382 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN August 20, 1915. coal. The Spanish Naval Authorities are inviting tenders for about 50,000 tons of superior Admiralty coals, and a similar quantity is being asked for from Greece. There have also been several enquiries for patent fuel, tenders for which have to be sent in next week. The French railways require 50,000 tons, the Algerian railways 46,000 tons, and the North of Spain railways about 20,000 tons, and, although order books are well filled, it is believed that the bulk of the business will be placed in South Wales. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to over 26,000 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 18,185 tons. Pitwood is more plentiful, and ordinary sizes do not command more than 24s. 9d. to 25s. The Custom House statistics for the first six months of the present year furnish interesting reading. The total exports of coal from the Bristol Channel ports amount to 9,999,384 tons, compared with 14,469,769 tons in the first six months of last year, but it must be remembered that in these figures Admiralty business is excluded. In only six instances are increases recorded, the only one of impor- tance being France, whose imports have improved to the extent of nearly three-quarters of a million tons. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). large kinds and culm and duff are all in good demand. The position is not quite so firm as regards the steam and bituminous markets, and the colliery people are experiencing some difficulty in keeping at full work. This is not so much due to the scarcity of business but to the difficulty in obtaining permits for shipment. If these would only come along with less delay, then for the next few weeks at least the market should remain firm. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * Superior seconds * * — Ordinary do 23/ -24/ 30/ -32/ 17/ -18/ Best bunker smalls 21/ 21/ -22/ 7/6- 8/6 Best ordinaries 19/ -20/ 20/ 6/6- 7/ Cargo qualities 16/ -16/6 17/6-18/6 4/6- 6/ Inferior smalls 14/6-15/ 16/6-17/ — Best dry coals 24/ -26/ 30/ -32/ 15/6-16/6 Ordinary drys 23/ —24/ 28/ -30/ — Best washed nuts 26/ 28/ — Seconds 24/ 26/ Best washed peas 23/ 25/ — Seconds 22/ 23/ —- Dock screenings 19/ 21/ — Monmouthshire— Black Veins 24/ -25/ 31/9 17/ -17/6 Western-valleys 23/ -24/ 31/3 16/3-16/9 Eastern-valleys 22/ -23/ 30/3 15/ -15/9 Inferior do. 20/ -21/ 29/6-3C/ — Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 30/ 30/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/6 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 26/ -27/ 28/ — Through-and-through 23/ 25/ — Small 21/ 23/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 20/ -22/ 27/ — Through-and-through 19/ 24/ — Small 17/ 19/ -20/ — Best patent fuel 35/ 35/ — Seconds 32/ -33/ 32/ -33/ — Special foundry coke 41/ -44/ 41/ -44/ — Ordinary do. 37/ -40/ 38/ -42/ — Furnace coke 30/ -33/ 30/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 24/9-25/ 24/ -25/ 35/ Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week was fairly active, notwithstanding the trouble with the tippers ; both the coal and patent fuel trades were satisfactory under the existing conditions, the shipments amounting to 96,737 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change, but unsettled conditions prevailed on the anthracite coal market. Owing to the retarding of licences on the part of the Government there was more free large offering, although prices were not materially altered. Red Vein large was strong at last quotations. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were scarce, whilst rubbly culm and duff were steady. In steam coals a slightly easier feeling was in evidence. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L'st week’s!Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 28/ -30/ 26/ -28/ — Secondary do. 26/ -28/ 26/ -27/ 1 — Big Vein large 28/ -30/ 28/ -32/ 1 Red Vein large 23/ -35/ 20/ -23/6 — Machine - made cobbles (net) 34/6-40/ 34/6-36/ — Paris nuts do ! — — — French do. do 38/ -42/ 38/ -42/ — Stove do. do 38/ -40/ 36/ -40/ — Beans do 26/ -30/ 25/6—30/ — Machine - made large peas do i 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 — Do. fine peas do.... 1 — — Rubbly culm 12/ -12/6 12/ -13/ — Duff (net) 6/6- 7/6 6/9- 7/3 — Steam coals:— Best large 26/6-28/ 26/ -29/6 23/6-25'6 ___________________________ — Seconds (less 21 p.c.) ... 23/6-25/6 — Bunkers do 20/ -21/ 20/ -30/ — Small do 14/ -16/ 15/ -17/ — Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 26/6-30/ 26/6-31/ Thro'-and-thro' — — — Small 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ — Patent fuel 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ — s but considerable uncertainty is everywhere experienced as to the prices at which the orders are entered. In most cases the invaried price is left with the colliery owners to charge what is considered the legal charge—as the merchants are assured the pit prices will not be so high as they were in July, before the passing of the Act. Coke is quoted in some cases 2s. per ton lower, and small nuts are increasing in demand, but prices are regulated by the new Bill and are in consequence much lower than last month. Slacks are plentiful and prices are weaker. In the seaborne market 40 contract cargoes were returned on Monday’s market as entering the River Thames, and six for Wednesday last, all sold. The question of shipping coal to France has been uppermost in many shipping circles during the week, but all anxiety has been allayed by the assurances of the British Government that no restriction is to be placed on coal exported to France. In the freight market the Humber ports are reporting a firmer trade. The Mediterranean department is steadily increasing, and forw’ard enquiries are noticeable, but no quotations are given for London. From the Tyne, however, fixtures have been made at 6s. 9d. per ton freight. The demand for Tyne qualities is slow, and the difficulty is still heavy in securing export licences. To France and Italy arrangements are proceeding fairly well, but no licences are being granted to Sweden. Denmark has the constant danger of the vessels falling into the enemy’s hands, but to Norway the position is improving. Heavy enquiries are to hand for the French and Italian railways. Tonnage is scarce; but steams are down to 19s. f.o.b. Durham coals, for the moment, are in stronger demand than Northumberland, especially for bunker coals. Chili is asking for 30,000 tons of steam coal, and the Algerian State Railways are in the market for 46,000 tons of patent fuel. ..... ................ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, August 13.—There were no Durham or Yorkshire seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which continued quiet. Cargoes, 32. Monday, August 16.—There were no seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which remained quiet. Cargoes, 40. Wednesday, August 18.—No sales were reported to-day in the seaborne house coal market, which continued quiet. Cargoes, 6. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — The market is firm, and prices keep steady. There is no notable change in the position, and the demand is satisfactory. Crude carbolic is firm, while toluol and benzols continue to fetch full values. Nearest * Nominal. IRON. There was again rather a heavy falling off in the ship- ment of tin-plates last week, the exports only amounting to 39,884 boxes, compared with 45,164 received from works, thus leaving 268,587 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans, compared with 263,307 boxes the preceding week and 252,486 boxes the corresponding week of last year. Prices are again rather easier, Bessemer standard cokes being 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d., and oil sizes 19s. and 27s. respectively. Welsh steel bars are steady at £7 5s. per ton both for Siemens and Bessemer qualities. There has been a further substantial decline in the price of spelter, which is now quoted at <£64 per ton, compared with over £100 several weeks ago, and 24-gauge corrugated sheets are offering at £18 to £18 10s. per ton. Works are still only moderately employed, and there is an unfortunate lack of new business. In some instances there is a shortage of labour owing to men having joined munition works. Welsh pig iron remains steady at 105s. to 107s. 6d. delivered. The iron ore market is rather firmer, best rubio being 24s. to 25s., and second qualities 21s. 6d. per ton. In scrap metals there is practically no alteration, and business is quiet. IRON. Last week the output of pig iron compared favourably with that of the preceding period, whilst the steelworks in the district were actively engaged, most of the furnaces being in operation. The tin-plate trade was not very brisk, but was better than in the previous week, an additional two mills having been restarted, but there is a shortage of hands for the furnaces. Three sheet mills were put into operation on Monday. The bar mills were fully engaged. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 39,844 boxes, receipts from works 45,164 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 268,587 boxes. quotations are :— Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................ ,, 50’s ,, ................ Toluol .............................. Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) .... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ........... ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ........... Tar (per ton ex works) ............. 1/01—1/1 /nJ Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. i/i 2/2—2/4 3/6 1/4—1/6 2/-2/1 ... - 2/—2/1 /6-/6J /3-/3A 22/—23/ 20/—24/ Llanelly. COAL. The coal market of this district at the moment is rather a difficult one. Orders are plentiful, but the difficulty in arranging sales owing to the delay in securing licences is rather upsetting the market. The demand for all kinds is practically as good as ever, whilst for the most part prices are easily being maintained. For anthracite kinds the enquiry has not been so heavy for a considerable time, and most pits have enough orders on hand to keep them going for the rest of the "month without accepting any more. Customers are experiencing considerable delays in having their orders attended to. The machine-made kinds are almost unobtainable, and prices are very high. The various _______________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large ... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts ......... French do.................... Paris do.......... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal __... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... i Current I prices. I 27/ -29/ ' 26/ -28/ 28/ -32/ I 23/ -25/ 36/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 39/ -41/ 38/ -40/ 26/ -29/ 18/ -19/6 12/ -12/6 6/6- 7/6 27/ -29/ 20/ -22/ | 14/ -16/ 1 19/ -21/ L'st week's Last year’s prices. | prices. 27/ -29/ ' 21/ -23/ 26/ -28/ i 19/ -21/ 28/ -32/ 16/ -18/ 22/ -23/ ' 13/6-14/6 36/ -38/ : 20/ -22/ 38/ -40/ 21/ -23/ 39/ -41/ ; 21/ -23/ 38/ -40/ ’ 21/ -23/ 26/ -29/ ! 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/6 13/6-14/6 12/ -12/6 6/ - 6/3 6/6- 7/6 3/9- 5/6 27/ -29/ 16/ -18/ 21/ -23/ 11/ -11/6 14/ -16/ 8/6- 9/6 19/ -21/ 11/ -11/6 ___________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 19. .. ____________ The London coal trade for the past week has been very unsettled. The attendance on the London Coal Exchange has been larger, and the keen interest taken in all the various brandies of the trade in the new Bill on all sides shows very clearly that considerable uneasiness is felt as to the effect it may have upon the trade generally in the winter season now that the colder weather is so rapidly approaching. As a rule the month of August, and particularly September, are busy months for “ buying ” in anticipation of the winter’s supply, and now that the lessened output is making itself felt in a variety of ways, the merchants and factors are anxious to buy up any quantities of house coal offering at reasonably low prices. Very few collieries, however, have much to offer, and some, by reason of their commitments under contract, are .absolutely refusing all orders and offers unless from contract buyers, and are in consequence entirely off the market. The merchants also seem unwilling to commit themselves too deeply in view of a possible reduction in the pit prices later on, on account of the rigorous con- ditions of the new Bill. The meeting called for Monday last at the Cannon Street Hotel was well attended, and certain resolutions were carried urging the Board of Trade to ease the restrictions as to factors and wholesale traders, having in view the contracts already entered into before the Bill passed into law. A margin of Is. 6d. per ton profit as a maximum on all sales was what the meeting wanted. A large quantity was recognised as being sold under this figure, and as the prices varied so considerably in the factor’s books it was felt that a maximum of Is. 6d. per ton profit, if allowed without fine or penalty, would meet the case. The tone of the market remains very firm, and on all sides there is a distinct eagerness to lay in as much coal as possible in stock in view of the probable shortage in the winter. Derby brights are still the principal enquiry, and although in many cases as much as 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton is suggested as the colliery figure, yet all these quotations are merely nominal. The bulk of the colliery representatives refrain from booking orders even at the high prices, as it is realised that it would be an infringement of the Act, and therefore liable to serious penalties. Many of the agents have instructions to decline all orders except from contractors, and in other cases only old. long-standing customers can secure the small quantities available, whatever price may be offered. The depot trade -is slow, thus showing that the extra demand from the general public has to a very large extent been overtaken. In every direction there are indications that difficulties are anticipated in the near future, and it is currently reported that many of the principal London merchants have been officially advised to lay in heavy stocks during the next few weeks. Steam coal, kitchen cobbles and bakers’ nuts are selling freely, and the monthly contract quantities are strenuously urged forward, 21/6—25/6 . Sulphate of Ammonia.—According to reports from cer- tain quarters prices are stated to be easier, but apparently the wish is father to the thought, for the demand for for- ward is good, and, if anything, values have a hardening tendency. Nearest prompt prices are :— Rise (+) or London (ordinary makes) £14/17/6 fall (-) on the week. Beckton (25 per.cent.) £14/5 — Liverpool £14/18/9 ... -1/3 Hull £14/15 Middlesbrough £14/15 — Scotch ports £15/5—£15/10 — Wales £14/12/6 — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. 12/9 +/U ______ Trade Notes. Some months back reference was made to the desirability of studying the possibility of making a more concentrated form of fertiliser by making an ammonium phosphate product. According to advice from America, actual progress has been made in this direction, and a product called “ Ammo Phos ” has been produced in sufficient quantities to enable agricultural experiments to be carried out with very striking results. The product contains 13 per cent, of NH3 and 45 per cent, of P2O5. Unfortunately, the source of ammonia is cyanamide, which is converted into ammonia and calcium carbonate by a simple and not costly process. To all accounts three or four plants have been put down in Germany to effect this conversion. Seeing that we can produce 25 per cent, sulphate of ammonia, it seems a pity we cannot produce a phospho-ammonium product containing only half this amount of ammonia. The main point is that America should be at work on such an ideal fertiliser from cyanamide. Our exports of sulphate of ammonia to the United States are steadily declining (about 2,300 tons less this month alone), and this new com- bined source of ammonia and phosphoric acid is calculated to make things worse. The sulphate of ammonia export returns for last month are satisfactory, but surprising. The gross totals show a small shrinkage of about 60 tons, and the values actually show an increase of abouk £54,000. So far so good. But it is far from pleasant to find such regular customers as Spain, the United States, Japan, and Italy taking much less than at this time last year. Were it not for the great increase in the demand for the Dutch East Indies, the returns would have been depressing. As it is, the fact of having to depend on one customer is not sound business, even though that customer can account for an extra 9,000 tons. The increase in other countries also is not so noticeable, being onlv about 1,760 tons. The returns for the week have been Pitch, 13 tons, 160 barrels, and £151. Tar, 16,590 galls., £17. Sulphate of ammonia, 2,470 tons.