February 11, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 275 Cardiff. COAL. So far as prices are concerned, there has been no relaxa- tion. Up to the end of February, and even beyond, stems have been fully booked, and there is little likelihood of any concessions being made, if at all, until the early days of March. The demand at present is far greater than the supply, although outputs are stated to be greater per man than at any time during the last ten years. Best Admi- ralties are retained exclusively by the Government, and the same remark applies to most of the grades known as superior seconds. Ordinary seconds are 34s. to 35s. per ton, and ordinary Cardiff steams are only quoted at about Is. less. In Monmouthshire the same firmness prevails, best Black Aherns being 34s. 6d. to 35s., western valleys 34s. to 34s. 6d., and easterns 32s. to 33s. per ton. Variations are made in accordance with shipping facilities, but, generally speaking, these are the rates which are being demanded by colliery salesmen. In the small coal market there is a dis- tinctly firmer tendency. Old stocks have been worked off, and there is a difficulty in obtaining supplies. Best bunkers are 19s. to 20s., ordinary qualities 17s. to 18s., and cargo sorts anything between 13s. and 15s. In some cases a lower figure is being accepted, but this entirely depends on the position of the colliery. Bituminous coals are steady, and there is little change, No. 3 Rhondda large being 33s. to 34s., No. 2 30s. to 31s., and other grades in proportion. In patent fuel, there have been heavy shipments, the total for the week being about 30,000 tons. Of this quantity the Crown Company despatched 14,685 tons, and Swansea 16,000 tons. Prices are firm. Quotations for best grades are on the basis of 35s. to 37s. 6d. subject to stem, and inferior qualities are 2s. to 3s. lower. Contracts over the year have been entered into at 34s. per ton. The Italian State Railways are in the market for 10,000 tons for delivery between now and June, and there are also invitations from the Barcelona, Saragossa and Alicante railways, and from the Greek Government, for cargoes of not less than 5,000 tons. As a matter of fact, local makers are so full of orders that they do not care to under- take further contract business, and whatever surplus they have to dispose of they are dealing with in the open market. Shipments last week amounted to 379,935 tons, compared with 349,446 tons in the corresponding period of last year, or a decrease of 30,489 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 215,530 tons, against 243,866 tons, or a decrease of 28,336 tons ; from Newport 59,942 tons, or an increase of 14,044 tons ; from Swansea 64,082 tons5 or an increase of 26,622 tons ; and from Port Talbot 40,381 tons, or an improvement of 18,159 tons. These figures are, of course, exclusive of Admiralty requirements, which are not divulged. Charterings last week were rather better, but still they were not up to the requirements of the port. The total was 122,150 tons, compared with 109,970 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 12,180 tons. Although contract business is very restricted, several enquiries have been on the market. The Greek Government are reported to have secured their requirements of 50,000 tons, butnothing has been disclosed as to prices or terms. The Spanish authorities have made arrangements for the supply of 20,000 tons between February and March, and there are other contracts offering, but the position is such that colliery proprietors are unwilling to accept the responsibility of quoting ahead. Pitwood, remains scarce at 52s. 6d. to 53s. 6d. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). 1 ! Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * 21/ -22/ Superior seconds * * 20/6-20/9 Seconds 34/ -35/ 34/ -35/ — Ordinary do 33/ -34/ 33/ -34/ 19/3-19/6 Best bunker smalls 19/ —20/ 19/ -19/6 17/ -17/3 Best ordinaries 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-16/9 Cargo qualities 13/ -15/ 13/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 Inferior smalls 11/ -12/ 10/ -12/ 12/ -13/ Best dry coals 35/ -37/ 34/ -35/ 20/ -21/ Ordinary drys 33/6-35/ 32/ -33/ 18/ -19/ Best washed nuts 26/ -28/ 28/ -30/ 19/ Seconds 23/ -25/ 26/ -27/ 17/ Best washed peas 25/ —26/ 25 -26/ 17/6 Seconds 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 15/6-16/ Dock screenings 14/ —15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 34/ -35/ 34/ -35/ 19/9 Western-valleys 33/ -34/ 33/ -34/ 19/3 Eastern-valleys 32/ -33/ 32/ -33/ 18/9 Inferior do. 31/ -32/6 31/ -32/ 17/6-18/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/ -23/ 21/6—22/6 19/ -21/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large...... 33/ -34/ 32/ -35/ 19/ Through-and-through 27/ -28/ 26/ -28/ 17/6 Small 24/ -25/ 21/ -23/ 16/6-17/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 30/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 16/9-17,6 Through-and-through 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 16/ Small 16 6-17/6 16/ -17/ i 15/ -15/6 Best patent fuel 35/ -37/6 33/ -35/ 1 23/ Seconds 32/ -33/ 31/ -32/' ! 20/ -21/ Special foundry coke ...... 43/ -47/ 45/ -47/6 ; 32/ -34/ Ordinary do. 38/ -42/ 40/ -45/ 25/ -30/ Furnace coke 33/ -35/ 33/ -36/ j 21/ -23/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 52/ -53/ 52/6-53'6 | 31/ * Nominal. IRON. There is practically no change in the tin-plate trade. Receipts from works last week were only 44,979 boxes, compared with 91,212 boxes exported, leaving 308,588 boxes in stock. Prices show little alteration, Bessemer standard cokes being 26s., and oil sizes 26s. 6d. and 37s. 3d. respec- tively. Welsh bars are nominally quoted at <£12 and upwards, but there is a suggestion that the Government will restrict the price to =£11 7s. Cd. in the near future. Material is scarce, and although the whole of the works are now under Government control, a maximum price for bars would be welcomed. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no improvement, and 24-gauge corrugateds are still j?26 10s. to <£27 10s., or about 20s. higher than a week ago. Spelter is <£89 per ton. Welsh pig iron is <£7 2s. 6d. to <£7 5s., but there is very little material on offer, and occa- sional lots are realising much higher figures. Iron ore is nominal at 33s. to 35s., and scrap metals are unaltered. Swansea COAL. The trade of the port was again very quiet last week, both the coal and patent fuel trades being inactive, owing to the shortage of tonnage ; the shipments together amounted to 63,297 tons. There was a capital attendance on "Change, but there was no material alteration in the general condi- tion of the anthracite coal market, the undertone being still weak. Swansea Valley and Red Vein large were slow in moving off. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were easier, but beans and peas maintained their strong position, with values again firmer. Rubbly culm and duff continued to maintain their improved position. In the steam coal market there was a good demand, and for all classes there was a noticeable firmness in prices. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) Current (L’stweek’s prices. prices. 25/ -28/ 25/ -28/ 22/6-23/6 ; 22/6-23/6 19/ -21 / i 20/ -22/ Last year’s prices. 22.6- 24,6 20.6- 21/6 17/6-19/ 17/9-18,6 26.6- 30,6 31/ -35/ 31/ -33/6 19/6-21/6 12/9-13/3 3/9- 4/ 2/9- 3/6 19/9-21,6 17/ —18/6 13/3-14/6 8/6-11/ 20.6- 21/6 12/6-13/ 16/9-19/ Secondary do. Big Vein large Red Vein large 19/ -21/ 37/6-38/6 38/ -40/ 37/ -39/6 32/6-34/ 20/6-22/ 6/9- 7/9 2/9- 3/6 29/6-32/6 26/ -28/ 20/6-24/6 13/ -15/ 27/6-32/6 18/ -21/ 27/6-32/6 |19/-21/ j 40/ -42/ | 42/ -44/ ! 41/ -42/ 32/ -34/ 19/6-21/ ■ 7/ - 8/ 2/9- 3/6 26,6-32/6 24/ -27/6 19/6-24/ 12/6-14/ 26/6 31/ 18/ -21/ 26/ -27/6 Machine - made cobbles Paris nuts French do ^Stove do Beans Machine - made large peas Do. fine peas Bubbly culm Duff Steam coals:— Best large Seconds Runkers Small Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large Thro’-and-thro’ Small Patent fuel * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts. IRON. Trade in the district showed increasing activity last week. All hands were kept fully employed at the blast furnaces, and the production of pig iron was satisfactory. The steel trade was very brisk. There was some improvement in the tin-plate departments, and outputs were growing. Several mills resumed work, and most of the sheet mills were fully operating. Both the tube firms and the metal extraction works were fully employed, and no relaxation was observed at the iron foundries and engineering and fitting shops. The shipments of tin-plates were 91,212 boxes, receipts from works 44,979 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 308,688 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. There is but little alteration noticeable in the coal market of the district. The steam and bituminous qualities are, if anything, in better demand, with prices exceedingly firm. The fact that most of the manufacturing works are now running at their utmost capacity has quite altered the position, and coals which a couple of months ago could be bought at low figures have advanced several shillings per ton, and there are prospects that they will go still higher. There is an excellent enquiry for large steam, and big prices are being secured for shipment. Cargo and bunker throughs are also quickly bought up, whilst certain kinds of smalls are scarce. The position of the anthracite trade is very poor, and with the exception of beans and peas all kinds are moving slowly. Large especially is very difficult to place, and prices have collapsed greatly during the past few weeks. Cobbles and nuts are also easily obtainable at low prices. Beans and peas oontinue to be in very good demand, and customers have to give several weeks’ notice before they can have coal sent on. This week’s quotations approximately are :— Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. . peas....... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal ......... Th rough-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s Last year prices. ' prices. 25/ -28/ 25/ -28/ 22/ -23/ z2/ -25/ 20/ -22/ I 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ , 19/ -21/ 34/ -36/ 1 40/ -41/ 32/6-34/6 ! 41/ -42/ 34/6-35/ ’ 41/ -42/6 33/ -35/ ' 41/ -42/ 32/ -34/ 32/ -34/ 19/ -20/ 6/3- 6/9 19/ -20/ 6/9- 7/3 2/6- 3/6 30/ -32/ 23/ -25/ 13/ -15/ 18/ -20/ 2/6- 3/6 ! 28/ -31/ 20/ -23/ j 12/ -14/ ! 18/ -20/ prices. , 22/ -23/6 : 19/6—21/6 I 17/ -18/6 : 17/ -18/ 30/ -32/6 29/ -31/ . 30/ -33/ 30/ -33/ ■ 20/ -22/ 12/6-13/6 3/6- 4/ 3/ - 3/6 20/ -21,6 14/6-15/6 8/6-10/ 12/ -14/ It has been customary at. this time of year for the Metropolitan Water Board to issue advertisements inviting tenders for the supply of coal. Last September the. Board authorised the Contracts Committee to purchase outside the annual contracts, pending further order. At the meeting of the Board last Friday, the Committee reported that in all the circumstances it was of opinion that, on the whole, it was desirable to continue purchasing as occasion warranted so that (advantageous tenders could be accepted from time to time.—Mr. Tripp, the chairman of the committee, urged the advisability of being able to accept offers of coal. The Board had already in this manner been able to save thousands of pounds. They required about 200,000 tons during the year, and if annual contracts were made heavy prices would have to be paid. It would, therefore, be better to allow the committee to make purchases whenever advantageous offers were made.—The Board agreed to this- policy. THE L0HD0N COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 10. The London coal market is still suffering from shortage of supplies, and, in consequence, very little buying is reported on the London Coal Exchange. Collieries are refusing orders, and with the strong Government orders in hand, very little free coal is obtainable, particularly in the steam coal section. Merchants who have contract quantities coming forward are in a very favourable position, for outside the monthly quanti- ties there is very little coal to be had. The pit prices are regu- lated largely by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, so* that no undue advance is made in the official list, but very few collieries quote any prices, and strenuously refuse all orders and wagons, except from contract buyers. Here and there an occasional house coal colliery finds itself exceedingly short of empties, and in isolated cases offer to sell a few trucks in merchants’ own wagons, but even these are few and far between. Fortunately, the stocks at the various wharves and depots are not particularly lowT, and public orders are capable of being dealt with promptly, so far as labour will permit. The cartage question is still of supreme importance, and the large consumers are encouraged as much as possible to arrange for their own cartage. The depot trade is only moderate for domestic fuel, but factories and large electric works are still pressing fo