28 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 2, 1915. the quotations realised are rather low. No. 3 Rhondda large is 29s. to 30s., through-and-through 26s. to 27s., and small about 23s. No. 2 large is 20s. to 21s., through 18s. to 19s., and small 16s. to 16s. 6d. per ton. Owing to the decreased price of small there is an easier tendency in patent fuel, which is now quoted at about 35s. Coke is also rather cheaper, at 42s. to 45s. for special foundry, 35s. to 38s. for ordinary foundry, and 20s. to 33s. for furnace qualities. Pitwood is plentiful, and realises about 27s. to 27s. 6d. per ton. The Custom House returns of the coal shipped coastwise from the Bristol Channel have just come to hand. From these it appears that the amount of coal shipped coastwise during May came to 110,060 tons, com- pared with 238,839 tons in the corresponding month of last year. From Cardiff there were despatched 40,023 tons, of which London took 17,460 tons, and Bristol 10,483 tons ; from Newport 47,500 tons, of which Bristol took 10,243 tons, Dublin 8,680 tons, and Waterford 4,995 tons. Port Talbot despatched 10,485 tons, of which 8,850 tons went to London; Swansea 19,330 tons, of which London took 9,350 tons, and Briton Ferry shipped 7,577 tons. 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/ -21/6 Superior seconds * * 19/6-20/6 Ordinary do 25/ -26/ 28/ -30/ 16/9-17/6 Best bunker smalls 19/6-20/ 21/ 11/ Best ordinaries 18/6-19/ 20/ -20/6 10/3-10/6 Cargo qualities. 15/ —16/ 16/6-17/6 8/3- 8/6 Inferior smalls 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ 7/ - 8/ Best dry coals 26/ -27/ 28/ -30/ 18/6-19/ Ordinary drys 21/ -23/ 26/ -28/ 15/6-16/ Best washed nuts 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 16/ Seconds 24/ -25/ 23/ —24/ 15/ Best washed peas 22/6-23/6 21/ -22/ 14/6 Seconds 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 14/ Dock screenings 19/ 18/ -19/ 11/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 26/ -27/ 28/ -30/ 17/ -17/3 Western-valleys 24/ -25/ 26/ -27/ 16/ -16/6 Eastern-valleys 21/ -23/ 23/ -25/ 15/3-15/6 Inferior do 19/ -20/ 21/ -22/ 14/6-15/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 30/ 29/ -30/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/ 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 28/ 27/ 17/6 Through-and-through 25/ 25/ 14/6-15/ Small 21/ 23/ 12/ -12/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 20/ -21/ 23/ 12/9-13/3 Through-and-through 18/ -19/ 20/ -21/ U/ Small 16/ -16/6 18/6 8/6- 9/ Best patent fuel ... 35/ 36/ -37/ 21/ Seconds 33/ 34/ -35/ 19/ -20/ Special foundry coke 40/ -42/6 42/ -43/ 27/ -29/ Ordinary do. 35/ -38/ 38/ -40/ 22/ -25/ Furnace coke 30/ -33/ 32/ -34/ 17/ -19/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 27/ -27/6 28/6-29/ 18/6-19/ * Nominal. IRON. Shipments of tin-plates last week were not so great as in the previous six days, and only amounted to 71,531 boxes, compared with 86,058 boxes received from works, and leaving 241,377 boxes in stock, compared with 226,850 boxes the preceding week, and 219,230 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Prices are firm, and show no signs of becoming lower. Bessemer standard cokes are 19s. 3d., and oil sizes 19s. 6d. and 27s. 6d. respectively. The galvanised sheet trade shows no change, and there is little enquiry for new business. Quotations for 24-gauge corrugateds are still on the basis of <£22 10s. per ton, and spelter remains at <£105 per ton, the same as last week. Welsh pig iron is rather easier, and is now offered at 105s. to 107s. 6d. per ton delivered. Welsh steel bars are quoted at <£7s. 10s. for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities. In scrap metals there is practically no alteration, although the market is not so firm as it was a few days ago. The iron ore market is fairly steady, best rubio being 24s. to 25s., and seconds 22s. to 22s. 6d. per ton, Llanelly. COAL. There is a big difference in the demand for the various coals in this district. Whilst for anthracite the demand is very heavy, and collieries are oversold, for steam and bituminous sorts the market has fallen away altogether ; and whereas a few weeks back not near enough coal could be obtained, and prices were very high, to-day there is quite a glut for the various coals on the market, and sellers are glad to accept orders at several shillings per ton less. The prohibition of coal to foreign markets has had a serious effect on the trade generally, and if, as some imagine, the Government placed the embargo to bring down prices, they have succeeded very well. Both large and through kinds are most difficult to place at several shillings per ton lower than it was throught they could be sold a month ago, and it is questionable whether the bottom has Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts........... French do............. Paris do.............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................. Duff.................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... Through-and-through... Small ................ Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 22/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/6 28/ -30/ 25/ -28/ 28/ -32/ 28/ -31/ 23/ -25/ 16/6-17/6 11/6-12/6 6/6— 7/6 26/ -29/ 18/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 20/ -21/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/6 19/ -20/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/6 28/ -30/ 25/ -28/ 28/ -31/ 28/ -31/ 23/ -25/ 16/6-17/6 11/6—12/6 6/6- 7/6 28/ -30/ 19/ -22/ 16/ -18/ 20/ -21/6 L’st week’s prices. 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 11/6-12/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ I : 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 8/6— 9/ 10/6-11/ yet been reached. For the anthracite coals the position is very firm, and for all qualities the enquiry is good. The machine-made kinds have not been so firm for a long time, and prices are again almost what they were the early part of the year. The Smaller outputs, naturally, have a lot to do with the position, but orders from the Continent are more than sufficient to keep pits going full time. Swansea. COAL. During the past week the trade of the port was again favourable, both the coal and patent fuel trades were active, the shipments together amounting to 104,604 tons. There was a very good attendance on ’Change and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was strong. Swansea Valley large was in good demand, and values were again harder, whilst Red Vein large was firmly held at last figures. Machine-made nuts and cobbles of all descriptions were keenly sought after, but are difficult to obtain, this being particularly the case with French nuts. Rubbly culm and duff were easier. In the steam coal market there was an easier tone in evidence, enquiries having fallen off considerably. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best malting. large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/6-24/6 21/ -23/ Secondary do. 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/6 17/ -18/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 18/6-21/6 17/ -19/ 15/ -16/ Red Vein large do. ... 17/9-18/9 17/6-18/6 12/6-13/ Machine - made cobbles (net) 28/6-31/ 27/6-30/6 21/ -22/6 Paris nuts (net) — — — French do. do 29/ -32/ 28/6-31/ 21/9-23/9 Stove do. do 28/6-30/6 26/6-29/6 21/9-23/9 Beans (net) 24/6-25/6 24/6-25/6 15/6-17/ Machine - made large peas (net) 17/ -18/6 16/6-17/6 11/212/ Do. fine peas (net) — — Rubbly culm (les s 2| p.c.) 11/ -11/9 11/9-12/9 6/6- 6/9 Duff (net) 6/6- 6/9 7/ - 7/3 4/3- 4/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2-j p.c.) 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/ 18/6-20/ Seconds do. 23/ -25/6 23/6-26/ 13/6-15/6 Bunkers (net) 17/6-20/6 20/9-22/6 10/6-11/9 Small (less 2| p.c.) 13/6-15/6 15/ -18/ 8/6- 9/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 26/ -29/ 28/ -30/ 17/ -18/ Through-and-through (less 21 p.c.) — — — Small (less 21 p.c.) ... 19/6-21/ 21/ -22/ 11/ -12/ Patent fuel do 30/ -32/ 32/ -35/ 17/ -18/ IRON. Trade generally was active last week. The blast fur- naces showed a large production of pig iron. Owing to the war the steel trade was exceptionally brisk, and all the departments at the various works were busy. Stoppages occurred at the tin-plate works, chiefly for alterations and repairs, but also owing to shortage of labour at some of the mills. All work was slack at the sheet mills. Trade was brisk at the Mannesmann Tube Works, and supplies of material were not large enough to meet the demand. The shipments of tin-plates were 71,531 boxes, receipts from works 86,058 boxes, whilst stocks in the dock warehouses and vans were 241,377 boxes. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 1. Dublin. The position remains much the same as during recent weeks, an unusual amount of business being about for a mid- summer season, owing to the prospect of a shortage of coal during the coming winter. The actual consumption of house coal is, of course, small, and the retail trade is quiet. There has been a very good import trade, but as very large quan- tities change hands daily, there is not much improvement in stocks. Quotations are all unchanged, viz. :—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. Pit prices for Kilkenny (Castlecomer) 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. Coke is about 32s. per ton, or 34s. delivered, but as the gas company have now withdrawn their quotations, this class of fuel will probably be much dearer in the near future. The new Irish Mining Company at Wolfhill, Queen’s County, have not reaped much advantage from the high prices at which imported coal is selling, as they hold a considerable number of large contracts, beyond which there is very little coal to offer. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 70, as compared with 63 the week previously, chiefly from Man- chester, Preston, Point of Aire, Partington, Garston, Saundersfoot, Irvine, Newport, Glasgow, Ayr, Swansea, Maryport, Ardrossan, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, and "White- haven. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 26,593 tons, as against 25,060 tons the previous week. Four steamers which recently arrived in the port with coal for the Midland Great Western Railway Company were obliged to leave for another destination for discharge, owing to a refusal of the dockers, who are members of the Trans- port Workers’ Union, to handle the cargoes pending a settlement of the -strike of the railway company's employees. Belfast. Demand from the inland districts is still fairly active, as consumers are purchasing their winter’s supplies earlier than usual. Locally, the household trade is quiet, and consider- able quantities of these classes are going into stock. Prices of house coals are as follow :—Best Arley, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. A contract is open in connection with the Antrim District Asylum, for supplies for six and 12 months respectively. Coal-laden vessels entering the port during the week were from Ardrossan, Garston, Glasgow, Ayr, Irvine, Workington, Maryport, Troon, and Preston. The London- derry Agricultural Committee have responded to the appeal of the Department for increased turf cutting this year, by impressing the Department’s circular on all the owners of bogs in their area. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 1. The Lpndon coal trade for the past week has maintained its activity. The buying has, however, been restricted to very limited proportions, for collieries as a rule have very little to offer, and the transactions are for the most part restricted to the deliveries of contract quantities. Buyers are also waiting to see what effect the Government regula- tion may have upon prices generally, and, as far as the household qualities are concerned, there is very little actual consumption at the present time, so that nearly all the supplies are running into stock. Public orders have increased somewhat of late, and merchants report a heavy order list at the “ lowest summer prices,” many of which are not wanted for delivery until later in the season. The market is, how- ever, firm, and colliery prices are well maintained. Derby brights and kitchen cobbles are at present strongest in demand. The railway companies have considerably improved in their delivery of the loaded wagons, and the movements of the troops have not hampered the mineral traffic nearly so much as in former months. The compara- tively small amount of new trade has enabled the railway companies to clear up old arrears, and collieries also are overtaking the excessive demand of the previous month. There is still a strong probability of an early advance in public prices, and already one or two merchants have declined to book any further orders at the lowest summer prices. Thirty-five contract cargoes arrived in the River Thames on Monday last, and the returns show 10 for Wednesday’s market. No quotations are given, however. The seaborne market has shown a tendency to weakening, notwithstanding the increase in the licences for export trade, which have been granted recently with more apparent freedom, especially for Sweden and Spain. There is also an increasing demand for London and France, and the general outlook for shipments during July is satisfactory. Best Blyth steams are firm at 20s. per ton f.o.b. Durham qualities are uncertain, but a -steady demand is reported for gas coals. Coking qualities are more plentiful, and prices range from 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. The difficulty to obtain permission to export South Wales steam coal to neutral countries is still pronounced, and the labour outlook is uncertain. Forward business is at a standstill. Black Veins are quoted 26s. 6d. per ton f.o-b., western valley 24s. 6d., eastern 22s. The demand for small coals has fallen off, owing to the congestion at the French ports. South Yorkshire hard steam coal has been quoted in the Humber ports at 17s. per ton f.o.b. during the week, and Derbyshire steam coal at 17s. 6d. for prompt loading. The shipping trade generally is reported as quiet. Freights have improved slightly, and 7s. 6d. has been secured from Newcastle to London, and the same figure from the Humber ports to London. In more than one case 8s. has been recorded. The Welsh smokeless steam coal is still retained by the Government for naval use, and prices are abnormally high. The demand, however, for all other qualities is dull. Bakers’ nuts are selling freely, and kitchener cobbles also are finding a firm strong demand. Steam coals generally are weaker, but this may be accounted for by the close proximity of the end of the month. The close of June sees the end practically of last year’s contract period, and naturally the remaining month of the old contract terms has meant a very strong effort on the part of all the merchants interested to secure the full quantity due to them under’ the old arrangement. With the beginning of July, and the commencement of the new contract terms, all prices will be fully 5s. per ton higher, so that it is reasonable to expect that the demand will not be so strong. On Monday last, the whole of the market was given up for nearly three- quarters of an hour for recruiting purposes. The response was very hearty, but already scores of the young men in the various offices have gone. At a meeting of the London County Council, on Tuesday last, the Stores and Contracts Committee reported that they had accepted contracts for 24,120 tons of coal to be supplied direct from the collieries. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is quite a good enquiry for export to allied countries, and a very fair amount of business has been booked for both prompt and forward deliveries. Prices rule very firm, and mav be called Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. per box: I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 38s. 6d. to 39s. per box; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 19s. 7|d. to 20s. per box; I C 14 x 18|- (124 sh. 1101b.), 19s. fid. nominal; I C 14 x 19J (120 sh. 1101b.), 19s. 6d. nominal; I 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 28s. nominal; IC squares and odd sizes, 19s. 6d. to 20s. basis for approved specifications. Charcoals are in fair demand, at 21s. 6d. basis and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are in steady demand. Quotations:—CW 14 x 20, 18s. 3d. per box and upwards; CW 28 X 20, 37s. 3d.: CW 14 x 183, 18s. 9d.; CW 20 x 10, 26s. 6d.; CW 30 x 21, 42s. 3d.; all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Four years ago, Messrs. Yeadon, Son and Company, Leeds, supplied one of their complete briquette plants to Messrs. Archibald Russell Limited, to be erected at their Polmaise Colliery, Stirling, to produce 200 tons briquettes per day. Messrs. Yeadon have now received the order from Messrs. Russell to supply them with another briquette plant of the same capacity, to be also erected at their Polmaise Colliery. When complete this will be one of the largest briquette works in this country. Grimsby Coal Exports.—The coal exported from Grimsby during the week ended June 25 was as follows :—Foreign : To Civita Vecchia, 3,001 tons; Dieppe, 602: Esbjerg, 359; Gothenburg, 2,679; Karlstad, 298; Rotterdam, 1,305; and Rouen, 870—total, 9,114 tons foreign. Totals for corre- sponding week last year were 31,860 tons foreign, and 690 tons coastwise.