1192 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 23, 1916. theory, as was well shown by Dr. Perman some years ago. Mr. Winmill suggests that an explanation of this fact is to be found in the assumption that the existence of natural moisture in the coal may be an indication of the presence of some easily oxidisable constituent. But this seems to be scarcely necessary if it is true that porosity determines both the amount of water absorption and also the rate of oxygen penetration. - It is not, of course, suggested that there are not variable quantities of oxidisable constituents in coal. That this is so is proved by the difference in oxygen absorption exhibited by lignite, bituminous coal and anthracite respectively. But it seems at least a possibility that, cceteris paribus, the more porous coals may oxidise more rapidly than those that are more compact. An interesting point brought out by these experi- ments is that certain coals with a high heating capacity do not, as a rule, fire in the goaf. This is readily explained, as Mr, Winmill shows, by differences in the working conditions, especially with regard to the amount of coal left behind in the goaf, and the frequency with which falls of roof or faults occur. Where the goaf is fairly airtight, and contains but little coal, even a highly oxidisable coal will not cause gob fires. This is a point of great practical importance, and suggests the possibility that immu- nity from gob fires may in some cases be secured by paying greater attention to packing the goaf. It is probable that hydraulic packing, if practicable, would of itself be an efficient remedy; but unfor- tunately this method is of very limited application in flat seams. An airtight waste is the thing to be secured, and the exclusion of as much coal as possible is, of cause, desirable. It is for the practical miner to determine how these conditions can best be secured. There are several ways in which an air- tight goaf might be practicable—such, for example, as the frequent injection of quick setting liquid cement so as to form airtight barriers at frequent intervals. By some such means it is conceivable that goaves could be divided into compartments more or less isolated from the access of air. Mr. Winmill goes so far as to say that in a mine liable to gob fires no place in which the oxygen can rise above 2 per cent, should be considered as properly stowed off. This may be in nature of a counsel of perfection, but it is at least what should be aimed at. It is perhaps unfortunate that there is no ready means of determining the heating capacity of a coal. With our present knowledge, it is not possible to predict the behaviour of coals in this respect either by their chemical composition or by their physical character. The same seam may vary greatly in its different parts, and a long immunity from gob fires is not in itself a guarantee that an outbreak will not occur. But Mr. Winmill has been able to suggest a scheme of classification which will, be extremely valuable in practice, and will serve a useful purpose in indicating approximately where the danger line is to be found. We may hope that these researches will have at least removed the air of mystery which has hitherto surrounded this question, and we may look with confidence to some practical results from the light which has now been thrown upon it. State Control of Coal Prices.—It is reported that the Board of Trade is contemplating the adoption of measures which will involve a limitation on all coal prices exported from the United Kingdom, and also an increase in the prices for inland consumption. It has been pointed out to the Board of Trade that the recent concession of a 15 per cent, advance in the general wage rate in the South Wales coalfield has added from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per ton to the labour cost of produc- tion. Owners of collieries supplying the home market under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act cannot shift this cost on to the consumer without the sanction of the Board of Trade, but during the past few days the Bdard of Trade authorities have been waited upon by the representatives of the local district committees created for the administration of that Act, and it is regarded as probable that the statutory limita- tion of ds. above pre-war prices will be relaxed so as to allow the colliery owners to add to the present maximum price a sum of from 2s. to 3s. per ton to meet the cost of the recent advance in wages. The chief purpose of the larger scheme for the fixing of prices for all coals exported from South Wales is to prevent a recurrence of wage troubles in the coalfield. THE COAL AMD IROM TRADES. Thursday, June 22. “'Scotland.—Western District. GOAL. The coal market in the west of Scotland continues quiet. A little uncertainty still exists with regard to the future, and values are still inclined to recede. Business in ells is very slow, and orders are being held up owing to a scarcity of tonnage. Splints have been fairly active, but the demand has fallen off to some extent. Navigations maintain their position at 39s. to 40s. per ton, and steams are comparatively busy. All sizes of nuts are in good demand for home consumption. Shipments for the week amounted to 131,276 tons, compared with 136,740 in the preceding week and 132,697 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal Current prices. 28/ -32/ 28/ -32/6 34/ -45/ 21/ -23/ 2'1/ -22/ 19/6-20/6 L’st week’s pripes. 27/6-30/ 27/6-35/ 32/6-42/6 23/ , 22/ 21/ Last year’s prices. 14/ -17/ 15/ -15/3 15/ -18/6 15/9-16/6 15/9-16/6 16/3—16/6 Ell Splint Treble nuts Double do Single do IRON. There is nothing new to report with regard to the Scotch iron trade. The demand for all classes of material is fully maintained, and works are exceedingly active. The home requirements of pig iron, especially haematite, are very heavy. The output of haematite has been and is being increased, but the production is still short of the necessary quantities. Ordinary brands, too, are becoming scarcer, many of the furnaces being devoted to the production of haematite. Owing to home requirements and licensing difficulties export business is largely curtailed. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1,130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3,126s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3,125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1,126s. 6d., Nos. 3,121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. The pig iron warrant market is still suspended. Total stocks now amount to 32,506 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the end of 1915. The malleable iron trade shows a firmer tendency owing to prospective further advances in pig iron and a scarcity of raw material. Crown iron bars are quoted .£14 to <£14 5s. per ton net, home or export delivery. Producers of black sheets are also being hampered by a scarcity of raw materials, and outputs, though large, are considerably below requirements. The price for 7 to 11 b.g. is about .£18 10s. per ton Glasgow delivery. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The collieries in the Lothians are fairly well booked to the end of this month, but the general demand has fallen off to some extent, and licences are not now so freely granted. Clearances for the past week amounted to 25,672 tons against 29,880 tons in the preceding week and 38,819 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened steam coal... prices. 36/ -39'6 prices. 40/ -45/ prices. 16/ -18/ Secondary qualities 36/6 38/ -42/ 15/6-16/6 Treble nuts 23/ -25/ 25/ i 16/ -17/ Double do 22/ -24/ 24/ 15/6-17/ Single do 21/ -22/ 22/ 17/ -18/ Trade in the Lothians was somewhat upset by miners’ holidays, but the position is about normal again. All qualities of coal are in good demand, and the collieries are holding for higher prices, which, with the exception of one or two cases, are not being realised. The position here is also affected by a scarcity of tonnage, few boats offering meantime. Shipments during the past week amounted to 53,658 tons, compared with 51,136 in the preceding week and 63,023 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Meth.il or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s (Last year’s prices. prices. coal s 45/ -50/ 45/ -50/ 25/ -26/ Unscreened do i 40/ -45/ 40/ -45/ 23/ -24/ First-class steam coal 45/ -50/ 40/ -50/ 19/ -21/ Third-class do 35/ -40/ 33/ -40/ 15/ -16/6 Treble nuts 23/ -25/ 25/ -26/ 15/6-17/6 Double do 22/ -24/ 24/ -25/ 15/6-16/6 Single do 21/ -22/ 22/ 15/6-16/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 210,606 tons, compared with 217,756 in the preceding week and 234,539 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 94,953 tons of coal and 9,641 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year of 20,278 tons of coal, and an increase of 8,831 tons of coke. The Dunston clearances amounted to 34,881 tons of coal and 7,276 tons of coke, a decrease of 18,129 tons of coal, and an increase of 5,330 tons of coke. Thus, the total shipments from the two places mentioned amounted to 146,751 tons, as compared with 178,753 tons shipped during the previous week, a falling off of 32,002 tons. When compared with the clearances for the corres- ponding week of last year, the shipments show a decrease of 24,246 tons. A highly unsatisfactory and unsettled state of affairs has prevailed on Newcastle coal market during nearly the whole of the past week. The tonnage problem continues to dominate the market, and operations have been very severely handicapped by the great scarcity of boats. Naturally the lack of spot tonnage has had an effect on values, and those buyers who happened to be in the fortunate position of having both licences and tonnage ready were able to secure cargoes for immediate shipment at prices substantially lower than those recently ruling. Licences are coming forward none too plentifully for neutral countries, although, judging by the chrcnic state of congestion of tonnage at French ports, our ally is re- ceiving adequate supplies. On this point of tonnage congestion there is much discussion here, and it is generally felt that the formation of the French Committee is being unduly delayed, and that something should be done at once to relieve the fulness of discharging turns. This is one of the chief causes of the present shortage of boats at this end. During the present week collieries have been kept rather better supplied, but numerous pits are still feeling the pinch and so are prepared to accept reduced figures for their surplus output for spot ship- ment. The following variations in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have occurred during the week:—Best steams, Tynes, weaker; unscreened, easier; smalls, Tynes, 6d. to 2s. reduced; gas bests, 6d. to Is. 6d. reduced ; seconds, easier; specials, 2s. 6d. advanced; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, Is. decreased; coking coal, weaker; smalls, in buyer’s favour ; households, 5s. reduced; foundry coke, easier. Other sorts of fuel are steady. Amongst the prompt transactions reported is the sale of a quantity of unscreened Bly th steams at 36s. per ton f.o.b., wdiich is regarded as a bargain. The immediate outlook is very uncertain, but sellers are quoting full late rates for coal for next week’s loading, although it does not appear likely that the tonnage problem will be solved by then. In fact, local collieries and merchants will probably get little satisfaction in the matter until it is seriously taken in hand by the French Committee. In the forward market high prices are indicated for all varieties, and a quantity of best steams for July loading has been disposed of at 60s. per ton f.o.b. It is announced on Newcastle Commercial Exchange that the Coal Export Committee has decided that in future it will not be necessary to give the name of the steamer when applying for a licence for Italy, as this may be supplied later if the application receive the approval of the Customs authorities. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 55/ 52/6-60/ 20/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 50/ -60/ 60/ 20/ Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings 50/ 50/ 17/ or West Hartleys) ... 50/ -55/ 50/ -55/ 17/ -17/6 Unscreened 38/ -45/ 40/ -45/ 15/ -16/ Small, Blyths 35/ 35/ 14/6-15/ Do. Tynes 27/6 28/ -30/ 14/ Do. specials Other sorts;— 35/ 35/ 15/ -16/ Smithies Best gas coals (New 37/6 37/6 18/ -19/ Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals 36/ -37/ 37/6 20/ (Pelaw Main or similar) 34/ -36/ 36/ 18/ Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, 37/6-40/ 37/6 21/ Durhams Do. do. 34/ -37/ 35/ -38/ 17/ -20/ N orthumbr ians 38/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 16/ -17/ Coking coals 35/ -37/6 37/6 18/ -19/ Do. smalls ...... 34/ -36/ 35/ -36/ 17/ -18/ House coals 50/ -55/ 55/ -60/ 45/ -47/6 ! 20/ Coke, foundry 43/6-47/6 37/6-40/ Do. blast-furnace 43/6 42/6-45/ I 32/6 Do. gas 28/ 30/ 28/ -30/ 23/ -25/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 50,290 tons of coal and 810 tons of coke, as compared with 59,380 tons of coal and 2,280 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1915, being a decrease of 9,090 tons of coal and 1,470 tons of coke. A better arrival of shipping over the week-end has somewhat relieved the position of the coal market, and the tone, if anything, is the turn steadier. Collieries are taking a firm stand for next month, and are almost invariably quoting higher figures than those now being accepted. Business for the French ports continues to be handicapped for want of tonnage, while licence restrictions prevent any increase in the shipments to neutral countries. Both steam and gas coals are steady. Bunkers are a shade better. Coking coals are more plentiful, and prices are a little easier. Best foundry coke is in good demand, and gas coke continues strong.