THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ June 18, 1915. 1285 uokesibeing dear and lamentably scarce. Northamptonshire forge commands a minimum of 69s. and 70s., Derbyshire 72s. 6d., Staffordshire part-mine 72s. 6d., ditto common 66s. 6d. All kinds of steel are in heavy demand, and official quotations are merely nominal. A rise of £4 a ton has been declared in copper sheets during the week, raising the basis to <£110. ________ ________’ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade is exceedingly active for the season of the year. All the collieries are working full time, the demand for every description being very heavy. There are no stocks. The seaborne trade especially is very brisk, and vessels are docking every tide ; stems are not long, however, and fairly good despatch is given to all arrivals. Railborne orders are coming in well, but there is nothing in the way of pressure in the enquiry. Slacks are still going well. All steam qualities are in heavy request, and it is a difficult matter to cope with the demand. Prices at pithead. House coals :— , Current i prices. L'st week'sLast year's prices. prices. Block 1 21/6 21/6 16/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 15/6 Rubble ' 20/9. 20/9 15/9 Nuts ! 19/ 19/ . 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— ; 15/ 15/ 6/6 Large 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 12/6-13/ Small 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 8/ - 8/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The depressed condition of the steam coal trade for the week past has resulted in substantial reductions being made in nearly all varieties quoted on the market. These are greater on the inferior grades of coal than on the best, which show a fall of about 3s., while the cheaper coals exhibit a diminution of value more than double. It must not be thought that the present decline has reached its nadir, as enquiry respecting new business continues extremely scarce, exports to most neutral countries being cut down for the want of licences, * which the Coal Export Committee show no signs of being more inclined to grant. Stocks are now steadily accumulating for but the very best sorts, and with the same exception sellers are out to make big concessions if they can only secure business. Smalls have not suffered to the same extent as large. In house coals, patent fue], and coke, there is little movement to record. Pitwood is again abundant in supply, with values rather easier around 30s. for best French fir, ex-ship. In the freight market outward chartering continues slow, being much affected by the failure of exporters to get licences. Tonnage is not too freely offered, and rates for Mediterranean ports are firm, but otherwise that cannot be said. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Plymouth. ______ ______ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. • COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that there is a fair demand for house and steam coal at current, prices. Although the supplies by rail are still providing most of the demand, there is a good business now being done by sea, as sailing freights are much lower, while steamers from the east coast are offered at Ils. for south coast ports, less the customary discharging allowance. Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do. _____: Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts..... Other sorts:— Best house coal....... Secondary do........ Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ......... Current prices. 31/ -32/ 26/ -28/ 24/ -26/ 22/ -23/ 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 19/6 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 34/ -36/ 33/ -34/ 38/ -40/ L’st week's prices. 34/ -34/6 33/ -33/6 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/ 19/e-20/ 21/ -22/ 22/ -23/ Last year's prices. 17/3-17/9 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/6 15/3-15/6 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 7/ - 7/6 8/6 12/3-12/6 12/6-12/9 28/ -29/ 18/ -19/ 26/ -27/ j 16/6-17/6 33/6-35/ 19/6-20/ 33/ -34/ | 18/ -20/ 37/ -39/ . 22/ -25/ ______________________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, June 17. ______________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Business on the whole has been fairly brisk in this neighbourhood during the past week, and all the collieries are working at full stretch, but are unable to raise sufficient coal for their requirements. There is little demand for house coal for immediate delivery, but a little forward business has been transacted, as it seems likely that coal is going to remain at its present high figure for some time to come, and there are no spot lots of house coal to be picked up this year at cheap summer prices. In the gas coal trade, things are very little different than last week. Deliveries are being kept up to the contract quantities as near as possible, considering the general shortage of labour and the consequent reduced output. Considerable further business has been done in the direction of fixing up renewals of contracts for gas coal, and the advance seems to have a rising tendency, and the average advance now being quoted is about 6s. per ton on last year's prices. Wrexham and other gas companies have issued notices to their consumers to the effect that the price of gas to all consumers will be advanced; in some cases the advance is to be 3d. per 1,000 cubic feet, and in others 6d. per 1,000 ft. Slot meters are to be altered in the same proportion. Steam coal of all kinds seems to be in great demand. Every ounce is readily disposed of in this.market, also any surplus house coal that may be available just at the moment, and the sale of the latter in this business is well warranted now, as prices of steam coal are now higher than have generally prevailed for the best house coal in normal times. The railway com- panies are pressing severely for supplies, and the collieries which have large locomotive coal contracts are greatly put to in order to supply the required tonnage. In regard to coal for manufacturing purposes, this business is also improving. Fuel is urgently wanted, and good prices are obtainable. Several public institutions are now open to receive tenders for coal, including the Chester and Shrewsbury infirmaries, the Wrexham Union and the War Office for the supplies required for the Western Command and the Curragh Camp. There is still a good demand for North Wales coal for shipment at the Mersey ports. Vessels continue to come up the river in goodly numbers, and although there is still considerable difficulty in regard to getting berths, the boats are eventually berthed and coaled in a good many instances with fuel from the local collieries. Slack is now well worth selling, as high prices prevail for good rough qualities, and there are no nuts on the market, as the bulk of the output appears to be bought up for gas making purposes. Prices generally remain firm, with a slight rising tendency. The gas coal market is certainly hardening ; and there is a decided advance in all grades of steam coal, while smalls were never better sold than at the present time. The week's general quotations may be taken as having been based on the following figures :— Prices at pit f.o.r.:— Best house coal ........ Secondary do.......... Steam coal............ Gas coal..........____ Bunkers........__...... Nuts ................. Slack ............:____ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale:— Best house coal ...... Seconds ____.........____ Slack ..;............. Current prices. 20/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 18/9-20/ 18/9-20/ 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 10/ -12/6 13/4-16/8 26/8-30/ 22/6-26/8 13/4-14/2 L'st week’s prices. 20/ -22/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-20/ 18/6-20/ 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 16/ -12/6 13/4-18/4 Last year’s prices. 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/6 12/3-13/6 12/9-13/6 12/ —12/3 11/6-12/6 6/4- 8/4 26/8-30/ 22/6-26/8 13/4-14/2 18/4-20/ 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 IRON. The local iron and steel trades maintain a fairly settled condition, no change of importance taking place since last week. Business in all departments is normal, with enquiry about up to the recent average, and outputs the same. There is not much fresh business reported at bar mills, where values at <£7 15s. for either Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars are unaltered on the week. Rails also show no change, quotations being as last reported. At blast furnaces work continues at full pressure, with no change of prices. Only a limited amount of fresh business is passing, but outputs are fully booked for many weeks ahead. Iron ore likewise shows no new feature, 26s. 6d. being the nominal value of best rubio. Tin-plates are again the strongest feature of the market, with prices inclining upwards ; 19s. or more is being asked for 20 x 14’s, and 38s. 6d. for 28 x 20’s of either Bessemer- or Siemens primes. In many cases works are refusing to name prices, being content to work off more of the orders they still hold before further booking. Cardiff. COAL. The dominating feature of the market during the past week has been the question of obtaining licences, as since our last report the difficulty in getting them, more par- ticularly for South America and Spain, has been greatly increased, with the result that few' shipments have taken place to these destinations. The consequence is that sales have practically been confined to the allied countries and British possessions, and merchants find it almost impossible to do business, unless they have reasonable ground for carrying out their contracts. These remarks, of course, apply to coals which are not usually taken by the Admiralty, and the result is that owing to the lessened demands, prices for the cheaper grades have been considerably reduced. As a matter of fact it is extremely difficult to ascertain at what figure business can be negotiated, as, for the most part, the collieries have disposed of their coal to contractors, and seeing that a considerable portion of the month has elapsed, and the contracts held by these middle- men are at a low figure, they are anxious to provide stems for the colliery clearing. There may be a difficulty later on in the month in obtaining coal even at prices some shillings per ton below the quoted figures, but they are still making a very handsome profit of anything between 7s. and 10s. per ton. As far as best qualities are concerned, they are still retained by the British Admiralty on account of their own requirements, and also those of the allied countries, and the general opinion is that this state of affairs is likely to continue for an indefinite period. It is stated that at present a large number of steamers are on passage from America to Italy with American coal, but these purchases were made by the Italians, not that they liked American coal, but owing to the fact that until the time Italy declared war, she was unable to obtain British, and more especially Welsh supplies. It appears from reports which have been received that American coal is very friable and does not bear handling. It is quite suitable for bunkering business, where the only handling is in the bunkers, but if it has to be transhipped into another vessel, or into stock at the port of discharge, there would be a tremendous quantity of small made. In addition to this there have been cases of spontaneous combustion, which, of course, is a danger not to be disregarded. The last transaction heard of in connection with this business was a fixture of boats within the last few days from America to Italy at 41s. 6d. The price paid for the cargo is between 11s. and 12s. Of. course, to these figures insurance and other expenses have to be added to the cost, which makes the price run about 55s. delivered. The present rate of freight from Cardiff to Genoa is about 20s., so that on Welsh coal at 32s. 6d., if it could be obtained, there would be a saying of Is. or even 2s. in the transaction, with the additional advantage that a better class coal would be obtained. In the present state of the freight market there would be little prospect of American coal being taken in any quantity if Welsh coal could be obtained. As has been already stated, the greater portion of the cheaper grade Admiralty coals is in the hands of contractors, and prices are very wide, but it is understood that 30s. would be a very fair price for such Admiralty qualities as are not required by the British Government. Small coal prices have continued the firmest part of the market. Best bunkers still command from 21s. 6d. to 22s., ordinaries about 21s., and cargo sorts from 19s. to 19s. 6d. Outputs still continue unsatisfactory, and there is a general feeling abroad that the question of non-unionism is likely to cause trouble. On Monday last, the Lewis-Merthyr Collieries, in the Rhondda Valleys, were on stop in connec- tion with this matter, and, although work was resumed on Tuesday, there is a probability that other collieries will have to face the same trouble in the near future. Charterings last week amounted to 127,920 tons, compared with 169,160 tons in the previous six days, or a decrease of 41,140 tons. Shipments during the week amounted to 403,892 tons, compared with 497,515 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year, or a decrease of 93,623 tons. Of course, these figures are exclusive of shipments on Admiralty account. From Cardiff alone there were exported 242,311 tons, against 325,638 tons, or a decrease of 83,327 tons; from Newport 54,525 tons, or a decrease of 11,784 tons ; from Swansea 78,229 tons, or an increase of 11,338 tons ; and from Port Talbot 28,827 tons, or a decrease of 9,850 tons. The Board of Trade returns for the month of May, which have just been published, show that the quantity of coal exported to foreign countries and British possessions amounted to 1,503,038 tons, compared with 2,453,229 tons in the corresponding month of last year, or a decrease of 950,191 ,tons. From Cardiff alone there were shipped 873,550 tons, against 1,699,716 tons ; from Newport, 277,096 tons, against 306,726 tons; from Port Talbot, 120,253 tons, against 134,314 tons ; and from Swansea 216,728 tons, compared with 294,265 tons. So far as prices generally are concerned, there has been a slump in almost every department owing to the difficulty of arranging shipments with the Board of Control. In many cases the sidings are choked with supplies, which are awaiting shipment, and collieries are in danger of being stopped through shortage of wagons. This applies more especially to Monmouthshire coals, and should not be allowed to continue, because the demand from Egypt and Italy alone for these grades would sustain the market, and relieve the pressure on other qualities. Of course, it is easy to find fault, but in these times of extreme pressure there ought to be special facilities for the speedy handling of cargoes, especially when they are destined for allied, countries. Hitherto the greatest forbearance and patience has been exercised by the trade under the most trying conditions, but there is a feeling at the present moment that red tape is playing too prominent a part in the conduct of one of the most important businesses of the country. Complaints are being made that colliers are disregarding their moral obligations, and yet the sidings are blocked with coal ready to be shipped if the requisite permission could be obtained. As previously indicated, ordinary seconds could be purchased at about 30s., and inferior grades at even 2s. less. Dry coals suffered in proportion and did not command more than 28s. to 33s. Monmouthshires, although eagerly sought after, felt the effect of the restrictions, Black Veins being 30s. to 32s., western valleys 27s. to 29s., and eastern valleys were obtainable at anything from 22s. to 25s. Bituminous coals showed little alteration, although the demand was slow, No. 3 Rhondda large being 29s. to 30s., through-and-through 26s., small 24s., No. 2 large 25s. to 26s., through 22s. to 23s., and small 19s. to 20s. Patent fuel is scarce owing to the increased demand on Government account. Shipments last week amounted to over 20,000 tons, of which 15,000 tons were despatched by the Crown Company. Quotations are about 37s. 6d. for best qualities, and 34s. to 35s. for, second grades. Coke is unaltered, special foundry being 43s. to 47s., ordinary 38s. to 42s. 6d., and furnace 32s. to 35s. Pit wood is in fairly good supply, but is rather lower at about 30s. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * . * 21/ -22/ Superior seconds * * 19/9—20/3 - Ordinary do .... 28/ -30/. 34/ -35/ 18/6-19/ Best bunker smalls 21/6-22/ 22/ -22/6 10/9-11/' Best ordinaries 21/ 21/ -21/6 10/3-10/6 Cargo qualities 19/ —19/6 19/ -20/ 8/6— 8/9 Inferior smalls 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 8/ - 8/6 Best dry coals 31/ -33/ 34/ -36/ 18/ -18/9 Ordinary drys 28/ -30/ 32/ -33/ 16/ -17/ Best washed nuts 27/ 29/ 15/9-16/3 Seconds 26/ 27/ 14/9-15/3 Best washed peas 25/ 26/ 15/ Seconds 24/ 24/ 14/ Dock screenings 20/ 20/6-21/ 11/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 30/ -31/ 33/3-33/9 17/3-17/9 Western-valleys 27/ -28/ 32/9 16/6-16/9 Eastern-valleys 22/ -25/ 31/ -31/6 15/ -15/6 Inferior do. 20/ -21/ 29/ -30/ 14/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 30/ 30/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 27/ -29/ 27/6-29/ 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 28/ -29/ 29/ -30/ 17/6-18/ Through-and-through 25/ —26/ 26/6-27/ L4;9-15/ Small 23/ -24/ 24/ 12/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large . ... 26/ -27/ 27/ -27/6 13/ -13/6 Through-and-through 22/ -22/6 22/6-23/ 11/6-12/ Small 19/ -20/ 19/6-20/ 8/6- 9/ 1 Best patent fuel ... 37/6 37/6 21/ ■ Seconds 34/ -35/ 35/ 19/ -20/ Special foundry coke 43/ -47/ 43/ -47/ 277 -29/ Ordinary do. 38/ -42/6 38/ -42/6 22/ -25/ Furnace coke 32/ -35/ 32/ -35/ 19/ -20/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 30/ 31/ -32/ 20/ -20/6 * Nominal. IRON. In the tin-plate trade, there is considerable activity chiefly on Government account, and in some, districts difficulties are being experienced owing to the shortage of labour. Prices are well maintained, notwithstanding a