468 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 10, 1916. months past. The shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted to 88,351 tons. A capital attendance assembled on "’Change, but the anthracite coal market remained very weak There was practically no demand for Swansea Valley large, and Red Vein large was also a shade lower. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were again marked down, and beans were not quite as firm. Peas, however, maintained their position. Rubbly culm and duff were steadily advancing. In steam coals there was an easier tone, accounted for by the delay in the arrival of tonnage. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 9. ___________________________________________ Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) ....... Secondary do. Big Vein large ...... Red Vein large ...... Machine - made cobbles Paris nuts .......... French do............ *Stove do............. Beans __.............. Machine - made large peas ................ Do. fine peas ... Rubbly culm.......... Duff................. Steam coals:— Best large .......... Seconds ............. Bunkers______............ Small ............... Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large ____............ Thro'-and-thro'.... Small ............. Patent fuel ........... Current tstweek’sLast year’s prices. ] prices. ! prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 16/6—19/ 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/6 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 16/6-19/ 18/ -20/ i 30/ -32/< ; 22/6-24/6 20/6-21/6 16/6-18/6 17/9-18/6 ’ 26/6-30/6 32/ -34/ i 32/ -34/ i 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ I 29/ -32/ 32/6-34/ j 32/6-34/ I 21/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 8/9- 9/6 3/9- 4/ 31/6-35/ 28/ -31/ 21/6-23/6 13/6-16/ 21/ -22/ 8/6- 9/ 3/6- 4/ 31/6-35/ 28/ -31/ 23/6-25/6 13/6-16/ i 13/ -14/ I io/ -11/ I 3/6- 4/6 I 26/ -28/ 22/ -25/ 21/ -24/ 13/6-17/6 31/ -35/ 31/ -35/ 24,6-29/ 19/ -22/ 19/ -22/ 19/ -22/ 32/ -34/6 32/ -34/6 23/ -25/ * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts. IRON. The conditions of the iron and steel trades last week continued steady throughout the district. Activity was observed at the blastfurnaces, and also at the steel works. Notwithstanding the shortage of men, the production of tin-plates was heavier. Trade was brisk at the tube works, and the iron foundries and engineering shops had ample work on hand. The shipment of tin-plates last week were 56,620 boxes, receipts from works 54,470 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 284,103 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The big difficulties which are now being experienced in shipping are affecting the local coal market considerably, and owing to the scarcity of boats, and those stemmed not keeping to time, collieries are working very irregularly. For several sorts the market has fallen away badly, and enquiries are not anything like as numerous as they were. The falling-off in the demand from the Continental markets is Chiefly due to the high freights ruling making prices prohibitive, and stocks of anthracite large especially are very heavy. Prices are very much less than they were some weeks back, with no prospects of an improvement for the next few weeks. Several of the machine-made kinds are also in poor demand, and in order to have wagons released substantial concessions in price are being offered. The only anthracite kinds in anything like firm demand are beans and peas, and rubbly culm and duff. For the former two sorts most pits have sold their make for weeks ahead, and prices received are even higher than those for nuts. Steam and bituminous qualities have lately been in excellent demand, but the non-arrival of tonnage has affected the market, and in order to have wagons released lower prices have been accepted. Some kinds of smalls are in big request, whilst large steam is almost unobtainable at any price. This week's quotations approximately are:— Prices f.o.b. The London coal trade for the past week has been in a very critical position. The colder weather has intensified the urgency of getting in a sufficient supply of household fuel, but the sparse arrivals and the difficulty of cartage has made it exceedingly awkward to satisfy the demands. The orders from the general public have taxed the depots and wharves to the utmost capacity, and in many cases only a partial supply has been sent in, to cover the pressing needs, and the balance must await more favourable conditions. The roads have become impassable in many of the suburbs, and the slippery nature of the hilly roads has been a source of great danger to the horses. The difficulties at the colliery end, and the movement of wagons has also intensified the restricted output, necessitating serious delays in the transit by rail. The attendance on the market has been fairly maintained, but on the principal market days it has been considerably below the average. Little business has been done, largely on account of the paucity of sellers, and for the most part colliery representatives have been compelled to refuse many orders. Even the cases where an abundance of private owners’ wagons have been sent in, great care has been exercised not to exceed the contract quantities due, and considerable delays to the wagons have been of frequent recurrence. The snow has proved a terrible drawback to business, as in many of the districts the horses have been unable to move the heavy loads on the slippery roads. The seaborne market was fairly maintained, and on Monday’s market 35 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames, and none for Wednesday’s market. This, however, had very little influence on the open market, for all the arrivals were contract cargoes. A strong enquiry was evidenced for seaborne coal throughout the whole of the week, but no cargoes were available. A small quantity of Yorkshire coal was the only parcel capable of being handled outside the ordinary contracts. The shipping trade has been seriously affected by the difficulty in obtaining tonnage, and the high freights are still ruling. Chartering is practically at a standstill, 95s. per ton has been fixed from the Humber to Alexandria, but in the coasting business little or no trade has been done. The question of “ pooling ” of the railway wagons has once more come to the front, and it was reported on Monday last that an agreement had been arrived at between the London and North-Western, Midland, Great Western, North-Eastern, and Lanca- shire and Yorkshire railway icompanies, that at an early date all their goods and coal wagons would be pooled. This, with the old agreement between the Great Northern, Great Eastern, and Great Central railway companies will mean that practically all the London railway companies will .adopt the pooling system. No action has been taken with private owners’ wagons, as the opposition on the part of the owners when the matter was brought before the Board of Trade some few weeks ago was so very pronounced. The demand at all the railway centres has been most marked, .and the continuance of the colder weather has increased the demand for house coals, but only very small parcels could be obtained, and these were eagerly caught up. Manufacturing qualities also are very scarce, and factories along the Thames side are keenly anxious for better supplies. Small nuts are practically unobtainable, except for the monthly contract quantities, and these are rapidly absorbed, and larger supplies pressed for. _______________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, March 3—There was a good demand for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes available at present. Cargoes, 16. Monday, March 6.—The continuation of the cold weather caused a good enquiry for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but, as usual, no available cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 35. Wednesday, March 8.—There were no seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, and no arrivals have been reported since Monday last. Cargoes, nil. MIKING AND OTHER NOTES. About two and a-half years ago coal measures were found in the Mariopoul district (South Russia), about 90 versts (60 miles) from the town of Mariopoul, at the village of Beshievo. The area of the deposits was great, viz., 17,000 dessiatines (1 dessiatine = 2-7 acres). That coal is to be found all over this area is proved by the fact that in many places outcrops are observed. The coal is large and usable for fuelling steamers, locomotives, etc. The ground where the coal has been found is the property of the Beshivsky Agricultural Society. The discovery of this extensive deposit of coal was a great surprise to coal industrialists, for these deposits of coal have not been remarked even in the reports of the geolo- gical investigation of the Donetz basin. Immediately after they were discovered, one of the local inhabitants acquired rights on the whole of the coal bearing area, and formed a share company with considerable capital, which has got to work on the ground. At present the daily production is only 7,000 to 8,000 poods. At a point 10 versts from the Ekaterinoslaff railway station, in the spring of this year, the laying of a railway will be begun, to connect the station with the mines, so as to cheapen the cost, and stimulate the production. The late Mr. John Lamont, of the London Coal Exchange, left estate valued at £47,639. The late Mr. W. Smith, J.P., of Astley, a director of the Astley and Tyldesley Collieries Limited, George Shaw and Company Limited, left estate valued at £57,503 gross, and £52,434 net personalty. Mr. W. H. Patchell, M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., writes that he has removed his offices to 64, Victoria-street, S.W. A general meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers will be held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-street, Westminster, on Friday, March 17, at 6 p.m. A paper on “ The Composition of the Exhaust from Liquid Fuel Engines,” will be read by Sec.-Lieut. Robert W. Penning, R.E. (T.), B.Sc., D.I.C., of London. A discussion on “ The Sphere of the Scientific and Technical Press in Relation to Technical Education and .Industrial Research ” w’ill take place at the next meeting of the Circle, to be held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, in the Hall of the Institute of Journalists (Tudor-street, Blackfriars, London, E.C.). The chairman of the Circle (Mr. L. Gaster) will preside. Dr. William Garnett (late Educational Adviser to the London County Council) will open the discussion by an introductory paper. An application has been made by Mr. John King for the restoration of a lapsed patent for improvements in axle or shaft bearings specially applicable for mine wagons No. 17852 of 1910), which expired in July 1914, owing to non- payment of renewal fee. The Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade state that supplies of power-driven pumps for high value; mild steel and black rivets; and machinery for auto- matically weighing coal in transit are required by firms in this country to replace supplies previously obtained from enemy firms. It is reported that a strike of coal has been made in the district of Witbank, in the Transvaal Province, where coal is already being produced in large quantities. It is said that coal producing excellent results has been proved over an area of 8,300 acres. It is stated that a Norwegian company has been formed, with capital principally subscribed in Stavanger, for the purpose of exploiting the extensive coal fields of Beeren Island, near Spitzbergen. Geologists and engineers who have investigated the deposits report that the quantity of coal obtainable is practically inexhaustible, while it is of very good quality, its heating power being, it is said, greater than that of ordinary British coal. Beeren Island is always accessible, so that it will be possible to export during the whole of the year. It is expected that there will be no difficulty in finding good harbours. 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..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current JL'st week's Last year’s prices. | prices. I prices. 21/ -24/ ' 22/ -24/ '-------- 19/ -21/ z0/ -22/ 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ ; 28/6-31/6 ! 28/ -30/ 1 28/6-31/6 ' 28/ -31/6 1 32/ -34/ 20/ -22/ 1 9/ - 9/6 3/6- 4/6 : 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 32/ -34/ 31/6-32/6 32/ -34/ 20/ -22/ 9/ -9/6 3/6— 4/ 21/6-23/ 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 28/6-29/6 29/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/ 21/ -22/ 13/ -14/ 9/ -10/6 4/ - 5/ 32/ -36/ ' 32/ -34/ ! 25/ -26/ 23/6-25/6 23/6-25/6 I 23/ -25/ 14/ —16/ I 14/ -16/ 13/6-17/6 20/ -22/ I 20/ -22/ ! 19/ -21/ ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The tone of the market is exceedingly strong, prices advancing daily. Makers hesitate to book forward, owing to the probable further reductions in supply of raw materials and labour. Spot lots of I C 14 x 20 cokes have been done at 28s., and this figure has also been paid for plates to be made. Works quotations now range as follow :—Coke tins : IC 14 x 20 (1.12 sh. 1081b.), 28s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 57s. to 58s.; IC 14 x 18| (124 sh. 1101b.), 29s. to 29s. 6d. IC squares and odd sizes, 29s. basis and upwards, according to specification. Char- coals are in fair demand, and are quoted 30s. 6d. basis and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are in big request. Quotations very firm, as follow : C W 14 x 20, 26s. to 26s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 53s. 6d. to 54s.; C W 14 x 18f, 26s. 3d. to 26s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ________________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 9. ___________________________________ ___________________ Dublin. Business generally continues to be very brisk in conse- quence of the prevailing cold weather, but there has been no further advance in prices since last week. Stocks are still small, and steam coal is almost unobtainable. Quotations in the city stand as follow:—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 37s.; best Wigan, 36s.; best Whitehaven’, 36s.; best kitchen, 34s.; Orrell slack, 30s.; all less Is. per ton discount for cash; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. Bit prices of Irish coals at Wolfhill 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 station connected with the mines, 5s. per ton extra. Freights retain their high level. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted‘to 45, as compared with 46 the week previously, chiefly from Birkenhead, Ellesmere Fort, Ayr, Garston, Newport, Swansea, Preston, Cardiff, Point of Aire, Partington, Fleet- wood, Liverpool, Whitehaven, and Glasgow. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 19,000 tons, the same as in the previous week. A few contracts are issuing from the inland districts. Belfast. In this port supplies, more particularly of Scotch coal, are limited, but so far have been about sufficient to meet require- ments. Merchants, however, are finding it difficult to do more than cover their contracts. There has been a largely increased demand for English household coal, stocks still being very low, and in some instances depleted. Prices are all unchanged, but firm, Scotch coals having a hardening tendency. Current quotations for household coals are as follow :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal runs from 25s. to 30s. per ton, according to quality; and Welsh from 30s. to 35s. per ton for the better grades. Gas coke stands at 35s. per ton, but foundry coke now commands 45s. per ton for the inferior qualities, and 50s. per ton for the best. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Workington, Garston, Ardrossan, Ayr, Birkenhead, Sharpness, Maryport, Preston, Irvine, Newport, Silloth, Swansea, Glasgow, Troon, Partington, and Campbeltown. __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—There is not much change in the general position. If anything, crude carbolic is the turn easier, while solvent naphtha is firmer. Benzols and pitch unchanged. Nearest values are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s l/0i—1/1 .. — ,, 90’s North /101-/11J .. — ,, 50’s North Toluol 1/3—1/4 .. — 2/3 — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/4 . -/I ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality'and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) 1/4 .. 2/3—2/4 .. • +/2 2/3—2/4 .. • +/2 /6J-/7 .. Creosote (for ordinary qualities) • /2J-2f .. — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 15/—16/ ... —/6 ,, (f.a.s. west coast) Tar (per ton ex works) 14/_15/6 ... -1/ 16/9—20/6 ... -2/ [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market is quiet, and prices more or less nominal. Closing prompt prices for home con- sumers are :—■ London (ordinary makes) .... Beckton (25 per cent.) ...... Liverpool ................. Hull ..................... Middlesbrough ............ Scotch ports ............... Wales .................... Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. £17/2/6 £16/5 £17 £16/15 £17 £16/15 £17 16/104 -5/ -2/6 -5/ -2/6 -7/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2J per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] Trade Notes. The returns for the week show the influence of the licence restrictions on sulphate of ammonia. There has been more activity in pitch and tar exports, the figures being : Pitch, 4,530 tons and £7; tar, 4,562 gals., 1,583 tons, and £472. Sulphate of ammonia, 588 tons.