314 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 18, 1916. position in this respect having been improved during the week by the resumption of work at the Houghton Main Colliery, after a stoppage of several weeks owing to a machinery breakdown. In regard to steam coal for export, the position is pretty much the same, the scarcity of licences explaining the reduced business. Collieries have no need to offer any surplus on the market, owing to the readiness of consumers to accept larger deliveries on contract account. Railway companies, in particular, are taking advantage of the position to add considerably to their stocks, and large fuel is welcomed to supplement the shortage of steam nuts, which are so much needed for the munition and other concerns. Collieries are still able to meet the demand for slacks more freely, having a little difficulty at the present moment to dispose of surplus lots of this class of coal at the maximum prices. The best quality of slacks are still difficult to readily obtain, owing to the heavy demand for coke-making purposes, and any spot lots are readily picked up. The demand for house coal at this period of the year continues to be of a remarkable character, the bulk of the increase being orders coming from London and the south, where the practice of stocking appears to have become pretty general. In the West Riding and nearer markets householders lack facilities to take the same precaution, and business is hardly so brisk, although in respect to certain qualities of coal merchants have experienced difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies from the collieries. The demand for furnace coke from North Lincolnshire and Midland districts continues to be of a heavy character, and a strong pressure is still applied upon makers, but although the extensive plants have been kept at work to the fullest extent, the supply still falls short of the demand. With the exception of slacks, values remain firm at about the following quotations, which are largely of a nominal description. Prices at pit. _______________________________________________________ I Current |L’stweek’s:Last year’s House coals:— j prices. ( prices. : prices. Best Silkstono ........' 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs....1 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 1 18/ -19/ Secondary do........, 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 i 16/6-17/6 Best house nuts ......I 16/ -17/ ! 16/ -17/ I 16/ -17/ Secondary do.........15/6-16/ ; 15/6-16/ i 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— J Best hard coals........: 17/6-18/6 17/6-18'6 16/6-17/6 Secondary do..........; 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 , 15/6-16/ Best washed nuts......! 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 ; 16/* -17/ Secondary do.........; 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 Best slack ............ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ | 13/ -13/6 Secondary do.......... 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ '12/ -12/6 Gas coals:— ! Screened gas coals .... 16/6-17/6 16/6—17/6 ; 15/6-16/ ............ Unscreened do........ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ ! 14/6-15/ Gas nuts..............> 16/ 16/ [ 15/ -16/ Furnace coke.............j 25/8 . 25/8 < 21/ -22/ IRON. Business continues active, and there are indications of a larger make of pig iron by the putting of additional furnaces in blast. Every department of the iron trade is busily employed. __________________ Nottingham. COAL. With the exception of a stoppage at two pits, caused by boys demanding extra pay, miners in this county loyally carried out the decision to work Bank holiday week. Con- sequently there was little or no interference with the active operations of the trade generally. Most collieries have a plentiful supply of orders in hand, and while there is less pressure for immediate supplies of household fuel, merchants both in London and country districts are willing to take a larger tonnage than the pits can supply, as they are anxious to obtain some surplus stock for the winter. In the present state of affairs owners readily dispose of any class of households, and there are few, if any, odd lots to be met with in the open market. The heavy demand for all classes of steam fuel continues, and nuts and cobbles are in very brisk request for munition works. Railway com- panies are taking fairly large supplies of locomotive fuel. There is a very good demand for gas coal. Slacks are selling well, best kinds more particularly, but there is a better supply of common qualities. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary “do............ Best hard coals.......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current IL’st week’s! Last year’s prices. 1 prices. ! prices. 18/6-19/6 ; 18/6-19/6 i 17/6-18 6 16/6-17/6 S 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -16/6 ' 16/ -16/6 : 15/ -16/ 17/ -17/6 ! 17/ -17/6 '■ 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 : 16/ -16/6 i 15/ -15;6 12/ -13/ ; 12/ -13/ ' 12/ -12/6 10/6-11/6 ; 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 11/ | 11/ j 10/6—11/6 the end of October, and are reluctant to go beyond that period, although many of them are offered business till the end of the year. In order that output may be maintained for urgent war work, controlled firms are able to get numbers of skilled men back from the army—puddlers, shinglers and rollers. Pig iron smelters are making steady sales, and are holding fast to the new maxima. Rumours to the contrary, they say, are baseless. In addition to an increase of 5s. a ton on the old rates, the Ministry of Munitions has agreed to a classification of the different numbers of pig iron, a concession for which producers have been contending for some time. The new rates, in their entirety, are:—Northamptonshire: No. 4 forge, 87s. 6d.; No. 4 foundry, 89s.; No. 3 foundry, 90s. ; No. 2 foundry, 92s.; No. 1 foundry, 94s. Derbyshire iron : No. 4 forge, 90s.; No. 3 foundry, 92s. 6d.; No. 2 foundry, 94s. 6d.; No. 1 foundry, 96s.—all f.o.t. at furnaces. Basic iron, which is included in the schedule for the first time, is fixed at 97s. 6d. for both Northamptonshire and Derbyshire brands. Staffordshire prices are embraced in a separate schedule. Export trade in this and in all other branches is carried on under difficulties by reason of the restrictions. Trade in galvanised sheets, already severely hit by the war, is still further crippled by the recent embargo on export. Only special lines are accepted under <£28 10s. Supplies of sheet bars are very limited, and .consumers are glad to get bar ends, from 2 to 3 feet long, for rolling down purposes. The leading bar iron makers are booked for some months ahead, and maximum prices are firmly upheld. Small rounds continue to rise in value, under the influence of increased cost of production, and now stand at <£16 ranging to <£16 10s., with the usual extras for thinner sizes. Steel rounds are <£19 10s. Gas strip makers keep busy, and quotations are <£14 15s. to <£15 ; hoops (iron and steel) are £17 10s. to £18 10s. ; black sheets, £18 10s. The capacity of the steel works is put to a severe test owing to the con- tinuous demand for munitions, and the output is severely controlled. Hull. COAL. The Humber market is chiefly concerned just now in supplying French demands at fixed prices and freights, at which a fair and increasing amount of business is being done. There is also a fair enquiry from Italy. Trade with neutral countries, however, is very restricted, and very few licences can be obtained. Generally, however, the open market is dull, and with plenty of steam coal offering, in excess of demand, prices have continued on the downward grade, and are lower and easier all round, with perpaps the exception of the better classes of nuts and industrial fuel, for which the home demand is unabated. The approximate values for prompt and August shipment f.o.b. at Humber ports, are as follow:—Best South York- shire steam hards, 28s. to 29s.; washed trebles, 22s. to 23s.; washed doubles and singles, 24s. to 25s.; washed small coal, 20s. to 20s. 6d.; rough slack, 17s. to 18s.; gas and house fuels (screened), 25s. to 27s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 26s. to 27s.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), 27s. to 28s. In the freight market several steamers have been fixed to load for French ports at scale rates, but little has transpired in other directions. Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for all classes of house coal is of a steady character, while the supply is less restricted. That there is more coal available at the moment is no doubt due to the lessened consumption of house coal. This state of things will prove to be temporary only, and with the approach of autumn, when there will come a quickened demand for coal for domestic use, together with a fuller call for fuel for new munition works, supplies will again be difficult to obtain. With their experience of last winter to guide them it might have been thought that householders would make some provision for the coming winter by placing their orders now when this branch of the trade is quiet and create a stock of coal which would be found later on to have been a prudent investment. The demand for coal for industrial purposes is very good, but the fuller supply of coal that is being taken off the house coal market enables the collieries to execute, more promptly than would be the case otherwise, orders that are coming to hand for manu- facturing fuel. Gas coal continues in brisk demand. The export trade is exceedingly quiet owing to the continued licence restrictions which limit shipments of coal to neutral countries. This policy is the means of providing a much fuller supply of coal for our home industries, and has resulted in a serious reduction in the price of steam coal for export. There is still at the Humber ports a scarcity of tonnage which has helped to produce the weakness from which the trade is now suffering. The business passing with France is still on a small scale. The coke market is in a satisfactory condition, and orders are plentiful for all qualities. Prices at pit. _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. Notwithstanding all the efforts of colliery managers to meet the emergency by sub-dividing what coal is left after satisfying the urgent requirements of establishments under Government control, it must be confessed that the position does not improve in any way. The results of working during Bank holiday week were excellent, but it has now become evident that essential requirements can only be met in one way. It is strongly felt that the output must be increased at once while the domestic consumption is at its minimum, if very real scarcity and absolute suffering are to be avoided when the cold weather arrives. There is now a full and excellent supply of wagons, and the transport has been immensely improved. The shortage in the output delays everything. There are no reserves of supplies anywhere, and the coal yards at country stations are swept clean. The demand for manufacturing fuel is at the maximum, and there is no abatement in the orders for deep and main cobbles, and large nuts for the London district. The coal merchants are working at a great disadvantage through having to stand idle day after day waiting for supplies which are urgently needed. Prices at pit. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. Orders for the house coals of this district are still coming in well, and the collieries are busy with the large accumula- tion of orders. The pits are all on full time, and there is a complete absence of stock. Vessels are continually arriving, and stems are somewhat long. Consequently there is delay in loading. Orders from the railborne districts are well maintained. Steam coal buyers are clamouring for supplies, which are difficult to secure without much delay; the requirements of munition works are well attended to. Prices at pithead. House coals:— 1 Current ; prices. L’st week’s Last year’ prices. prices. Block 1 21/6 21/6 21/6 Forest l 20/6 20/6 ! 20/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 ! 20/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ ! 19/ Rough slack 13/ 13/ ! 13/ Steam coal.— Large . 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ J — Small ... 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ — Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. __________________________________________________________ Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 17/ Secondary do 16/6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 j | 12/6 12/6 IRON. The attendance was larger than last week, though still below the average. A strong tone pervaded the market. Most manufacturers have orders to cover their output till Best household coal ....■ Second, hand picked ....__ ........ Deep screened cobbles ...i Deep large nuts ........I Bakers’ nuts............| Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London Current prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ L’st week’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ Last year’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 11/3-12/3 5/ - 6/ THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 17. kitcheners...................! 13/6-14/6 Steams, best hand picked] 14/ -15/ Steams, seconds ........} 13/ -14/6 Main cobbles for kitcheners j 13/6—14/6 Main breeze.............. 12/6-13/6 13/ -13/6 14/9-15/9 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ j 14/9-15/9 12/6-13/6 j 13/ -14/ ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The market was quiet and prices were very firm. Merchants find householders less clamant, but order books are quite full and for some kinds will take two months to clear, even if no further orders come in. Better sorts are difficult to obtain, though there are more smalls about. The holiday at some of the works last week eased the situation a bit. _________________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. For some days now there have been more steamers in dock for loading, with arrivals steadily coming along. Supplies of coal available are not too plentiful, as Admiralty demands are extensive, and the quantity of coal the authorities release for export is exceedingly small. Meanwhile, chartering proceeds steadily without any rush, and rates just now being a trifle easier tend to encourage fixtures, so the promise of tonnage for the next month is good. Of better grade coals, there is little offering for shipment, and the scarcity of these soon causes absorp- tion of the other qualities available. Smalls, too, are in good demand, with supplies barely sufficient for require- ments, bunkering demands especially being heavy just now. Taken throughout, the coal market shows an increase in values of about 2s. per ton on the week, which advance the present outlook seems fully to justify. Pitwood supplies are moving off well, at 45s. to 47s. for good wood ex ship, with a brisk demand for all sizes. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ i 22/ 23/ Do. seconds deep 20/ ! 20/ 21/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 20/ Do. seconds do. 18/ ! 18/ 19/ Best hard 18/6 18/6 19/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 U/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ j 19/ 21/ cobs 18/ 18/ 20/ Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 19/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 16/ Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 15/ Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ...| Secondary do. ... I Best small coals ......| Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal....... Secondary do.......... Patent fuel ..........I Furnace coke..........' Foundry coke ........ _________ Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 40/ -42/ 391 -40/ 27/6- 38/ -39/ 39/ -40/ 37/ -38/ 34/ -36/ 27/ -28/ 24/ -25/ 20/ -21/ 27/6-28/6 25/ -27/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -26/6 22/ -24/ 47/6-50/ 52 6-55/ 62/6-65/ 37/ -39/ 33/ -36/ 25/ -27/ 23/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -27/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -26/6 22/ -24/ 47/6-50/ 52/6-55/ 62/6-65/ 26/ -27/. 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 19/6-20/ 18 6-19/6 17/ —18/ 19 6-20/ 18 6-19/6 19/6-20/6 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 33/ -34/ t 31/ -34/ | 38/ -40/ IRON. Continued activity is taking place at local iron and steel works, and all departments remain exceedingly busy, with plenty of enquiries on the market. The bar mills continue to work at full pressure, but there is no change to record in quotations, which officially remain as last week, on the basis of £14 for both Bessemer and Siemens qualities. At rail mills similar conditions prevail, and makers are well booked for some time ahead. Prices here also are unaltered,