1296 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN December 24, 1915. steam fuel continues to be of a heavy character for the railway companies, and values remain of a nominal character with the output fully cleared away. A heavy demand for steam nuts also continues, and current values are little tested in view of the fact that all the production is ear- marked. All descriptions of small manufacturing fuel are also in heavy demand in the endeavour to lay in stocks for the future, and the maximum values permitted by the Legislature are easily obtainable. The pressure for fuller contract deliveries of gas coal is particularly strong at the present with the maximum needs of the consumer being in operation. There is no improvement in the present in regard to house coal, and merchants recognise the difficulty of the position, and have to adopt the practice of meeting their customers* needs in a proportionate degree. Best qualities are scarcely obtainable, and buyers relying upon the open market are in a serious position. The vigorous demand for coke is well sustained, with prices showing still an upward tendency. Prices at pit: — IRON. A better tone pervades the pig iron market, while the finished iron department maintains great activity. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 15/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 13/ -14/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/6 Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/9-11/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 11/6-11/9 Secondary do 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 10/6-11/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 10/6-10/9 Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 9/9-10/ Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 7/3 Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 6/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 10/6-11/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/ Gas nuts 16/6 16/6 10/ -10/6 Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 11/ -11/3 Nottingham. COAL. With the approach of Christmas there was a very brisk tone in every section of the Nottinghamshire coal trade during the past week. Both owners and men recognise the urgent need to keep the output at as high a level as possible in view of the national crisis, and it is probable that the holiday at most of the collieries will be restricted to two days. In the domestic fuel section coal merchants were very busy, many householders being anxious to get in stocks prior to the holidays. The demands on the collieries were heavy, merchants in the district and the southern and eastern counties pressing for deliveries which could not be met in all cases. Best households were especially in great request, and secondary qualities were likewise eagerly sought for. In fact, all kinds of house fuel were rapidly cleared from the collieries. A similar state of affairs dominated the steam coal branch—the demand being much in excess of the supply. Although orders for export are on a satisfactory scale considering the exceptional circum- stances, the amount of fuel available is limited. Values are firmer, and there is a tendency to higher figures. Slacks continue to maintain their recent improvement. Prices at pithead. tions of war, and the step now taken will, it is hoped prevent further inflation of prices. Haematites, which before the war were quoted from 70s. to 80s., have recently been quoted as high as 140s., and smelting scrap, which is used in the open-hearth basic process, has also advanced tremendously. In all departments of the industries pressure for delivery continues great, and there is a shortage of material for ordinary business purposes. Prices, too, are firmly upheld. Marked bar makers are booked well into next quarter, and their basis of <£13 10s. stands good. For merchant bars <£13 is now about the minimum, rising to £13 5s. Nut and bolt iron remains in the neighbourhood of £12 10s., a high figure, but unavoidable. Gas strip makers quote from £13 to £13 5s., and hoops (iron and steel) range from £14 10s. to £15 10s. A small export trade is being done in galvanised sheets for our own colonies and with one or two neutral countries, and a moderate demand exists for home purposes. The general quotations are from £24 10s. to £26 ; for black corrugated sheets they range from £15 to £15 10s., and for plain black-sheets the price is about £15 a ton. The pig iron market retains its strength, and smelters are looking forward to forge irons reaching the 80s. mark at an early date. A few are selling meagrely, or not offering at all, in anticipation of this. In the steel section there is no abate- ment of demand, and the difficulty remains of getting supplies of bars and billets, for which a quotation as high as £12 a ton has been heard, delivered Birmingham. American makers are not quoting for billets, blooms, or bars except at prohibitive rates, which means that they require practically the whole of their own material. Hull. COAL. There has not been much business passing this week beyond a few small prompt transactions. Supplies are still limited and with little active demand prices are steady, and in many cases purely nominal. The large number of licence applications refused during December has had a very restrictive effect on the export trade, and, as the immediate prospective supply from Yorkshire and Derby- shire is practically all required for inland consumption, the possibility is that the War Department Committee will further tighten their hold upon the export. Experience has shown that, whenever there has been an apparent tendency for export prices to rise, the Committee has dealt more drastically with applications, and there does not seem to be the prospect of any relief from the present position. The outlook for the export trade from the Humber is, there- fore, not very encouraging, and next to no business for early delivery has been or can be done. As may be antici- pated, the shipments abroad from Hull and neighbouring ports during December will prove to be comparatively light, and a long way below the average of preceding months. With regard to the whole year a big falling-off is expected as compared with 1914. While the foreign export at Hull will be roundly half-a-million tons down, equal to 15 to 16 per cent., the position of Grimsby, Immingham and Goole is considerably less favourable, very big decreases having to be reckoned with. Taking all the Humber ports together, the year’s foreign export will, in all probability, just top 4 million tons, as against a few thousands over 6 million tons in 1914, thus giving a decrease of about 2 million tons, equal to 33 to 35 per cent. Of the 1915 aggregate, it will be found that France alone has taken over 2 million tons, or more than one-half, Sweden 700,000 tons, Holland nearly 400,000 tons, and Denmark over 300,000 tons. These are iround figures, but are approxi- mately correct, being based upon 11| months’ actual figures. Approximate prices ruling this week f.o.b. for prompt shipment:—Best South Yorkshire steam hards, 20s. 6d. to 21s.; ditto prime brands, 21s. to 22s. 6d.; washed trebles, 20s. to 20s. 6d.; washed doubles , 19s. 6d. to 20s. ; washed singles, 20s, 6d. to 2Is. ; washed small coal, 14s. 3d. to 15s.; rough slack, 14s. 9d. to 15s.; West Riding Hartleys, 19s. to 19s. 6d.; gas and house coals (screened), 20s. to 21s. 6d. Freight market quiet, and demand not being so pressing, rates are easier, 21s. having been accepted Hull to Dunkirk. Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for coal is as active as ever, and collieries continue to be pressed for deliveries before the stoppage of work at the pits for the Christmas holidays. The suspension of operations will be shorter than usual, and it is hoped that the men will be satisfied with Christmas Day and the Monday following only. Even two days’ diminu- tion of the output of coal throughout the country is a serious matter in these times, when every ton of coal is a vital necessity. House coal is in great demand, and orders are much in arrear. This, however, is unavoidable. Fuel for manufacturing purposes continues in brisk request. Cobbles and nuts suitable for gas producers continue to be much sought after, but supplies are unfortunately difficult to obtain. These classes of coal are in particularly urgent demand for steel-making. Slack for steam-raising is badly wanted, and consumers experience considerable difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies. Steam coal for locomotive use is urgently needed, and gas coal is equally in request. A deficient supply of railway wagons is causing much trouble to many collieries. The coal trade is much disturbed by rumours that the Board of Trade con- template the pooling of private owners’ wagons, and meetings are being hurriedly called in order to protest against any such steps being taken. The export trade is still in a quiet condition, with no prospect of any change at present. Coke continues in good demand, and prices are firm. Prices at pit: — 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/ 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. 14/ -14 6 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/ 10/3-10/9 9/6-10/ 6/6— 7/3 5/9- 6/3 5/9- 6/3 Lydney. Forest of Dean. COAL. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 13/6 Secondary do 16 6 16/6 12/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 11/6 10'6 Nuts 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 7/6 Leicestershire. COAL. There is a very large demand for all classes of coal, and the output is maintained at a very satisfactory level con- sidering the reduced number of men employed. The orders for household coal for London and country stations is up to the maximum, and the whole of the output is absorbed as far as it is available. The demand for manufacturing fuel continues to increase with the growth of munition factories on night and day working, and the cheaper qualities of household coal are being more and more diverted to meet the deficiency. So great is the pressure for supplies that coal merchants are offering as much as Is. 6d. per ton premium on list prices to meet the urgent cases of firms engaged on vital Government contracts, but these offers cannot be entertained under any circumstances, the prices being above the limit allowed by law. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits, although there is great difficulty in securing adequate supplies of empty railway-owned wagons. All the pits will be stopped for Saturday and Monday, and at several collieries Tuesday will also be a holiday to enable machinery and boilers to be overhauled. The following are the prices, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in force at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. There has been a heavy demand for all qualities of house coals since last writing, and the collieries have been quite unable to execute anything like the number of orders received. Orders from the inland districts are very plentiful, but there is much delay in despatching the coal; shipments, too, are very satisfactory, and the docks are kept clear of stock. Slack coals are in brisk demand, and all descriptions of steam coal are meeting with a very ready sale. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s tast year’s House coals:— prices. 1 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 11/6 11/6 6/6 Steam coal:— Large 18/ -19/ ' 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/ Small ! 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 7/9- 8/3 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. 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/ Last year’s prices. 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/6 10/6-11/ 9/ - 9/6 8/3- 8/9 1/6- 1/9 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 11'6-12/ 10/6-11/6 9/ -10/ 11/6-12/ 8/ - 8/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. An enormous demand continues for all classes of fuel, and there is shortage everywhere. Merchants are hoping to be able to straighten things out next week, when, it is expected, the public will cease from troubling. They will be in a position to work off arrears if they can get men and horses to do the work of delivery. The cessation at the collieries will be as short as possible. The men will “ play ” on Saturday and Monday for a certainty, an effort will be made to get them back on Tuesday, by Wednesday and Thursday it is hoped business will be normal. Certainly every ton is needed. Some of the big works are suffering from lack of fuel, and there have been many stoppages. Works situated on the canals are better off, inasmuch as they have not the trouble of cartage. Business done apart from contracts is almost negligible, and quotations are purely nominal. IRON. As in the coal so in the iron and steel industries, the Christmas holidays will be no longer than necessary to give the workmen an opportunity for rest. Employers recognise that the staffs require a break, and in most of the large munition works and many of the smaller factories work will be suspended for four days. Recently, the workers have been putting in a good deal of overtime, and produc- tion has been well maintained. The announcement that the Government has decided to prevent the export of haematite and steel-smelting scrap came as no surprise, and was welcomed by consumers. Both these commodities are chiefly used for steel to be manufactured into muni- Requisitioned Coal Dispute.—In the King’s Bench Divi- sion, on the 14th inst., Mr. Justice Sankey delivered judgment in the case of Seville and the United Kingdom Carrying Company Limited v. Mann, George and Company. The action arose out of disputes between the parties owing to the requisitioning by British cruisers in the Mediterranean o-f coal on board the “ Rosemount,” a vessel belonging to the plaintiffs, which had been chartered by the defendants. The defendants had sold three cargoes of Welsh coal to a firm of Gilchrist, Walker and Company, in Constantinople, and the “ Rosemount ” was chartered by them to take one of the cargoes to Constantinople. The “ Rosemount ” was in the Mediterranean when the “ Goeben ” and “ Breslau ” were trying to enter Turkish waters, and it was arranged between the parties that the coal should be discharged at the Piraeus, Malta, or Alexandria, at the defendant’s option, on paying an extra freight. When the “ Rosemount ” arrived off Tenedos, the British cruisers “ Indomitable,” “ Indefatigable,” and “ Gloucester,” which had chased the “ Goeben ” and “ Breslau ” in the Dardanelles, appeared and requisitioned 3,178 tons of coal out of the “ Rosemount.” Messrs. Gilchrist, by telegram from Constantinople, instructed the master of the “ Rose- mount ” to go to the Piraeus, and the defendants undertook to pay the extra freight of 7s. 6d. a ton for Constantinople. At that time they did not know that the greater portion of the cargo had been requisitioned. But they had agreed to sell the whole cargo to the Admiralty, who desired delivery at the Piraeus. The plaintiffs claimed the freight of 12s. 6d. a ton on the whole cargo in consideration of their consenting to go to the Piraeus, although part of -it had been delivered at Tenedos; and they also claimed £280 for demurrage at the Piraeus. The defendants denied their personal liability, and said that they acted only as agents for Messrs. Gilchrist, and not as principals.—Mr. Justice Sankey, in his judgment, said that in his view the defendants had offered to pay an extra freight of 5s. a 'ton on the whole of the cargo shipped in consideration of the vessel’s being taken to the Piraeus. He thought that the defendants were not acting as agents. None of the parties knew that the cargo had already been broached, but the defendants heard afterwards, and with that knowledge accepted personal liability. He had next to decide whether the agreement was made in ignorance of the true state of facts in respect of a cargo which had ceased to exist, and was therefore not binding on the defandants. In his (his lordship’s) view, the cargo had not, in fact, ceased to exist, nor had it perished. Part of it had been sold to, or at any rate taken by, his Majesty’s Government, and the price of the whole of it was eventually paid. There was no mistake going to the root of the contract. The defendants wanted the vessel to go to the Piraeus, and it went there. The only mistake that could be suggested wTas that at the time when they made the agreement they were under the idea that the whole cargo was still in the vessel, but the tonnage was used as a basis of arithmetic, and the extra freight was calculated at the rate of 5s. a ton on the cargo shipped, and not at the rate of 5s. a ton on the balance then left. He therefore held that the defendants w’ere personally liable for 5s. a ton extra freight to the plaintiffs. As to the demurrage claim, he held that the defendants made no agreement to pay any demurrage, and that having regard to the circumstances at the Piraeus, the vessel was not detained more than a reason- able time. He therefore disallowed this part of the claim.