810 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 28, 1916. they will only have a diminished output to deal with. The partial week's production is practically already booked up, owing to the preferential claims for works controlled by the Government, which, of course, have been loyally supplied. Practically in no instance is there any change of note, except that arrangements have been more quickly carried through in respect to the renewal of gas coal contracts with the lines indicated last week. The enquiry for export continues to be fairly active, and high values are still being offered con- ditionally upon tonnage being available within a reasonable time to suit shippers’ requirements. The railway companies and the munition works are keenly pressing for substantial deliveries owing to the light stocks which were held prior to the holidays, and the heavy demand which is made upon them. In other respects the pressure is hardly so keen, although, of course, many industries which have been on short supplies would welcome a more substantial delivery at this holiday period. The arrival of fine weather has done a little to ease the strong enquiry for house coal, and the collieries are so heavily placed with orders that they will not regret this respite, which will allow them to do something towards clearing off obligations which still rest upon them. On the other hand there is no doubt that the general public, profiting by experience, are seeking 'to lay in some little stock against the shortage which may arise subsequently, and this fact tends to leave the position pretty much the same in regard to the volume of trade. The by-product plants still complain of the difficulty in receiving adequate deliveries for their consumption, and there still exists a shortage of slacks and other coking fuel. There is no change to report in respect to blast furnace coke, the full output being readily disposable at the advanced prices which came into force a few weeks ago. Prices at pit. view of the urgency of the demand, and many pits started working on Tuesday. Although the weather is assisting to relieve the pressure on the house coal section, merchants are anxious to secure full contract supplies, as they are practically without any stocks, and all classes of domestic fuel are readily purchased. The demand for steam-produc- ing fuel continues to be heavy, and with orders pouring in from firms engaged on Government work, the output is not sufficient to meet requirements on ordinary contract accounts. In every branch prices remain very firm. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............ Best hard coals......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)....;........ Current prices. 18/6-19/6 16/6—17/6 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/ 11/ L’stweek’s prices. 18/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/ 11/ Last year’s prices. 18/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ 12/6-14/ 11/ -12/6 11/ -12/ effect of the prohibition of general exports of pig iron. The export trade of the pig-producing districts of the Midlands is extensive, and lately has been particularly active with France and Italy. It is not, however, of the magnitude of that of Middlesbrough or Glasgow, where prices have sharply dropped. The needs of the Allies for war purposes will presumably have to be met, but the pre- vention of other shipments will throw larger stocks on the market. One general result will be to abolish the idea, which has prevailed, of applying to the Ministry of Munitions for an advance on the recently-fixed maxima. Sellers were still quoting the limit prices, and claimed to be getting them; In the bar iron trades, conditions have not changed on the week. The works restarted on full order books. Makers ask the full maximum—<£13 5s. for unmarked bars, net, at works, approximating to the quotation of <£14 5s. to <£14 7s. 6d. delivered Birmingham. Marked bars are <£15. For nut and bolt iron, in which an active trade is passing, the quotation stands at <£13 15s. delivered. Small iron rounds (three-eighths) sell freely at <£15 5s. to <£15 10s., and steel qualities at £18 10s.; gas strip is £14 5s.; hoops (iron and steel) £17 5s. to £18. The steel trade remains in a state of activity. Steel wire is very scarce, and has been advanced by £3 a ton, bringing the basis up to £26 5s. for Siemens-Martin 8-gauge wire. Bessemer sheet bars and billets are quoted £12 10s. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 19/ -20/ Secondary do. 16/6-17/6 17/ -18/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 23/ -24/ Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 22/ -22/6 Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 19/ -20/ Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 18/ -19/ Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -13/6 Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/6 Gas coals:— 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 25/ 25/ 23/ -24/ Leicestershire. COAL. Eew men were absent from the pits when work was resumed after a two days' holiday, and the output, it is now hoped, will gradually overtake the very heavy arrears. The accumulation of orders for all classes of coal is very great, and there is still great urgency for deliveries for special purposes for London and district as well as for country stations generally. There is a most welcome change in the weather, which will give coal merchants a chance of renewing their stocks by the reduction of the domestic consumption during the summer period. The clearance, however, has been so thorough and drastic that a long time must elapse before sufficient reserves have been stored. The easing of the pressure in any direction will be gladly hailed by all sections of the trade. The demand for fuel for steam-raising purposes is greater than ever, and users are glad to accept deliveries of whatever is available at the moment. The wagon supply still causes trouble, but there are plenty of privately-owned wagons in the sidings, and hence the owners get a very valuable preference in deliveries. This week’s pay day was the largest ever recorded in this district, the increase being about 40 per cent, above anything previously recorded. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. A good number of colliers resumed work on Tuesday, but the output was comparatively small, so that practically three days' coal was lost owing to the holiday. There is not the slightest abatement in the remarkably strong demand for all classes of fuel, and buyers have to take regular turn according to date of receipt of order. There are a number of vessels in the dock awaiting cargoes. The inland merchants are pressing for deliveries of orders placed last month. There continues a very active enquiry for steam qualities. Prices at pithead. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 21/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 20/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 20/9 Nuts 19'/ 19/ 19/ Rough slack 11/6 11/6 14/ Steam coal:— Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 20/ -21/ Small 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 15/6-16/6 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Hull. COAL. Supplies do not improve, and as usual after the holiday the market is quiet, and the prompt demand more or less confined to odd lots in second holders' hands. The under- tone is strong, and there is a fairly good enquiry for May shipment. There does not appear any likelihood of much, if any, relaxation in values in the ensuing month, or so long as the inland demand continues on the present enormous scale. All coal available for export can be readily disposed of, despite the very drastic regulation of licences. The approxi- mate prices for nearly prompt or early May shipment are about as follow, and in some cases are largely nominal in the absence of business :—Best South Yorkshire steam hards Bls. 6d. to 32s.; washed trebles, 23s. to 23s. 6d.; washed doubles and singles, 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d.; washed small coal, 19s. to 20s.; rough slack, 18s. 6d. to 19s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 25s. 6d. to 26s.; gas and house fuels (screened), 25s. 6d. to 27s. 6d. Little or no Derbyshire steam coal is offering, and is nominally 29s. to 30s. at Grimsby or Immingham. Shipments are on the light side and the freight market quiet, with some enquiry for Mediterranean destinations. Best household coal . Second, hand picked . Deep screened cobbles Deep large nuts ..... Bakers’ nuts......... Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. Current prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 L’stweek’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 Last year’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 11/9-12/ 3/ - 3/6 15/9-16/9 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ THE WELSH COAL AMD IRM TRADES. Thursday, April 27. YiT rexham. Sorth Wales. GOAL. Chesterfield. COAL. Owing to the intervention of the Easter holidays, the pits of the district were idle for a couple of days. The demand for all classes of coal is very keen, and consumers' anxiety with regard to supplies is very great, especially in respect of fuel for works engaged upon Government orders. There is a continued shortage of cobbles and nuts suitable for gas producers, and the supply of slack for steam-raising purpose is much below the requirements of the market. Steam coal for locomotive use continues in urgent request, but it is only with the greatest difficulty that the needs of the various railways can be met. There is nothing new to report with regard to the export trade, the condition of which remains exceedingly quiet. Licences are still given out most sparingly, and the tonnage now shipped from the Humber ports is very small indeed. Where a licence is obtainable for Derbyshire Top Hards, 28s. per ton delivered at Grimsby is freely paid, but very little business is passing at present. There is little or nothing doing in washed fuel for shipment. Coke is in good demand, and the tone of the market is strong. Prices at pit. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The market was quiet to-day (Thursday), there being many absentees. A partial start was made at some pits on Wednesday, but it will be Monday before full turns are worked. Small supplies of coal have dribbled through to merchants, but shortage is acute, and there are occasions when factories have to “ ease off.” Slacks are exceedingly scarce. Householders are not clamant, but judged by the number of forward orders merchants are receiving, they are going to lay in stocks in good time for next winter. Quotations remain as follow r— Prices at pit. Best house coals Secondary do Current prices. 17/ 16/6 L'st week’s prices. 17/ 16/6 Last year's prices. 18/ 17/ Cobbles 16/ 16/ 17/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 16/6 Slack 12/6 12/6 12/9 Current L'st week's Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 20/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 19/ . Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 18/6 Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ 17/6 Best hard 18/6 18/6 16/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 14/ Slack 11/6 11/6 10/ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 19/ 19/ 19/6 Do. hand-picked cobs 18/ 18/ 17/6 Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 18/ Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 13/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 14/6 Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 11/6 The majority of the local collieries in Denbighshire and Flintshire ceased work on the Thursday night until the following Tuesday morning. This was only to be expected, seeing that Saturday was a holiday and the men were paid on the Thursday. However, there were a few collieries working on the Saturday, and the output justified the venture. On Tuesday last work was resumed, and there were comparatively speaking few absentees as compared with former holidays. As regards the general demand for fuel, there is a distinct falling off in the enquiries for house coal, as a result of the fine weather which has at last made its appearance in this part of the country. There is no falling off in the demand for steam coal for all classes of trade. Kailway companies and buyers for Government controlled works and shipment are all pressing for supplies, and so far as is possible orders are being, met, though the prolonged Easter holiday seriously reduced the weekly tonnage raised. As regards gas coal, the usual contract quantities have been kept up as far as was possible. Several further enquiries for new contracts are on the market, among which may be mentioned Liverpool Gas Company for 250,000 tons, Birkenhead Corporation for gas, steam and house coal in goodly quantities, and Ehyl for about 6,000 tons in house and gas coal. Slack is readily sold at good prices, and so is gas coke, but although there is a demand for nuts, there are few on offer on the open market. The prices of house coal are unchanged, although there is not so much sold. Steam coal is still quoted at 18s. to 19s. per ton, and about the same figures appear to be the average price quoted for large gas coal, with 6d. less for gas nuts. Slack is quoted at 10s. to 12s. 6d. per ton at the pit and gas coke at 21s. 8d. to 25s. per ton. The following is a list of present quotations Prices at pit. IRON. Great activity characterises every branch of the iron trade, and all the works of the district are running at high pressure. The Easter holidays were limited to a couple of days. Nottingham. GOAL. The holiday at most of the collieries in this county has lasted two or three days, and at the time of writing working had scarcely assumed its usual activity. Owners had endeavoured to restrict the holiday as much as possible in IRON. Although the attendance at the weekly market was below the average, a brisk enquiry was experienced, and despite the holiday a good deal of business has been placed during the week. A somewhat improved demand has sprung up for galvanised sheets—largely, it is under- stood, on behalf of the Drench Government, though the orders pass through private houses. The price quoted is <£27 10s. to <£28, according to specification. Quantities of black corrugated sheets are also going to France, but the bulk of the business in this branch is on home account. Quotations vary from <£17 10s. to <£18, with the usual addition of <£1 for painting to prevent rust. The holiday conditions make it difficult to correctly gauge the full Current L’st week’s. Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r. prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 18/ -20/ Secondary do 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ } 17/ -18/ Steam coal 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ | 16/ -18/ l 16/6-18/6 Gas coal 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Bunkers 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 j 15/6-16/6 Nuts 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 ! 14/6-17/ Slack 10/ -12/6 10/ -12/ 7/6- 9/6 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 21/8-25/ 21/8-25/ 13/4-16/8 Best house coal 22/6-27/6 25/ -27/6 23/4-27/6' . Seconds — 22/6-25/ 20/ -23/4 Slack 15/ -16/8 15/ -16/8 11/8-13/4 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Work has now been resumed at the collieries in a more or less half-hearted way, as large numbers, estimated at between 40 and 50 per cent, of the men have not yet re- comenced work. With this restriction upon outputs, arid