May 12, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 907 Derbyshire Top Hards the figure now quoted is 31s. per ton delivered at Grimsby. There is little or nothing doing in washed fuel for shipment, the whole production being diverted into home channels. There is a strong demand for all classes of coke, for which official prices are firmly held. Prices at pit. and shipments are delayed. Wire rods are also an extremely scarce commodity. What few American billets are available are quoted about <£13 c.i.f. Liverpool equal to .£13 15s. delivered in the Midlands. Best house coals Current prices. 17/ L’stweek’s prices. 17/ Last year’s prices. 18/ Secondary do 16/6 16/6 17/ Cobbles 16/ 16/ 17/ Nuts -UV-7/ 15/ u-w/ 15/ 16/6 Slack 12/6 12/6 12/9 Leicestershire. COAL. IRON. The market continues strong in every department. Pig iron is moving freely, and orders for manufactured iron are very plentiful. All establishments are extremely busy. Nottingham. GOAL, The past week has not witnessed any material change in the condition of the coal trade in Nottinghamshire The colder weather has not helped to ease the demand for house coal. Merchants are doing a fairly good business, apart from orders which they have had in hand to replenish the stocks of some of their best customers. Collieries are not able to comply with all demands, but owners are doing their best to avoid as much inconvenience as possible. Fortunately, most of the pits have now a plentiful supply of empty wagons. Still, owing to some congestion on the railways, deliveries of loaded wagons are much behind- hand. The pressure on the steam coal branch is fully maintained, some collieries having to refuse new orders, and in many cases supplies on contract account are in arrears. In the present state of affairs there is a big run on small fuel, and stocks of every description are eagerly purchased. Steam nuts are very difficult to obtain. Prices at pithead. So far from there being any relief in the condition of affairs in this district, every week seems to increase the difficulties which colliery managers have to face. The orders pour in from all quarters and for all classes of coal, and it is impossible to meet them. While this state of affairs continues it is hopeless for colliery managers to entertain “ filling up ” summer orders. Many offers are being made both for the London district and for country stations for coal to be delivered as it becomes available, but there is no margin at all. A visit to hundreds of country station coal yards discloses only a few hundredweights on hand, and it is impossible to try and replenish these depleted stocks at present. In the same way, all offers of shipping business have to be declined, because no coal is available. The supplies of railway-owned wagons is very irregular, falling on many days to only 10 per cent, of the normal.. Full time of 5-^ days per week is being worked, and there are no stocks. 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 .... Second, hand picked ... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ........ Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London 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/ 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. ls/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 ' 14/ -14/6 11/9-12/ 5/ - 5/6 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/ kitcheners............. Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 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 13/6-14/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. GOAL. The market is still very bare of supplies, the shortage being reported to be greater than ever. The wants of munition works seem to be fairly well met, which, coupled with the fact that shippers are picking up stray quantities, accounts for the poor supplies merchants are receiving. The domestic demand, however, continues on a good scale, as householders are already beginning to store against the future. There is no change in prices, nor is there likely to be. Quotations:— Prices at pit. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is little alteration to record in the position of business since last week. The pits are working at full pressure, but the output is inadequate to meet the require- ments of customers; orders are still coming in thick and fast for both railborne and seaborne trades, and delay in getting away supplies is unavoidable. All quality steam coals are in huge request; the pits are very busy, but the available supplies are considerably below the needs of buyers. Prices at pithead. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 11. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. All the collieries in Flintshire and Denbighshire are working at the highest possible pressure in order to keep up the output. Since the Easter holidays the men have worked regularly, and, in the majority of cases, appear to be as anxious as the owners to do their utmost. There is little of interest to report on the general state of the coal trade, excepting that it is well maintained. On Tuesday last at the Brymbo Steel Works, near Wrexham, while some molten slag was being poured from a ladle into a pit it came into contact- with some water which was in the pit, and an explosion took place, the ladle was derailed, a building wrecked, and one workman was so seriously injured that he died from the injuries. Another is in a very precarious condition. The house coal trade is now a little flat. Owing to the fine weather and high prices, house- holders are buying no more than they are compelled to. This class of fuel is easily diverted into other markets. In the case of steam coal, the demand increases daily. Rail- way companies keep the colliery people up to the mark in regard to supplies, and in fairness to the latter it must be said that everything is being done to give the largest tonnage possible of locomotive coal. There also appears to be an increasing demand for local coal for Government works, and these, together with the orders for the railway companies, have to be filled in preference to others. There is a good demand for North Wales coal for shipment, but owing to the preference given to the above orders, there is not a large tonnage of bunker coal being sent down at present, though a certain tonnage is sent from the Wrexham district weekly for shipment from the Mersey and Dee ports. There is nothing particular to report respecting the gas coal trade, except that the expiring contracts appear to be running smoothly to their termination, and the new ones are now being fixed up fairly quickly, with prices in favour of the sellers as compared with last year’s figures in the majority of cases. Enquiries and orders for nuts and slack are plentiful enough, but as -the tonnage available is so limited, a considerable amount of business has to be declined. Prices are still good, and, in fact, have a rising tendency. Large house coal is quoted at 22s. to 23s. per ton at pit, seconds 20s. to 22s., while at the landsale depots prices vary from 25s. up to 28s. 4d. Steam coal ranges from 18s. to 19s. 6d., and the same fixtures apply to large gas coal, while nuts are sold at about 6d. per ton less, and slack is offered at varying prices from Ils. to 13s. 4d., and gas coke at 23s. 4d. to 27s. 6d. per ton at works. The full list of prices is as follows : — 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/ 18/6 18/. 17/6 Best hard 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 Current L’st week’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 Steam coal:— 11/6 11/6 14/ Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 21/ -22/ Small 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 15/6-16/6 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Prices at pit f.o.r.:— Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Steam coal............ Gas coal.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. Slack ................ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale;— Best house coal ...... Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current prices. 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 18/ -19/6 17/6-19/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 11/ -13/4 25/ -27/6 27/6-28/4 25/ -27/6 14/2-16/8 L’st quot’d tast year’s prices. I prices. 21/ -22/ / 18/ -20/ 20/ -21/ . 17/ -19/ 18/ -19/ f 16/ -18/ 18/ -19/ ! 16/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 > 15/6-16/6 17/6-18/6 ) 14/6-17/ ' 10/ -12/6 ( 7/6- 9/6 21/8-25/ J13/4-16/8 22/6-27/6 23/4-27/6 — I 20/ -23/4 15/ -16/8 11/8-13/4 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. IRON. The market was well attended, and a considerable amount of business was about. The tone, however, was strong throughout, with prices upheld at the maximum. The denutation of Northamptonshire smelters which waited upon the Ministry of Munitions a week ago with the view of negotiating an increased maximum for pig iron, did not, it is understood, receive any encouragement, and no change is probable meantime. The limit prices ai e exacted for all brands, and week by week substantial sales are being made for immediate consumption. Galvanisers reported a better demand for sheets, substantial quantities being required for our Allies, for the colonies, and for India. The basis remains in the neighbourhood of <£28. There are also plenty of orders for black sheets. In the bar iron trade makers are pressed for deliveries, which are falling behind. They are also urged to accept new orders, but producers of best iron in particular are so busy that they are compelled to refuse many new orders. New business is on the basis of .£15 5s. net, allowing a margin of 30s. in excess of the price for unmarked bars, allowed, it is understood, by the Ministry of Munitions when the latter is at the maximum of <£13 15s. Practically no nut and bolt iron is obtainable under .£13 15s., and as for smaller sizes—rounds, squares, and flats—new business is increasingly difficult to place owing to the requirements of our own and Allied Governments. Iron rounds range from <£15 5s. to <£15 10s., and steel rounds are <£18 10s. In steel the famine in sheet bars continues. There are practically none to be had for months ahead. Billets are also scarce, and American supplies become more and more restricted, THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 11. Dublin. The coal trade is gradually resuming normal conditions as far as possible, but the orders being carried out are chiefly those which have been held over since the general suspension owing to the disturbed state of the city. Last week there was much difficulty and delay in delivering coal, as permits had to be obtained from the military for the passage of carts and lorries to the various districts; but deliveries now are being effected without hindrance. At present there is only one quality of house coal in stock, namely, best Orrell, the price of which is 38s. per ton net, this being Is. per ton more than before the .rebellion. No coal has arrived in Dublin up to the present, but several cargoes of Wigan and slack are on the way over for different firms. Any Welsh steam coal now in stock commands 50s. per ton. During the period when communication between the city and suburbs was cut off, and no coal was obtainable, turf realised pre- viously unheard of prices. Belfast. With regard to the local market, the position has not under- gone any material change, the demand still being in excess of supply, and stocks greatly below the normal. Prices of household coals remain as last quoted, viz. :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. Coal- laden vessels arrived during the week from Garston, Troon, Ardrossan, Ellesmere Port, Glasgow, Girvan, Partington, and Ayr. Many consumers are experiencing great incon- venience owing to the scarcity of manufacturing coal. House coal sales are now beginning to fall off to some extent, both locally and elsewhere. Imports of Pit Props.—During April 205,940 loads of pit props were imported into the United Kingdom, the value being £649,839. The imports in April last year were 217,492 loads, value £391,007; and in April of the preceding year 167,419 loads, value £158,664. The total imports during the first four months of the year were 695,397 loads, valued at £2,050,791, as compared with 651,278 loads, valued at £1,067,669, in the corresponding period of 1915. Colliery outputs have resumed their normal flow; but the production is not enough to meet the pressing requirements of exporters. Tonnage is plentiful, with more steamers. Practically no new business at the moment is being trans- acted. Any small lots of free coal command figures up to 54s. for the best sorts. Chartering continues steadily, despite great stemming difficulties, outward rates being firmer and showing several advances since last week. At present there is very little doing in forward business, the outlook seeming obscure to both buyers and sellers. Small coals maintain their strength, any good variety fetching up to 30s., throughs, nuts and patent fuel being equally firm. Pitwood supplies are more abundant, while values have recovered to 36s. to 37s. for best fir ex-ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. ..J 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. 53/ -54/ 52/6-54/ 50/ -52/ 48/ -50/ 29/ -30/ 26/ -27/ 22/ —24/ 29/6-30/ 34/ -37/6 35/ -38/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 50/ -52/6 50/ -52/6 60/ -62/6 L’st week’s Last year’s 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 prices. 34/ -35/ 32/ -32/6 31/6-32/ 29/ -30/ 19/ -19/3 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 19/3 22/ -22/6 22/ -23/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 35/ -37/ 32/ -33/ 37/ -39/ IRON. There is no easiness to report in the conditions of the iron and steel trades locally—in fact, new business is increasingly difficult to put through, as manufacturers in all departments are showing marked disinclination to commit themselves beyond the orders now on their books. Mills are turning out good outputs. Any free parcels of tin-plate bars easily command up to £14 for either Bessemer or Siemens, and as regards steel rails, whilst nominal prices are around <£14, up to £15 and even £16 per ton has been paid to secure special lots. At blast furnaces