682 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 1, 1915. week at 19s. f.o.b. Hull. In the local trade, a number of the collieries have sent out circulars to merchants, intimating an advance of Is. per ton to-morrow (Friday.) This has been done lonly where the advance does not contravene the Limitation Act, and is by no means general. Merchants are finding a stronger call for the better qualities, a fact which no doubt reflects the activity and prosperity of the West Riding industries. There is scarcely a ton of free gas coal on offer. The collieries, in fact, are very hardly pressed to keep abreast of their contract commitments, and shipment to France provides a ready outlet for any surplus there may be. One or two of the bigger Yorkshire gas- works are reported not to be fully covered by their contract purchases, and are still in the open market. There is also considerable difficulty in keeping munition works and manufacturers generally fully supplied with manufacturing fuel, as, with the colder weather and the need for warming the mills and workshops, the consumption has gone up to an appreciable extent. Small slacks are a shade firmer in price. Weakness is still a feature of the market for washed furnace coke. Spot lots have changed hands at 15s. per ton at the ovens. Very little forward business is being booked, as the outlet of the iron and steel trades, which are affected by the limitation of export of these materials, is not very bright at the moment. Barnsley. COAL. A considerable improvement in the demand of several classes of coal has become manifest during the week, with the result that many collieries are again hard pressed in giving prompt deliveries to buyers. Quite a rush of orders have been sent for house coal in consequence of the colder weather, and should this continue the public will realise the value of the caution given a few months ago to lay in stocks. It is the experience of some collieries, and probably generally so, that orders which have now been placed cannot be executed for a week or ten days. There are also material difficulties for the merchants who are being severely handicapped owing to the scarcity of labour and the supply of horses. There was not a large attendance at the local weekly market, which indicates that business is more firmly established on settled lines and there is little surplus fuel to be offered, whilst prices are practically fixed owing to the operation of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. With regard to large steams, the demand for export continues to be steady, but the bulk of the foreign business is in respect to secondary descriptions owing to the firmer prices ruling in respect to best hards. The latter quality continues to be largely utilised for home purposes, and 17s. 6d. per ton remains a strong quotation. Although there are suggestions that railway companies are proposing to make economies in the use of fuel, at the present time they are taking large supplies and are keenly pressing for arrears under contract. The abnormal consumption of steam nuts by the armament firms and other industries continues, and the whole of the production is cleared without much difficulty, whilst prices remain very strong. Gas coal collieries report an increase in the heavy demand upon them for contract supplies, and in addition there is a strong enquiry from France, and practically no fuel is offered for quotation on the market. There has been some improvement in the demand for slacks. Now that the holiday season in some of the textile districts has expired, the demand is of a more normal character and there are less surplus lots to be met with, whilst prices have shown a slight recovery. The contract deliveries of small nuts and pea slacks are also of a much increased description, and there is little current business doing owing to the heavy tonnage which has been placed under contract. As already stated, the demand for house coal keeps collieries extremely busy, but up to the present prices remain as quoted last week. In respect to coke the position remains about the same as a week ago, and although ovens are still being damped down, prices still remain rather weak. has been, in progress in this direction from the Humber. French ports are not directly affected at present, but rates continue at 17s. 6d. to 18s. to Rouen, and have an upward tendency. Chesterfield. COAL. The colder weather at the beginning of the week caused an improvement in the demand for house coal, and orders are coming to hand freely. The market is in a sensitive condition, responding quickly to the slightest indication of a quickening of the demand. Prices are very firm. All collieries have well-filled order books, but are devoid of stocks of coal. Consumers are now dependent upon the daily outputs of the pits. The tonnage raised is not likely to be materially increased for the present. For other classes of fuel the demand is of a steady character, and is on such a scale as to take up readily the whole of the current production. Coal for iron and steel works continues in good request, and collieries are making effort to keep fully supplied with fuel all establishments that are engaged on Government orders. Slack for boiler firing appears to be somewhat more plentiful at the moment, but as the year advances this class of coal will almost certainly come into greater requisition. Prices are unchanged. Railway com- panies continue to press for supplies of steam coal for locomotive use, and the demand all round is very active. There is no change in the condition of the export trade, the licence difficulty continuing to dominate the market, and restricting shipments to a serious extent. There is still considerable congestion at the French ports, and exporters with substantial orders on hand find it well nigh impossible to execute these owing to the difficulty in securing shipping tonnage at anything like reasonable rates of freight. It is hoped and believed that relief will come shortly. There is very little coal being shipped to the Scandinavian ports, particularly those of Sweden, where there must now be a great shortage of coal. The price of steam coal remains at about 19s. 3d. per ton delivered at Grimsby. Washed fuel is in fairly satisfactory demand, and all classes of nuts are wanted. The coke market is slightly steadier, and a little more enquiry is in evidence. This has had the effect of giving strength to a market that was showing signs of more and more weakness. Buyers appear to have formed the opinion that not much advantage is to be gained by keeping off the market any longer, and a fair amount of buying has taken place during the last few days. Coking fuel is in good demand. Prices at pit : — dislocation of supplies. The colder weather is stimulating the demand for coal for household purposes on the part of the extremely numerous class who have no means of storing more than weekly supplies. The orders for London and district are now about up to the maximum, and the trade is of a very healthy character. The orders for country stations are again increasing, but, in spite of the great pressure due to the reduction of the number of men employed, the business is beginning to wear more of a normal aspect. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— 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............ _______ Current prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 11/3-12/3 5/ - 6/ 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ -14/ L’st week’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 11/3-12/3 5/ - 6/ Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/3 9/6-10/ 7/9- 8/3 2/ - 2/3 Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstone ...... Best Barnsley softs....j Secondary do........! Best house nuts ......' ...... Secondary do.........I Steam coals:— I Best hard coals.......j Secondary do......... Best washed nuts..... Secondary do......... Best slack .......... Secondary do......... Gas coals:— Screened gas coals .. Unscreened do........ Gas nuts............. Furnace coke............ Current jh’st week’s iLast year's prices. ------ 20/ -22/ 18/ —18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ ; prices. ' 16/6 16/ 16/6-17/6 i 13/ -14/6 16/ -17/ ----------- 15/6-16/ : prices, i I 20/ -22/ ' 18/ -18/6 : 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ -14/ 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 17/6 15/6-16/ 16/ —16/6 15/6-15/9 12/6-13/ 10/ -10/6 17/ -17/6 , 11/3 15/6-16/ i 10/6-10/9 16/ -16/6 ! 10/9 15/6-15/9; 9/9-10/ 12/6 i 6/9 10/6-11/ I 5/9- 6/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ ! 15/6-16/ i 10/6-11/ 14/6-15/ J 10/ 15/ —16/ ; 10/ -10/6 15/ -16/ | 12/6-12/9 Hull. COAL. Generally speaking, the market is quiet and featureless. Coal is not moving off so freely as it did, and in some sections of the market there is noticeable weakness. A fair amount of steam coal is offering for export, but with only a quiet demand values have not been maintained, and are somewhat lower on the week, best South Yorkshire hards being barely steady at 19s. 6d. (Is. more for prime brands) for prompt or nearly prompt shipment. Nuts do not regain their former firmness, quotations now standing at—for washed doubles, 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d.; ditto singles, 17s. to 17s. 3d.; ditto small coal, 13s. 6d. to 14s. Derbyshire steams continue more or less a nominal market, 18s. 6d. to 19s. being the approximate value for shipment at Grimsby or Immingham. West Yorkshire Hartleys are about unchanged at 18s. to 18s. 6d., and rough slack quiet at 13s. to 13s. 6d. There is an improving demand for gas and house coal, quotations for screened qualities ranging from 18s. to 20s. Licences for France come to hand fairly well, and shipments are helped by the recent concessions made by the War Trade Departments. Permits for neutral countries and elsewhere are only sparingly issued, though it is noticeable that, in spite of all statements to the con- trary, shipments to Sweden continue week by week. The withdrawal of Greek shipping tonnage is having its effect upon the Mediterranean outward freights, the quotation for Genoa having advanced to 40s., but little business is, or Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 — Cobbles 16/ 16/ — Nuts 15/ 15/ - . Slack 12/6 12/6 — IRON. Matters are no better in the pig iron market, and buyers are still holding off. In the finished iron department business is brisk. Engineering works are busy, and plenty of work coming along. _______________ Nottingham. COAL. Activity is the prevailing tone in every department of the coal trade in Nottinghamshire, and with the general demand being on the increase most of the collieries have limited supplies on hand. Although the pits are making full time, the output is practically absorbed by present requirements. In the domestic fuel section there is a better enquiry, and local merchants are experiencing an increase in orders, while an improved business is being transacted at the landsale depots. The colder weather is also having a stimulating effect on this branch of trade. At the time of writing, prices are practically unchanged, but it is believed there will be an early advance of Is. per ton on most households. The demand in the steam coal branch, although not as strong as a few weeks ago, is improving, and large quantities are going out of hand with more regularity. Smaller qualities are in very good request for manufacturing purposes. The demand in the home market is regarded as very satisfactory. Steam nuts are selling briskly. Slacks generally are in an improving position, though orders from textile centres are scarcely up to the average, but the outlook is much better than during the last month or so. Gas coal is in good request on contract account, but coke is just now in rather quiet demand. 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/ -19/ ' 16/ -17/ i 15/ -16/ i 16/ -17/ i 15/ -16/ i 11/ -11/6 i 10/6-11/ I 10/6—11/ 'L’st week’s! Last year’s prices, i prices. 18/ -18/6 ! — 16/ -17/ i — 15/ -16/ : — 16/ —16/6 i — 15/ -15/6 i — 11/ -12/ ; - 10/6-11/ i — 10/6-11/ j — ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. One result of the recent Act regulating prices is to disorganise the market to a large extent. There are practi- cally no price lists issued for October, and to give any table of prices at the moment would be valueless. A great deal of the coal is subject to contracts passed prior to the Act being passed, and these contracts are now subject to an advance of Is. a ton, as from October 1. Other prices are more or less nominal; indeed, cases are quoted of people being so anxious to get supplies that price is left to settle with the agents after. This looks like buying in the dark, but exigencies are such that there are some willing to take the risk. For the time being, at any rate, no prices are being published. The public have anticipated the present advance by stocking largely, and merchants have a long list of orders on their books to get through. IRON. The market was fairly well attended, and a normal amount of business was put through. As a rule, buying slackens off towards the end of the quarter, and there is not much temptation to speculate as the feeling prevails that prices are not likely to go higher, despite the fact that the forthcoming ascertainment of the Midland Wages Board is likely to yield a substantial rise in wages. The Board has had under discussion the question of merging the war bonus granted early in the year in future advances under the sliding scale, as it is felt the maintenance of the bonus plus the sliding scale will seriously affect the industry, inasmuch as in other districts the two have been merged. It is understood an agreement has been reached, the nature of which will be announced on the Wages Board’s return. In the finished departments of the market the position remains relatively stronger than for raw material. No decision was announced as to marked bars, which remain on the <£12 basis, though most makers get a premium. Unmarked bars remain at <£11 10s. to <£11 15s., and nut and bolt iron at <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11. In all these branches order books are sufficient to keep the works going for the remainder of the year, and enquiries continue to arrive for deliveries beyond, though these are mostly accepted subject to the terms in force at the com- pletion of the orders. Small rounds (three-eighths) are quoted <£12 7s. 6d. to <£12 10s., and steel rounds, which are very largely used on Government work, at about 10s. extra. There is no American competition in these small sizes, and very little for heavy iron or steel. The quotation for gas strip is in the neighbourhood of <£11 12s. 6d., and for steel strip <£12 15s. A limited business is being done in galvanised sheets at from <£17 5s. to <£17 10s., but a good order would, no doubt, be readily enough accepted at <£17 f.o.b. Liverpool. A substantial volume of business is passing in black corru- gated sheets at <£11 5s. to <£11 10s. The pig iron trade is quiet, and prices are weak. Orders are placed for smaller parcels than formerly, as makers can easily cover the wants of consumers. There is a big outlet for steel making irons. Staffordshire common is about 55s., part mine 67s. to 68s., Northampton forge 64s. to 65s., and Derbyshire 66s. to 67s. Steel makers are overloaded with orders, and are meeting the demand well. Sheet bars are obtainable at <£7 7s. 6d. to <£7 10s., and billets <£7 10s. to <£7 15s. There is not much American stuff about. _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. The outstanding feature in this coalfield is the continued inflow of orders for very large quantities of all classes of coal at very firm quotations. The improved supplies of empty railway-owned wagons is being well maintained, and the delays in the clearing of full wagons have been reduced to a minimum. This very satisfactory state of affairs enables the whole of the output to be cleared off day by day, and all the pits are now working full time of five and three-quarter days. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits, and, judging by the very large number of orders on hand, this state of affairs promises to be maintained right through the winter. The demand for manufacturing fuel shows no abatement. A very large proportion of the total output is taken up by firms who are partly or entirely engaged on Government contracts, and there is still very marked anxiety, in spite of the regular deliveries which are being made, to increase the stocks on hand at the various works so as to provide against any temporary __________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The demand for the house coal of this district remains of a steady rather than an active character. All the pits continue in full work, and the coal raised finds a ready market, with but little pressure in the enquiry. The buying will probably show more urgency shortly, as the colder evenings are beginning to appear. Shipments are good, whilst fair quantities are leaving for the inland districts. There are no stocks. Steam coals and household slacks are not so eagerly sought after, but satisfactory sales are being made. Prices at pithead. __________ Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block __.............. 21/6 21/6 — Forest ............. 20/6 20/6 — ............... Rubble ............. 20/9 20/9 i — Nuts ................ 19/ 19/ — Rough slack ............. 12/6 12/6 — Steam coal:— i Large ............... 18 -19/ 18/ -19/ i — Smail ............... 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ | — Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness.