July 16, 1915. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)_____........... Current prices. 18/6-20/ 16/6—17/6 15/ -16/ 17/6-19/6 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/6 10/ -11/6 L’st week’s prices. 18/6-20/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 17/6-19/6 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/6 Last year’s prices. 13/ 11/ -12/ 10/ -11/ 10/6-10/9 9/3-10/ 6/6- 7/ 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ __________________ Leicestershire. COAL. The position of affairs in this coalfield is still most com- plicated, and orders are far in excess of output. At the same time there is some easing off in the extreme urgency for deliveries as a whole, which is regarded as a very satis- factory feature. There is no doubt that a good deal of the pressure for certain classes of coal was brought about by the general desire of consumers to lay in reserves of stocks, in order to be able to deal with any emergency that might arise. In many instances that reserve has been supplied, so that there are slight indications of a return to more normal conditions. In the case of very large users of fuel for electric lighting and similar purposes, the feeling of uncertainty regarding the future led to a great expan- sion in the deliveries. These additional requirements having been met to a very considerable extent, has inspired greater confidence that all really vital demands will be covered from time to time, if there is no further curtailment in the supply of empty railway-owned wagons. For the moment the supplies of wagons are most irregular, and while high hopes are raised by a very good supply for one or two days in succession, there is a sudden decline to about 10 per cent, of the normal, which quite upsets all calcula- tions and arrangements. It is this which absolutely makes it impossible to work full time, in spite of the greatest anxiety on the part of all concerned to do so, and limits the period to five days per week. This disability is only one of many, the conditions attendant on the working of the pits are entirely abnormal, and are not, and cannot be, compared with the conditions which obtained last season, or even at any former time. All the yearly contracts have now been fixed up, and in the case of manufacturing fuel those who require special and urgent deliveries of increased quantities are offering a premium on contract rates in order to cover pressing necessities. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. Current THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 127 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.............. prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 14/6—15/ 12/3-13/3 5/6— 6/6 15/9-16/9 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 15/9-16/9 13/9-15/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6—17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ 12/3-13/3 5/6- 6/6 Last year’s prices. 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/6 11/3-12/3 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 9/3 8/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/3 2/ - 2/3 15/9-16/9 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 15/9-16/9 13/9-15/ 9/ -10/ 9/ - 9/6 8/3- 8/9 9/3- 9/9 _________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Discussion at the weekly market centred round the Bill to limit coal prices, and out of the conflict of opinion one thing emerged—viz., that the measure is likely to prevent any further serious rise against the consumer. The public are paying now 5s. 6d. to 6s. a ton, in special cases a bit more, higher than before the war. This includes the extra cost at the pithead, bow to be limited to 4s., extra cost of truckage, and increased cost of delivery, so that it cannot be said consumers are in any way being exploited. It is yet too early to ascertain, but it is possible that for a time buyers will stay their hands to await developments. Mean- time there is a fairly active demand for household fuel, and an active call for works fuel. Quotations :— Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 23/ 23/ 17/6 Do. seconds deep 21/ 21/ 15/ Do. best shallow 20/ 20/ 13/6 Do. seconds do. 19/ 19/ 12/9 Best hard 19/6 19/6 14/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 10/6 Slack V arwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 'll House coal, best Ryder.. 21/ 21/ 15/6 Do. hand-picked cobs 20/ 20/ ______________________________ 13/ Best hard spires 19/6 19/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 10/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 16/ 16/ 9/6 Small (do.) 15/ 15/ 8/ IRON. Continued steadiness was the characteristic of the market. The output is maintained on an active scale, and the new quarter has opened with a volume of business which will keep the works going, generally speaking, for the next two or three months. The tube trade is less fortunately situated than some of the others. Cost of production is forced up by the high prices paid for strip and galvanising, and the Americans are working into the market. A curious position exists with regard to pig iron, which is, if anything, slightly easier, although smelters declare it ought to be moving up. The fact is, with the restricted output of finished iron owing to shortage of labour, more raw material is being produced than the mills can digest, for the furnaces must be kept going. Another factor is that people who consumed their own output before—firms, for instance, with large contracts for pipes for corporations— have their pig iron thrown on their hands owing to many of these contracts being held up during the war, and they are putting it on the market, helping to swell the surplus. There are smelters who threaten to blow out their furnaces for a time, rather than make for stock, but so far as can be gathered no instance has occurred in this district of that step having been taken. While most sellers of Northampton- shire hold out for 70s., sales have been made in fair quanti- ties at 68s. 6d. Other brands are about the same as a week ago. Makers of marked bars have satisfactory business, but have not thought it advisable to further advance the standard of <£12 a ton. They do not wish to force the pace to the detriment of the general market situation. Makers of common iron are in ar rear with specifications. Quotations range from £11 5s. to £11 10s. Puddled bars are quoted up to £8 a ton, and there is not a big supply to draw upon. A heavy business is being taken for thin sheets and rods, and an active demand is experienced for small rounds, squares, and flats. A number of galvanised sheet mills have been shut down owing to paucity of orders. For what business is passing the quotation ranges from £22 10s. upwards. The price of black sheets is £11 5s. to £11 10s. 24-gauge. The output is naturally restricted through the collapse of the galvanising trade, but not so badly as it might be, inasmuch as wherever possible plain sheets are being substituted for galvanised. The steel trade is very busy. American prices for billets are now about 5s. and 7s. 6d. a ton below the English material, having been sent up by high freights. There is more finished stuff coming from America. There is a pronounced enquiry for all kinds of finished steel, the Navy (being a large customer for special work. Copper sheets have fallen from £110 to £106 a ton. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. All the house coal collieries in this coalfield are well supplied with orders for all the descriptions produced, and full time is easily worked. Stocks are conspicuous by their absence, all the coal raised going straight away to the buyer. Orders from the inland merchants are very satis- factory, but the greater proportion of the output is for shipment just now, a large number of boats having arrived during the week. Slacks are meeting with a good demand, whilst all qualities of steam and manufacturing fuel are in heavy request. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large Small Current prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/. 15/ 21/ -22/ 16/ L’st week’s prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 15/ 21/ -22/ 16/ -16/6 Last year’s prices. 16/6 15/6 15/9 14/ 6/6 12/6-13/ 8/ - 8/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney er Sharpness. _________________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that the wholesale and retail demand for house and steam coal is limited to the usual summer requirements, but there is a good enquiry for forward supplies, and some of these have already been arranged for various towns. It is a matter of interest that an increase is apparent in the shipments of coal by steamers and sailing colliers, in place of the nearly exclusive rail supplies, and that the simple steamer coasting charter party is being accepted without demur, in place of the arbitrarily conditioned “Coastcon” charter, with its con- fusing conditions and confounding complexities. ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The tone of the market is quietly steady, although the volume of business booked during the past week or so has not been large. Second-hand parcels are offering at a shade under works figures, which may be called :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 19s. to 19s. 3d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 38s. to 38s. 9d.; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 19s. fid. to 19s. 9d.; I C 14 x 18f (124 sh. 1101b.), 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d.; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 1101b.), 19s. 3d. to 19s. fid.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 15fi lb.), 27s. fid. to 27s. 9d.; I C squares and odd sizes, 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. basis for approved specifications. Charcoals are quoted 21s. 3d. basis and upwards, according to tinning, and are in moderate request. Ternes are steady, at round 34s. 6d. to 35s. per box of I C 28 x 20. Coke wasters are in steady demand. Quotations run :—C W 14 x 20, 18s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 37s. 3d. to 37s. 6d.; C W 14 x 18f, 18s. 10|d.; CW 20 x 10, 26s. 6d.; C W 30 x 21, 42s. fid.; all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Siberian Coal.—A Siberian message s^vs that the Voskre- sensk coal mines, near the town of Pavlodar, on the River Irtysh, are being revived with the participation of English Capital and the co-operation of the Kyshtim works. Con- siderable prospecting work is in view. The coal mining business in the Cheliabinsk district is being developed, and three groups of mines are under exploitation. The first belongs to the Kyshtim Works, the second to the Cheliabinsk Coal Company, and the third to the Russian Prospecting and Equipment Company. These mines produce 8.000,000 to 10,000,000 tons of coal per annum. Immense deposits of coal are reported to have been found in the region of the Amur railway. As the local demand is expected to be strong, a good future is prophesied for these deposits. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 15. __________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There is little new to report this week in connection with the coal trade of this district, either as regards demand or prices. The demand has been good, all collieries are working full time, and readily dispose of their output. There has been no change in prices, and the figures quoted last week represent the basis for the present week’s quota- tions. Many of the new gas coal contracts have now commenced, and a good business is being done with regard to the coal for shipment at Liverpool, Birkenhead, and Ellesmere Port. 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/ 18/6-19/ 18/ -19/ 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/ 8/6-10/ 15/ —16/8 23/4-26/8 22/6-23/4 12/6—14/2 L’st week’s!Last year’s prices. prices. 19/ -20/ ! 14/ -15/6 18/6-19/ - 13/ -14/ 18/ -19/ 12/3-12/9 18/6-19/6 i 12/3-12/6 17/6-18/6 12/ -12/3 17/6-18/ ( 11/9-12/3 8/6-10/ ’ 6/ - 7/9 15/ —16/8 ; 13/4-15/ 23/4-26/8 : 18/4-20/ 22/6-23/4 16/8-17/6 12/6—14/2 ! 10/ -12/6 _________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The position of the coal trade to-day is one of complete stagnation and uncertainty, due to the present labour crisis. For two or three days it has been impossible to arrange business owing to the risks exporters would run in entering into new engagements and the disinclination of colliery agents to further commit themselves. The figures quoted to-day must be taken as purely nominal, there being at present no transactions whatever except perhaps a few wagons standing at the docks required to complete a ship- ment. Exports have been fairly steady, and there is enough tonnage about to quickly clear all stocks lying around in case production is stopped for any length of time. The action of the miners in rejecting all advice, even from their own best friends, has surprised and disgusted even those who admire their good qualities, and it is generally conceded that the root of the trouble lies in that statute of Parliament which raises trade unions above the law. That measure produced a sense of irresponsibility that is now bearing bitter fruit. The Midland Great Western of Ireland Railway are inviting tenders for the supply of 60,000 tons of locomotive coal, shipments to begin in September. They have taken Monmouthshire coals for many years past, but this year are advertising for prices in a very much wider manner than ever before. In the freight market chartering has been rendered quiet by the prevail- ing crisis, rates showing little movement in a sluggish market. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. ! Current Steam coals:— i prices. Best Black Vein large..., 25/ -25/6 Western-valleys, ordin’y 23/ -24/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 21/6-22/ Secondary do. ..., 19/6-20/6 Best small coals ...... 17/6-18/ Secondary do........ 16/6—17/ Inferior do........ 15/6-16/ Screenings .......... 17/9-18/ Through coals ........ 18/ -18/6 ........ ........ Best washed nuts...... 19/ -19/6 Other sorts:— i Best house coal....... 27/ -28/ Secondary do......... 25/ -26/ Patent fuel ............... 34/ -35/ Furnace coke.......... 32/ —33/ Foundry coke ........[ 38/ -40/ L’st week’s prices. 25/ -25/6 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/ 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 18/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -19/6 | 11/9-12/3 Last year’s prices. 17/3-17/6 16/ —16/3 15/6-15/9 15/ -15/6 8/3- 8/6 7/6— 7/9 7/ - 7/6 8/6 11/9-12/ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 19/ —20/ 17/6—18/6 27/ -28/ 25/ —26/ 34/ -35/ 32/ -33/ 38/ -40/ 20/ -25/6 IRON. There is again little alteration in local conditions of the iron and steel trades, there being a moderate enquiry, with no very great amount of business passing, and values in most branches remaining about the same. The continued scarcity of labour still restricts outputs at works, where all departments record full turns. In the tinplate bar department there is no fresh feature. Outputs are well up to recent average, and prices continue at £7 5s. for both qualities. Steel rails show continued strength and are somewhat firmer in price on the week, £8 15s. to £9 being named, while deliveries are difficult to obtain. Work con- tinues busy at blast furnaces, with values firm at 105s. to 107s. 6d. for Welsh haematite, delivered to local works. Iron ore remains unaltered at 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. for best Rubio. Tinplates are again satisfactory, the demand remaining good and values well maintained. The forward tone is very confident and works are now quoting upon the basis of 19s. 6d. for 20 x 14, either Bessemer or Siemens primes. Cardiff. COAL. There has only been one topic of conversation on ’Change this week, and that has been the probable action of the men. From the commencement it was feared that there would be trouble, owing to the advice of the extremist section, which advocated a stoppage on the ground that all demands would be conceded rather than face a strike. Fortunately for the trade, and especially the steam coal trade of South Wales, on which the Navy so much depends, the Government grasped the situation, and proceeded to deal with it in drastic fashion. The whole of South Wales was proclaimed as a munitions area, so far as the pro- duction of coal is concerned. With regard to the market, it is difficult to give an accurate representation of the position. Prices are irregular, and all transactions aie more or less a matter of individual bargaining. As in previous months,