1194 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December 10, 1915. Chesterfield. COAL. A strong market for all classes of coal, with supplies far below the country’s requirements. House coal orders are most plentiful, and the delay in executing these is serious ; under existing circumstances, however, this is unavoidable. Manufacturing fuel is in great demand, and collieries con- tinue to do everything in their power to satisfy consumers’ needs. There is, however, a shortage of coal after the best efforts have been made. Steel works are badly in want of cobbles and nuts for gas-producers, and much difficulty is experienced in obtaining this class of fuel to enable the furnaces to be kept fully at work. Slack for steam-raising is also in urgent demand. Steam coal for locomotive use is also much wanted, and railway companies find considerable difficulty in obtaining their full contract quantity. The export trade is exceedingly quiet, due to the difficulty in obtaining licences. These are now being refused in the case of France and Italy. Prices are firm for such business as is possible. Washed nuts are in great demand, but the supply is short. The coke market maintains its strength both in respect of demand and prices. All qualities are much wanted. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 13/6 Secondary do 16/6 16/6 12/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 11/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 10/6 Slack 12/6 ■ 12/6 7/6 IRON. There is a sustained improvement in the pig iron trade, where the demand is slightly better accompanied by a hardening tendency in prices. Finished iron is in great request, and quotations have been officially advanced this week. Work is plentiful. Nottingham. COAL. The state of the coal trade of Nottinghamshire is much the same as a week ago, with the exception that the general demand is, if anything, even brisker. The output of domestic fuel is being eagerly sought for, but the collieries are unable to meet all immediate requirements, and con- tract deliveries to some merchants are in arrear. Those merchants who possess their own railway wagons have an advantage. Although best and second-class qualities are chiefly in request, yet in the present state of affairs common qualities are quickly cleared. Values are very firm. A strong tone also dominates the steam coal branch, and here again the supply is scarcely equal to the demand. Even merchants who, in order to get early deliveries, are willing to pay slightly higher prices are unable to get full supplies, as there are no surplus stocks. Slacks of all descriptions are having a ready sale, and some collieries which had a reserve supply a few weeks ago have had no difficulty in disposing of the same. Gas coal is in good demand, and works are drawing as freely as possible on contract account. 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. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ 11/ L’stweek’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ 11/ Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 10/—10/6 9/ - 9/6 6/6- 7/ 5/9- 6/ 5/6- 6/ Leicestershire. COAL. The very remarkable changes which are in progress unfortunately all tend to make the conditions more and more strenuous and uncertain. Coal merchants are being hard pressed both in obtaining deliveries at country railway stations and in effecting deliveries to all classes of consumers, including large works engaged on munitions. Fortunately there has been a change in the severity of the weather, which threatened to interfere with canal traffic by ice, and every preparation is being made in the event of keen frost to keep the canals open for coal traffic. The reserve stocks of all household coal and domestic fuel in the hands of coal merchants are extremely small, and at some country stations there has been a complete clearance. The influx of orders at the collieries is very large, and the output of the best qualities of household is quite inade- quate to meet urgent requirements. The demand for manufacturing fuel continues to expand, and there is the utmost pressure for quick deliveries to meet the vast con- sumption in works under Government control. All the pits are working full time of 5-| days per week, and there are no stocks of any kind in hand. The following are the quota- tions, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. 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. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ —13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 L’stweek’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 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 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -11/ 7/6- 8/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There has been practically no change in the conditions during the week. The break up of the frost last week-end gave a certain amount of relief to those who supply small consumers, and the yards were kept open until 5 o’clock on Saturday, instead of 2 o’clock for several previous weeks. All round the demand is kept up at high pressure, and with reduced output collieries cannot give full contract supplies. No surplus fuel of any kind is on offer, notwith- standing the customers are prepared to pay high values. Some contracts are not being renewed. Slacks are scarce and in active demand. The slacks of this district are used for fuel purposes only, not being suitable for coke-making. IRON. Reports on Thursday’s market went to show that the upward tendency in iron and steel had been maintained during the week, in some branches accentuated. On the other hand difficulties of production also tend to increase, and are likely to become more pronounced as the working of the Derby scheme develops. In finished iron makers have adj usted prices to the new conditions created by the advance last week in marked bars to <£13 10s. Quotations for unmarked qualities jumped to <£13, though it would be more correct to say that most of the business can be placed at <£12 15s., and in a few special cases at a shade below that figure. Nut and bolt iron, even, cannot be bought under <£12 10s., less 2| per cent., and small rounds are practically off the market, as makers do not want to sell under <£16 a ton, and their output is all taken up. Consumers declare that such prices are without parallel. Similarly, in the sheet trade, several advances have been notified. A firm minimum for galvanised sheets is <£25 for 24-gauge, delivered within a 10s. rate, and then the specification is subject to approval when it arrives at the works. A fair home demand exists which manufacturers encourage as much as possible. A serious difficulty is the dearth of sheet bars. There are no offers from the United States, and there is a fear that an embargo may be placed on steel products from the States. In any case, neither for finished or semi-raw steel is it possible to get quotations. Some iron bars are on order for next quarter’s shipment, and these work out at about £>11 5s. a ton delivered in this district. Corrugated black sheets have soared to <£16 and <£16 5s., and ordinary black doubles are <£15 10s. Gas strip is <£12 10s. to <£12 12s. 6d. The market for raw material continues firm. In the last few weeks prices have appreciated at least 7s. 6d. a ton, and deliveries cannot be obtained rapidly. Makers are avoiding forward contracts, realising that they are likely to command even more advantageous terms. Northamptonshire forge is quoted 75s., and both Derbyshire and Staffordshire part-mine touched 80s. No steel is obtainable for this year’s delivery. Prices continue to rise. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade of this district continues to exhibit a very strong tone. All the collieries are working at full pressure and, under existing circumstances, turning out satisfactory outputs, all of which is consigned straight away to the buyer. There is a complete absence of stock, and it is a matter of impossibility to avoid delay in despatching orders. Fair shipments are being made, but the weather is unfavourable for this department of the trade. Heavy consignments are going to the inland districts. The steam coal pits are all in regular work, and it is a difficult matter to cope with the enquiry without some delay. Prices at pithead. I Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. i prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 17/6 Forest ! 20/6 20/6 16/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 16/9 Nuts ! 19/ 19/ 15/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 11/6 11/6 6/6 Large ! 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/ Small 13/ -14/ 14/ -15/ 7/9- 8/3 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. It is stated that an explosion has occurred in the Dome Mine, in the Porcupine Hills, Calgary, Canada, doing a considerable amount of damage, which will take several weeks to repair. There is no news regarding the safety of the miners or the cause of the outbreak, but it is believed that the explosion is the result of a German plot. According to the Electrician, in a new type of coal- handling plant built for the Southern Railway at Charleston, South Carolina, by the Welmann Seaver-Morgan Company, Cleveland, Ohio, the coal is mechanically loaded into the ship instead of being allowed to flow by gravity. This type has the advantage of little breakage of coal, while the plant need not be so large as the gravity type. A movable car dumper of standard type is used to empty the trucks into the hopper of the movable leading tower, which is of 100 tons capacity. Thence the coal is taken by a conveyor through a curved arm extending over the boat, at the extremity of which it falls through a telescopic chute into the hold. The arm is adjustable in vertical height and horizontal extension for boats of different size. There is also a trimmer of the Blake rotating type operated by a motor at the side of the chute. The conveyor, of the scraper type, has a capacity of 3,600 tons per hour. The plant can handle 30 100-tou trucks per hour. It is entirely electrically driven, and require® three men to operate it. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, December 9. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. All the collieries in this locality have worked full time during the past week, and the output has been easily disposed of. In fact, the present demand is very much greater than the supply of all kinds of fuel. Orders for house coal come to hand freely day by day, and many firms are behindhand with deliveries. Householders are essaying to get in a supply for Christmas, and merchants are pressing coal owners for delivery. The local landsale depots are busily engaged in executing orders for retail lots. There has been little change in the steam coal trade during the past week. The demand is good, and every effort is being made by sellers to meet same as far as is possible, having regard to the great shortage of labour which now prevails in this coal field. Railway companies and industrial firms are pressing for deliveries. The trade in coal for shipment from Liverpool has been fair. In regard to gas coal, many gas companies are now pressing for extra supplies owing to the approach of the holidays, but apart from this little pressure matters are working very satisfactorily between colliery owners and gas companies respecting' current contracts, and the latter have little to complain of in the matter of supplies. Nuts are very scarce just now, and for this there is a ready demand. Prices continue to remain steady. 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. 20/ -21/ ... 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ ... 18/ -19/ ... 17/6-18/6 ... 17/6-18/6 ... 8/6- 9/9 ... 20/ -21/8 25/ -27/6 23/4-25/ 14/2-15/ L’st week’s.Last year’s prices, i prices. 20/ -21/ I 14/9-15/9 19/ -20/ ; 14/ -14/9 18/ -19/ 11/8-12/6 18/ -19/ '' 12/ -13/ 17/6-18/ 11/6-11/9 17/6-18/6 ' 11/ -11/9 8/6- 9/6 , 5/6- 6/ 20/ at w’ks 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 : 18/4-20/ 23/4-25/ . 17/6-18/4 13/4-15/ j 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COaL. The steam coal market has been gaining strength for days now, quotations for all descriptions being higher than last week. The present supply of tonnage is none too plentiful, but shippers see enough in view to comply with their requirement this side of the holidays, while any considerable accession near a time of reduced outputs would materially affect their position. To forecast the future of the trade was never more difficult than to-day, and the confidence shown by colliery owners is not easily to be accounted for. For the first half of January a fair amount of business has been placed, which yet seems insufficient to justify the firmness with which forward prices are held. The tonnage question remains the dominant factor of the market. The outward freight market continues its uninterrupted sequence of record breaking, the end of which seems as yet quite out of view. Pitwood supplies continue quite inadequate to meet colliery requirements, and although home-grown timber is being cut in districts from the shores of the English Channel to the northern confines of the Principality, our home efforts are feeble and amateurish in comparison with the business-like methods of the countries from which we have in the past obtained our supplies. Values are higher than ever at 53s. to 53s. 6d. for good wood. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. i Current Steam coals:— I prices. Best Black Vein large...' 21 /6-22/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 20/6-21/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 20/ -21/ Secondary do. ...! 19/6—20/ Best small coals ...... 12/ —13/ Secondary do..........j 10/ -11/ Inferior do............ 8/ - 9/ Screenings ............' — Through coals ......... 15/3-15/6 Best washed nuts....... 15/9-16/3 Other sorts:— 1 Best house coal........ 22/ -24/ Secondary do........... 21/ -22/ Patent fuel ........... 24/ -24/6 Furnace coke...........: 32/ -34/ Foundry coke .......... 36/ -38/ ;L’st week’s ! prices. I 1976-20/ I 19/ —19/6 18/6-19/ I ; 17/ -is/ I 12/ -12/6 ' 10/ —10/6 i 7/ - 8/6 ' 14/6-15/ !, 15/9-16/3 Last year’s prices. 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/3 I 15/6-15/9 15/ -15/6 8/ - 9/ 6/6— 7/6 6/ - 6/6 8/6— 9/ 11/6-12/ 13/9-14/3 i 22/ -24/ i 21/ -22/ ' 24/ -24/6 j 32/ -34/ 36/ —38/ 18/ -19/ 16/6—17/6 16/ -16/6 IRON. Still increased strength characterises the local iron and steel trades, further advances being reported in all depart- ments. New business is increasingly difficult, makers showing still greater disinclination to commit themselves further ahead until they disencumber themselves more of their present contracts. Work at bar mills is again full with values advanced to <£10 10s. for either Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars, with makers unwilling to book. Steel rails continue strong on the basis of <£9 10s. to <£10 for heavy sections, while further advances are expected. Welsh haematite is rapidly advancing, while works just now seem not to be booking. Iron ore is firmer around 32s. to 33s. c.i.f. Newport for best rubio. Tin-plates also have strongly advanced, 20 x 14’s being now quoted 23s. for either Bessemer or Siemens, while 28 x 20’s are priced 46s. 6d. to 47s. The trend is towards higher values. Cardiff. COAL. The hopeful feeling which was prevalent last week has not been maintained. Tonnage is again hanging fire, and rates are higher than ever, especially for Mediterranean ports. As much as 60s. has been paid for West Italy, excluding Genoa, where there is at present a lock-out, and 33s. has been paid to Gibraltar. From present indications here is little prospect of any reduction, owing to the fact