February 25, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 369 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week, there were despatched from Tyne Dock 99,949 tons of coal and 4,834 tons of coke, a decrease of 7,447 tons of coal and an increase of 3,901 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 41,587 tons of coal and 4,393 tons of coke, a falling-off of 1,792 tons of coal and an increase of 4,228 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 57,069 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 6,654 tons. Thus, the total shipments from the three places mentioned amounted to 198,832 tons, as compared with 215,899 tons shipped during the previous week, a decrease of 16,867 tons. When compared with the clearances for the corresponding week of last year, the shipments show a falling-off of 7,764 tons. Business in the prompt coal market has been carried on in very erratic fashion during the week, principally owing to tonnage troubles and irregularities caused by the very bad weather at sea. At intervals throughout the period under review many collieries have been in need of boats and loading turns have opened out somewhat, thereby affording some slight facilities for the transaction of prompt business. Had it not been for these irregularities, the volume of spot business transacted would, in all probability, have been a negligible quantity. Collieries are fully sold for a considerable time ahead, and, when there does happen to be a small surplus output, Government requisitioning usually accounts for the quantities available. The tone of the market is generally very firm, but second-hand dealers have been rather more in evidence during the week. The wholesale refusal of export licences, also, has had a restraining influence on the upward trend of quotations. Under these circumstances, prices are not greatly altered, but, for the most part, the market is now firmer than was the case a week ago. The following variations in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have occurred during the week:—Tyne steam seconds, firmer ; unscreened steams, Is. advanced ; special smalls, 6d. to Is. dearer; smithies. Is. increased; gas bests, stronger; specials. Is. more; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, easier; Northumbrians, Is. up; households, 2s. 6d. advanced; and gas coke, Is. dearer. Other descriptions of fuel are steady. Considerable anxiety has been caused during the week by the announce- ment that, in future, licences would not be granted for the shipment of unscreened coals to neutral countries. In the case of gas coal in particular, the Order appeared likely to cause great trouble, for, generally speaking, producers do not provide for more than from 10 to 15 per cent, of screened coals. The object of the Order, apparently, was to conserve supplies of small coals for home and Allied use. Serious complications through the operation of the restriction were feared, however, and once again the Advisory Committee of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce was called upon to exercise its influence with the powers that be. The atmosphere seemed to be clearing when, on Tuesday, it was announced that the embargo had been removed, and all merchants who had been refused licences under the new regulations were invited to renew their applications. The withdrawal of the restriction is conditional of local munition works and other home consumers receiving adequate supplies of small coal. The regulations with regard to exports of coal to Sweden are also stated to have been modified, and a certain proportion of normal supplies will be allowed to go forward on condition that pit props are shipped from Sweden in return. The shipments are, of course, to be regulated by licences. In the forward market there is little animation, and neither collieries nor merchants are keen on operating at present. The questions of supplies, freights and licences are far too uncertain to allow of much speculation. There is, however, an enquiry from South America for steams, but this has attracted practically no attention and is likely to go unsatisfied. For March and May shipment, collieries are holding for extremely high prices, and there is every prospect of figures remaining high for a considerable time. 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 1 Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas c oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 30/ -32/6 ! 32/6 27/6-30/ ; 28/ -30/ 25/ -26/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 26/ 24/6-25/ 27/ 24/ -27/ 26/ 25/ 24/ 32/6-35/ 40/ -42/6 40/ 27/ -28/ L’stweek’s 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/ Last year’s prices. 18/6 18/6 17/ i 17/ —18/ 14/ -15/ 10/ -10/6 10/ 11/ -12/ 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/ 11/9-12/ 13/6 11/9-13/6 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/ 11/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 11/6-13/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 60,550 tons of coal and 270 tons of coke, as compared with 67,125 tons of coal and 445 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1915, being a decrease of 6,575 tons of coal and 175 tons of coke. There is again little change to report in the coal market; dear coal, shortage of tonnage, and still advancing freights operate to check business seriously, whilst licences, too, are issued very sparingly indeed, except to France and Italy. Owing to heavy weather, arrivals of shipping have been delayed, with the result that a few turns have momentarily opened out, but merchants find it difficult to take advantage of these owing to the lack of spot boats. Gas coals are not quite so tightly held, but prices are unchanged. There is a strong demand for house coal, and prices are dearer; unscreened are, if anything, a shade cheaper. Coking unscreened and smalls are practically out of the market. Bunkers are firmly held, and prices are unchanged. Foundry coke is dearer, other sorts unchanged. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’slLast year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 27/6 27/6 ; 13/ Secondary do. House coals:— 25/ 25/ 12/ Best house coals 35/ 30/ 18/ -18/6 Ordinary do Other sorts:— 30/ 27/6 17/ -17/6 Lambton screened 32/6 32/6 17/6-18/ South Hetton do 32/6 32/6 17/6 Lambton unscreened ... 26/ 26/6 26/ 12/6 South Hetton do 25/6 12/3 Do. treble nuts 28/ 30/ 16/3 Coking coals unscreened 26/ 27/6 11/9-12/ Do. smalls 25/ 26/6 11/6 Smithies 27/ 25/ 14/ Peas and nuts 28/ 28/6 17/ -17/6 Best bunkers 27/6 27/6 13/ Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 25/ 25/6 12/3 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 42/6 42/6 20/6 * Teesside furnaces) ... 30/ 30/ 19/6 Gas coke 26/6 26/ -26/6 13/ Coal freights are firm and higher, the shortage of tonnage being very pronounced. The rate for Genoa is back to 80s. The Bay and coasting are also strong markets. Recent fixtures include :—Havre, 31s.; Bonen, 32s. 6d. ; Dunkirk, 33s.; La Pallice, 43s. 6d.; Bordeaux, 46s.; Genoa, 80s. ; Bi ver Plate, 45 s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade shows little change. Smallness of available supplies of coal and priority of Government claims render current business very difficult to transact. The coal freight market keeps very strong. Best Durham gas coal is in the neighbourhood of 25s., and is well taken up, but secondary kinds show some tendency to ease, through want of boats, and the consequent additional qualities released for offer. The general quotation for second qualities is 24s., but it is understood that purchases can be made at less. Up to 26s. is asked for Wear special gas coal. Durham steams range from 27s. to 30s. There is continued good demand for bunker coal. For ordinary Durhams round about 25s. has to be paid, best sorts are put at 26s., and specials 26s. 6d. Coking coal keeps steady and firm at 25s. for both unscreened and smalls. Manufacturers of coke continue to complain considerably that maximum prices for home consumption have been fixed much too low, and are still making efforts to have the limit raised. Some local consumers are appre- hensive of shortage of supply in the near future, and are pressing for deliveries, but they report further purchases at the arranged maximums of 28s. at the ovens for average blastfurnace kinds, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens for qualities low in phosphorus. Demand for coke for export is excellent, and despite difficulty in obtaining licenses, a fair amount of business is being put through. Foundry kinds are 40s. to 42s. 6d. f.o.b. Gas coke is scarce, and runs from 28s. to 30s. IRON. The iron market is in a very disturbed state so far as Cleveland pig iron is concerned. The all absorbing' topic is the question of maximum quotations for home consumption. An understanding that these rates must be adhered to has created considerable excitement this week, and has caused a slump in the market. For home consumption the fixed maximum for No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 82s. 6d., but for shipment abroad much above that figure* is still being paid. As much as 99s. f.o.b. has this week been named for No. 3, but the nominal quotation for export is now 90s. Several merchants are not quoting at all just now. Prices at which business could be done in the other qualities of Cleveland iron cannot be definitely fixed. Mixed numbers of east coast hematite pig remain at 140s. for forward delivery, there being none available for supply until the third quarter of the year. This quotation is justified as the maximum was fixed at 122s. 6d., on the assumption that foreign ore could be bought at 34s., and medium coke at 28s. delivered here, with an advance of 2s. in haematite for every Is. rise in ore, and an advance of Is. 2d. in haematite for every Is. rise in average blastfurnace coke. Ore is now about 41s., and coke 30s. 6d., which gives an addition of 16s. lid. to the limit of 122s. 6d. There are other little additions, so that nothing below 140s. can now be named for haematite. The various branches of finished iron and steel present no new features of moment. Manufacturers continue fully employed on Government work, and ordinary commercial business is very little discussed. Quotations are stationary. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. There is still very great briskness in the Cumberland coal trade, and the enquiry for all classes of fuel is well maintained. The shortage in the home market is not now so pronounced, and local users are getting their supplies more regularly, but there is still scarcely sufficient to go round, and both home and export consumers are taking as much coal as they can secure. One of the larger collieries was thrown idle for a day owing to lack of empties, but with this exception all the pits in the county have been regularly employed, and production is now higher than it has been during the last 12 months. Landsale has been busier since the cold weather set in, and orders have been coming into the local depots so quickly that home merchants have been finding some difficulty in meeting the needs of their customers. Gas coals for the home market are rather quieter. Locomotive fuels are in very keen request; slacks and smalls are steady, and there is at present an abnormal demand for all varieties of fuel for industrial purposes. With the exception of export needs very little works fuel is going out of the district, but a substantial tonnage of best coal is still going over the Border for land sale purposes. The cross-Channel trade is very healthy. Some good orders are being booked for export coal, and the chances are that business in this branch will be very busy for some weeks to come. Prices of all sorts are firm, but unchanged. During the week 11 vessels left Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 3,555 tons, a decrease of 1,555 tons compared with the previous week. Coke is in very strong demand, and all the Cumberland ovens are in full opera- tion. The by-product industry is very busy, and all the works in the district are regularly employed. 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 house 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. Other current quotations are as follow ;— Current quotations. 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 pit 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 ... Best Cumberland 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’stweek’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/ 16/6 14/6 14/ 15/ 14/ IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade continues in a remarkably brisk condition, and requirements in both the iron and steel industries are still very much in excess of the supply. The output of both iron and steel is now very much larger than it has ever been since the outbreak of war. There is a phenomenal demand for iron, both ordinary and special, but the output is scarcely sufficient to satisfy the needs of those users who are exclusively employed on Government account. Prices are firm, but unaltered, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f o.t., with special iron at 140s. per ton f.o.t., while warrants at cash are still quoted at 115s. per ton. Ferro- manganese is an active trade at the enhanced price of <£25 per ton. The unprecedented demand for haematite, particu- larly the special brands, will no doubt, sooner or later, compel an expansion of production. The steel and engi- neering trade is very busy. There is very great activity in the iron ore industry. All the mines in the district are working full time, and production is still on the increase. Cumberland ore at the mines continues at from 21s. to 38s. per ton. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is no change to record in any branch of the trade ; although the household demand is not above what is usual, and perhaps scarcely that, arrears are plentiful, and a suffi- ciency difficult to procure. It is the same with regard to screened round coal for forges, and users of such in manufac- turing circles. As regards shipping, supplies are on the short side, notwithstanding the comparatively small requirements for ordinary bunkering and export purposes arising from the scarcity of tonnage. Prices of Lancashire steam coal, tend to harden, and may be said to range from 22s. or 22s. 6d., or more in special cases. With regard to coastwise and cross-Channel household fuels, the merchant is anxious to keep up his supplies, but the difficulties of finding such, and that of fixing suitable tonnage, does not decrease. The position in regard to slack gets more and more troublesome as time goes on, and as one by one munition works come into the market, and others increase their requirements, all tend to make it more embarrassing to turn out the requisite quantities. It is difficult to record the prices of slack, as after attention to contract supplies there is practically none available for open supply. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current House coal:— prices. Best ................. 20/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) ( 23/ -24/ Medium................i 19/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) I 21/ -22/ Kitchen...............{ 17/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... L’stweek’s Last year3 prices. prices. 20/9 17/9 23/ -24/ 22/ 19/ i 16/ 21/ -22/ . l 19/ -20/ 17/ 13/9 20/6 i. 18/ 17/ -17/6 14/ -15/ 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 15/ -15/6 12/ 14/ 10/9 13/ 9/9 20/6 17/6-18/ 22/ —22/6 15/6-16/ 14/6 14/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a full attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. All qualities of house and manufac- turing fuel continue in good demand, the supplies of the latter especially being much below requirements. Shipping coal is in good request. List rates are about as below, and in most cases nominal. 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/ upwds. L’st week's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ | 15/ -15/6 i LU/ LipWUH. JLO/ — JLU/O 14/ upwds.|13/ upwds.j Last year's prices. 18/ -18/9 16/9-17/3 14/ -14; 9 12/ 15/6-16/6 10/6-11/ 9/ -10/