May 26, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1001 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 98,705 tons of coal and 6,367 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 15,266 tons of coal and 6,134 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 34,994 tons of coal, and 11,963 tons of coke, a decrease of 17,052 tons of coal, but an increase of 10,334 tons of coke. The Blyth ship- ments totalled 65,380 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 61 tons. Thus, the shipments from these three places aggregated 217,409 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 17,142 tons when compared with the shipments for the previous week, but an increase of 14,621 tons when com- pared with those for the corresponding week of last year. The tone of the prompt coal market is very strong indeed. Previously unheard-of prices are now being demanded and, in a few instances, paid for early fuel supplies. The enquiry for all positions up to July is very big. The volume of actual business being done is not large, however. There are two main causes for that fact. The first is that loading turns are so full already, on contract account and for Government requirements, that there is very little free coal to be had. The second cause is the incertitude bred by the present negotiations for the restriction of coal prices for France, and probably Italy, following the lead of the coal freights limitation. This incertitude is inducing as many persons as can do so to hold off from the transaction of actual business. Producers, in particular, are very chary of committing themselves. The potential customers for coal include many Scandinavian enquirers who, it is believed, would be willing to deal at current prices for shipment over the summer were merchants at this end equally willing to close with offers. Until the result of Thursday’s conference on the price restriction question is known there can be little real business done. Meanwhile, it is reported that second hand sellers have sold best Blyth steams for June delivery at 57s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., but that, on the other hand, some of the collieries are quoting 65s. for such delivery. The extent to which quotations have changed on the week is not great. In every instance where change has occurred, however—save in the case of coke—it has been in sellers’ favour. Alterations have been as follow :— Tyne best steams are firmer on the week; Blyth seconds, ditto; Tyne steam smalls, 2s. 6d. advanced; gas bests, Is. 6d. dearer; seconds, from Is. to 2s. increased; unscreened Durham bunkers, 2s. to 2s. 6d. more ; coking coals, stronger; households, 10s. enhanced; foundry coke, 2s. 6d. reduced ; and gas coke, weaker. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. It will be noted that household coal has advanced very considerably. The increase only applies to such coal for export, however, and is more apparent than real, having been made more for the purpose of conserving home supplies than for any other reason. A feature of the market at present is the comparative briskness of trade in coke, as will be seen from a glance of the shipment returns with which this review opens. Tenders of 30,000 tons of Durham gas coal for delivery over twelve months to the Plymouth Gasworks have just been submitted. Many questions with reference to the proposed limitation of coal prices are agitating the minds of coal men, and some of these difficulties have already been placed before the President of the Board of Trade, who has, it is understood, given an assurance that the position of the merchants will not be worsened by anything that is done, and that existing contracts will not be interfered with. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 60/ -61/ 60/ i 50/ 55/ 40/ -50/ 35/ 30/ -32/6 35/ 35/ 37/6 35/ 37/6-40/ 35/ -37/6 40/ 35/ 33/ 50/ —CO/ 47/6 44/ 27/ -28/ [L’stweek’s 1 prices. i 60/ -61/ 55/ -60/ 45/ -50/ 50/ 40/ -50/ i 35/ 1 27/6-30/ 35/ 35/ 36/ 33/ -34/ 37/6-40/ 33/ -35/ 40/ 33/ -35/ 33/ 50/ 47/6-50/ 44/ 28/ j Last year’s prices. 20/ -22/ 21/ 18/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 16/ -16/6 i 15/ 17/6-18/ ! 22/ 1 22/ -23/ j-20/ -21/ 24/ -25/ 18/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 20/ -22/ 20/ 22/6 i 35/ -40/ 30/ -32/6 1 19/ -20/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 64,120 tons of coal and 415 tons of coke, as compared with 69,650 tons of coal for the corresponding period of 1915, being a decrease of 5,530 tons of coal and an increase of 415 tons of coke. Though extremely firm, there is a quieter feeling in the coal market. This is not due to any lack of demand, for that is as strong as ever, but to the general disposition of both buyers and sellers to await the results of Thursday^ final conference with the Board of Trade as to the limitation of coal prices and rates of freight. Until these results are known, there must natu- rally be a feeling of uncertainty and business is likely to remain quiet. Enquiries are being received from the Scandinavian countries, and sales might be made on the basis of current prices over the summer, but as yet there is some unwillingness on the part of merchants to commit themselves. Special Wear gas maintains late figure 37s. 6d. to 40s., and seconds are worth 33s. 6d. to 35s. Coking coals are in demand at from 32s. 6d. for smalls, and 35s. unscreened. Smithies are a good market at 35s. to 36s. Ordinary bunkers are strongly enquired after and are dearer. There is practically no alteration in coke, which is steady. The Plymouth gas works are in the market for 30;000 tons of gas coal; tenders are being submitted. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’ prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 37/6-40/ 37/6 ' 23/ Secondary do. House coals:— 33/6-34/6 35/ 21/ -22/ Best house coals 50/ 50/ 25/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 42/6 40/ 22/6 Lambton screened 57/ -60/ 55/ -57/6 27/ South Hetton do 57/6 55/ -57/6 26/6-27/ Lambton unscreened ... 34/ 33/ -33/6 21/ -22/ South Hetton do. 33/ 34/ -34/6 21/ -22/ Do. treble nuts — 30/ 23/6 Coking coals unscreened 35/ 32/6 34/ 21/ Do. smalls 32/6 20/ Smithies 36/ 35/ 21/6 Peas and nuts 37/6-40/ 37/6 ! 23/ Best bunkers 37/6 36/6-37/6 22/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 35/ 32/6-33/6 20/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 47/6 47/6 37/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 30/ Gas coke 27/ 27/6-28/ 20/ There are signs that the limitation of freights scheme is operating to ease down rates for the French ports, but the Mediterranean is strong. Recent fixtures include: — Calais, 43s.; Havre, 39s.; Caen, 40s.; Rouen, 40s.; Bordeaux, 57s. 6d.; St. Nazaire, 57s. 6d.; Rochefort, 60s. ; Cadiz, 80s.; Genoa, 100s.; Savona, 100s.; Barcelona, 82s. 6d.; Naples, 100s.; Oran, 76s. 3d.; Gibraltar, 47s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 55s.; Porto Ferraio, 100s.; Malaga, 100s.; Almeria, 85s.; Civita Vecchia, 101s.; Stockholm, 38 kr.; Drammen, 34 kr.; Gefle, 39 kr. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. GOAL. The fuel trade is steady, with full late figures maintained for early business. In steam coal merchants are said to be discounting colliery figures for June, while, on the other hand, producers are inclined to increase their quotations. Some collieries are asking for steams for next month prices that customers will not listen to. A fair enquiry on Scandinavian account is reported, and it is believed that business could be done over the summer on the basis of current figures, but producers are not disposed to commit themselves on such terms. Durham steams range from 50s. to 55s., and in some cases more is quoted. In gas coal, Wear specials are firm at 37s. 6d., best Durhams are quite 35s., and second qualities 32s. 6d. Bunkers are in good request, with ordinary Durhams at 35s. to 36s., and best sorts are put at 37s. 6d. Coking coals are well taken up, and quotations run from 33s. to 35s. Coke is in good request, and is by no means plentiful. Foundry kinds are 45s. to 47s. 6d. Gas coke is quoted 27s. and upward f.o.b. according to port of shipment. Furnace kinds are much needed, the local requirements being heavy. Medium blastfurnace kinds are strong at 28s. at the ovens, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is quoted for qualities low in phosphorus. IRON. The scarcity of all descriptions of pig iron is being more and more felt, and the hope and belief is expressed that the make will be increased in the near future by the blowing-in of Mie furnaces. This cannot be done unless more labour is available to run the furnaces and the mines and perform other work necessary to the production of pig iron. No effort is at present being made to do export business, shippers fully realising that even if iron was purchasable for shipment licences for despatch could not be obtained. Buyers of Middlesbrough pig iron warrants have raised their offer 2s. 6d. to 92s. 6d., but with no success. Holders still refuse to name a price, and there has been no declared sellers’ quotation for the past two months. The upward movement has had a somewhat stimulating influence on the market. No. 3 Cleveland pig remains at 82s. 6d. for home consumption, and the export quotation is nominally 95s. and upwards. Mixed numbers of east coast haematite pig still stand at 122s. 6d. for home use, and the export quotation is nominally 140s. and upward. Foreign ore keeps steady and firm. Rubio of 50 per cent, quality is fully 18s. f.o.b. at port of despatch. To controlled consumers steamers Bilbao-Middlesbrough can be arranged through the Government at 17s., but in the ordinary way, in the open market the freight is 18s. 6d. Thus, to controlled users the ex ship Tees price of best rubio is 35s., and in the open market the ex ship Tees quotation is 36s. 6d. Imports of foreign ore to the port of Middlesbrough so far this month amount to 153,276 tons. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are kept fully employed on war work, and are still being much pressed for delivery, with the result that they are unable to entertain the numerous private enquiries in the market. Quotations, all round, are strong. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal industry is still in a state of activity. The collieries are overwhelmed with orders, and there is a very strong enquiry for all varieties of fuel for both the home and coastwise markets. There is an abnormal demand for coal from local and outside consumers, and home merchants are finding it extremely difficult to supply the needs of all their customers. Requirements on all accounts are now so large that even if the present output could be doubled, it would still be insufficient to satisfy the needs of all users. The pits are all working on an average of six days a week, and every effort is being made by the joint committees of the employers and employees to get the miners to work regularly in order to keep the output as high as possible. Production is still on the increase at most of the pits, and this is one of the encouraging factors in the situation. House coal is rather a quiet trade, but best steam coal and all kinds of industrial fuel are in very keen request’ for local use. Practically the whole of the supply of small coal is now going to the local by-product ovens, and a very large proportion of the manufacturing fuel is being consigned to the iron and steel works, the iron ore mines, and other public works in the district. With the exception of shipping, very little coal of any descrip- tion is now going out of the county. The coastwise trade is very brisk, but all varieties are scarce, and Irish merchants could easily take more than twice the amount they are at present receiving. There is a growing demand for works fuel for Ireland, but very little of either small or industrial sorts has been shipped this week. No coal has been shipped to Dublin, but good cargoes have been con- signed to Belfast, Londonderry, Larne and Carrickfergus. During the week 15 coasting vessels have sailed from Maryport, all for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 3,535 tons’ compared with 4,410 tons this time last year, or a decrease of 2,025 tons compared with the previous week. Coke is in very keen demand, but supplies are scarce, and an attempt is being made to increase the output. All the 230 local ovens are fairly well employed, and where sufficient small coal is obtainable three shifts are now being worked at some of the plants. The whole of the production is being freely absorbed by smelters in West Cumberland. Business is very brisk in the by-products trade, and all the works in the district are tremendously busy. Prices of all classes of fuel are very firm, but unali ered, and no change is anticipated in home quotations —for the present at any rate. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is still quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. Best Cumberland coal free on board at Maryport is obtainable at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. There is a very steady demand for all sorts of bunkers, and best sorts for foreign-going steamers are still quoted at the increased price of from 25s. to 30s. per ton, with coast- wise bunkers at from 2 Is. 6d. to 25s. per ton. At Maryport, best house coal deliver^ d is quoted at from Is. 5^d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds at 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is obtain- able at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d, per ton. Other current quotations are as follow ; — Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at Fit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) Do. (foreign) Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 19/3 18/3 L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 ' 21/ 22/6 2!/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 19/3 18/3 Last year’s prices. 20/10 18/9 20/ 18/6 20/ 18/6 20/ 18/6 11/8 16/8 19/6 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ 17/ 15/ 14/ IRON. The situation in the Cumberland haematite iron trade has undergone no change since last week. Business is still exceptionally brisk in both the iron and steel industries, and makers are doing their utmost, with the material and labour available, to secure as large a production as possible. There is a phenomenal demand for iron not only from local users, but from outside customers who are engaged on Government work, and requirements of ordinary, special and semi-special iron are still very much larger than can be met. Makers are fully sold for some months ahead, and therefore much of the new business now offering cannot possibly be accepted. Business is now mainly confined to home users, and practically the whole of the production is being absorbed by controlled firms who are exclusively employed on Government account. There are no stocks in makers’ yards, and stocks in west coast storing yards are lower than they have been for years. With the demand for metal so largely in excess of the supply, prices are easily maintained at the Government maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at 140s. per ton, and ferro-manganese is in very keen demand at <£25 per ton. There has been no further increase in production, and the number of furnaces in blast still stands at 26, 17 of which are in Cumberland and nine in the Furness district. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 10 furnaces in blast at Working ton and Maryport, Millom have three, and Cleator Moor and Distington have two each in operation. In the Furness district Barrow has five furnaces blowing, and North Lonsdale and Carnforth have two furnaces each on draught. More than one-half of the furnaces are engaged on special iron; two at the Oldside Works, at Workington, one on ferro-manganese, and the remainder are on ordinary iron. Nearly the whole of the make of ordinary iron is going into immediate consumption at the steel works at Workington and Barrow, and a large proportion of the special and semi-special iron made in the district is being absorbed by high-class steel makers in the Midlands, Scotland and South Wales. The steel trade is in a very brisk condition, and both Workington and Barrow continue to be very busily engaged on Govern- ment work. Rails, heavy sections, are at <£10 17s. 6d. per ton, with light sections at from .£11 10s. to <£12 5s. per ton, and billets at <£12 per ton. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom district is enjoying a period of remarkable prosperity. Iron ore is in very strong demand, and although production is gradually increasing, local requirements are still larger than can be coped with. With the exception of from 350 to 500 tons weekly, which is going out of the district, the whole of the iron ore raised is going to smelters in Cumberland and the Furness district. Prices have undergone no change, and best Hodbarrow ore is still quoted at 38s. per ton net at the mines, with good average sorts at from 21s. to 30s. per ton. During the week one cargo of 4,000 tons of iron ore has arrived at Maryport from Bilbao for the Workington Iron and Steel Company.