July 16, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 125 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e wcastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. During last week 91,457 tons of coal and 1,691 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 69,942 tons of coal and 952 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 54,164 tons of coal and 2,756 tons of coke, a decrease of 3,020 tons of coal and 858 tons of coke. The Blyth clearances amounted to 63,696 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 21,688 tons. The total shipments from the three places, therefore, totalled 213,764 tons, a decrease of 85 tons when compared with those for the previous week. Very little forward business has been mentioned during the week, and the “stranglehold” of the Coal Export Control Committee is as tight as ever. Practi- cally the only enquiries of any volume are those which are reported from France. From that quarter comes a request for 100,000 tons of Durham coking coals, shipment from September this year until August of next. Tenders were sent in on Monday last. The Midi Railways of France are negotiating for a large quantity of similar fuel for like delivery, and a portion of the required quantity is reported to have been arranged for, but no details are yet to hand. News from America indicates that coal exporters there are taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the British restriction of fuel exportation to neutral countries, and, in their eagerness to capture European and South American markets, are quoting tempting prices for forward contracts, ranging from one year to four years ahead. However, when normal times come once more, it should not be difficult, always assuming that normal times imply normal rates of freight, as well as normal conditions of coal production, to recover such trade as is now lost, for the geographical position of the United States will ever tend to defeat the American bid for coal business on the Continent of Europe. Meanwhile, it would be well if the Government, in fixing maximum prices for coal, would impose a similar embargo on rates of freight, for retail coal prices would soon, fall if the cost of carriage were less. The prompt market has been very dull during the week. Best steams and gas bests, are dearer, but other descriptions of fuel favour buyers. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment show the following variations on the week: Best Blyth steams are Is. dearer; Blyth seconds, 6d. reduced; unscreened Is. lower; Tyne smalls, easier; specials, Is. down; smithies, 2s. cheaper; gas bests, 6d. higher; seconds, Is. reduced; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, weaker; Northumbrians, Is. reduced; coking coals, Is. 6d. to 2s. fallen; small, Is. 6d. reduced ; foundry coke, 2s. 6d. decreased ; blastfurnace do.; and gas coke, 2s. cheaper. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas cjals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ 16/6 16/6-17/ 1 1 13/6-14/ 13/ -13/6 14/ 15/ -16/ 20/ -20/6 16/ -17/ 21/ 14/6-17/ 15/ 14/6-15/6 14/6 20/ -21/ 32/6-35/ 30/ 27/6-28/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ 19/ 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ 13/6 14/ -15/ 17/ -18/ 20/ 17/ -18/ 21/ 15/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 16/6-17/ 16/ 20/ -21/ 35/ -37/6 32/6 26/ -30/ Last year’s prices. 14/9-15/ 14/ -14/6 12/ 12/ -12/3 10/6-11/6 9/ 8/ 9/ - 9/6 12/6 13/ -13/3 11/9-12/ 13/6-13/9 11/6-12/9 10/9-11/9 12/ 11/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 12/ -14/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 68,930 tons of coal, as compared with 87,420 tons of coal and 540 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1914, being a decrease of 18,490 tons of coal and 540 tons of of coke. There is no special feature to record in the coal market except that prices all round are easier. Best coals are steady to firm, while seconds and inferior are still plentifully offered. Bunker coals are particularly weak, no doubt as the result of the new Customs order limiting the amount of bunkering fuel to neutral steamers. Coking fuel is weak, but smalls are somewhat scarce. Gas coke is very Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 20/6 22/6 13/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 17/ 19/ 12/3 Best house coals 21/6 21/ 16/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 19/ 9/ 15/ Lambton screened 23/ 22/6 14/6 South Hetton do 22/6 22/6 14/3 Lambton unscreened ... 16/ 19/ 12/3 South Hetton do 16/ 18/3 12/3 Do. treble nuts 20/ 21/ 15/6 Coking coals unscreened 16/6 16/ 18/ 12/6 Do. smalls 17/6 12/3 Smithies 17/ 19/6 15/ Peas and nuts 20/ 20/6 15/6 Best bunkers 16/6 18/6 13/3 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 15/ 16/ 12/3 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 30/ 36/6 21/ Teesside furnaces) ... 32/6 32/6 20/ Gas coke 25/ 27/ 13/ firm and scarce; household coals are unchanged. The enquiry previously reported from France is for 100,000 tons of Durham coking coal, to be shipped from September to August next year, and tenders are being sent in. There is still nothing doing in the forward market. As regards the outward freight market, business is quiet, tonnage coming forward more plentifully and rates easier. Recent fixtures include.-—London, 7s. 3d.; Caen, 14s.; Dunkirk, 14s. 6d.; Rouen, 15s.; Fecamp, 14s. 6d.; Calais, 13s. 7id.; Bordeaux, 19s.; Rochefort, 18s. 3d.; La Rochelle, 18s.; Bayonne, 19s. 6d.; Genoa, 25s.; Gibraltar, 18s. 3d.; Marseilles, 24s. 6d.; Naples, 25s.; Port Said, 24s.; Archangel, 20s.; Buenos Ayres, 28s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade is rather quiet. Buyers and sellers do not come to terms very readily. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 20s. to 21s., and seconds 17s. to 18s., whilst special Wear kinds run up to 23s. There is a good deal of bunker coal offering, and ordinary Durhams are on sale at 15s. 6d. f.o.b., bests are 16s. to 17s., and specials range from 19s. to 20s. Coking coal is more plentiful, and prices are irregular. Unscreened kinds are offered rather freely at 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. Coking smalls are more in demand, and are quoted up to 17s. Considerable interest centres just now in coke. Negotiations are in progress for renewal of fairly sub- stantial contracts for local consumption, but customers* ideas of values differ somewhat widely from those of sellers, with the result that terms are not easily arranged. Buyers profess to see indications of further substantial fall, and, point to the probability of less coke being taken up for use on the west coast, as consumers there are more and more supplying themselves. Though some business is stated to have occurred at less, round about 30s. may be given as the general market quotation for Durham blastfurnace coke of average quality delivered at Teesside works. Foundry coke for shipment is selling at 35s. to 37s. 6d. f.o.b. Gas coke is scarce, and is in the neighbourhood of 28s. IRON. The iron market is rather unsteady so far as Cleveland pig is concerned, due to fluctuations in warrant caused by manipulations of outside speculators, but the already healthy statistical situation is steadily improving, for the curtailed output, by the recent blowing-out of five furnaces, has brought the make down slightly below current require- ments, with the result that stocks are being drawn upon to meet needs. As was anticipated, shipments are showing marked improvement, and loadings for July promise to be the heaviest of any month since the commencement of the war. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig has this week sold, rather freely at 68s., but now the general market quotation is 67s. 9d. No. 1 is still so scarce as to be almost unobtainable, and, as a consequence, instead of commanding only the usual half-crown above No. 3, any parcels offered readily realise round about 73s. 6d. No. 4 foundry is in fairly good request at 67s. 3d. to 67s. 6d., No. 4 forge is 66s. 9d., and mottled and white iron are each 66s. 6d. East coast haematite is cheapening a little, but is selling at very high rates compared with those ruling for Cleveland. Enquiries fail to elicit confirmation of rumours that mixed numbers of haematite have been sold to Sheffield at 95s., but buyers report that they now experience no difficulty in placing orders at 97s. 6d., notwithstanding makers’ efforts to keep the market quotation at 100s. Concerning the foreign ore trade, nothing new of moment is ascertainable. Consumers have rather large stocks, which are steadily being added to by supplies coming to hand on contracts made some time ago. Under such circumstances, buyers are not in the market, and quotations remain nominally on the basis of 26s. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. In all branches of finished iron and steel production is heavy, manufacturers working at high pressure almost entirely on Government contracts. One or two ordinary orders keep coming in, but they frequently have to be held over for Government work to be executed. Prices all round are very firm. Principal market quotations stand :—Common iron bars, <£11; best bars, <£11 7s. 6d.; best best bars, <£11 15s.; packing iron, <£8; iron ship plates, .£10; iron ship angles, <£11; ship rivets, <£13 10s.; steel bars (basic), .£10 15s.; steel bars (Siemens), <£11 15s.; steel ship plates, £10 ; steel ship angles, <£9 15s.; steel boiler plates, <£11; steel joists, £9 17s. 6d.; steel strip, <£10 5s.; steel hoops, £10 10s.; heavy steel rails, <£8 15s. to £9; steel railway sleepers, £10 to £10 10s.; and galvanised corru- gated sheets, 24-gauge, in bundles, £22 10s.—sheets less 4 per cent, f.o.b., railway material net, and all other descriptions less the customary 2| per cent. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade is still in a most satisfactory condition, and business in two of the main branches is very brisk. In spite of the fact that large numbers of the best coal miners are serving in the Army, outputs are perhaps fuller and production is as high, if not higher, than it was at the corresponding period of last year, and although the middle of July has now been reached, there has not been a single day lost during the year owing to lack of orders. Business in coal for domestic purposes is rather quiet, but best steam coal for manufacturing purposes is still in keen request, and since trade improved at the Senhouse Dock, Maryport, there has been a much stronger demand for bunkers, and during the last few weeks the tonnage on this account has scarcely fallen below 600 tons per week. The cross-Channel trade is in a most healthy condition, and, judging from the numerous enquiries received, the prospects for the next few weeks are very bright. There was a slight lull in the export branch last week, and, for the first time since the beginning of the year, the shipments from Mary- port fell below 3,000 tons, but towards the end of the week business revived so quickly that during Friday and Satur- day it was almost impossible to cope with the requirements of Irish consumers. The tonnage from Maryport last week was higher than it has been this year. There is a strong and increasing demand both for best house coal and best steam coal for Ireland, and this week no less than 1,400 tons have been shipped to Belfast, while the tonnage to Cork has been heavier than at any time during the past twelve months. The collieries are all well employed, and with the increased needs of the coke ovens and the strong demand on both works and export accounts, practically the whole of the output is meeting with a ready market. Quotations for all sorts are firm, but unchanged, and while business continues to be so well maintained there is no likelihood of an immediate fall in prices. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 21s. to 21s. 3d. per ton, and seconds at 20s. lOd. per ton. At the corresponding period of last year best coal at the pit was selling at from 18s. 4d. to 19s. 2d. per ton, while best washed nuts were quoted at from 16s. lOd. to 17s. Id. per ton. Best Cumberland coals, free on board, are still quoted at the advanced price of 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. In July last year best export coal was quoted at 15s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 13s. 6d. per ton. Twenty vessels left Maryport last week for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 5,980 tons, an increase of 3,260 tons compared with the previous week. The shipments from Maryport to Irish ports from January 1 to June 30, exclusive of bunkers, have amounted to 116,780 tons. The shipments to the four principal ports in Ireland have been as follow: Belfast, 25,280 tons ; Londonderry, 15,820 tons; Carrick- fergus, 15,120 tons ; Dublin, 8,550 tons. Coke is in keen demand, and all the by-product ovens in the country are in full operation. With a more plentiful supply of coal, pro- duction is now much larger, but every ton of coke made at the Cumberland ovens is being absorbed by local smelters. At Maryport, St. Helens, Flimby, and Oughterside best coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s.lOd. per ton, and seconds at 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best Buckhill coal delivered«is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton., with best double screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quota- tions are as follows :— Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 19/2 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 17/1 Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned 22/6 22/6 18/4 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 16/10 Fit Oughterside best washed 22/6 22/6 18/4 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 21/ 21/ 16/10 coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 22/6 22/6 18/4 at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 Best dry small at pit 12/ 12/ 8/6 Best steam nuts at pit ... 19/ 19/ 15/ BestCumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 15/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 13/6 Bunkers 1 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 12/6 Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 20/ 20/ 15/ works 19/ 19/ 14/ IRON. Operations in the Cumberland haematite iron trade are still characterised by great steadiness ; prices and pro- duction are fairly well maintained, and, apparently, this condition of things will continue for some time to come. Bessemer mixed numbers are quoted at about 107s. 6d. to 108s. 6d. per ton free on board at the usual ports, with warrants at cash at 95s. per ton. The price of Cumberland haematite warrants in the Glasgow market remained at this figure during the whole of last quarter, and the blast- furnacemen have therefore become entitled, under the sliding scale, to an increase in wages which is almost equivalent to the war bonus which the men demanded some time ago, and which the Government Commission of Production decided they were not entitled to receive. The anticipation that a revival of activity would take place at the end of the half-year has not yet been realised, but at the same time it is believed that it can not long be delayed, as supplies are bound to be diminishing, and sooner or later consumers will be compelled to come into the market to replenish their stocks. With regard to ordinary haematites, users are merely purchasing to cover their more immediate requirements, and forward buying has practi- cally ceased, for the present at any rate. As things are, however, makers are not too keen on selling at present prices, as they have fairly good order books, which will ensure the running of the present number of furnaces till well on into October. There is a strong demand for special low phosphorus iron, which is quoted at from 123s. to 125s. per ton f.o.b. Stocks in private stores are very low, and the iron at present in stock in public stores amounts to 2,205 tons. The output is drawn from 23 furnaces—15 being in Cumberland and eight in the Furness district. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have eight furnaces in blast, while Millom have three, and Cleator Moor and Distington two each in operation. The Working- ton Iron and Steel Company have one furnace on ferro- manganese and another on spiegel. Barrow have five furnaces blowing, North Lonsdale two, and Carnforth has one furnace in operation. More than one-half of the furnaces are employed in making special iron, the bulk of which is being consigned to the high-class steel makers in the Midlands, while a substantial tonnage is going to Scotland and Wales. The steel trade is rather quiet. Barrow are chiefly employed on shell steel, and at Working- ton the production includes shell steel and rails for home and colonial railways. The engineering shops are all very busy on Government orders. The iron ore mines are all well employed, and, while larger consignments of metal are coming to hand, production is still slightly below require- ments. Cumberland ore at the mines is quoted at 25s. to 35s. per ton, according to grade. The imports at Working- ton last week included 610 tons of manganese ore from Liverpool; and the exports consisted of 1,231 tons of steel rails for the Continent, and 280 tons of rails and 374 tons of ferro-manganese for Liverpool. The imports at Maryport consisted of 5,800 tons of iron ore from Onton. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Occasion is being taken with the quietening of the inland household trade to put some portion into stocks, and most merchants who have facilities for this purpose are renewing to some extent their reserves; otherwise there is nothing