April 23, 1915. _________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 870 __________________________________________________________________________ was a good enquiry. Bubbly culm remained steady, whilst duff was a shade firmer. In steam coals large and small were firm, but bunkers and through were quoted at slightly lower figures. IRON. During the past week the trade of the district was good. Pig iron at the blast furnaces was again on the brisk side, and an active demand was made for hot metal. The steel- works were actively engaged. The tin plate trade was quiet. The usual number of mills were operating in the Morriston group, and the three sheet mills were still going at the Forest Works. The demand for home-rolled tin bars was quite equal to the production. The shipments of tin-plates were 62,826 boxes; receipts from works, 96,455 boxes; stocks in the dock warehouses and vans, 339,039 boxes. . _____________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 22. ___________________ ________________ Dublin. Although the season is so far advanced, the falling off in demand for .house coal is only very slight, as the weather continues to be cold, and upon the whole the trade may still be described as active. Prices of all qualities remain unchanged, best house coals being from 32s. to 34s. per ton, less Is. per ton discount; retail, from 2s. 2d. to 2s. 3d. per sack of 10 st.; steam coal, from 29s. per ton; best coke, 34s. per ton delivered; best Irish coal at Wolfhill, Queen’s County, 25s. per ton. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 47, as compared with 37 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Point of Aire, Ayr, Partington, Ardrossan, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, Mary- port, Fleetwood, Neath Abbey, Newport, Preston, Glasgow, Irvine, Whitehaven, Cardiff, Manchester, Workington, and Llanelly. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 18,277 tons, as against 16,325 tons the previous week. The annual returns of the Port and Docks Board show that for the vear 1914 there were 1,145,777 tons of coal imported, this being an increase of 175,572 tons as com- pared with 1913. At a meeting of the Committee of Supplies of the Corporation, letters were received from two of the leading coal merchants, seeking permission to charge higher prices for the coal they were supplying under contracts,- owing to the increased freightage due to the war. It was decided to postpone the question until the expiration of the present contracts on June 30. Belfast The position of the coal trade in this port is almost unchanged, except that the demand for home coal, both locally and inland, has fallen off to some extent for the past week or two. High prices are maintained for all qualities, and there are no settled quotations for steam coals. House coals are as follow : Best Arley, 36s. per ton ; Orrell nuts, 35s. ; Scotch house coal, 32s. ; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Garston, Ellesmere Port, Glasgow, Ardrossan, Manchester, Silloth, Neath Abbey, Preston, Girvan, Campbeltown, Irvine, Troon, West Bank, Work- ington, and Maryport. ingly anomalous position of a month or so back has evidently righted itself. There is a likelihood of there also being greater activity among the by-product coke ovens owned by two large con- cerns, owing to the concentration of ownership in the Lewis Merthyr Collieries Limited and the Consolidated Cambrian Limited. It is possible that the actual coke oven installa- tions may be augmented. According to advices from the Canadian Customs, the bulk of raw or finished chemical manures (including sulphate and nitrate of soda) have been freed from the recently imposed import duty of 5 per cent, to 7| per cent, ad valorem under ihe British preferential, or the intermediary and general tariffs respectively. The export statistics for sulphate.of ammonia last month are somewhat surprising, for France, Italy, and West Indies show small advances, while Spain, East Indies, U.S.A., and Japan show a marked falling off. The net loss on the month is rather less than 1,500 tons, but that is not so significant as the individual losses. The fact of Spain dropping about 3,000 tons, Dutch East Indies 1,200 tons, U.S.A, about 2,000 tons, is not desirable; but there is room for unpleasant reflection about the figures for Japan, which show the startling shrinkage of over 6,800 tons, or nearly £90,000 value. The situation is more or less saved as regards the grand total by that gloriously comprehensive but wholly uninstructive classification of “ other countries,” which has risen from 2,758 tons in the same month last year, to 14,444 tons for last month. It looks as if the new markets enumerated under the analysis of this generic heading that was given in this column a few weeks back (March 12, 1915; were taking substantially increasing quantities, and as it is obvious that the supplies are of British origin, it would appear worth while cultivating these budding markets. ■ As an instance of the value of cultivating markets by propagandising expenditure, just look at the position of nitrate of soda to-day. The stocks, despite considerable reduction, still remain at over 1,000,000 tons. Then the Chilian subsidy vote has been reduced anticipatorily by £31,000, and, moreover, the best price per quintal is 6s. lOd. f.o.b. for July-December. Yet, with no prospect of any great outlet in Germany, Belgium, or France (three great nitrate consumers), propagandisation has enabled the trade to raise the price in the United Kingdom, and to-day bring it up to 12s. 4Jd. cwt., a price at which sulphate of ammonia could keenly compete (unit for unit of nitrogen content) if it was offered at anything near £14 7s. 6d. per ton, whereas the price at the moment is considerably short of the bare £14. Verb. sap. The exports of pitch have been 3,960 tons and £1,546 'worth; tar, 33,000 galls, and £155 worth; toluol, £530 worth to Bordeaux. The week’s exports of sulphate of ammonia have been under 600 tons. show a substantial increase in the profits. During the last three months there is no question that very handsome profits have been made by merchants who have contracts running with the collieries, especially those at fixed summer and winter prices, and, generally speaking, collieries contract for 70 to 80 per cent, of their output. In some cases, collieries have reduced their contract tonnage in proportion to the reduced output, but merchants have been fairly covered for their requirements. It is also well known that the public have economised to a certain extent. Most of the contracts terminate on June 30, and in all the negotiations for a renewal it is understood that an advance of 5s. to 6s. is asked for. This does not necessarily mean that the public will be called upon to pay higher prices, as the ruling price of the present day is fairly high, but collieries will claim a fair share of the advance. Everything depends upon the time the war finishes, and upon how many of the 217,000 miners who have enlisted will be able to return to their old employment. If, however, the war drags on during the next winter, many of the collieries will be compelled to lessen their contract engagements even beyond the present- day reductions, in order to give fair consideration to the ordinary regular customers who buy on the open market. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, April 16.—The seaborne house coal market was very quiet to-day; little enquiry, and no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 19. Monday, April 19.—There was very little enquiry for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, and no supplies at present on offer. Cargoes, 24. Wednesday, April 21.—The seaborne house coal market was very quiet to-day; no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 9. ____________________________ THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Works are all well employed, and most have full order books for the next two or three months. The tone of the market continues firm, and the tendency is still upward. Quotations :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 17s. to 17s. 6d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 34s. 3d. to 34s. 9d. ; IC 28 X 20 (56 sh. 1081b./, 17s. 6d. to 18s.; I C 14 x 18a (124 sh. 1101b.), 17s. 6d. to 18s.; I C 14 x 194 (120 sh. 1101b.), 17s. 6d. to 18s.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 24s. 6d. to 25s. ; I C squares and odd sizes, 17s. 6d. to 18s. basis for approved specifications. Charcoal tins are firm, at 19s. basis and upwards, according to finish. Coke wasters are in fair request, -and prices hard, as follow :— C W 14 x 20, 15s. 3d. to 15s. 6d. per box; C W 28 X 20, 30s. 6d. to 31s.; C W 14 x 181, 15s. 6d. to 15s. 9d.; CW 20 x 10, 20s. to 20s. 3d.; f.o.b. Wales, all less 4 per cent. __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is fairly steady, and in the case of pitch, shows some improvement. On the other hand, crude carbolic is the turn easier, but crystals are unaltered. Creosote firm, and naphthas unchanged. Tar also remains as last quoted, while toluol still holds its own. Nearest values are :—■ Rise (+) or fall (—) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................ ,, 50’s ,, ................ Toluol _______________............................ Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ... ,, crystals (40 per cent.). Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ....................... Crude naphtha (in bulk) ........... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ..........__ ,,' (f.a.s. west coast) ........... Tar ................................. /91-/10 1/3—1/4 2/2—2/4 3/4—3/5 -Id. 1/4 1/5—1/7 17/6—18/ 18/6—19/6 21/—25/ +6d. .. +6d. Sulphate of Ammonia.—On paper sulphate is easier in price, but the forward market keeps firm, and there is a satisfactory enquiry, all things being taken into considera- tion. In some localities prices are very erractic. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. London (ordinary makes) ... Beckton ................. Liverpool ................. Hull __....................... Middlesbrough ............. Scotch ports ............... Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. £13/13/9 ... -1/3 £12/15 ... -2/6 £13/7/6—£13/10 ... -2/6 £13/5 ... -3/9 £13/13/9 ... -1/3 £13/17/6—£14 ... -2/6 12/44 ... +/44 _______ Trade Notes. Things look -as if the future supply of toluol in this country is to be put on a proper footing now that the powers that be realise that crude coal gas is the best source of supply. Following on the lead at Beckton, the Manchester District Institution of Gas Engineers has met to promote the output of toluol from the' gas produced in the district. Further- more, it is proposed to hold a national conference of gas engineers in London as soon as possible, with’ the same object in view. Spain is offering us her support in preventing supplies of sulphate of ammonia reaching the enemy, for she has pro- hibited its export to foreign countries. Incidentally, this step leads to conjecture concerning its probable effect upon the newly-formed sulphate of ammonia and general chemical manure manufacturing concern that was promoted in Barce- lona a short time back. As this was obviously intended to provide for Spanish home requirements, it may not suffer by having any possible export trade curtailed. On the other hand, it looks as if Spain was anxious to keep in the country all the supplies she gets from us, and was not greatly impressed with the prospects of securing supplies from within, just at present, anyhow. Vitriol making in the Swansea area is on the mend, and the chief plants are now kept going steadily. So the seem- ________________________________________________ THE LOKDON COAL TRADE. ______________ Thursday, April 22. The London coal trade for the past week has been moving very slowly in the household qualities, but an increasingly firm demand is noticeable in all manufacturing qualities. The colder weather has given a slight impetus to domestic kinds, and orders for the general public have been more plentiful. The slow delivery of loaded wagons, and the general delays in transit both of loaded and empty wagons, has kept the market fairly short of coal. Very little change has taken place in colliery quotations, but the tendency is certainly downwards. Buyers are limiting the number of their orders, and will only order for prompt delivery. Some of the merchants are in favour of a reduction in the public prices, but at present no action has been decided upon. It is thought by many that the whole question will be left until May 1, but nothing definite is known. Twenty-five vessels were entered for Monday’s market as arriving in the Biver Thames, and 11 for Wednesday’s market. All, however, were contract cargoes. Bakers’ nuts and kitchen cobbles are moving steadily, but there is no great demand for them. Best hards, however, and small nuts are in good demand, and prices are unusually high. The shipping prices are abnormally high, 27s. to 27s. 6d. f.o.b. being asked for South Yorkshire best hards from Huh, and 25s. f.o.b. for Derby- shire hards, and the trade is reported as very brisk. In the South Wales market the tonnage is a little more plentiful, and the market is slightly easier. All the best qualities, however, of Admiralty coal are still taken by the Govern- ment, and the nominal quotations are 36s. to 38s. per ton f.o.b., and large enquiries are in from Dussia and Italy. The freight market is firmer, and from the Humber ports an advance has been secured. The quotations given are Hull to London, 9s. ; Goole to London, 9s. 6d. to 10s. ; but from N ewcastle to London the freight is reported at only 7s. The Gas Light and Coke Company have given notice that from the end of the March quarter the price of gas will be increased from 2s. 8d. to 3s. per 1,000 cu. ft. (excepting the street lamps in London), and the Wandsworth Gas Company have also raised their price from Is. 9d. to 2s. Id. per 1,000 cu. ft. This is the first advance this latter company have made since the war began. The Port of London Authority have also given notice of an advance dating from May 1 next of from 20 to 25 per cent, in the port rate on goods imported into and exported from the port. The addi- tional revenue is required to meet the increased cost of materials and wages. This announcement has caused a good deal of anxiety amongst many of the merchants using the Port of London, as it is felt that the burden is becoming unbearable. The London merchants recently entered a* vigorous protest against an increase of 7J per cent, levied by the Port of London Authority on the rents on goods in warehouses. The question of the lowest summer prices has been freely discussed during the week on the open market, and it is confidently assumed that the retail price w’ill be settled at from 4s. to 5s. per ton above last year’s price. One of the rules of the London Coal Merchants’ Society is that no mention of .public prices should be made at any of their committee or ordinary meetings, so that the main question is freely discussed on the open market. The diffi- culties of railway transit, and the shortage of labour, is fully recognised, but the season has arrived when the demand for household qualities is falling off. Contracts for the ensuing year are proceeding very slowly. One contract is reported to have been settled at 4s. per ton above last year’s price at the pit, but the bulk of the collieries are leaning towards an advance of 5s. per ton. Some of the coal mer- chants who had no contracts for last year have been badly hit by the rapid increase in the colliery prices during the winter, but the majority of the larger merchants have had a fair tonnage under contract during the whole year at prices fixed before the war commenced, so that their returns would _____________________________ MI1WC AMD OTHER MOTES. Mr. Hermann William Hitzen, coal exporter and com- mission agent, and until the outbreak of the war German Consul at Grimsby, of Hartwarden, Westholme-road, Grimsby, who died on January 30, left estate valued at £7,328 gross, with net personalty £4,464. Mr. Charles Henry James, J.P., Cardiff, for some years chairman of the Great Western Colliery Company, who died October 28 last, aged 75 years, left estate of the gross value of £48,537, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £37,780. The 'increasing popularity of the Bennis hand-fired furnace for colliery work is well evidenced by several orders which have recently been booked. These include the following : Low Laithes Colliery Company Limited, Wakefield, two sprinkler stokers and compressed air furnaces (repeat order); the Earl of Ellesmere, Bridgewater Colliery, Worsley, two hand-fired furnaces (repeat order); South Normanton Colliery Company, near Alfreton, four hand-fired furnaces (repeat order). For the Blackpool Corporation electricity station, a bucket elevator with cast iron receiving hopper and discharge shoot has been ordered. This plant consists of a bucket elevator to raise 10 tons of coal per hour, and deliver it in an overhead bunker with a capacity of 170 tons of coal. As the coal passes from the bunker it is weighed by an automatic weighing machine, and delivered direct into the mechanical stoker hoppers. The bunker is being built of reinforced brickwork and concrete. A meeting of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists will be held on Friday evening, April 30, at 8 o’clock, at the house of the Boyal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, W.C. The following paper will be read : “ Oil Well Engineering,” by Mr. William Calder, M.Inst.M.E. Included in the arrangements • for meetings of the Boyal Society of Arts during April and May, 1915, are the follow- ing :—April 28, 8 p.m., A. S. E. Ackermann, B.Sc., Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., ‘‘The Utilisation uf Solar Energy”; May 5, 8 p.m., Augustus Vernon Harcourt, D.C.L., LL.D., D.Sc., F.B.S., “ On the Measurement of the Efficiency of Domestic Fires, and on a Simple and Smokeless Grate”; May 12, 8 p.m., Charles B. Darling, A.B.C.Sc.I., F.I.C., ‘‘Becent Progress in Pyrometry”; May 13, 4.30 p.m. (Indian section), Sir Charles H. Armstrong, “ Indian Trade and the War.” Messrs. James Baldwin and Company, of Keighley, advise us that they have received an order from the Ordnance Factories, Boyal Arsenal, Woolwich, for one of their auto- matic temperature regulators, the “ Isothermal ” (electric control) valve, for 3 in. diameter steam main for a factory heating service, working at a pressure of 601b. per sq. in.’, the range of temperature between 55 and 65 degs. Fahr. The British Coke Ovens Limited, of 7, Princes-street, Westminster, London, S.W., inform us that they have secured a contract for the erection of an installation of 40 coke ovens at the Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Limited, Trehafod, near Pontypridd, as well as a contract for a benzol rectifying plant for the United Kingdom Chemical Products Limited, to be erected at their Sutton Oak Works, St. Helens, Lancashife: The Home Secretary has appointed Mr. Edward Allen Stubley to be a temporary inspector of horses, under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. • _________________________________ Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces ,the dissolution of the following partnerships :—W. Ingham and J. Gresty, engineers and machine brokers, at Cromwell- buildings, Blackfriars-street, Manchester, under the style of Baldric Engineering ' Company; E. Moore and H. J. McMillan Creighton, motor engineers, at Welsh-row, Nant- wich, Chester, under the style of Moore and Creighton.