February IS, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 321 Outward chartering moves slowly, owing to the scarcity of coal and the increasing difficulty in obtaining licences for neutral countries. Rates, however, remain steady to firm, and late figures are well supported. Recent fixtures includeDunkirk, 30s.; Rouen, 30s.; Bordeaux, 41s.; Lisbon, 38s. 6d.; Oporto, 42s. 6d. ; Genoa, 70s.; Algiers, 47s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 40s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Fuel keeps steady and firm. The shortage of prompt tonnage has opened up turns somewhat, and there is a little more coal on offer. Best Durham gas coal is selling at 25s., and second kinds at 24s., whilst special Wears are quoted up to 26s. Bunker coal continues in good request. Nothing below 25s. is named for ordinary Durhams, and best classes are difficult to secure at 27s., which, however, is the recognised market quotation. Durham steam coal ranges from 27s. to 30s. Coking coal is well taken up at round about 25s. Considerable business is passing in coke for shipment, but manufacturers complain greatly that the maximum prices for home consumption have been fixed much too low, and are taking steps with a view to having the restriction relaxed. In the meantime business is being r put through at the rates arranged, viz., 28s. at the ovens for average qualities of Durham blast-furnace coke, and 30s. 6d. at the ovens for coke very low in phosphorus, and local consumers report that' they are purchasing as much as they need at these figures. Foundry coke for shipment runs from 40s. to 45s. f.o.b. Except for the renewal of one or two years’ gas company contracts under the Limitation Act basis, there is no forward business in gas coke, the quotation for which is 28s. to 30s. IRON. Outside speculators in Middlesbrough pig iron warrants are still gambling, with the result that quotations fluctuate rather violently, and the erratic movements are reflected in values of makers’ Cleveland pig, to the considerable detriment of legitimate trade. With the market in its present sensitive state, genuine dealers hesitate to commit themselves beyond a few hours ahead, and the business that is passing is entirely confined to transactions for prompt delivery. The value of No. 3 Cleveland is again higher than it has been since 1873, when the record of 120s. was paid. The price is now quite 97s. 6d. No. 1 is very scarce, and is in the neighbourhood of 102s. Foundry 4 is round about 96s. No. 4 forge is the only quality of Cleveland iron that is plentiful. It is offered freely at 94s., and no doubt less would be accepted. Mottled and white iron are each put at 93s. There are no new features in east coast haematite pig, and, with no iron available for sale for delivery earlier than the third quarter of the year, forward quotations for mixed numbers stand at 140s. Despite the fact that business in foreign ore is still idle, market rates are maintained on the basis of 40s. ex ship Tees for best rubio. Consumers have considerable stocks, and rather large quantities are still coming in. Imports to the Tees to date this month amount to 40,270 tons. Quotations for all descriptions of manufactured iron and steel are stationary. Producers, whose works are under Government control, have received intimation that they must not book further ordinary com- mercial orders without the permission of the Government Munitions Department. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal industry continues in a most active condition, and there is a good all-round demand for coal in all markets. All the pits in the county have been working regularly. Requirements for both the home and coastwise market are still very heavy, but with a fuller output it is now possible to cope more adequately with the demand. Local consumers and coke makers are receiving much larger supplies, and this week some of the collieries have had considerably more coal available for shipping purposes. Landsale is still very brisk, and gas coal, best steam coal, and all kinds of fuel for industrial use, is in very strong request. Local users, of course, have the first claim upon supplies. The outstanding feature is the extraordinary demand which is being experienced on export account. Irish consumers are clamouring for coal, and requirements of both house and works fuel for Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Carrickfergus are at present very large. Some idea of the strength of the cross-Channel market may be gathered from the fact that last week the shipments from the three Cumber- land ports—Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven—were not much below 12,000 tons. Tonnage is now more abundant but freights are still very high. Prices of all sorts are firm but unaltered, and no change in either home or export quotations is at present anticipated. Last week 17 vessels left Maryport, all for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 5,110 tons, an increase of 1,710 tons compared with the previous week. Coke makers are very busy, and all the plants in the district are in full operation. The whole of the production from the Cumberland ovens is Current quotations. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 19/2 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 17/1 Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned 22/6 22/6 18/4 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 16/10 pit Oughterside best washed 22/6 22/6 18/4 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 21/ 21/ 16/10 coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 22/6 22/6 18/4 at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 Best dry small at pit 12/ 12/ 8/6 Best steam nuts at pit ... 19/ 19/ 15/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 16/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b.... 17/6 17/6 14/6 ■ Bunkers 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 14/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 19/3 19/3 , 15/ works 18/3 18/3 . 14/ being absorbed by local smelters. At Maryport, 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 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best Buckhill coal delivered is obtainable 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; IRON. The haematite iron trade continues in a very brisk condition. Throughout the iron-producing districts makers are very busy in both the iron and steel departments, and a large volume of metal is being produced. There is a very heavy demand for both ordinary and low phosphorus iron, and requirements are still very much in excess of the supply. Quotations have undergone no change, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at the Govern- ment maximum price, 127s. 6d. per ton, f.o.t., with special iron at 140s. per ton f.o.t., and warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. All the make of ordinary iron is going into immediate consumption locally, and practically the whole of the production of special iron is being consigned to users in the Midlands, Scotland and South Wales. The steel trade is very busy. Engineers continue to be very actively employed. The iron ore industry is in a flourishing condition. There is a very keen demand for metal, and all the mines in the district are working at full pressure. Best sorts at the Cumberland mines are quoted at 38s. per ton, with good average sorts at from 21s. to 30s. per ton. Foreign ores are obtainable at about 37s. 6d. per ton delivered. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The difficulty of retailers getting prompt supplies of household coal does not decrease as time goes on, and collieries are in arrear for all qualities and sizes of house- hold coal. This applies more particularly to the commoner grades, as the call upon such qualities for other uses is very persistent. On account of the late arrival of steamers through rough weather and other causes, requirements for general bunkering and export are rather less than they were. Admiralty requirements, however, tend to increase. Supplies are no more than is sufficient just to go round, and the comparatively small quantities of Lancashire steam coals available for the open market readily command 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d. f.o.b. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade boisterous weather is putting sadly out of course the smaller vessels. There is plenty of fuel required, the difficulty being first of all the supply from collieries, and secondly the finding of craft to convey it. Slack keeps scarce in quantity and very much in demand, the day-to-day require- ments being eked out where necessary with other fuel of larger sizes. There seems a disposition already on the part of gas companies to be looking out for next year’s supplies, some purchases already having been made. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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|Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 20/9 20/9 17/9 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 19/ 19/ 16/ 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 17/ 17/ 13/9 20/6 20/6 18/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 14/ -15/ 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 18/6-19/ 15/ -15/6 15/ 12/ 14/ 14/ 10/9 !8/ !3/ 9/9 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was about the usual attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Very little actual business was passing, as really there is no fuel to offer, contracts taking up all that is coming forward. Shipping coal continues brisk. There is no change in the list prices, which 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 prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 15/ -15/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/ 13/ upwds. 12/ upwds. Last year’s prices. 18/ -18/9 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/9 12/ 15/6-16/6 10/6-11/ 9/ -10/ IRON. There is nothing fresh to report since last week, and no further developments as to prices. All the steel makers are extremely busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The attendance on the market on Tuesday was fairly numerous and representative of all sections of the trade, there being a number of London merchants and Hull shippers, while many West Riding merchants whom the cold weather had caught short of coal were also present. Buyers were in a minority, and there was very little offering. The principal feature of the market was the demand for any spot lots of manufacturing fuel that could be picked up for the Bradford district, where supplies are exceedingly short. Colliery representatives reported that the pits had worked full time time this week, and that empty wagons are comparatively plentiful, there being more railway wagons available, especially those belonging to the companies that are parties to the pooling arrange- ment. For the London house coal market deliveries are being limited to contract quantities, and these are mostly in buyers’ trucks. Best qualities are not being offered, but secondary qualities are offered a little more freely and realise the full prices under the Limitation Act. Great scarcity of supplies is reported from depots south of London, and the depot trade in London itself is fairly brisk. Coastwise, very few boats indeed are being loaded, these being privately-owned by a few firms on the south coast and on the Thames. For average quality Silkstone house coal there is no difficulty in getting 20s. to 21s. per ton f.o.b. Hull. Local merchants in the West Riding are generally without stocks, and. are dependent on such deliveries as come through from day to day, in which connection delays in transit are giving rise to frequent complaints. With regard to gas coal, the difficulty of works in London and the south in getting, supplies by sea from the Tyne keeps up a keen demand for railborne coal from Yorkshire, full prices being realised. The demand for spot parcels for local gasworks has again eased a little. Manufacturing fuel everywhere is scarce. In the Bradford district the shortage is very pronounced, and is causing a good deal of anxiety among the large consumers, many of whom are in a precarious position in regard to supplies. The matter has received the attention of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, and steps are being taken to influence the local committees who are responsible for the supplies to munition works. 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/ 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 18/ -19/ House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:—- Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Gas nuts | 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ 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 12/6-14/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -13/ Small nuts 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ Rough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ j 11/6-12/6 i 11/6-12/6 Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/6 Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 8/ - 9/ Coking smalls 11/6-12/6 11/ -12/ 8/ - 9/ Coke Price at ovens: Furnace coke 24/ _ 24/ _ 14/ -15/ Hull. COAL. The increasingly severe restrictions respecting the export of coal and the continued drastic handling of applications for licences are the dominating factors in the Humber coal market. Small coal is now prohibited export to neutrals, and the utmost difficulty is being experienced in getting permits to send abroad nuts and secondary sorts. What available surplus there is for export is confined almost solely to large steam coal and gas and house fuels. All applications, are, however, scrutinised most closely, the effect of the policy of the War Trade Department being seen in the reduced shipments to all countries alike. Apart from this the shortage of shipping tonnage keeps freight rates high, the former level having now been restored, and constitutes an additional handicap on business. Some relief is hoped for as the outcome of the action of the Italians in alliance with our own Government, but there are no signs of it yet. In the meantime shippers hesitate at the colossal figures now asked to the West coast of Italy, though some are apparently willing to give 80s. for Alexandria if the steamers offer. The heavy home demand causes prices to remain steady, and on the whole are very little changed from a week ago, approxi- mate values for prompt, or nearly prompt, shipment being:—Best South Yorkshire hards 26s. to 26s. 6d., washed trebles, 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d.; washed doubles and singles, 22s.; washed small coal, 17s. to 18s.; rough slack, 17s. to 17s. 6d.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 22s. to 23s.; gas and house coal, 22s. to 23s. 6d. Little Derbyshire steam coal is to be had, and is quoted nominally 24s. to 24s. 6d. at Grimsby or Tmmingham. The total exports of coal from the Humber in January was 198,415 tons, compared with 343,960 tons a year ago. The quantity taken by France was 128,558 tons, and Italy only 13,848 tons, leaving but 56,000 tons for all other destinations. Barnsley. COAL. Business operations were again of a very limited character at the usual market, and the attendance was only small. The position, generally speaking, remains unaltered, there being a scarcity of almost every class of fuel, and a larger number of buyers on the market whose needs it is still impossible to supply. A great proportion of the output, which is already allotted under contract and for firms engaged on Government work, still prevents anything but an occasional small surplus, for which there is no difficulty whatever in obtaining maximum prices. In respect to foreign business the situation is of a similar character, exports being restricted, and there are still high prices offered for fuel, when business could' be put through. The Departmental Committee which has been appointed to control the. distribution of coal required for firms engaged on Government work are obtaining the neces- sary preliminary information, and the establishment of the Committee is much welcomed on the part of the coal owners. There is a good deal of interest being exhibited as to whether the maximum prices which are now operating, will be reviewed in consequence of the added costs of production, and until this is settled there will be no particular effort made to fix up future business. The position is already serious enough for firms who have not contracted for supplies or for the whole of their requirements, and this class of consumer is showing a good deal of apprehension as to what the result might be in consequence of the new scheme of distribution referred to. The more serious position in regard to the