June so, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1241 enquiry for 15,000 tons of steam coal, to be shipped during July, have been sent in; the tenders are based on full current prices. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 37/6 37/6 i 22/ Secondary do. House coals:— 33/ 33/ 19/ Best house coals 50/ 50/ 21/ 19/" Ordinary do Other sorts :— 45/ 45/ Lambton screened 50/ 52/6 22;6 South Hetton do 50/ 52 6 22/6 ■ Lambton unscreened ... 34/ 36/ 19/6 South Het ton do 34/6 36/ 18/6 Do. treble nuts 37/ ' 37/6 21/ 18/6 Coking coals unscreened 34/6 35/ 32/6 35/ Do. smalls 33/6 18/ Smithies 35/ 19/6 Peas and nuts 37/6 37/6 21/ Best bunkers 36/ 37/ 19/6 Ordinary bunkers '.. Coke:— 33/ 35/ 17/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 47/6 47/6 36/ Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 30/ -32/6 Gas coke 30/ 30/ -31/ 25/ -26/ s The outward freight market is easier, Genoa showing a fall of 2s. 6d., and Porto Ferraio a fall of 5s. French rates are unchanged, but a fixture to London at 12s. marks a further fall. Recent fixtures include: Genoa, 95s. ; Porto Ferraio, 92s. 6d.; Alexandria, 110s.; Malta, 95s.; Marseilles, 92s. 6d.; London, 12s.; Bilbao, 50s.; Christianssand, 34 kr.; in addi- tion to the above, limitation rates have ruled for the French ports. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade show's little alteration. Prices of Durham coal are well maintained generally, and several of the pits which needed steamers a week ago are now better placed, with the result that deliveries are larger. Prompt gas coal is somewhat scarce and quotations are firmer. Best Durhams run from 35s. to 36s., and second qualities are in the neighbourhood of 32s. 6d., while Wear specials are round about 37s. 6d. Durham steam coals are put at 50s. Bunkers are in good request and values are strong. Ordinary Durhams command 35s., and best kinds 36s. to 36s. 6d. Coking coal is well taken up, and requirements promise to be heavier. Prices are, if anything, a shade better, ranging from 33s. to 34s. Demand for foundry coke continues strong, and good qualities are quoted 45s. and upward. Gas house coke is well enquired for, and prices vary from 30s. to 32s. There is a heavy and growing local consumption of blast- furnace coke. Average qualities stand at 28s. at the ovens, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is named for kinds low in phosphorus. IRON. The committee appointed to regulate distribution of pig iron for home use continues to allocate supplies in such a manner as to assure regular deliveries to consumers engaged on Government wrork. This absorbs the output, and other customers experience considerable difficulty in obtaining guarantee of delivery. Promise of increased production is about to be fulfilled by the blowing-in of five or six extra blastfurnaces, and this, together with the discontinuance of deliveries to Scotland, should meet home requirements, and leave some iron available for export. There are already rumours that, under certain conditions, licences for shipment to Norway may be granted. For home consumption sales of No. 3 Cleveland pig have been made at 87s. 6d. for delivery over the third quarter of the year, ancDbuyers are prepared to pay that price to the end of 1916, but many makers hesitate to commit themselves quite so far ahead. The export price of No. 3 may now be put at 97s. 6d. Merchants offer iron at that figure, and probably purchases could be made at 95s., which it is suggested, is likely to be the fixed maximum. East coast haematite is difficult to purchase for anything like early delivery. Mixed numbers stand at 122s. 6d. for home consumption, and that price also rules for sales to France, but the ordinary export quotation is fully 140s. Foreign ore is very strong though little new business is passing, consumers having rather large stocks, and heavy supplies coming in on running contracts. Unloadings of imported ore at the port of Middlesbrough during June approach 250,000 tons. Best rubio ore is fully 36s. 6d. ex ship Tees on the basis of 17s. freight Bilbao-Middlesbrough, which is the official freight figure, though in the ordinary way in the open market steamers continue to be fixed at 19s. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel reported that they continue too busily employed on Government work to pay much attention to ordinary private enquiries. Quotations, all round, are stationary. Cumberland. Maryport. GOAL. The Cumberland coal trade is in a very firm and brisk condition, and business is exceptionally well maintained in all branches. A strong enquiry exists for all classes of fuel for both the home and export markets, and the collieries are still well off for orders. All the pits are working full time, and outputs are now larger than they have been for some months. There is, therefore, more coal available for all consumers, and both local and export users are now able to secure more regular and adequate supplies. Of course production is still rather short of requirements, but, with the diminution on local land sale account, the collieries have more to spare for other branches, and probably the majority of local consumers are receiving as much as they require. Landsale is still very dull, but best steam coal, gas coal for home use, and engine fuels for the local railways are in strong and growing demand. A good all-round demand prevails for manu- facturing fuel, and requirements of the local smelters and the iron ore mines are again on the increase. The cross- Channel trade is as busy as; if not busier than, it has been at any time during the year. It is satisfactory to note that collieries which have now more coal to spare are paying more attention to this branch, and supplies are not quite as scarce as they were some time ago. The demand for all varieties of coal, more particularly gas, steam and works fuel, is still greater than can be coped with, but the tonnage sent to the docks is now larger than it has been for some months, and the shipments at the Cumberland ports are therefore all showing marked increases. During the week, 18 coasting vessels have sailed from Maryport with coals, and, with the exception of one consignment for the Isle of Man, all the cargoes have been for Irish ports. The shipments have amounted to 5,025 tons, compared with 4,870 tons at the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 1,525 tons compared with the previous week. The imports for the week have included a good cargo of pit props for the local collieries. Coke makers are tremendously busy in dealing with the requirements of local smelters, and all the 230 by-product coke ovens in the district are in full blast. The entire output is being absorbed by smelters in Cumberland. There is also marked activity in the by-products trade, and all the plants in West Cumberland are working at full pressure. Pitch is in very firm request, and during the week another good cargo has been consigned to Bilbao. Prices of all varieties are very firm, but unchanged. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b. at Maryport, is still quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Gas coal is 20s. per ton, and bunkers are a very steady trade at from 21s. 6d. to 30s. per ton. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5^d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is obtainable at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— BestCumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit 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 „ BestCumberl’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/ 20/ 19/ L’st week’s 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/ 20/ 19/ Last year’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 IRON. There is ceaseless activity in the Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade. In every part of the dis- trict, makers are as busy as they can possibly be in both the iron and steel industries, and the entire output is going into immediate consumption. Requirements of ordinary, special, and semi-special iron, for both home and outside users, are still very much larger than can be satisfied. A determined effort is being made to increase the production of iron. Two more furnaces have been put in blast, one in Cumber- land and one in the Furness district. Barrow put an additional furnace in operation, and the Workington Iron and Steel Company restarted their Lowther Works at Workington, which have been idle for three years. As both furnaces are on ordinary iron, a large proportion of the metal will be required for local use. The output of both ordinary and special iron is now larger than it has been since the outbreak of war, but large as it is, it will have to be very much larger before it satisfies the demand. It is anticipated that three or four more furnaces may be put in blast before the autumn. Of course everything depends upon the supply of labour and raw materials. The Workington Iron and Steel Company are making another furnace ready at the Lowther Works, and it is expected that a second furnace will be lighted at the Solway Works at Maryport in the course of a few days. Another furnace will be put in blast at Millom shortly, and preparations are also being made for the lighting of one of the furnaces at the Askam Iron Works. With such a heavy demand for metal, prices are well maintained at the Govern- ment maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., while warrants at cash are idle at 115s. per ton. Special iron is still quoted at 140s. per ton, and ferro-manganese is in strong demand at <£25 per ton. The amount of pig iron in stock in west coast storing yards nowr only amounts to about 500 tons. The demand for ordinary metal is very keen, but the bulk of the make is still held for local consumption at the steel- works at Workington and Barrow. Practically the whole of the production of special and semi-special iron is con- signed to high-class steel makers in Scotland and the Midlands. The steel trade is in a very active condition. Rails, heavy sections, are from <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s. per ton, with light rails at from <£12 to <£12 10s. per ton, and billets at <£12 per ton. Business in commercial sorts, however, is rather quiet. The local engineering shops are as busy as ever on Government work. All the local iron ore mines are working full time, and every effort is being made to cope with the requirements of local smelters. Outputs are on the increase, and sufficient high-grade ore is now being mined to supply the needs of the furnaces engaged on special iron. Prices are unchanged, and best sorts are still quoted at 38s per ton net at the mines, with good average sorts at from 21s. to 30s. per son. The imports of foreign iron ore at Maryport last week from Lagoulette and Povena amounted to 11,500 tons. • Soyth-West Lancashire. COAL. The household demand keeps above the average for the time of the year, and is probably accounted for by consumers who have the accommodation making more than their usual provision. Forges and manufacturers generally continue to take full supplies of screened round coal. With regard to shipping, there is perhaps rather less enquiry at the moment for general bunkering and export purposes. Quotations for Lancashire steam coals, however, range from 25s. 6d. to 26s. 6d. f.o.b., though in special cases lower rates might be taken to clear wagons. A good many enquiries are on foot for supplies to new works about to commence, mostly for nuts and small fuel, and it seems as if the scarcity of these grades would be accentuated as time goes on. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 21/ 20/9 25/6 22/ ' 19/ -20/ 19/ 24/6 20/ 18/ j 16/9-17/ 24/ upwds) 19/ 18/ i 16/ -17/ 26/ -27/ | 19/ -19/6 16/ 14/ 15/6 | 12/6 14/6 upwds i 10/6 prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ upwds 18/ 25/6-26/6 16/ 15/6 L4/6 upwds South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday was well attended. There is a slight improvement in the demand for house coal. Prices remain the same. The call for manufacturing fuel is still in excess of the supply. Shipping coal continues in good request at firm prices. The general list is 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 ......... 19/ -20/3 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ about 22/ 15/6 upwds; Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 21/ -22/ I 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 1O/ Qn/Q 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ about 22/ ; 15/6 UpwdS ±U/U LLJJWU.»j 14/ upwds. 14/ upwds.| 11/ -12/ Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ IRON. Everything is quiet here, but very firm. As we have mentioned repeatedly before, all the business done is for the Government, and the prices are fixed by the Govern- ment. Heavy engineers are well employed. Wagon works are still very busy on repairs, and very high prices are asked for new wagons. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. GOAL. The attendance at Tuesday’s market was somewhat less than in recent weeks, but notwithstanding this there was a ready demand for any prompt parcels on offer, and the whole output of the collieries is required for current needs. Colliery representatives report satisfactorily upon the decrease of absenteeism among the miners, and with the pits working full time, the output leaves little room for complaint in the prevailing circumstances. The wagon supply is also good, being helped by the greater number of railway wagons which are now available. Supplies for the London district are interfered with a little in consequence of a block on some of the southern lines. The demand for house coal for London is still barely met by the supplies available. The trade at the depots is very active for the time of the year, and merchants have made such comparatively little progress in ground stocking that they are anxious for all supplies they can secure. There is more activity in the forward market. A number of additional contracts have been entered into for the next 12 months’ supplies, in nearly all cases for a- reduced tonnage and 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/ 19/ -20/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Haigh Moor best 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Do. house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 19/6-21/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened engine nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ Small nuts Rough unscreened 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ —16/ 13/6-14/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/6 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens : 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 Furnace coke 25/6-26/ 25/6-26/ 24/ -25/