November 5, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 937 sellers do not come to terms readily, and little actual busi- ness is heard of; it is reported that very ordinary brands have realised 17s., and bests 18s. 6d. to 19s. a ton f.o.b. Quotations are as follow :— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current prices. L'st week’s Last year’s prices. 1 prices. Special Wear gas coals 20/ -20/6 19/6-20/ — Secondary do. 18/ 17/ — House coals:— Best house coals 23/ 22/ — Ordinary do 20/ 20/ — Other sorts:— Lambton screened 20/ -20/6 20/ — ■ South Hetton do 20/ 20/ — Lambton unscreened ... 16/6-16/9 16/3 — South Hetton do 16/6 16/3 — Do. treble nuts 17/6 17/ — Coking coals unscreened 17/3 16/6 — Do. smalls 17/ 16/ — Smithies 18/ 17/ -18/ — Peas and nuts 20/ 19/6-20/ — Best bunkers 17/ -17/3 17/ ■ — Ordinary bunkers 16 /-16/6 16/ — Coke:— Foundry coke 34/ -35/ 28/6 — Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... 27/ 25/6 Gas coke 29/ 26/ -27/ — s The outward freight market retains its firmness all round, as shown by the following recent fixtures :—London, 10s. 6d.; Calais, 20s. 6d.; Dunkirk, 21s.; 'Rouen, 21s.; Rochefort, 27s.; Genoa, 49s.; Marseilles, 41s. 6d.; Leghorn, 49s. 6d. ; Algiers, 32s. 6d.; Barcelona, 35s. 6d.; Oran, 31s. 6d.; Naples, 45s.; Porto Vecchio, 48s. 6d.; Gibraltar, 28s. 6d.; St. Vincent, 32s. 6d.; Monte Video, 37s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade is steady. Recently very considerable tonnage has been taken up to load coal for France, and, for the time being, there are few orders in circulation. Colliery quotations are still being discounted by second hands. Through merchants best Durham gas coal can be had at 19s. 6d., and seconds kinds at 16s. 6d. to 17s. Wear specials are scarce, and are fully 21s. Bunker coal is quietly steady, and is well taken up. Ordinary Durhams are 16s. f.o.b., and best kinds 16s. 9d. to 17s., whilst special sorts are quoted 19s. and upward. Just at present enquiry for bunkers on forward account is unusually quiet. Values of household coal are fully upheld. Coking coal is in good request, and both unscreened and smalls range from 16s. 6d. to 17s. Coke is very strong. Supply is none too plentiful, and with demand heavy both for home use and for export, increased output would be welcomed by customers. Local consumers are in the market to buy, but they hesitate to pay the rates derpanded. Durham blastfurnace coke of average quality is now quoted 28s. to 30s. delivered at Teesside works. Good foundry coke for shipment varies in price from 32s. 6d. to 37s. 6d. f.o.b., and gashouse coke is round about 30s. IRON. Considerable sales of pig iron have been made this week. An upward movement in Cleveland kinds ended in No. 3 g.m.b. realising 68s. 6d., but, so far as was ascertainable, only a moderate quantity was disposed of at that figure. Fairly large parcels, however, have changed hands at 68s. 3d. Demand has now eased, and 68s. is the general quotation for the ruling quality. Producers ask 72s. for No. 1, which continues scarce, but local consumers will not pay that figure, with the result that business is on a very limited scale. Trade in the lower qualities has been satisfactory. No. 4 foundry is 67s. 6d., No. 4 forge 67s., and mottled and white iron each 66s. 6d. Great firmness characterises the east coast haematite branch of the staple industry. Producers report that they are well sold, most of them having disposed of their output for the remainder of the year, and that good enquiries are still coming in, though they admit less pressure to buy on behalf of France and Italy. Customers in the countries of our allies con- sider prices have risen to too high a figure, and hesitate to place orders at the rates now demanded. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 115s., and both makers and merchants would book orders over the first quarter of next year at that figure. To the foregoing quotation, which is f.o.b., Italy and France would have heavy freights to add. In foreign ore good supplies are coming forward, and as a consequence consumers are less anxious about arranging for deliveries, as they believe sufficient tonnage will continue available. Sellers are not particularly pressing business. Market rates are based on 32s. 6d. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, and freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are round about 17s.—a figure that is apparently attracting tonnage. Imports of foreign ore to the port of Middlesbrough for the first three days of this month amount to 27,650 tons. The various branches of the finished iron and steel industries present no new features. Quotations all round are very strong. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade is slightly easier this week, and the demand, more especially on Irish account, is not quite so strong as it has been for the past few months. One colliery has been idle for a day during the week owing to lack of empty wagons, but with this exception all the pits in the county are working at full pressure, and production is now more than equal to requirements. The shipping trade is quieter than it has been for some time, and there has been a marked shrinkage on export tonnage this week. Belfast has taken more coal than usual, but the demand for both manufacturing and house fuel from other parts of Ireland is easier, and in consequence the shipments from Maryport this week are much below the average. Freights are on a very high level, and the lack of suitable steamers is still hampering the coastwise trade to a certain extent, but at the same time the export trade to Ireland is not by any means as brisk as it was even a month ago. The ship- ments from Maryport to Irish ports for the last two weeks in October have only amounted to 7,660 tons, compared with 10,230 tons at the corresponding period of last year. During the week some of the smaller steamers have been detained in Irish ports owing to the stormy weather, but there are still too many coasting vessels engaged on Govern- ment account to permit of the shipping trade being as brisk as it otherwise might be. There has been a decided improvement in house coals since the cold weather set in, and home merchants have as much business in hand at present as they can cope with. Gas coals and bunkers are not so active, but slacks, smalls and all kinds of fuel for manufacturing purposes are in very keen demand. Prices of all sorts are firm but unaltered. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 21s. to 21s. 3d. per ton, and seconds at 20s. lOd. per ton. Best steam nuts are quoted at 19s. per ton, and best dry small at 12s. per ton. Best Cumberland coal, free on board at Maryport, is still quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers are rather quiet at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. During the week 12 coasting vessels left Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 3,300 tons, a decrease of 1,060 tons compared with the previous week. The tonnage from Maryport to Ireland for October has amounted to 20,890 tons, compared with 21,915 tons for September and. 19,152 tons for August. Coke is in strong request, and the majority of the Cumberland ovens are working full time. The bulk of the make is being absorbed at the local blastfurnaces. Business is very brisk in the by-products trade, and the works at Flimby and Workington and the benzol works at Maryport are all well employed. At Maryport best house coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 19/2 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 17/1 Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned 22/6 22/6 18/4 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 16/10 Fit Oughterside best washed 22/6 . 22/6 18/4 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 21/ 21/ 16/10 coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 22/6 22/6 18/4 at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 Best dry small at pit 12/ 12/ 8/6 Best steam nuts at pit ... 19/ 19/ 15/ Best Cumber 1'nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 15/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 13/6 Bunkers 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 12/6 Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 20/ 20/ 15/ works 19/ 19/ 14/ IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade is still in a remarkably brisk condition; all the industries are busily engaged, and there is no doubt that the production of both iron and steel will be much larger towards the end of the year. A large amount of m$tal is being produced, and the bulk of the output is going into prompt use. Values still show an upward tendency, and this week Bessemer mixed numbers are quoted at from 118s. to 120s. per ton free on board at the usual ports, while warrants at cash still stand at 100s. per ton. Special brands of iron are quoted as high as 137s. 6d. to 140s. per ton, and ferro-manganese is firm at <£20 per ton. Ordinary iron is now in very firm request, and the demand for both special and ordinary haematite is even stronger than it was a week ago. Requirements for both ordinary and special iron have increased to such an extent as to warrant an expansion of production, and this week an additional furnace has been put into blast at Carnforth, while arrangements are already being made for lighting at least two more furnaces in West Cumberland at an early date. There are now 24 furnaces in operation— 15 in Cumberland and nine in the Furness district. More than half of the furnaces are employed on special iron ; two are on ferro-manganese, and the remainder are on ordinary haematite. A large amount of metal is going into con- sumption at the steel works at Barrow and Workington, and the bulk of the special iron is being consigned to Scotland, South Wales, France and the Midlands. There is a rather better demand for rails. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor and Millom districts is still in a most active condition. All the mines are working full time, and efforts are being made to increase the production of high- grade ores. At the Cumberland mines, best qualities of ores are quoted at 37s. 6d. per ton, while average qualities are quoted at from 23s. 6d. to 30s. per ton. Spanish ores are quoted at about 26s. per ton delivered. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The position is in no way changed from that reported last week. Arrears of orders are on the colliery books, and at the depots difficulties of distribution owing to lack of carting power do not tend to diminish. With regard to shipping, the ordinary bunkering demand continues fairly Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current 1 L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. 1 prices. prices. Best 20/9 - 20/9 17/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 22/ -23/ j 22/ -23/ 16/6-16/9 Medium 19/ 19/ | 15/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 20/ 20/ ! 14/6-15/ Kitchen 16/9-17/ j 16/9-17/ i 13/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 18/6-19/ : 18/ -18/6 ; 13/ -13/6 Screened forge coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/6-12/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 17/9-18/3: 17/3-18/ 12/ -12/9 Best slack 14/ 14/ 9/3- 9/6 Secondary slack 12/6 12/6 8/6- 8/9 Common do 1°/ _ 8/ - 8/3 steady, but Government requirements are heavier, and, as supplies of steam coal are not too plentiful, prices tend to harden. Lancashire steam coals at present are quoted from 17s. 9d. to 18s. 3d. f.o.b. In the coastwise and cross- Channel household trade more undoubtedly would be taken if it could be provided, but even where the actual sending forward of the fuel is not a difficulty there is the trouble of being able to fix vessels in accordance with the enquiry. The position of slack and small fuel becomes stronger as time runs on, and there is a growing indisposition on the part of the seller to contract for long periods forward. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. House coal of all qualities is in good demand. Furnace coal continues brisk, but there is not much offering over contract quantities. There is a good enquiry for shipping coal. Slack is in good call, and the demand exceeds the supply. 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 I L’st week's iLast year's prices. ■ prices. prices. 21/ -22/ ; 21/ -22/ 17/3-18/ 19/ -20/3 19/ -20/3 16/ -16/9 17/ -17/3 17/ -17/3 . 13/3-14/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ ; 12/ 19/ -21/ : 19/ -21/. 13/ -14/ 14/ ! 14/ I 9/6-10/ ' 11/ -12/ | 11/ -12/ [ 8/ - 9/ IRON. . There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday last. Pig iron, if anything, is a little stronger, but there is no appreciable improvement in demand. The associated prices of iron bars and hoops remain the same as last week, with no makers keen to sell forward. Steel works are exceptionally busy on bars at <£13 to <£13 10s. The price of billets is about <£10 10s., but there is really no market for these. General trades report plenty of work. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. * Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was attended by a very large gathering, in which London firms were well represented and buyers predominated largely. There was scarcely anything offering. Possibly at no time during the war had it been more difficult to secure supplies. There seemed an unlimited demand for every sort, especially prompt parcels of manufacturing fuel and gas coal, but generally it was impossible to buy. The pits awe not only suffering a good deal from the scarcity of trucks, but the loyalty of the miners who are responding to the new call to the Colours is to a considerable extent affecting the production of coal. A case might be mentioned of a colliery losing no fewer than 200 men within the last five weeks. For these reasons the output of the collieries is quite insufficient to supply the needs of the market, and as it is more than possible that these conditions vyill be intensified, the outlook with regard to sup- plies for the winter months is calculated to cause serious mis- givings. The wagon difficulty is preventing London merchants in many cases from obtaining full contract deliveries, while they are unable to buy anything in the open market. Some of the trunk lines have not been able to supply any railway trucks this week on account of Government requirements. In these circumstances, pit prices for London are more or less nominal. Coastwise, supplies are so meagre that buyers are trying to get deliveries by rail, and are only partially successful. Shipping tonnage is totally inade- quate, and freights rule very high. In the local markets merchants have more orders on hand than they can deal with, and stocks at the depots are rapidly diminishing. The public demand runs mainly on the cheaper qualities, of which there is a marked scarcity. Pit prices may be averaged as follow: —Haigh Moor selected, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone best, 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d.; Silkstone house, 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d.; secondary sorts, 17s. to 18s. There is an increasing pressure for supplies of gas coal from the collieries. Practically no new business is passing. Pro- ducers are fully sold, and have practically nothing to offer for Current pit prices. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best....... Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal..... Gas nuts.............. Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts........... Large double-screened engine nuts ......... Small nuts............ Rough unscreened ' engine coal.......... Best rough slacks..... Small do. ..........| Coking smalls ......; Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ......... Current prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ L'st week's Last year's | prices. ! : 20/ -21/ i 19/ -20/ i 19/ -20/ : 17/ -is/ 1 16/ -17/ prices. 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 21/6-22/6 20/6-21/6 18/6-19/6 18/ -19/ 21/6-22/6 ' 20/6-21/6 ‘ 18/6-19/6 ; : 18/ -19/ ! 17/ -17/6 15/6-16/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/3 9/3- 9/6 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 10/3-10/9 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/6 ---------- 13/6-14/6 9/3- 9/9 9/ - 9/6 13/6-14/6 !• 9/ - 9/6 12/ -13/6 10/6-11/6 , 10/ -11/ i 7/ - 7/6 6/ - 6/9 6/ - 6/6 19/6-20,6 16/6-17/6 ; 10'6 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6