THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ March 12, 1915,. have to be paid to secure the renewal of these contracts. It is understood that tenders have already been submitted, and judging from the present tone of the market, it seems to be very probable that the companies will have to pay a very substantial increase on the figures of last year. The advance which has been asked for has not been divulged, but it seems to be more probable that the con- tracts on this occasion may be only arranged for a period of six months instead of the whole year, and also that many collieries will prefer to risk the open markets rather than commit themselves even at a much higher price. In regard to the export demand for best hards, it is reported that some business has been completed to cover the shipping season on the basis of 18s. 6d. per ton for best hards, an increase of 7s. 6d. per ton on the figure which is being paid for some of the railway contracts which are now running. At the present time holders of best steams are asking from 19s. to 20s. per ton for spot lots, whilst secondary descriptions are making something within Is. per ton of the best grades. In regard to the congestion on the railways, the experience of collieries appears to vary, and in some instances a fairly ready supply of wagons has been obtained. The demand for small steam fuel and coal suitable for the use of engineering firms continues to be of a remarkably active character, but the supply is still greatly inadequate. Steam nuts for prompt delivery appear to be making all kinds Of prices and the business transacted suggests that the value of the coal is merely in accordance with the immediate needs of the buyers. The position in respect to slacks is pretty much the same, the tonnage required for both Lancashire and the West Riding being exceedingly heavy. In regard to gas coal contracts there does not appear to have been much progress made, although there are enquiries circulating and it is almost a matter of conjecture as to what the rate of advance for the renewal of the contracts will be. With respect to house coal there appears to be hardly the same keen pressure for supplies as was the case a week ago, but this has no effect on the market, as collieries are so heavily booked up, and prices are maintained without any difficulty. There has been greater firmness shown in regard to coke, which is about 6d. per ton dearer on the week and buyers are making more enquiry for contracts, but makers are only inclined to do business at substantially higher figures than are prevailing at the present time. The following quota- tions only relate to nominal business :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 19/ -20/ 15/ -15/3 Secondary do 16/ -18/ 16/ -18/ 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/ -14/ 11/ -12/ Secondary do 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 18/ -18/6 _________ 17/ -18/3 11/3-11/6 Secondary do 16/ -17/ 16/ -16/6 _________ 10/9 Best washed nuts 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ ■ n/ Secondary do 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 10/3 Best slack 11/ -12/6 11/ -12/6 7/3 Rough do 9/ -10^6 .9/ -10/6 5/9- 6/ Gas coals ••— Screened gas coals Unscreened do. 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -12/3 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/ -10/6 Gas nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/6-12/ Furnace coke 15/6 15/ 10/6-11/ Hull. GOAL. The condition of the export trade from the Humber ports remains in pretty much the same position as it has done for the past month. Collieries are endeavouring to fulfil their contracts, and are succeeding as well as the circumstances permit, with the result that shipments at the docks keep up to a good level, and quite up to the average for the current year. Shipping tonnage is scarce, and were it not so we might possibly have complaints of delay and threats of demurrage charges, and so on, owing to the supply of coal not being what it should be. The great bulk of the export is against contract, and what little business there is passing is of the hand-to-mouth order, and in accommodation lots. All available free coal is quickly taken up, and prices are firm and higher than a week ago, best South Yorkshire hards being quoted 20s. to 22s., washed doubles 18s. to 19s., and washed singles 16s. to 17s. 6d. Derbyshire steams are well booked, and are worth 20s. to 21s. Grimsby or Imming- ham. Prices, however, are more or less nominal, and vary considerably with conditions under which lots are sold. There is no easing in the freight rates to French ports, which are 22s. for handy-sized vessels, though the pressure is less felt now in the London traffic. There is nothing doing in forward business, collieries withholding quotations, though the view is expressed that a keen demand may shortly be expected from some of the Scandinavian countries. The export returns for February were issued this week, the total from Hull being 170,658 tons, Grimsby 41,816 tons, Immingham 34,428 tons, and Goole 31,994 tons—total for the Humber 282,876 tons, as compared with 550,387 tons in February last year. An analysis of the destination of the coal shows that France took 113,857 tons (of which over 93,250 tons was from Hull), Sweden 67,897 tons, Denmark 35,441 tons, and Holland 26,238 tons. It ought, however, to be pointed out that the Hull export total apparently includes five separate weeks (owing to the local way of compiling the figures). The Customs returns for the calendar month gave only 135,931 tons. The London and coastwise shipments from all the Humber ports amounted to 125,457 tons, as against 238,733 tons same month last year. Chesterfield. COAL. The coal trade of this district maintains a strong position, and consumers find much difficulty in securing all the supplies of fuel that they need. As a result, prices are firmly held. There is a keen demand for coal for manu- facturingpurposes, and collieries are doing all they can to meet the ’requirements of such establishments as are engaged upon Government work. The demand for house coal is less pressing; nevertheless, orders for this class of fuel are fairly plentiful, and prices remain firm. Slack for steam raising moves freely. Steam coal for railway use is much wanted, and several systems are experiencing great inconvenience from short supplies. The export trade is good and: prices of steam coal are stiffer on the week, and are likely to advance as Easter approaches. Supplies are still considerably below customers’ requirements. Cobbles and nuts are in keen demand for export and for home consumption. Washed fuel is in good request at firm rates. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’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 15 /, 15/ 11/6 Slack / 12/ 12/ ■ 7/9 ’ IRON. There is a better enquiry for pig iron, and prices are firmer. The finished iron trade shows some improvement, and a fair number of orders is coming forward. Altogether there is a better outlook. _________________ Nottingham. COAL. The state of the coal trade in Nottinghamshire is much the same as a week ago. In practically every branch the demand exceeds the supply, and there is little coal for the open market. In the domestic fuel section the pressure for local supplies is slightly easier, but the demand from the Metropolis and southern and eastern counties is fairly heavy. In the latter case merchants are at a disadvantage in not being able to get orders delivered without delay, and supplies on contract accounts are in some instances much in arrear. Values of all house coals are very firm, and certain qualities are inclined to go upward. The very active demand which has recently characterised the home market in the steam fuel section is being well maintained, and an improvement is beginning to manifest itself in the export branch. For secondary sorts and steam nuts there is a particularly good demand, with prices inclined to rise. The position in regard to slacks is such that higher rates are being obtained, and owners have no difficulty in dis- posing of nearly every class as soon as obtainable. Gas coal is in urgent demand on contracts, limited output having caused some collieries to be much behind in their supplies, 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. 19/6-21/ 17/6-18/6 16/ -17/ 17/6-19/6 16/6-17/ 11/ -12/ 9/6-10/6 9/ -10/ L’stweek’s prices. 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-17/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -16/6 10/ -10/6 8/ - 9/ 8/6- 9/ Last year’s prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 10/6-11/ 9 9-10/3 7/ - 7/3 6/ - 6/6 6/3- 6/9 Leicestershire. COAL. The stream of orders coming to hand day by day is greater than ever, and unfortunately a very large propor- tion of them cannot be entertained. The appeals which come to hand from coal merchants in districts which are practically cut off from coal supplies are rather pathetic, but there is no practical means at present, under the prevailing absorption of railways for military purposes, by which these entreaties for coal at almost any price can be met. In fact, it almost seems for all practical purposes that communication and transport of minerals had been put back to the conditions which prevailed in the forties. Large and impprtant parts of the country are thus cut off, and, on the other hand, where traffic is open it is in a state of dislocation for the want of wagons. The conditions this week are worse than ever, and many collieries complain that frequently the supply of empty wagons is 70 per cent, below the normal. It is stated here that one railway company has already sent over 5,000 trucks into France for the conveyance of military materials on the other side. The delays are reducing the output to rather under four days per week, and there is no prospect of any improvement at present. The demand for the best classes of household coal is very brisk indeed, the orders offering being for more than double the output. It is hoped by very strenuous efforts during the summer to relieve the shortage of stocks. The orders for manufacturing fuel are very urgent, and the whole of the available supplies are absorbed day by day. Prices are very firm with free offering of substantial premiums, but in some cases those merchants who own wagons are able to secure slight concessions. The following are the prices now officially in force at the collieries in this district, subject to special modifications :— 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. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6—17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 14/ —14/6 13/6-14/6 11/9-12/9 3/ - 3/6 15/9-16/9 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ L’stweek’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 14/ -14/6 | 13/6-14/6 I 11/9-12/9 I 3/ - 3/6 15/9-16/9 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ ________ _______ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The situation has not appreciably changed since last week. Works manufacturers are clamouring. for supplies, but have to go short. What stocks there are are hung up on the railways. Coalowners keep asking* for higher values, on some small lots an additional 6d. being asked. In the circumstances they are able to get it, for apart from the demand for manufacturing purposes, there is a steady call for household sorts. Cokes are very scarce, and consequently 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 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 IRON. There was a good deal of conversation among ironmasters attending the market as to the probable effect of the Bill which gives the Government power to take over and administer works for the production of war material. In this district the majority of the works are already, directly or indirectly, engaged on the production of munitions of war, but there are still some which might be adapted,, and no serious difficulty is expected. Ordinary domestic business will, of course, be disorganised, but this is not of large bulk at the moment, and manufacturers as a whole will be quite willing to co-operate with the- authorities with a view to securing the maximum pro- duction of war material. Government orders continue to keep the bulk of the industries extremely busy, and substantial business is foreshadowed in the immediate future. Production is only limited by the labour, coal, and transport difficulties. The blast furnaces are being charged less frequently than usual on this account, and one furnace in Northamptonshire has been blown out altogether. Smelters, therefore, are not booking large forward orders,, and with coke scarce and dear—for coke outside contracts 4s. to 6s. a ton extra is asked—they keep quotations firm. The minimum for Northamptonshire is about 57s. 6d., and many makers are not accepting that figure. Derbyshire iron is 61s. 6d., South Staffordshire cinder 56s., ditto- part-mine 60s., best all-mine forge 82s. 6d. to 85s., and foundry 90s. On the strength of the recent advance of 10s. in marked bars, South Staffordshire unmarked houses are asking more. Several firms are up to <£8 15s., and no business is done under <£8 10s. Business is plentiful. North Staffordshire bars have also been advanced to <£9 a ton. The employees in the nut and bolt trade have had their wages advanced by about 5 per cent., and prices have appreciated in consequence, ranging from <£8 5s. to <£8 10s. Similarly wages have risen in the tube trade, and owing to this cause and dearer materials makers have notified their customers of a reduction in the discounts^ of 21 per cent, in gas and steam tubes, 5 per cent, in galvanised tubes, and II per cent, in fittings, the discounts now being gas tubes 70 per cent., water 661 per cent.,, galvanised tubes 55 per cent. Galvanised sheets remain at <£14 for export, f.o.b. Liverpool, and =£14 10s. for home trade. Business has in no wise improved. Black sheets are also in slow demand, and with sheet bars at their present high level it is practically impossible to make sheets under =£9 10s. a ton. Spelter is in the neighbourhood of £46 delivered in this district. Gas strip continues to grow in strength, some makers asking =£8 15s., though material can be bought cheaper. Steel makers continue extremely busy, and it is impossible to place orders for immediate delivery. It is difficult to obtain supplies of billets and sheet bars. For Bessemer qualities the minimum is =£6 15s., and for Siemens basic open hearth billets as much as =£7 15s. is asked. American supplies of material are not large. In finished steel plain plates and angles are 10s. dearer. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade of this district is still in a very healthy condition, and great activity continues to prevail for all descriptions. The collieries are all on full time but outputs are comparatively low, and it is impossible to meet the demand with anything like satisfaction to merchants. There is no cessation in the pressure from the inland buyers, and there are a large number of arrear orders on the books. Good shipments are made, but vessels have secured quicker turns this week. Slack coals continue in heavy request, and the price is advanced 2s. per ton this week. The demand for all steam coals is exceptionally strong, but contracts made before the “ boom” are taking most of the output. 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 Rubble 20/9 20/9 16/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 15/ Rough slack 12/6 10/6 6/6 Steam coal:— Large 17/ -17/6* 17/ -17/6 12/6-13/ Small 12/-13/* 11/ -12/ 8/6-9/ * Outside contracts. Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _________________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that the south of England coal supplies are now chiefly coming forward by rail from the Midlands, as steamer freights have reached an impossibly high rate. Sailing freights are more reason- able, but the length of time required in their voyages renders them less in demand during the busy season. It is expected that the present high prices and scarcity of sea- borne coal may cause a reduction in coasting freights by inducing a competition amongst steamship owners for the few coasting cargoes which are now obtainable.