THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN ________________________________________________________________________________ October 29, 1915. 887 demand both for London district and for country stations. The fundamental basis of the delays is the greatly-increased strain which is being thrown upon railway transport by traffic of an exceptional character, which cannot be avoided at a critical period like the present. Delays in completing orders are unavoidable, and with a most irregular supply of railway-owned empty wagons, coal merchants who own wagons enjoy a very valuable preference. The demand for all classes of manufacturing fuel is greater than at any former period, and the ordinary supplies have to be supple- mented by large quantities of cobbles and nuts, for which the higher rates are gladly paid when supplies are far more important than quotations. Full time of five and three- quarter days is being worked at all the collieries in this district, and there are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifi- cations, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— ________ ______ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 28. ___________________________________________ 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/ -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 12/ -12/9 11/6—12/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/3 7/9— 8/6 1/6- 1/9 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ —10/6 8/ - 8/6 _________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The situation in the coal trade has by no means been relieved. The shortage is great, and threatens to become greater, for more men are continually joining the Colours. As contracts run out, coalmasters cannot renew them. Supplies of manufacturing coal are insufficient. Some light may be thrown on prices next week, when the November lists are due, but at the moment they are in the melting pot. The outlook is in the direction of dearer rather than cheaper coal. IRON. The market was well attended, and reports indicated that the trade of the district had developed further strength during the week. There is a growing demand despite advancing prices, buyers being prepared to pay these in order to obtain supplies. The spurt in recruiting is making manufacturers’ difficulties more acute. The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce stated the other day that in some works machinery was standing idle owing to men leaving, and that manufacturers of ammunition and other war material were affected. The outstanding feature of the week has been the rally in galvanised corrugated sheets. The quotations reached £20 per ton for 24-gauge sheets, compared with <£17 10s. a week ago, while for black corrugated sheets, which are wanted in large quantities for military hut erections both at home and abroad, the price asked is £12 a ton. The high price of spelter affects galvanisers, but apart from that sheet bars have advanced enormously in recent weeks. For English material, indeed, makers quote only from day to day to regular customers, and no American bars are avail- able under £8 10s. net c.i.f. Liverpool, which is equivalent to £12 for English material, the latter being subject to 2| per cent. In the bar iron trade the tendency is towards greater firmness. No business is done in merchant bars under £11 12s. 6d. to £1115s., and bolt iron has advanced to £11 5s., nut qualities being obtainable at 2s. 6d. below that figure. For three-eighths iron rounds quotations run from £12 7s. 6d. to £12 10s. Preference, of course, is given to Government needs. Gas and steel strip makers have an abundance of work and easily command their terms. Pig iron continues to develop a stronger tone, and recently consumers have been covering requirements in anticipation of prices going up against them. For Northamptonshire grey forge 65s. 6d. and 66s. were the minimum quotations heard, rising to 68s. 6d. for best qualities. For Derbyshire iron 68s. to 69s. was asked, and for Staffordshire part-mine 67s. 6d. to 68s. 6d. In steel there is the greatest difficulty in obtaining supplies outside munition materials.. “ Semis ’’ are scarcely quoted, and for finished material, makers command very much higher prices than the official quotations. The chain, anchor and cable industries of Cradley and district are in a state of great activity. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The state of the coal market of this district during the past week has been moderately firm, and a fair volume of business in the different departments has been carried out. Some collieries during the past week have had difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of empty wagons in which to load their output, but most of the coalowners have been able to dispose of their output without any accumulation of stocks. The house coal trade is still satis- factory, orders come to hand with continued freedom, and the local landsale depots continue to have a ready demand in the retail trade. Tenders are being asked for the supply of house coal at Garswood, Stockport, Stretford, Heaton Park, Chadderton, Oswestry, Frees Heath and Bettis Held Park by the military authorities in connection with the hutment camps in this district; also for steam coal and slack for Fazakerley Hospital. Steam coal is selling well just now in some quarters. Railway companies take all they can get, and the industrial firms having large contracts on Government work also account for a goodly tonnage. The shipping trade is still only moderate, but the local business with brickworks is considerably improved, as many works are now working full time again. The general trade in gas coal has been up to the average contract tonnage for the week, and as the month draws to a close there is much conjecture as to what will take place between the gas companies and sellers after the Act for the limitation of prices of coal actually comes into practical operation, as it will next month. Public bodies continue to exercise economy where possible as regards public lighting. Slack is sold fairly well, but there is not a large tonnage available for the general market, having regard to the reduction in output and running contracts for small fuel. Prices on the whole have little changed. House coal is still quoted at from 19s. to 21s. for the best quality, with seconds and cobbles at Is. per ton less. Landsale prices are from 23s. 4d. up to 27s. 6d. per ton, according to quality, and local coal merchants are declining to quote for housing coal, on account of shortage of labour. The average quota- tions for large steam coal during the past week have been from 18s. to 19s. per ton at pit, and the same prices would apply to any gas coal quotations given, while gas nuts and coal for shipment have been disposed of at an average of about 6d. per ton less than the larger grades. Rough slack for steam purposes is quoted at from 8s. 6d. to 9s. 6d. per ton at the pit, while gas coke remains firm at 16s. 8d. to 18s. 4d. per ton. Summarised prices are as below :— Prices at pit f.o.r. Best house coal ... Secondary do. Steam coal........ Gas coal.......... Bunkers........... Nuts ............. Slack ............ Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— Best house coal ... Seconds ..........__ Slack ............ Current I prices. 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 8/6- 9/6 16/8-18/4 23/4-27/6 22/6-23/4 14/2-15/ L’st week’slLast year’s prices. I prices. 20/ -21/ ! 14/9-15/9 19/ -20/ j 13/9-14/9 18/ -19/ ! 12/3-13/ 18/ -19/ i 12/ —12/6 17/6-18/6 ' 12/ -12/3 17/6-18/6 11/ -11/9 8/6- 9/6 5/6- 7/ 16/8-18/4 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 18/4-20/ 23/4-25/ | 16/8-18/4 13/4-15/ 10/ —11/8 ________ ______ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. Reports from the collieries in this district go to show that the house coal trade, which has enjoyed a remarkable run of prosperity during the past few months, is still in the same satisfactory condition, and orders are coming in freely for all the descriptions of coal produced. The pits are all working at full pressure, but the output is considerably short of the requirements of customers, and there is conse- quently much delay in executing orders. Orders from the railborne districts are increasing in number, whilst ship- ments remain exceedingly strong. Slacks are hanging a little. Enquiries for all steam qualities are good, and the pits are kept fully employed. Outputs are cleared promptly, and there are no stocks. Prices at pithead :— _______ _______ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The steam coal trade shows no material alteration since last week, the conditions which governed the market then being equally applicable to-day. New business is excep- tionally quiet, and. with little present prospect of any improvement, so difficult does the tonnage question develop. Freights rise higher and yet higher, but still fail to attract sufficient steamers to relieve the situation. On paper many collieries are fairly well situate, but with no means available of shipping their stocks, colliery owners have hardly ever been so exercised to find means of avoiding stoppages. The news that the Government are seriously considering the tonnage question must not be judged of too great importance, as they will undoubtedly have to regard the matter in every aspect, and not purely as affecting the coal export trade. Further, any remedial measures which may be introduced must take time to mature, so no imme- diate relief can be looked for here. ' Quotations generally are nominal, and, for shippers who can accept deliveries at once, these figures will not be sustained. Pitwood rules very strong and scarce. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Bessemer or Siemens, with works asking in most instances 5s. more. Rails are a strong market, values having moved up 5s. to 10s. since last week, £9 10s. to £9 15s. being to-day’s basis for heavy sections. Buyers seem anxious to cover themselves forward, and the trend of prices is further upwards. Pig iron is a strong market, and with continued difficulty in securing necessary supplies of ore, values are quite nominal. Welsh haematite is officially quoted around 115s., but when works are asked to state a figure it is generally in the neighbourhood of 120s. Tin-plates have advanced in value to 20s. to 20s. 6d. for 20 x 14 Bessemer or Siemens primes. A considerable amount of new business is being placed, and the forward tone is firm. Cardiff. COAL. There has been no fresh development in the position of the coal trade during the past week, and the state of affairs, if anything, is worse than ever. Arrivals of steamers over the week end were rather more favourable, but still the supply is entirely inadequate for the requirements of the port, and the market is irregular and depressed in conse- quence. So serious is the position that the Chamber of Commerce has requested Government intervention with the object of improving the situation, and it is hoped that some means will be found of coping with the difficulties, which are described as a serious menace to the trade of the district. Stocks are accumulating, and the sidings are full of coal which cannot be exported through lack of tonnage. Large numbers of vessels are now engaged in the Government service which formerly were available for ordinary commercial purposes, and no attempt seems to have been made to supply the deficiency. As a consequence, freights are abnormal, but even the high rates at present demanded would be gladly paid, provided there could be a clearance of the enormous stocks which are now awaiting shipment. Chartering last week showed a slight improvement, but nothing like what is necessary to relieve the congestion. The amount of tonnage taken up was only 139,480 tons, compared with 98,550 in the preceding six days, or an increase of 40,930 tons. Shipments during the week amounted to 307,949 tons, compared with 340,158 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 32,209 tons. From Cardiff alone there were despatched 162,263 tons, against 206,338 tons, or a decrease of 44,075 tons. From Newport the exports were 45,942 tons, or a decrease of 17,382 tons ; from Swansea 85,887 tons, or an increase of 23,664 tons ; and from Port Talbot 13,857 tons, or an improvement of 5,584 tons. The market naturally is demoralised, and prices vary according to the positions of the buyer and seller. A man with a ready boat can obt? in coal on almost his own terms, and it is acknowledged that even the most favourably situated concerns are willing to make very substantial concessions below quoted prices in order to keep the collieries working. Unfortunately a large number of stoppages have taken place for one or two days, and this state of affairs will probably continue until steamers arrive in greater numbers. There has been for some days an enquiry on the market for about 50,000 tons of best steams for the Greek Navy. Quotations have been sent in in due course, but it is not considered probable that any of the coal will be released until the political situation in the Near East is much clearer than at present. Beyond this enquiry there is practically no sustained demand, and all business is more or less of a hand-to-mouth character. With regard to prices there is little change from a week ago. Best Admiralties and second qualities are still unquoted on the open market, but ordinary qualities are obtainable at about 18s. to 19s., with a definite shading in certain circumstances. The position with regard to Monmouth- shires is practically the same, and quotations are easy and irregular. Best Black Veins are 18s. to 19s., western valleys 17s. 6d. to 18s., and easterns 17s. to 17s. 6d. For dry coals there continues to be a great demand at prices which are unaltered, and the same remark applies to washed coals, which are being largely shipped to France. The small coal market is difficult to describe. Cargo qualities are nominally quoted at 6s. to 8s., but in several instances 5s. has been accepted in order to release wagons. Best sorts realise anything between 10s. and 12s. In bituminous coals there is practically no change, and House coals:— Block .............. Forest ............. Rubble ............. Nuts ............... Rough slack ......... Steam coal:— Large......................... Small .................... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 1 prices. prices. 21/6 i 21/6 — 20/6 i 20/6 — 21/9 20/9 — i 19/ 19/ — 11/6 12/6 — ! 18/ -19/ i 18/ -19/ — 14/ -15/ j 14/ -15/ — I Current Steam coals:— prices. Best Black Vein large...; 18/ -19/ Western-valleys, ordin’y; 17/6-18/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 17/ -17/6 Secondary do. ... 16/6—17/ Best small coals ..... 12/ -12/6 ...... ..... Secondary do........ 11/6—12/ Inferior do.......... 8/ —10/ Screenings ......... 12/ -12/6 Through coals ....... 14/6-15/ ....... ....... Best washed nuts..... 14/ -15/ Other sorts:— Best house coal......, 23/ -24/ Secondary do......... 21/ -22/ Patent fuel ......... 26/ —28/ Furnace coke......... 29/ —30/ Foundry coke .......! 36/ -38/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. I prices. 18/ -19/ ! 16/9-17/ 18/ -18/6 ‘ 16/ -16/6 17/6-18/ ! 15/6-16/ 16/6—17/ I 15/ —15/6 12/6-13/ 6/9- 7/ 12/ —12/6 ; 6/ - 6/6 8/ -10/ j 5/6— 6/ 13/ ! 7/ 14/6-15/ j 11/9-12/ 14/6-15/ ! 12/9-13/3 22/6-23/ 20/6-21/6 26/ -28/ 30/ -32/ 36/ —38/ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/6 18/ -19/ 21/ -23/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. IRON. The local iron and steel trades have developed further strength during the week; there is more business passing, a better forward enquiry, and prices all round show some considerable advances. New business is very difficult to negotiate in the tin-plate and sheet bar line. Makers are now well booked, and show no inclination to commit them- selves further at current rates. Latest ruling figures for Welsh bars officially named are at £8 per ton for either Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam prices. prices. prices. coals * # 21/ -22/ Superior seconds * * 20/ Ordinary do 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 18/6 Best bunker smalls 10/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 7/9- 8/ Best ordinaries 9/ -10/ 9/ -10/ 7/6- 7/9 Cargo qualities 6/ - 8/ 6/ - 8/ 5/6- 6/3 Inferior smalls 5/ - 6/ 5/ - 6/ 4/6- 5/ Best dry coals 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 21/6-22/ Ordinary drys 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 19/6-20/6 Best washed nuts 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 17/6 16' Seconds 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ Best washed peas 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 15/ Seconds 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/ Dock screenings Monmouthshire— 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 9/ Black Veins 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 17/6 Western-valleys 17/6-18/ 18/ -18/6 16/9 Eastern-valleys 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/3 Inferior do Bituminous coals:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -15/3 Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -23/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— 22/ -22/6 17/6-19/6 Bituminous large 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/6 Through-and-through 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 15/ -16/ 14/6 Small No. 2 Rhondda— 15/ -16/ 11/6 Large 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/6-13/9 Through-and-through 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/6-11/ Small 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 7/6 Best patent fuel 27/6 28/ -30/ 17/ -18/ Seconds 25/ 25/ -27/ 15/6-16/6 Special foundry coke 42/ -45/ 42/ -45/ 27/ -30/ Ordinary do. 37/ -40/ 36/ -40/ 22/ -26/ Furnace coke 32/ -34/ 31/ -34/ 18/ -19/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 43/6-45/ 42/ -43/ 19/ -19/6 * Nominal.