f 330 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 13, 1915. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The attendance of members on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday was still affected by the holiday season. In house coal there is little doing, but in furnace coal there is a steady business, and there is a fair enquiry for shipping coal. There is no pressure for slack now; on the other hand the enquiry is somewhat poor. Prices generally are 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’sjLast year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ 11/ -12/ prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ —16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 9/6-10/, [ 8/6- 9/ IRON. Good Derbyshire iron remains at 75s., with other not so favourable brands at Is. 6d. per ton less. Forges are still fairly busy. The Associated price of Crown iron is nominally =£11 10s., but makers find that higher prices than this can be got, and there are* very few of them quoting under <£12 10s. Officially, hoops are quoted at =£13 2s. 6d. for iron, and <£12 17s. 6d. for steel. While perhaps the actual trade iron bars is not enough to keep the forges going full time, this can be easily done by rolling down the American billets that are going into their works at con- siderably under the English steel works’ price. Few of the English steel works are on billets, most of them being better employed than on the semi-finished material. The price of steel bars can be taken as <£11 15s., except where the more important classes of steel are required, which are subject to tests and inspection for Government work, when higher prices are, of course, secured. The various trades of the district seem to be fairly well employed, except the foundries, which stijl continue the weak feature. There are no changes in prices to report. . Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. It is not likely that the extension of the restrictions on the exportation of coal to the countries of our Allies will have much effect on collieries in West Yorkshire. For some time past the bulk of the coal exported from this district has been for the French Government or the municipal gas and electricity undertakings of France, and it seems reasonable to anticipate that there will be no difficulty in the future in securing licences for this class of business. West Yorkshire coal owners as a whole approve of the action of the Government, which, as a natural corollary of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, was expected. There is no special feature to note of the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Business was quiet all round, the chief demand being for manufacturing fuel. While the pits have worked full time this week, the output has been on the light side. Empty trucks are still plentiful, and since the beginning of August there has been a welcome improvement in regard to the transit of loaded trucks on the railway. There has been an appreciable falling off in the demand for house coal from London and the eastern and southern counties, and little is required in excess of contract supplies. A quite state of affairs is reported in the retail market in London. Colliery prices are not affected by the decreased demand, however, as any surplus output is being ground stocked at the pits in readiness for the winter. It is not expected locally that there will be any alteration of public prices in London until September. Not much business is passing in the coastwise trade, except in the cheaper grades of house coal, although a considerable tonnage of washed nuts is being consigned ex-Hull for armament and other works on the Thames. For the mid-summer season the local house coal trade is fairly brisk, mainly in the secondary sorts, but very little stocking has been done at local depots since the passing of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, as merchants expect to be able to secure supplies in the open market at reasonable prices. Current prices may be averaged as follow:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 19s. to 20s.; secondary sorts, 17s. to 18s. The limited supplies of gas coal are well taken up, as the demand for export, especially for France and Italy, is still good. Inland gas works are now fairly well stocked and there is very little 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/ -15/ Wallsend & London best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 Silkstone best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 12/6-13/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/9-12/3 Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 17/ -18/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 16/ -17/ Do. house 19/ -20/6 19/ -20/6 14/3-15/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: ,18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 Screened gas coal 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 11/ -12/ Gas nuts 14/6-15/6 10/ -11/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— . Prices at pit: 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 9/6-10/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -12/ engine nuts 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 9/6-10/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 . 9/ -10/ engine coal 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 13/6-14/6 9/6-10/6 Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 7/ - 8/6 Small do. 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 6/ - 7/ Coking smalls Coke Price at ovens: 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 6/ - 7/ Furnace coke 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 10/6-11/6 new business passing. With regard to manufacturing fuel there is a scarcity of washed nuts, and all qualities sell readily. There is a rather more plentiful supply of rough slacks for the open market, and prices are a shade easier. Coking smalls also are plentiful, but quotations are unchanged. Washed furnace coke is offering more freely, and the prices quoted are more or less nominal. Barnsley. COAL. There continues to be a good deal of discussion as to the effect of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and until many points arising therefrom have been cleared up, there is bound to be a considerable holding up of business. The South Yorkshire coal owners, it is understood, are holding meetings with a view to arriving at joint action in dealing with some of the points which have cropped up as affecting the selling prices, and possibly a week hence the air will have been cleared of the doubts which now exist, and a basis established for future business. Considering the extent to which the number of workers has been depleted owing to recruiting, the output is generally admitted to be of a rather improved character, but for most classes of coal the demand is still in excess of the supply. The enquiry in some respects may be somewhat abnormal, in view of the desirability to lay in stocks, to prepare for a possible shortage, and other difficulties which are not improbable during the latter part of the year. Considerable appre- hension exists as to the effect of the new Order requiring licences to be obtained for shipment to allied countries, but at the present there is more activity in the export trade than for a considerable time past. The demand for all classes of coal for France is exceptionally heavy, and with the strong home enquiry being maintained, prices generally are firmly held as compared with a week ago. Large steams are fully cleared, and best hards are making up to 17s. 6d. per ton, whilst a slight improvement in the value of secondary sorts continues to be maintained, and renewals or extensions of contracts for supplies of the railway companies are being fixed more expeditiously, There is also a strong export demand for steam nuts, which are being so largely bought for the home engineering works. The output continues to be inadequate of the requirements of the market, and although quotations are unaltered they remain of a firm description. The demand for gas coal is also influenced by the requirements of France, and although collieries continue to work full time, the full production is hardly equal to the demand at a period .when the coal for supplies from gas companies is somewhat quieter. With regard to slacks, buyers are not so pressing for deliveries as of late, but the collieries seem to have sufficient orders on hand as to enable them to dispose of the output. A little improvement in the demand for rough slacks has been felt, but prices are not affected. In respect to house coal, merchants continue to report a considerable delay in obtaining deliveries from the collieries, especially of best kinds. A larger tonnage than is usually taken at this period of. the year is leaving the collieries, although obviously a considerable percentage of this must be added to the stock held by merchants. However this may be, sellers report that prices remain very firm, and there seems no prospect of any reduction, Although there has been some slight improvement in the demand for coke, prices have not materially advanced, but there is an indica- tion of more firmness than was the case a fortnight ago. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices.* Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ — Secondary do 16/6-17/6 16/6—17/6 — Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do J.VZ/ u. 1 1 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ — Steam coals:— Best hard coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ — Best washed nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do J.V/ A 1 1 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 — Best slack 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 1 Rough do. 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ — Unscreened do 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ Gas nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Furnace coke 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ — * Outbreak of war. Hull. COAL. Business in the export market has continued on quiet lines and although the tone is not really firm it is fairly sound in the presence of a steady demand. There has been a somewhat better enquiry for the Mediterranean and on the eve of new licencing regulations there has been a brisk prompt demand for France. Little is, however, being allowed to go to Scandinavian countries, the business with which is now at a very low ebb. After the end of this week allied countries (except British possessions) will be subject to the same licencing restrictions as neutral countries and in view of this there is no buying for forward delivery, exporters and agents anxiously waiting to see how the War Department Committee’s policy develops. Current values for prompt shipment f.o.b. are : — Best South Yorkshire hards 19s. to 20s. 6d., ditto washed doubles 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d., ditto singles 18s. to 18s. 6d. and washed small coal 14s. to 15 s. 6d. Derbyshire steams do not improve and are quite a nominal market at 18s. to 18s. 6d. at Grimsby or Immingham. There is little doing in house coal, and West Yorkshire Hartleys are quiet, at 18s. to 18s. 6d. Shipments at the docks continue good as things are at present, and shipping tonnage is being taken up freely at slightly easier rates. Steamers fixed this week include a 6,000-tonner for Buenos Ayres at 24s. 6d., a medium-sized vessel for Genoa-Savona at 22s. 6d., another for Alexandria at 22s. 6d., while several small steamers have been chartered to load for Rouen at 13s. 6d. Coastwise rates are about 6s. 6d. London. Chesterfield. COAL. On the whole, the coal trade of North Derbyshire may be said to be quieter than it has been at any period of this year. From this condition of things it may be inferred, fairly, that supplies of all classes of coal are more plentiful, and there is no indication of pressure anywhere at the moment. This satisfactory position, from the consuming point of view, may alter suddenly with the advent of colder weather, when house coal, which is now being disposed of for various industrial purposes, will come again into demand for household consumption, and buyers of all classes of coal will become anxious with regard to their requirements of fuel for the approaching autumn and winter months. There is no change in prices, which maintain their firmness all round. Manufacturing fuel continues in steady demand, but consumers are much less pressing as regards supplies than they have been during many months past. It is not uncommon for some large buyers to request collieries to suspend deliveries of coal for as much as a week at a time. Railway companies are much less pressing in their demands for steam coal for locomotive purposes, as they find that deliveries on account of existing contracts are coming forward more freely. There is no change to report with regard to the export trade, which continues in a very quiet condition. It is impossible to predict what the effect of the latest Orde^ in Council will have upon the shipments of coal to our Allies. The demand for coal for France con- tinues good, but the supply may fall off owing to the lack of licences permitting shipment. Small cobbles and large nuts are in strong demand, and a large tonnage has been sold for forward delivery. Washed fuel is in good request, and prices remain firm. The coke market is much weaker, and prices are drooping steadily. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 12/6 Secondary do 16/6 16/6 11/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 10/6 9/6 Nuts 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 7/6 IRON. There is no improvement in the demand for pig iron, buyers continuing to buy only from month to month. Bar iron of all kinds is in brisk request, and all works engaged upon its manufacture are extremely busy. Nottingham. COAL. There is a less buoyant tone in the coal trade of Notting- hamshire than for some weeks past. In the absence of pressure for immediate deliveries, collieries are now in a better position to wipe off any arrears on contract supplies and to secure a limited stock of those qualities of fuel which for the moment are not in keen request. A quieter tone pervades the domestic fuel branch. Merchants in the district report that orders are coming to hand very slowly, and that the demand is not up to the average for the time of the year. This falling off they attribute to the fact that the public have been purchasing freely throughout the summer, fearing that higher prices might operate after Bank holiday. In the present state of affairs values are slightly easier. Most collieries, however, have a fair amount of orders on their books, as merchants in the southern and eastern counties are taking good supplies. There is little change to record in the steam coal section. Exports do not show any improvement, and while the demand on home account is hardly as active, still a steady, sound business is being transacted. Slacks are selling well, and collieries have no difficulty in disposing of supplies of almost every quality, but there is not the keenness which characterised this branch some time ago, except for certain best qualities. Gas coal is going- out of hand satisfactorily. Prices at pithead. Current prices. 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/6 prices. 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 10/ -11/ 10/3-10/9 9/6-10/ 6/6- 7/ 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. ; L’st week’s! Last year’s i prices, i —*— ' 18/6-20/ i ! 16/6-17/6 , ! 15/ -16/ i 17/6-18/ ! 15/ -16/ i 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/6 10/ -11/6 J 10/ -11/6 Leicestershire. COAL. Some very important modifications have been brought about in the lists of prices for the collieries in this district in order to bring the quotations strictly within the limits scantioned by legislation. The restraining influence exerted is generally regarded as on the whole quite beneficial to all concerned, although who very reluctantly concede the real necessity for the limitation of prices. There is, however, a very strong and growing conviction that the evils which have arisen have been brought about by the general rush for coal supplies by those who have plenty of storage capacity and means to speculate far in advance of actual or prospective requirements in the near future. The output is quite inadequate to comply with the demands of con- sumers, but it is equally certain that a very considerable percentage of the manufacturing fuel being sent out is not being consumed. True, the consumption has increased to a very large extent, but the real basis of the urgency shown to secure supplies is the great number of firms who are engaged on Government work of a very important character, with penalties for non-delivery by a specified date. These users are naturally almost compelled, if possible, to maintain larger reserves of coal supply than usual in order that they may keep up their production even in the event of a temporary suspension of the ordinary and regular coal supplies. The municipalities have been acting in a similar way, and also many hundreds of public institu- tions. The cumulative effect of this is very great and upsets the balance of the fuel supply so much that cobbles and large nuts are being utilised in very heavy quantities. If this is maintained for many weeks longer it will have a very material effect upon the quantity of these classes of coal, which will be available for ordinary domestic consumption.