THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 27 July 2, 1915. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ fewer miners available, the pits are on reduced time of working, wages plus war bonus are high, and extreme rates have to be paid for all materials used at the collieries- These are general conditions, but there are also special conditions which have to be provided for. The percentage of slack on the total output varies very greatly, being little more than 5 per cent, in some coal fields to as much as 25 to 35 per cent, in the Leicestershire coal field. The demand for manufacturing fuel of all kinds is extremely great, and it is still quite impossible to deal with a large proportion of the orders which come to hand. The require- ments of the large number of firms engaged in most vital work for the Government are of an urgent character, and premiums are being offered in order to obtain supplies. The whole resources of the collieries in this district are being applied to accomplish this object, and the quantities of cobbles and large nuts which are being diverted for this purpose grow in volume week by week. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. ____________________________________________________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. All the collieries in the district are busy and the demand for all classes of house coal is far in excess of the supply. The shipping department is particularly active, though the inland trade is increasing in volume. There are no stocks of any description, and the pits are working at full pressure. The demand for slack coal is good, but not difficult to meet. Producers of steam coals report a much easier market, especially for through, and this description is hanging a little, and lower prices have to be taken where a colliery has a surplus after supplying contract commit- ments. Large and small both maintain their recent figures. Prices at pithead. Best household coal .............. Second, hand picked .............. Deep screened cobbles ............ Deep large nuts .................. Bakers’ nuts........................................ Small nuts ...................... Deep breeze ____..................... Peas ............................. Small dust ...................... Main nuts for London kitcheners ... Steams, best hand picked.......... Steams, seconds .................. Main cobbles for kitcheners........ Main breeze...................... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 18/6-19/6 18/6—19/6 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/6—16/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 i 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ ' 14/ -15/ 12/3-13/3 12/3-13/3 5/6— 6/6 5/6- 6/6 15/9-16/9 15/9-16/9 15/6—16/6 15/6—16/6 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 15/9-16/9 15/9-16/9 13/9-15/ 13/9-15/ House coals:— Block Current prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 15/ 21/ -22/ 16/ -16/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 15/ 21/ -22/ 16/ -17/ Last year’s prices. 16/6 15/6 15/9 14/ 6/6 12/6-13/ 8/ - 8/6 Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large Small Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. stoppage, there was never any doubt in informed circles as to the seriousness of the position. Now that the dreaded stoppage has been tided over, it will take a day or two for business to settle. The arrangement come to on Wednesday night was arrived at too late to communicate with the pits in time, and so in a large number of cases workmen determined not to go in to work, resulting in very many pits being absolutely idle to-day (Thursday). How far this extends, and to what degree this week’s output will be reduced, and when the whole of the men will resume (fine weather always prolongs their stoppages) are questions which will have a very material affect upon values. Generally speaking, large coals have been in slightly less request, with sellers ready to make concessions ; smalls show little change. Other varieties remain unaltered. Pitwood is plentiful just now, and freely offering at 27s. to 28s. ex ship. In the freight market a fair demand sustains rates, which for handy bottoms are easily maintained. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. ___________________________________________________ ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The July price lists represent a fairly considerable advance on its predecessors, but in many cases the rise is to some extent nominal, as a premium had to be paid on the rates specified in the old lists, varying according to circumstances. For manufacturing fuel an active demand is experienced, and the public are still buying largely, though not quite to the same extent as in recent weeks. The collieries are full up with work. The following are the average market quotations :— Prices at pit. _______ _______ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that more coal is now being engaged for delivery by sea than for some consider- able time owing to the fact that sailing tonnage is obtainable at more reasonable rates from the west coast. The demand for house and steam coal is about the average for the time of year. ___________________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 1. Steam coals: - Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-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 urices. 26'1 -27/ 23/ -25/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 18/ —18/6 19/ -20/ 19/ -19/6 28/ ^-29/ 26/ —27/ 34/ -35/ 33/ -34/ 38/ -40/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 28/ -29/ 24/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -23/ 18/6-19/ . 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/ 19/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -20/6 prices. 17/ -17/6 15/9-16/9 15/6-15/9 15/ -15/3 8/ - 8/6 7/6- 7/9 7/ - 7/6 8/3- 8/6 11/9-12/ 12/ -12/3 28/ -29/ ! 18/ -19/ 26/ -27/ 16/6-17/6 34/ -36/ 19/ -20/ 33/ -34/ 17/6-18/ 38/ -40/ 20/ -23/ Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 23/ 20/ 17/6 Do. seconds deep 21/ 19/ 15/ Do. best shallow 20/ 18/6 13/6 Do. seconds do. 19/ 17/6 12/9 14/6 Best hard 19/6 16/6 Forge coal 16/ 14/ 10/6 Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 10/ 7/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/ 19/6 15/6 cobs 20/ 17/6 13/ Best hard spires 19/6 18/ 14/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 13/6 10/6 9/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 16/ 14/6 Small (do*) 15/ 11/6 8/ IRON. The market was in the nature of a preliminary to the quarterly meeting next Thursday. The attendance was rather larger than recently, and apart from considerable enquiry a good deal of actual business was done, as it was recognised that there is no prospect of values becoming easier. Heavy supplies are wanted in many directions, and apart from that an immense volume of work is held by manufacturers. The tone all around, therefore, was strong and steady. In the bar iron trade there is abundance of work. Practically the whole of the makers are sold three months ahead, in some cases into the middle of the last quarter of the year. Branded qualities are firm at <£12 a ton, with the customary 12s. 6d. extra for the Earl of Dudley’s brand; common bars are maintained at £11 to £11 5s., and nut and bolt iron £1010s. to £1015s. according to specification. North Staffordshire iron could not be bought under £11 5s. Although spelter has fallen somewhat from the prodigious height to which it soared some weeks ago, galvanisers are in such a state of uncertainty as regards supplies and future values that the amount of business they are able or willing to do is limited to regular customers. They quote £22 10s., f.o.b. Liverpool. Small rounds (three-eighths basis) are quoted as high as £12 10s. in some cases delivered Birmingham district. A lot of arrears of work remains to be overtaken, instances being mentioned of contracts placed in April being still unfulfilled. The bulk of the stuff is going to people who are engaged on Government work. Black sheets are quoted about £11 10s., and from 20s. to 30s. a ton extra, is charged for painting, according to character of paint. Strip makers are working at full pressure. The market for raw material was on the quiet side. Pig iron consumers are holding off until at least the quarterly meeting, despite the assertion of sellers that the price of pigs is low in pro- portion to finished iron, and that there is no chance of lower values in the immediate future. The quotations mentioned were Staffordshire common, 66s. 6d.; ditto part- mine, 72s. 6d.; Northamptonshire grey forge, 70s. and upwards ; Derbyshire, about 72s. 6d. Steelmakers are busy, and are calling for extra deliveries. Bessemer billets are £7 15s. minimum, ranging to the high price of £9 for some sorts of Siemens open hearth. Joists are 10s. dearer, and although £9 15s. to £9 17s. 6d. remain the association price for angles, buyers have to pay a premium on these figures. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Every colliery in this coal field has been working at full stretch during the past week, and it has been found quite impossible to meet the total demand for fuel of various kinds. Further extensions are reported in Flintshire, as at Leeswood a colliery is to be re-opened, while in the same district sinking operations have been commenced for another new colliery, which should be a boon to that portion of the coal field. Orders for house coal are very scarce, but, owing to the heavy demand in other depart- ments at good prices, there is no difficulty in disposing of the house coal at paying rates. In the gas coal trade, things continue to be brisk. The old contracts are now fast running to a close, and, so far as can be ascertained, the collieries have done all that could be expected of them in regard to the making up of accrued arrears on account of the expiring contracts. The majority of these expired on June 30, and the work of settling the new prices is nearly completed. There are a few enquiries still open, but not a great number, and in many instances deliveries commenced on account of the new contracts on July 1. Ere long the colliery owners should see some advantage of the increased prices. Of late things have been particularly hard, as old contracts continued to run at the low prices, notwith- standing extra cost, and the recent heavy war bonus award. However, the commencement of the new year, so far as gas coal contracts are concerned, should improve things materially with the general advance of about 6s. per ton. With reference to steam coal, orders come to hand promptly for coal on account of railway contracts, and the buyers are pressing for extra supplies. In the case of coal for manufacturing purposes, the bulk now goes to works which are engaged in Government work. Now that the recruiting of men and works is * proceeding quickly for this purpose, the demand is likely to be greater still. Apart from works so engaged, there is little being done in other lines. The local brickworks are still very slack, and many are either closed down or working very short time. Several Govern- ment enquiries are on the market. The shipping trade at Liverpool and other Mersey ports continues good. There is less congestion at present, and this, it is hoped, will continue. Orders for North Wales coal for shipping are plentiful, and better prices are now being realised for ordinary trade than have been ruling for a very long time past. Slack is well sold at the moment, and nuts are particularly scarce. Gas coke has improved since coal advanced, and stocks are decreasing at the local works. On the whole prices have remained steady during the past week, house coal has remained unaltered, and other classes have not varied more than a few pence in the pit prices, which have been freely quoted as below :— 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. 19/ -20/ 18/ —19/ 18/ -19/ 18/6-19/ 17/9-18/3 17/6-18/ 8/6- 9/6 15/ -16/8 23/4-26/8 22/6-23/4 12/6-14/2 iL’st week’s!Last year’s | prices, j prices. I 20/6-22/6 ! 14/6-15/9 19/ -20/ ; 13/6-14/6 18/9-20/ ------- 18/9-20/ 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 1G/ -12/6 13/4-16/8 26/8-30/ 22/6-26/8 13/4-14/2 12/3-13/ 12/3-13/ 12/ —12/6 11/3-12/3 6/ - 7 6 13/4-15/ 18/4-20/ 16./8-17/6 10/ -12/6 ________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The great uncertainty as to the labour situation has upset the usual course of business, reducing actual transactions to a minimum. While hopes were always strong that a satisfactory settlement would avoid a IRON. Markets locally remain in a settled condition, there being no change of any importance to be reported since last week. Outputs in all departments are normally full, and with enquiry quite up to recent average. There is little fresh business at bar mills where values are unaltered on the week at £7 15s. for both Bessemer and Siemens Welsh bars. Rails are an unaltered market with values as last. A busy time is reported at blast furnaces, whose present quotations show no alteration in values. Only a small business is passing, but outputs are fully booked for some weeks forward. Iron ore, too, shows no new feature, nominal values being placed around 26s. 6d. to 27s. for best rubio c.i.f. Newport. Tinplates are once more the strongest feature of the trade, with prices again inclined upward. 19s. 6d. or more is named for 20 x 14’s, and 39s. for 28 x 20’s of both Siemens and Bessemer. Works are refusing in most instances to quote prices, being content to wait until present engagements are worked off before committing themselves further ahead. Cardiff. COAL. Since last week the position in the coal trade in this district has been one of extreme difficulty, and, as a matter of fact, very little business has been done. The practical cutting off of exports to neutral countries has exercised a very detrimental effect on the trade and has caused the loss of many thousands of pounds. As is well known, certain collieries have their principal market in certain countries, and if the output is locked up only for a few days the colliery suffers. This has been exemplified in more than one case during the past few days, for although there has been plenty of coal available for shipment, the licence has been refused, with the result that stocks have accumulated on the sidings, and the pit has been brought to an actual standstill owing to shortage of wagons. As Mr. J. W. Beynon expressed himself a few days ago, the trade seems to be governed by a few political cranks, with the result that immense injury is being done locally, and a credit fund is being established in New York which ought to be established in London. There is no doubt that a great deal of irritation exists on the Cardiff market, and if the present state of affairs were allowed to continue there would be a revolt which would cause serious inconvenience to the trade. The labour situation caused business to be almost impossible. Merchants refused to do forward busi- ness, but buyers with ready tonnage were able to obtain concessions of from 2s. to 3>. per ton. Best Admiralties and most of the superior seconds were still retained by the Government, but there wer e certain ordinary qualities which were freely offered, and for these not more than 25s. to 27s. per ton could be obtained. Other coals suffered in propor- tion. For instance, drys which commanded 35s. to 36s. a fortnight ago, are now fully 10s. less, and a large decline has taken place in other qualities. Monmouthshires are much lower, Black Veins being 26s. to 27s., western-valleys 24s. to 25s:, and easterns 21s. to 23s., with inferior qualities even less. It is reported that the Egyptian irrigation contract for about 60,000 tons has been placed, but particulars are not obtainable. About 50,000 tons, it is stated, has been placed with America, and the balance with Monmouthshire firms, but the prices have not been disclosed. The Egyptian State Railways contract for 360,000 metric tons is not expected to be known until the end of the month. In the meantime there are no new developments, although it is known that very large supplies are being sent out not only to our own fleet- hut also to those of our Allies. Shipments last week amounted to 195,757 tons, compared with 389,497 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 193,740 tons. From Newport the exports were 80,678 tons, or a decrease of ^5,092 tons, from Swansea an increase of 16,082 tons, and from Port Talbot a decrease of 23,865 tons. Charterings during the week were fairly satisfactory, and amounted to 152,230 tons, compared with 118,450 in the pre- ceding six days, or an increase of 33,780 tons. The small coal market still continues in a most unsatisfactory condition, chiefly owing to the great amount of congestion at French ports. The shortage of labour is proving a serious difficulty, and the suggestion is being made that troops should be employed in the unloading and despatch of cargoes. Prices of best bunkers are 19s. to 20s., ordinaries 18s. to 18s. 6d., and cargo sorts 15s. to 16s. Inferior qualities could even be obtained at about Is. less. In bituminous coals there is very Itttle doing, and although prices are well maintained