July 30, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 221 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 29. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Owing to the annual holidays, business in the west of Scotland coal trade has been practically at a standstill during the past week. Previous to the stoppage conditions began to show signs of an improvement, and the outlook is more encouraging. The industrial demand continues unabated, and with an improved supply of tonnage the collieries should make a good beginning after the holiday. Shipments during the past week are well up to the average and amount to 115,185 tons, compared with 119,151 in the preceding week and 53,247 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. 1 Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Steam coal ; 14/ -17/6 14/ -17/6 11/ -13/ Ell 15/9 15/9 12/ -12/3 Splint 1 15/6-19'6 15/9-16/9 12/ -15/ Treble nuts I 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 11/9-12/ Double do 1 16/6-16/9 16/6-16/9 11/3-11/6 Single do. a I 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 10/9-11/ IRON. Business in the iron trade has also been largely under the influence of the holidays. There are 62 furnaces in blast in Scotland at present, five fewer than in the pre- ceding week and nine more than at this time last year, /rhe total shipments of pig iron to date amount to 91,678 tons, compared with 128,499 tons in the corresponding period in 1914, a decrease of 36,821 tons. Prices of Scotch makers’ iron are unchanged, and are quoted as follow:— Monkland, f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 80s. 6d., No. 3, 79s.; Govan, No. 1, 79s., No. 3, 77s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 83s., No. 3, 79s.; Clyde, No. 1, 85s. 6d., No. 3, 80s. 6d.; Gart- sherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 85s., Nos. 3, 80s. ; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 86s., No. 3, 81s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 80s., No. 3, 79s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 81s., No. 3, 79s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 85s., No. 3, 80s.; Carron, at Leith, No. 1, 86s., No. 3, 81s. per ton. The warrant market has also been affected by the holidays, and the total turnover for the week only amounted to 6,000 tons. Cleveland iron closed at 66s. 8d. per ton cash buyers, showing a loss of 4d. per ton on the week. The finished iron works have practically all been closed during the week, and the opportunity has been taken to make the necessary alterations and additions to plants. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. No change is reported from the Lothians. Local sales are fairly good, but the export trade is far from satisfactory. The stoppage of the Baltic trade has been severely felt in the district. The clearances for the past week amounted to 52,969 tons, against 50,994 tons in the preceding week and 62,334 tons in the corresponding week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities 15/ -15/6 14/3-14/9 15/ -15/6 14/3-14/9 12/ -12/3 11/ -11/3 Treble nuts 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 12/ -12/6 Double do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 11/ -11/6 Single do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 11/ 1 1 The Fifeshire ports have been closed for the holidays All classes of coal are in good demand, particularly best screened navigation. Tonnage is plentiful, and collieries are likely to be busy on the resumption of operations. Shipments for the week amounted to 28,281 tons, compared with 59,716 tons in the preceding week and 7,231 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Current prices. 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 18/ -20/ 13/9-14/ 17 6-18/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -16/6 L’st week’s prices. 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 18/ -20/ 13/9—14/ 17/6-18/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -T6/6 Last year’s prices. 16/ -16/6 14/6 12/ -13/ 10/ -10/3 12/ -12/6 11/3-11/9 10/9-11/ Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 196,435 tons, compared with 229,861 in the preceding week, and 122,812 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e wcastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. During last week 95,450 tons of coal and 328 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 71,633 tons of coal and 1,923 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances totalled 57,511 tons of coal and 1,448 tons of coke, an increase of 5,110 tons of coal and a decrease of 2,967 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments aggregated 67,711 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 30,826 tons. Thus, the total shipments from these three places amounted to 222,448 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 8,330 tons when compared with those of the previous week, and of 102,239 tons when compared with those of a year ago. It will be remembered that, last week, the sale of 600,000 tons of German steam coals to Sweden was reported. Now comes the news that Sweden is negotiating with American coal exporters for cargoes. With freights from America to Sweden not a great deal higher than those ruling from this country, it will be seen that the poten- tialities of successful competition, from the American point of view, are considerable, especially in view of the ‘"dead set” which the Coal Export Control Committee has made against the issue of exportation licences for cargoes destined for Sweden. High freights are certainly hampering business possibilities here. Rates from the north-east coast are much higher than those from South Wales, and the difference is aiding the Welsh coal trade, especially with France, for, with lower freights, the consumer can afford to pay more for his fuel, and would be foolish if he did not avail himself of the opportunity of better bargains. Nevertheless, the state of the prompt coal market has markedly improved during the last week or two. Steam coal collieries’ stems are well filled for about a fortnight ahead, and there is little superfluous product offering. One Blyth colliery reports being mainly sold up to October. There is a good steady demand for gas coals, and some improvement in the enquiry for bunkers and coking coal is manifested. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follows on the week:—Best Tyne steams, 6d. advanced ; Blyth seconds, 6d. cheaper ; Tynes, ditto; special smalls, Is. to Is. 6d. more; smithies, Is. dearer; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 6d. to Is. higher; coking coals, Is. 6d. improved; smalls, 6d. dearer; and gas coke, Is. reduced. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. The briskness of the London gas coal trade is illustrated by the fact that a local colliery has just stemmed a steamer for the seventh time within the month. An instance of the delay which occurs in the announcement of decisions as to licences is afforded by the case of a vessel which, after lying at Blyth a considerable time awaiting a licence, was ultimately moved away, the belief being that the licence would not be forthcoming. Within two hours of her exit the permit arrived. 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 c )als Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry , Do. blast-furnace Do. gas 1 Current | prices. : 21/ -21/6 19/6-20/ 16/6 16/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ 13/ 15/ -15/6 16/ -17/ 20/ -20/6 16/ -17/ 21/ 15/6-18/ 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/ 15/ 20/ -21/ 32/6-35/ 30/ 26/ -27/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ -21/6 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/ 17/ -17/6 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ 13/ 14/ 15/ -16/ 20/ -20/6 16/ -17/ 21/ 15/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 14/6 20/ -21/ 32/6-35/ 30/ 27/ -28/ Last year’s prices. 15/ -15/3 : 14/6-15/ 12/ 12/—12/3 : 10/6-11/6 1 9/ - 9/6 8/ 9/3- 9/6 12/6 13/3 111/9-12/ i 13/6-13/9 11/6-12/9 10/9-11/9 12/ 11/6-12/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -21/ 18/ 12/ -13/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 75,630 tons of coal, no coke, as compared with 96,460 tons of coal and 1,820 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1914, being a decrease of 20,830 tons of coal and 1,820 tons of coke. The general position of the coal market is steady but very quiet, with buying and selling mostly from hand to mouth and merchants not disposed to operate even a short way ahead. If anything, however, the market has shown more activity during the past few days, and good bookings have been made for both steam and gas qualities. Consequently turns for the first half of August are filling up, and sellers are asking higher prices owing to the limited output. There is a manifest improvement in the booking of bunker coal orders, no doubt due to the heavy chartering of late, and prices for both ordinary and best qualities are higher. Best gas remain steady, and there is a better demand for coking unscreened. Household coal has a fairly good demand, but practically no change in prices. Gas coke is quiet and easier in price, but there is a steady enquiry for foundry coke, and prices are stiffening. Forward nothing doing. The following are nominal market quotations:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 21/ 20/6 13/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 17/ 17/ 12/3 Best house coals 22/ 21/ 16/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 20/ 19/ 15/6 Lambton screened 22/6 22/6 14/9-15/ South Hetton do 22/ 22/6 14/9 Lamb ton unscreened ... 16/6 15/6 12/3 South Hetton do 16/6 15/6 12/3 Do. treble nuts 19/6 15/6 19/6 16/ Coking coals unscreened 16/ 12/3 Do. smalls 15/3 15/6 12/ Smithies 17/ 17/ 15/6 Peas and nuts 19/6-20/ 19/6 16/ Best bunkers 17/ -17/3 16/ 13/ -13/3 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 15/6 14/ -15/ 12/3 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 36/ 30/ 21/ Teesside furnaces) ... 30/ 30/ 20/ Gas coke 22/ 25/ -26/ 13/ Outward chartering has been fairly brisk. Rates are generally steady. Recent fixtures include : — London, 7s. 3d.; Havre, 12s. 6d.; Rouen, 14s. fid.: Rotterdam, 12s. fid.; Dunkirk or Fecamp, 13s. fid.; Bordeaux, 18s. 6d.; Boucan, 18s.; Rochefort, 17s.: St. Nazaire, 17s.; Genoa, 24s. 6d.; Port Said, 24s.; Marseilles, 24s. fid.; Gibraltar, 18s.; Algiers, 18s. 6d.; Palma, 23s.; and Copenhagen, 12s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The coal trade is steady, with a general tendency to firmness. Fairly good enquiries for gas coal are reported, and deliveries are on a good scale. Best Durhams are on sale at 20s. to 2 s. 6d., and there is more demand for second kinds at 16s. 6d. to 17s. Bunker coal is being taken up freely, and there is a distinctly better feeling in this branch of the fuel trade. Ordinary Durham bunkers range from 15s. 6d. to 16s. f.o.b., best kinds are 17s. 6d. to 18s., and specials are quoted up to 21s. Household coal is very firm. Quotations for coking coal are irregular. There is a moderate demand for unscreened kinds, and they are being more largely shipped. Both unscreened and smalls run from 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. Coke prices are falling, but sellers are very reluctant to admit the fact, and some of them hold out for rates that buyers consider shillings too high. Definite quotations are difficult to fix. Local consumers are out to buy, but they do not readily agree with sellers as to terms. Durham blastfurnace coke, of average quality, is on sale at 27s. 6d. to 28s. delivered at Teesside works, but users declare even these reduced rates are much above what they should be. Good foundry coke for shipment is in the neighbourhood of 35s. f.o.b. Gas coke is scarce, and is quoted up to 27 s. IRON. Shipments of pig iron this month fall short of what was at one time looked for, but they must be considered satis- factory. Deliveries by rail are on a good scale, and the foreign and home requirements are absorbing the output. Rather heavy parcels are going to Scotland, efforts being made to send as much as possible this week to customers north of the Tweed, as the lOd. advance in railway rate to Glasgow comes into force next week, raising the rate from 7s. 6d. to 8s. 4d. Stocks of pig iron are being drawn upon. The quantities of iron at makers’ yards are less than they were, and withdrawals of Cleveland pig from the public warrant stores this month amount to some 8,0C0 tons. Values of Cleveland pig are decidedly easier. No. 3 g.m.b. is now obtainable from some second hands at as low as 66s. 9d., but most merchants ask 67s. Supply of No. 1 Cleveland is still by no means adequate, but the shortage is not so keenly felt as it has been. Those with parcels to dispose of continue to realise very high prices compared with rates ruling for other qualities of Cleveland iron. No. 1 still commands up to 72s. Foundry No. 4 is in fairly good request at 66s. 3d. to 66s. 6d. No. 4 forge is on sale at 65s. 9d., and mottled and white iron are each to be had at 65s. 6d. The east coast haematite branch of the staple industry is in a satisfactory state. Good enquiries on both home and foreign account are reported. Negotiations with Sheffield customers are proceeding, and further sales have been made to Italy and to France. Some rather heavy loadings for Italy are overdue. Makers do not name below 100s. for mixed numbers, and some firms have sold at a rather higher figure, but there are merchants who are still prepared to sell small odd lots at 98s. to 98s. 6d. Little new is ascertainable concerning foreign ore. Consumers are carrying heavy stocks, which are being added to by the large imports, so that naturally they are not in the market to buy. Quotations are based on 26s. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, but sellers will not undertake contracts on such terms for delivery beyond September, as they anticipate considerable trouble with freights in the autumn. In practically all departments of the iron and steel trades a great deal of work is being executed for the Government. Quotations are very firm. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the Cumberland coal industry, and during the last week or two business has increased to such an extent that production is again actually below requirements. The factors that have produced this flourishing condition of things are pretty well understood. In the first place the export trade has been so well maintained during the earlier months of the year that no stocks have accumulated at any of the collieries, and practically the whole of the output has met with a ready market. Then, on the other hand, there are more coke ovens in operation than there was at the corre- sponding period of last year, and a much stronger demand for coke, with the result that all the available coal which was not required for shipping or manufacturing purposes has been used up in the coke ovens. The cross-Channel trade is even stronger in tone than it was a week ago, and the tonnage to Ireland is heavier than it has been at any time during the year. All sorts are in brisk request for the Irish market, and there has been such an expansion of business during the past few days that home merchants are finding it extremely difficult to meet the requirements of Irish customers. The shipments to Londonderry and Carrickfergus last week were higher than they have been this year, and the tonnage to Belfast amounted to 1,480 tons. In the home market household coal is quiet, but slacks, gas coal and manufacturing fuel are in brisk request, and no diminution on this account is expected while the present activity continues in the iron and steel trades. All the collieries are employed six days a week, and the outputs are still on the increase. Values are firm, but unaltered, and while requirements are in excess of production there is no prospect of any immediate fall in prices. Best Cumber- land 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. Best Cumberland coal, free on board at Maryport, is still quoted at the advanced price of 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Stean^ nuts are quoted at about 19s. per ton, and there is a firm demand for bunkers, which are quoted at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. Last week 17 vessels left Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 5,540 tons, an increase of 520 tons compared with the previous week, and an increase of over 1,000 tons compared with the corresponding period of last year. With the increased number of coke ovens in operation throughout the country, there is now a more plentiful supply of coke, but the whole of the production at the local ovens is being absorbed by the West Cumberland smelters. At Maryport, St. Helens, Flimby and Oughterside, best coals delivered are quoted at from Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from