320 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 18, 1916. relationship, there is a danger that the consumer with the loudest voice will get more than his due, to the detriment of less noisy but no. less important interests. The fact that the committees are to be nominated by the coal owners is a real security that a view will be taken broader and fairer than that of which the great departments of State, in unaccustomed circumstances, appear to be capable. On the other hand, it may be pointed out that much of the work of these committees will be rendered vain if the proper facilities are not given for the transport of fuel from the places where it is not required, to those in which there is a genuine demand for it. And, of course, the whole scheme is far from being logically complete, so long as the State arbitrarily and artificially restricts’ the rate of production. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 17. . _____________ ______________ Dublin. The coal trade generally continues to be in an active condition, the wintry weather which has set in having imparted quite a brisk tone to the household' branch for the past week or two. There is no change in prices of any of the qualities, quotations standing as follow :—Best Orrell, 37s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 36s.; best -Wigan, 35s.; best Whitehaven, 35s. ; best kitchen, 33s.; Orrell slack, 29s.; all less Is. per ton discount. House coal, retail, 2s. 4d. per sack. Welsh steam coal, from 36s. per ton; Scotch, 31s.; best coke, recently advanced to 38s. per ton delivered. Pit prices for Irish coals at Wolf hill Collieries, Queen’s County, are:—Best large coal, 30s. per ton; best household coal, 28s. 4d. ; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton upwards, f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connection with the mines, 5s. per ton extra. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 44, as compared with 55 the week previously, chiefly from Glasgow, Garston, Preston, Partington, Newport, Liverpool, Point of Aire, Whitehaven, .Silloth, Ayr, Ardrossan, and Troon. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 20,000 tons, as against 21,500 tons the previous week. Belfast. Upon the whole the general position remains much the same as during recent weeks, except that there is a better demand for house qualities. The scarcity of supplies, more particularly of inferior classes, is still a serious drawback in the matter of fulfilling obligations, and stocks are much below the average. Prices and freights continue to be firm. Current quotations for household coals are :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d. ; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d. ; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. No reliable figures are available for any small quantity of steam coal there may be on the open market, as they are con- tinually fluctuating, and coke also varies considerably in price. The bulk of the trade in Belfast in these classes is done on, contract. Coal laden vessels arriving in the port during the week were from Garston, Ardrossan, Troon, Partington, Point of Aire, Maryport, Glasgow, Workington, Whitehaven, Ayr, Silloth, Manchester, Newport, Sharpness, and Swansea. ____________________________ THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The tone of the market is very firm, although the volume of business being done just now is not large. Makers are proceeding very cautiously, and do not care to sell ahead, owing to the uncertainty of being able to secure supplies of raw materials. Following are about current quotations :— Coke tins : IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 25s. 6d. to 26s. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 51s. to 52s.; IC 14 x 18| (124 sh. 110 lb.), -26s. to 26s. 6d.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 1561b.), 36s. 3d. to 36s. 9d. IC squares and odd sizes, 26s. to 26s. 6d. basis for approved specifications. Char- coals are firm, at 28s. 6d. basis and upwards, according to finish. Ternes are nominally 47s. fid. per box of I C 28 x 20, but makers are very heavily booked, and hesitate to quote forward at all. Coke wasters are in steady demand. Quota- tions : C W 14 x 20, 24s. 6d. per box; CW 28 X 20, 49s. fid.; CW 14 x 18>, 24s. 3d.; C W 20 x 10, 33s. 9d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ____________________________ Coal Shipments from Ports in the United Kingdom during January.—The following figures, which have been extracted from the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs !and Excise, show the quantity of coal shipped from each group of ports during January, as compared with the corresponding month last year :—■ Cargo. Jan. 1915. Tons. Bristol Channel ports ......... 1,697,777 ........... North-western ports ............. 44,018 North-eastern ports ......... 1,046,102 ........... Humber ports ................. 357,857 Other east coast ports .........__ 5,603 Other English ports ................. 10 Ports on east coast of Scotland 216,242 Ports on west coast of Scotland 245,354 Jan. 1916. Tons. 1,524,993 21,309 1,073,123 168,381 10 211,637 171,747 Total ............... 3,612,963 ... 3,171,200 Bunker. Jan. 1915. • Tons. Bristol Channel ports ......... 424,426 North-western ports __............. 310,439 North-eastern ports ___________ 189,641 Humber ports ................. 137,072 Other east coast ports ......... 114,699 Other English ports ........... 25,668 Ports on east coast of Scotland... 46,2"4 Ports on west coast of Scotland... 122,613 Irish ports................. 6,319 Jan. 1916. Tons. 292,307 231,735 200,155 87,567 121,543 15,474 26,481 90,056 926 _________ Total ............... 1,377,081 ... 1,069,244 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 17. ______________________________________________ Scotland.—Western District. GOAL. Continued activity characterises the West of Scotland coal trade, and all classes are in brisk demand. The home consumption is fully maintained, while the export depart- ment is busily employed despite the scarcity of tonnage and- licensing difficulties. Collieries generally are heavily sold, and have very little of any sort available for immediate disposal—in fact, for most of the better qualities of round coal three weeks" notice is required. Smalls are also heavily sold, and values all round are on a very firm basis. Shipments for the week amounted to 101,830 tons, compared with 121,900 tons in the preceding week and 121,999 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L"st week"s Lastyear"s prices. prices. prices. Steam coal 19/ -23/ 19/ -22/ 14/ -16/ _______________________________________________ Ell 22/ 22/ 16/9-17/3 Splint 25/ -34/ 25/ -33/ 16/9-21/ Treble nuts 21/3-21/6 21/ -21/6 17/6-18/ Double do 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 16/6-17/ Single do 19/3-19/6 19/3-19/9 15/ -16/ IRON. The chief item of interest in the iron trade is the upward tendency of prices, to which there seems no limit. Week after week brings a rise of shillings per ton, but business seems, nevertheless, to be prosecuted with undiminished activity. Makers of pig iron report that haematite is being consumed in very large quantities by local works, while ordinary brands are now in a more satisfactory position. Prices are very firm, and Scotch makers" quotations are as follow Govan and Monkland f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, Ills., Nos. 3,110s.; Carnbroe, No. 1,115s., No. 3,110s.; Clyde and Gartsherrie, Nos. 1, 120s., Nos. 3, 112s. 6d.; Summerlee, Calder, and Langloan, Nos. 1, 117s. 6d., Nos. 3, 112s. 6d.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 117s. 6d., No. 3, 110s. ; Eglinton at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 112s. 6d., No. 3, 110s. 6d.; Dalmellington at Ayr, No. 1, 113s., No. 3, Ills., Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 117s. 6d., No. 3, 112s. fid. per ton. The tone in the warrant market was very fair throughout the past week, during which 17,000 tons changed hands. Large withdrawals from stores and a certain amount of speculative buying resulted in a further rise in prices, and Cleveland iron closed at 93s. 5d. per ton cash buyers; com- pared with 88s. 6d. per ton in the preceding week. The various branches of the finished iron trade report increased activity, with a continued high level of values. Black sheet makers are quoting £17 15s. per ton, less 2| per cent., for 7 to 11 b.g. for Glasgow delivery, and while some pro- ducers of malleable iron are asking <£14 per ton for Crown bars for home delivery, the usual quotation is from £13 10s. to £13 15s. per ton, less 5 per cent. ________________ Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The coal trade in the Lothians is very brisk, and the collieries are fully sold for about a month ahead, and only some small lots of second-hand coals are available. Ship- ments amounted to 36,299 tons, against 22,400 in the preceding week and 21,452 tons in the same week of 1915. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L"st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 23/ 22/ -23/ 15/ -16/ Secondary qualities 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/' 14/6-15/ Treble nuts 22/ -24/ 22/ -22/6 16/6-17/6 Double do 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 15/ -16/ Single do 19/ -19/6 18/6-19/ 14/ -15/ Business in the coal trade in Fifeshire is in a strong position, and collieries are fully employed. The bulk of the output is going away against contract, and supplies for immediate delivery are very difficult to arrange. All classes of coal are sharing in the present activity. Clearances amounted to 58,655 tons, against 60,527 last week and 49,336 tons in the corresponding week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Lastyear’s prices. Best screened navigation coal 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 17/ -18/ Unscreened do 24/ -25/ 15/ -16/ First-class steam coal 26/ 24/ 14/6-15/6 Third-class do 18/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 10/9-11/6 15/6-16/6 Treble nuts 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Double do 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 14/6-15/6 Single do 18/ —19/ 18/6-19/6 14/6-15/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 196,655 tons, compared with 204,827 tons in the preceding week and 192,787 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. ________ -----________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 103,817 tons of coal and 6,817 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, Dunston and Blyth, an increase of 9,668 tons of coal and 5,185 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corre- sponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 37,969 tons of coal and 7,250 tons of coke, a decrease of 19,953 tons of coal and an increase of 3,363 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 59,846 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 12,023 tons. Thus, the total ship- ments from the three places mentioned amounted to 215,699 tons, an increase of 10,286 tons as compared with the ship- ments for the corresponding week of last year. When compared with the clearances for the previous week, the’ figures show an increase of 15,089 tons. These statistics bear excellent testimony to the pressure at which all the collieries in the two counties are working and to the fulness of loading turns. A very strong tone has prevailed on the prompt market throughout the greater part of the week, and, generally speaking, prices are substantially higher than those ruling a week ago. The shortage of spot supplies is very pronounced, and, up to the beginning of this week, business was practically impossible. The continuance of the Government requisitioning has caused considerable annoyance to shippers, and there are numerous reports of cargoes having been commandeered when the steamer was fully loaded. By far the greater proportion of the coal shipped other than for contractors is going forward on Government order, and Northumbrian collieries, no less than the Durham pits, are very heavily booked on Admiralty account. Occasionally, turns have been possible, owing to licence refusals or tonnage derangements, especially in the case of steam smalls, for which there has been a wholesale rejection of licence applications. Towards the end of the period under review, heavy seas and gales have resulted in irregular tonnage arrivals, and here and there it has been possible to secure cargoes at prices showing a slight reduction on recent quotations. Few merchants have been able to take full advantage of the opportunity, however, for tonnage is extremely scarce. There is not much prospect of a continuance of these conditions, and quotations for next week and thereafter remain very firm. The following changes in f.o.b. prices for prompt shipment have occurred during the week:—Best steams, Blyths, easier; seconds, Blyths, 2s. 6d. advanced; Tynes, ditto; smalls, Tynes, Is. advanced; specials, weaker ; smithies, stronger ; gas bests, ditto ; seconds, 6d. to Is. advanced; specials, firmer; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 2s. advanced; coking coal, 2s. dearer; smalls, Is. to 3s. advanced. All other descriptions of fuel are steady. The advance in coking coal quotation^ is noteworthy. There is little activity in the forward market, and neither buyers nor collieries are keen on operating at present. For that small volume of business which is being transacted full prices are being quoted and secured, for it is not expected that there will be any glut of supplies for a. very considerable time. The only item of importance is, that it is stated that several gasworks" contracts for considerable quantities of gas coals for delivery over 12 months have been arranged at prices fixed by the Price of Coal (Limita- tion) Act. During the week, numerous reports of further restrictions on coal exportation have been circulated on the market, amongst them being the rumour that the shipment of gas coals is to be prohibited, unless the coal is screened. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ..; Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials ' Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 30/ -32/6 32/6 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 25/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 16/6-17/6 25/ 25/6-26/ 24/6-25/ 26/ 25/ -27/ 25/ 25/ 24/ 30/ -32/6 40/ -42/6 40/ 26/ -27/ L’stweek’s prices. 32/6 32/6 25/ -27/6 27/6 25/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ ' 17/6 23/ -25/ 25/ -26/ 24/ 25/ -26/ ordinaries 25/ 25/ 23/ 21/ -23/ 30/ -32/6 40/ -42/6 40/ 26/ -27/ Last year’s prices. 16/ -18/ 16/6-17/ 13/6-14/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 9/6 9/ 11/ 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/ 11/9-12/ 13/6 12/ -13/6 11/6-12/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 15/ 18/ -19/ 17/ 11/6-13/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 58,640 tons of coal, as compared with 58,315 tons of coal for the corresponding period of 1915, being an increase of 325 tons. No coke shipped. The general features of the coal market remain strong and unchanged, with most classes of coal still extraordinarily scarce. The collieries are heavily stemmed on Admiralty account. Occasional turns can be had for gas and to some extent for smalls. On the other hand, best and second steams and all classes of coking and bunker coals are so difficult to purchase that business is almost in a state of suspense. Licences for ship- ments to neutral countries are being further restricted, and many refusals are reported for steam, small and coking coal. Under the circumstances very little business will be trans- acted this week. It is said that additional gas works con- tracts have recently been concluded for delivery over twelve months on the basis of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland:— ______ Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 27/6 27/6 12/9 Secondary do. House coals:— 25/ 24/6-25/ 12/ Best house coals 30/ 32/6 16/6-17/6 Ordinary do Other sorts :— 27/6 27/6 16/ -16/3 Lambton screened 32/6 32/6 15/ South Hetton do 32/6 32/6 14/6 Lambton unscreened ... 26/6 26/ 26/ 11/9-12/ South Hetton do 25/6 12/ Do. treble nuts 30/ 30/ 15/6 Coking coals unscreened ■ 27/6 24/6 10/9-11/3 Do. smalls 26/6 23/6-24/ 10/6 Smithies 25/ 25/ 14/6 Peas and nuts 28/6 27/6-28/ 15/6 Best bunkers 27/6 28/ -28/6 12/9 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 25/6 24/6-25/ ' 12/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 42/6 42/6 20/ Teesside furnaces) ... 30/ 30/ 19/6 Gas coke 26/ -26/6 27/ 13/