608 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 19, 1915. Italy and Egypt, 'but requirements in other directions have been so great that it is only with difficulty that permission •can be obtained to ship to Italy. In if act, a rumour was current on ’Change on Tuesday and Wednesday that the Government intended to prohibit the shipment of all steam coals to the Mediterranean for the present. The shortage has naturally caused Italian consumers to look elsewhere for •supplies, and it is reported that large quantities of American coal are being contracted for. Best Black Veins are 31s. 6d. to 32s. 6d., western valleys 30s. to 31s., and easterns 28s. to 29s. In the small coal market there is a temporary easiness, although quotations are on a higher level than they were a week 'ago. Best bunkers are 21s. to 21s. 6d., ordi- naries 20s. to 20s. 6d., and cargo .qualities 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d. per ton. In bituminous coals, there has been a further advance in price. Best households from Monday last are quoted .at 30s. at the pit head, -and second qualities at Is. less. No. 3 Rhondda large is 30s. to 32s., through 26s. to 27s., and small about 23s. No. 2 qualities are 26s. to 27s., with other grades in proportion. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to 21,500 tons, of which the Crown'Com- pany despatched 12,426 tons, Newport 2,022 tons, and Swansea 10,552 tons. Best grades have advanced to 35s. per ton, with secondary qualities round about 30s. to 32s. Coke is scarce, and the quotations are practically unaltered. Special foundry is 40s. to 44s., ordinary 35s. to 38s., and furnace 28s. t’o 32s. The pitwood market remains steady, prices at the time of writing being about 41s. per ton. The coal trimmers of the Channel, about 4,000 in number, have put forward a demand for increased rates of pay, amount- ing to an -average rise of about 15 to 20 per cent. " IRON. Shipments of tin-plates last week were -again on a satis- factory’ basis, and -amounted to 81,810 boxes, compared with 79,393 boxes received from works. This left 292,288 boxes in stock in the 'docks warehouses and vans, compared with 294,705 boxes the previous week, and 381,511 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. .’The demand is certainly improving, and in certain localities.the difficulty of obtaining adequate labour, is being felt. Prices of Bessemer standard cokes are 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., whilst oil sizes are quoted -at 16s. 6d. to 17s. for 18J x 14, and 22s. 9d. to ’23s. for 20 x 10 sizes. In galvanised sheets there is not much change to report, except that there has been an increased demand on Colonial account, chiefly from South Africa. Exports have been rather heavier, and as it is known that -stocks abroad have been greatly depleted, especially since the commencement of the war, it is anticipated that the industry will now be placed on a healthier tooting. For 24-gauge corrugateds £14 10s. is being asked, though this figure is appreciably shaded by works in need of prompt specifications. Spelter has advanced to £44 10s. per ton. In the steel trade, matters arc improving, and Welsh steel bars are quoted at £6 15s. to £7, both for Siemens and Bessemer qualities. Welsh pig iron is still rising, and 95s. to 96s. is now being asked f.o.t. Bail mills are fairly well employed, but few English orders are being placed at the present time. The iron ore market is -steady, best Rubio commanding 27s. 6d. to 28s., -seconds 24s. 'to 25s., and Almeria 25s. to 25s. 6d. In scrap metals there is practically no change, new -steel crop ends being 87is. 6d., steel scrap 74s., cast 57s. 6d., heavy wrought 62s. 6d., light do., 42s. 6d.. double-headed steel rails 72s. 6d., ditto iron 77s. 6d., and mixed isections 65s. In accordance with a request put for- ward by the operatives, the Tin-plate Conciliation Board met on Monday to discuss the question of wages in war time; and, as a result of the deliberations, the men will receive a bonus ranging from 2s., to 3s. per week. This, it is esti- mated, will mean a total disbursement of about £60,000 a year. A -similar action has been taken with regard to the men in the iron and -steel trades, and in their case the extra cost is reported to amount to about £40,000 per annum. Extensive developments are about to take place in the Port Talbot district, where blastfurnaces and by-product plants are to be -erected at an early date. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week was highly satisfactory, the returns-giving an increase over the previous week. There was a good -supply of tonnage, and both the coal and patent fuel trades were active, the shipments amounting to 109,201 tons. There, was a good attendance on ’Change, but the undertone of the anthracite coal market was, if anything, a shade weaker. Swansea Valley large was being offered for immediate delivery -at slightly reduced prices, but Bed Vein large continued to maintain its strong position. Machine- made nuts . and cobbles were weaker, but peas were in excellent demand. Bubbly culm was very firm, and there was an improved enquiry for duff, especially for forward delivery, and increased prices were asked. On the steam coal market sellers were fully booked up for some time, and were not inclined to quote for forward business. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... Secondary do. Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) Red Vein large do. ... Machine-made cobbles (net) Paris nnts (net) French do. do German do. do Beans (net) Machine - made large peas (net) Do. fine peas (net) Bubbly culm (less 24p.c.) Duff (net) Steam coals:— Best large (less 2|p.c.) Seconds do. Bunkers (net) Small (less 24 p.c.) Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda- Large (less 2| p.c.) ... Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) Small (less 2| p.c.) ... Patent fuel do Current prices. 22/6-24/6 20/6-21/6 16/6-18/6 17/9-18/6 26/ -30/ 31/ -32/ 29/ -31/ 21/ -23/ 113/6-14/6 11/6-12/6 3/6- 4/6 26/6-29/6 22/6-25/6 22/6-24/6 15/6-18/6 26/6-29/ 19/6-22/6 25/ -27/6 L^st week’s prices. 22/6-24/6 20/6-21/6 16/6-18/6 17/9-18/6 26/ -30/ 31/ -33/ 29/ -32/ 21/ -23/ 13/ -14/ 10/ -11,; 3/6- 4/6 26/ -28/ 22/ -251 21/ -24/ 13/6-17/6 24/6-29/ 19/ -22/ 23/ -25/ Last year’s prices. 21/6-24/ 19/ -20/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -15/9 22/ -24/6 23/6-25/ 23'/6-25/ 23/6-25/ 16/ -17/6 11/ -12/ 6/ - 6/6 4/ - 4/6 18/6-19/ 14/9-15/9 10/6-11/6 7/ - 8/3 18/ -19/ 14/ -15/9 10/3-11/3 17/3-17/9 IRON. During last week work at the blastfurnaces was brisk, and there was -a heavy production of pig iron. The steel works generally were very active, whilst the tin-plate trade showed a -slightly better tone. At the Forest Works three of the sheet mills were re-started. All the -sheet mills in the district were closed down at the beginning of the war, and these are the first to .resume. The .shipments of tin-plates were 81,810 boxes, receipts from works 79,393 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 292.288 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. On the whole, the coal market of this district is keeping fairly firm, but for some of the ’anthracite kinds there has been a noticeable falling off in the enquiries during the past week. The tonnage -difficulty is still -a source of worry, and pits cannot always be kept going full time. Anthracite large is rather -slow in going, whilst for the machine-made kinds there is not quite the firmness experienced during the past few weeks, and prices .are somewhat -easier. For steam and bituminous coals, however, there is an. exceptional demand for every quality and collieries cannot cope with anything like the number of orders received, and are daily refusing business. The enquiry for large is great, whilst prices are higher than they have yet been. Bunker and cargo throughs ate also, in big demand, whilst smalls, both for shipment and works purposes, are most scarce, and the manufacturers are experiencing considerable difficulty in obtaining (supplies to keep the works going. This week’s quotations approximately are :— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large ...... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large_______ Bed Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ........__...... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. ! prices. 21/6-23/ 21/6-23/ 1 21/ -23/ 18/ -19/6 18/ -19/6 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/6 | 17/ -18/6 ! 16/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 1 17/ -17/6 ! 14/6-15/6 28/6-29/6 28/6-29/6 ! 23/ 29/ -31/ 29/ -31/ • 21/ -23/ 30/ -34/ 30/ -31/ 21/ -23/ 30/ -32/ . 30/ -32/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -22/6.21/ -22/6 17/ -21/ 13/ -14/- 13/ -14/ ,12/ -13/ 11/ -13/ 9/ -10/6 5/9- 6/3 4/ - 5/ 4/ - 5/ • 4/ - 5/9 26/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 16/ -17/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ • 11/ -11/6 13/6-17/6 13/6-17/6 9/ -10/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 11/ -11/6 ____________________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tab Products.—Considered collectively, the majority of products are firmer, as virtually the only exception is toluol, which is the turn 'easier. Benzols arc inclined to be dearer, especially 50/90’s. Carbolics are hardening. : Other pro- ducts, if unchanged, are decidedly on the firmer side. Nearest values are Benzols, 9Q’s ............................... /Il Do. 90’s North ________.............................__ /10 Do. 50’s 'do.- ___....________................... 1/34 to 1/44 Toluol' .'..............'................................... 2/2 to 274^ Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ________ 3/1 to 3/2 Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ______ 1/2 to 1/3 Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... 1/2 to 1/5 Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................ /5| Creosote (for ordinary qualities) _______________ /3| Pitch (f.o.b.) __................................... 18/to 20/ Tar (liquid in 1 ton) ................................................. 17/to 18/ [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.} Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market keeps firm, and prices are well maintained. There are occasional instances of lower quotations, but investigations so far reveal 'special conditions, which justify the. elimination of such prices from representative market values. Closing prompt prices are : London (ordinary makes) .......... £13/15 Beckton __________.................................. £13/5 Liverpool ......................... £13/15 Hull .............................. £13/12/6 to £13/15 Middlesbrough . ..........................£13/18/9 Scotch ports ...........................................£14/5 to £14/7/6 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 11/3 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2J per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.} ______ Trade Notes. It is a great pity that when efforts are being made for pushing along the growth of sugar beet in this country, the handling of the matter should become a source of conten- tion among those who might and ought to be doing all they can to further this end. Such recriminating methods are most derogatory in every way. Unity is strength, but dis- sension is worse that negative in effect. At least let Jjhe sulphate of ammonia manufacturers and their representa- tive organisations show a united front. After all, doing is what gets there, not arguing. The returns for February are satisfactory, considering all thing’s. There is a total increase of 'about £67,000 in the value of sulphate of ammonia exported last February compared with 1914. This is satisfactory, seeing that Japan has taken about £60,000 less. Spain has been improving, with about £6,000 up. Italy has taken more than treble the former amount, bringing her total for the month up from £5,700 to £22,000. The Dutch East Indies return is down £3,000; while the-U.S.A, has improved by some £10,000. These figures strikingly emphasise the recent remarks concerning the cultivation of the export markets for sulphate of 'ammonia. During the week the exports, of sulphate of ammonia, have been (in round figures). 4,300 tons... The exports of pitch have been, 3,400 tons; of tar, 12,260 gall-s., 30 casks, 82 drums, and £26. A shipment of 2,643 galls, of benzol was also made to Genoa. LORD KITCHENER’S APPEAL TO THE MINERS., Shorter Holidays at Easter. A meeting of the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, at the Westminster Palace Hotel, yesterday, had communications from Lord Kitchener and from Sir Bichard Bedmayne, H.M. Chief Inspector •of Alines, asking the executive to use their influence with the miners -of Great Britain to shorten their holidays at Easter, so -as to avoid any possible danger ■of a shortage of coal supplies. It was .agreed, after full consideration, to issue a circular to the miners, calling Their .attention to Sir Bichard’s message, in which he said :— “ Doubtless, as you are aware, the miners in some dis- tricts take .a holiday at Easter and Whitsuntide (Scotland would not be affected). In South Wales, for instance, they have been in the habit of taking three whole days at each of these 'periods, with the result that the whole of the week in such a case is practically spoilt, as fav as output is con- cerned. In normal times this does not result in very serious consequences to the country, as it -affects only the earnings of the men and the profits of the owners ; but in the present crisis it is a matter of supreme national importance. Such a curtailment might, indeed, be a veritable disaster.” The executive agreed to recommend the districts to limit their holidays to the lowest possible number of days. At the -close of the executive committee meeting, Sir Richard Bedmayne again called upon the officials, and said he had been .requested by Lord Kitchener to inform the miners that he (Lord Kitchener) made an urgent personal appeal to the miners on the question of the approaching holidays.’ Lord Kitchener recognised that the workmen, were working very hard, and that they required a holiday at this time; but ho could assure them there was very urgent need for the holidays being curtailed to the lowest possible limit; and his lordship sincerely hoped, while he was strongly in favour of their having holiday, that the Easter holidays would not extend beyond one, or, at the most, two days. The -officials agreed to add this communication to their circular. ____________________ BOOK NOTICES. Electric Bells, Alarms, and Signalling Systems. By Herbert G. White. 80 pp.; 4J in. x 7 in.; 57 figs. London : S. Bentell and Company. Price, Is. 6d. net. This little book deals in readable fashion with simple bell circuits, indicator systems, burglar and fire alarm systems, fault localising, etc., and mine signalling systems. The last chapter gives examples of many devices that have been placed upon the market quite ■recently, as a result of the new General Regulations, no attempt being made to discuss, the theoretical con- siderations that have been engendered by the Senghenydd explosion. On the other hand, the author, in. speaking of shaft signals, has been handicapped by the uncertainty prevailing in everybody’s mind as to the exact nature of the requirements. Thus he has included one or two systems, which, in the form- pre- sented, do not comply with the latest revised version. This is due to no fault of Air. White’s; and indeed, he reasonably protects himself from any charge of inaccuracy on this score. On the general subject of. signalling, however, his book is distinctly helpful. The Journal of the Institute of Metals. ATol. XII. Edited by G. Shaw Scott, AI.Sc. The Institute of Aletals, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W. Price, 21s. net. This latest volume is quite up to the high stan- dard that wo have conic to look for in the publications of this young -scientific society, and in point of size is oven bulkier than many of the preceding 11 volumes. This is probably accounted for by the fact that special importance is now attached, owing to the war, to copper and brass, the two metallurgical products with which the Institute of Metals is chiefly concerned. Five out of the nine communications appearing in the Journal are concerned with -copper and its alloys, these being :— “The Critical Point at 460degs. Cent, in Zinc-Copper Alloys,” by Air. O. F. Hudson, AI.Sc., of Birmingham University; “ Tensile Tests on Copper at High Tempera- tures,” by Air. D. Hanson, AI.Sc., of the National Physical Laboratory, and Dr. G. D. Bengough, Al.A., of Liverpool University; “ A Noto on the Annealing of Brass,” by Air. F. Johnson, AI.Sc., head of the Birming- ham Technical School, Aletaflurgical Department; “A Contribution to the History of Corrosion, Part III. : Coke Condenser Tubes and Corrosion,” by Air. A. Philip, B.Sc., A.R.S.AI., chief-chemist, Portsmouth Dockyard; ■and “ The Behaviour of Copper-Zine Alloys when Heated-in a Vacuum,” by Air. W. E. Thorncycroft, B.Sc., and Prof. T. Turner, AI.Sc., of Birmingham University. Other valuable papers aro :—■“ The Wid- manstatten Structure in Various Alloys and Aletals,” by Capt. N. T. Belaiow; “ Aletal Spraying,” by Air. R. K. Alorcom; “ The Surface Tension of Alolten Aletals,” by Air. 'Sydney W. Smith, B.Sc., A.R.S.AI.: and “ The Effect -of Hvdrogen on the Annealing of Gold,” by Air. J. Phelps, ALA. .. An entirely new feature that wo observe in Vol. Nil. is the 'collection, of “ Notes,” or short papers hardly oxtonsivo -enough to lend themselves to a full dress dis- ‘--cussion. The first contributors to this section are Prof. Carpenter, on “ The Extraction of Native Copper at Calumet, Lake Superior, U.S.A.”; Prof. Huntington, on “ The Effect-of Temperatures, Higher than Atmospheric, -on Tensile Tests of-Copper and its Alloys ”; and Mr. H. S. Primrose, on “ The Heat Treatment of Admiralty Gunmetal. ’ ’ The entire volume covers some 400 pages, and includes 21 full page plates and numerous illustrations in the text.