delay in loading is unavoidable, as there are no stocks at the dock sidings. The call for all sizes of steam coals is very strong, but old contracts are still taking up most of the output. Prices at pithead. I House coals:— Current ’L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 17/6 Forest 20/6 . 20/6 16/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 16/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 15/ Rough slack 10/6 10/6 6/6 Steam coal:— Large 16/ -17/* 16/ -17/* 12/6-13/ Small 10/6-11/6* 10/6-11/6* 8/6-9/ ________ ________ * Outside contracts. Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ____________________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 18. ________ ______ Dublin The coal trade maintains an extraordinary amount of activity, and better-class householders are showing a disposition to lay in large supplies, in spite of the fact that the time of year is approaching when the demand usually begins to fall off. Prices continue to be very high, and although no further advance in household or steam coals is announced, merchants are obtaining as much as 32s. and 34s. per ton for best house coals, less Is. per ton discount, the quay prices being about 30s. per ton for English coal and 26s. 6d. for Scotch. Steam coals are about from 28s. per ton; coke, 28s. per ton delivered; house coal, retail, 2s. 3d. per sack of 10 stone. Deliveries of coal to this port during the past week were the heaviest for a considerable time, but notwithstanding this stocks are very low, and little or no coal is reaching the country districts. The coaling vessels arriving amounted to 78, as compared with 53 the week previously, chiefly from Maryport, Glasgow, Greenock, Workington, Newport, Ayr, Liverpool, White- haven, Swansea, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Garston, Clyde Bank, Cardiff, Irvine, Partington, Ardrossan and Birken- head. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 35,000 tons, as against 24,000 tons the previous week. The dockers engaged clearing coal from ships’ holds are seeking an advance from 6d. to 7d. per ton, the increase made some time ago being from 5^d. to 6d. It is stated that freights from Glasgow or Liverpool to Limerick, which in normal times are 5s. 3d. per ton, are now 18s. 9d. per ton. The price of best coal in that district, which before the war was 26s. per ton, now sells at from 45s. to 50s. per ton, and in some of the inland districts almost double these rates are being obtained, as coal is almost unprocurable. Belfast. The demand for all classes of fuel continues to be very active and much in excess of the supply, the scarcity of coal in England and high freights being the chief factors in the maintenance of the extremely high prices now ruling. There have been no further advances during the week, but the announcement by the Scottish railway companies of an increase in the traffic rates between Scotland and Ireland, from lOd. to 2s. 6d. per ton, to take effect from March 1, will undoubtedly cause a further increase in Scotch coals at an early date. The shortage of steam coals still hampers operations in the local industrial concerns, and prices of these qualities are still advancing. Current quotations for house coals are as follow:—Best Arley house coal, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s. per ton; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Ardrossan, Ayr, Workington, Troon, Garston, Partington^ Glasgow, Greenock, Sharpness, Silloth, Cardiff, Ellesmere Port, Irvine, Girvan, Whitehaven, West Bank, Neath Abbey and Maryport. _______________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 18. ___________________________________________ North Wales. COAL. The coal market in North Wales is still in a very busy state. There has, during the past week, been a little more freedom, as there appears to have been an improvement as regards the manner in which the empty wagons have been returned, though there is undoubtedly still further room for improvement in this respect. The demand for house coal is as keen as ever, and sellers are able to demand and obtain almost any price they desire, within reason, owing to the demand being greater than the output. Some public insti- tutions are suffering a considerable inconvenience owing to not being able to obtain a sufficient quantity to meet their requirements. Prices are gradually advancing. Several public bodies are asking for tenders, but apparently sellers will not contract excepting for a. short period. In regard to gas coal, the demand is greater than the supply; collieries are being pressed to. deliver on account of contracts, but they have to reply that this is obviously impossible in its entirety, owing to the greatly depleted ranks of the miners, and it is only possible to give a proportion of the output. One cannot learn of any new contracts being settled as yet, but as the time is now close on when the earlier contracts come into the market, initial contract prices will soon.have to be fixed upon, and these no doubt will have a bearing upon the basis for the bulk of gas coal contracts for the coming year. The general idea is that contracts will not be made for a whole year on this occasion, but rather for a'short period, to expire in the summer time or early autumn. There is a consider- able demand for gas coke now, owing to its continued cheap rate in comparison with coal. What applies to the gas contracts in regard to deliveries, equally applies to railway contracts for locomotive coal. The tonnage is necessarily reduced, and new contracts will certainly be made at increased figures. In the case of coal for shipment, a fair amount of business has been done during the past week, and good prices have been obtained for the fuel sent down to the Mersey ports for shipment. . The improvement in trade has helped the sale of slack, and prices have improved steadily for the past week or so. The current prices for coal during the past week have been 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. 17/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/6 13/ -14/ 12/ -13/ 6/-7/6 11/8-13/4 23/4-26/8 20/ -22/6 10/ -13/4 L’st week’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 23/4-25/ 20/ -22/6 10/ -13/4 Lastyear’s prices. 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 13/ -13/9 13/ -13/9 12/6-12/9 11/3-12/ 6/6- 8/6 13/4-15/ 17/6-19/2 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. For the greater part of the week the tone of the steam coal trade has been firmer than ever, but on Wednesday there were seen signs of hesitation, brought about mainly by the desire to see whether the threatened German opera- tions around the coasts would have any material effect in keeping away neutral tonnage. Apart from this, the market rules very firm indeed; stems remain congested, most collieries being 'absolutely full, while all around outputs are found to be far from the quantity that owners would like to be producing. This shortage of labour is very serious, and at present there seems little chance of improving the position. Smalls continue exceedingly strong, best qualities realising up to 16s. for parcels, while house coals also are very firm, the demand considerably exceeding the supply. Coke and patent fuel likewise show advanced values, and a good demand. The pitwood trade is in a most difficult state. Supplies are hard to obtain, while prices, which range around 34s. for good wood, are being steadily maintained at a level that has rarely been touched.