March 17, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 515 the local by-products trade, and all the works in the district are smartly employed. Prices of all sorts are unaltered, and no change is at present anticipated. Current quotations are as follow: — Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 Last year’s prices. 19/2 17/1 18/4 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 16/10 Fit 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 18/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 16/6 Bunkers 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 19/3 19/3 15/ works 18/3 18/3 14/ IRON. The Cumberland hiumatite iron trade continues in a very brisk condition. Throughout the district the greatest activity prevails in both the iron and steel industries, and makers are maintaining a large output of metal from the 25 furnaces in blast. There is a strong and vigorous demand for iron, and a large proportion of the make is now required for Government purposes. Requirements of ordinary and special iron for both local and outside users are larger than ever, and the present restricted output is altogether inadequate to meet the needs of all consumers. Prices are unchanged, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at 140s. per ton f.o.t., and ferro-manganese is in steady demand at <£25 per ton. Steel works are briskly employed. There is a keen demand for iron ore, and all the mines in the district are working full time. Best sorts of Cumberland ores at the mines are obtainable at 38s. per ton, and good average qualities are quoted at from 21s. to 30s. per ton. Foreign ores are about 37s. 6d. per ton delivered. The imports of iron ore at Maryport last week amounted to 3,500 tons. South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the inland household trade the cold weather keeps the demand up and arrears accumulate. Forges and users of round screened coal are getting the very maximum con- sumption, and this and the amount of tonnage of larger fuels required for munition works and such like, seriously deplete the medium and lower qualities of coal that are usually available for kitchen orders. There is very little alteration in regard to position in respect to shipment of steam coal. There are only a limited number of outside orders in the market owing to restricted tonnage. Bunkering on contract account seems to take most of the fuel avail- able. Prices remain nominally as last week—viz., 22s. f.o.b. up to 22s. 6d. for best qualities—although there is very little free coal to be obtained. In the coastwise trade, notwithstanding the difficulties of finding tonnage, more fuel is asked for than is available, and with regard to slack for manufacturing purposes there is difficulty in providing an adequacy. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 20/9 20/9 17/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ Medium 19/ 19/ 16/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ Kitchen T... 17/ 17/ 13/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) 20/6 20/6 18/ Screened forge coal 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 14/ -15/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 19/6-20/6 Best slack 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 12/ Secondary slack 14/6 14/6 10/9 Common do 14/ 14/ 9/9 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The active demand for house coal continues, the cold weather naturally having influence upon this. The call for all classes of manufacturing fuel is still heavy, and as repeatedly reported, the supply is not adequate to meet it. Shipping coal is in good request. Complaints are still in evidence of delays on the railways. Prices for all qualities remain at a high level. The following is the colliery list:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Last year’s prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/ -15/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 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/ 10/ -17/ j i^/ -10/ 19/ -21/ | 19/ -21/ | 18/6-19/6 15/6upwds 15/6upwdS|' 11/ -12/ 14/ upwds.|14/ upwds.j 9/6-10/ IRON. Prices remain very firm; good No. 3 foundry iron can be bought in the neighbourhood of 93s. 6d. to 94s. 6d. Makers are not desirous of contracting forward, and on the other hand the consumer is not wishful to enter into contracts of any magnitude; other trades are very busy on Government work, and very little steel or iron goes out for anything else. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The attendance of traders at the market on Tuesday was so large that it has rarely been exceeded during this year— all sections being represented, and probably on no previous occasion has there been such a general scarcity of supplies. For double-screened nuts, pea nuts and other specialised qualities of manufacturing coal, the demand was particu- larly keen, but, speaking broadly, there was nothing on offer, and the demand went unsatisfied. Colliery repre- sentatives reported a disappointing output this week. The men have turned up badly, owing to the bad weather, which has had the further effect of aggravating the difficulties of transit and carting of coal. Delays to loaded traffic are very serious, and the consequent scarcity of empty trucks available at the pits is added to by so many wagons being idle, awaiting repairs. With regard to the London house coal trade, it has been impossible for the collieries to book the orders that in large numbers have come to hand, at any rate with any prospect of giving delivery. Generally speaking, the collieries have already sufficient orders for house coal to see them over the next month. Some relief in the pressure of mineral traffic is expected from the rumoured extension of the truck pooling arrangement involving the London and North-Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Midland, part of the Great Eastern, and the Great Western railways. There is nothing doing in the coastwise trade, except that an occasional private boat is loaded, Silkstone house coal being quoted for this trade at about 22s. f.o.b. Hull. In the West Riding merchants are inundated with orders for house coal, and are sending out part loads. The scarcity of coal is serious, even in Yorkshire towns. With regard to gas coal, there is no notable change to mention. Prices for the new contracting season are still unsettled, and in the few contracts which have been booked, provision is made against any alteration in the maxima of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Works in the London district and the south of London are pressing strongly for supplies. The position with regard to manu- facturing fuel is increasingly acute, the Huddersfield and Bradford districts suffering particularly from the shortage. Very little improvement has so far resulted from the efforts recently made by prominent commercial men to relieve the situation, of which it is quite a common feature for house coal to be bought by manufacturers and made suitable, by crushing, for firing to Lancashire boilers. Coking smalls are so scarce that almost any price could be obtainable, but for the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Washed furnace coke is still at 24s., but there are, unfortunately, signs of declining output, attributable to the difficulty experienced in keeping the ovens supplied with coking smalls. 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/ 17/ -18/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 20/6-22/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/6 Do. house 19/ -20/ 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/ 15/6-16/6 15/ -16/ Gas nuts 14/ -15/ Unscreened gas coal ... 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 12/6-14/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 13/ -15/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/6 Small nuts 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ Rough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 10/ -11/6 Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 8/6- 9/6 Coking smalls 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 8/6- 9/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 15/ -16/ Barnsley. COAL. Although there was a considerable enquiry at the local market this week for current lots of fuel, buyers find the position continues to be entirely against them. Recent experience seems to justify the prophecy that the shortage of fuel would continue to be more emphasised rather than otherwise, and a good deal of apprehension is created in regard to the deliveries for the near future. The shortage continues to particularly affect the smaller industries, and these manufacturers are keenly awaiting the getting into action of the district committees, who are to have charge of the distribution of fuel for industrial purposes, so that stocks may be prevented in the case of any particular concern. At the present moment this class of consumers have still to resort to the expedient of taking practically any class of fuel and adapting it to their requirements, whilst it appears to be no uncommon feature that large coal, chiefly of household character, is being crushed in order to meet the situation. The position in regard to all descriptions of steam coal is not altered, and although the export is reduced very substantially, the output does not appear to be adequate to meet the require- ments of the home markets. The tonnage which is to be sent to keep the munition works and various engineering firms fully engaged still assumes a vast proportion, whilst the needs of the railway companies are also of a very sub- stantial order. There is also something like a dearth in the supplies of slacks which are being so extensively consumed by the by-product plants who are keeping fully employed in the output of residuals which are of urgent need in con- nection with the war. The situation in regard to the supply of house coal has become still more serious owing to the big rush of orders upon the merchants, who in many cases have to do the best they can with the daily supplies of a reduced character, and these are also occasionally delayed on the railways. Collieries are practically deluged with orders, and are only able to give proportionate supplies to their old clients. The position in respect to the renewal of gas coal contracts is still held up, and collieries are not disposed to deal with the matter until, as before stated, the question of an advance of wages and the increase of the maximum selling prices has been dealt with. The output of furnace coke continues to be of a very extensive character, but the demand is also abnormal. There are practically no stocks at the ovens, and there is no difficulty in obtaining the maximum prices, which are firmly held in every case. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Lastyear’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 19/ -20/ Secondary do 16/ -17/6 17/ -18/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 18/ -19/ Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 17/ -18/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do. 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/6 Secondary do Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/6 Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -15/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 15/ -16/ Furnace coke 24/ 24/ | 15/ -15/6 Hull. COAL. The shortage of shipping tonnage has again made itself felt; bottoms are not only difficult to arrange, but sales to French ports are again advanced beyond the previous record. This and the high level of prices, of course, mili- tates against export business, which is on rather quieter lines, and very restricted in volume. The dominating factor in the market is still the big Government and munitions works demand, which absorbs practically the bulk of the output, and leaves very little surplus except large steam coal. All manufacturing fuels are scarce and dearer, with increasing difficulty in getting delivery over rail. Under existing circumstances shipments at the docks are again very light. The approximate prices f.o.b. Hull or Grimsby are .-—Best South Yorkshire hards 27s. to 27s. 6d.; washed trebles, 21s. 6d. to 22s.; washed doubles and singles, 22s. to 23s. ; washed small coal, 18s. to 18s. 6d.; rough slack, 18s. to 18s. 3d.; West Riding Hartleys, 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d.; gas and house fuels (screened), 25s. to 26s. 6d. Next to no Derbyshire steam coal is offering for export, the nominal value being about 26s. to 27s. at Grimsby or Immingham. The complete February returns of exports for all the Humber ports (Hull, Grimsby, Immingham and Goole) are to hand and show an aggregate of 151,776 tons (exclusive of bunkers) sent abroad, as against 282,896 tons in February last year. Chesterfield. COAL. Conditions are unchanged on the week. The demand for coal is exceedingly brisk all round, but the supply is inade- quate to satisfy the requirements of consumers, who are compelled, under the circumstances, to work from hand to mouth. .Cobbles and nuts are in urgent request, and slack for steam raising is badly wanted, but difficult to find. Stocks of all classes of coal have now practically disappeared from colliery premises. Orders for house coal are still coming to hand freely, but there is serious delay in executing them. Steam coal for locomotive use is in active demand, but deliveries from the collieries are far from meeting the daily requirements of the railway companies on whose systems the consumption of coal is just now on a very heavy scale. There is a very quiet state of things in the export trade, where business is on an extremely restricted scale, owing to the difficulty in obtaining licences. The price of steam coal is firm at 26s. per ton f.o.b. Hull, but the demand for Derbyshire brands is poor. Washed nuts for shipment meet with a very limited enquiry, which has the effect of diverting this fuel inland, where it is in much needed request. The coke market is unchanged, its condi- tion being strong, with prices steady at 24s. per ton at the ovens. Coking fuel is in short supply. Prices at pit. Best house coals ....... Secondary do............ Cobbles ................ Nuts ................... Slack .................. Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 17/ 17/ 16/6 16 6 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ 12/6 12/6 Last year’s prices. 18/ 17/ 16/6 15/ 12/ IRON. Pig iron makers have well-filled order books for all quali- ties. In the finished iron department there is considerable briskness, and all other branches of the iron trade are full of work. —................- Nottingham. COAL. Not for some time has there been such pressure for supplies as has been the case during the past week, following on a spell of severe wintry weather. The pressure in the domestic fuel section has been particularly heavy, and owing to reports of shortage of coal at local schools, Nottingham merchants have been besieged with orders from the public, many of whom have shown a panic- stricken spirit. It has, of course, been impossible for merchants, who have practically no stocks on hand, to cope with the demand, and collieries have been compelled to limit supplies both to merchants and customers at the landsale depots. The position has undoubtedly been rendered more acute by a certain section of the public, who have already a fair supply of coal in their cellars, being anxious to increase the same, much to the disadvantage of those who are in present need. Values are easily maintained at the maximum rates. Steam coal still continues in strong demand, all qualities being readily disposed of, as the output is insufficient to satisfy all requirements. The supplies to firms engaged in Government work and those