054 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 19, 1916. mine, with good average sorts at from 21s. to 30s. per ton- The imports of iron ore at Maryport for the week have amounted to 3,500 tons. During the past few weeks many young men have been taken from the Cumberland iron ore mines for the Army, but upon enquiries being made, the War Office intimated that the young men taken from the Hodbarrow mine would be returned. The War Office also stated that no more men were to be taken from the Cumberland iron ore mines. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The state of the household coal market is very different from what usually appertains at this period of the year. It is true the demand is quietly lessening, but there is such a reduced tonnage to meet it with that the supply scarcely suffices. Users of round screened coal for manufacturing purposes and forges continue to take heavy deliveries. With regard to shipping, the shortage of supplies for general bunkering and export purposes is becoming more marked, and prices have again advanced, quotations for Lancashire steam coals now ruling from 25s. to 26s. f.o.b. In the coastwise trade there is little that is fresh to report. Between the troubles of finding suitable tonnage and the difficulty of obtaining a cargo at a corresponding time, there is a good deal of leeway to be made up in the coast- wise and cross-Channel trade. In slacks, prices are very firm either for spot lots or forward deliveries, and if from one unexpected cause or another a little is available it is quickly disposed of. In the gas coal market a fair number of renewals have already been arranged, and there is a general levelling up of prices in directions where formerly cut prices prevailed. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Current Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. G-arston, net) Kitchen .............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack.............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... prices. 20/9 L'st week's Lastyear's declining to renew contracts, except for munition works. The demand for washed furnace coke is considerably in excess of the output, although the ovens are working at full pressure. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L'st week's Last year's Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Do. house 1 I 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 ... 14/6-1'5/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 15/6-17/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/6 Small nuts 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ Rough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 12/6-13/ Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 10/6-11/6 Coking smalls 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 24/6-25/6 19/ 24/ 17/ 23/ upwds 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ 15/6 14/6 upwds prices. 20/9 about 24/6 19/ 23/ 17/ 22/ upwds 17/6-18/ j 24/ -25/ | 16/ | 15/3 1.4/6upwds| prices. 17/9 21/ -22/ 16/ 19/ -20/ 13/9 18/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/6 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday was a fair one. The house coal market is a little easier, but there are still plenty of unexecuted orders on the books. The demand for manufacturing fuel is still heavy, supplies are short, and prices are steady. There is also a good call for shipping coal. 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 17/6-18/ - 17/ -18/ about 22/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds. L’st week's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ about 22/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds. Last year's prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/6 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 9/9-11/ IRON. There is nothing new to report. Everybody is full of work, either directly or indirectly for the Government. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market, on Tuesday, was attended by one of the largest gatherings of the year, many representatives being- present from London and Lancashire towns, Hull, and the local depots. The pressure for supplies was as intense as ever. The demand was keen for all descriptions, especially for manufacturing fuel and coking slacks. Full time work at the pits was reported by colliery representatives, and the supply of empty wagons continues to be satisfactory, though there is no improvement with regard to transit to distant markets. Absenteeism on the part of the miners is causing less grumbling than in recent weeks. In regard to the London house coal trade, the anxiety of the merchants to lay down ground stocks for next winter, in which so far they have had little success, maintains a full demand on the collieries. The renewal of contracts is claiming atten- tion, and merchants are finding, in nearly all cases, that the tonnage offered is considerably reduced, probably by 20 per cent, on the average. Instances may be given of contracts made for Haigh Moor best coal at 19s. summer, and 20s. winter, and Silkstone best at 19s. all the year round. In the coastwise trade a few more cargoes have been loaded this week. The chief demand runs on medium Silkstone qualities at about 22s. f.o.b. Hull. West Riding merchants find the retail demand for house coal very much quieter, but they are anxious for all the supplies obtainable from the collieries. Many contracts are in arrear, and the position as to renewal is the same as in the London market. Current pit prices average as follow:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 17s. to 18s.; house nuts, 16s. to 17s. The renewal of gas coal is proceeding. One contract for a big tonnage of screened gas coal is reported at 16s. 6d. per ton at the pit, with an additional Is. incase the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act is amended. There is still buying of spot parcels, where possible, by the London gasworks, at the full prices. For France and some neutral countries the demand is very keen. As much as 28s. f.o.b. Hull has been asked for screened coal. The position with regard to the supply of manufacturing fuel does not in any way improve. Large consumers in the Bradford and Huddersfield districts are feeling concern as to the future, as many collieries are Barnsley. COAL. Generally speaking, the position of business has under- gone no alteration during the week, the sole trouble arising from the reduced supplies which are available. There are again complaints of a high percentage of absenteeism on the part of the workers, which makes the position very difficult to deal with, and there are strong hopes that the more practical efforts which are promised by the miners’ representatives may prove successful. An instance of the owners’ attitude on this matter was shown at the Barnsley Police Court on Wednesday, when proceedings for neglect of work against eleven Grimethorpe miners were withdrawn in view of the friendly negotiations which are pending to deal with the matter. The arrival of more pleasant weather is not likely to contribute to the desired improve- ment, and all concerned with the trade appear to recognise the position as being nearly hopeless. Although business on account of France from this district is not so large as in other areas, the proposal for limitation of prices has led to considerable discussion. The enquiry for shipping con- tinues to be fairly active, and buyers, even at the continued high prices which they are offering, find it difficult to obtain the tonnage which they require. The demand for large steam coal by the Admiralty and the railway com- panies continues to be exceedingly large, and complaints are to hand that stocks held by the railway companies are exceedingly small. Every effort appears to be made to obtain more adequate supplies, and it is obvious that the consumption of this class of coal on the railways exceeds that of pre-war times. Collieries are also feeling stronger pressure for larger deliveries on account of the munition firms and other engineering concerns which are under Government control, and there appears to be very little stock in hand at the works, but it is difficult to see how an increased supply can be given under the present circumstances. The position in respect to slacks is practically unaltered, the demand continuing to be excep- tionally large especially on the part of the by-product plants, which are in turn subjected to keen pressure in regard to their output. Other industries depending upon this class of coal are having to get along with indifferent supplies, although the prospective curtailment of deliveries to electricity plants may yield them some benefit. In respect to house coal, although it is obvious that the consumption is now greatly reduced owing to the warmer weather, large supplies are still wanted by merchants in order to complete the orders on the books. The pressure upon the collieries for supplies is not materially relieved, and in some cases empty wagons are being refused until a- fortnight has expired. Consumers are also showing the desire to lay in stocks, but up to the present they have not met with much success. Cokemakers report that the demand is still very heavy, and exceeds the supply, and there are. evidences that stocks in hand in the pig iron districts are exceedingly meagre. The following quotations apply to the home markets, and are still largely of a nominal character. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 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/ 22/ -23/ Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 21/ -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/ 12/6-13/6 Secondary do. 10/6-11/6 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. Some business continues to be done for prompt loading at enhanced values, but, generally speaking, the market is unsettled through the proposals to limit coal prices and freights. Consequently forward business is uncertain, and holders of handy spot lots are making the best of the demand there is to meet urgent requirements. All kinds' of coal are very scarce and in poor delivery, and it seems1 quite clear that unless more coal can be made readily available for export, the proposed new regulation of prices and freights will not make any very substantial difference to the Humber coal trade. Both from our Allies and from neutral countries there is a strong potential demand. The extent to which the Humber coal trade has suffered from the recent stringency is shown by the April returns, the totJl exported from all the Humber ports being but 132,615 tons against 333,975 tons in April last year, the falling-off being equal to 60'2 per cent. The four months' (January-April) export was but 582,678 tons, against 1,241,201 tons in January-April last year, the decreased shipment being equal to 52'7 per cent. Approximate prices f.o.b. ruling to-day, in many cases more or less nominal in the absence of actual business, are :—Best South Yorkshire hards 37s. to 38s., washed trebles 25s. to 25s. 6d., washed doubles and singles 25s. to 26s., washed small coal 20s. to 21s., rough slack 19s. to 20s., West Yorkshire Hartleys 27s. 6d. to 28s. 6d., gas and house fuels (screened) 27s. to 30s. Derbyshire steam hards quiet, and nominally 33s. to 35s. at Grimsby or Immingham. Shipping tonnage continues very scarce, and up to 46s. has to be paid for French ports, while 100s. is the quotation for Genoa-Savona, for which there is a fair enquiry. Shipments at the docks were light. Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for coal is now enormous, and the pressure upon collieries is much greater than it has been since the beginning of the war. The position is a serious one. Buyers are unable to secure supplies beyond the tonnage arranged for under contracts indeed the majority of cases show deliveries to be substantially in arrear. All the large works of Sheffield and district are clamouring for more coal to enable them to carry on, and collieries are responding to the best of their ability. In respect of nuts and slack there appears to be a famine, in spite of the fact that the export of this fuel has practically ceased. Railway com- panies are among those who find the supply of coal coming to hand is by no means equal to their requirements, and who are naturally anxious with regard to the future. The export trade is still very quiet, and business is difficult to negotiate owing to shortage of coal and scarcity of licences. The market has been unsettled during the past few days owing to prospective compulsory reduction of rates of freight to French ports, combined with the probability that there may shortly be fixed an official maximum price for coal for shipment to France. Pending a settlement of these matters, business in the export trade will be on the smallest possible scale. Such steam coal as is obtainable now commands a high price, and 33s. 6d. to 34s. 6d. would be demanded for available supplies. As already stated, there is little or nothing doing in the smaller classes of coal. There is no change in the coke trade, the condition of which is strong at the official price. Prices at pit. Current L'st week’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 a strong demand for every class of iron, and much pressure is brought to bear upon the various estab- lishments with the view to obtaining prompt execution of orders. -.....------------ Nottingham. COALP Throughout this county the coal trade retains a very active character, and the demand in every branch is fully equal to the output. A slightly steadier tone is becoming apparent in the domestic fuel section, though merchants are not yet able to obtain full supplies of certain qualities of better class fuel. Orders are being rather more promptly executed than was the case a few weeks ago. Collieries have no difficulty in disposing of ' either secondary or common qualities, as merchants are only too anxious to get a little stock in hand. Hand-picked brights are especially in keen request, and very good business is being done in cobbles. There is no change in the steam coal branch, every class of fuel of this description being eagerly purchased; in fact, most collieries have more orders in hand than they can cope with at present. In the slack market, too, a similar state of things exists, the demand exceeding the supply. 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 15/6-16/6 17/ -17/6 15/6-16/ 11/9—13/ 10/6-11/ 11/ L’st week’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/ 12/6-13/6 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ Leicestershire. COAL. The position of affairs is very unsatisfactory on account of the inadequacy of the supplies of coal. Orders which cannot be entertained pour in, and colliery managers have to adopt a strictly hand-to-mouth policy as regards deliveries in order to keep Government works going. Nothing yet can be done to meet the very strong repre- sentations of coal merchants. Offers of business for shipping account have all to be declined. The demand for manufacturing fuel is most extensive, and it still goes on increasing, so that the reduction in domestic con- sumption is more than counterbalanced by the increase of the preferential orders for Government works and con- trolled establishments. The Miners’ Association have