April 1, 1915. 714 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________ MINING AND OTHER NOTES. A Japanese steamer, the “ Harbinmaru,” 5,500 tons, just built at the Kawasaki Yard, Kobe, has been equipped with a new device for reducing ccal consumption to a minimum not obtained before. The working of this device has been tested with satisfactory results. In a 24-hour run. at the most economical speed the ccal consumed by this steamer will not exceed 39 tons, instead o-f the 62 tons usually consumed by steamers of the same size. Mr. Alexander Elder, founder of the Elder Dempster Steamship Line and the British and African Steam Naviga- tion Company Limited, for some years chairman of the Steamship Owners’ Association, and a director of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, who died on January 25 last, aged 81 years, left estate of the gross value of £309,068, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £308,873. We are informed that Mr. R. H. Longbctham has become interested in the Grange Iron Company Limited, of Durham, and has been appointed sole agent for the counties of Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. During January, 118,749 tons of coal and 9,464 -tons of coke were imported into Spain, as compared with 231,661 tons of coal and 29,146 tons of coke in January 1914. In the same month, 271,135 tons of iron ere and 1,771 tons of man- ganese -ore were exported, as against 642,769 tons and 2,757 tons respectively in the first month of 1914. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Wednesday, March 31. Dublin. The proximity cl the Easter holidays, and the continuance Off co-ld weather help to maintain a fair amount of activity in the coal trade gcmraUy, prices of household qualities remaining unchanged at late rates, viz., from 32s. to 34 s. pec ton, less Is. per ton discount; retail, from 2s. 2d. to 2s. 3d. per sack of 10 st. The local merchants state that they cannot buy Scotch coal at the prices new asking at the ether side, and as much as 32s. per ton is now being obtained for steam qualities here, less Is. per ton discount. Coke is 34s. per ton in the city ; best Irish coal at Wolfhill Collieries, 25s. per ton outside of contracts. The import trade continues to b'e satisfactory, but. none of the .merchants have large stocks, as the supplies coming in change hands very rapidly. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 69, as compared with 45 the week previously, chiefly from Giarstcn, Preston, Ayr, Liverpool, Manchester, Newport, Glasgow, Partington, and Irvine. The total quantity of coat discharged upon the quays was between 29,000 and 30,000 tons, as against 20,000 tons the previous week. Belfast. About the only noticeable feature in the local coal trade is the improvement in supplies coming into the port during the past week, and stocks are now assuming better propor- tions than of late. Demand upon the whole is fairly good, and there is no further change in prices. Current quotations for house coals are -as follow :—Best Arley house coal, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Glasgow, Garston, Ardirossan, Ayr, Maryport, Wcirkingtcn, Partington, Troon, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, Swansea, and Greenock. __________________ THE BY-PRODDCTS TRADE. ' Tar Products.—-All round there is a steady market. Benzols hold their own wdll, while toluol is unchanged. Crude carbolic acid is on the advance, though crystals remain unaltered. Solvent naphtha continues to favour sellers. Pitch once more has returned to the sphere of customary quotations, London values being 21s. to 22s. 6d. Nearest quotations -are :—■ Benzols, 90’s ............................... Do. 90’s North .......................... Do. 50 Is do............................... Toluol ..................................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ________ Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ...... Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................ Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............. Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) .................... do. (f.a.s. west coast) .................... Tar (liquid in 1 ton) ........................ /Il /10 1/3 to 1/4 2/2 to 2/4 1/3 1/3 to 1/5 /5^ 17/ to 17/6 18/ to 19/ 21/ to 25/ [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.—With the Easter vacation pond- ing, it is only natural to expect quotations to be a little erratic, and the easier values current in some quarters appear to be purely nominal. The forward enquiry is satisfactory. Some idea of the divergencies in quotations is afforded by Liverpool prices, which range from £13/12/6 to £14/2/6. Closing prompt prices are :—• London (ordinary makes) ........... £13/15 Beckton (25 per cent.) ...............£12/17/9 to .=£12/18/9 .......................... Liverpool .............................. £13/15 Hull ________.................................. £13/12/6 ..................... M i d d 1 e sb rough ................... £14 Scotch ports ........................ £14 to £14/5 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 11/6 [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 interesting to find the proposals for raising the stan- dard of sulphate of ammonia are being given sufficient attention to elicit -divergent opinions from those who are competent to'pass an opinion. Decently, the president of the Manchester District Institute of Gas Engineers, while agreeing on dry and acid-free sulphate of ammonia, queried the wisdom of .making the higher ammonia testing product. Yet, while conceding the moisture and acid points almost in the same breath, the opinion is advanced that the standards are quite safe, because one stray bag of sulphate of ■ammonia, 12 months old and roughly used, stood the test so well that it could have been sent out again as it was. Originally the sulphate had tested 3-2 per cent, moisture and 0-5 per cent. acid. Still, for one bag that succeeds, it must surely be admitted there is considerable truth in the complaints from foreign buyers about the state in which their shipments arrive, so that it is desirable to make the standard not exceeding 3 per cent, and 1 per cent, respec- tively. With regard to the 25 per cent, ammonia, it is true the possibility of being able to offer 24 per cent, stuff cheaper than the 25 per cent, not only on account of the lower unit value, but also owing to the cheaper acid that can be employed, the maker of high-test sulphate of ammonia may be adversely affected when competing in the open market, and it is -truly very doubtful whether the high-test quality is really wanted by the home consumer. Why not guarantee 24J per cent., and let it be at that, leaving the 25 per cent, test for export‘sulphate only, seeing any sliding scale for surplus nitrogen over and above 24 per cent, might prove trouble-seme, as new7 usages arc liable to unsettle buyers, especially when they are, as often as not, farmers slow -to take to innovations? On the other hand, -in a recent helpful paper read before the Society of British Gas Industries, the importance of sup-pl ving the high-test sulphate of ammonia, in order to capture Germany’s at present stagnant trade, and subse- quently hold it against competition, was accorded unqualified support, while some practical hints on how to attain this desired end were included in the paper. Much has been heard of late, about the state of the American market for fertilisers, and while the arrivals of THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. guano, nitrate of soda, and cyanamide show that in 1914 producers of rival nitrogen products were getting hold of this market, the figures for sulphate of ammonia were also reassuring. The imipcat-s of cyanamide doubled compared with 1913, but then they only totalled 30,000 tons, which is more or less a negligible quantity for this particular form of nitrogen. Guano showed an increase of one-quarter on the returns for 1913. When we come to compare nitrate and sulphate, we find a striking change, for whereas nitrate of soda imports into U.S.A, dropped by £1,250,000, the imports of sulphate of ammonia rose £100,000, to a total of £900,000. It is satisfactory to see that, according -to the Indian tariff revisions, there are no changes adversely affecting sulphate of ammonia, as it still remains on the free list. So also do all manures, including animal bones. Benzol and toluol are not only attracting the attention of home producers, but Canada is devoting -special time and capital to their production. The Dominion Steel Corporation has received good contracts from their Government and other steel companies are getting plant to -work, as they have reason to expect substantial orders from the British Govern- ment. At what price, we wonder? There has been a fair movement in exports and imports, among the latter being 2,150 bags of cyanamide. The exports of pitch have been 2,080 tons and £165 worth. In fair there has been more doing, the returns showing 55,100 gallis. exported, 221 barrels, 70 drums, 500 packages, and £2,700 worth. Sulphate of ammonia also has been moving bettor, the total shipments having been 5,187 tons, as compared with 4,888 the previous week. In benzol, £218 worth was sent to Genoa, and 152 packages of benzol oil to Bordeaux. _____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Makers all seem to be comfortably booked up for the next month or two, and are net disposed to reduce their quota- tions on account of the fall in tin. Second-hand sellers are reported to be discounting works figures to some small extent, but apart from this, the tone of the market continues firm; indeed, it is difficult to -see how-any material reduc- tion can be expected with steel bars, which are held at £7 per ton, at their present level. Quotations :—Coke tins : IC 14 x 20 (112sh. 1081b.), 16-s. 9d. to 17s. per box; 10 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 33s. 6d. to 34s. per box; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d. per box; IC 14 x 18j (124 sh. 110 sh.), 17s. to 17s. 3d. per box; IC 14 x 19| (120 sh. 1101b.), 17 s. to 17s. 3d. per box; IC (20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 23s. 6d. to 24s. per box; 1C squares and odd sizes, 17s. to 17s. 3d. basis. Charcoal tins run 19s. basis and upwards, according to finish. Coke wasters are in good demand, and quotations firm, as follow : CW 14 x 20, 15s. to 15s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x -20, 30s. 3d. to 30s. 6d. per box; C W 14 x 18f, 15s. to 15s. 6d. per box; GW 20 x 10, 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d, per box. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. __________________________________ Railway Company and Collieries. — The Denaby and Cadcby Main Collieries Limited, Doncaster, applied to the Railway and Canal Commission Count yesterday for an order directing the Great Central Railway Company to afford facilities for dealing with the traffic of the applicants, and an order enjoining respondents from giving undue preference to the owners of collieries ether than the applicants. For the respondents, Sir Edward Carson took the preliminary objection that the effect of section 16 of the Regulation of th? Fcrcos Act, 1871, ami the Order in Council made under it in August last, was to suspend entirely the duties of the railway company under section 2 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854. He argued that the company were now only the agents of the Government. The Court had no jurisdiction. Mr. Leslie Scott, for the appli- cants, said that if Sir Edward Casron’s contention were correct, the -railway company were at the present time not responsible for anything. The order he asked for was that the railway company should give facilities within their powers which would net interfere with the requirements of the Government at the present time. There was coal belong- ing to the applicants lying in trucks which were being “ held up,” -and that coal was required for the manufacture of munitions of war. Mr. Justice Lush said that the case raised a question of very great importance. It was by no means unimportant that in section 16 it was provided that- the directors, officers, and servants of the railway company should obey the directions of the Secretary of State as to the user of the railroad -or plant. If Sir Edward Carson was right, one would not have expected that limited transfer of obligation imposed upon the servants of the railway com- pany. The complete control over the railway had not been taken, -and was not being exercised by the Government. The actual control over the working of the railroad was left with the railway company. For these reasons, he thought that the burden was on the railway company to show that it was not within their power to give the facilities asked for, -and that the objection should be overruled. The hearing of the case would bo postponed pending an appeal against his decision on that point. Mr. Leslie Scott said that there were Government contractors waiting for coal from the appli- cants. The railway company had kept back trucks con- taining this coal since March 20, except 32, which had been released on Monday last. The applicants’ sidings were blocked, and they could not send the coal away to fulfil urgent Government orders. Sir Edward Carson alleged that the applicants would not supply the railway company with coal unless they paid the market price. The general manager, in his affidavit, -stated that he was receiving such orders from the Government that his -stock of coal would not allow him to deal with this colliery or any other unless the collieries themselves give facilities by supplying coal. The cause o-f the block w-as the inability to get coal at a reason- able price. If the applicants would agree to let the railway company have coal, as the other colliery companies did, there would be no further difficulty. Mr. Leslie Scott said that the applicants would let the railway company have coal on their line. If they could not supply them with their own coal, they would buy coal and let the railway company have it at the price which they were paying the other colliery companies. The respondents, therefore, undertook to carry the trucks away, the undertaking to be without prejudice to the rights of the padties, which, it was settled, should come before the court for discussion on April 19. Sir Edward Carson mentioned that the railway’s stock was down to something like 3,000 tons. _______________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Wednesday, March 31. ______________ ________________________________ The London coal -trade -for the past week has been very slow for house coals, -bulb brisk for all kinds of manufacturing ccal, and -especially for small nuts and nutty slacks. The colder weather has induced a slight increase in the depot o-rders, but the reports from all directions show the delivery trade is slow. Colliery prices, however, are strongly and firmly held, and only small quantities are disposed of on the open market, and these from hand to mouth. The approaching holidays seam to have very little effect upon 'the market prices, as the railway companies have brought for- ward a -plentiful supply during the past few weeks. The large coal centres in the Metropolis have been at times con- gested with loaded wagons, and the barging stations have in consequence had a frequent “ sitc-p ” put upon them. During the past week, however, strenuous efforts have -been made by the railway companies to bring into traffic the large number of scattered wagons waiting, in many cases at bye-stations, and their efforts have made a vast difference to the supply of house coal in London. The reports from the outlying stations, especially down the southern lines, show a terrible shortage still, and -the traffic is frequently held up owing to the removal of troops, etc. On Monday, much to the sur- prise of a large number of the regular attenders o-f the Coal Exchange, the merchants decided to reduce public prices, making best Wallsend Is. lo-wer, and all other qualities 2s. lower, thus reducing best Wallsend to 35s., best Silkstone to 34s., Derby bright-s to 32s., stove coal to 30s. par ton. The decision was all the more noticeable -from the fact of the bittetiy cold weather prevailing at the time, but the reasons given were that (1) nearly all the merchants have now such a plentiful supply of household coal that they are compelled to land a large quantity; and (2) that public orders are now coming in so slowly that the depot trade is weak. Behind all this, how-over, there is' a growing conviction on the part of -coal owners that the Government enquiry has had some- thing to d'o with it. Public orders are certainly being delivered with -greater promptitude, so that it is evident the supply has overtaken the demand, and the value of sea- borne coal not only in the Thames, but all along the coast has considerably increased since the lower freights have been in force, and the greater number of interned beats have been at liberty at the reduced rates. Freights from the Humber ports -to London are now quoted at 7s. This, however, does not apply to manufacturing coal, and the demand for these qualities is steadily increasing. Small nuts an-d peas are fetching almost as much as the large co-al. Gas coals are selling very freely, and the demand is fully maintained. Seaborne qualities are also coming forward with greater regularity and in larger quantities since the freights have been reduced. Twenty-five contract cargoes wore -entered for Monday’s market as arriving in the Thames. The FIumber ports are also in a strong position, and prompt shipments are fetching good prices. Best Yorkshire hard steam coal are quoted at 25s. 6d. to 26s. f.o.b., and for April as much as 27s. 6d. f.o.b. The quantity available seems to be small, and the demand for April loading is good. Derbyshire hard steam are quoted from 23s. to 25s. f.o.b. The Railway Gazette returns the number o-f British railway- men who have joined the Colours at 72,427. The London and North-Western Railway head the list with 12,177 men, so that it can easily be surmised the difficulty there is in dealing with the pressing goods and mineral -traffic. ____________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, March 26.—There was no alteration in the sea- borne house coal market to-day, no fresh supplies of either Durham or Yorkshire cargoes being on offer. Cargoes 29. Monday, March 29.—The return of the colder weather gave a slightly improved tone generally in the seaborne house coal market to-day, but business was somewhat quiet, owing to the approaching holidays. Cargoes 25. Wednesday, March 31.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house ccal market to-day, no cargoes being on offer. Cargoes 11. _____________________________ Motor Fire Engine for Tipton.—Tipton, which is situated in the heart of the Staffordshire coalfield, has just received delivery of a motor steam fire engine of the Merryweather “ Fire King ” type. It is capable of travelling at speeds of 20 to 30 miles -an hour, whilst hills with gradients as steep at 1 in 6 can be negotiated. The boiler is fired with oil fuel, and a novel feature of the equipment is the provision of a quick steam raising plant, enabling steam -to be raised in the boiler of the engine at an extra rapid rate, so that a turn-out can be effected in about five minutes from receipt of call. On reaching the scene of action, the -driving power can be at once transferred from the road wheels to the pumps, which will deliver 400 galls, of water per minute. This engine, which is the first of its type to be put into service in Staffordshire, replaces an old-fashioned manual engine which had to be drawn by hired horses.