April 1, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 713 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The conditions prevailing in the steam coal market are now tighter than ever, the scarcity of free coal being extraordinary and hampering business, so that it is very difficult to find the real level of values. Small parcels here and there change hands at very high figures, but these isolated cases cannot be taken as showing the true index of the market. Tonnage in port is quite sufficient to receive all the coal coming down before the holidays, and in fact, will last well into April. The chartering market has fallen quiet for a day, rates showing easier for the Mediterranean and French and Spanish ports, for Buenos Ayres 5,000 tons 2?s. has been arranged, April 6 to 15. As the market becomes more difficult for large coals, so the other grades keep firming up, smalls, throughs and nuts all becoming dearer proportionately, while house coals, too, increase in value likewise. Cokes move up with the help of the iron trade and increasing cost of smalls, while pitwood remains steady at the high level of 40s. to 41s. for good wood. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Current prices. 32/ -35/ 31/ -32/ 30/ -31/ 29/6-30/ 18/6-19/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 19/ -19/6 23/ -24/ 23/ -25/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 30/6-31/ 29/6-30/ 29/ -29/6 28/6—29/ 19/3-19/6 18/6-19/ 18/ -18/6 19/6 22/ -23/ 19/6-20/6 prices. 16/9-17/3 16/3-16/9 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 8/6- 9/ 8/ - 8/3 7/3- 7/6 8/9- 9/ 12/6-12/9 13/3-13/6 Best house coal...... Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ........ 27/ -29/ 25/ -27/ 30/ -33/ 30/ -31/ 34/ —35/ 27/ -29/ 25/ -27/ 30/ -33/ 26/ -28/ 32/ -33/ 18/ -19/ 17'/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ —25/ IRON. The local iron and steel trades are maintaining an excep- tionally busy trade, much pressure being experienced to get forward as much output as possible in view of the holidays. Complaints from customers as to non-delivery have, up to the present, been mostly attributable to railway delays. Tinplate and sheet bars are quoted £6 17s. 6d. to £7 per ton for both Bessemer and Siemens, Welsh haematite £5 per ton delivered to work in the district. Iron ore 28s. to 30s. for best Rubio c.i.f. Newport. The tinplate trade is brisker, a good enquiry being met with. To-day’s basis is 16s. 6d. for either Bessemer or Siemens primes for 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. COAL. There is very little change in the position of affairs since last week, except that the market, if anything, is firmer than ever. Admiralty demands are more pressing, and from present appearances are likely to continue so for an indefinite period. The result is that all the best quality steams are quite out of the market, and there is also a greater enquiry for second grades, many of which are absolutely unobtainable by the ordinary consumer. Even third qualities, or what are commonly known as ordinary steams, have reached abnormally high prices, and a selec- tion of two well-known varieties changed hands at the beginning of the week at as high as 39s. per ton. Such a figure, however, does not really represent the state of the market, because special circumstances may have contri- buted to the high rate paid. Outputs are still on the downward grade, and if a recruiting campaign on a bigger scale takes place, there is every probability that production will be still further curtailed. Shipments last week from the Channel amounted to 362,717 tons, compared with 473,931 tons in the corresponding week of last year, showing a decrease of 111,214 tons. These figures are, of course, exclusive of Admiralty requirements. From Cardiff alone there were exported 267,783 tons, compared with 310,692 tons in the corresponding week of 1914, or a decrease of 42,909 tons. From Newport the shipments were 41,933 tons, or a falling- Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals nominal 35/ nom. 18/6 Superior seconds 35/ -36/ 32/ -33/ 18/ -18/3 Ordinary do 34/ -35/ 30/ —31/ 17/3—17/6 Best bunker smalls 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 11/ -11/3 Best ordinaries 20/ -20/6 20/ 10/6-10/9 Cargo qualities 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/6 8/6- 8/9 Inferior smalls 17/6-18/ 16/ -16/6 6/6— 8/ Best dry coals 34/ —35/ 33/ -34/ 17/ -17/6 Ordinary drys 31/ -33/ 30/ -32/ 15/3-15/9 Best washed nuts 24/ 23/ 16/ -16/3 Seconds 22/- 21/6 15/ -15/3 Best washed peas 23/ 22/ 14/3-14/6 Seconds 21/ -21/6 20/6 13/3 Dock screenings 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 11/6-11/9 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 35/9-36/3 31/9-32/3 17/3 Western-valleys 35/3-36/ 31/3 16/9-17/ Eastern-valleys 35/3 30/3 16/3 Inferior do 34/ 28/ -28/6 15/ -15/9 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 30/ 30/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 29/ 29/ 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous laT,ge 33/ -34/ 30/ 17/9-18/ Through-and-through 30/ -31/ 27/6 15/ -15/6 Small 26/ -27/ 25/ 12/3-12/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 29/ 27/ -28/ 13/6-14/ Through-and-through 23/ 24/ -25/ 11/6 Small 19/ -20/ 20/ 9/ Best patent fuel 35/ -40/ 35/ 21/ Seconds 32/6 32/ -33/ 19/ -20/ Special foundry coke 43/ -45/ 40/ -44/ 27/ -28/ Ordinary do. 38/ -40/ 35/ -38/ 22/ -25/ Furnace coke 30/ -33/ 28/ -32/ 19/ -20/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 39/ 40/ -41/ 20/ off of 41,792 tons ; from Swansea 41,140 tons, or a decline of 1,835 tons ; and from Port Talbot 11,861 tons, or a decrease of 24,678 tons. Chartering was again on a lower scale owing to the difficulty in arranging stems, and also due in some measure to the heavy decline in freights. Genoa, which a fortnight ago was done at 33s., has dropped to 19s., and other Mediterranean ports in- proportion. The amount of tonnage taken up was 127,800 tons, compared with 132,000 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 4,200 tons, and the number of steamers in dock at the commence- ment of the week was about 40 less than a week ago. Still, however, there was the greatest difficulty in obtaining loading berths, and it was reported that in many instances vessels were on demurrage before having a berth allotted to them. The Custom House returns for the first two months of the year afford instructive reading with regard to the export of coal from the Bristol Channel. In only three instances are increases recorded, and those are France, Azores and Gibraltar, which, of course, are of great strategical importance in the present position of European affairs. The following table shows the exports to the principal foreign countries and British Possessions during January and February, with the increase or decrease respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year:— Two months, ended Feb. Increase. Decrease. Tons. Tons. Tons. Russia — — .. 14,046 Sweden 30,612 ... 15,521 ...' 1,858 .. 2,963 Norway — Germany — — .. ' 28,743 Netherlands Other Dutch posses- 2,615 ... — .. 10,476 sions in Indian Seas — — .. 10,425 Belgium — — .. 60,912 France 1,428,415 33,644 — Algeria 110,270 ... — .. 18,502 French Somaliland... 6,686 ... 107,021 ... — .. 9,165 Portugal — .. 20,862 Azores 5,447 ... 2,901 — Madeira 13,675 ... — .. 1,072 Spain 129,163 ... — .. 95,088 Canary Islands 66,188 ... — .. 32,620 Italy 606,221 ... — .. 414,021 Austria-Hungary ... — — .. 33,464 Greece 46,381 ... — .. 25,342 Bulgaria — — .. 11,519 Turkey — European — — .. 31,777 „ Asiatic ... — — .. 16,713 Tunis 155,534 ... — .. 6,925 Peru — — .. 10,541 Chile 1 9,217 ... 95,363 ... .. 37,606 .. 158,899 Brazil — Uruguay 71,110 ... — .. 31,882 Argentine Republic.. 308,397 ... — .. 277,073 Channel Islands 8,023 ... — 391 Gibraltar 50,468 ... 13,893 — Malta and Gozo 21,745 ... — .. 41,648 Egypt 201,375 ... — .. 145,866 Cape of Good Hope Anglo - Egyptian 3,617 ... — 8,834 Sudan .. 12,933 Aden and Dependen- cies 20,095 ... 6,589 ... .. 1,465 .. 12,027 British India Ceylon and Depen- — .. 49,706 4,835 .. 9,171 dencies 15,039 ... 17,963 ... — West Africa—French — „ Portuguese 22,104 ... — „ British ... 12,291 ... — .. 14,529 With regard to prices generally, it is extremely difficult to =£7. A temporary strike at Dowlais interfered with pro- duction last week, but the difficulty has been overcome, and the works are now fully employed. Welsh pig iron is 97s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. The iron ore market is slightly firmer, best rubio being quoted at 30s., seconds at 28s., and Almeria at the same figure. Scrap metals are harder, and merchants are reported to be busy. Steel scrap is 77s. 6d., heavy wrought 67s. 6d., light wrought 50s., light steel 55s., double-headed iron rails 75s., steel ditto 75s., mixed sections 70s., and new steel crop ends 87s/6d. per ton. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week was highly favourable ; the coal trade was active, but the exports of patent fuel were limited, the shipments together amounted to 98,674 tons. There was a capital attendance on ’Change and the anthracite coal market displayed a fairly even tone. The best qualities of large were moving off very satisfactorily, with an excellent enquiry. Swansea Valley large, however, continued slow, and for prompt delivery, sellers were prepared to quote easy figures. Red Vein large was firm. Of the machine-made sizes, cobbles, French and German nuts were weaker, but both beans and peas were exception- ally strong, being very keenly sought after. Rubbly culm maintained its strong position, whilst duff was slightly firmer. There was an all-round good demand for steam coals, with last week’s prices fully upheld. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/6-24/6 21/6-23/ Secondary do. 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 18/ -19/ Big Vein large (less 2^ per cent.) 16/6-17/6 16/6—18/6 14/6-15/6 Red Vein large do. ... 17/9-18/6 17/9-18/6 14/ -15/ .Machine - made cobbles (net) 26/ -30/ 26/ -30/ 22/ -24/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/ -24/6 French do. do 28/6-30/ 28/6-30/ 23'1 -24/6 German do. do 26/ -29/ 26/ -29/ 23/ -24/6 . Beans (net) 22/ -25/ 21/ —23/ 16/ -17/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 13/9-15/ 13/6-14/6 11/ -12/ Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2 £ p.c.) ■ — — 10/6—11/6 10/6-11/6 6/6- 7/ Duff (net) 3/6- 4/6 3/6- 4/6 4/6- 4/9 Steam coals:— ! Best large (less 2| p.c.) 27/ -30/ 27/ -30/ 18/6-19/ Seconds do. 23/6-26/6 23/6-26/6 14/9-15/9 Bunkers (net) 23/6-25/ 22/6-24/6 10/9-12/ Small (less 2| p.c.) 15/6-18/6 15/6-18/6 , 7/ - 8/3 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 23/6-30/ 21/6-30/ 18/ -19/ Through-and-through (less 2$ p.c.) — — 14/ -15/9 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 19/6-22/6 19/6-22/6 10/3-11/3 Patent fuel do 25/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 16/9-17/3 gauge the position, as each transaction depends upon individual circumstances. In numbers of instances permis- sion has been given to ship the coal, but after a vessel has been loaded the order has been countermanded, and the vessel ordered to proceed to another destination. There is practically no quotation for best Admiralties, but nominally they are supposed to be worth about 37s. 6d., with 35s. to 36s. for superior seconds. Ordinaries are also in the region of 34s. to 35s., but, as indicated above, a single transaction has been recorded as high as 39s. Monmouthshires remain exceedingly high, best Black Veins realising 35s. 9d. to 36s. 3d., western valleys 35s. 3d., and eastern valleys practically the same price, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. The small coal market keep fairly steady, best bunkers being obtainable at 21s. to 21s. 6d., ordinary qualities at 20s. to 20s. 6d., and cargo sorts at 18s. to 19s. A further advance has taken place in bituminous coals of several shillings a ton, No. 3 Rhondda large being 33s. to 34s., through-and-through 30s. to 31s., and small 26s. to 27s. per ton. No. 2 large is also in good demand, principally for mixing purposes, at 29s. for large, 23s. for through, and 19s. to 20s. for small. Coke has again advanced owing to the difficulty of obtaining supplies of coal for the ovens, and best qualities are now quoted at 43s. to 45s., foundry 38s. to 40s., and furnace 30s. to 33s. per ton. With regard to patent fuel, the principal makers in this district are refusing to quote, as there is no surplus output beyond their commitments. For best brands 35s. has been paid, and should anything further come on to the market, manu- facturers would require at least 40s. per ton. Second grades are 32s. 6d. per ton. Exports last week amounted to over 23,000 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 12,815 tons, and Swansea 11,217 tons. The pitwood market is a little easier, best French fir being now obtainable at 39s. per ton. IRON. Shipments of tin-plates have been on a smaller scale than for some weeks past, and the exports last week did not exceed 49,121 boxes, whilst receipts from works were 95,270 boxes, leaving 349,944 boxes in stock, compared with 303,795 boxes the previous week and 392,785 boxes at the corre- sponding date of last year. Prices remain high, Bessemer standard cokes being 16s. 9d. to 17s. Oil sizes are 17s. and 24s. respectively. Several optional contracts have been accepted at slightly lower figures, but makers are firm in their ideas, and no reduction is anticipated in the near future. In the galvanised sheet trade there has been a fair enquiry on colonial account, and a substantial consignment has been shipped to South America. Business, however, continues to be dull, and prices of 24-gauge corrugateds are unaltered at =£14 to =£14 10s. In Welsh steel bars there is a fairly brisk demand at prices ranging between =£6 15s. and IRON. During the past week all departments at the blast- furnaces were fully employed. The steelworks were again working well, and a good sale of bars was effected. Some of the tin-plate concerns were working more regularly despite the slackness of trade. The three sheet mills worked all the week at the Forest Works, Morriston, and bar-rolling mills were also engaged fairly well. An increase in output was observed at the Mannesmann Tube Works, and all departments were kept very busy. The shipments of tin-plates were 49,121 boxes, receipts from works 95,270 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 349,944 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The position is very similar in the coal market this week with the exception that the pressure is more pronounced owing to the holidays of next week. Instead of the usual three days’ stoppage, two days only will be allowed the men, but it is feared that many of them will abstain from work the third day and the week will be a broken one. Seeing that most of the manufacturing works are working through the holidays there will be a big scarcity of coal, and to ensure good supplies the works people are prepared to pay very high figures to keep going. Several contracts are now being renewed and prices paid are, of course, very much higher than the present contracts. In many cases as much as 10s. per ton more is being asked. In some cases arrangements have been come to between buyers and sellers as to cancelling the contracts which are expiring at the end of June and fixing another price to cover all deliveries from April 1 to the end of the year. Some of the anthracite qualities are in poor demand; Big Vein large, cobbles and nuts are moving rather slowly, whilst prices are difficult to maintain. For beans, peas, Red Vein large and culm, the demand still holds very good and prices are firm. For steam and bituminous coals there is a very heavy demand and collieries have far more orders on hand than they can deliver. Much inconvenience is being experienced by buyers and very often furnaces have to be shut down through shortage of supplies. This weeks’ quotations approximately are :— Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. ! prices. Best malting large .. 21/6-23/ 21/6-23/ ’ 19/ -21/ Secondary do. ..j 18/ -19/6 18/ -19/6 17/ —19/ Big Vein large ... ..1 17/ -18/6 17/ -18/6 ; 15/ -17/ Red Vein do. ... J 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 ! 14/6-15/ Machine-made cobbles.. ..26/ -29/6 28/6-29/6 ; 20/ -21/ German nuts .. 28/6-30/ 29/ -31/ 20/ -22/ French do 28/ -30/ 30/ —34/ 20/ -22/ Paris do 28/ -30/ 30/ -32/ ; 20/ -22/ Machine-made beans .. .. 22/ -25/6 21/ -22/6 . 15/ -20/ Do. peas .. 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ , 11/6-12/6 Culm .. 10/6-11/6 11/ —13/ 6/ - 6/6 Duff .. 4/ - 5/ 4/ - 5/ 4/ - 6/ Other sort^s:— Large steam coal .. 26/ -28/ 26/ -28/ 16/ -17/ Through-and-through.. . 23/ -25/ 23/ —25/ 11/ -11/6 ' Small ... . 14/ -18/ 13/6-17/6 9/ -10/ Bituminous small coal.. . 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 11/ -11/6