September 1, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 411 ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best export coal is 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, and bunkers are from 21s. 6d. to 30s. per ton. At Maryport best house coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds at 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow :— Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts „ BestCumberl'nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) Do. (foreign) Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 ■ 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ Last year’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22,6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 20/ 19/ IRON. The haematite iron trade in the district between Maryport and Carnforth continues to be characterised by great strength. Business is brisk in every department of the industry, makers are busier than ever, and the entire output is going into immediate consumption. The demand for metal grows keener, and, although the output is gradually increasing, users' requirements are still in excess of the supply. All the make of the Maryport ordinary and special iron is needed for Government work, and iron for ordinary commercial purposes is almost unobtainable Smelters are doing all they possibly can to increase the production, and, if sufficient labour and raw materials are forthcoming, it may be possible to put four or five more furnaces in blast before the end of the year. A fourth furnace at Millom is ready for lighting, and it is expected that it will be put into operation about the beginning of next week. All the ordinary Bessemer iron is held for use at the local steel works at Barrow and Workington, but the entire output of special and semi-special iron is now being distributed by the Government, and good consign- ments of metal are going to other districts besides Scotland and the Midlands, who, up to quite recently, have been taking a large proportion of the make of special iron on the west coast. Prices are unchanged at the Govern- ment maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are still quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., while warrants at cash are idle at 115s. per ton. Special iron is 140s. per ton f.o.t., and semi-special iron 135s. 6d. per ton. There is intense activity in the steel trade, and the output for the various mills is now larger than it has been for some years. Prices of all sorts are unchanged. Bails, heavy sections, are quoted at from <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s. per ton, light rails are from <£12 to <£12 10s. per ton, and billets are in steady request at <£12 per ton. Engineers are very busy, and all the shops in the district are briskly engaged on Govern- ment work. Local iron ore is in keen demand, and all the mines are working full time. Practically the whole of the output is going to the blastfurnaces in Cumberland and North Lancashire. Best Hodbarrow ore is 38s. per ton, ordinary sorts are from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are quoted at from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. Foreign iron ore is still quoted at about 37s. per ton delivered at the works. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is a good deal of pressure still for many grades of household coal, and orders especially from the country district are much above the average for a summer month. There is not much change as regards shipping. Bunkering requirements under contract are still only moderate though there is perhaps a little more enquiry in the open market, Prices of Lancashire steam coals range, as last reported, from 23s. to 24. f.o.b. Yorkshire supplies continue plentiful. There is a very fair delivery in the progress of household coal for the coastwise and cross channel trade, but scarcely enough to satisfy the immediate wishes of the buyer. In slacks and small fuel the position is much as it has been since the commencement of the holiday season in the manufacturing towns, these stoppages causing odd lots to be temporarily put upon the market, but the position regarding regular supplies and contracts for forward deliveries is as firm as ever. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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/ 23/ -24/ 16/ 15/6 14/6 L’st week'sl Last year' prices. prices. 21/ 1 20/9 25/6 { 22/ -23/ 19/ -20/ 19/ 24/6 1 20/ 18/ ' 16'9-17/ 24/ upwds ; 18/6—19/ 18/ i 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 17/6-18/6 16/ 14/ 15/6 12/6 14/6 upwds 10/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a moderate attention on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. There is no change to report as to the house coal trade. The demand is quiet with prices unaltered. Furnace coal is moderate, and slack is rather hanging owing to the annual holidays in different directions. Concessions are made in prices in cases. The demand for shipping coal is also quiet. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). | Current 'L’st week’s^Last year's prices. | prices. 22/ -23/ ' 21/ -22/ 19/6-21/ 19/ -20/3 18/ -18/6 ; 17/ -17/3 17/ -18/ ; 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ ; 19/ -21/ 14/ House coal:— i Best ........... j Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... i prices. ; 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 25/ -26/ 16/upwds 16/ upwds.; 14/6upwds|14/6upwds| 11/ -12/ IRON. There was a fair attendance on 'Change in Manchester. The prices of iron and steel remain unchanged. Almost every ounce of manufactured material is commandeered by the Government, who fix all prices and deliveries. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. Tuesday's market was attended by a large and represen- tative gathering of traders, and there was marked activity in the demand This applied all round, with emphasis on the demand for house coal for the London district. The only dulness was with regard to the export trade. Reports from the Humber ports indicated that there was very little doing, owing to the restricted issue of the necessary licences, except for shipment to France. The pits have again worked full time this week, with a satisfactory output and lower absenteeism, and a good supply of empty wagons, railway trucks being available more plentifully for long distance traffic. Some of the railways are also supplying trucks for the shorter journeys. London house coal merchants are complaining of short supplies. The retail demand at the depots is very brisk, and merchants are naturally desirous to build up their stocks at the depots, which are far from satisfactory in view of the approach of autumn. Best qualities of house coal are almost unprocur- able. Coastwise, nine-tenths of the coal that is being shipped is on contract account. A few sales of spot parcels of medium Silkstone house coal for the south coast and Thames wharves, at 21s. to 22s. f.o.b. Hull according to quality, are reported. Freights continue at about recent levels, namely, Ils. 6d., Hull to London for average size boats. The demand for house coal in the West Riding is mainly for small lots of the cheaper qualities. The retail trade shows signs of improvement. The following and all other pit quotations cited are more or less nominal:— Haigh Moor selected 21s. to 22s., Silkstone best 20s. to 21s., Silkstone house 18s. to 19s., other sorts 17s. to 18s. With regard to gas coal, reports from all parts of the country indicate that stocks are in a much better position than some time ago was anticipated Works in London and the south are still buying spot lots, but apart from this there is not much new business, except for shipment. A considerable tonnage of both screened and unscreened gas coal is being shipped for French works at the fixed prices, and it is expected that a good deal more will be required for Italy. With the Lancashire holiday season approaching its close, the demand for manufacturing fuel from that quarter is resuming its former level, with the result that steam slacks are again a little firmer. Engine nuts and washed fuel of all descriptions are exceptionally scarce and command top prices. The difficulty of securing adequate supplies of coking smalls is hampering the makers of coke in their efforts to maintain the maximum output of the ovens, to which end large coal is still being crushed in many cases. The demand for coke, if anything, shows a progressive increase, and it is almost impossible to buy spot parcels on the market, all the output being reserved for munition and similar works. 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 ! L’st week's Last year's prices. prices. prices. 20/ -21/ ’ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ , 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ ; 17/ -18/ 16'6-17/6 16/ -17/ ' 16/ -17/ 15 6-16/6 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 20'6-21/6 22/ -23/ 1 22/ -23/ ■ 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ * 20/ -21/ 18'6-19/6 19/ -20/ ■ 19/ -20/ i 17/6-18/6 | I 16/ -17/ : 16/ -17/ ' 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ ; 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 17/ -18/ | 17/ -18/ . 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ ' 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/6 25.8 | 25/8 16 / -17/ Barnsley. COAL. The continued severe restrictions upon exports causes a more substantial quantity of fuel to be available for home supplies, and, generally speaking, the position has become more favourable for buyers. The output at the collieries is exceedingly well maintained, and collieries are finding more surplus on their hands, after giving fuller deliveries on contract account, which is making the enquiry for supplementary lots to be of a less active character. The usual weekly market was better attended, though business was not of an animated character. The shipments to France continue to be of a substantial bulk, but otherwise foreign business is held up, and, in respect to Italy, enquiries are held over pending an expected issue of fixed maximum rates. The larger tonnage of hards which is available is disposed of without much difficulty, though sellers have to be content with the home maximum prices, which, of course, are very much lower than the values which have been operating on foreign account. The deliveries which have been coming in of late have enabled the railway companies to lay in substantial stocks, and supplies of large steams have been freely taken to compensate for the deficiency in the supply of steam nuts, so largely used by the munition works. Collieries producing gas coal find no difficulty in keeping at work full time, and are able to place any surplus lots which may occur from a difficulty of concerns in laying in stocky. The enquiry is stronger for gas nuts, and supplies are hardly adequate. Consumers of slacks and rough engine coal appear to be well satisfied with the improved deliveries which have been made to them, and of course will take the precaution to lay in as much stock as possible, in the expectation of the demand of this class of fuel returning to its previous strength. In respect to house coal the position is not materially altered, and collieries are still experiencing considerable pressure from London merchants, and from some of the nearer markets to obtain larger supplies if possible. The enquiry is particularly for the best classes of fuel, but merchants find considerable delay in securing deliveries. The demand for good class coking slacks continues to be well in excess of the supply, and although the make of coke is also on a very heavy scale, it is insufficient to meet the present needs. The following quotations are still of a nominal character :— Prices at pit. ! Current ;L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. . Best Silkstono ...' 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs... ... 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/ -19/ Secondary do. ... 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/6—17/6 Best house nuts •••: 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do ... 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals ...: 17/6-18/6 17/6-18'6 16/6-17/ Secondary do ... 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -15/6 Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/ -16/7 Secondary do ... 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/ -15:6 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6—13/ ; 12/ -12/6 Secondary do ..J 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ : 11/ -11/6 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/ i 15/ -16/ Furnace coke ... 25/8 25/8 19/ -20/ Hull. COAL. The market for large steam coal for export rather drags, the supply being more than equal to the demand, which is restricted by the sparing way in which licences are issued. A good quantity is still going for France, but nothing like what might go. For Italy some enquiries are in hand, but business hangs fire until details of the proposed scheme for limited prices and freights are available. Very little is being taken up to the order of neutral countries. The home demand for manufacturing fuels is unabated. Approximate prices f.o.b. for prompt or nearly prompt shipment are .-—Best South Yorkshire hards, 28s. to 29s. ; washed doubles 24s. to 25s.; washed singles, 23s. to 24s.; washed small coal, 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d.; rough slack, 18s. 6d. to 19s.; gas and house fuels, 25s. to 29s.: West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. to 27s. 6d.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), 28s. to 29s. Shipments at the docks show a slight improvement, and the tonnage position is easy. Chesterfield. COAL. The tendency of the market is improving, and there are indications of a growing demand for house coal. Buyers are, no doubt, becoming alive to the fact that supplies will be more difficult to obtain as the year advances, and are now seeking to make suitable provision. Slack for boiler firing is more readily secured than has been the case for some time past. Best qualities, however, are still comparatively scarce. There is a steady demand for cobbles and nuts for gas-producers, these classes of coal being urgently wanted for the large steel works of the district. Gas coal as well as locomotive fuel is much wanted. No change for the better can be reported in respect of the export trade, in which the difficulty in obtaining export licences is such as seriously to reduce shipments. Prices of steam coal have, in consequence, fallen substantially, and the best brands of Derbyshire are now quoted at 27s. 6d. per ton at Grimsby. With a shortage cf shipping tonnage, too, business is on a very small scale. There is no change in the coke trade, where the demand continues strong. Prices are firm at official figures. . Prices at pit. 15/ -16/ , 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 14/ -15/ , 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/ 12,6-13/6 12/6-13/6 10/ -11/ 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 12/6 12/6 i 12/6 IRON. Business is good all round, but at the present high prices buyers are naturally timid about committing themselves to more than is sufficient to meet their immediate requirements. All local establishments continue to be employed to their full capacity.