May 14, 1915. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1025 can ascertain more definitely how the situation lies; hence there has been practically no enquiry outside the home demand. The result is that coals have come on offer and prices have fallen, especially steam qualities. It is under- stood that licences will be expedited as much as possible, and this will no doubt assist the transaction of business and obviate the delay which was feared on the whole. Therefore the outlook is now regarded as better, and there are hopes that the trade will adjust itself to the new condi- tions in the course of a few days, and that very soon the market will recover something like normality. The Bergen gasworks are enquiring for their, annual supplies of gas coal. The Swedish State Bailways are also in the market for their summer supplies of steam coal, amounting to 335,000 tons, and there is an enquiry from the Norwegian State Railways for about 40,000 tons of steam coal, to be shipped from July to September, tenders for which will be sent in shortly. Latest news re coal export licences enabled merchants to charter with more confidence, and the trend of the freight market is towards activity and rates are the turn steadier. Recent fixtures include:—London, 7s.; Havre, 14s. 3d.; Rouen, 15s.; Caen, 15s.; Bilbao, 15s.; Genoa, 30s.; Algiers, 20s.; Oran, 18s.; Marseilles, 24s.; Gibraltar, 18s.; Leghorn, 25s. ; Port Said, 25s.; Las Palmas, 23s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The chief topic in coal circles is the prohibition of exports to neutral countries except under licence, and the explanation of the Committee of the Board of Trade that the question of export to the enemy was not in their minds when the order was made, but that the object was to guard our own supplies and those of our allies, has given general satisfaction. The procedure for obtaining licences promises to work expeditiously and well. The better understanding of the meaning and effect of the order has had a steadying influence on the coal market. Best Durham gas coal runs from 24s. to 25s., seconds 22s. to 23s., and special Wear 27s. Bunker coal continues in good request, and ordinary Durhams are round about 23s. f.o.b., whilst bests are 24s. and specials' 27s. Household coal is steady and firm. Coking coal is strong and is very well taken up. Smalls are 23s. and unscreened kinds 24s. Demand for coke is more than can be fully met. Local requirements are heavy, and consumers complain considerably, of inadequate sup- plies. Durham beehive blast-furnace coke of average quality is 28s. to 30s. delivered at Teesside works, and for best kinds above the latter figure has to be paid. A fairly large contract for furnace coke is reported to have been made at 29s. 6d. Coke sellers declare that the foregoing quotations are unprofitable. As much as 40s. is asked for best foundry coke for shipment, but purchases are under- stood to have been made at rather less. Gas-house coke is 21s. to 22s. IRON. t As in the fuel trade, the all-absorbing topic is the order with regard to export of foundry pig iron. Satisfaction is expressed with the result of the deputation of ironmasters to the War Committee of the Board of Trade on the matter. In accordance with agreement with the authorities in London, a local committee of ironmasters has this week be'en established, to whom all applications for licences have to be submitted. The committee will investigate each application and forward their recommendations to London, which, if in order and meeting with approval, will ensure immediate issue of licence. Thus shipments of foundry iron promise to be greatly expedited, and the result should be a renewal of considerable business with neutral countries. Cleveland pig iron quotations are unsteady, due to fluctua- tions in warrants. This week, No. 3 g.m.b. has been purchased at as low as 64s., and up to 65s. 6d., has also been paid. The general market quotation is now 65s. 3d. The other qualities have moved in proportion. No. 1 is 67s. 9d., No. 4 foundry 64s. 9d., No. 4 forge 64s. 3d., and mottled and white iron each 64s. There is little passing in east coast hsematite pig. A few enquiries from Sheffield consumers are reported, but the offers are said to be on terms that leave a little below 100s. for mixed numbers, which is lower by a shilling or two than any quotation for some time past. Second hands fix the price at 102s. 6d., but probably that figure could be shaded. Makers quote 102s. 6d. to 105s., and some of them are not keen sellers. Business in foreign ore is almost at a standstill. Prices show a downward movement, and odd cargoes have been bought at compara- tively low rates. Sellers quote on the basis of 28s. ex ship Tees for best rubio, but would accept less. The heavy deliveries of the past two months have enabled consumers to accumulate considerable stocks, and as a result they are not keen buyers. Imports of foreign ore to the Tees to date this month amount to 60,068 tons. Freights Bilbao- Middlesbrough are down to Ils. 6d. Manufactured iron and steel producers are very busy, mostly on Government work. Prices all round are well maintained. ________________ Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. There has been practically no change in the coal trade since last week, and business in all branches is still satis- factory. Landsale is easier, but there is a strong demand for manufacturing fuel, and no diminution on this account is anticipated while the present activity continues in the iron and allied industries. The coastwise trade is very busy, and all sorts are in firm request for the Irish market; in fact, the demand from all parts of Ireland is stronger than it was in mid-winter, and under the present circumstances it is almost impossible to satisfy the requirements of Irish consumers. The tonnage from Maryport to Belfast last week amounted to nearly 2,000 tons. The collieries are all working regularly, but the production is still much below both home and coastwise requirements. Usually at this time of the year intermittent working of the collieries is a regular occurrence, as the demand for home and Irish accounts are not so large, but this year trade has been so well maintained, owing to the increased needs of the by-product ovens and the strong export demand, that no serious shrinkage is anticipated, and it is fully expected that all the collieries will work regularly during the whole of the summer months. Quotations are firm at the advanced prices, best Cumberland coals at the pit being quoted at 20s. lOd. per ton, with export coal at 19s. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport. Last week 19 vessels sailed from Maryport to Irish ports, the shipments amounting to 5,450 tons, an increase of 205 tons compared with the previous week. The largest cargoes were for Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry, Carrickfergus, Coleraine and Bangor. The shipments also included 600 tons of pitch for Port Talbot, from the West Cumberland By-product orks. The exports from Workington last week consisted of 1,520 tons of coal for Irish ports, and 450 tons of pitch for Swansea. At Mary- port, 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':— .. / Current I prices. Old St. Helens, Flimby, best coal at pit' 20/10 Do. best house nuts ,, i 18/9 St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit... j 20/10 Do. do. best washed nuts do.! 18/9 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b_________i 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b_____________ — Bunkers ......................... 17/ -17/6 Coal for gasworks..................1 14/6-15/ Dry small at pit __...............1 15/6 * Steam nuts do. __...............i 18/ L’st week’s prices. 20/10 18/9 20/10 18/9 19/6 17/ -17/6 14/6-15/ 15/6 18/ IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade is again weaker in tone, but prices are .firm, Bessemer mixed numbers being still quoted at 114s. per ton f.o.b. at the usual ports, with warrants at cash at 95s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at about 124s. per ton, while ferro-manganese, which is a quieter trade, is unchanged at <£15 per ton. Business in Bessemer haematites has fallen off considerably during the last few weeks, but there is still a firm demand for special iron for the use of ammunition makers, and this is likely to continue while the war lasts. Forward buying has practi- cally ceased, for the present at any rate, but makors are so well booked forward that the present production can be fully maintained for some time to come, and an immediate fall in values is not anticipated by either smelters or con- sumers. The stocks at present in public stores amounts to 2,357 tons, or 100 tons less than it was a week ago. There are 23 furnaces in blast in Cumberland and North Lanca- shire, but a furnace may be damped down at Barrow shortly as the rail mill and plate mill have been closed for extensive repairs, and the quantity of metal required will therefore be less. A large proportion of the special iron made at Barrow and Workington is being consigned to the Midlands, Sheffield and Birmingham being the chief users. The steel trade at both Workington and Barrow is much quieter than it has been for some time. At Workington the steel works are employed about four and a half days a week on rails for the Continent and home railways and shell steel. The iron ore mines are all regularly employed, but the amount of metal raised is still insufficient to meet requirements. Cumberland ore at the mines is now quoted at from 25s. to 35s. 6d. per ton, according to quality. The exports from Workington last week consisted of 1,500 tons of railway material and steel for the Continent, 464 tons of pig iron for Port Talbot, 420 tons of rails for Liverpool, and 522 tons of rails for London. The imports included 450 tons of briquettes from West Bank. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is no easing off noticeable in the inland household coal demand. The position with respect to steam coal for bunkers remains about the same, coal coming forward being’ mainly on contract account. There is not much outside enquiry at present. With regard to coal for export, there is some uncertainty amongst shippers as to the effect of licences required on and after to-day for shipping Jcoal to neutral countries. Prices of Lancashire screened steam coals range from. 19s. 6d. for cheaper qualities up to 20s. 6d. for best grades, f.o.b. Mersey ports. With regard to ship- ments of household coal for coastwise and cross-Channel purposes, a good business is in progress, and this avenue of trade would absorb larger quantities if the collieries could spare it. A firm tone still prevails in the slack market, and the day to day production is being augmented by quantities filled from stocks, where such still remain to be drawn from. 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 Lastyear’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/ -12/3 13/ -13/6 9/9-10/ 9/ - 9/3 8/6- 8/9 _________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. Owing to the milder weather the demand fox house coal of the different grades has subsided somewhat, and prices are not quite so firm. Furnace coal is brisk. There is a fair enquiry for shipping coal, but steamers are not quite coming up to time, and there are frequent delays to wagons at the ports in consequence. Slack is still buoyant, and prices generally 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. " There is nothing of "note 'to report. All classes of the . iron trades are very busy, with the exception of the general trade, foundries, and these are suffering considerably in absence of enquiry and large increase in cost both of labour and material. Good foundry pig iron is obtainable at 75s., haematite 120s. Forges are well employed, if not on iron on purchased steel billets. Iron bars <£10 10s., hoops <£11 2s. 6d. Steel works are working all they can. Bars <£10 15s., with delivery promised in two to three months. High prices are given willingly where makers can offer prompt delivery. Billets <£8 10s. to .£9. _______ ________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was well attended, all sections of the trade being represented. A number of buyers were present from the London market, and there was a fair sprinkling of gas engineers. The tone of the market was very strong, and sellers were in a minority. There were urgent enquiries for spot parcels of gas coal and coking slacks, but some ease was noted in reference to the demand for house coal. The pits in West Yorkshire have worked practically full time this week, as the supply of loaded trucks has been more satisfactory. Complaints are again heard, however, of the delay to loaded traffic, and it was said that the block is on in several cases from collieries in this district to stations on the southern lines. Business in house coal with London merchants continues very satis- factory for the time of the year. Collieries are still behind- hand with deliveries of best coal, and of all grades full contract tonnage is being asked for. In addition to this, merchants are buying considerable quantities for stocking purposes, but not much additional business for forward delivery has been booked as buyers are holding off on account of the uncertainty of the future. It is thought by some that the prohibition except under licence of exports to neutral countries will increase the supply of available coal for the home markets and may tend to ease prices. This, however, is not likely to apply to local house coal. In the coastwise trade, in spite of the submarine dangers, quite a satisfactory number of boats are finding their way to Hull and Goole. Apart from contract coals there is a fairly full demand for Silkstone best coal, which is quoted from 22s. to 22s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. Goole. The ease in freights tends to increase the coastwise business. In the local markets merchants are fairly well employed, as the retail trade continues satisfactory. Not much further progress can be reported with regard to the placing of contracts locally. Nothing definite has yet been done in regard to the official advance, but in the meantime merchants are taking all possible supplies to stock. There is no weakness in the position of the gas coal trade. New contracts continue to be booked in good numbers, and the 6s. per ton official advance is being secured without much trouble. It is questionable whether more than 50 per cent, of the usual tonnage is offered in response to the enquiries of the gas works, and quite a number of gas coal collieries find their available output for contracting reduced by quite 25 per cent. For open market sales high figures continue to be realised. Manufacturing fuel is strong, especially as regards rough slack, washed nuts and coking smalls. The large consumers in the Bradford and heavy woollen districts are finding a difficulty in securing adequate supplies and reserves at the depots are very light. Where contracts are being entered into sellers are asking from 6s. to 7s. per ton advance on the figures in operation a year ago. Washed furnace coke continues to sell in the open market at about 23s. per ton at the ovens, with short term contracts at about the same figure or up to 24s. The tonnage manufactured is quite inadequate to satisfy the demand, and at one or two of the collieries additional ovens are being put into work. The pit prices named below must not be taken too literally, but are based on actual transactions 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 12/3-13/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:—1 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 11/6-12/ ■ 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 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 14/ -14/6 Screened gas coal 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -12/ Gas nuts 16/ -17/ 10/ -11/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— ' Prices at pit: 14/ -15/6 14/ -15/6 9/9-10/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 15/6-17/ 15/6-17/ 11/ -12/ engine nuts 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 9/6-10/6 Small nuts Rough unscreened 13/6-14/ 13/3-14/ 9/ -10/ engine coal 13/6-14/ 13/ -14/ 9/9-10/ Best rough slacks 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 7/6- 8/ Small do. 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 6/6- 7/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 6/ - 7/ Furnace coke 22/ —24/ 22/ -24/ 10/ -10/6 Barnsley. COAL. Business was again of a rather inactive character at the local market on Wednesday, owing to the doubt regarding the prospective advance of wages and the difficulties regarding export business, resulting from the regulations of the Government. Buyers found that the colliery repre- sentatives had very little surplus coal to offer, and in all respects values were of a very firm description. In regard to large steams there was little doing on forward account, and surplus lots were only offered at high prices. .. Best hards were little taken on foreign account owing to the high prices, the output being largely taken for home purposes, and secondary sorts continue to make up the bulk of the export. The proposed regulations, the effect of