May 5, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 859 THE WELSH COAL AHD IROM TRADES. Thursday, May 4. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Great firmness continues to rule the steam coal trade, present quotations showing substantial increases from figures quoted last week. Actual business now is of very restricted dimensions, and wholly consists of small parcels here and there. Collieries are fully committed for many weeks’ outputs, while a further obstacle to ordinary exports is the action of the Admiralty in advising many collieries hitherto unaffected that permission must be obtained before any coal is disposed of. Sales thus effected must naturally be for prompt shipment. This embargo applies to the better grades of Black Veins, eastern and western valleys coals. Stocks are very low, as outputs have not recovered their pre-holiday level, while tonnage is plentiful, some steamers having been waiting nearly a fortnight for coal. Outward freights are difficult to arrange with the present con- dition of colliery stems, but owners are firm to last quoted rates, and even a little stronger. A feature of the freight market has been a fixture to Syra-Pirams, Newport or Cardiff loading, at 110s., it being many months since last a vessel was chartered to a Grecian port. Pitwood, with good supplies, and expectations of improved home supplies, is again a little easier at 32s. 6d. for good wood ex ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:—’ Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y. Best Eastern-valleys ...I Secondary do. ...! Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal....... Secondary do.......... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ......... Current prices. 51/ -53/ 50/ -51/ 45/ -47/6 44/ -45/ 27/ -30/ 25/ -26/ 22/ -24/ 28/ —30/ 36/ -37/6 37/6-38/ 23/ -24/ 22/ —23/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 57/6-62/6 L’st week’s' prices. 45/ -50/ 45/ -47/6 43/ -45/ 41/ -42/6 24/ -26/ 22/ -24/ 18/ -20/ 25/ -26/ 28/ -30/ 33/ -34/ Last year’s prices. 34/ -35/ 32/6-33/ 31/6-32/ 29/6-30/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 19/6-20/ 22/ -24/ 23/ -24/ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s .Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * I x Superior seconds * * ! 35/ -37/6 Seconds 52/ -53/ 49/ -51/ Ordinary do 50/ -51/ 47/ -49/ ! 33/ -34/ Best bunker smalls 31/ -32/ 28/ —30/ i 21/6-22/ Best ordinaries. 28/ -30/ 25/ -27/ i 21/ -21/3 Cargo qualities 22/ -26/ 19/ -23/ i 18/6-19/ Inferior smalls 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/ ; 17/ -19/ Best dry coals 48/ -50/ 44/ -46/ ■ 37/ -38/ Ordinary drys 45/ -47/ 37/6-40/ I 32/6-35/ Best washed nuts 36/ -40/ 35/ -36/ 28/ -29/ Seconds 33/ -36/ 32/ -33/ I 27/ -27/6 Best washed peas 33/ —35/ 31/ -32/6 1 26/ Seconds 30/ -32/6 28/ -30/ 1 24/6 Dock screenings 25/ -27/ 20/ -22/ : 20/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 52/ -53/ 50/ -51/ 33/3 Western-valleys 52/ —52/6 49/ -50/ 32/9 Eastern-valleys 49/ -50/ 44/ -46/ 32/3 Inferior do 47/6-48/6 42/6-44/ 31/6 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ i 30/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/6—23/ 22/ -23/ i 28/ -29/ No. 3 Rhondda— 1 Bituminous large 50/ -52/6 48/ -50/ i 30/ Through-and-through 42/6-45/ 38/ -40/ i 27/6 Small 33/ -35/ 30/ -33/ ! 25/ No. 2 Rhondda— i Large 42/6-45/ 40/ -42/ i 27/ ■ Through-and-through 35/ —37/6 j 31/ —33/ ! 24/ Small 26/ -27/6 < 22/ -23/ i 19/6-20/ Best patent fuel 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ ■ 37/6 Seconds 45/ -47/6 43/ -45/ 1 35/ Special foundry coke 62/6-65/ 57/6-62/6 43/ -48/ Ordinary do. 60/ -62/6 52/6-57/6 ; 39/ -43/ Furnace coke 50/ -52/6 42/6-47/6 : 35/ —38/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 32/ -33/ 35/ -36/ 34/ -35/ now working full time, and there is at present every appearance of this satisfactory position being well main- tained. Beans and peas are very scarce, and owners of suction gas plants are greatly inconvenienced by the delay in getting supplies forward. Rubbly culm is also scarce, whilst duff is in good demand. There is a shortage in steam and bituminous coals. Works are greatly incon- venienced, and in some cases will have to shut down temporarily, unless the position improves. Prices are still well maintained, and forward bookings very firm. This week’s quotations approximately are .-— Prices f.o.b. 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..... Thr ough-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. I prices. ! prices. 28/ -30/ i 25/ -27/ : 21/6-22/6 24/ —26/ > 22/ -23/ ' 18/ -19/6 21/6-24/6 i 20/ -22/ i 16/ -17/ 22/ -25/ i 21/ -24/ ; 16/ -17/ 32/ -34/ 30/ -32/ < 23/ -26/ 32/ -34/ ; 30/ -32/ : 22/ -23/ 32/6-34/6 30/6-32/6 23/ -24/ 32/6-34/ ; 30/ -32/ : 23/ -24/ 31/6—33/6 : 30/ -32/ : 22/ -25/ 21/6-23/6 21/ -23/ 1 15/ -15/6 13/6-14/6 ; 11/6—12/ ; 10/6—11/ 4/ - 4/6 ' 4/ - 4/6 : 6/ - 7/ ' I 38/6-44/6 37/6-41/6 1 30/ -32/ 32/6-38/6 32/6-36/6 22/ -23/6 17/6-19/6 ; 17/6-19/6 16/ -19/6 25/6—29/6 ' 25/ -28/ 20/ -22/ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 4. 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 47/6-50/ 45/ -47/6 55/ -60/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 35/ -37/ 32/ -33/ 37/ -39/ IRON. The general condition of the local iron and steel trades remains very much as a week ago. The strong upward tone reported in all departments is well maintained, while makers continue to show disinclination to add to their present bookings, so new business just now is difficult to get placed. Matters continue very firm at both bar and rail mills, latest nominal prices being at <£14 for tin-plate bars either Bessemer or Siemens, and <£12 for heavy section rails. Good enquiries are coming forward for Welsh haematite, for which official figures remain <£7 10s. for deliveries within the district. Iron ore continues firm on a basis of 40s. for best Rubio c.i.f. Newport. The tin-plate trade rules very strong, with values still inclining upwards. Latest official quotations are upon the basis of 36s. for 10 20 x 14 x 112 and 73s. 6d. to 74s. for 28 x 20 either Siemens or Bessemer. Cardiff. COAL. The position of the market is firmer than ever. The arrivals over the week end materially added to the congestion now existing, and the result is that vessels which were expected to load a fortnight ago are still without a loading berth. Demurrage has to be paid. Freights are slightly lower, generally speaking, but there is no movement which can be taken advantage of either from a sellers or a ship owner’s point of view. The arrivals of tonnage during the past week indicate that there is going to be extreme pressure until the end of the month. Most of the shipments, of course, are on Government account or for Allies, and these have precedence over all other business. One hears little or nothing of the difficulties arising from time to time, but the work is being done, and there are no grumblings amongst those who have to do it. This has been the marvellous feature of the coal trade since the commencement of hostilities. Although many firms have been losing money, there has not been the slightest ground of complaint, and the same loyal co-operation continues, whether the profits be anything or nothing. The shipments last week were 324,778 tons, compared with 387,688 tons in the corresponding period of last year, or a decrease of 62,910 tons. Cardiff alone shipped 206,191 tons, against 227,700 tons, or a decline of 21,509 tons ; Newport 63,388 tons, or a decrease of 9,130 tons ; Port Talbot 16,270 tons, or a decline of 10,725 tons; and Swansea 38,979 tons, or a falling-off of 21,546 tons. There has been a big improvement in the shipment of patent fuel, but prices are not affected, as the quantities exported have been shipped under old contracts. So far as prices are concerned, there is little difference except that quotations are higher in conse- quence of the increased difficulty in obtaining supplies. The best and superior second Admiralties are still retained by the Admiralty, and shipments are now largely on Admiralty account, with the result that neutral business has been reduced to a minimum. Second quality Admiral- ties command 52s. to 52s. 6d., and ordinaries 48s. to 50s. Monmouthshires are exceedingly scarce, and the price has advanced accordingly, Black Veins being 52s. to 53s., Western Valleys 52s., and best Easterns 49s. to 50s. per ton. In the small coal market there has again been a marked advance owing to shortage of supplies, and best bunkers are 31s. to 32s., ordinaries 28s. to 30s., and cargo qualities 22s. to 26s. per ton. The demand for bituminous coals continues unabated, and the action of the munition courts is reducing the output week by week, with the result that there is not nearly enough coal to supply the demand. No. 3 Rhondda large is 50s. to 52s. 6d., through- and-through 35s. to 37s. 6d., small 33s. to 35s. No. 2 large 42s. 6d. to 45s., through-and-through 35s. to 37s. 6d., and small 26s. to 27s. per ton. Cokes are exceedingly firm, and there is a great scarcity. Fuel is stronger owing to the rise in small coals, and quotations are now 47s. 6d. to 50s. per ton. Pitwood is easier, and is now offered at 32s. to 33s. per ton. * Nominal. IRON. There has been no alteration in the tin-plate trade since the last report. Business is quiet, and no new orders of any magnitude have been placed. Shipments last week amounted to 50,853 boxes, compared with 56,117 boxes received from works, thus leaving in stock in docks ware- houses and vans 289,102 boxes. Prices are unchanged, Bessemer standard cokes being 35s. 6d. to 36s., and oil sizes 36s. to 36s. 6d. and 51s. to 51s. 6d. respectively. At these rates there is little doing, and the industry, except for Government work, is almost at a standstill. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change. Spelter still commands nearly <£100 per ton, and the high price of raw material prevents any development. For 24-gauge corrugateds the price is still <£28 per ton, but lower rates are being accepted for prompt delivery. Welsh bars are <£13 10s. to <£14 nominal, and pig iron is also nominally quoted at <£7 10s. to <£7 15s., but there is no business doing, as manufacturers are well booked up. Scrap metals are dear, but unaltered. Swansea, COAL. Last week, the returns of the trade of the port were satisfactory. Considerable improvement was experienced in the coal and patent fuel trades, the shipments together amounting to 94,631 tons. On ’Change there was no material alteration to report in the general condition of the anthracite coal market, and the undertone continued firm. Swansea Valley large was strongly held, whilst Red Vein large was steady. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were in excellent demand. Rubbly culm was scarce, and the demand for duff improved. There was a very strong tone in steam coals, and sellers were without any stocks to offer for some time forward. Dublin. The coal trade has been completely paralysed in conse- quence of the insurrectionary rising in the city, but business will now be resumed as far as possible upon the usual lines. The suburbs have been completely cut off from communica- tion with the city, and the large stocks of turf available on the canal banks have been the only fuel obtainable by many consumers. Telegraphic and railway facilities having been cut off, there are, at the time of writing, no reports forth- coming either from the northern or inland districts. The following prices were quoted before the outbreak :—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Flulton Arley, 37s. ; best Wigan, 36s.; best Whitehaven, 36s. ; best kitchen, 34s.; Orrell slack, 30s. ; all less Is. per ton discount; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. Irish coal at Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, 28s. 4d. to 30s. per ton at the pit mouth, f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connection, 5s. per ton extra. It is stated that in the Athy district and Queen’s County, people have been largely relying on the Wolfbill and Castlecomer coal. At a recent meeting of the Athy Board of Guardians, only one tender was received for 100 tons of coal from a Dublin firm, and the same was accepted at 40s. 3d. per ton. This figure was never previously paid for such a quantity. The Great Northern Railway Company are inviting alternative tenders for 60,000 tons or 120,000 tons of locomotive coal, deliveries to be at the rate of about 2,250 tons per week. Belfast. Before business was affected by the outbreak, house coals were firm at the following rates :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton ; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6cl.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d. ; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. The Belfast Harbour returns show that for the first three months of the current year, the imports of coal decreased by some 43,000 tons. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s 'Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. I prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 27/ -30/ 25/ -27/ i 22/6-23/6 Secondary do. 24/ -26/ 1 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ Big Vein large 20/6-23/6 19/6-22/6 ! 16/ -17/ Red Vein large 20/ -25/ 20/ -25/ !16/ -17/6 Machine - made cobbles 31/6-34/ ! 30/ -32/ 23/ -24/3 Paris nuts ■ — -- French do. 32/6-34/6 31/ -32/6 23/6-24/6 Stove do. 32/ -34/ 31/ -32/ 22/6-23/6 Beans 31/ -32/6 31/ -32/6 24'/ -25/ Machine - made large peas 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 15/6-16/6 Do. fine peas Rubbly culm 12/6-14/ ! 11/ -12/ 10/ -11/ Duff 4/3- 4/6 ; 4/3— 4/6 5/9- 6/6 Steam coals:— Best large 37/ -44/6 1 36/ -42/6 28/ -30/ Seconds 30/ -34/ i 29/6-33/ 24/ -27/ Bunkers 32/6-37/6 1 32/6-37/6 22/ -24/ Small 17/6-19/ ; 17/6-19/ 16/ -20/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 40/6-47/ ! 38/ -45/ 28/ -30/ Thr o’-and-thro’ Small 23/6-29/ 23/6-29/ 19/ -21/6 Patent fuel 38/ -41/ 38/ -41/ 30/ -35/ IRON. During the past week the blast furnaces were in full swing, and the production of pig iron was heavy. All the steel-producing establishments worked full time. A better week was reported at the various tin-plate works. There was continued pressure at the Mannesmann Tube Works, and iron foundries were going well, whilst fitters and engineers were busily engaged. Llanelly. COAL. The position continues favourable in the local market, and anthracite qualities of all kinds are moving well, with prices still showing an upward tendency. Collieries are “Miners in Motor Cars.” — The council of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, after noting that Mr. Runciman declined to add representatives of consumers and distributors to the committee appointed with reference to the coal supply, discussed the possibility of obtaining a suspension of the Eight Hours Act. Mr. F. Wardle affirmed that miners did not work eight hours before the Act, and that the objects were to reduce production, raise the cost of coal, and increase the wages. Another member, Mr. Beaumont, said he under- stood that some colliers received exorbitant wages, and were driving motor-cars. The council decided to enquire about the possibility and desirability of seeking a suspension of the Act. Moscow Basin Coal.—In connection with the exceptional importance of the coal supply in the present circumstances, when many works have depended on the Donetz coal and other fuels for work to be done for the national defence, and which supplies are failing, the question of the supply of Moscow coal to the local works has come prominently to the front. The ’Moscow authorities have made arrangements for the supply of Moscow coal similar to the arrangements previously in vogue for the supply of Donetz coal. All con- sumers requiring Moscow coal must give notice not later than the 10th of the month preceding the date when the coal will be required, stating the number of wagons required, and the station at which they are to be delivered. In case there are not sufficient wagons to execute all the orders, they will be used in order, having regard to the importance of the work being done by the consumer for Hie national defence. This provision is followed by a series of other regulations govern- ing the supply of the coal, and including the inspection of the mines whence the coal is to be obtained, etc. ; and special encouragement is given to consumers to get into direct con- tact with the mines and to avoid the middlemen, whose profits it is hoped to economise. Altogether 32 coal concerns are registered, including five in the Borovitchsky district, part of them being in a state of preparation ; 17 of these produced 34 million poods of* coal in 1915, against 22 millions of poods in 1914. In 1916 it is proposed to produce 48 million poods ; but if the number of workmen can be increased from 5,000 to 8,000, these 17 concerns are expected to produce 60 to 65 million poods. Much will depend on. the attitude of large industrialists towards the problem, says the Gorno- Savodskoie Dido. The steam boiler laboratory of the Imperial Technical School, working in conjunction with the Heat Committee, is continuing its experiments on the Moscow coal basin, to establish its chemical composition, heating value, and the uses to which it can be most satisfactorily put.