266 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 11, 1916. distinctly quiet owing to the circumstances that have been repeatedly mentioned of late. Quotations for Lancashire steam coals rule from 24s. to 24s. 6d. f.o.b., with, if any- thing, a slightly easier tendency in order to clear wagons. The coastwise and cross channel shipments go on very satisfactorily, and more regular shipments to Dublin have been resumed. The holiday breaks at the manufacturing towns, and the lessened summer consumption generally, have somewhat eased the position in regard to small fuel, and in one or two instances collieries can take advantage of the opportunity to get some little tonnage upon the floor, as the necessary stocks held to provide for unforeseen con- tingencies had entirely vanished. ________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was rather a poor attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and very little business was passing. House coal was offered more freely. Furnace coal is in fairly good demand, but shipping coal is quiet. Slack is on offer in spot lots owing to the stoppages and holidays at places. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Medium Common Furnace coal Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack Common slack Current |L’st week’s!Last year’s prices. ■ prices. | prices. 22/ -23/ : 22/ -23/ : 21/ -22/ 19/6-21/ : 19/6-21/ ! 19/9-20/3 18/ -18/6 • 18/ -18/6 ; 17/ -17/3 17/ -18/ . 17/ -18/ f 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ ! 25/ -26/ ; 19/ -21/ 16/upwds 161 upwds., 14/ 14/6upwds[14/6upwdsj 11/ -12/ IRON. There was only a fair attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday. There is no change to report in prices. Steelworks are all busy on Government work, and a strong tone prevails. ________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. Except that the attendance on Tuesday was rather smaller than usual, there was very little of the holiday spirit about the market. Buyers were in a distinct majority, although there were fewer present from a distance, and apart from house coal and some of the poorer grades of slacks there was no falling off in the demand. Colliery representatives reported that work at the pits was general on Monday. Although there was more than normal absenteeism, the miners observed the agreement to forego the holiday quite as well as expected. As an illustration, 80 per cent, of the miners turned up at two representative pits. Practically all day labour and surface men generally have worked, and, on the whole, it is probable that the output of the pits for the week will be about 10 per cent, less than normal. Stocks at the pits are nil. There is a fairly good supply of empty wagons, but serious delay is still taking place to long-distance traffic. Local transit is much more satisfactory. Reports from the London depots indicate a falling-off in retail sales of house coal, but the collieries are not affected. Merchants, while asking for full contract deliveries, are willingly taking any spot parcels of house coal which come into the market at Limitation Act prices, for the purposes of stocking against the winter demand. During the past three weeks they have been able to increase their stocks, although some depots south of London, which are affected by the frequent blocking of the railways for war purposes, are very short of supplies. In the coastwise trade freights are about the same as in recent weeks, but sailing craft and small steamers are very scarce, and the bulk of the shipments ex Hull and Goole for the south coast and the Thames are for merchants who have their own boats. Two sales of Haigh Moor house coal are mentioned this week at 22s. f.o.b. Goole for the Thames. There is practically no change in the local house coal trade. The weather is responsible for a quiet demand, and a considerable portion of the supplies which are coming to hand are going into stock. Secondary qualities, such as cobbles, nuts and brights, are available in better quantities, which is probably owing to the more strict limitation of exports. Pit prices, which are nominal to a more or less extent, 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 many renewals of contracts have been effected since August came in, invariably for reduced quantities and protective clauses against the effect of any amendment of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Gas authorities do not regard the latter contingency except as remote. The position in regard to stocks at the gas works in Yorkshire is considerably improved, and the anxiety as to the future is correspondingly relieved. Gas nuts are well-nigh unprocurable. Shipments to France are being made in considerable quantities. While as a whole supplies of manufacturing fuel are comparatively plentiful, the available quantities of good quality rough slacks and washed fuel of all descriptions are inadequate to cover the requirements of consumers, especially as there is additional pressure for supplies for munition works. These qualities are very firm. There continues to be a fuller supply of steam slacks, however, and some of the smaller grades are nearly 2s. cheaper than in June, when fancy prices were paid in order to secure supplies. The position at industrial centres in the West Riding is now fairly satisfactory, as supplies are being worked through with more regularity. Washed furnace coke is still very scarce. There is not an ounce in stock at the ovens, and the make is quite insuffi- cient for the needs of the iron and steel works. Especially insistent is the demand from Frodingham and the Midlands. Barnsley. COAL. The position of business continues to be such that there is less necessity for colliery representatives to attend the usual market, and buyers are not unduly anxious to make further arrangements at the present time. Considering the fact that many collieries are now working six days a week, about one-third more than in ordinary times, it is not surprising to hear of more surplus fuel being available. A great proportion of this coal is of the small kind, and the quieter state of affairs in the textile districts, together with the holiday season, is considerably reducing the amount of tonnage required under contract. The effect of this enables home consumers to get larger tonnage than of late, and arrears under contract account are being wiped off to some extent. Spot lots pf fuel are not numerous, and the colliery position is yet sufficiently strong to prevent any weakness in values, the maximum rates being held out for, and generally obtained. The strict curtailment of licences for export, and the scarcity of shipping tonnage, also caused an unusual proportion of large steam coal to be available. Again this surplus is being dealt with in satisfaction of contract arrears, and the colliery companies in particular are seizing the opportunity to add to their stocks as much as possible. Although the export of nuts is stopped, munition works have great difficulty in obtaining an adequate amount of this class of fuel, and are having to take in substitution large steam coal. The position in regard to gas coal is very little altered, although some companies are unable to take larger supplies owing to the lack of stocking facilities. Collieries are, however, able to deal with this, and to firmly adhere to the maximum quotations for lots supplementary to contract deliveries. Supplies or ordinary slacks continue to be freely given, but there is a scarcity of good coking fuel which is so badly needed, owing to the heavy tonnage of coke which is required by the pig iron districts. There is also little change in respect to house coal, many collieries having heavy lists of orders to get through, particularly for London and the south, and also for Ireland, which is still in need of supplies to compensate for the period when business was held up a short time ago. In the West Riding and near districts there does not appear to be a large amount of tonnage going into stock by householders or merchants, but, however that may be, collieries are full- handed and have no necessity to be offering surplus lots on the market. The following list of quotations must be accepted as of a nominal character:— Prices at pit. South Yorkshire hards, 29s. to 30s.; washed nuts, 23s. to 26s.; washed small coal, 20s. to 21s.; rough slack, 18s. to 18s. 6d.; screened gas and house fuels, 26s. to 28s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. to 28s.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby), nominally 29s. to 30s. Chesterfield. COAL. The market maintains a steady character, and the whole output of the collieries moves freely, principally for home consumption. House coal continues in good demand, and orders coming to hand are chiefly for stocking purposes. Fuel for manufacturing purposes is in strong demand, and cobbles and nuts are particularly wanted. Supplies of these classes of coal are still much below the requirements of consumers. The position with regard to slack for boiler- firing purposes is much easier, the quantity for disposal outside contracts being much greater than it has been for some time past. At the moment more of this fuel is avail- able than the market can readily deal with. Gas coal and steam coal for locomotive use are in brisk demand, stocks in each case being exceptionally low. The export trade is unchanged, and the business being done is of a meagre description. Until licences are more readily obtained than is now the case, and a better supply of shipping tonnage is forthcoming, the cloud of depression is not likely to be lifted. The demand for steam coal is poor, and prices are vteak, best Derbyshire brands being down to 28s. 6d. f.o.b. Grimsby. No shipments of nuts or slack are permitted. The coke market is firm, and the demand absorbs the whole of the production of the ovens. Prices are firm at the official figures. Prices at pit. Current |L’st week’s! Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ ; 17/ Secondary do 16/6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ ' 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ : 15/ 15/ Slack ..... -LTV/ 12/6 i 12/6 12/6 IRON. Pig iron and all classes of finished iron are in great request; the production of the blast furnaces and rolling mills is eagerly bought up. All branches of the trade are extremely active. _______________ Nottingham. COAL. The state of the trade in this county retains an active. tone. There is less pressure for domestic fuel since the warmer weather set in, but local merchants are doing a good trade. Many householders are purchasing stock for the winter, and, generally speaking, the demand on collieries is much above the average for the time of the year, as merchants, having no surplus supplies on hand, are eager to take a larger tonnage than usual. All classes of house coal are* in request, and a supply of some of the better qualities is not commensurate with the demand. Owing to the heavy requirements for war work, the pressure on the steam coal branch is fully maintained, and most collieries producing this class of fuel have more orders on hand than they can immediately execute. There is little change to note in regard to the slack market. All kinds of small fuel are having a ready sale, and no surplus stocks can be met with at the collieries. Prices at pithead. _____________________________________________________ Current pit prices. 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 prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ j1 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 15/ -16/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/6-13/6 prices. 19/ -20/ 18/ —19/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ ! 16/ -17/ ; 22/ -23/ I 21/ —22/ i 19/ -20/6 : 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 15/ -16/ ; 17/ -18/ : 16/ -17/ i 15/ -16/ ! 15/ -16/ !14/ -15/ ! 12/ -13/ 15/6—16/6 s 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/6 16/ -17/ 14/6-15/6 i 13/6-14/6 , 13/6-14/6 I i 25,8 | 25/8 j 21/ -23/ House coals:— Best Silkstono ....... Best Barnsley softs... Secondary do. .... Best house nuts ...... Secondary do......... Steam coals:— Best hard coals........ Secondary do.......... Best washed nuts...... Secondary do......... Best slack ........... Secondary do......... Gas coals:— Screened gas coals .... Unscreened do....... Gas nuts............. Furnace coke........... Current prices. 20/ -22/ 18/6-19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6—16/ 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/3—16/6 15/9-16/3 12/6-13/ 10/6—11/ L’st week’s prices, 20/ -22/ ; 18/6-19/ ; 16/6-17/6 I 16/ -17/ J 15/6-16/ | : 17/6-18'6 ; 16/6-17/6 ; i 16/3-16/6 i i 15/9-16/3 ; 12/6—13/ 1 10/6-11/ ; Last year’s prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/ 16/6—17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -15/6 13/ -13/6 12/ -12/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 | 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ ! 15/6—16/ | 14/6-15/ 16/ 16/ ; 15/ -16/ 25/8 25/8 21/ -22/ Hull. COAL. There is very little change in the market to report. The chief demand is for France and Italy, both of which countries are receiving larger quantities. There is still complaint that the Paris Committee are not dealing so liberally with applications for licences as exporters on this side could wish. It is obvious that a much greater volume of trade could be done under the limitation scheme were the facilities extended. The shipping tonnage position is fairly easy. With regard to neutral countries the demand is only of small dimensions owing to the very few licences issued, and this reacts upon prices which, in the open market, are again easier. The returns of exports from Hull to foreign countries during July shows an improvement upon June, the shipments (excluding bunkers) totalling 113,545 tons against 73,494 tons in June, but against 283,733 tons in July last year. The causes of the decrease as compared with last year are well known. When it is noted that the decrease in July for the whole of the United Kingdom was only just over 4 per cent., it will be seen that the Humber has been particularly hard hit. Last month’s Hull ship- ments to France were twice as heavy as in June, and equalled 56’8 of the whole, while Italy was also better with 18 per cent., Egypt took 7'3 per cent., and neutral countries together only 17 per cent. Current prices are approximately as under for prompt or nearly prompt shipmentBest I Current L’stweek’s Last year’s I prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights ....; 18/6-19/6 i 18/6-19/6 : 18/ -19/ Good house coals........ 16/6-17/6 s 16/6-17/6 , 16/ -17/ Secondary do..........j 16/ -16/6 * 16/ -16/6 15/ -16/ Best hard coals..........1 17/ -17/6 ; 17/ -17/6 ; 17/ -18/ Secondary do............i 16/ -16/6 : 16/ —16/6 , 15/ -16/ Slacks (best hards)......; 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ ; 12/ -13/ Do. (second) ........i 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 10/ -11/6 Do. (soft)............| 11/ i 11/ 10/ -11/6 ________ ________ Leicestershire. COAL. There was a splendid response generally at the collieries in this district by the miners to work during the two days of the usual Bank holiday. The colliery proprietors offered to pay Is. per day per man and 6d. per day per boy, to the Colliery Red Cross Fund, so that every man who worked earned 2s. for the patriotic fund, and every boy Is., and at the same time they made a most worthy response to the appeal to maintain the output of coal. Over 95 per cent, of the men and boys worked full time on both days, and there were hearty congratulations all round on the result. Orders for all classes of coal keep pouring in, with the result that all the output is absorbed day by day. The maximum of consumption has now been reached in steam fuel for the munition and other works under Government control, so that now the balance of coal available for general purposes will be a constant quantity. This will greatly facilitate the work of administration. Coal Prices at pit. Best household coal .... Second, hand picked .... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ........ Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts_______________ Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............ Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ........ Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze............. Current IL’stweek’s|Last year’s prices. prices. I prices. 16/6-18/ 16/6-18/ 17/6-18/6 15/6-16/ ’15 6-16/ i 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ 1 16/6-17/ < 15/6-16/ 16/ -16/6 ! 16/ -16z6 15/ -16/ 15/ -15/6T 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 14 6-15/ j 14'6-15/ | 13/ -13/6 12/9-13/6 ' 12/9-13/6 13/6-14/ 12/ -12/3 1 12/ -12/3 11/3-12/3 6/ - 7/ I 6/ - 7/ 5/ - 5/6 13/ -13/6 | 13/ -13/6 15/9-16/9 14/ -14/6 ’ 14/ -14/6 ; 15 6-16/6 13' -13 6 j 13/ -13'6 ' 14 6-15/ 13,6-14/ ' 13/6-14/ 15/9-16/9 12/6-13/6 i 12/6-13/6 13,9-15/