28 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 7, 1916. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ the third week in succession, no British-owned vessels sailed from Cardiff to foreign ports otherwise than those of the Allied countries. The fact in itself may seem _______________________________________________________ insignificant, but it is an overwhelming proof that Cardiff coal is going where it is most wanted, and nothing is being spared to even neutral countries which can be used advantageously against the common enemy. For best descriptions, the quotation is nominal, and as a matter of fact there is nothing available. With regard to prices, there is little alteration. Sellers are holding for better prices, and, on the other hand, buyers are keeping back their orders in the hope of securing better terms as soon as the new Government regulations with regard to France have been brought into operation. As already stated, best coals are out of the market, but ordinary steams are obtainable at 48s. to 50s., with an advance of about 2s. per ton for ordinary second grades. Monmouth- shire coals were scarce and firm, and as much as 50s. to 52s. 6d. was quoted for Black Veins, 49s. to 50s. for western valleys, and 48s. to 50s. for the best description of easterns. In the small coal market considerable pressure prevails, and prices are well maintained. Best bunkers are 30s. to 31s., ordinary 27s. to 28s., and cargo qualities 21s. to 25s. ________________________________________________________ In bituminous coals the demand is large, owing to the quantity required for home consumption in smithy and foundry work. No. 3 Rhondda large is 45s. to 46s., No. 2 37s. to 39s., and other grades in proportion. Shipments of __________________ ___________________________________ patent fuel were below the average, and makers are reported to be full of orders for several months to come. The fact remains that very small quantities are coming on to the open market, and these fetch exorbitant prices. Best qualities are 50s. to 55s., but even 60s. has been paid for small lots. Coke is scarce and dear, and there is a difficulty in satisfying the home demand. Pitwood is fairly easy at 38s. 6d. to 42s. per ton. IRON. American competition is now being keenly felt in the tin- plate trade, and several large orders from Norway, which always previously came to Wales, have now been placed with States manufacturers. There has also been a general falling off in enquiries, and the market has suffered a sub- stantial relapse in the course of the last few days. Bessemer standard cokes are now 35s. to 36s., and oil sizes 35s. 6d. to 36s. 6d. and 50s. to 51s. respectively, which represent a considerable drop on recent quotations. Receipts from works amounted to 89,935 boxes, against 86,994 boxes shipped, leaving in stock 201,375 boxes. The outlook is not favourable, and lower rates are anticipated in the near future. Welsh steel bars are still quoted at <£14, although more is being paid in certain instances for prompt delivery. In the galvanised sheet trade slack conditions prevail. For 24 gauge corrugateds not more than £27 to £27 10s. is obtainable, and makers are not anxious to undertake new specifications at these figures, notwithstanding the great decline in spelter. It is reported that the Swansea Vale Spelter Company, which is one of the largest works in the country, contemplate spending half-a-million on extensions and developments, and it is more than probable that the -bulk of the spelter trade of this country will be done in the Swansea district in the near future. Welsh pig iron is nominal, and there is practically no change in iron ore. Scrap metals are scarce and unaltered. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week displayed a slight improvement. The coal trade was fairly active, and the exports of patent fuel favourable, the shipments together amounting to 83,631 tons. A good attendance assembled on 'Change and there was a more active enquiry for all ____________________________ descriptions of anthracite coals. The amount of tonnage __________ available for this week appeared to be sufficient to keep the collieries in a comfortable position for the time being, and these conditions were reflecting on prices, which in the majority of cases were firmer. Machine-made size were a shade firmer, and beans and peas continued to hold their own. Rubbly culm was not quite so hard, but duff was well enquired for. In steam coals business was fairly brisk, and shipments were on a good scale. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) ........ Secondary do. Big Vein Valley large...1; Red Vein large ........' Machine - made cobbles Paris nuts ...........' French do............ Stove do............. Beans ............... Machine - made large Current L’st week’s Last year's prices. . prices. ! prices. I 31/ -33/ 33/ -34/ ‘ 23/6-25/6 28/ -29/6 ' 30/ -32/ : 22,6-23/6 27/6-29/ ’ 30/ -34/ ‘ 19/6-22/6 25/6-27/ 25/ -29/ , 18/3-19/ 35/ -36/6 i 37/ -40/ , 28/6-32/ 33/6-36/ 38/ -40/ ' 32/ -35/ 33/ -35/6 : 38/ -40/ ' 30/6-33/6 31/ -33/ 33/ -34/6 24/6-32/ peas .............. 21/ -22/6 ; 21/ -22/6 17/6-19/6 Do. fine peas .... — — j * — Rubbly culm.......... 13/ -13/6 ' 13/6-14/6 11/ -11/9 Duff.................. 5/ - 5/6 ■ 5/ - 5/6 6/6- 6/9 Steam coals:— j j Best large ........... 37/6-40/ ; 40/ -42/ ( 27/ -29/ Seconds ............... 36/6-38/ ; 38/ -40/ i 23/ -25/6 Bunker throughs...... 30/ —33/ 32/6-36/ 17/6-20/6 Small ................. 20/ -23/6 20/ -22/6 . 13/6-15/6 Bituminous coals :— I No. 3 Rhondda— I Llanelly. COAL. There has not been much improvement in the position of the market, but it is hoped that there will soon be a better supply of tonnage available, when prices for all qualities are likely to rule firm. Orders are still plentiful, and the large anthracite qualities have been in good demand. Beans and peas are scarce and supplies are difficult to secure. Culm and duff have a fair enquiry. The Government and also the railway companies demands continue strong, and this is making large steam scarce. Inland trade continues strong with a good number of orders coming in. This week’s quotations approximately are;— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do.......... Paris do.......... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas...__ Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current |L’st week’s Last year’s prices. < prices. prices. 30/6-32/6 31/ -33/ 22/ -24/ 28/ -30/ 29/6-30/6 20/ -21/ 26/6-28/6 28/6-30/ 19/ -22/ 25/6-27/6 26/ -28/ 18/ -20/ 35/.-37/ 35/ -38/ > 28/6-31/ 34/ -36/ 35/6-37/ 30/ -33/ 34/6-36/6 35/6-37/6 32/ -34/ 33/6-35/6 34'6-36/6 31/ -33/ 32/6-34/6 31/6-34/6 23/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 18/ -19/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 11/6-12/ 5/ - 5/6 , 5/ - 5/6 6/ - 7/ 36/6-38/6 36/6-38/6 28/ -30/ 30/ -32/6 32/6-34/6 17/ -20/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -18/ 29/ -31/6 29/ -31/6 20/ -21/ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 6. Dublin. The demand for all qualities continues to be good, and an excellent business could be done if sufficient coal could be obtained, but in many instances merchants have received practically no supplies for the past three weeks from cross- Channel ports, their depots at outlying districts having been requisitioned in order to keep city consumers supplied as far as possible. As much as 44s. per ton is now being obtained for Wigan house coal, and 42s. for Yorkshire brights, less Is. per ton discount. Irish coals from the Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, are: Best coal, 35s. per ton f.o.r. Athy; lime burning culm, 10s. to 15s. per ton f.o.r. The Dublin Industrial Development Association have communicated with these collieries with a view to opening an agency in Dublin for the sale of the coal, but the proprietors state that the conditions under which they are at present obliged to work would not justify them in establishing a depot. At a meeting of the Limerick County Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction last week it was unani- mously agreed that the department be requested to send down a mining expert at their earliest convenience to resume enquiries in the west of the county, as there is good reason to believe that coal is to be found there. Owing to the strike of coal porters in this port, and the consequent difficulty of handling cargoes, only 16 coal vessels arrived during the past week, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being 6,614 tons, as against 14,140 tons in the previous week. Belfast. There is no change to report, either with regard to prices or in the unfavourable conditions which have dominated the coal trade of late weeks. Current quotations for house coals are:—Wallsend coal, 41s. per ton; second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s.; Scotch, 37s.; best Wigan, 40s.; Orrell slack, 37s.; all less Is. per ton discount. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ardrossan, Ayr, Glasgow, Garston, Point of Aire, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Workington, Silloth, Maryport, Girvan, Manchester, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Burryport, Troon, Neath Abbey, Partington, and Fleetwood. Contracts are open in connec- tion with the Antrim and Down District Asylums, and with the Belfast District Asylum for house and steam coals. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—There is very little doing, but for the most part prices remain fairly steady. Pitch is so far unchanged, but tar is the turn easier. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................. ,, 50’s North ................. Toluol ............................. Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... Creosote Tor ordinary qualities) .... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............. ,, (f.a.s west coast) ............. Tar (per ton ex works) ................... 1/OJ /10J—/Hi 1/3—1/4 3/4 1/3 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. 2/-2/1 ... - 2/1—2/2 /6f—/7 /2i-/2J 15/—15/6 14/—14/6 15/3—19/3 ~/3 [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market is steady, and prices are inclined to be firmer, even though nitrate of soda is cheaper. The forward enquiry is better in the North, but makers are naturally cautious about offering freely. Exports totalled a little over 4,400 tons. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on Large...... .......... 43/ -46/ 47/6-49/ i 26/ -29/ Thro’-and-thro’.......! — — i — Small .............; 27/ -30/ 28/ -30/ ' 19/6-21/ Patent fuel .............i 48/ -50/ 50/ -52/ j 30/ -32/ London (ordinary makes) ... £16/18/9 ... +3/9 Beckton (25 per cent.) £15/17/6 Liverpool £17—£17/2/6 +2/6 Hull £16/17/6 ... +2/6 Middlesbrough £16/18/9 ... +1/3 Scotch ports £17—£17/2/6 Wales £16/18/9—£17/2/6 +5/ Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/10J ... —/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, discount ; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] _____________________________ Coal Trade Benevolent Association.—At a recent meeting of the board of directors, it was announced that the late Mr. F. D. Lambert, J.P., of Moor Hall, Cookham, had left a legacy of £1,000, free of duty, to the funds of the Coal Trade Benevolent Association. Mr. Lambert was a director of the association, and had always shown a keen interest in its welfare. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 6. The trade for the past week shows no particular change in transactions nor in the market quotations. Want of tonnage seems to be the uppermost note in all the conversa- tions on the Exchange, and the shortage seems to be more acute. The export trade also continues to be hampered by the lack of supplies, and the railborne trade, although loaded wagons are coming forward more regularly, still feels the deficiency. Many of the larger merchants complain that they are not getting much more than half of their normal quantities, and this at a season of the year when the actual consumption is at its lowest possible limit. Stocks on the ground are very low, and many of the smaller merchants are experiencing .a. very difficult time. The retail trade is good, and wherever a fair quantity is available at the various stations the delivery or depot trade is brisk. The numbers of orders on the books at the various merchants’ offices show that the public are fully alive to the fact of prices not going any lower, and also the fear that with the coming winter, should the war continue, there will be a terrible scarcity of fuel. The attendance on the market lately has been more pro- nounced, and it is evident that the pressure for a better supply is becoming more serious. So far the orders on the books cannot be met, and all efforts to put stock on the ground seems hopeless. Colliery representatives point out that whilst the strong demand is felt so keenly for industrial and munition works, and especially the pressure for the export trade, with its higher pit prices, there is very little prospect of securing any extra supplies for the London market. On Monday, 40 vessels were returned as entering the Port of London, and seven for Wednesday’s market, all contract cargoes. Freights continue firm and high. The London County Council have again arranged to buy their supplies for the ensuing 12 months from the collieries direct. On Monday last the inland colliery owners’ sub- scription room was largely given up to what has now become an annual festival on the London Coal Exchange, viz., “ Strawberry Day,” and this year the fruit was pre- sented by Mr. J. Richardson, the chairman. Lady Markham has written an appreciative letter acknowledging the valuable help given for the Wounded Allies Fund by the stale of coal on the London Coal Exchange, and announces that she has been able to hand over the sum of £15,000 to the funds of the association. One of the miners’ lamps bought for £10 at Lady Markham’s sale has been given back, and since raffled on the Exchange, realising £50. It was won by Mr. Charles Tucker, who has since given back the lamp to be re-raffled on the Leeds Exchange. The Limitation Act fixes the colliery prices at 4s. above 1914 prices, and wagon hire at 50 per cent, increase, but this does not touch the retail price of coal. The Board of Trade agreed with the London merchants that after the cost of the coal, wagon hire and railway rate had been ascertained, a margin of 7s. 6d. per ton, afterwards increased to 8s. 6d., for loading up, cartage and delivery, should be allowed the coal merchant. This, however, is not the supreme difficulty just now, as with the multiplication of so many munition works all over the country and the visits of inspectors under the Ministry of Munitions authority to the various collieries compelling them to provide an adequate proportion of the output to the munition works, it seems absolutely impossible to get anything beyond a bare, scanty tonnage for the London requirements. Those collieries within reach of the Humber ports and the Tyne are practically confining themselves to the export trade, and seldom load any coal for London depots, besides which the gas and electric works and the railway companies are huge buyers at the present time. Some drastic action appears to be necessary beyond the mere recommendation to economise, or London may be face to face with a coal famine in the near future. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday. June 30.—The seaborne house coal market remained steady again to-day, no business reported. Cargoes, 20. Monday, July 3.—A steady demand for seaborne house coal continued to-day, but still no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 40. Wednesday, July 5.—Seaborne house coal was in steady demand again to-day, but no cargoes either of Durham or Yorkshire wTere on offer. Cargoes, 7. 2/3 ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is no improvement in the demand. The general tone of the market is w^eak, and owing to the drastic restric- tions of exports and the falling-off in the home trade require- ments, even the present curtailed supply now exceeds the demand for plates. Several works seem to have been making for stock, and these plates are being sold at very low figures, e.g., 32s. 6d. lias been accepted for I C 14 x 20, and 66s. for I C 28 x 20 cokes. For goods which have to be made, of course more money is asked. Quotations are very “ wide ” indeed at the moment, but the following may be taken as about the figures makers are asking for shipment over next three months:—Coke tins: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 34s. to 35s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 69s. to 70s.; IC 14 x 18% (124 sh. 1101b.), 34s. 6d. to 35s.; IC 20 x 10 (22-5 sh. 156 1b.), 50s. 6d. to 51s.; IC squares and odd sizes, 35s. fid. to 36s. basis. Charcoals are easy, at 37s. 6d. per box and upwards, according to finish. Coke wasters are in but moderate request, and are quoted :—C W 14 x 20 (1081b.), 32s. to 32s. 6d. per box; CW 28 x 20 (216 1b.), 64s. fid. to fi5s.; CW 14 x 18% 32s. fid. to 33s.; C W 20 x 10 (156 1b.), 46s. 6d. to 47s. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ________________________ Mr. Laurence Hardy, M.P., has been appointed a member of the appeal tribunal for the county of Kent. Scottish Holiday Stopped.—The Home Office makes the following announcement :—“ It is customary in Scotland for the miners, iron, steel, and other industrial workers to take their annual holidays in July. The question was discussed at a joint conference of the Coal Mining Organisation Com- mittee and representatives of the Ministry of Munitions, Scottish coal owners, and miners at the Home Office, and it was unanimously agreed that, in view of representations made by the Ministry of Munitions as to the pressing neces- sity of the moment, it is essential in the national interest that the July holidays should be postponed. It was further agreed that immediate steps be taken locally by the coal owners, in co-operation with the Scottish Miners’ Union, to carry out this recommendation.”