836 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN October 22, 1915. keep pits at work owing to shortage of empties. Un- fortunately there are little prospects of an improvement in the tonnage question for some weeks, and there is much competition for any boats which may be offering. Trade just now is very brisk, and for almost every kind sellers are oversold. The various large kinds are quickly bought up, and the prices are maintained. The machine- made qualities are all very difficult to secure, and orders have to wait several weeks before they are executed. Steam and bituminous coals are a very dull market, and prices are being much cut. For spot lots figures have been accepted wich were not thought of some weeks back. Bunkers are lower than they have been for some time, and the demand for the manufacturing fuels is not as great as it was. Swansea. COAL. The returns of the trade of the port last week were more favourable than for some time. The coal and patent fuel trades were fairly active, the shipments together amounting to 105,841 tons. There was a very good attendance on ’Change. The anthracite coal market continues to display a very firm tone. Swansea Valley and Bed Vein large are difficult to obtain, even at the high prices now ruling. Machine-made nuts and cobbles are keenly sought after, with values fully maintained. Both rubbly culm and duff are weak. In steam coal there is no outstanding feature, and this department generally closed weak. 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) 34/6-35/ 34/6-35/ : 21/6-24,6 Secondary do. 32/ -34/ ‘ 32/ -34/ 19/6-20/6 Big Vein large 34/6-35/6 34/6-35/6 18/6-20/6 Red Vein large 27/6-28/6 ■ 27/6-28/6 12/6-14/6 Machine - made cobbles i 43/ -44/ 41/ -43/ 20/ -23/ Paris nuts }. — 1 — French do 43/ -45/ 43/ -45/ 21/6-24/6 Stove do 41/ -44/ 41/ -44/ 22/ -23/6 Beans 31/ -33/6 31/ -33/6 18/6-19/6 Machine - made large peas 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 12/ -13/ Do. fine peas — j — — Rubbly culm 9/ -10/ 3/6- 4/ ; 9/ -10/ 4/ - 4/6 Duff 3/6- 4/ 3/ - 3/6 Steam coals:— Best large 21/6-24/6 21/6-24/6 18/9-21/6 Seconds 17/ -19/ : 17/ -19/ 14/9-15/6 Bunkers 14/ -15/6 14/ -15/6 10/3-11/ Small 7/ - 9/ 7/ - 9/ 5/6- 8/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 23/ -26/ 23/ -26/ 17/6-18/6 Thro’-and-thro’ — j — Small 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 10/ -10/9 Patent fuel 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ 16/ -16/6 IRON. At the blastfurnaces and steelworks there was an improvement in the production of metal. The tin-plate trade was a little busier, the shipments of tin-plates were 94,473 boxes, receipts from works 75,598 boxes and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 288,153 boxes. There was good work done at the bar-rolling mills, while every- thing was in full swing at the Mannesmann Tube Works. The iron and brass foundries experienced a splendid week and the engineering and fitting shops were so busy that they found it increasingly difficult to cope with the work owing to a shortage of hands. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 21. The London coal trade for the past week has been of very small dimensions, but the demand is fairly strong. The limited supply as having an appreciable effect upon the market, and many of the merchants are getting anxious about the winter supplies. The local demand is in every case good, both for household quahties and also for manu- facturing purposes. The tonnage offering on the open market is restricted, and the danger is that the output at all the collieries is likely to be still further reduced, not so much from the large numbers of pitmen who have enlisted, but from the shortage of empties and the increasing difficulty of securing carmen to deliver the coal on order. The labour troubles also are causing a good deal of anxiety, especially in the Welsh district, where hundreds of men are frequently stopping the works as a protest against the employment of non-union men. Kitchen cobbles and bakers’ nuts are selling freely just now, but the eagerness to secure the small lots offering has a tendency to keep the selling price unusually high. Prices for all qualities are very firmly maintained, and in more than one direction an advance has been quoted. xA.ll contract coals are invoiced until the end of the present .month at the old contract rates, but from October 29 the new Price of Coal (Limitation) Act will come into force, and the 4s. limit will become operative for all household and domestic qualities, and also for public utility works. Gas coals are moving strongly, and it is recognised now that all the large works are strenuously pressing for a reserve 'store. London as a whole has a fairly large quantity in stock, but it is almost exclusively held by the principal merchants who have made contracts with the various colliery companies. The smaller merchants and those who do not usually make contracts for the year find it increasingly difficult to purchase any adequate supply, and are therefore placed at a considerable disadvantage at the present moment. On the other hand, colliery representa- tives can barely fulfil their contract obligations, and whilst the demand is so keen there are formidable obstacles in the way of taking orders from any who have not been regular traders for their special class of coal, and the ordinary buyers are left severely alone, however remunera- tive the price may be that they are prepared to offer. Slacks and small nuts are selling more freely. The depot trade is brisk. Both householders and merchants alike are exercising considerable care in their purchases. The mild weather has enabled merchants to work off a good many back orders. Colliery quotations are unaltered except in a few cases, where a slightly higher figure has been given, but as a rule the colliery representatives have nothing to offer. Factors have practically ruled the market lately, for they are the only ones from whom any free coal can be bought. The ordinary merchant requires the whole of his monthly contract quantity for his own public delivery trade, but the factor is open to sell certain quantieis on the open market. The open weather has enabled a few odd wagons to change hands, but at best the supply is extremely limited. Hard steam coals are becoming scarce, and the increasing demand from the Government and from all the large railway companies makes the pressure at times acute. The delay in the return of empties has also brought about ■in many directions a shortage of wagons, and some of the collieries who have a proportion of their output for dis- posal are making it a condition that customers should send in private wagons, or they must decline the orders. Yorkshire house coals are not coming forward to any great extent on account of a strong local demand, and the best hard steam qualities are realising better prices for export, so that the tonnage available for London is small. Best Silkstone are fetching 18s. 6d. per ton; Barnsley qualities, 18s. to 19s. per ton; South Yorkshire hards, 16s. 6d. per ton ; Derbyshire hard steam, 16s. 3d. per ton; second quality, 15s. to 15s. 6d. per ton. It is reported that the Midland Railway Company have recently renewed their hard loco contracts upon the basis of 16s. per ton for best South Yorkshire hards for the coming year. Shipping prices are 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull for South Yorkshire hards and Derbyshire steam coal, 19s. 6d. f.o.b. Grimsby. Gas coals are quoted 19s. 6d. for prompt shipment from the Humber ports. The Welsh coal market has been somewhat depressed during the week. The export trade has been less, and stocks are accumulating at some of the collieries. Best Admiralties are purely nominal as regards price; seconds are quoted at 18s. 6d. to 19s. f.o.b. In the freight market during the past week chartering has been fairly active, notwithstanding the higher rates. From Newcastle to London the quotations are 9s. 6d., and from the Humber ports from 9s. to 9s. 6d. has been secured from Hull, and 9s. 6d. to 10s. from Goole. The Mediterranean still seems to have the principal claim for freights at present, but the tonnage in every direction is reported to be scarce. On Monday, 42 contract cargoes were reported as entering the Port of London, and 10 for Wednesday’s market. Very little Durham coal is open for ordinary household use, but during the week a few odd lots of Yorkshire coals have been offering, but all at specially agreed terms. The deputation of the Coal Merchants’ Society of London are waiting upon the Board of Trade again this week, relative to public prices. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, October 15. — There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, no cargoes reported sold. Cargoes, 16. Monday, October 18.—The seaborne house coal market was steadily firm to-day, with no cargoes pressing for sale, but small quantities in craft of Yorkshire were obtainable. Cargoes, 42. Wednesday, October 20. — The seaborne house coal market remained quiet to-day, no sales reported. Cargoes, 10. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is very steady, and while prices for all products, except tar, are well maintained, some show actual advances. This is notably the case with naphthas. Pitch also is firmer on the west coast. Nearest values are :— RiSe (+) or fall (-) on ■ the week. Benzols, 90’s l/Oi—1/1 .. — ,, 90’s North /Hl—1/ .. — ,, 50’s ,, 1/4 Toluol 2/2—2/4 .. — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/5—3/6 .. — ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 1/4—1/6 .. — degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... 2/2—2/3 .. • 4-/1 2/2—2/3 .. + /1 Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) /6J-/7 .. • -4-/01 Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /3 Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 20/—21/ .. — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) Tar (per ton ex works) 19/—20/6 .. . 4-/6 20/—24/ .. • ~/3 [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.} Sulphate of Ammonium.—The market is very firm, and prices all round are on the upward grade. There is a good enquiry for forward, and the statistical position,’ all things being taken into account, is satisfactory. There has been a surprisingly sharp and quite unaccountable advance in nitrate of soda, which places the relative nitrogen values altogether in favour of sulphate. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. London (ordinary makes) £15 ... 4-2/6 Beckton (25 per cent.) £14 ... 4-2/6 Liverpool £14/17/6—£15 ... 4-5/ Hull £14/15 ... 4-5/ Middlesbrough £14/12/6 Scotch ports £15—£15/5 4-5/ Wales £14/12/6 ... 4-2/6 Nitrate of soda (ord.), per cwt. 14/3 ... 4-/9 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.} per cent. quality; Trade Notes. There must be room for much improvement in the methods used for the propagandising of sulphate of ammonia. Much good work of a kind has been accomplished, but there is a tendency to laxity at times, and intermittent efforts are usually very unproductive. Apparently there is as much need of commercial education amongst producers as there is need for scientific investigations and trials wherewith to con- vince the agriculturist. Surely there must be some feasible system for making capital out of the absurdly anomalous position of sulphate of ammonia to-day as a source of nitrogen and that of nitrate of soda. At one time there was considerable partisanship in favour of nitrate, or sulphate, respectively, even amongst users, but this has largely been dissipated by scientific propagandisation, and by now the relative values of these rival products should appeal to users solely on commercial grounds. Taking the conditions of the moment as the premises of comparison, it is nothing short of ridiculous that sulphate of ammonia should stand at its present price, when nitrate is quoted at current rates. Even when allowance is made for the peculiar conditions applying to nitrate just now, there is still not the slightest reason for difference between the nitro- gen-unit values of the two products. It must be borne in mind that, although there is a sudden and keen demand for nitrate for explosives manufacture, it is only the refined quality that is wanted for this, and there is no reason for ordinary or agricultural quality figuring at a price wholly disproportionate to actual nitrogen values. When the nitrogen-unit values are worked out, it appears that every unit of nitrogen in nitrate of soda costs to-day 15s., compared with 12s. per unit for sulphate of ammonia. On the face of things, that ought to be an overwhelming demand for sulphate of ammonia, to the exclusion of nitrate, or else such a levelling of prices as would tend to bring the nitrogen unit values nearer each other. In any case the whole situation points to apathy or ignor- ance on the part of producers and vendors, in so much that they do not seem capable of turning this advantage in favour of sulphate of ammonia to good account, or forcing a firmer front in the forward market. Another direction in which it is possible to develop sulphate of ammonia supplies lies in India, where owing to the want of cheaper supplies of sulphuric acid, the coke oven products are now wasted on an extensive scale. Though the recovery plant at Giridih, which the East Indian Railway Company installed many years back, has answered expectations, the good example set has not been followed up, and it is a reflection on our national ability that the last eight years has seen nothing further attempted, much less achieved. The ignorance and prejudices of Indian agriculturists cannot justify this waste, though in some measure allowance must be made for the lack of cheap vitriol. The returns for the week have been :—Pitch, 2,866 tons and £581. Tar, 54,429 gals., 572 drums, 444 barrels. Sulphate of ammonia, 2,962 tons. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 21. Dublin. Business is about the same as last week, and although there is more disposition to lay in supplies for the winter, the mild- ness of the weather has somewhat checked the demand for house coal for immediate use. There has been no further advance in prices of coals, which are as follow :—Best Orrell, 35s. per ton; Yorkshire brights, 34s.; best Wigan, 33s.; best Whitehaven, 33s.; best kitchen, 31s.; best Scotch steam coal, 30s., all less Is. per ton discount for cash. Coke has been advanced Is. per ton during the week, the price being 35s. per ton delivered. Pit mouth prices of Irish coal at Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, are :—Best large coal, 30s. per ton; best household coal, 28s. 4d.; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton. Pit prices for Kilkenny (Castlecomer) coal, outside of contract prices, are as follow :—Best small coal, 23s. 4d. per ton; best large, 21s. 8d.; second quality, 20s.; bottom coal, 16s. 8d.; breakage, 11s. 8d.; culm, 5s. to 8s. 6d. The coal vessels arriving in this port during the past week amounted to 53, as compared with 59 the week pre- viously, chiefly from Garston, Preston, Ardrossan, Maryport, Fleet wood, Newport, Ayr, Irvine, Partington, Point of Aire, Neath Abbey, Whitehaven, Liverpool, Manchester, Saunders- foot, Glasgow, and Cardiff. The total quantity of coal dis- charged upon the quays was 23,000 tons, as against 24,190 tons the previous week. Some of the Army contracts are open for the Dublin district. Belfast. Prices have not yet been advanced in the port, but as freights are now higher, and still show an upward tendency, higher rates for coal are anticipated very shortly. The slight improvement in the local trade is maintained, but matters are still quiet in the country districts. Quotations for household coals are as follow :—Best Arley, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. Approximate prices of steam coals and coke are :—Ordinary Scotch steam coal, 24s. to 25s. per ton; Scotch navigation, 26s. to 27s. per ton; best Welsh steam, 38s. to 40s. per ton; best gas coke, 30s. to 32s. per ton; best foundry coke, 40s. to 42s. 6d. per ton. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Ardrossan, Garston, Glasgow, Maryport, Ellesmere Port, Preston, Girvan, Campbeltown, Point of Aire, Swansea, Workington, Silloth, and Troon. An Export Licence Case.—An interesting case was heard at Hull County Court last week, arising out of the recent requirements that licences must be obtained for cargoes of coal for shipment to neutral countries. The action was one in which the plaintiffs were Messrs. Ludke and Steel, coal exporters, Newcastle-on-Tyne, who had originally claimed the sum of £300 for damages arising out of an agreement made in relation to the use or hire of the steamship “Alice Krohn ’’ from the defendants, who were the owners of that vessel. The plaintiffs' claim was for breach 'of charter party, dated June 22, 1915, made with the defendants for the steamship “Alice Krohn ’’ to carry a cargo of coal to Jessens, option Tuborg, in Denmark, to load on June 29 last, and on the charter was the stipulation that the charter was subject to the licence being granted from the British Government.—Mr. A. M. Jackson, for the defendants, intimated that owing to a delay in securing the licence, the owners of the steamship “Alice Krohn ’’ had not loaded the coal, and had chartered their vessel elsewhere, but just later the plaintiffs secured the licence and remonstrated with the owners of the vessel for re-chartering the vessel elsewhere, and not carrying out the charter party made with them. The plaintiffs, however, then chartered another vessel to carry the coals at less freight, and the result was that they saved £72 10s. in the difference in the freight, so that there had been no need for the plaintiffs to come to court for damages for a breach of contract which had put money into their pocket. The defendants had paid Is. into court, and now the plaintiffs had accepted this. Mr. Jackson said he now applied for his costs to be paid on Scale B in view of the circumstances.—His Honour decided that as the defendants had broken their contract they must pay their usual costs under the ordinary xAdmiralty scale.