124 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN July 21, 1916. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 20. Business shows very little improvement. Stocks are still exceedingly low, and although buyers are eager to take up any spot lots that may be offering, the quantities are so small that the competition is as keen as ever. Very little business is dope outside contracts, and collieries report still that they have very little coal to offer. The local demand for all qualities of steam coal is absorbing all supplies available, and in many cases reports show that the demand is increasing, so that the quantities offering for London are diminishing rather than otherwise. Shipments are in some cases restricted owing to the difficulties in chartering, gas coals are steadily increasing, and are coming forward with greater regularity, but the whole of the supplies are on account of contracts. Considerable arrears exist. New contracts have been entered into, which in the bulk of cases cancel the old arrears. Slacks have been very quiet, and the supply fairly plentiful, so that prices are easier; but the better qualities still maintain the maximum figures. In the house coal market the cold, damp weather keeps the delivery trade brisk, and work at the depots has been strong. Public orders are largely in arrear, but the deliveries are moving freely, and for the season of the year far in excess of the normal. The attendance on the market has been fairly good, but as the business doing has been so restricted there are many of the merchants who do not stay for the close of the Exchange. The freight market has been easier, but the enquiries for the coasting trade is brisk. One fixture has been reported from Hull to London at Ils. per ton. South Yorkshire hards for shipment are still very high, 35s. to 36s. per ton f.o.b. being the recognised value. Derbyshire steam coals have reached 33s. 6d. f.o.b., South Wales prices have been quieter, and the pressing calls from the Admiralty have been somewhat easier. Ships are scarce. Second Admiralties have fallen to 47s. f.o.b., and patent fuels 50s. f.o.b. The maximum pit prices for the London market remain unchanged, and colliery prices are regulated by the Limitation Act. Best Silkstones are quoted at 20s. per ton at pit, best Barnsleys at 18s. 6d. to 19s., Derby Brights at 17s. 6d. to 18s. ; nuts, 17s. to 17s. 6d.; South Yorkshire hards, 18s. to 18s. 6d.; Derbyshire hards, 17s. to 17s. 6d.; nutty slacks, 12s. 6d.; and fine slacks, 6s. to 7s.; but as these are largely dominated by the shipping prices and little or nothing is offering in the open market these quotations are purely nominal. The number of vessels arriving in the river Thames was 29 for Monday’s market and 13 for Wednesday, all contract cargoes. The ordinary business on the Exchange was varied on Friday last by the visit of a number of ladies selling French flags, and for a time a kind of Dutch auction was established, and many of the larger flags were bought and resold, for over a guinea a-piece, thus adding considerably to the special fund. The Board of Trade startled the London Exchange by issuing a notice agreeing to an increase of 2s. 6d. per ton for all Welsh coal for the provincial and home markets, and dating the advance back to June 1. The advance in price has to a certain extent been anticipated, but to date it back to June Llast opened up a series of difficulties, as all the accounts for June supplies have been rendered, and in many cases paid for. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, July 14.—The enquiry for seaborne house coal still keeps good, but no spare cargoes are at present forthcoming. Cargoes, 25. Monday, July 17.—The seaborne house coal market was again without supplies, but there was a good demand. Cargoes, 29. Wednesday, July 29.—There was no alteration in the sea- borne house coal market to-day, which, however, remained firm. Cargoes, 13. MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. At ,a slitting of the Clayton-le-Moors (Lancs) tribunal last week, a coal merchant appealed for a carter, and Dr. Clegg (military representative) asked if the number of coal carters could not be reduced by arranging for one coal cart to cover a certain district. The employer siaid that if a central distri- bution depot was established a saving of labour could not be effected, and those who advocated the adoption of such a scheme lost sight of the fact that to ensure its success it would be necessary for all people to take the same class of coal. His opinion, after 20 years’ experience of the business, was that, any system other than that now in vogue would be a failure. Temporary exemption until September 30 was granted, with leave to appeal further. At Salford last week, an appeal was made for a clerk employed by the Earl of Ellesmere at the Salford Coal Wharf. It was stated that the firm supply coal to the corporation electricity works and to munition works, and there was only the clerk now appealed for and a boy aged 14 in the office. Temporary exemption until August 21 was granted. The Rochdale tribunal has granted conditional exemption to Messrs. J. and W. Tomlinson, coal merchants, -who appealed for Mr. Vincent Dumphy, 34, manager of their Rochdale branch. How the miners of Derbyshire have responded to the country’s call was shown at the Derbyshire Colliery Recruit- ing Court at Chesterfield, when a warm tribute was paid by Col. Brooke Taylor, the military representative, who said that at the beginning of the war there were-95,870 men and boys employed in that area of the Notts and-North Derby- shire coal field. Out of that number about 20,000 enlisted voluntarily, and he thought the collieries were entitled to full credit for what they had done. There had been com- plaints that men had gone into the pits to avoid military service, but when that court made an investigation they found that the number of men who had never worked in the pits before was very small. Mr. W. B. M. Jackson (the owners’ representative on the tribunal) referred to the shortage of clerical labour, and said that some collieries were almost at a standstill. Col. Brooke Taylor suggested that the owners should approach the military representative with a view to the cass of clerks being considered at a special meeting, with Mr. H. A. Abbott (H.M. inspector of Mines) to act as umpire between the military representative and the owners. The military representative could then recommend the tribunals to grant exemptions. Mr. Jackson accepted the suggestion. At Morecambe a coal merchant, aged 31. of the West- End, reported that he had not yet been able to complete negotiations for the sale of his business, as previously instructed by the tribunal, and asked for an extension of his exemption. He had a prospective buyer who was willing to take hold some time during the month. He would like time to put the purchaser in the way of the business, and at the same time straighten up his own affairs. He was exempted to August 5. MINERS AND COAL PRICES. An interview took place between Mr. L. Harcourt and the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain at the Board of Trade Offices on Wednesday, with regard to the increase of 2s. 6d. per ton in the colliery selling price of coal. Mr. Smillie stated the men’s case for opposing the increase, and protested against the action of the Board of Trade in sanctioning the increase before hearing the men’s reasons for opposing after Mr. Harcourt had already agreed to receive a deputation. He gave figures of the present selling prices in the various districts fixed under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and pointed out that they were already more than 4s. per ton higher than pre-war prices. He also quoted the reports of various colliery companies, showing the high rate of profits which was being made under war conditions. He insisted that on selling prices and on profits there was no justification of the action of the Board of Trade in sanctioning an increase in the selling price of coal. He told Mr. Harcourt that when the men employed in the districts heard of the decision to allow the increase in sell- ing prices ho feared trouble. Certainly the districts of the Federation would not permit the owners to pocket this half-crown, but would now insist upon having their share in the way of advances of wages. The effect of the Board of Trade decision would be to cause further trouble in the districts. Mr. Harcourt expressed his personal regret that he had not had an opportunity of hearing the men’s case previous to tfie decision of the Board of Trade. He assured the deputation that the' South Wales coal owners had made out a very good case for the sanction of the increased selling price. It had been carefully examined in every detail by the officials of the Board of Trade, and in their judgment the Board were justified in sanctioning the increase of 2s. 6d. per ton. There was not only the increase which had been made in wages, but the much higher price which the coal owners were having to. pay for pit timber, props, rails, and other colliery furnishings. On this subject the executive of the Miners’ Federa- tion of Great Britain, at its meeting at the Westminster Palace Hotel yesterday, unanimously passed the follow- ing resolution :— This executive committee of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, representing the whole of the coal miners of the country, desires to express its astonishment that Mr. Harcourt, the Acting-President of the Board of Trade, should have conceded the claim of the South Wales coal owners that the price of coal for home consumption fixed in the Price of Goal (Limitation) Act, 1915, should be varied from 4s. to 6s. 6d. per ton. We feel very strongly that no concession of this kind was necessary to enable the coal owners in South Wales to carry on their business at a fair profit to themselves, and we strongly protest against the action of Mr. Harcourt in making this concession before hearing the representatives of this Federation. We feel sure that claims of a similar character will be submitted by the coal owners in other districts, and it appears to this executive that it is merely another way of enabling the coal owners to further bleed home con- sumers of coal. We wish to emphasise the fact that any such additional burden will fall most heavily on the poorest members of the working classes in all the great industrial centres. Inasmuch as this matter affects other workpeople more than the miners themselves, we consider that the question should be vigorously taken up by organised labour as a whole, and we desire to express our willingness to co-operate in any movement that may be necessary to secure the revo- cation of this concession to the coal owners. In the meantime, we consider that this question is of sufficient importance to justify the Labour Party in moving the adjournment of the House, with a view to securing a full investigation into the matter. Mr. R. Smillie has made a statement on behalf of the executive, to the effect that increases in wages do not force up prices, as all increases given to miners are based on prices which are ascertained from the employers’ books, very often three months after the consumer has been called upon to pay the increased prices. On Wednesday he placed before Mr. Harcourt some figures with regard to prices and wages since the beginning of the war, showing that in South Wales the selling price prior to the war was 16s. per ton, whilst the present price was 24s. per ton, an increase of 8s. per ton. It was admitted that each 5 per cent, increase in wages cost 4d. per ton on the price of coal. The increase in wages had increased the cost of coal by 3s. 8d. per ton, leaving a balance of 4s. 4d. to meet the increased cost of production from other causes and increased profits. In the Midland area the average selling price of coal prior to the war was 8s. 2d. per ton; the latest ascertainment has shown it to be 13s. lid. per ton. The increase in wages has cost the mine owners 2s. 3d. per ton, leaving a balance of 3s. 6d. per ton for increased profits and other increases in cost of production. In Scotland the realised selling price of coal in 1914 (April) was 8s. lOd. per ton; in April 1915 it was Ils. 8d.; in April 1916, the latest figure given, it was 14s. lOd. Wages had increased by 2s. 6d. per day. Every 6d. increase in wages was equal to 5d. per ton, so the extra cost of wages was 2s. Id. per ton, leaving a balance of 3s. lid. per ton for the coal owners. The increases from other districts came out in about the same relation. The feeling generally was that no increase in the sell- ing price of coal other than that fixed by recent legis- lation was necessary at the present time. The miners were aware of the fact that enormous profits were now being earned in the coal trade. The value of shares in many colliery companies had doubled during the past two years. If the Board of Trade granted similar increases in other districts, the miners would claim increases in wages on higher realised values, though they had no desire to take advantage of the pre- sent national crisis to increase wages. Owing to the strong feeling on this matter, the miners might refuse to go on producing coal which was evidently now being used by the coal owners to further enhance their enor- mous profits. The executive of the Federation were anxious that nothing should be done to interfere with the output of coal. Their task was made far more difficult by the actions of owners who had already secured an increase in the selling price of coal through the variation of the clauses of the Act. Personally, he was afraid that this action of the Board of Trade might lead to idle time, which would consider- ably limit the output. He also stated that Mr. Harcourt offered to meet the executive of the Miners’ Federation last week on this question, but owing to their annual conference being held in Buxton they could not see their way bo meet him. Mr. Harcourt fixed Wednesday of this week for the executive to meet him, and they were astounded that he gave this concession to the coal owners on Friday last. THE GERMAN COAL AND IRON TRADES. We give below further extracts from German periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of the coal and iron trades in Germany :— Production of Medium Steel in May. The report of the German Iron and Steel Manufac- turers’ Association gives the total output of medium steel (in weight of raw steel) for May as 1,412,137 tons, compared with 1,212,695 tons in April. Of this quan- tity, 688,065 tons (594,950 tons) were basic Bessemer, 13,034 tons (12,512 tons) acid Bessemer, 572,249 tons (490,386 tons) basic open hearth; 18,723 tons (18,087 tons) acid open hearth; 64,803 tens (50,617 tons) basic cast steel; 31,825 tons (26,031 tons) acid cast steel; 9,356 tons (7,911 tons) crucible steel; and 14,082 tons (12,918 tons) electro steel. Rhenish Westphalia pro- duced 798,495 tons (682,623 tons), Silesia 121,798 tons (104,349 tons), Siegerland and Hesse-Nassau 30,245 tons (26,128 tons), North, East, and Mid-Germany 57,633 tons (49,177 tons), Saxony 27,080 tons (23,618 tons), South Germany 13,366 tons, (12,896 tons), the Saar dis- trict and Bavarian Rhine Pfalz 117,402 tons (97,553 toms), Elsass-Lothringen 127,074 tons (109,832 tons), and Luxemburg 110,044 tons (106,519 tons). Coal Syndicate Report for May. Total coal raised, 8,435,000 tons (5,827,000 tons in May 1915), or 312,425 tons (242,790 tons) per working day. Calculated distribution, 6,701,000 tons (4,837,000 tons), or 248,178 tons (202,526 tons) per working day, being 68*66 per cent. (68*60 per cent.) of the participa- tion. Total distribution, 8,549,000 tons (6,162,000 tons), or 316,622 tons (256,755 tons) per working day. Total deliveries : Coke, 2,276,700 tons (1,505,321 tons), or 73,442 tons (48,656 tons) per working day; briquettes, 350,568 tons (319,705 tons), or 12,984 tons (13,321 tons) per working day. PROSPECTING FOR COAL IN FRANCE. The Echo des Mines (which, we are glad to note, has restarted publication after an interval of nearly two years) reports that prospecting for coal is being carried out in the neighbourhood of Lyons. Before the war, borings were in progress in this district, the work being carried on by Belgian and German firms. These opera- tions have been resumed by several French mining companies, including those of Blanzy, La Mure and Mokta, with satisfactory results. The first boring at Mions has traversed three seams of coal (two of them good), and has reached the primitive measures at a depth of 750 metres. xAnother boring, at Blanzy, penetrated the same measures at 150 metres. xAbout half a mile from Mions the La Mure Company has come across the same three seams. xAfter sinking a barren hole at Meyzieu, the Mokta Company started another boring at Genas, where several thin seams have been traversed; and the same result attended two borings in the vicinity put down by the Hautes Fourneaux de Chasse. Some authorities regard the deposit near Mions as part of the Rive-de-Gier coal field, but to settle this point definitely it will be necessary to bore down to 1,200 or 1,500 metres. Others advise boring more toward the north- east, in the department of xAin (right bank of the Rhone), but in that district difficulties are expected, since water is met at a depth of 25 metres from the surface. Altogether, the prospects are not very favourable at present, but the search is being continued, more particularly in view of the continued high price of coal. Progress of Chemical Industry.—The Society of Chemical Industry held a congress in Edinburgh this week relative to the progress of the industry in Great Britain since the out- break of war. The papers read included “ Some Recent Improvements in Coke Works Practice,” by Dr. G. P. Lishman; “ Waste in Coal Production,” by Prof. H. Louis; “ The Shale Oil Industry,” by Mr. D. R. Steuart; ‘‘A Short Review of the Influence Exerted by the War on the Tar Distilling Industry.” by Mr. AV. H. Coleman: “ The Extrac- tion of Tar Fog from Hot Gas.” by Mr. G. T. Purves; “ The Difficulties of Coal Tar Colour Making in War Time.” by Mr. C. AT. Whittaker: and an address by Prof. Bone. The papers will be dealt with in our next issue.