April 7, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 661 The freight situation remains acute, tonnage is offering in the market as sparsely as ever, and chartering is almost at a standstill in consequence of the keen competition for boats. Rates are on a strong basis, and owners are asking further advances. Recent fixtures include: — London, 17s. 6d.; Havre, 42s.; Rouen, 44s.; Caen, 42s. 6d.; Dunkirk, 44s. 3d.; Treport, 45s.; Honfleur, 45s.; Bilbao, 50s.; Bayonne, 62s. 6d.; Genoa, 97s. 6d.; Algiers, 80s.; Barcelona, 85s.; Civita Vecchia, 95s.; Oran, 78s.; River Plate, 62s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Firmness characterises the fuel trade. The Durham market is much better supplied with tonnage than it has been. There is much pressure to ship steam coal, as the possible effect of the new shipping order may deprive collieries of a certain amount of regular tonnage. With best kinds of coal very scarce and dear, there is an increased run on secondary sorts, all of which show marked upward tendency in price. Best Durham gas coals are firm at 25s. 6d. to 26s., and seconds are 24s. 6d. to 25s., the latter figure having been paid ; while Wear specials are quoted up to 27s. Bunkers are strong and in good demand. Ordinary Durhams are 24s. 6d. to 25s., bests 26s., and specials 28s. Best Durham steams are quoted 32s. 6d. to 35s., and unscreened kinds are in the neighbourhood of 26s. Coking coal is well taken up at 24s. to 25s. All kinds of coke are in good request. Local requirements are heavy, and business continues at the fixed maximums for home consumption of 28s. at the ovens for average blastfurnace kinds, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens for qualities low in phosphorus. Foundry coke ranges from 41s. to 42s. 6d. and gas coke is 27s. to 28s. IRON. There is something approaching a famine in pig iron. Practically the only stock in existence is the 50,000 tons odd of Cleveland pig in the public warrant stores, and to meet current needs that stock is being drawn upon to an extent that threatens its extinction. So far home con- sumers have received supplies regularly, and the local committee appointed to regulate distribution have not found it necessary to restrict exports in order adequately to meet home needs. The shortage of iron, however, seems bound to cause shrinkage of shipments to customers abroad, and the prohibition of exports to neutrals would cause no surprise. Foreign buyers are most anxious to place orders, but they experience very great difficulty in doing so. The insistent demand from abroad is forcing up export prices. No. 3 Cleveland pig is now quoted 95s. for shipment to customers abroad, while jjb. 1 is in the neighbourhood of 100s., and No. 4 foundry 94s. For home consumption both No. 3 and No. 4 foundry still stand at the fixed maximum of 82s. 6d. Nothing new is ascertainable concerning heematite pig. There is little or no iron on offer, and none is available for sale for supply until after June. Makers are not at all disposed to quote forward, and business is practically suspended. Mixed numbers of east coast brands stand at the fixed maximum for home use of 122s. 6d., and the export price remains nominal at 140s. The position with regard to foreign ore is peculiar. Sellers are prepared to do business on the basis of 17s. for rubio of 50 per cent, quality f.o.b. at port of despatch. Consumers buying for manufacture of iron to be used at home can arrange, through the Government, freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough at 17s., but in the ordinary way, in the open market the freight is still 26s. Under such circumstances it is very difficult to quote the usual ex-ship Tees price. Supplies continue to come to hand satisfac- factorily. To date this month, imports of foreign ore to the Tees amount to 37,248 tons. The attention of manu- facturers of finished iron and steel continues much occupied with Government work, and as a result little heed is paid to the numerous ordinary commercial enquiries. Principal market quotations stand :—Common iron bars, <£13 10s.; packing iron, <£10 ; iron ship plates, <£11 10s.; iron ship angles, <£13 10s.; iron ship rivets, <£16 10s. to <£17 10s.; steel bars (no test), <£14; steel ship plates, <£11 10s.; steel ship angles, <£11 2s. 6d.; steel ship rivets, <£17 10s. to <£18 10s.; steel strip, <£.14 10s.; steel hoops, <£15; steel joists, <£11 2s 6d.; and heavy sections of steel rails, .£10 17s. 6d.—rails net f.o.b.; steel shipbuilding material net at works ; and all other descriptions less 2| per cent, discount. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The tonnage from Maryport to Irish ports during the first quarter of this year amounted to 55,130 tons, compared with 56,955 tons at the corresponding period of last year. The shipments for March were 20,205 tons, against 18,370 tons. The coal trade continues to increase in strength, and the competition for all varieties of fuel is keener than ever. The collieries have plenty of orders on hand, and at present arrears, particularly in the export branch, are accumulating rather too quickly. The pits are regularly employed, but the output has been lower than usual, owing to shortage of wagons and other causes. The demand is still very much in excess of the supply, and no change is expected in the position before mid-summer. Gas coals for local use are inactive, but outside customers can easily take all the supplies there are to spare. • Fuel for the local rail- ways is in brisk request; slacks, smalls and all kinds of industrial fuel is in very strong demand, and this week there has again been a larger call on manufacturing account. The demand from Ireland is very keen, and the shipments from the Maryport docks to Ireland last week amounted to 4,115 tons, against 3,545 tons for the previous week, and compared with 2,880 tons at the corresponding period of last year. Coke is in very brisk demand, all the •ovens are in full operation, and the output is being freely absorbed by Cumberland smelters. There is continued activity in the by-products trade, and the works in the district are very actively engaged. Prices are firm, but unaltered. IRON. The Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade continues to be characterised by great firmness. Business is well maintained in all branches of the industry, and there is the greatest activity throughout the iron- producing district. There is a phenomenal demand for metal, and requirements, whether of ordinary or special iron, are heavier than smelters can deal with. No new contracts of any importance are being entered into. All the make of iron is, of course, going to firms engaged exclu- sively on Government work. Prices are still at the maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., while warrants are idle at 115s. per ton. Special low phosphorus iron is at 140s. per ton f.o.t., and ferro-manganese is unchanged at <£25 per ton. There are still 25 furnaces in blast in the district. A large proportion of the make of special iron is being consigned to users out of the district, and the whole production of ordinary metal is going into immediate consumption locally. Intense activity prevails in the steel trade, and the mills at both Workington and Barrow are very busy on Government orders. Engineers are very busy, and, where possible, are setting more men on. The iron ore industry is flourishing, and there is a very strong demand. All the, mines are working regularly and production is increasing, so that, in addition to satisfying the needs of local smelters, 2,000 tons weekly are being sent out of the district. Best sorts of Cumberland iron ore at the mines are quoted at 38s. per ton, with good average qualities at from 21s. to 30s. per ton. Spanish ores are about 42s. 6d. per ton delivered. owners' representatives in many cases were unable to accept orders of any sort for delivery before Easter, having full order books until then. Several representatives from the Humber ports, in an endeavour to secure prompt supplies of bunkering coal, were offering as much as 26s. a ton f.o.b. Hull for secondary qualities of steam coal, but had very little success. Full time work at the collieries was reported, with a fairly satisfactory supply of wagons. Rather more railway trucks have been available since the partial pooling arrangement came into operation. Colliery sidings are quite free from coal, in fact there is scarcely a ton of stock anywhere in the coal field. With regard to the London house coal trade, the pressure has eased somewhat since warmer weather came, but merchants are pressing for full contract deliveries, as well as taking any spot lots they can secure. It is stated that a good many of the depots on the Metropolitan Railway are quite without coal. Coastwise, a few private boats have been loaded this week at Goole, mostly with contract coal, but one or two sales of Silkstone house coal are mentioned at 24s. 6d. f.o.b. Goole. The retail trade in the West Riding is not quite so urgent, but merchants are still short and are taking all they can get from the collieries with a view to stocking. Current pit prices may be stated as follow Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; secondary sort--, 17s. to 18s. There is nothing new in regard to gas coal. It may be regarded as certain that efforts will be made strongly to secure a revision of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act so as to give collieries the right to advance gas coal prices for the new season contracts. No improvement is noticeable in respect of manufacturing fuel. Large consumers in the Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax and heavy woollen districts are still hand to mouth and having to supplement insufficient supplies of manufacturing fuel with other qualities less suitable for the purpose. Coking slacks are very scarce indeed, and almost any price could be secured if it were not for the fact that figures are limited. The demand for washed furnace coke is still very heavy and the output inadequate. The full maximum price of 24s. is realised. Current pit prices. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is as yet no change in the position of the household coal trade, and the difficulties experienced in getting the fuel from the pit mouth to the consumer’s cellar do not lessen. The demand for screened coal for forges and manufacturing purposes continues heavy. Shipping remains very much as it was, the tendency, if anything, being towards a more marked scarcity of coal for general bunkering and export purposes. That this should be so in view of the continually diminishing tonnage is significant. Prices of Lancashire steam coals range from 22s. to 22s. 6d. f.o.b. or more according to circumstances. As regards the coastwise and cross-Channel trade, the quantities available do not anything like meet the needs of the merchants In slacks the position is not any different, recourse having still to be had to other qualities to supply the deficiency in this grade. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current prices. .................. 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) 20/6 House coal:— Best ..... Screened forge coal.... Best sernd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............ Secondary slack ....... Common do. ............. 17/6-18/ 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ 14/6 ~ 14/ Current quotations. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. BestCumberl’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 pitv 12/ 12/ 8/6 Best steam nuts at pit ... 19/ ■ 19/ 15/ BestCumberl'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/ 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/ 17/ -18/ House nuts 16/ —17/ 16/ —17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -24/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Do. house 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ Unscreened gas coal ... 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 14/ -15/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ Small nuts 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/ Rough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 11/ -12/ Small do. 11/ —12/ 11/ -12/ 9/6-10/6 Coking smalls 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 Coke Price at ovens: Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 20/ -24/ ■'s L’st week’s Last year’ prices. 20/9 24/ 19/ 22/ 17/ 20/6-21/ 17/6-18/ , , 22/ -22/6 i 19/6—20/6 15/6-16/ 12/ -13/ 14/6 ---------- 14/ prices. 17/9 ! 21/ -22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 18/ , ; 14/6-15/ 10/9-11/6 9/9-10/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was not a great attendance of members on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The situation in the coal trade becomes more acute each week, there being little if any fuel to offer in the open market. The demand for shipping coal continues brisk. Prices generally 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/ L’st week's Last year's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ ' 15/6 upwds 15/6 upwds ’ 14/ upwds.[14/ upwds.j prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/ 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 9/9-11/ IRON. There was a fair attendance on 'Change. No. 3 pig iron is without change, and only small quantities are sold. Steel bars remain without change at <£17 to <£17 10s.; billets seem to have about found their level. Iron works are only moderately employed on bars, and will not accept orders at present prices without quotations. Forges moderately busy; wagon works busy on repairs only, no new work coming forward. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was well attended, but very little coal of any description was on offer. Washed nuts and coking smalls in particular were in very active demand, but the volume of fresh business was very small. Colliery Barnsley. COAL. The demand for all classes of fuel was as keen as ever at the local market on Wednesday. Little business was put through, owing to the serious scarcity of fuel, and, generally speaking, there were very few lots on offer in the open market, and for these buyers were prepared to pay practi- cally whatever prices were demanded. There still continue to be complaints in respect of the exceptional degree of absenteeism amongst the workers, and cases were reported where a shortage of labour was so serious that work had to be suspended. Colliery representatives are holding out no hope whatever of any improvement being effected in regard to the delivery of coal. It appears to be a general idea that now the wages question has been disposed of, it may be possible to do something in the way of renewal of contracts for gas and other classes of fuel on a conditional basis, although but little in this direction has been attempted in this district. It seems likely that representations will be made to the Board of Trade to obtain an increase in the maximum prices under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act to compensate for the advance which has now been Conceded. There is every evidence of a spirit of co-operation on the part of producer and consumer to arrive at a fair settlement in the matter. It is also evident that the district committees which were set up to govern the distribution of fuel have got to work, and arrangements of a thorough description have been made in order to see that the best possible deliveries can be given under the present peculiar circum- stances. So far as the general state of trade is concerned, there has been no material alteration, steam coal collieries finding a big proportion of the output still continuing to be scheduled for the needs of the munition works and other engineering concerns and the railway companies. The amount of tonnage required for these purposes is still of an exception- ally heavy description, whilst in addition the demands of the Admiralty have also to be supplied, so that there is practically no surplus available for the open market. The tonnage sent for export is also of a meagre description, although it does not represent by any means the business which could be done if the restriction of licences did not apply, and values are, of course, far higher for these trans- actions than are permitted to be obtained in the home market. The supplies of slacks and other coking fuel required for by-product plants are also of a very extensive character, and in some cases the tonnage required cannot be given. There does not appear to have been any decrease in the demand for house coal purely for household purposes, and merchants are still keenly enquiring for any small lots which may be available, and meanwhile are strongly advocating the need for economy on the part of consumers.