July 14, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 73 Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 40/ 40/ 20/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 32/6 34/ 17/ Best house coals 50/ 52/6 21/6 Ordinary do Other sorts :— 40/ 45/ 19/ Lambton screened 45/ 50/ 50/ 23/ South Hetton do 45/ 22/6 Lambton unscreened ... 35/ 35/ 34/6 ’ 16/ South Hetton do 35/ 16/ Do. treble nuts 34/6 35/6 20/ Coking coals unscreened ! 34'6 34/ 16/6 Do. smalls 33/6 35/ 33/ 16/ Smithies 35/ 17/ Peas and nuts 37/6 37/6 20/ Best bunkers 36/ 36/16 34/ 16/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— : 33/ 15/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. ! 47/6 47/6 30/ Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 35/ 28/ 32/6 Gas coke 32/6-34/ 25/ Outward chartering has been fairly brisk, and quite a number of boats have been taken up for the French ports at limitation rates. In other directions there is not much doing. Fixtures recently reported are.-—Civita Vecchia, 81s. 6d. ; Porto Ferraio, 85s., option Bagnoli 87s. 6d.; Genoa, 85s. ; Algiers, 55s. ; Toulon, 80s. ; Marseilles, 84s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 45s.; London, Ils.; Bilbao, 50s.; Lisbon, 48s. 9d.; Gothenburg, 33'50 kr. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade keeps steady and firm. Durham collieries are well engaged fulfilling ordinary contracts and Govern- ment orders, and the demand for all descriptions of fuel continues good. Best Durham gas coals run from 35s. to 36s., and second qualities from 33s. to 34s., whilst up to 40s. is asked for special Wears. Durham screened steams are quoted 49s. to 50s., bunker coals are in heavy request, and values are moving upward. Ordinary Durhams are 35s., best sorts 36s. to 36s. 6d , and special kinds are quoted up to 38s. Coking coal is none too plentiful. Unscreened kinds are put at 34s., and smalls at 33s. Business in coke is fairly active. There is considerable enquiry for ship- ments ahead, and a good many negotiations on forward account are proceeding. Best foundry coke for shipment commands up to 47s. 6d., but patent coke is now offered rather freely at 41s. 6d., and has been sold at that figure and also at 41s. Gas coke is scarce, and is in the neigh- bourhood of 32s. fid. Local coke requirements are heavy, and promise to increase. Average blast furnace kinds are 28s. at the ovens, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is named for qualities low in phosphorus. IRON. Firmness continues to characterise the iron and steel industries. Output of pig iron has not yet been increased by the blowing-in of additional furnaces, but preparations are about complete for re-starting idle plant, and the number of furnaces in operation promises to increase at an early date. In the meantime the distributing committee allocate supplies of pig to the various customers in a manner that under the conditions prevailing leaves little room for complaint. Demand from France for both Cleve- land and haematite iron continues heavy, but the extreme congestion of the French ports hampers delivery, and there is also the difficulty of obtaining export licences. Deliveries to our ally across the Channel are being made, however, as expeditiously as circumstances permit. At present Italy is drawing practically all the pig iron she requires from America, where purchases can be made in large quantities without difficulty at prices which compare very favourably with rates ruling for Cleveland pig. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted 87s. 6d., and No. 1 91s. 6d., whilst for export No. 3 is 95s., and No. 1 round about 100s. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 east coast haematite stand at 122s. 6d. for home use and for ship- ment to France, and 140s. and upward for general export. Foreign ore is becoming dearer, notwithstanding the rather large stocks that have accumulated here, and the continued very heavy and regular supplies coming in on running contracts. The rise is assisted by the report of a rather serious miners'’ strike in Spain. Rubio, of 50 per cent, quality, is 38s. ex-ship Tees on the basis of the official Bilbao-Middlesbrough freight of 17s., the rate at which ore is conveyed to controlled consumers, though in the open market the freight is 19s. The f.o.b. price of best rubio at Bilbao is stated to be quite 20s. Imports of foreign ore to Middlesbrough so far this month reach 122,430 tons. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are very busily employed, largely on Government work. Ordinary com- mercial enquiries are numerous. Quotations are stationary. and both furnaces are now engaged on Bessemer iron. Busy preparations are also being made in other parts of the district for the purpose of increasing the output of iron. The Workington Iron and Steel Company are making another furnace ready at the Lowther Works ; the Askam Iron Works are to be restarted as soon as possible, and it is expected that a fourth furnace will be ready for lighting shortly at Millom. Makers are doing all they possibly can to increase the output of both iron and steel, and if all goes well it is fully anticipated that the number of furnaces blowing in this district will be increased from 29 to 32 or 33 before the end of September. With such a keen demand for iron, prices are easily maintained at the Government maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. fid. f.o.t., while warrants at cash are idle at 115s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at 140s. per ton, and semi- special iron at 135s. per ton f.o.t. Ferro-manganese is in firm demand at <£25 per ton. Another good cargo has been shipped from Maryport this week to a Continental port. There are now 29 furnaces in blast on the west coast—19 in Cumberland and 10 in the Furness district. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 12 furnaces blowing, four at Derwent Works, three at Moss Bay, two at Oldside, and one at Lowther—all at Workington and two at the Solway Iron Works at Maryport. Millom have three furnaces blowing, Distington and Cleator Moor have two each in blast, while in the Furness area Barrow have six and Carnforth and North Lonsdale two each in operation. The two furnaces at the Oldside Works are still on ferro-manganese, and the remainder are on ordinary, special and semi-special iron. All the make of Bessemer iron is going into consumption locally at the steelworks at Barrow and Workington, and a large proportion of the low phosphorus iron is going to consumers in the Midlands and Scotland. There is con- tinued briskness in the steel industry, and both Barrow and Workington are increasing their production of Govern- ment work. Rails, heavy sections, are quoted at from £10 17s. 6d. to £11 5s. per ton, light sections from £12 to £12 10s. per ton, with billets £i2per ton. Engineers are fairly well employed, but some of the shops are not quite as busy as they were. Production is well maintained in the iron ore industry, and there is a keen demand for native ore. All the mines in the district are working six days a week. Prices have undergone no change. Best Hod barrow ore is quoted at 38s. per ton; ordinary sorts are from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts range from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The trade in household coals goes steadily on, and it is manifest the consumer must be ordering in advance of his actual requirements at the moment. There is a little being stocked here and there in addition at the depots and wharves, but not as much as the merchant would desire if he could get the fuel forward. Forges and users of screened coal generally for manufacturing purposes continue to take full supplies. With regard to shipping, enquiry for general bunkering and export is still on the quiet side. This is due partly to the shortage of tonnage, partly to restriction of licences, and partly to the new arrangements respecting shipments to France not yet being in working order. Mean- while, quotations for Lancashire steam coals for present shipment rule about 25s. to 25s. 6d. f.o.b. With regard to the coastwise and cross-channel trade in household coals, it is still much in the same position as it has been for some weeks. Fair shipments are being made, but not enough to provide for current needs and to enable merchants to replenish their stocks at the speed they would wish. In slacks the position remains much as usual. Whatever quantity is set at liberty by the holiday stoppages at first one town and then another, is immediately welcomed at some other point. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was an appreciably larger attendance at the meeting of the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and the gathering was thoroughly representative. Probably owing to the meagre granting of licences for export, coal was generally offered more freely. The idea of the Govern- ment is evidently to ensure good supplies for home consumption. The demand for nuts and large steam coal was very strong, but the house coal trade was quieter. More small slacks was freely available. A good output under the abnormal circumstances was reported from the pits ; the men are working more regularly, and the pits are working full time, with a satisfactory wagon supply. A brisk demand is maintained for house coal for London, merchants still being unable to secure sufficient for their requirements. Further progress has been made in the fixing up of contracts, subject to the special conditions recently introduced, as well as in most cases a reduction of the tonnage. There is an improvement in the running of private wagons from London, but there are still a number of stations south of London where the railway block is still on. The bulk of the shipments coastwise is contract coal, but a few parcels of Silkstone medium house coal have changed hands this week at 21s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull. Freights are again easier, handy boats of about 500 tons being offered in the neighbourhood of 12s. 6d. Goole to London. The quieter state of the retail house coal trade in the West Riding is enabling merchants to strengthen their position with regard to stocks. Nominally pit prices for the West Riding are as follow :—Haigh Moor selected 21s. to 22s., Silkstone best 20s. to 21s., Silkstone house 18s. to 19s., other qualities 17s. to 18s. With regard to gas coal, contracts are being renewed fairly freely, with the condi- tions already mentioned. The position of gasworks in Yorkshire generally is none too good with regard to stocks, and the prospect is giving rise to uneasiness. In most cases the tonnage in hand is only about half what it was a year ago. Supplies of manufacturing fuel, as already indicated, are rather more plentiful. The Huddersfield district, Colne and Spen valleys, and the Bradford district all report improved position, and generally there is less complaining of shortage. No definite announcement has yet been made of an alteration in the basis price of washed furnace coke. Supplies are in keen request. Additional iron and steel works are likely to come into consumption shortly, and the probability is that the demand for coke will continue at pressure for a considerable time. Current pit prices. 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 prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ 18/ 25/ -25/6 16/ L’st week’s Last year’s 15/6 14/6upwds prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ upwds’ 18/ / 25/ -26/ j 16/ i 15/6 14/6 upwds I prices. 20/9 22/ 19/ 20/ 16/9-17/ 19/ 16/ -17/ 18/6-19/6 14/ 12/6 10/6 House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ........ Do. house .......... House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best....... Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit : Screened gas coal..... Gas nuts.............. Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts............ Large double-screened engine nuts .......... Small nuts............ Rough unscreened engine coal........... Best rough slacks..... Small do............. Coking smalls ........ Coke Price at ovens: Furnace coke ......... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. ; prices. 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ ! 19/6-20/6 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18,6-19/6 19/ -20/ ; 19/ -20/ ' 18,6-19/6 17/ -18/ i 17/ —18/ ! 17/6-18/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ ■ 16/ -17/ ! i 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ ■' 22/ -23/ i 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ f 19/6-21/ 19/ -20/ : 19/ -20/ ! 18,6-19/6 | | 16/ -17/ ' 16/ -17/ | 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 ; 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ j 15/ -16/ i 14/ -15/6 I | 17/ -18/ ' 17/ -18/ > 16,6-17,6 16/ -17/ ' 16/ -17/ ’ 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ : 13/6-14/6 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/6-13/6 25/6-26/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ | 12/6-13/6 i l 25/6-26/ i 13/6-14,6 ■ 13/ -14/ * 11/6-12/6 12/.-12/6 23/ -25/ Cumberland. IRON. The Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade continues firm and brisk. In the iron-smelting district from Maryport to Carnforth there is ceaseless activity in both the iron and steel industries, and require- ments, whether of Bessemer, special or semi-special iron, are still very much in excess of the supply. A large volume of metal is produced, but makers have considerably more business on hand than they can possibly cope with. In fact, smelters are so heavily sold forward that they are scarcely in a position to accept much of the business now offering. There is a strong and growing demand for metal, both Bessemer and low phosphorus iron, not only locally and for users engaged on Government account, but also from other consumers who in normal times rarely come to the west coast for iron. Since last week there has been a further expansion in production, and it would appear that the determined efforts which have been in progress for the last two months with the object of increasing the output are within sight of realisation. The Workington Iron and Steel Company put a second furnace in blast at the Solway Ironworks, at Maryport, on Wednesday, South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The demand for house coal is good with not too much offering. Manufacturing fuel is not quite so brisk as it has been, and prices are not so firm. The demand for shipping coal is also somewhat quieter. Prices generally are 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 ......... Current I L’st week’s .Last year’s prices. 1 prices. prices. 22/ -23/ i 21/ -22/ | 21/ -22/ 19,6-21/ ■ 19/ -20/3 i 19/9-20/3 18/ -18/6 I 17/6-18/ ; 17/ -17/3 17/ —18/ i 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ about 22/ : 19/ -21/ 16/upwds ! 15/6upwds; 14/ 14/6 upwds ^4/ upwds.| 11/ -12/ IRON. Conditions remain as reported last week. It is not conducive to purchasing to know that the prices of iron and steel may be upset by the action of the Ministry of Munitions at any time. In the meantime, buyers only operate in small parcels. In addition, the fact that customers are allocated, prices fixed, and deliveries commandeered by the Ministry of Munitions leaves it a matter . of extreme difficulty dealing with ordinary commercial enquiries. All works, iron and steel, wagon works, and engineering works, are busily employed. Barnsley. COAL. The attendance at the usual local market was of a very small character, and evidently indicates great difficulty in obtaining any current supplies. The process of earmarking the whole of the output is being extended, and collieries have to forward supplies in accordance with instructions received from the various authorities. Although in regard to certain classes of coal there are fewer complaints in respect to irregular deliveries, the demand is of such a heavy character that the output is dealt with without any difficulty, and there is no indication that the somewhat lessened keenness to procure supplies has effected the question of prices. In regard to large steam coal, although the export is somewhat quieter, the need for larger supplies and the necessity for adding a little to the stock on home account easily absorbs the output, though perhaps there has been some slight reduction in values where coal could be offered for supplying neutral markets. At all events, whatever change there may be is not yet perceptible, and so far as the home market is concerned, the difficulty in producing sufficient tonnage of steam nuts, which are in such demand by the munition concerns, is not abated, and other classes of coal are still having to be used to make up the deliveries required. The position in regard to slacks is easier, inasmuch as supplies are becoming more regular, which may be accounted for by the fact that less tonnage of this class of coal is being used for purposes other than purely manufacturing. There also appears to be a better tonnage of this class of fuel available for use at the by* product plants, which are consuming ever-increasing quantities. In respect to gas coal, collieries are finding little difficulty in the acceptance of winter deliveries by the home concerns, though they have no anxiety in dealing with any possible surplus, having regard to shipments which are required on behalf of France. The position is much the same in regard to house coal, for although the production may exceed the tonnage required for present purposes, merchants are taking in stocks to such a degree as indicates that the general public are also pursuing a similar policy, but, on the other hand, there is every readiness on