1338 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 25, 1915. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ the steel industry had not experienced so much pressure for a long time. The tin-plate trade was a little brighter, but the sheet trade showed no improvement. Shipments of tin- _________________________________________________________ plates were 163,439 boxes, receipts from works 77,433 boxes, and stocks remaining in the dock warehouses and vans 226,850 boxes. ____________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 24. The London coal trade for the past week remains firm for all qualities of house coal. The quantities offering are com- paratively small, >and collieries are still reluctant in booking many orders. Buyers are keenly anxious to secure favour- able quotations, and a fair amount of business has been done, even though the prices asked -are fairly high. Derby brights and house nuts are strongest in demand, but very little of these qualities are offering. Manufacturing coals are also selling freely, and the principal riverside factories are evidently eager to secure- good tonnages whilst the summer prices are ruling. A large quantity of the second quality of house coal has been extensively bought by public institutions and municipal boards, and in some cases the tenders have been for only three months, as well as for the ordinary 12-month contracts. The difficulties arising from shortage of labour, in addition to the uncertainty of being able to deliver the quantities contracted for, have deterred many of the merchants from tendering for any lengthened period. On Monday last, the usual “ Strawberry Feast ” was held in No. 9 room of the London Goal Exchange. Mr. Jas. Richardson (chairman of the Inland Colliery Owners’ Subscription Room) was the host on the occasion. Freights are quoted at a slight advance on last week. From the Humber ports 7s. was quoted for London (1,800 tons steamer), and 7s. 6d. from Goble to London. In the sea- borne market prices are.steady; no quotations are recorded. Thirty vessels were entered for the River Thames as arriving for Monday’s market, and 13 for Wednesday. The steam coal market continues firm, but prices are somewhat weaker for the shipping ports. South Yorkshire hard steam coal from the Humber ports are quoted as low as 17s. 6d. f.o.b., and Derbyshire steams are fetching 17s. 6d. to 18s. f.o.b., a reduction of at least 2s. as compared with a fort- night ago. Gas coals are steady, and best Yorkshire qualities are offering at 21s. f.o.b. Unscreened 19s. The enquiries in the Tyne district are very quiet, a$d consider- able difficulty is 'still experienced in getting licences through. Shippers are frequently disappointed in not being able to fulfil their obligations to these neutral ports, but, on the other hand, shipments to London, France and Italy are increasing. France, especially, has of late been a very heavy buyer. The greater number of the collieries in the Pas-de-Calais district are in the hands of the Germans. Best Tyne brands of hard steam are quoted at 20s. 6d. to 21s. f.o.b.; 17s. 6d. for seconds. Durham gas coal, best 20s. to 21s. f.o.b., and seconds 18s. to 18s. 6d. A large quan- tity of gas coal from the Tyne district has been purchased by the Government lately, and it is now understood that this was for the Faris Gas Company, the prices ranging from 20s. 6d. to 21s. f.o.b. The best and seconds qualities of South Wales Admiralty coals are still retained by the Government for naval purposes, so that all prices are merely nominal. Monmouthshire qualities are cheaper. Eastern valley, 24s. f.o.b.; western valley, 26s. 6d. f.o.b.; Black Vein, 29s. f.o.b. Anthracites are slightly firmer, and prices are improving. Best are quoted at 23s. to 24s. f.o.b. The new proposals to regulate coal prices for the coming year, at a largely attended meeting on Tuesday evening, have caused a good deal of earnest enquiry. The Hackney Borough Council have convened a conference on coal prices, and on the 17th inst. the Corporation of the City of London appointed Mr. A. C. Morton, M.P., and Mr. Deputy Neal (chairman of the General Purposes Committee) to be its representatives at the conference, which will meet at an early date. The evidence given before the Retail Coal Prices Committee shows very clearly that the great rise in the retail London prices during the past winter was brought about primarily by the mad rush of the general public to lay in unusually heavy stocks directly the war broke out, and by the acute congestion of the railway companies, and their utter inability to bring forward the mineral traffic when urgently wanted. The summer prices last year were fixed on June 16, at 28s. for best coal, 27s. for Silkstone, and 26s. for Derby brights; and all through the commence- ment of the war, when everything was extremely excited, and the public poured in orders, absolutely beyond the power of the merchants to cope with them, the patriotic feeling of the traders on the London Coal Exchange kept them from making any move in the public prices, and no change was made in the lowest summer price until September 26, when all kinds were advanced Is. per ton. This was perfectly normal, and, in fact, the low rates were kept in force a little later than usual, for in other years September 1 has always been looked upon as the time for the first advance in public prices. The next advance of Is. per ton took place November 21, and on December 12 a further advance of Is. At that time the block on the railways became acute, and stocks in London and stations on the southern railways (where troops were constantly moving) were nearly exhausted, and merchants were unable to get coal along; and for a time London was dangerously near a coal famine. Colliery prices were rapidly rising at this time, and public prices advanced Is. on December 19, Is. January 8, 2s. January 28, 2s. February 18, bringing top prices to 36s. for best coal, and 35s. for Derby brights. Only once before during the past few years have the public prices reached so high a levels and that was in 1912, during the great national strike, when the advertised prices reached 46s. per ton (March 28).__________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Faweus and Co.’s Report. Friday, June 18.—There were no seaborne house coal cargoes for sale at to-day’s market, which continued steady. Cargoes 26. ' Monday, June 21.—The seaborne house coal market was again without supplies to-day, the general tone very quiet. Cargoes 30. Wednesday, June 23.—The seaborne house coal market was steady to-day, with no cargoes of Durham for sale, only small quantities of Yorkshire in craft on offer. Cargoes 12. _____________________________ Partnership Dissolved—The London Gazette announces the dissolution of the following partnership :—W. E. Thomas and R. C. Walker, coal salesmen, at Primavesi-chambers, Cardiff, under the style of Walker and Thomas. THE IRISH COAL TRADE, Thursday, June 24. Dublin. Business generally is still described as very brisk, as the disposition on the part of consumers seems to be to secure supplies at any cost for autumn and winter use vrhile coals are to be had. The import trade has been active for the past week or two, but in many instances merchants are only able to obtain half cargoes at the other side, stocks, in consequence, remaining small. House coal for immediate use is, of course, quiet, on account of very fine weather, and there is no further change in prices. Quotations are as 'follow:—Best Orrell, 34s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 33s.; best Wigan, 32s.; best Whitehaven, 32s.; Pemberton Wigan, 31s.; kitchen nuts, 30s. ; best slack, 26s.—all less Is. per ton discount. Scotch steam coal, from 28s. to 29s. per ton; other classes, up to £2 2s. per ton; coke, about 32s. per ton, or 34s. delivered. Pit prices for Kilkenny (Castle- comer) coals are as follow :—Best large, 21s. 8d. per ton; best smalls, 20s. ; second quality coal, 17s. 6d. ; bottom coal, 15s.; breakage, 10s.; culm, 5s. to 6s. 8d. Contracts are open with the North and South Dublin Unions, and several of the army stations are getting supplies for a three months’ period. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 63, as compared with 72 the week previously, chiefly from Troon, Garston, Glasgow, Ayr, Neath Abbey, Point of Aire, Whitehaven, Liverpool, Manchester, Briton- ferry, Swansea, Preston, Newport, Partington, Irvine and Llanelly. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 25,060 tons, as against 31,000 tons the week previously. Belfast- Stocks of house coals are now increasing, as the demand is quiet locally. Steam coals are fairly active, and prices steady, and, as usual, large supplies of Scotch coals have been going to the inland districts. There is no change in prices of house coals, viz. :—Best Arley/36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s. ; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. Between May 30 and June 12, the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 121. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were from Garston, Glas- gow, Maryport, Ayr, Partington, Cardiff, Ardrossan, Troon, Girvan, Silloth, Ellesmere Port, Irvine, Manchester and Neath Abbey. In some of the northern districts there has been an advance of 3s. per ton in the price of coke. A depu- tation of the coal merchants of Limerick recently attended a meeting of the Harbour Board for the purpose of securing a system of power cranes to unload vessels, as, owing to the scarcity of labour at the docks, coal vessels, which were formerly cleared in 19 hours, had been delayed three or four days. ______________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — The market is steady, and prices are well maintained, though there is nothing by way of change to. record, save a slight hardening in the price of solvent naphtha. 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.is. west coast) ........... Tar ................................. /Il—1/ /10i— /ll. 1/3—1/4 2/4 3/6 1/4—1/6 2/1—2/2 /^-/6| 21/—22/ 20/—22/6 21/6—25/6 + /1 [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.'] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The upward tendency of the past few weeks still prevails, and prices continue to harden. The forward position is very strong, and as much as £14 10s. is reported as having been paid, while £14 5s. is quite a current value. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. £14/1/3 ... +1/3 £13/10 ... +2/6 £14—£14/2/6 ... +2/6 £13/17/6 ... +2/6 £14 ... +1/3 £14/5—£14/8/9 ... +3/9 £13/17/6 ... — 12/3 ... — London (ordinary makes) .... Beckton _____................... Liverpool _______...............__ Hull ................................. Middlesbrough ............ Scotch ports __....................... Wales ................;_____ Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] _______ Trade Notes. There is truly something very enlightening about the way the United (States have tackled their benzol question, in comparison with the way our coal-tar dye and scientific control schemes seem to prosper. One of the most instruc- tive points in the whole problem is the way the spirit of unity and true co-operative principle has been manifested, and that in a most practical way. The process that is attracting most attention in this connection is that elabo- rated by Dr. W. Rittman for the production of gasoline, as they call it (motor spirit), and benzols. His process is being developed by the Aetna Chemical Company, of New York; and, as doubtless several patentable improvements, either in the process or the plant, will emanate from this development stage, the company in question have decided to pool their interests—not for the benefit of a“ ring ” or a trust, but for the benefit of the American public. 1 Dr. Rittman is in the service of the United States Bureau of Mines, and yet he has not retired from the public service to exploit his process, but has shown himself to be a really true and honourable servant of the public. Having for years been well paid by his country, and having during that period had exceptionable opportunities for gathering useful information, he rises to the call of emergency, and is able to devise a process that, in the hands of a private industrial concern, would be worth millions of dollars; but being a public servant, and having through the medium of the said service laid the foundation of his present success—what does he do? He gives to that which gave him his opportunity' the results he has achieved; for he has turned over his basic patents for the service of the public. In another way he shows the trustworthiness of his action, in that the Aetna Chemical Company alone will not benefit by developing his process, for, under the supervision of the Secretary for the Interior, any company wishing to develop the basic patents can do so on one simple and truly equitable condition—namely, that’those benefiting by Dr. Rittman’s original patent shall contribute to the public weal by making over all patentable ideas they may originate in working the basic patent; because, in just the same way, Dr. Rittman first gave them his discoveries. That’s in front of the Royal Institution’s tinkering ways ! The attitude of Japan towards sulphate was calculated to cause a little uneasiness during the past six months, and naturally the effect leads to a search for the cause. It is in this direction, that the returns for their trade in fertilisers for 1914 are of considerable service. In the first place, the trade in 1913 was abnormally large, showing an advance of about 30 per cent, on 1912; so that some falling off in 1914 was not surprising. However, that falling off only amounted to about 10 per cent., and after bean cake (the most important item), sulphate of ammonia comes next, and rock phosphates a bad third. But what is more serviceable still, is the insight afforded into the conditions afforded into the conditions that led to Japan taking less fertilisers. Three factors appear to have been responsible, and they will doubtless act as pointers in the future for gauging the probabilities of the Japanese needs for sulphate- of ammonia. The prime factor was the exceptionally low price of rice, which, apart from making money tight, had a correspondingly depressing effect on the chances of winter cereals, and so less sulphate of ammonia was wanted. Then the silk export trade was threatened by the outbreak of war, and so mulberry cultivation was checked and sulphate of ammonia given the go-by for that season. There are two interesting items in the trade returns for the week, notably the export of 19 drums of toluol to Archangel, and 32 to Lisbon. Benzol also figures with 129 drums to Archangel. Tar oil, 8 casks. Pitch, 5,660 tons, 7 cases, 25 drums, 437 casks, and £25. Tar, 35,438 gallons, 268 tons, 950 drums, 1,050 barrels. Sulphate , of ammonia also shows considerable improvement, with a total of 8,016 tons. ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The tone of the market is very strong; there is a good demand for quick delivery, and prices are in consequence hardening all round. Coke tins are now selling freely at 19s., 28 x 20 at 38s. 3d., and odd-size specifications at 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. basis. All works seem to be fully employed to their present capacity. Current quotations may be called .—Cokes : 1 C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 19s. 3d. to 19s. fid. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 38s. 6d. to 39s.; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 19s. 9d. to 20s.; IC 14 x 18f (124 sh. 1101b.), 19s. 6d. to 20s.; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 1101b.), 19s. 6d. to 20s.; IC 20 x 10 (225 sh. 1561b.), 27s. 9d. to 28s. 3d.; IC squares and odd sizes, 19s. 6d. to 20s. basis. Charcoal tins are in steady demand, at 21s. basis, and upwards, according to tinning. There is a very good demand for coke wasters of all kinds, and prices rule very firm, as follow :—C W 14 x 20, 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 37s. 6d. to 37s. 9d.; C W 14 x 18+ 18s. 9d. to 19s.; C W 20 x 10, 26s. to 26s. 6d.; all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. /3—/3J _______________________ South Wales Miners’ Wage Agreement.—The South Wales Miners’ Federation executive had an .interview with Mr. Runciman at the Board of Trade Offices, yesterday afternoon, on the deadlock which has arisen on the proposed new wage agreement between the coal owners and miners in the South Wales coalfield. Mr. Runciman spoke of the great concern with which he had heard of the dispute respecting the new agreement, and warned the men that any stoppage of coal production at this moment, of however brief duration, would be a national disaster. He promised his good offices in bringing the coal owners and men together to consider the situation. The men’s representatives expressed their willing- ness, in the event of the coal owners discussing these pro- posals on their merits, to also bring the war bonus of 17| per cent, into consideration. The men stated that they were met by the owners with a refusal to discuss any wage agreement during the war. Following a general discussion of the 'situa- tion, in which Mr. Runciman again impressed upon the men the vital need of preventing any stoppage, Mr. Runciman arranged for a joint conference between the South Wales coal owners and the men’s representatives at the Home Office to-morrow (Saturday) morning. Miners and the Munitions Bill.—A deputation from the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain waited upon Mr. Lloyd George at 6, Whitehall-gardens, yesterday morning to state their reasons of objection to the miners coming under the provisions of the Munitions Bill. 'Mr. Robt. Smillie (presi- dent) stated the objections of the miners to coming under any Act of Parliament which contained powers of compulsory arbitration, or any withdrawal of trade union rights, and repeated the promise which had already been given by the miners’ representatives on the Committee of Coal Supplies of the willingness of the miners voluntarily to make every effort to provide the necessary coal supplies during the war, and by harmonious co-operation with the coal owners, to avoid- any industrial disputes which would involve a stoppage of pro- duction. Mr. Lloyd George emphasised the importance of the State securing by legislation immunity from strikes during the period of a war which involved our national exist- ence, and said he would require more than promises before he could exempt the miners from the provisions of a Bill which had been accepted by the workers in other industries engaged in the production of munitions. Mr. Lloyd George indicated a number of matters in which he would require guarantees from the representatives of both coal owners and miners to secure an adequate output of coal during the war for all industrial and military purposes. It was arranged that the members of the miners’ executive should consider these matters, and give their reply to Mr. Lloyd George at a further meeting to be held at 6, Whitehall-gardens, this (Friday) morning.