August 18, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 315 on the basis of <£14 10s. Work at blastfurnaces continues well up to the average, Welsh haematite being quoted 2s. 6d. delivered locally. At Cwmbran, Messrs. Guest, Keen are completing the lining of their furnaces there, which will soon be blown in. Continued irregularity is is taking place at tin-plate works, where business is slightly quieter. Some large enquiries are now expected on the market, making the outlook brighter. Prices remain on the basis of 31s. to 32s. for 20 x 14 Bessemer or Siemens primes. Cardiff. COAL. Market conditions remain very much the same as they were last week. Tonnage has come along more freely, and collieries are well stemmed for a week or two. The result is that prices are firm, and for the small oddments that come on to the market good figures are being obtained. A definite procedure in respect of coals for France has now been decided upon, and it is expected that from this time onward there will be no difficulties, beyond those which naturally obtain in the case of regulated supply and demand. The negotiations with Mr. Runciman and the Italian Government are reported to have been satis- factorily concluded, and there is every prospect that the supply of coal to Italy will be regulated in the same way as the shipments to France have been controlled. With best and superior second Admiralties out of the market, and the supply regulated for France and Italy, there is only a very small quantity available for general business, and Government licences have been very sparingly issued. For oddments, good prices have been realised, but these do not indicate the position of the market. Prices generally are strong, but in almost every case the contract concluded depends upon the position of buyer and seller, and where one man may sell at a high figure, the next man may be compelled to accept a low rate in order to fulfil his contractual obligations. As already indicated, best Admiralty coals are unobtainable, ordinary seconds are 39s. to 41s., ordinaries 38s. to 40s. Monmouthshires are firm, best Black Veins being 39s. to 41s., western valleys 38s. 6d. to 40s. 6d., and easterns 37s. to 38s. The small coal market is firm, best bunkers being 29s. to 30s., ordinary 27s. 6d. to 28s. 6d., and cargo sorts 21s. to 24s. per ton. Bituminous coals are firmly held, although there is no quotable alteration, No. 3 Rhondda large being 38s. to 40s., through-and-through 34s. to 35s., and small 32s. to 34s. per ton. For No. 2 Rhondda large 35s. to 36s. is being paid, through 28s. to 30s., and for small 24s. to 25s. Coke is unaltered, and there is no change in patent fuel. Pitwood is easier at 45s. to 47s. per ton. Shipments last week from the Bristol Channel ports amounted to 462,677 tons, compared with 349,880 tons in the corresponding month of last year, or an increase of 1 2,797 tons. From Cardiff alone the exports were 342,051 tons, against 167,759 tons, or an increase of 174,292 tons ; from Newport 47,947 tons, or a decrease of 48,818 tons ; from Swansea 72,679 tons, or an increase of 6,947 tons. Patent fuel ship- ments amounted to only about 22,000 tons, the bulk of which went from Swansea. Charterings showed little change, the amount of tonnage taken up being 80,300 tons, compared with 79,850 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 450 tons. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). but there is little doing. Rail mills are busy but there is no alteration in prices, and the same remark applies to Welsh pig iron. Steel bars are nominally £14 to £14 10s. per ton. There is no alteration in iron ore or in scrap metals. Swansea. COAL. The returns for last week of trade at the docks were, on the whole, quite satisfactory, especially at such a time. With an unusual number of vessels in dock, the results are not so good as they should have been. 3 his is due to national restrictions and labour disputes. The coal exports reached a substantial figure, but there was only a limited business done in patent fuel, the shipments together amounting to 97,201 tons. On ’Change little was done in anthracite. The coal tips at the docks were all idle, and there was no prospect of an immediate resumption of work. Buyers, therefore, were inclined to hold off until the position was more definite. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large (hand picked) .....; 31/ -33/ Secondary do. ...■ 28/ -29/6 Big Vein Valley large... 26/ -29/ Red Vein large ...... 24/ -26/ Machine - made cobbles 37/6 -38/6 Paris nuts .............. — L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 31/ -33/ 28/ -30' 28/ -29/6 26/ -28/ 26/ -29/ 28/ -30/ 24/ —26/ 23/ -25/ 37/6-38/6 34/6-40/ French do............. 37/6-38/6 37/6-38/6 38/ -42/ Stove do.............. 36/6-37/6 36/6-37/6 38/ -40/ Beans ................. 30/ -32/ , 30/ -32/ 26/ -30/ Machine - made large ! peas ............... 21/6-23/ 121/6-23/ 18/6-19/6 Do. fine peas .... — I — — Rubbly culm........... 13/ -13/6 i 13/ -13/6 12/ -12,6 Duff.................. 5/ - 5/3 5/ - 5/6 , 6/6- 7/6 Steam coals:— Best large ...........’ 37/ -38/ 37/ -38/ ’ 26/6-28/ Seconds .............. 33/ -36'/ ; 33/ -36/ : 23/6-25 6 Bunker throughs..... 28/ -30/ < 28/ -30/ 20/ —21/ Small ................ 20/ -23/6 j 20/ -23/6 14/ -16/ Bituminous coals :— ! No. 3 Rhondda— ! Large .............. 37/6-39/ ; 37/6-39/ 26/6-30/ Thro’-and-thro’..... — ‘ — — Small ..............j 26/ -29/ i 26/ -29/ ' 20/ -22/ Patent fuel ............(45/ -50/ j 45/ -50/ 31/ -32/ Llanelly. COAL. There was an improvement in the market during the past week, and all qualities have been in good request. In the anthracite section large coal and cobbles have been going well, and there has also been a strong demand for beans, peas, and nuts. Inland enquiry continues strong, with delays in the execution of orders. Large steams are scarce, and through and smalls have been in better demand. Bituminous coals are in big request, with practically no free coal available. This week’s quotations approx'mately are:— Prices f.o.b. Current i L’st week’s'Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. Best Admiralty steam' j prices. prices. coals * # * Superior seconds * .J 40/ -41/ ! * j _* Seconds ; 39/ -40/ — Ordinary do ... 39/ -40/ • 37/ -39/ 1 23/ -24/ ' Best bunker smalls ... .... 29/ -30/ I 28/ -29/ I 21/ Best ordinaries ...1 27/6-28/6 21/ -24/ ; 26/ -27/ j 19/ -20/ ; 16/ -16/6 Cargo qualities i 22/ -24/ Inferior smalls ... 20/ -23/ I 20/ —21/ ;14/6-15/ Best dry coals ...' 34/ -35/ > 35/ -36/ • 24/ -26/ Ordinary drys ...32/ -33/ 1 32/ -34/ ' 33/ -35/ 1 23/ -24/ Best washed nuts ... .% 33/ —35/ | 26/ Seconds 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ i 24/ Best washed peas ...30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 23/ Seconds ...' 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ i 22/ Dock screenings Monmouthshire— .— ; 19/ Black Veins ...l 40/ -41/ 39/ -40/ i 24/ -25/ - Western-valleys ... .... 39/ -40/ 38/ -40/ i 23/ -24/ Eastern-valleys ... ..., 38/ -39/ 35/ -37/ 1 22/ -23/ Inferior do. ... 35/ -36/ [ 32/6-33/6 i 20/ -21/ Bituminous coals:— j ' j Best house coals (at pit), 25/6—26/6'25/6-26/6 ■ 30/ Second qualities (at pit) 23/6-24/6 i 23/6-24/6 i 27/ -29/ No. 3 Rhondda— Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do. ........ Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/6 27/ -29/6 25/6-27/6 25/6-27/6 38/ -39/6 38/ -39/6 37/6-39/6 37/6-39/6 37/6-39/6 37/6-39/6 37/ -39/ 37/ -39/ 30/ -32/ 29/ -31/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 15/3-15/6 14/ -15/ 5/ - 5/6 5/ -• 5/6 36/6-38/6 36/ -38/6 27/6-31/6 27/6-31/6 20/ —22/ 20/ —22/ 26/6-28/6 26/6—28/6 Last year’s prices. 27/ -29/ 26/ -28/ 28/ —32/ 23/ -25/ 36/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 39/ -41/ 38/ -40/ 26/ —29/ 18/ -19/6 12/ -12/6 6/6— 7/6 27/ -29/ 20/ -22/ 14/ -16/ 19/ -21/ Bituminous large.. 38/ -40/ I 37/6-39/ 26/ —72/ Through-and-through 34/ -35/ 1 34/ -35/ ; 23/ Small ............ 32/ -34/ • 32/ -34/ 21/ No. 2 Rhondda— 1 j Large...............I 35/ -36/ j 34/ -37/ 20/ -22/ Through-and-through 28/ -30/ ■ 28/ -30/ 19/ Small ..............' 24/ -25/ ' 24/ -25/ ■ 17/ Best patent fuel ....... 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 35/ Seconds ................ 45/ -47/6 45/ —47/6 ! 32/ -33/ Special foundry coke ... 62/6—65/ ! 62/6-65/ 41/ -44/ Ordinary do. ........... 60/ -62/6 : 60/ -62/6 37/ -40/ Furnace coke ........... 52/6-57/6 j 50/ -52/6 30/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) ......, 45/ -47/ . | 48/ -49/ ; 24/9-25/ * Nominal. THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. It is becoming more and more difficult to do business. Most works now refuse to quote at all for forward delivery, owing to the probability of an acute shortage in the supply of steel, and transactions are being confined to spot lots and lines for which bars have already been secured. There are a good many buyers now who are keen on picking up spot lots which look cheap, with the result that prices have hardened all round. 14 x 20 cokes have been done at 28s. 6d. to 29s. fid. per box; 59s. has been paid for 28 x 20, and this figure is now refused. At the moment we should call quotations Cokes, I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 30s. per box and upwards; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 60s.: IC 14 x 18| (134 sh. 1101b.). 32s.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 43s. fid. IC squares and odd sizes, 32s. basis and upwards. Coke wasters are firm, as follow : C W 14 x 20, 27s. 6d. per box and upwards: CW.28 x 20. 54s. 6d.; GW 14 x 181, 28s. 6d. ; CW 20 x 10, 41s. 6d. Ternes are nominally 57s. 6d. per box and upwards for IC 28 X 20. Charcoal tins are quoted 33s. per box and upwards, according to finish. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. IRON. Although last week was one of idleness so far as the tin-plate works were concerned, over 70,000 boxes were received from works, whilst 65,320 boxes were shipped, leaving 136,000 boxes in stock. There is practically no new demand, and, with the new prohibition orders, it is expected many mills will close down, with the result that the men will be drafted to the steel works and will be engaged in the manufacture of munitions. Bessemer standard cokes are nominally 31s. to 32s., and oil sizes 31s. 6d. to 32s. and 44s. to 45s. respectively. It is known, however, that con- siderably lower rates have been accepted for prompt shipment. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no alteration. Exports having been prohibited, nearly all the works are engaged on Government orders for black plate, and for plates which are being utilised in trench work. For 24-gauge corrugateds £26 10s. to £27 is still quoted, United States Railroads as Coal Consumers.—The rail roads of the United States used 128,200,000 net tons of coal in 1915, or 24 per cent, of the total output. The bituminous mines furnished 122,000,000 tons, or 28 per cent, of their production, and the Pennsylvania anthracite region 6,200,000 tons, or 7 per cent, of its production. The roads in the eastern district, defined by the Interstate Commerce Commission as that portion of the United States lying north of Potomac and Ohio rivers and east of Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis, used 56,500,000 tons of bituminous coal and 6.200,OCX) tons of anthracite, a total of 62.700.000 tons. The roads of the Southern district, that territory south of Potomac and Ohio rivers and east of the Mississippi, used 22,000,000 tons of bituminous coal, and the western roads consumed 43,500,000 tons. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 17. Dublin. In the coal trade locally there is only a poor demand, and very little business is doing in household qualities. This week’s prices are as follow : Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s. ; best gas coke, 43s. per ton net. There is little or no steam coal in stock at present. The quantity of coal imported during the past week shows a considerable increase as com- pared with recent weeks, the total discharged amounting to 29,629 tons, as against 14,000 tons the week previously. The coal vessels arriving were from Swansea, Fleetwood, Ayr, Garston, Campbeltown, Liverpool, Maryport, Parting- ton, Ardrossan, Glasgow, Cardiff, Troon, Point of Aire, Workington, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, Barry, and Newport. During a part of last week matters were in an unsettled state in connection with the unloading of coal cargoes, several colliers being idle owing to the failure of the dockers to put in an appearance, but work at the coal quays is now proceeding more satisfactorily. It is stated that negotiations are proceeding for the purchase from the present owner of the collieries in the vicinity of Athy, and in the event of these being completed it is proposed to work the coal fields more extensively, in order to place the coals on the market for industrial purposes. The construction of the short line of railway connecting the collieries with the system of the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Grand Canal is also contemplated. Belfast. There is about an average business in steam coals at this port, but the household trade is extremely quiet owing to the very warm weather, consequently stocks of these qualities are now presenting a more substantial appearance. House coals remain unchanged in price. Current quotations are: Wallsend, 41s. per ton; second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s. ; Scotch, 37s. ; Orrell slack, 37s. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were from Garston, Troon, Ayr, Liverpool, Llanelly, Ardrossan, Glasgow, Cardiff Silloth, Partington, Workington, Fleetwood, Birkenhead, Maryport, Burryport, and Ellesmere Port. The cutting of turf is proceeding as briskly as the scarcity of labour will allow7 in the bog districts, as it is proposed to provide more extensive stocks than usual for the winter, ow7ing to the prohibitive price of coal at the inland towns. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The position continues about the same as regards business, while the heavier fractions retain their recent improvement. Creosote steady. Nearest values are : Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ........................... l/0£ ... — ,, 90’s North ................. /10J—/11| ... — ,, 50’s North ................... 1/3—1/4 ... — Toluol ................................... 2/3 ... — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/4 ... — ,, crystals (40 per cent.) 1/3 ... — Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/9 ... — Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/6 ... — Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... /6|—/6| ... — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /2|—/2J ... — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ........... 16/—16/6 ... — ,, (f.a.s. w7est coast) .......... 15/3—15/6 ... — Tar (per ton ex w’orks) ............. 15/9—19/9 — [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—There has not been very much doing in the way of business, either for future deliver)7 or spot, but prices keep firm, holders being as cautious in their offerings as buyers profess to be indifferent. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. London (ordinary makes) ... £17/15 ... — Bockton (25 per cent.) .......... £16/10 ... — Liverpool ................ £17/15—£17/17'6 ... — Hull ..................... £17/12/6 ... — Middlesbrough ............ £17/13/9 ... — Scotch ports ..................... £18 ... — Wales .................... £17/12/6—£17/17/6 ... — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/44—17/6 ... — [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 24 per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] Coal for France.—The Cardiff local committee controlling exports of coal to France have issued further regulations. Vessels may be taken on time charter on “ Baltime ” forms at maximum rates for sizes up to 1,000 tons at 42s. per ton d.w. (including bunkers); up to 2.500 tons at 41s., and over 2,500 tons at 40s., such vessels to be under the control and allocation of local committees. Authorisation will not be given by the Paris committee for sales for longer periods than three months, but contracts can be made for longer periods, subject to the control of the Paris committee and the local committee. During the period of the scheme guarantee, penalty, and bonus clauses must be suspended, except in regard to obligations previous to May 25 last. All business must be f.o.b., no sales being permissible c.i.f. or delivered. Miners and Absenteeism.—The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, at their meeting at the Westminster Palace Hotel on Thursday, had under consideration the reports as to absenteeism from work in the various districts of Great Britain. The reports showed that local committees had now- been. set up in every mmmg district to invest mate the causes of absenteeism. It was stated that the reports showed a substantial improvement in the percentage of men absent from their work without sufficient cause, but that there wa> still room for further improvement. Mr. Vernon Hartshorn, of South Wales, a member of the Coal Supply Committee, informed our representative that in his district, at North’s Navigation Collieries, where between 5.000 and 6.000 miners are employed. Mr. Hutchinson, the general manager of the collieries,'had told him that absenteeism on the part of the workmen had been reduced from 114 to 44 per cent. As from 4 to 5 per cent, is regarded as the average of unavoidable absenteeism, the figures are regarded as remarkably good.