128 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 21, 1916. Barnsley. COAL. There has been no change in the position of affairs from a week ago, especially in regard to the marked scarcity of small steam fuel. There was a good attendance at the usual local market, but buyers could meet with very few offers, and in connection with several industries the position is causing a good deal of anxiety. Although the collieries are now in full swing again, the output is still short of the present needs of the market, and there is no doubt whilst the foreign trade is still reduced to small proportions that much larger values than are permitted by legislation could be obtained for supplies on home account. The shortage in the supply of nut slacks, so extensively used for steam purposes, is becoming so pronounced that con- sumers are having to resort to purchasing all descriptions of large coal and breaking it into smaller sizes in order to meet their requirements where plants are of the self-feeder pattern. The strong pressure upon collieries to satisfy the requirements of industries engaged on Government work still exists, and the requirements of the by-product plants have to be satisfied, although, of course, this involves a difficulty in maintaining the supplies for other industries. There are no stocks of any class of fuel at the collieries, and the production is also pretty well arranged for a considerable time ahead. The railway companies continue to take a very large tonnage of large steams for their purposes, and, as already indicated, where no surplus lots are available owing to the restricted shipping, these are readily taken for other purposes at the maximum prices. There continues to be a very active demand for all kinds of gas coal, although business with France does not appear to be so brisk as hitherto. The demand for house coal, in spite of the fact that the weather has been fairly mild, is well maintained, and collieries have still heavy orders on hand especially for best classes of fuel. It appears to be evident that the public are taking in rather increased supplies to prepare for any eventuality, and collieries have no need to go in search of orders. The position in respect to coke is still an exceptionally strong one from the point of view of producers. A very large tonnage is going to the North Lincolnshire district, and there is not the slightest difficulty of obtaining the maximum rates agreed upon. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/ -17/6 20/ -22/ 17/6-18/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 16/6-17/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 13/6-14/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 11/6-12/6 Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 12/ -12/6 Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/ -17/ 11/6-11/9 Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16'6 11/9-12/3 Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 10/6-11/ Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 8/6- 9/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 7/ -7/6 Screened gas coals • 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/6-11/6 Gas nuts 16/6 16/6 10/6-11/6 Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 11/6-12/ Hull. COAL. A very firm tone prevails in the Humber coal market, and values are again in advance on the week. Supplies are not by any means equal to demand, and in sympathy with centres concerned chiefly with home consumption prices maintain a high level. What little coal can be obtained for export is eagerly sought after, but this demand is kept very severely in check by the wholesale refusal of licences. Were it not for this, it is impossible to say to what heights values would not reach, notwithstanding the ever-increasing freight rates. The record for French ports has again been passed, and fully 31s. is now demanded for the carriage of a ton of coal to Rouen, while so far as the Mediterranean is concerned, quotations are such as to practically hang up the trade altogether. Shipments at the docks, chiefly under old contracts, are very small, and at the present rate January is not likely to exceed the December shipment. Little coal is to be had for this month, and for early February sellers are asking fully Is. advance on current values. The approximate prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment at Hull nr Grimsby are:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 23s. to 23s. 6d.; ditto prime brands, 23s. 6d. to 25s.; washed trebles, 22s. to 23s.; washed doubles, 21s. 6d. to 22s.; washed singles (nominal), 21s. to 21s. 6d.; washed small coal, 16s. to 16s. 6d.; rough slack, 15s. 6d. to 16s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 20s.; house and gas coal (screened), 21s. to 23s.; Derbyshire steam hards scarcely offering 22s. 6d. to 23s. Grimsby or Immingham. Chesterfield. COAL. The mild weather has caused a slight slackening of the demand for house coal during the past week; still, orders are coming to hand in sufficient numbers to absorb the output from day to day. There is, however, no lightening of the pressure for coal for manufacturing purposes; indeed, the demand for this class of fuel is, as a matter of fact, greater than ever, and will be intensified as the year advances. Great efforts are made by the collieries to meet the requirements of munition works, and heavy deliveries are going forward daily. Every class of coal is wanted, but the most urgent call just now is for nuts and slack. These sorts are, however, very scarce, and consumers are greatly inconvenienced owing to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary supplies. Locomotive coal continues in strong demand, with supplies much below railway requirements. There is nothing new to report with regard to the export trade. Business at the Humber ports is very quiet, and Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 16/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 15/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 15/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 13/6 Slack 12/6 12/6 9/ licences are difficult to secure. Prices of all classes of coal are strong, prime qualities of hards realising 24s. per ton delivered Hull. Washed nuts continue in brisk demand, but the supply is extremely limited. The market is very firm, and coke for blast furnaces and foundry work finds a ready sale. Prices remain fixed at 24s. per ton at the ovens. Coking fuel is scarce. IRON. The various sections of the iron trade continue in an extremely active condition. Work in connection with Government requirements is most plentiful. ----------------- Nottingham. COAL. There has been no particular change in the state of the coal trade of Nottinghamshire during the past week. The tone in every department is buoyant from the owners’ point of view, and efforts are being made to keep the output as large as circumstances will permit. Local merchants have experienced a slight improvement in the public demand, but the weather conditions are not favourable to stimulating business to any great extent. Still, the collieries are in the position of having plenty of orders on hand—in fact, as many as they can deal with comfortably, and in some cases more than they can execute without considerable delay. With the output scarcely reaching the demand for domestic fuel,^ values are very firm, and there is no likelihood of prices becoming easier for some time to come. Activity is the outstanding feature of the steam coal branch. The home demand is heavy, particularly for that class of fuel suitable for munition works and manufacturing purposes. Railway companies are taking full supplies on contract account. The export trade is on the quiet side, but fully up to expectations. Slacks con- tinue to be in keen request, and, with the limited output, owners are able to maintain prices at late rates. Gas coal is going out of hand satisfactorily. 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’st week’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/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 10/3-10/9 7/6- 8/ 6/9- 7/3 6/9- 7/3 Leicestershire. COAL. TJiere is very intense activity, and the bulk of the orders offering outside contracts have to be declined, because the full output is already absorbed. There is a very sound and healthy demand for households for the London district and also for country stations, but the consumption is not so heavy in consequence of the mild character of the weather. Some merchants are trying to turn this opportunity to account by securing deliveries so as to increase their depleted stocks, but this can only be done in very excep- tional cases, when railway owned wagons fall short and private traders’ wagons are in the sidings. A good deal of household coal is now taken every day to increase the supplies available for manufacturing purposes at factories under Government control. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quotations, 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/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 L’st week’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/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 Last year’s prices. 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/ 11/ -12/ 8/9- 9/9 2/ - 2/3 12/3-12/9 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/6 12/3-12/9 10/6-11/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There is no easing of the situation in regard to fuel, and at most of the works supplies go into consumption as they are delivered. Cases crop up now and then where opera- tions have to be suspended owing to lack of fuel, and all round the shortage is pronounced. Nor is there any immediate prospect of requisite supplies being given. Moreover, the market is beginning to revive for domestic fuel. No very definite figures are available, but roughly the price at the pits for house coal and for some steam qualities is <£1 a ton, for second qualities 17s. 6d., and for hards <£1. IRON. The uncertain state of the market in the matter of Government control of prices, no doubt accounted in some measure for the large attendance on ’Change on Thursday. In the matter of pig iron it is yet too early to say definitely what the effect will be of the limitation of values. In anticipation of such a step a good deal of buying went on, but since the figures became known sales have eased off, and consumers are adopting a waiting policy, being content to cover themselves for the near future. The result is, despite fantastic reports of rapid advances, values have made little or no progress towards the maxima. Thus, for ordinary brands of Northamptonshire forge 77s. 6d. to 80s. remain the normal quotations, delivered at stations, which is a long way behind the limit of 82s. 6d. at furnaces, Foundry sorts are, of course, about 2s. 6d. dearer. For Derbyshire forge 82s. 6d. net is the market level, delivered at stations in Staffordshire. No agreement has been reached for South Staffordshire pigs, but makers here expect a higher maximum than for other grades. Until the pig iron problem is finally settled it is difficult, if not impossible, to fix maximum prices for finished iron. A report published in some papers during the week that a limit of £14 has been put on marked bars is incorrect, although this figure is not considered unreasonable. The current quotations are £13 10s., plus a premium of about £1 a ton, and for unmarked bars £13 5s. to £13 10s. There is a tremendous call for all sorts of small iron. Three-eighths sizes are quoted in the neighbour- hood of £15 10s,, and for smaller sizes makers can get practically their own prices, provided they can give delivery. The French Government are big customers. North Staffordshire bars range from £13 15s. to £14. Producers of steel strip are engaged almost entirely on Government work, and are not quoting to outside customers. Their figure is £17 a ton. The cheapest price at which they can buy their billets is £12 10s., and they are willing to give more for reasonably quick delivery. Tin control price for sheet bars, which was given as £10 7s. 6d., is a somewhat illusory figure, inasmuch as it is based on a sliding scale, according to the price of haematites. No bars are being sold just now at £10 7s. 6d., but accurate quota- tions are impossible to obtain. The sheet trade remains pretty much in the position it has occupied for some weeks. Galvanised sheets range from £25 to £27, and black corru- gated sheets are £16 at works. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade continues to be exceedingly brisk, and increasing difficulty is being experienced in meeting a heavy demand from all quarters. Merchants are placing heavy orders in the hope of getting at least a portion of their requirements satisfied. The collieries are kept fully at work, but delay in forwarding orders is inevitable. Ship- ments have not been so heavy during the past few weeks owing to the rough weather delaying vessels ; as a result the inland districts have had a better supply. House coal slacks and all steam qualities are in heavy request. The steam coal pits find it impossible to cope with the enquiry without some delay. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 18/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 17/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 17/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 16/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 11/6 11/6 7/6 Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 14/ Small 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 8/6- 9/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, January 20. North Wales. Wrexham. The general condition of the coal trade of this locality during the past week has been of an exceedingly strong character, the demand for all classes of fuel has been very keen, and most of the collieries have found it difficult to deal with the orders which have come to hand. All the pits have been able to work full time, but considerable difficulty has been experienced in regard to empty wagons which get held up on their return journey to the pits. The house coal trade is fairly steady, both in the merchants’ railborne trade and at the colliery landsale depots. In the case of steam coal, all the railway companies which have contracts in this locality are sending in requisitions for increased supplies, and as buyers send their wagons for this trade sellers are able to keep up a fairly regular supply. In reference to coal for industrial purposes, now that so many works are engaged on Government contracts there is a keener demand in this market, and pressure is being put on colliery owners to supply large quantities, but it is found extremely difficult to meet the demand in every case, though every effort is made to do so. The amount of coal sent for shipment has not been so great of late owing the decreased number of vessels coming up the rivers Dee and Mersey. At Liverpool there is considerable delay in the discharging and loading of vessels, owing to shortage of labour and other local reasons. In regard to coal for gas-making purposes, the local contracts appear to be running smoothly, and so far as is possible, having regard to decreased output, contract quantities are being main- tained, and gas companies appear to be fairly well satisfied on the whole in regard to supplies. Gas companies are just now reaping a harvest in regard to the sale of gas coke, the demand is keener, and the prices higher at the present time than has ever been known to be maintained. Nuts are scarcely procurable apart from gas contracts, owing to Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 20/ -22/ .20/ -22/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 15/ -16/ Steam coal 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ j 12/9-13/9 Gas coal 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 1 12/ -13/ Bunkers 18/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 12/ -12/3 Nuts 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/6 11/ -12/6 Slack 10/ -11/6 10/ -11/ 5/ - 6/3 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 22/6-25/ 20/ -22/6 11/8-13/4 Best house coal 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 18/4-20/ Seconds 23/4-25/ 22/6-25/ 17/6-18/4 Slack 15/ -16/8 14/2-15/ 10/ -12/6