72 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 14, 1916. _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ national importance. If attention is to be paid only to the financial return to be expected, then British _________________________________________________ forestry will stand a poor chance of revival while supplies can be got from the Continent. Newfound- land, also, has now entered the market, and from this source alone it will be possible to meet half the shortage due to the diminished supply from the Baltic. But from the national point of view, questions of profit and loss should certainly not be allowed to stand in the way. Here is a matter of vital importance to our premier industry. The country has gladly accepted the principle that no national industry of the first class must again be placed in jeopardy from preventable causes. No clearer case can be found for putting this principle into practice, and both Sir John Stirling Maxwell and Prof. Sir W. Schlich have indicated a way in ____________ which this can be done. ______________________________ TRADE AND THE WAR. The largest contract for iron placed since the beginning of the war by Argentina has been secured by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company Limited. It is for 26,000 tons of cast iron piping required by the Argentine Public Health Works Department, and the amount involved is something approach- ing 3,000,000 dols. (paper) (£262,467). Three of the largest concerns in the United States were competitors. It is under- stood that the f.o-.b. prices of the latter were lower, but the Americans, owing to the dearth in shipping, were unable to undertake delivery of the material. The Argentine Govern- ment declined a suggestion that the vessels of the Argentine Navy should be used for this purpose. The Staveley Coal and Iron Company have contracted to deliver the whole of the 26,000 tons before the end of the current year, and they will make weekly shipments. The Board of Trade announces that, in view of the wide range of the industries included within the scope of the com- mittee appointed to deal with the position of the iron, steel, and engineering trades after the war, and in order to expedite the enquiry, the President has decided to sub-divide the work of the committee between two committees dealing with the engineering trades and the iron and steel trades respectively. He has accordingly appointed the two following committees : For the engineering trades—Sir Clarendon Hyde (chairman), Mr. Arthur Balfour (Sheffield), Mr. H. J. Hobson, Mr. W. B. Lang, Sir Hallewell Bogers, Mr. H. B. Rowell, and Mr. D. Vickers. Mr. A. F. Ilsley will act as secretary to the committee. For the iron and steel trades—Mr. G. Scoby Smith (chairman), Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., Mr. A. Colville, Mr. J. Cox, Mr. J. Garvin, Mr. G. Mure Ritchie, Mr. H. Summers, and Mr. B. Talbot. Mr. C. R. Woods, of Brad- ford, will act as secretary to the committee. Messrs. Yeadon, Son and Company, Leeds, have received an important order for one of their complete briquette plants for a leading company in Japan. This plant will be fully capable of producing 200 tons of briquettes per day of 10 hours. The British De-Tinning Company, 75, New-street, Bir- mingham, has organised a scheme for utilising wTaste metals formerly exported to Germany and Austria. To a great extent the scheme includes the recovery of tin from old cans, but it includes the disposal of all other waste metals. The company offers facilities to municipalities in regard to pro- cedure, working methods, etc., and mentions that the advan- tages of the scheme have led to a number of councils making definite contracts with the company for dealing with the waste metals contained in town refuse. Orders have been made by the Board of Trade requiring the following businesses to be wound up :—A.E.G. Electric Company Limited, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., electric equipments; and the A.E.G. Electrical Company of South Africa Limited, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., manufacturers of electrical machinery. The London Coke Committee, to which reference was made in our last issue, is a body associated with the Gas Light and Coke Company, at the offices of the latter in Horse- ferry-road, London, S.W. This intimation will answer a number of enquiries addressed to us regarding the constitu- tion of the committee. Lord Joicey has accepted a seat on the board of directors of the Old Silkstone Collieries Limited, Dodworth, near Barnsley. The Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, London, E.C., has received applica- tions from firms desirous of getting into communication with British manufacturers of asbestos h.p. jointing, steatite insu- lators, machinery for reeling lead wire, and MacTear furnace for making hydrochloric acid. ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is no improvement in the position. Second-hand lots are still offering at round 32s. a box, and makers are willing to dispose of stocks at this figure, but buyers are few, even at this. For plates to make, works quotations are very wide, and range as follow :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 33s. to 34s. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (11,2 sh, 2161b.), 65s. 9d. to 68s.; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 34s. to 35s.; IC 14 x 18| (124 sh. 1101b.), 33s. 6d. to 34s. 6d.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 49s. to 50s. IC squares and odd sizes, in approved specifications, 35s. to 36s. basis. Charcoals are easy, at 36s. per box and upwards, according to finish. Ternes are quiet, and prices are quite nominal, at, say, 63s. 6d. to 65s. a box of I C 28 x 20. Coke wasters are in but moderate request. Present quotations may be called C W 14 x 20, 31s. &1. to 31s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 62s. 6d. to 64s.; C W 14 x 18f, 31s. 6d. to 31s. 9d.; CW 20 x 10, 44s. 6d. to 46 s. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. _____________________________ Mr. Henry Briggs, head of the mining department, Heriot- Watt College, Edinburgh, has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in the University of Birmingham. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 13. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The easier tendency in the west of Scotland coal trade continues. Shipping licences are difficult to obtain, and the larger proportion of current business is for home con- sumption. The threatened strike in the district has been averted, and this will no doubt have a steadying effect on the market. Best ells and splints show little change on the week, though it is said business can be done somewhat below the prices quoted. Navigations are easier, and can be obtained round about 37s. to 38s. per ton, while steams also are weaker. Smalls are unchanged. Shipments for the week amounted to 119,343 tons, compared with 121,269 in the preceding week and 132,301 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. ( prices. ! prices. I prices. Steam coal..............! 25/ -28/ | 24/ -27/6 ; 14/-16/9 Ell .....................! 27/ -30/ ' 25/ -30/ ; 15/3-15/6 Splint...................; 33/ -42/6 ‘ 33/ -45/ . 15/ -19/ Treble nuts ............; 23/ I 23/ ! 16/9-17/3 Double do...............; 22/ I 22/ ; 16/ -16/6 Single do...............i 21/ 21/ i16/3-16/6 ..... _________ IRON. The position of the Scotch iron trade generally is unchanged. The various branches are very active, with every prospect of remaining so for some time. Pig iron makers are delivering more than they are producing, and stocks are being heavily drawn upon. The chief feature is the demand for haematite, practically the whole output of which is being taken up by local steel works. Ordinary qualities are scarcer, and values, though unchanged, are tending upwards. 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 30,203 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the close of 1915. Malleable iron makers are over- whelmed with work, both in their iron and their mild steel departments, and deliveries are falling behind. The bulk of the output is for home consumption, and exports are restricted on that account and also owing to a scarcity of tonnage. Crown quality iron bars are quoted £14 12s. 6d., less 5 per cent., for home delivery, and <£14 2s. 6d. to <£14 5s. per ton, net, for export, while mild steel is quoted about £17 per ton Glasgow delivery. Black sheet makers are as busy as ever, chiefly on account of the British and French Governments. The price for 7 to 11 b.g. is about £18 10s. per ton Glasgow delivery. Scotland. -Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians district report fair bookings for this month. Supplies are plentiful, and prices are, for the most part, a matter of arrangement. Shipments amounted to 46,311 tons, against 38,439 in the preceding week and 42,103 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 37/6-40/ 36/ -38/ 23/ -25/ 22/ -24/ 21/ -23/ L’st week’s (Last year’s prices. | prices. 35/ -37/6 ' 15/ 34/ -36/ { 14/ -14/3 23/ -25/ J 16/8-18/ 22/ -24/ 16/ -16/6 21/ -22/6 16/ —16/3 A comparatively good turnover is reported from the Fife- shire district, where the collieries are still holding out for full prices. It is understood that a considerable proportion of current business is being conducted through second hand at prices below colliery rates. Smalls are plentiful in this district, but few shipping licences are being issued. The clearances for the week amounted to 32,507 tons, against 60,337 in the preceding week and 71,880 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s tasty ear’s prices. 1 prices. coal 45/ -50/ 45/ -50/ 24/ -25/ Unscreened do 43/ -45/ 42/ -45/ 1 22/ -23/ First-class steam coal i 40/ -45/ 40/ -50/ ; 17/9-20/ Third-class do i 32/ -35/ 32/ -35/ i 13/9-16/ Treble nuts ; 23/ -26/ 23/ -25/ , 17/6-18/6 Double do ; 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ i 16/ -17/ Single do 121/ -23/- 21/ -23/ j 16/6-17/ ______ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 218,161 tons, compared with 220,045 in the preceding week and 246,284 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 112,950 tons of coal and 10,128 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 21,493 tons of coal and 8,437 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances totalled to 46,623 tons of coal and 5,956 tons of coke, a decrease of 7,541 tons of coal, and an increase of 3,200 tons of coke. The Blyth ship- ments aggregated 67,262 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 3,566 tons. Thus, 242,919 tons of coal and coke were sent off from these three places, an increase of 2,996 tons on the shipments for the previous week and of 29,155 tons on those for the corresponding week of 1915. With reference to the Altos Hornos Iron Works’ requirements of about 400,000 tons of Durham coking coals for delivery to Bilbao over 12 months, it is understood that tenders, based on about 37s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b., for delivery over six months, were sent in, tenderers hesitating to commit themselves for a longer period. The iron works counter-offered 36s., for quantities delivered over 12 months. It is stated that the tenderers have now submitted proposals of 37s. 6d. per ton for 200,000 tons delivered over the shorter period, or 36s. per ton for 400,000 tons delivered over the full year. It seems likely that, very shortly, an arrangement will be come to for the delivery of the smaller quantity over the shorter period. Then will come the problem of finding the supplies and securing the necessary permits and tonnage for the shipments. This is the only considerable item of new business mentioned on the market this week. There has *been much discussion with reference to the possibility of the prices limitation scheme being extended to certain neutral countries as well as to Allies with ports in the Mediterranean, and it was even reported that sales of gas coal had been made for Italy at an estimated limitation price. There is no confirmation of the latter report, and nothing definite with reference to the former contingency has yet been heard. The prompt market is very quiet. Most descriptions of fuel are easier on the week—this is especially true of Northumbrian sorts—and buyers are abstaining from making purchases at present in the hope of further “ bearing ” the market. Collieries are able to view the little boycott with comparative equanimity, for supplies for early loading are none too plentiful. There is likelihood of a plethora of coal in the near future if the tonnage shortage which exists at present does not soon end. In this connection it is cheering to note that, since the. battle of Horns Reef, several local collier steamers, which had been detained at Russian and other Baltic ports ever since the outbreak of war, have been able to make good their escape from their “ internment,” and are now adding their numbers to the volume of cargo-space at the disposal of local shippers. Even their addition, however, will alter but little the proportion between tonnage wanted aind tonnage available and only the very finest organisation at ports of loading and discharge, so as to prevent avoidable detention, will suffice to make the supply fit the demand. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow, on the week:-Best Blyth steams are 2s. 6d. cheaper ; Tynes, ditto ; Blyth seconds, ditto; Tynes, ditto; unscreened, easier; Blyth smalls, Is. to Is. 6d. fallen; specials, 2s. 6d. reduced; smithies, Is. 6d. lower; gas bests, weaker; seconds, Is. down; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, Is. higher; Northumbrians, 2s. 6d. decreased; foundry coke, in buyer’s favour; and gas coke, 6d. advanced. All applications for licences to ship coal cargoes must now be sent to the local committee, accompanied by the authorisations from the French Commission. It is advisable, too, to have applications in before noon each day. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. _________________ Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. i prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 50/ 1 50/ -52/6 21/ -22/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 50/ ! 50/ -52/6 19/ Secondary, Blyths ,■ 45/ -47/6 ! 45/ -50/ 16/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... ! 45/ -47/6 ! 45/ -50/ 16/6-17/ Unscreened 32/6-37/6 ■ 35/ -37/6 15/ Small, Blyths 30/ -31/ 31/ -32/6 13/6-14/ Do. Tynes 27/6 | 27/6 13/ -13/6 Do. specials 30/ 1 30/ -32/6 i 14/ Other sorts:— Smithies 35/ -36/ 1 ’ 35/ -37/6 15/ -16/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 35/ -36/ 36/ ! 20/ -20/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 33/ -34/ 34/ -35/ i 16/ -17/ Special gas coals 37/6 37/6 | 21/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 33/ -36/ 33/ -35/ 14/6-17/ Do. do. Northumbrians 32/6-35/ 35/ -37/6 ' 15/ Coking coals 33/ -35/ 32/ -33/ 33/ -35/ < 14'6-15/6 Do. smalls 32/ -33/ 14 6 ' House coals 50/ ! 60/ ; 20/ -21/ Coke, foundry 42/6-47/6 > 43/6-47/6 ; 32/6-35/ 30/ Do. blast-furnace 42/6 42/6 Do. gas 32/6-33/ | 32,6 i 27/6-28/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 54,365 tons of coal and 380 tons of coke, as compared with 65,755 tons of coal and 965 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1915, being a decrease of 11,390 tons of coal and 585 tons of coke. The coal market is steady to firm. This is no doubt owing to more tonnage being available and more chartering on limitation basis to the French ports. Supplies consequently are moving away more freely. Special Wear gas coals may be put down at about 40s., with seconds well stemmed at 32s. 6d. to 33s. Coking coals are scarcer at anything from 32s. 6d. to 35s. according to quality. A steady tone prevails in bunkers, ordinaries being at 33s. and best qualities at 36s. Foundry coke remains firm at from 45s. to 48s., and gas coke is well supported at about 35s. The Altos Hornos Works, Bilbao, have made counter offers for the supply of about 200,000 tons of Durham unscreened, and it is anticipated that the contract will be closed for six months on the basis of about 36s. a ton f.o.b. for good coking sorts.