March .12, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 551 ■ Prices f.o.b. Sunderland.,' Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals Ordinary do. ; Other sorts :— Lambton screened South Hetton do Lambton unscreened ... South Hetton do Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened Do. smalls Smithies Peas and nuts Best bunkers Ordinary bunkers Coke:— Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... Gas coke Current prices. 16/ -16/6 14/6-15/. 22/ -23/ 18/ -19/ 21/ 20/ 16/ 16/ 17/ 16/ 15/ 17/ 17/6 16/6 15/ 21/ -22/ 19/6 15/6—16/ L’st week’s prices. 13./ 12/3 20/ -22/' 17/6-18/ 20/ 20/ 12/6-12/9 12/6-12/9, 14/ 13/ 12/ 15/ 16/ -17/ 13/6 12/3 22/ -23/' ■ 21/ 13/ -13/6 Last year’s prices. 13/6 12/3 16/6 15/6 14/3 14/ 12/6 12/6 15/ 12/3 12/ 15/ 15/6 13/ 12/6 20/6 19/6 14/ With a larger supply of tonnage offering, coal freights are the turn easier, especially for London and the coast ports. Recent fixtures include :—London Ils., Havre 23s., Rouen 22s. 6d., Calais 24s. 6d., Dunkirk 21s., Caen 24s., Lisbon 23s., Bordeaux 30s., Genoa 40s., Algiers 32s. 6d., Porto Ferrajo 42s. 6d., Marseilles 30s. 3d., Gibraltar 29s., Port Said 35s., Las Palmas 26s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Fuel keeps very firm. There is a considerable amount of business passing, due to the larger supply . of boats. Shippers and sellers of coal are taking full advantage of the now ample number of steamers available, and loadings are heavy. Best Durham gas coal is firm at 14s. to 14s. 6d., whilst second kinds range from 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d., and special Wear gas is quoted up to 16s. Bunker coal is in good request, and prices are stronger. Ordinary Durhams are put at 14s. f.o.b., bests run from 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d., and specials range from 17s. to 18s. Household coal is very firm. Coking coal is in good demand, and considerable parcels have been disposed of. Unscreened kinds readily realise 15s., and coking smalls are selling at 13s. 6d. to 14s. Coke shows an upward movement. Ovens are being put out because collieries find it more profitable to sell the coal than to convert it into coke, and as a consequence there is some shrinkage in supply. Demand for local consumption is rather heavy, and with less offering the price of Durham beehive blastfurnace coke of average quality is fully 18s. delivered at Teesside works. Some buyers state that they can still purchase best Durham foundry coke for shipment at 18s. f.o.b., but most sellers quote 19s. Gashouse coke is 12s. 6d. to 13s. IRON. Business in pig iron is quiet, but a feeling of confidence prevails. Prices are advancing. This is due to legitimate demand almost entirely for home consumption, but so far as Cleveland pig is concerned the upward movement is assisted by speculative operations in warrants. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland is 58s. 3d., whilst No. 1 is 60s. 3d., No. 4 foundry 57s. 9d., No. 4 forge 57s. 3d., and mottled and white iron each 56s. 9d., all for early delivery, enquiries on forward account eliciting rather higher quotations. Steady improvement is noticeable in the east coast haematite branch of the staple industry. There are renewed enquiries on Italian account, but continued high freights hamper business. Further negotiations with Sheffield consumers are reported, and customers from that district have this week attended the Middlesbrough market. There are buyers who state that they can still purchase Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast haematite at 90s., but sellers at that figure are very difficult to find. As a matter of fact, 91s. has been paid, and up to 92s. 6d. is asked. The foreign ore trade is characterised by great firmness. Though there is not a great deal of business passing, consumers appear to realise that prices are not likely to ease, and consequently they are taking up any odd cargoes that are offered at current rates, which are now based on fully 29s. 6d. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Difficulty is still experienced in fixing ore steamers, and freights Bilbao- Middlesbrough are round about 15s. 3d. Supplies of foreign ore are coming to hand fairly well. To date this month the imports amount to 44,558 tons. Producers of manu- factured iron and steel are going at full pressure, order books are understood to be well filled, and substantial enquiries are still in the market. Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co. have booked an order for 12,500 tons of steel rails for the Australian Commonwealth. Shipbuilding material has gone up 10s., and steel bars have advanced 20s. Principal market quotations now stand:—Common iron bars, <£8 10s.; iron ship plates, <£9; steel ship plates, <£9 ; steel ship angles, <£8 15s.; steel boiler plates, <£10; steel joists, £8 10s.; steel bars (both basic and Siemens), £9 ; and heavy steel rails—£6 10s., the last-named being net, and all other descriptions less the customary 2| per cent, discount. ----------------- Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade continues to be characterised by great strength, and business is very brisk in all branches. Best house coal and manufacturing fuel are still in firm request, and this week some of the agents and merchants have been practically inundated with orders which can scarcely be executed before the end of the month. The coastwise trade is remarkably active and has not been busier during the past 12 months. In fact, there is an abnormal demand for house, best steam and small coal for the Irish market. During the past three months 54,945 tons have been shipped to Irish ports from Mary- port, and the tonnage would have been much larger if sufficient coal had been available. The collieries are all working full time, but the outputs have suffered consider- ably this week owing to the prevalence of sickness among a good many of the hewers. The tonnage from Maryport to the Irish ports this week has amounted to 4,150 tons, an increase of 680 tons compared with last week. The imports at Maryport. included a cargo of pitwood for the local collieries from Polnachie. Coke makers are very busy and all the by-product ovens are maintained in full operation. The whole of the output is being absorbed by local smelters. Prices of best coal are firm, but unchanged. At Maryport, best coal is quoted at Is. 2^d. per cwt. delivered, or 23s. 4d. per ton; washed nuts 21s. 8d. per ton, with seconds 20s. per ton. At Workington, Allerdale best coal is quoted at Is. l|d. per cwt., 21s. per ton ; with best washed nuts at 20s. per ton. Other quotations are as follow :— Best Cumberland coal, at pit... Flimby best coal ,, .... Washed nuts „ .... Old St. Helens best coal „ .... Best house nuts „ .... Oughterside best coal.......... Washed nuts.................... Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b..... Bunkers „ .... Coal for gasworks.............. Current prices. 20/6-21/ 20/ 19/2 19/2 17/1 20/ 18/4 15/6 13/6-14/ 14/6-15/ L’st week’s prices. 20/6-21/ 20/ 19/2 19/2 17/1 20/ 18/4 15/6 13/6-14/ 14/6-15/ IRON. There has been more activity in the Cumberland haematite iron trade this week, and prices are again rising. The volume of business has increased to such an extent that Bessemer mixed numbers are now quoted at 93s. 6d. per ton, with warrants at cash at 82s. 6d. per ton free on board at the usual ports. Whether they will continue to soar or stop at the present quotation remains to be seen, but the cost of production has risen enormously of late, and as makers are well sold up it is only natural they will stand out for as high a figure as possible. There is not only a firm demand for special iron, which has now advanced to 102s. per ton, but other brands of haematites are in brisk request, and buyers are coming into the market freely in order to cover their requirements for some time ahead. There are more cargoes of foreign ore coming to hand, and prices of the home product are slightly easier. There are still 23 furnaces in blast, 15 in Cumberland and eight in the Furness district. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have two furnaces on ferro-manganese at their Old Side Works. A large percentage of the make at Barrow and Workington is going into consumption at the steelworks, while a number of the furnaces are employed in making special iron, the bulk of which is being consigned to the high-class steel makers in the. Midlands. Steel makers are very busy, and at both Barrow and Workington there is a large production of light and heavy rails, axles, tyres, plates, and shot steel. The iron ore industry at Cleaton and Egremont is enjoying great prosperity, the requirements being still much in excess of the supply. Prices of local ore are quoted at from 23s. to 30s. per ton according to grade. The imports at Maryport this week included 2,300 tons of iron ore from Tunis for the Workington Iron and Steel Company. The exports from Workington during the week consisted of 700 tons of pig iron for Port Talbot, 250 tons of steel, 240 tons of sleepers, and 1,500 tons of steel rails for Liverpool. South-West Lancashire. GOAL. In the inland household coal market there are many arrears of orders executed as yet, but the mild weather is calming to a little extent the clamouring of the consumer. Screened coal for manufacturing purposes keeps in very fair demand. With regard to shipping, the position has improved, inasmuch as the strike of the coal heavers has now been settled, and work is proceeding along more normal lines, though the docks are still very congested. The demand in steam coal continues in excess of supplies, and only a limited quantity is available for the open market. Prices vary a good deal, but probably 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d. f.o.b. f.o.b. represents the most general quotations. The coastwise and cross-Channel demand for household coal keeps as insistent as ever, and the little free coal that is available demands high prices. The manufacturer con- tinues his pressure for small fuel of all descriptions, and it is with great difficulty that demands are met. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............ Secondary slack ....... Common do.............. Current prices. 17/9 21/ -22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 About 18/ 14/ -15/ 19/6-20/6 12/ 10/9 9/9 L’st week’s prices. 17/9 About 22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 About 18/ 14/ -15/ 19/6-20/6 12/ 10/9 9/9 Last year’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/6-14/6 12/3-12/6 13/ -13/6 9/9-10/ 9/ - 9/3 8/6- 8/9 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was only moderately attended on Tuesday. There is little change to report as to the market. House coal is perhaps a little more plentiful. Manufacturing fuel is in good request, and the demand somewhat exceeds the supply in cases. Shipping coal is moderate. Prices generally are about the same. The following are the list rates :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack .......... Common slack ........ Current prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/9 14/ -15/ 18/6-19/6 11/ -12/ 9/6-10/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 18/ -18/9 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/9 12/ 15/6-16/6 10/6-11/ 9/ -10/ prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 IRON. The market continues to be well attended, but the volume of new business going through is small.. Most producers are full up with work for the Government of one sort or another. Prices are fully maintained, and are without alteration from our previous weekly report, with the excep- tion of bar iron, which the association have now put up to £9 5s. for crown quality. The foundries engaged on ordinary work report a serious slackness, yet those who are engaged on the heavier branches of the engineering trade are very fairly employed. The district generally is busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a moderate attendance at the market on Tuesday, and a strong demand for all qualities of coal. Very meagre supplies were on offer, however, as the bulk of the output of the pits is sold on contract account, and what little free coal is available for the open market is well sold ahead. It was reported that the pits had worked about five days this week, but that the difficulty with regard to empty trucks and the transit of loaded trucks is by no means less. The block has been on for traffic in the London district in quite a large number of directions, and trucks, which have been in the sidings loaded and labelled for weeks, are still on hand at the pits. There has been a slight falling off in the demand from London and the district, but prices show very little change, and it is yet possible to secure from 20s. to 21s. per ton at the pits for prompt parcels of best coal, while from 17s. to 18s. represents the minimum for even common house coal. Very little coastwise trade is being done, although freights are a shade easier on the week, transactions having been booked with a freight of 12s. 6d. from Hull to London. It is still cheaper, however, for the merchants in the southern counties and on the south coast to obtain their supplies by rail. The retail trade in the West Riding continues satisfactory from the sellers’ point of view, although supplies are still difficult to secure, and are on the light side. Pit prices are fully maintained at about the following figures :— Haigh Moor selected 19s. to 20s., Silkstone best 18s. to 19s., Silkstone house 17s. to 18s., other qualities 16s. to 17s. The. position in the gas coal trade is still, as regards forward business, somewhat uncertain. It is reported that a number of contracts have been booked at an advance of 5s. per ton on the figures paid a year ago. It is considered likely by those most intimately connected with the trade that this figure will represent the minimum advance on contracts generally. The news as to the prices secured by north country collieries for their London gas coal Contracts has caused increased firmness in the position locally. Prompt sales of gas coal for works in the London and southern districts are still being reported at about 16s. per ton at the pit, with nuts about ..15s., and unscreened gas coal about 14s. Supplies of factory fuel are still inadequate to meet the strong demand, and the scarcity applies more particularly to washed fuel. Coking smalls are also appreciably higher on the week, and supplies are very scarce. Washed furnace coke is : still quoted at from 15s. to 16s. per ton for the open market, and up to 18s. for business to the end of the year. Pit prices maybe roughly summarised as under:— House coal -.— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 14/ -15/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/ -14/6 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 13/6-14/6 Do. house 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/6 House nuts 17/ —18/ 17/ -18/ 11/6-12/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 16/9-17/9 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/6-20/6 16/ -17/ Do. house 18/ -19/ 18/6-19/6 15/ -15/6 Other qualities 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 14/ -14/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 15/ -16/ 15/ —16/ 14/ -15/ 11/3-11/9 Gas nuts 14/ —15/ 10/6-11/ Unscreened gas coal ... 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 9/3-10/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 13/ -15/ 13/ -15/ 10/9-11/9 Large double-screened engine nuts 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 10/ -10/6 Small nuts 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 9/ - 9/6 Rough unscreened engine coal 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 9/3- 9/9 Best rough slacks. 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/ 7/3- 7/9 Small do. 8/ - 9/6 8/ - 9/6 6/6- 6/9 Coking smalls 8/6- 9/6 8/ - 9/6 5/6- 6/ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 10/ -11/ Barnsley. COAL. Practically there ‘has been no change in the position during the week, though, in regard to certain qualities, the shortage of the supplies appears to be more pronounced than ever. The local market was only thinly attended so far as colliery representatives were concerned, who reported an absolute difficulty in dealing with the orders which were already on hand. The opinion also prevailed that there is no immediate prospect of any increase in the output, and, although buyers present at . the market were inclined to offer fancy prices, they found it a very difficult matter to negotiate any business which involved something like prompt delivery. The pressure for supplies continues to be more keenly felt in respect to all classes of steam coal, and there are indications that values are likely to show a still further upward tendency. The railway companies, along with other large consumers, are finding the renewal of contracts, generally for a comparative small tonnage, difficult to fix up, and it was stated that contracts for supplies of- certain qualities of large steams, have been made at an advance of something like 3s. 6d. to 4s. per ton. Negotiations are now pending in regard to the Great Eastern Railway Company’s contracts which expire at the end of March.: The tonnage involved is of large dimensions, both for Barnsley and Parkgate fuel, and much interest is being shown as to the price which will