____________________________________________________ scarcity of supplies continues to prevail. In regard to gas coal, although the enquiry for special lots is not so brisk as formerly, there is no difficulty on the part of collieries in dealing with any surplus tonnage, and contracts continue to be fixed up at an advance of 5s. to 6s. per ton. The recent colder weather has materially influenced the house coal trade, but collieries apart from this are heavily booked up with orders, particularly for the best classes of coal. The price of coke remains about the same, but 20s. per ton is still being asked for special lots with prompt delivery. Hull. COAL. There has been a fair attendance on the Humber Coal Exchange, but business has been almost solely concerned with supplies for April shipment. Most of what was wanted to complete cargoes in order for steamers to sail before the holiday was acquired last week, since when holders have been sellers at 26s. to 27s. or thereabouts to meet the monthly settlement. For shipment after Easter there is a very active demand, and exporters are inclined to take full advantage of the plentiful supply of shipping tonnage, and the considerably reduced freight rates. Much depends upon the supplies available for export, but even if they suffer no material diminution it is doubtful whether they will be equal to the heavy demand which is now manifesting itself from Scandinavia and elsewhere. The market, therefore, is increasingly firm, and while 27s. has paid for best South Yorkshire steams for April shipment f.o.b. Humber ports at the close of last week, 27s. 6d. and 28s. are reported to have been done since. Secondary sorts are scarce and in good demand at about late rates. Derby- shire steams are much dearer on the week. Soft coal is about unchanged. Shipments at the docks keep well up to this year's average, and loading turns are good. In the freight market things are quiet, exporters preferring to wait until after the holiday before taking up tonnage. What little has been doing has been for French ports, 12s. having been accepted for a 2,400 ton steamer Hull to Rouen (about half the rate of a month ago) and 14s. 6d. for a small steamer Hull to Dunkirk. Coastwise rates also continue easy on the basis of 7s. London. The values for prompt shipment of coal are largely nominal on the basis of 26s. 6d. to 27s. for best South Yorkshire hards, and 25s. 6d. Derbyshire steam hards Grimsby or Immingham. Chesterfield. COAL. The market appears to become stronger week by week, and coal is 4n great demand for manufacturing purposes. The Easter holidays will be shortened, and the stoppage of work at the pits will not last more than two days. The colder weather is bringing to hand a substantial number of orders for house coal, for which prices are fairly well maintained. There is a strong demand for slack for boiler- firing purposes—indeed, it is almost impossible to meet the requirements of the market. Prices are still moving upwards. Railway companies are in great need of steam coal for locomotive use, and are bringing great pressure to bear upon the collieries to increase their deliveries. The export trade is brisk, and with a better supply of steamers steam coal is in great demand. Supplies are very scarce. Prices continue to rise. Washed nuts and washed smalls are much wanted, orders for which are plentiful. The coke market is strong, and prices are advancing for all qualities. Coking fuel continues scarce and dear. Prices at pit. April 1, 1915. THE GOLLiERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________ Leicestershire. COAL. There are some developments in the general position of affairs in this district which are likely to grow in import- ance. The question of the Easter holidays has been settled to the satisfaction of all concerned. There are so many village feasts on Easter Monday and Tuesday that it was decided that it would be best to have these days “ for play," and to work as usual on Good Friday and Saturday providing wagons were available. As regards the supply of railway wagons the difficulty is extremely acute, and if anything, the state of affairs is even worse than a week ago. From day to day colliery managers never know what to expect, and the output in consequence is always an uncertain quantity, with frequent stoppages for half days, and often just when deliveries are most urgently required. This is a serious state of affairs, which seems destined at no very distant date to place coal merchants who own wagons in a commanding position. Already they are in the enjoyment of two very important advantages—one in being able to secure preference in the matter of supplies, and the other in having the advantage of being able to secure concessions in price of from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton. The military necessities are so great that there is no prospect at present of any modification of an unprecedented situation. The inflow of orders is still far in excess of the supplies which are available, and the demand is very general in its character. While household coal sells with very great freedom, there is a big demand for large nuts and for bakers’ nuts; but the outstanding feature is the extremely active trade in all kinds of manufacturing fuel. The demand is far in excess of the supplies, and there are no stocks either in the hands of merchants or at the pits. These supplies are urgently wanted for firms engaged in important Government contracts, and something like a famine seems threatened. The demand from the west of England is particularly strong. The actual state of affairs may be best illustrated by the fact that for a particular fuel the contract price last year was at the rate of 7s. 6d. per ton, and orders are now coming to hand offering to pay for the same fuel at 16s. per ton in order to secure deliveries. This enormous premium is regarded as a very serious indication of what is coming. The daily output is at least 20 per cent, below the normal level, and the working period is only from three and a half to four days per week. The following are the prices, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— ______ Prices at pit. Galvanised sheets is a weak branch. The demand for South ! Africa shows a slight expansion, but the financial stringency of overseas markets prevents any large business. For good lots for export <£14 is the price, and <£14 10s. for home trade. The requirements of Government for the time being are not large. Black sheets range from £10 to £10 10s. for hard doubles, this high price being mainly due to the dearness of sheet bars—£6 17s. 6d. to £7 for Bessemer and 5s. extra for Siemens qualities. Gas strip makers are getting their quotations. Some are asking as much as £9 delivered in the district, and £8 15s. is a good average. Sales of steel are being made at the advanced rates, and a premium is paid for quick delivery of small lots. Billets are still badly wanted. American billets are being sold in fair quantities at about £6 17s. 6d. delivered in the district, and for English make £7 is a minimum, with open-hearth descriptions up to £7 10s. _______ _______ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The demand for the house coal of this district keeps on the easy side, and although, generally speaking, collieries still have a good number of orders on the books, they are being steadily reduced. All the pits are on full time and the output is quickly taken up, there being no stock of any quality. Orders are coming in steadily from the inland merchants, whilst things have been very brisk at the docks during the week. Slacks are in heavy request. All steam qualities are eagerly sought after, and the collieries, are experiencing much difficulty is satisfying the demand. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Current prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 12/6 20/ 13/ -14/ L’st week’s prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ ' 12/6 20/* 13/ -14/* Last year’s prices. 17/6 16/6 16/9 15/ 6/6 12/6-13/ 8/ -9/ Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large Small Outside contracts. Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _____________________________________________________ Current L’st week’s Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 18/ 18/ __________________ 17/6 Secondary do 17/ 17/ 16/6 Cobbles 16/6 16/6 15/ Nuts : 16/ 16/ 14/ Slack 12/6 . 12/6 10/ 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...................... _______________________________ prices. 18,6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 ? 16/ -17/ I 15/6-16/6 I 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/ 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/ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Wednesday, March 31. IRON. An improving market all round. Pig iron is in better demand, and prices are advancing substantially. Orders for finished iron are coming to hand freely, and all the works are fully employed. The suspension of work at Easter will be limited to a couple of days. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. GOAL. _______________ Nottingham. COAL. The severe weather has again stimulated the demand for house coal, and with manufacturing fuel in active request the situation cannot be. said to have undergone any improvement during the week. In the Staffordshire district it is understood the Easter holidays will be confined to Friday and Saturday, and fin Warwickshire to Monday and Tuesday. Quotations are unaltered as follow: — Prices at pit. The general demand in the Nottinghamshire coalfield during the past week has been of an increased character. This has undoubtedly been due in a great measure to the approach of Easter, and it is to be hoped that, in view of the limited output due to shortage of labour, the miners will carry out the recommendation of the joint meeting representative of owners and men to restrict the holiday to Good Friday and Saturday. The recent spell of wintry weather has helped to maintain the demand in the domestic fuel section, and orders for best qualities are on such a scale as to practically absorb the supply, but common qualities are not quite so difficult to obtain. Values retain their recent firmness. Steam coals continue in great request, and orders in the home market have shown an expansion, as firms which have Government contracts in hand have been anxious to obtain extra supplies to tide them over the holidays. Larger supplies have also been requested by the railway companies. More enquiries are coming to hand in regard to shipments, but in the present state of the market advanced rates are being demanded in view of the pressure on home account. There is still a scarcity of slacks, and nearly all descriptions are speedily disposed of at late rates. Best slacks, especially hards, are in very keen request. Of gas coal, there is a good demand on contract account. Prices at pithead. 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 14/ Best hard 16/6 16/6 15/ Forge coal 14/ 14/ 11/ Slack 10/ 10/ 7/6 Warwickshire:— 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 U/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 10/ Small (do-) 11/6 11/6 8/3 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 15/ -17/ 17/6-20/ 16/6-17/ 11/ -12/6 9/6-10/6 9/ -10/ L’st week’s prices. 19/6-21/ 17/6-18/6 15/ -17/ 17/6-20/ 16/6-17/ 11/ -12/6 9/6-10/6 9/ -10/ Last year’s prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 10/9-11/3 10/ -10/3 7/ - 7/6 6/3- 6/9 6/3- 6/9 IRON. The iron and steel market continues exceedingly strong. As far as possible furnaces will keep going without a break during Easter to maintain as big an output as can be obtained, and it is hoped the mills in the district will be resumed on Tuesday. It is not anticipated, however, that there will be a very big output next week, as at many places where machinery has been running at high pressure there are a good many repairs to be executed. There has been practically no change in conditions during the week, and prices remain high. In one or two branches—some brands of pig iron, for instance, and in steel—they are so extravagant as to suggest that the producers are more anxious to stave off business than to encourage it. Prices in pig iron cover a wide range, and are too irregular to be reliable. Northamptonshire forge might be bought as low as 62s. or 62s. 6d., but only by good customers. In the finished trade things are more settled. Merchant bars run from £8 15s. to <£9, nut iron is about =£8 5s., and bolt iron =£8 10s. ________________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There does not appear to be any signs at present of the slackening of the demand for coal in this coal field. All the collieries are working full time and striving strenuously to increase the output by every conceivable means. The question of the Easter holidays is being freely discussed, and, although at the moment the actual holiday is rather indefinite, it will be made as short as possible. The officials of the North Wales Miners’ Association have asked the men to take only one day—Good Friday - and it would appear that in many cases this will be agreed to. There is a fairly good order list for house coal at the present time, but, although prices have not altered during the past week, there appears to be a little slackening in the manner in which new orders have come to hand, and there has been practically nothing done in the way of fixing up new contracts for house coal for delivery over the next few months. In regard to the gas coal trade, enquiries are nowr coming along more freely, and several contracts have been fixed up on a basis of an advance of several shillings per ton, about 5s. is the general advance, and gas companies are already in some instances giving public notice of the fact that, owing to the increase in the cost of gas-making fuel, and other things, they are compelled to advance the price of gas to their consumers. Deliveries on account of existing contracts are being kept up as well as possible, considering the reduced output at most of the pits. Steam coal, as usual, is in heavy demand. All the railway companies that have contracts here continue to press for deliveries, and these take a good percentage of the avail- able tonnage. There is no alteration in the demand for steam coal for manufacturing purposes, and trade does not appear to have been improved at the local works. Things at the Mersey side quays are busy enough, and the fact that the dockers have returned to work, enables more vessels to be discharged, and these are speedily coaled and reloaded with cargo ready for despatch on their outward journey. Nuts are pretty much the same as usual. As all the best go for gasmaking, there is very little on offer in the open market. The market for good rough slack is fairly good as regards price, and there is no lack of orders. The market for gas coke is about the same as last week, and, generally speaking, the prices all round for new business may be taken 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. 18/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -16/6 16/ -17/6 15/ -15/9 12/ -14/ 7/6- 9/6 11/8-16/8 23/4-26/8 20/ -22/6 10/10-13/4 L’st week’s prices. 18/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -16/6 16/ -17/6 15/ -15/9 12/ -14/ 7/6- 9/6 11/8-16/8 23/4-26/8 20/ -22/6 10/10-13/4 Last year’s prices. 15/9-16/6 14/3-15/6 13/ -14/ 13/ -13/9 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/ 6/9- 8/9 13/4-15/ 17/6-19/2 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6