May 21, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1077 available. On. Sunday no less than seven steamers arrived at Maryport with the morning tide, and they were all loaded and sailed on the Monday. With landsale easier, the shortage which has been felt in some quarters is not now so pronounced, and for the present, at any rate, the imports from Durham and Northumberland have ceased. The collieries are all working on an average of six days a week, but production is still much below both home and coastwise requirements, and owners could dispose of a much larger tonnage than could be raised. Quotations for all sorts are firm, but unchanged. Best Cumberland coals at the pit are still quoted at the advanced price of 20s. lOd. per ton, with washed nuts at 18s. 9d. per ton. Best Cumberland coal f.o.b. at Maryport are quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. Nineteen vessels sailed from Mary- port last week for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 4,900 tons, a decrease of 550 tons compared with the previous week. The imports included a large cargo of pitwood from Fenite for collieries on the east coast. Coke is in brisk request, and the production at the Cumberland by-product ovens is being freely absorbed, and in addition between 16,000 and 17,000 tons of coke is being brought from the east coast to satisfy the requirements of smelters in Cumberland and the Furness district. 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 Old St. Helens, Flimby, best coal at pit prices. 20/10 prices. 20/10 Do. best house nuts „ 18/9 18/9 St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit... 20/10 20/10 Do. do. best washed nuts do. 18/9 18/9 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b 19/6 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b 17/6 17/6 Bunkers 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 Coal for gasworks 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ Dry small at pit 15/6 15/6 Steam nuts do 18/ 18/ IRON. A quiet time continues to prevail in the Cumberland haematite iron trade, but production and values are fairly well maintained in the several industries, and under the circumstances things cannot be regarded as otherwise than satisfactory. Bessemer mixed numbers are now quoted at from HUs. to 112s. per ton f.o.b. at the usual ports, with warrants at cash at 95s. 6d. per ton, while special brands of iron are quoted at about 125s. per ton. There is a stronger demand for ferro-manganese, and prices have advanced from <£15 to <£17 per ton. This is no doubt due to the great scarcity of manganese ore. With regard to ordinary hsematites the amount of business passing is not very large, and only for immediate requirements, but at the same time, the make is not in excess of the demand, and as things are it may be some time before any serious fall in values could take place. The demand for special low phosphorus iron for Government orders is perhaps stronger than ever, and at present the output is scarcely equal to requirements. Makers are not too eager to sell at present prices for forward delivery, as they have well-filled order books which will ensure the whole of the furnaces in full operation for some months to come, and as long as the war lasts there can be no diminution in requirements on Government account. The present pro- duction is drawn from 23 furnaces, 15 in Cumberland, and eight in the Furness district. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have eight furnaces in blast, one of which is on ferro-manganese, while Millom have three, and Cleator Moor and Distington have two each in operation. In the Furness district Barrow have five, while North Lonsdale has two, and Carnforth one furnace in operation. Barrow and Workington are both making for the market, and consump- tion at the steel works, while a large number of furnaces are employed in making special brands of iron, which is being consigned to the Midlands for the use of high-class steel makers engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war. The steel trade is brisker, and Workington is fairly well employed in shell steel and railway material. The iron ore industry is in a very brisk condition, and although all the mines are working regularly local requirements are so great that the output is still insufficient to meet the demand. The tonnage passing over the border to Scotland and the East Coast amounts to about 6,000 tons weekly. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The approach of the Whitsuntide holidays, which, in this district, will probably extend from Friday night until Tuesday morning next, has given a little fillip to the demand for household coal. Very satisfactory quantities of screened steam coal are going into consumption for forge and manufacturing purposes. There is a quieter tme with regard to steam coal, with very limited enquiry* for outside steamers, and what is being shipped is mainly on contract account. Supplies are, on the whole, a little better. Prices for spot lots have shown a tendency to be slightly easier, but the approaching holidays should have a steadying influence. Owing to restricted sailings of Isle of Man and North Wales steamers the quantity of coal required over holidays will be less than usual. For Lanca- shire screened steam coal 19s. for lower grades to 20s. 6d. f.o.b. for best descriptions about represents the market. Good quantities of coal continue to be shipped for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade, which continues to absorb all that can be spared for this market. There is no 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/ -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/ -12/3 13/ -13/6 9/9-10/ 9/ - 9/3 8/6— 8/9 easing off in the demand for slack, and it is with some little difficulty that supplies to see customers over the forthcoming holiday stoppage are being eked out. Supplies drawn from stocks, where such are still in existence, are helping towards this end. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance of members on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. House coal business is quiet, but prices are firm at about list rates. Furnace coal meets with good demand, and shipping coal is in fair call with prices steady. Slack continues brisk, and supplies are not equal to the demand. 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 Last year’s prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/6 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 9/9-11/ prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/6 IRON. The market was very quiet in Manchester on Tuesday, buyers only purchasing from hand to mouth. Prices are well maintained. Good foundry iron can be bought at 74s. to 75s. per ton net, delivered this district. Iron bars still remain at <£10 10s. per ton, but iron hoops have been advanced to <£12 2s. 6d., and steel to <£11 17s. 6d. Steel works keep busy on bars at <£10 15s., and billets at <£8 10s. to <£9. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. It was decided at a meeting of the members of the Exchange to request aliens to absent themselves from the market during the continuance of the war. There was a fair attendance at the market, a number of representatives being present from London. All branches of the trade were represented, but business on the whole was on the quiet side compared with recent weeks. There was a con- siderable enquiry for spot parcels of manufacturing fuel and gas coal for prompt delivery, in view of the Whitsun- tide holidays, but apart from this very little coal changed hands. It was reported that full time had been worked at the pits, and empty wagons have again been fairly plentiful this week, but delays to the transit of loaded trucks, particularly to London, are still very serious. The demand for house coal from London is a shade quieter, but supplies of best coal are still scarce, and from enquiries made it appears that there is scarcely a single loaded truck of coal in stock throughout the West Yorkshire coalfield. Further progress is reported in the placing of forward contracts with London merchants, one such being for a fair quantity of Silkstone best house coal at an advance over last year’s figures of 5s. 6d. per ton. It is reported that a contract for Haigh Moor best house coal has been placed for delivery south of London, at a pit price of 18s. summer and 19s. winter. Quotations for secondary sorts are slightly in buyers’ favour. The coastwise trade is fairly satisfactory, considering the difficulties with regard to freights and insurance, and a number of south country boats have been loaded this week at Goole, but prices are slightly lower. In Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax, and other West Riding centres, merchants report a con- siderable falling off in the demand from the public. This quietness, however, is not reflected at the pits, as merchants are taking all possible supplies into stock. With regard to forward contracts in the West Riding nothing definite has yet been decided, but it is thought by those closely associated with the trade that an advance of from 3s. to 4s. per ton may be asked for. Some definite steps will be taken probably as soon as the war bonus for the miners is decided upon. Gas coal continues to sell readily, the full output of the pits being needed to satisfy the demand. With regard to forward business the market is exceptionally strong, and no contracts are being entered into except at the official advance of 6s. per ton. Quite a number of local collieries have sold all their available output of gas coal. For prompt delivery there is some ease in the demand, but prices show very little change compared with last week. Factory fuel is firm, and all descriptions sell readily. Washed furnace coke maintains its position, average qualities realising 23s. per ton at the ovens, with special Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 18/6-19/6 19/ -20/ 14/ -14/6 Wallsend & London best 17/6-18/6 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Silkstone best 17/6-18/6 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:— 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 11/ -12/ Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -24/ 17/ -17/6 Silkstone best 20/ -21/ 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/ 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ 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/ 13/6-14/ 9/ -10/ engine coal 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 9/9-10/ Best rough slacks 12/6-13/ 12/ -13/ 7/6- 8/ Small do. 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 6/6- 7/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 11/6-12/6 11/ -12/ 6/ - 7/3 Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 22/ -24/ JO/ -10/6 sorts about 24s. The pits will observe Monday and Tuesday next week as holiday, and there will therefore be no market in Leeds on the latter day. Barnsley. COAL. Apart from the continued scarcity of most classes of coal, the trouble resulting from the restriction of exports has had considerable effect upon the business during the week. Operations are also somewhat held up, owing to the result of the miners’ application for a war bonus not being yet known, and both buyers and sellers naturally continue to adopt a waiting policy under the circumstances. The output at the collieries continues to diminish owing to the further recruiting amongst the miners, and so far as contracts are concerned, there is less competition from the collieries in consequence of the reduced production which they are able to offer. At the moment there appears to be considerably more tonnage of large steam coal on offer on the market, owing to the delay which now ensues before shipments can be arranged for to neutral countries, but coalowners believe that the weakness is only momentary, and higher prices will have to be obtained in view of the increased cost of production, and the higher wages which have to be paid to the men. However, prices for hards have fallen about Is. per ton, although there is a little more enquiry on home account in view of the coming holidays. The demand for large steams, generally on home account, is fairly strong, and the railway com- panies are still very keen in obtaining something like the deliveries arranged for under contract in the hope of building up the stocks. In regard to small steam fuel, the position is practically unaltered, and the heavy consumption by the engineering and armament works is far ahead of the production of this class of coal. There is in consequence no difficulty in obtaining the higher prices, and large steams are being taken to supplement deliveries of nuts. The demand for slacks continues to be of an active character, especially from the West Riding districts. Special lots are still selling at the advanced prices, and the renewal of short-time contracts has not been unduly pressed, but an advance of about 6s. per ton is asked for in respect of this class of coal. The demand for rough slacks for coke-making purposes is also strong, although some ovens are not being fully worked owing to the high prices which have to be paid for raw material. In respect to gas coal, there is not so much pressure for special lots as formerly, and in regard to the renewal of contracts, more hesitancy is being shown by gas companies in the belief that coalowners will make some concession from the demand of an increase of 6s. per ton, which up to the present has been paid in order to secure renewals. Locally there has been no combined action taken in respect to the advance in the prices of house coal. The district is not largely affected in respect to yearly contracts, but where renewals have been sought, an advance of about 6s. per ton, which was agreed upon by coalowners, has been demanded. Generally speaking, however, not much business has been done, and merchants consider it advisable to hold out further before conceding the coal owners’ terms. Best qualities are practically disposed of, but there is some little weakness apparent in respect to secondary descriptions of fuel, and although quotations are officially returned as unaltered, it is understood that slight concessions have been made for prompt business. In respect to coke, buyers are still keenly enquiring for supplies, the stocks in the pig iron districts being very low. Prices continue to be about 23s. per ton, but very little is done in the way of contracts, in respect of which sellers are asking from 24s. to 25s. per ton. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -20/6 20/ -20/6 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 15/ -15/3 Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 12/ -13/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/ Secondary do 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 10/9-11/9 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 22/ -23/ 23/ -23/6 11/3-11/6 Secondary do 21/ -22/ 21/6-22/ 10/6-10/9 Best washed nuts 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 10/9 Secondary do 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 10/ Best slack 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 7/3 Rough do 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ '6/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/6 Unscreened do 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/6 Gas nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 11/ -11/6 Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 10/ Hull. COAL. Exporters are gradually accustoming themselves to the new licensing regulations, and are doing their best to benefit from the concessions announced and to meet the requirements of the Committee. Licences to ship to neutral countries continue to be received, and it is hoped that the initial difficulties will shortly be overcome and that foreign business may proceed with some degree of assurance. At present it seems quite problematical what quantities of coal will be allowed to be exported from South Yorkshire, and until there is some rough idea of that, business with neutrals can only be carried on with extreme caution. Actual transactions this week have been only of a limited character, and mostly in lots for prompt shipment. The restricted demand has thus had a further weakening effect on spot prices, best South Yorkshires having declined to 24s. 6d. to 25s. On the other hand, secondary sorts, being scarce and in good demand, remain steady, washed doubles being quoted at 21s. to 22s., ditto singles 19s. to 20s., and ditto smalls 16s. to 17s. Derbyshire steams too are steady at 24s. to 25s. at Grimsby or Immingham. West Yorkshire Hartleys are not much sought after and are worth about 21s. to 22s. All small fuel is dear and much sought after. There has been practically nothing doing for forward delivery, but the outlook is regarded as good and holders are seeking advanced prices for June shipment. It is reported that the Norwegian State Railways have allocated 15,000 tons of their contract for summer delivery to South Yorkshire, the price being round about 25s., f.o.b. Shipments at the docks have been fairly good and chiefly to France. In the freight market the demand is mostly for small steamers for French ports, several having been chartered at 15s. Rouen and 14s. Dieppe. There is nothing doing in the Mediterranean direction, rates being nominal on the basis of 30s. Genoa.