858 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 5, 1916. respecting the supply of wagons, but transit conditions are, however, no better. An illustration of the delay on the railways is supplied by one merchant, with figures showing nearly 26 days as the average for the London journey over a long period. The pressure from London for house coal is fully maintained. Merchants have still many arrears to work off, and are anxious to get coal into reserve, so that the quieter public demand does not affect the collieries. Coastwise, a few boats are loaded, but generally supplies are being sent by rail. In the local markets, merchants are very short of supplies except those with their own trucks, who are more fortunate in securing coal. There is a little more activity in regard to contracts for gas coal, but in nearly all the still comparatively few cases in which contracts are entered into, it is for a reduced tonnage, and with a special clause securing the benefit of any alteration which may be made eventually in the Price of Coal (Limita- tion) Act. This feeling of uncertainty as to the future is also affecting the renewal of contracts for manufacturing fuel. In view of circumstances which threaten reduced outputs and other working difficulties, collieries generally are somewhat averse to the renewal of contracts as they expire, and prefer to rely on open market conditions. The demand for washed furnace coke is likely to be increased by the fact that more iron and steel furnaces are being equipped, but it is not easy .to see how they are to be supplied with coke on the present available output. Barnsley. COAL. Though, of course, work at the collieries is in full swing, the after effects of the holidays are still evident. Home consumers who have still to get along with short supplies are watching with no little apprehension the export trade, which, judging by the active enquiry, has become more brisk. Collieries find a great temptation to direct fuel in that direction owing to the remarkably high values which are being offered when anything like a prompt delivery is possible. It is reported as high as 30s. per ton pit is now obtainable for the best hards, but, of course, with the heavy preferential supplies which have to be satisfied there is only a possible limited tonnage of fuel available for shipment. The demands of the Admiralty from this district are of a substantial order, whilst the consumption by the railway companies is also of a very extensive character. Pressure is also experienced with regard to the munition works and other engineering concerns, orders for which are of great bulk. The supply of small fuel and slack is also insufficient, and again the efforts of the Government are directed to enforce heavier deliveries to the by-product plants. The demand for smelting coke is exceptionally active, and only moderate stocks are held in the North Lincolnshire and the Midland districts, which are very actively engaged in dealing with a heavy pressure of orders. The demand for house coal, though not so brisk, is still of a more substantial character than in normal times, and no doubt the public are trying to lay in a little stock after their recent anxious experience. They also realise there is no prospect of the customary summer reduction in values being conceded, but, on the other hand, it is known the coalowners are endeavouring to convince the Board of Trade of the justice of being permitted to advance the maximum selling prices following upon the recent further advance in wages. This latter question also interests the buyers of gas coal, though contracts continue to be renewed on the conditional basis that should the application succeed, the increased value will be paid. Values on current account are, however, largely of a nominal description, and the volume of new business arranged is only small. Prices at pit. House coals:— Current prices. L’stweek’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 Best Barnsley softs 18/6 18/6-19/ • 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/ -23/6 Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 21/6-22/ 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/ 11/ -12/ 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/ Hull. COAL. The short supply of large steam coal and an active enquiry for this month’s shipment have had the effect of further hardening values. Even though both prices and freight rates are at record levels, the potential demand from abroad is considerable, but can only be satisfied from the Humber as the War Department Committee will permit. We have had no sign yet of a less sparing issue of licences, neither is there any indication that the surplus of coal avail- able for export is likely to increase. In view of possibilities, however remote, exporters move with caution. Holders are not wanting confidence in the continued strength of the market, and all values are firmly held. Manufacturing fuels are still in poor supply, and prices are largely nominal at the ports. Shipments at the docks are light, and freight rates, in view of more enquiry, are again back at their former high levels. Approximate prices for prompt or nearly prompt shipment:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 32s. 6d. to 33s.; washed trebles, 23s. 6d.; washed doubles and singles, 24s. to 24s. 6d.; washed small coal, 19s. to 20s.; rough slack, 18s. 9d. to 19s.; West Riding Hartleys, 26s. to 26s. 6d.; gas and house fuels (screened), 25s. 6d. to 2?s. 6d. Very little Derbyshire steam coal is offering, and is quoted nominally 30s. to 31s. at Grimsby or Immingham. Chesterfield. COAL. There is an active demand for all classes of coal, but for fuel for munition works the demand is most acute. Under existing circumstances, however, it is impossible to meet everybody’s wants, and as there is no hope of any improve- ment in the output of the collieries, the supply of coal may remain at its present low level for some time to come. All that is possible is being done to enable customers’ works to to be kept in full operation. While there is a reduction in the number of orders for house coal coming to hand, a fair tonnage is still being requisitioned. The carting difficulty continues to cause much trouble and inconvenience to merchants and their customers. There is a pressing demand for slack for boiler firing, of which there is a great shortage. By-product works are taking this class of fuel off the market in increasing quantities, and the position of general industries in respect of small coal will, it is feared, grow worse as the year advances. Railway companies are still short of supplies of locomotive coal, and their position is certainly an anxious one. The state of the export trade at the Humber ports seems to go from bad to worse. The difficulty in obtaining licences is infinitely greater than it was a few weeks ago, and shipments of coal from the East Coast ports are rapidly declining. Eor such business as is offered the price of Derbyshire best Top Hards stands at 30s. per ton delivered at Grimsby but the quantity of coal available is extremely limited. Little or nothing is doing in respect of washed fuel for shipment, as our home industries are requisitioning practically the whole pro- duction of this class of fuel. The coke market is unchanged. A good demand is experienced for all qualities at official rates. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 18/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 17/ Cobbles 16/ 16/ 17/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 16/6 Slack 12/6 12/6 12/9 IRON. There is full employment in every branch of the iron trade and prospects are good. The difficulty is to get orders executed with as little delay as possible. Nottingham. COAL, The collieries are in full swing again, and in every branch of the trade there is a brisk tone. Notwithstanding the warmer weather, there is no particular change in regard to the demand for domestic fuel at the collieries. Owners are still in the position of not being able to execute all orders, and merchants are anxious to accept any quality. Best households are especially in great request, as a certain section of the public are eager to lay in stocks. The pressure at some pits is such that owners have to decline orders from new customers, but it is expected the position will become easier as the summer advances. In' regard to steam coal, the demand continues to be very heavy. The output still remains insufficient to meet all requirements. The tonnage required for munitions works is on the increase, and the railway companies are taking full supplies of locomotive fuel. Steam cobbles and nuts are difficult to obtain. Indeed, all kinds of small steam fuel are in keen request, and stocks of any description are quickly disposed of, many orders having to be be refused. 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. 18/6-19/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/ 11/ Last year’s prices. 18/6-20/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 18/6-20/ 17/ -18/ 12/6-14/ 11/ -12/6 11/ -12/ Leicestershire. COAL. Although there has generally been a very considerable increase in the aggregate output this week, the position of affairs in this district is still most unsatisfactory, and the coal available is inadequate to meet really essential require- ments. The colder weather has prevented any further reduction in the domestic consumption of household. At the pits there are no stocks of any kind, and at the coal wharves and yards merchants have so little beyond what is urgently required that there is a very strong feeling of insecurity. There are no reserves sufficient to meet any unforeseen emergency such as might occur any day in war time. The supply of railway-owned wagons is very defec- tive, but this is due to unavoidable and exceptional causes. Many coal merchants are thus badly placed in securing deliveries, while on the other hand privately-owned wagons have to be filled when none of the other wagons are avail- able. There are many enquiries for all classes of coal, which have to be declined. Fuel for steam-raising purposes is sought after with great eagerness, and users are prepared to accept anything that is available. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. Best household coal .....j 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/ 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 13/ -13/6 14/ —14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 15/9-16/9 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. GOAL. The stringency in the coal market is unabated. Mer- chants declare that the supplies this week have been worse, the explanation offered being that preference was given to munition works which were running short after the holidays. Business in regard to the renewal of contracts is slow, coalowners, in view of the continuous decrease of output owing to the calls of the military, hesitating to commit themselves. It was impossible to buy coal on Thursday’s market, but it was reported that shippers were picking up what they could of steam and hard fuel at fancy prices, being unhampered by price restrictions. House- holders are not clamant, but, warned by experience, they are taking precautions. Basic quotations remain as under :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. 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 Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 10/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 19/6 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 IRON. The market showed little material variation from last week. The attendance of iron masters was much larger, and business proceeded on normal lines. The all-round regulation of prices has tended to fairly general uniformity. For nearly all classes of material the maxima are quoted. The bulk of the stuff, too, is going direct into consumption in controlled establishments and for anything outside, prices higher than the maximum are openly quoted. The amount of outside business, however, is small, and one effect of recent regulations has been to considerably reduce the amount of business done by merchants. Reports from various quarters seemed to suggest that better facilities were being offered for export trade, and that the “powers that be ” were showing a disposition to encourage it. In the finished iron branches manufacturers continue in a state of activity, and all are quoting the official maximum prices. For bar iron the basis is <£13 15s. net f.o.t. for Crown iron, and <£15 for marked bars. The smaller sizes of iron are not controlled, and a big enquiry continues for supplies for export, principally to France. North Stafford- shire bars are quoted at .£13 15s. f.o.t., and net (maximum price) ; gas strip, <£14 5s.; slit nail rods, <£17; hoops 'iron and steel), <£17 5s. to .£18 5s.; galvanised sheets; <£27 10s. to <£28; black sheets, <£17 10s. to <£18. In the bar trade generally makers are so full that they are chary of accepting more work. The pig iron market was strong, the maxima being demanded for all brands, namely, Northamptonshire forge 82s. 6d., foundry 85s., Derbyshire forge 85s., foundry 87s. 6d., Staffordshire part mine, 90s., all at furnaces. It is understood that a deputation from Northamptonshire is to wait on the Ministry of Munitions to-morrow to press for an increase of the maxima. The tightness in steel becomes greater, and the Government keep firm control. Melting scrap has gone up by 5s. to <£5 5s. a ton f.o.t., Bessemer sheet bars and billets are <£12 10s., joists and sections <£11 2s. 6d. f.o.t. net. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. In the house coal department new business is slightly easier as a result of the warmer weather, but there are sufficient arrears on the books to keep the collieries fully employed for some weeks. There is still considerable delay in getting orders executed to the inland districts, whilst in the seaborne branch of the trade the dock sidings are entirely free from stock of every descripton. Consequently vessels have to go on stem for quite a week before they get loading turn. All steam qualities are in heavy request and [collieries are dividing up the output as best they can. All prices are firm : — Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Current prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 11/6 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ 'L’st week’s prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 11/6 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Last year’s prices. 21/6 20/6 20/9 19/ 14/ 20/ -21/ 15/6-16/6 Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large Small 1 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Doon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that railborne coal is coming forward rather sparingly, and the south country coal merchants are consequently only just able “ to make the ditch meet the hedge,” according to the old saying. Offers of prompt loading coal are also scarce, and at higher rates than have been asked for at least a year. It is generally expected that easier conditions will rule now that the holidays are over and milder weather prevails. Sailing vessels are obtainable from the west coast at much lower freights, but the high f.o.b. prices of coal offer little inducement to chartering.