228 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN July 30, 1915. 2?s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Working- ton, 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 quotations are as follow:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. BestCumberTnd 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 pit 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/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 15/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 13/6 Bunkers 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. The Cumberland haematite iron trade is in a quiet, but fairly steady, condition. For some weeks there has been practically no change in values, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at from 107s. 6d. to 108s. fid. per ton, free on board at the usual ports, while warrants at cash still stand at 95s. per ton, compared with 61s. per ton at the corresponding period of last year—just a week before war broke out. Special iron is quoted at from 123s. to 125s. per ton, and ferro-manganese is firm at <£20 per ton. With regard to ordinary haematite iron, business is slightly easier than it has been for some time. Forward buying to any extent has practically ceased, for the present at any rate, and users are merely purchasing to cover their more immediate requirements. Special low phosphorus iron, for the use of those engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war is in much firmer demand than ordinary haematites, but even this make is now said to be greater than require- ments. For the first time for some months stocks are accumulating in makers" yards, and the stocks in public stores have been increased by 667 tons since last week end. There are still 23 furnaces in operation, 15 in Cumberland and eight in the Furness district. More than one-half of furnaces are employed in making special iron, while the remainder are on ordinary haematites and the Workington Iron and Steel Company have one furnace on ferro- manganese at their Old Side works. Workington are making both for the market and consumption at the steel- works, but the bulk of the special iron made in the district is being consigned to Birmingham, Sheffield, and other places in the Midlands. The steel trade is in only a quiet condition, and the amount of new business coming forward is not considerable. All the engineering shops are well employed on Government orders. Trade is very brisk in the iron ore industry, and the demand for metal is as strong as ever. In spite of the fact that large quantities of foreign ore are now coming to hand, local prices have undergone no change, and Cumberland ore is still quoted at from 24s. to 36s. per ton at the mines. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The demand from the inland household market for consumption and stocking combined is above what is usual at this time of the year. In shipping, requirements of bunkering fuel under contract are well maintained, and there is perhaps rather more open sale enquiry. Supplies are coming along fairly well, particularly from the York- shire district, and prices continue on the easy side, quotations for Lancashire steam coals for present shipment ranging from 18s. to 19s. f.o.b., according to quality. The shipment of household coal for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade goes on in satisfactory quantities. Slacks continue scarce in quantity and firm in price. It is only exceptional where restrictions of consumption through holidays puts a little on hand in the sidings, and there is no difficulty in disposing of it in other channels. Generally, the pits in this district will play on Monday and Tuesday for the August holidays. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Current prices. 20/9 L’st week’s prices. 20/9 Last year’s prices. 17/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 16/6-16/9 Medium 19/ 19/ 15/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 20/ 20/ 14/6-15/ Kitchen 16/9-17/ i 16/9-17/ 13/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 19/ 19/ 13/3-13/9 Screened forge coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/6-12/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 18/ -19/ 18/6-19/6 12/3-13/ Best slack 14/ 14/ 9/9 Secondary slack 12/6 12/6 9/ Common do 10/6 10/ 8/ - 8/6 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was scarcely an average attendance on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The business trans- action was limited, house coal being dull, spot lots being offered at somewhat lower prices for immediate delivery. Furnace coal remains in good demand, and there is a steady enquiry for shipping coal. The slack position is on the moderate side, concessions in prices being made in odd cases to clear wagons. Generally the price list is as below :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ 11/ -12/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ 11/ -12/3 Last year's prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 9/6-10/ 8/6— 9/ IRON. Pig iron is perhaps a shade easier, and about 75s. repre- sents the price of -good No. 3 iron. There is, however, very little buying, as the foundry trade continues the weak spot in the district. Forges are well employed. Nominally the price of crown iron is £11, but at this price there are no makers who will contract, and higher prices are easily obtained, more on the steel makers" level, which is now £11 15s. Iron hoops are still quoted at £13 2s. 6d., and steel at £12 17s. 6d. Sheets, £12 10s. to £13. Engineers are very busy, also wagon works. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The exact form of the Coal Prices (Limitation) Bill, as it has emerged from the report stage, was not known on the market on Tuesday, but since the news has come it may be said that, on the whole, coal owners are fairly well satisfied with it. While it will reduce the price secured under the bulk of the contracts already placed, by roughly Is. 6d. per ton, this reduction will not operate until November 1, so that some benefit will be secured to producers from the high prices at which coal has been sold since April 1. Large consumers naturally are also satisfied with the Bill, as, although it does not give them the full relief desired, they quite recognise that there are two sides to this question. The real difficulty, however, is not the limitation of prices so much as a question of supplies. Two facts stand out very prominently at the present time. One is the continual shrinkage of output which is going on by miners still enlisting. The other is that within recent weeks there has been a great increase in the number of absentees among the miners, which also is having a very serious effect upon the output. The atten- dance on the market on Tuesday was fairly representative, but the volume of business put through was below the average, the main bulk of it being in manufacturing fuel. Very little trade was done in house coal, on account of month-end considerations. The pits have worked full time, but the scarcity of empty wagons still causes difficulty at the collieries, a state of things which is intensified by the delays that occur to loaded traffic, particularly between the West Riding and London and the south. Cases are reported of trucks averaging a fortnight to three weeks to do the journey. Considering the time of the year, the demand for house coal from the London market continues to be wonderfully strong, but the collieries are so fully sold of the best sorts that these qualities are not being offered at present. In these circumstances current pit prices are firmly held. With regard to the future, the uncertainty as to the Government proposals for the limiting of prices has in recent weeks had the effect of checking the making of contracts. In practically all the principal towns in the West Riding the stocking of winter supplies at the depots is taking place extensively, but merchants report only a quiet demand from the public. There is no change in current pit prices, which average :— Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 19s. to 20s.; secondary sorts, 17s. to 18s. Consumers of gas coal are still asking for heavy- deliveries on contract, and the full output finds a ready outlet. From both Goole and Hull considerable shipments to France are taking place, at about 19s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull for screened gas coal, and 18s. f.o.b. Hull for unscreened. The position of manufacturing coal is very strong, there still being a big demand for all classes. Complaints are heard of scarcity of supplies in the Bradford district. Large quantities of washed nuts and washed pea nuts are being shipped to the ports of our Allies, particularly France and Italy. The weakness in coking smalls, noted last week, is still apparent. This applies also to washed furnace coke, which shows a further decline, best qualities now being quoted at about 22s. per ton at the ovens, and secondary grades about 21s. There has been a little falling off in the demand from the iron and steel works in the Leeds district, but full supplies are required for Frodingham and the Midlands, and there are no stocks of furnace coke in the hands of makers. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/ Wallsend & London best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/9 Silkstone best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/9 Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 12/ —12/6 House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 16/6-17/6 Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 15/6-16/6 Do. house 19/ -20/6 19/ -20/6 13/9-14/6 Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/3 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 11/ -11/6 Gas nuts I 15/ -16/ 10/ -10/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 9/6-10/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/ 9/6-10/6 Small nuts 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 9/ - 9/9 Rough unscreened engine coal 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 9/6- 9/9 Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 7/ - 8/3 Small do. 11/6—12/6 11/6-12/6 6/ - 6/9 Coking smalls ‘ 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 6/ - 7/ Coke:— Price at ovens: j 21/ -22/ Furnace coke 21/ -24/ 10/ -10/6 Barnsley. COAL. The Coal Prices (Limitation) Bill had a considerable effect upon business at the usual market. There has been a considerable holding off pending a fuller realisation of its objects. The situation in regard to business, generally speaking, has not materially altered during the week, collieries apparently being able to dispose of the whole of the output. In these times of shortage in the production the effect of local holidays is being seriously felt, and there were many complaints of the laxity on the part of the men not putting in regular attendance at their work. It is satisfactory to record that the dispute regarding the surface workers" wages agreement, which affected a number of local thin-seam collieries, has been amicably settled, and the notices which were pending have been withdrawn. The owners, however, have retained their right to place the points in dispute before an arbitrator. The amending of the Government proposal regarding coal prices was keenly criticised, in view of its unfairness, by not applying to railway contracts which were made last December, at low prices during the weakening market. In the case of a number of collieries, this class of contract forms a material percentage of the trade, and, apparently, they have to bear the added cost of production without being able to adequately recoup themselves. The demand for large steam fuel on home account is well maintained, but the restriction in the granting of licences continues to have a serious effect on trade generally, but on the whole prices are fairly well held. Not so much complaint was heard of lower prices in regard to coal in second hands, and last week"s quotations were of a firm description. The enquiry for steam nuts continues to be of a heavy character, and beyond the capacity of collieries to meet. There is no difficulty in keeping up prices for this class of coal. Although for some classes of slacks the demand is hardly so active, the full production of the collieries is readily dealt with, and prices generally are maintained. The foreign demand for gas coal, as well as on account of home require- ments, is also well sustained, and there is an absence of stock at the collieries. The demand for house coal continues to be of a vigorous description, and owing to the continued policy on the part of merchants to accumulate adequate stocks. A quieter demand for coke is beginning to be felt. Although the output of the ovens can still be dealt with fairly easily, prices have shown a little weakness, and there is a continued indifference to fix up contracts on the part of both buyers and sellers. Prices at pit. House coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’* prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ * 15/ -15/6 Best Barnsley softs 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 18/ -19/ 14/9-15/ Secondary do. 1 16/6-17/6 12/ —13/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/9-11/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 11/9 Secondary do 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 10/9-11/ Best washed nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -15/6 10/9 Secondary do 15/ -15/6 9/9-10/ Best slack 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 12/ -12/6 6/9- 7/ Rough do 12/ -12/6 5/9- 6/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ ! 11/6 Unscreened do 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 10/6 Gas nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 10/6-11/ Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 25/ 10/3-10/6 Hull. COAL. If anything, the market is a little steadier, and in some directions approaches firmness, though values do not show a very marked advance on the week. Supplies are well maintained, and are about equal to the demand. Four- fifths of the export trade, however, is with France, whose takings show no diminution, business with neutral countries, especially in Scandinavia, being still greatly restricted by the exacting conditions under which export thence is permitted. Occasionally a licence or two comes to hand, but not for very large quantities, and trade with Russia and Italy still continues on modest lines. Best South Yorkshire steam hards are a fairly good market at 19s. to 20s. for prompt shipment, while secondary sorts are well sought after, and values have a rising tendency, washed doubles commanding 19s. to 19s. 6d., washed singles 18s. to 18s. 6d., and ditto small coal 14s. 6d. to 15s. 6d. The market for Derbyshire steam hards remains very dull and inactive owing to the chief outlet for them (Sweden) being practi- cally closed except for infinitesimal lots sent to firms making munitions of war for the Allies. Their value is thus nominal at 18s. 6d. f.a.s. Grimsby or Immingham. House coal is quiet on the basis of 18s. for West Yorkshire Hartleys, and gas coal (screened) steady at 19s. to 20s. Shipments at the docks are quite up to recent levels. Business in the freight market is confined almost solely to the chartering of handy tonnage for French ports at some- thing under late rates, 14s. having been accepted for a large steamer Hull to Rouen, with 14s. 6d. asking for handy-sized steamers, and 12s. 6d. paid for small tonnage to other near ports. There is nothing doing in the Mediterranean direction. Chesterfield. COAL. There is no change in the condition of the coal trade of North Derbyshire compared with that of a week ago. The collieries are all working full time, the demand for every class of coal being good. There is, however, an absence of any great pressure, and customers generally are satisfied with the way in which their requirements are being met. House coal orders are coming forward freely at current prices, which remain on a firm basis. Fuel for consumption in the large works of Sheffield is in steady demand, but no difficulty is experienced in supplying all that is wanted fairly promptly. Stocks, however, are on a much reduced scale, and buyers are entirely dependent on the output of the collieries from day to day. There is a strong demand for slack for boiler - firing, and the Lancashire cotton mills continue to draw substantial supplies from this district. The demand for steam coal for locomotive use is rather quieter, as the railway companies are more fully supplied than they have been for many months. The