May 7, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 971 still insufficient to meet the demand, and in some cases users are having to go short of their usual supplies. Local manufacturing requirements are very great, and although the shortage is probably not so marked as it was a month ago, large consignments are still being imported from Durham and Northumberland to meet the needs of the ironworks and the by-product ovens. The cross-Channel trade is remarkably brisk; there is a strong demand for all sorts for the Irish market, and merchants are taking all the coal they can secure. The export branch has never been known to be so busy at this season of the year. In fact, the demand on export account has become so heavy that it is now almost impossible to meet the requirements of Irish consumers. The chief feature this week has been the rise in the price of coal, both for export and landsale, due, no doubt, to the increase in miners* wages under the new wage agreement. Coal for the home market has advanced Is. 8d. per ton, and best house coal delivered is now quoted as high as from 23s. 4d. to 25s. lOd. per ton, while best coal at the pit is quoted at 20s. lOd. per ton. Dry small and steam nuts at the pit have advanced Is. 6d. per ton. This is the first increase that has taken place in prices for the home market since the outbreak of war. Coal for shipping has advanced Is. 6d. per ton, and best Cumberland coal is now quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. There have been four advances in the price of export coal since February 15, making a total increase of 4s. 6d. per ton. The quotations both for landsale and shipping are probably higher now than they have been for the last 20 years. Last week 19 vessels sailed from Maryport for the Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 5,245 tons, an increase of 1,255 tons compared with last week. The shipments for April amounted to 20,825 tons. The ship- ments from Workington last week to the Irish ports amounted to 2,170 tons. Coke is in brisk request and the whole of the make from the Cumberland ovens is being absorbed by local smelters. At Maryport, Oughterside, Flimby, and St. Helens best coals delivered are quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with washed nuts at 23s. 4d. per ton, and seconds at 21s. 8d. per ton. At Workington, Allerdale best coals delivered are quoted at Is. 2^d, per cwt., or 23s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. l|d. per cwt., or 21s. 8d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— 1 Current L’st week’s prices. prices. Old St. Helens, Flimby, best coal at pit 20/10 19/2 Do. best house nuts „ 18/9 17/1 St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit... 20/10 19/2 Do. do. best washed nuts do. 18/9 17/1 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b 19/6 17/ -18/ Best washed nuts, f.o.b 17/6 16/6 Bunkers 17/ -17/6 15/6-16/ Coal for gasworks 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ Dry small at pit 15/6 14/ Steam nuts do. 18/ 16/6 IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade is slightly easier this week, and it is evident that the scramble on the part of consumers for supplies of haematite iron is over, for the present at any rate. So far, however, prices have under- gone no change, Bessemer mixed numbers being firm at 114s. and 115s. per ton free on board at the usual ports with warrants at cash at 95s. per ton. Special low phosphorus iron is quoted at 133s. per ton f.o.b. while ferro-manganese is a quieter trade at <£15 per ton. Business in ordinary haematites is much quieter than it has been for some weeks, and users appear to have satisfied their requirements for some time to time. The only business passing is for special iron for the manufacture of war munitions, but the output of this is scarcely equal to the demand. While the opinion has been expressed that the limit of appreciation of values has already been reached, no immediate set back is apprehended, as makers are so well sold forward that the present production can be main- tained fully till well on into the autumn. In some cases, it is stated, users have covered their requirements till the end of the year. No serious fall in prices is expected while the cost of production remains so high, and when east coast and Scottish smelters are still competing with west coast smelters for supplies of Cumberland iron ore. There are 23 furnaces in blast in Cumberland and the Furness district, 22 on special and; ordinary hoematite iron, and one on ferro-manganese. It is stated that a furnace at Barrow will be damped down shortly, but no diminution of produc- tion is expected in West Cumberland. Workington and Barrow are both making special and ordinary haematites for the market and for use at the steel works, while a large percentage of the special iron which is being made at Cleator Moor, Distington, Millom, North Lonsdale, and Carnforth is being consigned to the Midlands for the use of high-class steel makers who are employed in the manu- facture of munitions of war. The steel trade is quieter, but Workington are employed about 4| days a week on material for home and colonial railways and shell steel. The rail mill and the plate mill at Barrow have been closed for repairs. The iron ore trade is very brisk, and although all the mines are fully employed, the amount raised is insufficient to meet the requirements of the home, Scottish, and east coast smelters. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The inland household demand is still much more than can promptly be met, and large arrears are on the colliery books yet waiting their turn. In shipping there is very little change with regard to steam coal market. There is only a limited quantity of fuel available beyond contract account, although perhaps on the whole the position is easier. There is, however, no great demand on outside account. The Admiralty continue to take up steamers, which tends to restrict the quantity of coal required in this port. Screened Lancashire steam coal nominally remains about the same—viz., 19s. 6d. for lower grades up to 20s. 6d. for best descriptions f.o.b. Mersey ports. There is a fair amount of Yorkshire mixture being shipped at prices ranging from 21s. to 20s. 6d. f.o.b. here. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade for. household coal there is a very good enquiry on open sale, and contracts are generally very much in arrear. Slacks continue firm in tone both for open sale and for forward business, and there is every probability of this remaining, because the stocks at the pit mouth have for some time been called upon to such an extent to help the output that in many cases they are getting towards exhaustion. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen ............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current prices. 17/9 21/ -22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 About 18/ 15/ -16/ 19/6-20/6 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 L'st week's prices. 17/9 21/ -22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 About 18/ 15/ -16/ 19/6-20/6 13/ —14/ 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 Last year's prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/3-12/6 13/ -13/9 9/9-10/ 9/ - 9/3 8/6- 8/9 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The warmer weather is having its natural effect on the requirements of house coal, and better supplies are somewhat in evidence, with firm prices. Furnace coal is brisk, and there is a steady enquiry for shipping coal. The demand for slack continues, and the supply conies barely up to it, the prices being very firm. List prices are as below:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal........... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/6 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 9/9-11/ L'st week's prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/6 19/ -21/ 11/6—13/ 9/9-11/ Last year's prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ —16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 IRON. Condition of trade remains without any perceptible difference. High prices are paid for prompt deliveries. Good foundry pig is quoted as low as 75s. 6d. and as high as 77s., but not much is being bought at either price. Old contracts are being taken out, and stocking is going on where there is a chance of makers cancelling. The forges are busy, and now that the early purchases of American steel billets are coming through, they are rolling steel bars and hoops. The British steel makers are all so busy on Government work, that the ordinary customers who are on their usual class of work are suffering. Prices remain at <£9 15s. for iron bars, .£10 15s. for steel bars, <£10 17s. 6d. for hoops, <£10 10s. for plates, <£11 for boiler plates. The jobbing foundries are slack, but the engineers' foundries are well employed. Wagon works are busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was again well attended, and business was only limited by the scarcity of available supplies. There was a keen enquiry for spot parcels of steam coal and gas coal, and a fair amount of house coal also changed hands. Colliery representatives reported about full time work at the pits, with a better supply of empty trucks and considerably better reports as to the movements of loaded trucks. Contrary to general expectation, the demand for house coal shows very little falling off, especially from the distant markets. Best coal continues very scarce, and with the large number of private trucks running from London, and the continued good demand for supplies in railway trucks, prices are firmly held. It is reported locally that a fair number of house coal contracts have already been booked with London merchants at prices equal to 5s. per ton advance on last year’s figures. One such contract concerns a fairly large quantity of Silkstone best coal which has been sold at 18s. at the pit for the summer months and 19s. at the pit for the winter months. In the coastwise trade there is a fair amount of business passing, especially from Goole. The principal enquiries are for medium quality Silkstone house coals, which average 21s. to 22s. per ton f.o.b. Goole in the open market. In Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and other West Riding centres of population, merchants report a fairly good demand from the public, especially for the cheaper descriptions. In this district, however, very little has yet been done with regard to forward business, as no official announcement has been made as to what advance is likely. It is thought, however, that contracts will be advanced at least 3s. per ton, but at the present time this is merely conjecture. For the time being, pit prices average as under : — Haigh Moor selected, 19s. to 20s.; Silkstone best, 18s. to 19s.; Silkstone house, 17s. to 18s.; other qualities, 16s. to 17s. It is said that an exceptionally large number of new gas coal contracts have been placed in this district within the last week or 10 days, and that many of the pits producing the best-known brands of screened gas coal are fully sold already. So far there has been no difficulty whatever in securing the full 6s. advance, the only trouble being that the collieries have not been able to quote for the total, tonnage required in most cases, and it seems quite likely that the gas works at the end of the contracting season will find themselves short of the required tonnage. There is an especially strong call for gas nuts, both washed and un- washed, while an increasingly large number of works are buying good quality gas slacks. The placing of contracts for gas coal by works in the Metropolitan area is still a feature of the market. There is very little change in the position of manufacturing fuel. Supplies are inadequate to meet the needs of the market, and spot parcels command high prices. It is reported that one or two fairly large contracts for slacks and washed nuts have been placed this week for delivery in the heavy woollen district, at prices which show in some cases an advance of 6s. 6d. to 7s. per ton on the figures in operation a year ago. Washed coking slack is very scarce, and in many cases nuts are being used in order to keep the coke plants in full work. Makers of washed furnace coke have no difficulty in disposing of their output, at from 22s. to 23s. per ton at the ovens. The demand from Frodingham and the Midlands is stronger than ever, while a bigger tonnage is being required for the iron and steel works in the Leeds district. Spot parcels have been sold this week at 24s. and even 25s. per ton at the ovens. The undermentioned pit prices represent about the average quotations, but must not be taken too literally as values vary almost from day to day:— House coal:— Current L'st week's Last year's Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/ -14/6 Wallsend & London best 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ 13/6-14/ Silkstone best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Do. house 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 12/6-13/ House nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 11/6-12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 17/ -17/6 Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 16/ -16/6 Do. house 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/9-15/6 Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ 14/ -14/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -12/ Gas nuts 16/ -17/ 10/ -11/ Unscreened gas coal ... 14/ -15/6 14/ -15/6 9/9-10/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 15/6-17/ 15/6-17/ 11/ -12/ Large double-screened engine nuts 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/ 9/6-10/6 Small nuts 13/6-14/ 13/3-13/6 9/ -10/ Rough unscreened engine coal 13/6-14/ 13/ -13/6 9/9-10/ Best rough slacks 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/ 7/6- 8/ Small do 10/6-11/6 6/6- 7/ Coking smalls 11/ -12/ 10/6-12/ 6/6- 7/ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 10/6-11/ Barnsley. GOAL. Although there was a large attendance at the usual market on Wednesday, there was not a great deal of business in circulation. Colliery representatives had practically no fuel to offer to intending buyers, whilst any attempt to make forward arrangements was checked, in view of the unsettled wages question. So far as the output is concerned, compared with recent weeks, it appears to be fairly well sustained, though there is still a steady migration of miners to the national forces, the effect of which is of course bound to be felt in respect to the future production. Generally speaking there was no material change in the position on the week, but values all round remain of a very firm description. The export demand of large steam coal appears to be of a brisk character, in spite of the high prices which have been made for secondary descriptions of hards. The demand on home account for best hards is particularly good, and large quantities of secondary sorts have been adapted for other steam purposes in the absence of usual quality fuel, owing to the great amount which is now required. Collieries are experiencing the keenest pressure for deliveries, and there is considerable difficulty in meeting the claims of consumers who have arranged for contract supplies. The enquiry for steam nuts, owing to the remarkable heavy consumption at home, is brisk, and is still far short of being met, and, of course, any surplus lots which mav be available can easily be disposed of at high prices. The position in regard to slacks is also of a similar character, the supply available especially for coke making purposes being entirely inadequate, with the result that a considerable number of ovens are not being worked. Although the normal demands of the gas companies would appear to be reduced at this period of the year, there is still a strong enquiry for special lots of all qualities of fuel, the object evidently being to provide for contingencies, as in most cases the usual stocks have been fully absorbed. In respect to house coal, although there is less enquiry for secondary descriptions, there is no difficulty in disposing of any surplus lots, which are being utilised for other than normal purposes. Values are therefore strongly held, and there appears to be little prospect of any further reductions being made. Orders on hand for the best class of fuel are of a substantial character, and the reduced demand appears to only be in accordance with the diminished output. In regard to coke, the demand is particularly low, and there are no stocks either in the blastfurnace districts or at the ovens. Values are still firmly held, and contracts are difficult to arrange except at very high prices. Prices at pit. Current L'st week’s Last year's House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -20/6 18/6-19/ 17/ -18/ 20/ -21/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 19/ -20/ 15/ —15/3 Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 12/6-13/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/ —13/6 Secondary do 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/ -12/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 23/ -23/6 23/ -24/ 11/6-11/9 Secondary do 21/6-22/ 22/ -22/6 10/9-11/ Best washed nuts 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 10/9-11/3 Secondary do 18/ -19/ 10/6-11/ Best slack 12/ -13/6 12/ -13/6 7/3- 7/6 Rough do 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 6/ - 6/3 Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/6-12/ Unscreened do 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/6 Gas nuts .' 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/6 Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 10/ -10/6 Hull. COAL. Owing to the uncertainty regarding the Government’s intentions, the export coal trade of the Humber has been in rather an unsettled condition, and although relief is expressed that no export tax is to be imposed, there is no means of obtaining a fair idea as to the extent coal will be allowed to be exported to neutral countries under licence.