January 28, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 177 up steadily. , Gas coals are in short supply, and prices are stronger. Households are in better demand, and prices are higher. Coking coals are now more sought after, and prices have stiffened. There are no surplus bunkers on the market, with the result that higher prices are quoted. Coke is without much alteration; it is reported that a quantity of best patent coke has been sold for delivery over 12 months at 3 7s. a ton f.o.b. It is said that the South Metropolitan Gas Works are closing their contracts for over a million tons of Durham gas coals at 15s. 6d. to 16s. per ton f.o.b. for ordinary qualities, and about Is. more for superior brands, practically the prices stipulated in the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. It is also reported that purchases have been effected through the agency of the Admiralty at preferential prices for a large quantity of steam coal to be shipped during the summer to Archangel for the Russian Marine Authority. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current L'st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 23/ 23/ 13/ Secondary do. House coals:— 22/ < 21/6 11/3 Best house coals 27/6 26/ 16/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 24/6 23/ 15/ Lambton screened 27/6 26/ 14/3 . South Hetton do. 27/6 26/ 14/ Lambton unscreened ... 22/6 21/6 21/6 10/9 South Hetton do 22/ 10/9 Do. treble nuts 28/6 22/ 13/6 Coking coals unscreened 22/ 21/6 10/3 Do. smalls 21/6 20/6 10/ Smithies... 23/6 21/ 13/ Peas and nuts 28/ 22/6 13/6 Best bunkers 23/ 22/6 12/ Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 21/ 20/6 10/6 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 40/6 40/ 19/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 36/ 35/ 18/6 Gas coke 28/ 28/ 12/6 much higher than it has been for some months, require- ments are still very much in excess of the supply. There is a clamorous demand for coal in all markets, and at the moment the needs of local consumers are quite sufficient to absorb the whole of the output. Landsale is exceptionally brisk. There is now a very strong enquiry for gas coal for home and export use, and good consignments are being despatched both by rail and sea. Locomotive fuels are in very steady request, and, as far as manufacturing fuel is concerned, requirements have increased to such an extent during the last few weeks that it is now practically impossible to satisfy the needs of all consumers. Nearly the whole of the production of this class of fuel is going to the local smelters, iron ore mines and public works, and the smaller varieties are now so scarce that a large quantity of small coal is being bought from outside districts in order to keep the local coke ovens in full operation. The cross- Channel trade is very bu«y, but the stormy weather has interfered considerably with the sailings to Ireland this week. There is, however, a very strong and vigorous demand for all varieties for the Irish markets. Prices of all sorts are firm but unchanged. Best sorts of Cumberland coal at the pit are still quoted at 23s. 4d. per ton, while best coal f.o.b. at Maryport is obtainable at 19s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers are a steady trade at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. Last week 10 vessels left Maryport, all for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 2,930 tons, a decrease of 1,930 tons compared with the previous week. Coke makers are very busy, and the entire output at the Cumberland coke ovens is being absorbed by local smelters. At Maryport, St. Helens, Flimby and Oughterside, 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 at 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best Buckhill 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 quotations. increase. Supplies are barely sufficient to keep things going, and prices are steady, quotations for Lancashire steam coals being still in the neighbourhood of 22s. f.o.b., varying according to quality and circumstances. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade there is no change to report. Quantities which collieries are able to allocate to this branch still fall short short of what the merchant desires to have. The position as regards slack does not change at all, and it is still necessary to draw upon larger fuels to augment the marked shortage in this grade. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a full attendance of members on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. House coal continues in good demand. There are many enquiries, but not too much fuel offering. Furnace coal is brisk, and the demand for shipping coal is maintained. The pressure for slack is as severe as it has been for some time. 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 L'st week's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/ 12/ upwds. prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/ 12/ upwds. Last year’s prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/ 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/ 8/ - 9/ ' Outward chartering has been brisk and rates all round are firmly held, as shown by the following fixtures:—Genoa, 90s.; Oran, 52s. 6d.; River Plate, 40s.; Leghorn, 87s. 6d.; Toulon, 75s.; Malta, 50s.; Carthagena, 57s. 6d.; St. Nazaire, 42s. 6d.; Bayonne, 47s. 6d.; Lisbon, 40s.; Bordeaux, 45s.; Havre, 28s.;■ Dunkirk, 31s.; Rouen, 30s.; Dieppe, 29s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel market continues steady and firm. There is a pronounced shortage of gas coal, and b^st Durhams have sold at as much as 23s. for next month’s delivery, but the general market quotation ranges from 22s. to 22s. 6d.; whilst second kinds are 19s. 6d. to 21s., and special Wears are quoted up to 24s. Durham steam coal is in the neigh- bourhood of 25s. Bunkers are, if anything, a shade easier. Ordinary Durhams run from 20s. to 21s., with 21s. 6d. to 22s. for best sorts, and up to 24s. for specials. Coking coal is in good request. Unscreened kinds are put at 22s., and smalls at 21s. A fair amount of business in coke is passing at the fixed maximums. Local needs are heavy, and con- sumers are pressing for deliveries. Durham blastfurnace coke of average blastfurnace quality is 28s., and foundry coke 30s. 6d., both at the ovens. This makes furnace coke from 30s. to 31s. delivered at Teesside works, and the f.o.b. price of foundry round about 34s. to 35s. Gas coke is almost unobtainable, with the nominal quotation in the vicinity of 28s. IRON. Though deliveries’ of pig iron fall a good deal below what could be wished, they are, in all the circumstances, fairly satisfactory. There is still much congestion at the various wharves and at the docks, and, but for the unfortu- nate shortage of labour, despatches by both rail and steamer would be much heavier than they are. Stocks of pig iron are dwindling, and, in fact, beyond the Cleveland pig held in the public warrant stores, they have practically disappeared. The quantity in the stores now stands at 99,121 tons. Not since September 21, 1914, has the stock in the warrant stores been below 100,000 tons. On that date it stood at 99,930 tons. Sales of No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig have been recorded this week at the understood fixed maximum of 82s. 6d., but there is now a doubt as to whether that limit will be adhered to. The position has eased a little, and the ruling quality is now obtainable at 82s. 3d., whilst No. 1 is 86s., No. 4 foundry 81s. 9d., No. 4 forge (which is something of a drug on the market) 80s. 6d., and mottled and white iron each 80s. —all for early delivery. Producers of Cleveland pig are still reluctant to commit themselves ahead to any extent. East coast haematite pig is almost unobtainable. There is very little offering for the second quarter of the year, and many makers, having booked as far ahead as they care to, are not quoting. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 have sold this week at 135s. for May-June delivery, and there are still buyers in the market at that figure. Sellers are asking 137s. and 140s. for mixed numbers. Demand for France continues very good, and there are further substantial enquiries on Italian account. Great firmness characterises foreign ore, the still rising freights necessitating advanced quotations. Market rates are now based on fully 40s. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Heavy supplies continue to come to hand. Imports to the Tees, so far this month, approach 200,000 tons. Freights Bilbao-Middles- brough are up to 23s. 6d. Fixtures have been made at that figure, and even higher rate is anticipated. Manu- facturers of finished iron and steel continue too busily employed on Government work to pay much heed to ordinary commercial business. Quotations are strong. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal ,, Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit ...... Oughterside best coal at Fit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts at pit ... BestCumberl'nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Bunkers Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 ' 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 Last year’s prices. 19/2 17/1 18/4 16/10 18/4 16/10 18/4 16/10 8/6 15/ 15/6 13/6 12/6-13/ 15/ 14/ IRON. There is practically no new feature of interest this week in connection with the Cumberland haematite iron trade, beyond the mere fact that production is being well main- tained and that business is still exceptionally brisk in both the iron and steel industries. There is very great activity both in Cumberland and the Furness district, and smelters are probably as busy as they can possibly be in every department. All the furnaces are maintaining a very heavy output, and the whole of the make of both ordinary and special iron is being absorbed by present requirements. There is still an abnormal demand for metal, and con- sumers cannot possibly secure all the iron they need. The quotations still ruling are the maximum prices, viz.: — Special iron 140s. per ton f.o.t., and Bessemer mixed numbers 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. There are 25 furnaces blowing in the district. The steel trade is very actively engaged on Government account. The rail trade is still rather quiet. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor and Millom districts is in a flourishing condition. All the mines are briskly employed, and there is a very keen demand for metal. During the last week or two there has been a substantial increase in production, and local smelters are now receiving fairly good supplies. With the exception of about 900 tons which is going over the Border, practically the whole of the output is going to the local smelters. Best sorts of ore at the Cumberland mines are quoted at 38s. per ton, and good average varieties are obtainable at from 21s. to 30s. per ton. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Notwithstanding the only moderate demand which characterises the household coal trade, difficulty is experienced in meeting it with supplies direct from the colliery, and stocks, where they still exist, continue to be resorted to. There is no easing off in the demand for screened coal for forge and manufacturing purposes. As regards shipping, the position is very much as it was, though, if anything, shipments for ordinary bunkering and export tend to decrease, and Government requirements to Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Mary port. Cumberland. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade continues in a remarkable state of activity, and it is everyway likely that still greater buoyancy will be exhibited before the middle of next month. All the collieries throughout the county are working six days a week, and, although production is now House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ..... Common do............... Current L'st week's prices. prices. 20/9 20/9 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 19/ 19/ 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/ 17/ 20/6 20/6 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 22/ 22/ - 15/ 15/ 14/ 14/ 13/ 13/ Last year's prices. 17/ 18/6-19/ 15/3 16/6-17/ 13/ 15/6-16/ 12/ 15/6-16/ 10/3 9/6 8/9 IRON. There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday last, and the market in all commodities was very strong. The present price of pig iron remains as quoted last week. Forges are fully employed, the associated price for iron bars being .£13 per ton, sheets <£17 per ton, hoops <£17 2s. 6d. per ton, less 2| per cent. Steel works are very busy on Government orders, and the price for steel bars to-day is .£16 10s. to <£17 per ton net. Wagon works and heavy engineers are very busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. A large attendance at the market on Tuesday was representative of all sections of the trade, there being a number of traders from London and a good contingent from the Humber ports. For all sorts of coal the demand was very active, although month-end considerations affected a little the enquiry for house coal. The keenest demand was for nuts. Strong pressure is being brought to bear by Government departments on the collieries to keep munition works well supplied, and this applies also to coke ovens, the residuals from which are so important to the manufacture of explosives. Colliery representatives reported full time at the pits, and, as the men are turning up to work more satisfactorily, the output has benefited accordingly. The supply of empty wagons is fairly good, but there are many complaints about transit delays to loaded traffic. The pits are quite free of stocks, and in most cases deliveries are in arrear to the extent of 10 days or more. The demand for house coal from London is well maintained, although merchants report a marked falling off in the depot trade. The quieter public demand is welcomed by the merchants, who are given an oppor- tunity to replenish depleted stocks. Best qualities of house coal are still not being offered, and even at the full ; prices allowed by the Limitation Act offerings of. secondary sorts are meagre on account of the better prices realised for export and for steam coal. Merchants in the West Riding are able to cope with the public demand, which the mild weather keeps within reasonable limits. Secondary qualities for bagging purposes are in chief request. Pit prices are unchanged, but are more or less nominal—a remark which applies to all descriptions of coal:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities 17s. to 18s. ■ Coastwise dealings are dwindling almost to vanishing point. Most of the merchants on the Thames wharves and the south and south-west coast are haying to get their supplies by rail. High freights are a very important factor, and there is great scarcity of boats, although up to 16s. Hull to London is offered for handy sizes. The lengthening days have begun to reduce the requirements of ; Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 17/ -18/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 16/ -17/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 15/6-16/6 Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18'1 15/ -16/- House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 18/6-19/6 Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/6-18/6 Do. house 19/ —20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -17/6 Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 16/ -16/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ ' Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 12/ -13/. - Unscreened gas coal ... 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 11/6-12/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 12/ -13/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 11/ -12/ Small nuts 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/ 10/6-11/ ; Rough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 11/ -12/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ .8/6- 9/6 Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 7/6- 8/ . Coking smalls ............ 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 7/6-8/ ' Coke Price at ovens: 12/6-13/6 Furnace coke 24/ 24/