448 February 26, 1915. ________ _________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ___________________________________________ Barnsley. COAL. Although there was a good enquiry for surplus fuel of all descriptions at the usual local market, the position of the collieries is still unchanged, and they have very small lots to offer. The conditions of work at collieries has not materially altered. Men are still scarce and difficulties of transit are very pronounced, but, practically speaking, the pits are able to work the full six days. In regard to the reduced output it seems likely to become more affected rather than the reverse, owing to the steady recruiting which is continued in the mining districts. The amount of surplus fuel on offer is very slight owing to the fact that not only are contract deliveries being reduced, but that arrears on this account are also due, and there is no doubt that with the very slight tonnage of fuel on offer, the owners are meeting with very keen competition. The idea seems to prevail that prices in some respects will be still further advanced, and in regard to best large steams it was reported that 20s. per ton had been paid for special lots to complete cargoes waiting at Hull. Something approaching these prices is being asked for from home consumers, and secondary descriptions of hards are also moving off well at about Is. per ton less. There appears to be a continuation of the remarkable scarcity of steam nuts, which are being very extensively used, and transactions are of a normal character, such prices apparently being paid according to the circumstances in which the buyer is placed. One colliery company is reported to have recently asked for an advance of 2s. per ton for this class of coal. Although gas companies are now finding their requirements are of a diminishing character, there is still a fair enquiry for special lots of best coal, which are making’ anything up to 16s. per ton. The difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of slacks by textile and cotton manufacturers continues to be very marked, and for best classes almost any kind of prices are heard of up to 12s. per ton. With respect to the house coal trade the approach of the colder weather has checked the evident restrained buying which began to show itself during last week. The rush of business from London and the south keeps very strong, and some collieries have recently further advanced the price of best house coal up to 2s. per ton again in the hope of checking the abnormal demand. In regard to coke the prices are fairly well maintained at about 14s. 6d. per ton on current account, with an advance of 2s. per ton required to conclude contracts. The following are approximate quotations :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 15/ -15/3 Secondary do. 16/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ Secondary do 15/ -15/6 14/ -14/6 11/ -12/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 16/ -17/ 15/6-15/ 11/3 Secondary do 15/ 14/9-15/ 10/9 Best washed nuts 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 11/ Secondary do. 14/ -14/6 13/6-14/ 10/3 Best slack 10/6-12/ 10/ -10/6 7/3 Bough do 9/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 6/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -12/3 Unscreened do 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/ -10/6 Gas nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ 11/6-12/ Furnace coke 14/6-15/ 14/ -14/6 11/ -12/ Hull. COAL. What had been to some extent expected has happened in regard to the delivery of contract supplies. Several collieries whose output has been seriously affected have intimated to their customers at the Humber ports that in view of the restricted output, consequent on large numbers of men having enlisted, they are unable to deliver quantities in accordance with contracts, and that reductions will become operative at once. In some cases only 60 per cent, is promised, while others better situated hope to do up to 80 and 85 per cent. The way in which coal has been coming forward for export of late has been evidence that the collieries were heavily handicapped. Exporters with foreign commitments look upon the notification with some uneasiness, especially having regard to the stringency in the freight market, where owners are able to command practically their own terms financially and otherwise. With next to no free coal offering, prices are firmly held, though there is under present circumstances only a limited export demand, which in its turn has a sobering effect upon the market. The home demand for all kinds of manufacturing fuel is brisk, but house coal is not in such active request. Prices are very difficult to state with absolute accuracy, but the following are the approximate and more or less nominal figures which have been ruling during the week. Best South Yorkshire steam hards 19s. to 20s. 6d., ditto washed doubles 17s. to 17s. 6d., unwashed ditto 15s. to 15s. 6d., washed singles 15s. 6d. to 16s., unwashed ditto 14s. to 15s., washed smalls 13s. 6d. to 14s., unwashed ditto, 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d. Derbyshire best steams are quoted 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d., ditto nuts 16s. to 17s. at Grimsby or Immingham, West Yorkshire house coal (Hartleys) 15s. 6d. to 16s.—all prices f.o.b. In the freight market chartering has been within small dimensions, and chiefly to Drench ports and London. Bates to Bouen have hardened, and 22s. has been paid for a handy sized steamer from Hull, while for London 13s. to 14s. has been paid according to the size of steamer. A forward fixture reported is Hull to Copenhagen at 18s. Nothing has been doing for the Mediterranean or long distance ports. Tonnage generally is very scarce. Chesterfield. COAL. A strong demand and a diminishing supply are the prevailing conditions of the coal trade of this district. Towards the end of last week fresh orders for house coal were easing off slightly, but the colder weather of the last few days has brought a renewed demand, to meet which is a most difficult matter. Prices are still very firm, and there is no prospect of a fall. Duel for manufacturing purposes is in great request, especially such kinds as are needed by the armament works. It is impossible to supply full contract quantities owing to reduced outputs. A fair export business is being done with the Humber ports, but there is greater activity on the west coast. Most of the output of steam coal from North Derbyshire is already sold under contract, and there is consequently only a limited tonnage for disposal at current prices. The various rail- ways are very short of steam coal for locomotive use, and this may to some extent account for the withdrawal of certain trains upon the various railway systems. Slack for boiler-firing is much wanted, but supplies are very scarce. Washed nuts are in strong demand, but buyers are unable to obtain anything approaching the tonnage they require. 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 Cobbles 16/6 16/6 12/6 Nuts 35/ 15/ 11 /6 Slack 12/ 12/ 7/9 IRON. There is no change in the condition of the pig iron trade. There is a steady demand, and prices are stationary. Finished iron orders are coming to hand in satisfactory numbers. ________ ________ IfottmgtanL GOAL. In one or two sections of the coal trade in Nottingham- shire the pressure is not quite as pronounced as recently, a better supply of empty railway wagons to the collieries having been a helpful factor. This has had a tendency to increase the output, but it has not been sufficient to fully meet the general demand. In the domestic fuel section local merchants are receiving supplies with less delay, and in some cases arrears on contracts are being wiped out. There is also not so much waiting at the landsale depots for the carrying out of orders. The demand from London and southern counties is strong. The position is such that for quick deliveries merchants are nulling to give higher rates. Values are much the same as a week ago, and at present they do not show any tendency to become easier. A very active demand still characterises the steam coal branch. The falling off in exports in consequence of the disadvantages incurred by the war is more than compensated for by the strong demand in the home market, and quotations ,for best hards are about Is. per ton more than last week. Slacks are in very keen request, as all stocks have been practically exhausted. With the limited supply available out of the daily output, prices are very firm, and for some qualities slight advances are demanded. The supply of gas coal is scarcely sufficient to meet requirements on contract account, and for odd lots high rates are being paid. 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/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 9/6-10/6 8/ -.9/ 8/6- 9/ L’st week’s prices. 18/ -19/ 17/ -17/6 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 9/ -10/ 8/6- 8/9 8/6- 9/ Last year’s prices. 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/9-11/ 9/6-10/6 7/3- 8/ 6/ - 7/ 6/6- 7/ ________ ________ Leicestershire. COAL. The difficulties attending business in the coalfields in this district grow in number and in extent. Every day brings some new problem to be solved and dealt with on the moment, and there is creeping in slowly and surely an absolute want of continuity. The inflow of orders this week, by reason of the severe weather, has been greater than ever, and, with a still further decline in the output, the problem is more difficult of solution than last week. The transport question is certainly more acute, and it includes the conveying of full wagons as well as the return of empty ones. The growing shortage of wagons is accounted for by the fact that the military authorities not only require the vehicles for conveying the military stores in this country, but also for conveying them to the front on the French railways. Thus the British supply of wagons is depleted by the dual requirements of the military situation—wagons for the conveyance of goods in this country, and other wagons to receive them when the goods arrive in France to transport them to where they will be required. This throws a great deal of light on what has hitherto been a dark problem. The stoppages of working are now more numerous, and generally four days per week is the average. Taking the whole district, it may be said that the pits are only working three-quarter time. Offers of premiums for speedy deliveries are very numerous, but many of them have to be declined, as they cannot be met. Prices have been raised by 2s. to 3s. per ton at the pits, but, as this applies to only a comparatively small per- centage of the output, the average advance on the total output since the declaration of war has been under Is. per ton. Against this have to be off-set many increased charges. Subject to the modifications indicated, the following are the prices now current at the collieries in this district:— 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 1^ prices. I 18/6-19/6 ' 17/6-18/6 ' 16/6-17/6 ; 16/ -17/ | 15/6-16/6 ' 14/ -14/6 i 13/6-14/6 j 11/9-12/9 ’ 3/ - 3/6 ! 15/9-16/9 , 15/ -16/ ; 14/ -15/ i 15/9-16/9 ! 13/ -14/ j L’st week’s 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/ Ssrotli Staffordshire, Horth Worcestershire- and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Conditions in the coal trade have not improved much during the week. The wharves are half empty, as they have been for some weeks, prices continue abnormally high, and if, in a few cases, supplies are coming to hand better, in the main they are barely sufficient for current needs. Steel makers, in particular, are loud in their complaints. The public demand is not quite so keen, but the weather is wintry, and the consumption for some time is bound to be large. Quotations:— Prices at pit. 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 14/ Best hard 16/6 16/6 15/ Forge coal 14/ 14/ 11/ Slack W arwickshire:— 10/ 10/ 7/6 House coal, best Byder.. 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 IRON. While Ou strong tone is maintained in most branches, manufacturers are moving with caution. The difficulties of production with regard to freight, fuel and labour are such that no one is prepared to commit himself far ahead. In a few places supplies of coal have been better this week, but there is no general improvement. Sales of pig iron are naturally on a small scale, and prices are firm but unchanged, as follow'Staffordshire part-mine, 60s.; Derbyshire, 59s. to 61s.; Northamptonshire, 56s. upwards; Staffordshire cinder, 55s. There is, naturally, no speculative buying', and the output is going into consumption. Customers woulcl be glad of bigger deliveries. Best bar iron remains at <£9, and the action of makers in not advancing the basis has undoubtedly had a steadying influence. Second qualities are about <£8 5s., with, in a few cases, <£8 10s.; North Stafford- shire Crown bars vary from <£8 10s. to <£8 15s.; and nut and. bolt iron is in the neighbourhood of <£7 17s. 6d. to £8 delivered Darlaston. No gas strip is obtainable under <£8, and some makers ask 2s. 6d. to 5s. more. Trade is active, and the Government is taking a lot of this material. Dear billets, which vary from £6 15s. to £7 5s., keeps steel strip very firm at £9 to £9 10s. There has been no further movement in galvanised sheets on the week. The quotation for export is £14 Liverpool, and for the home trade 5s. to 10s. more. Delivered in Birmingham, spelter is £43 to £43 15s. a ton, sheet bars run from £6 15s. to £7 5s., so that even at the enhanced rates there is very little margin of profit in sheets. The demand is sluggish. The greatest congestion exists in the steel section. Makers complain that they can get supplies of neither coal, nor wagons to take their stuff away. They have practically no material to offer, and are refusing forward orders. Lancashire and Cornish boiler plates and steel plates for export have during the week been advanced 10s. a ton. Owing to the impossibility of getting supplies of American rails by reason of the enormous Government demand for steel, the Tramways Committee of Birmingham Corporation propose to purchase 2,000 tons of American rails at £8 a ton, of which delivery is promised at Liverpool in six weeks. ________ _________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade of this district is still suffering a great deal from the abnormal difficulties which have arisen as a result of the war. The demand is still in excess of the available supply for all descriptions, and delay in executing orders is inevitable, but the last few days have witnessed an easier enquiry. The collieries are as busy as possible, and all the coal raised is consigned straight away to the buyer; there are no stocks. Good orders are coming in from the inland merchants, whilst a satisfactory business is maintained in shipments. The steam coal collieries are hard pressed for deliveries; outputs are much below the average, and there is very little coal to spare for other than contract business. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 17/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 16/6 Bubble 20/9 20/9 16/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 15/ Bough slack Steam coal:— 10/6 10/6 6/6 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. ________ ________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. GOAL. Messrs. IV. Wade and Son report that the condition of the wholesale coal trade on the south coast continues as last reported. Steam freights continue to be quoted so high that few boats are being chartered. Local retail prices do not admit of imports being made by steamer excepting in cases where old contract charters are being dealt with, or where merchants are able to employ their own steamers, but many of the latter have been taken over by the Government. Sailing vessels are being obtained occasionally at much more reasonable rates of freight, but the bulk of the coal now coming to the south coast is by-