460 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 8, 1916. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ other cases the difficulty has been met in a more drastic way—viz., by going to the Midlands for ___________________________________________________ supplies instead of to Durham. By this means freights are replaced by railway transport, and it is stated that satisfactory contracts have been thus arranged at a considerable saving in fuel costs. Perhaps the loudest complaints respecting the supply of coal for gas manufacture come from Ireland, where the president of the Irish Association of Gas Managers has recently reviewed the position. Ireland is naturally handicapped in this respect by her . position, but it is not only of high freights that complaint is made. Before the war the Tralee Gas Company purchased coal at 14s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., which with freight and cartage brought up the cost __________________________ of coal to 22s. per ton at the works. Now the f.o.b. price of coal has risen 7s. 6d. per ton, and freight has increased from 5s. 6d. to 22s. per ton, so that the cost at the works has risen to 57s., an increase of more than 150 per cent. The position of small gas companies is particularly difficult, because they are not often in a position to take an independent line, neither can they readily fall in with the Board of Trade request to reduce their coal consumption by 10 per cent. But small concerns may often do something in the way of economising coal, and Mr. J. E. Enright has shown what can be done in this direction by using carbu- retted hydrogen gas manufactured in a suitable plant. Gas-producing plants can now be obtained capable of yielding 100,000 cubic feet of gas per day at a cost not exceeding Is. per 1,000, and consuming coke instead of coal if required. Such plants would be extremely valuable as a stand-by in small concerns. Mr. Enright, indeed, thinks that some such method as this will be absolutely necessary in Ireland to save the small gas concerns from bank- ruptcy. An interesting referendum has recently been carried out by the hon. secretary of the Irish Associa- tion of Gas Managers, every ordinary member being asked the following questions:—What was the price of coal delivered to your works before the war, say June 30, 1914, or nearest date? What are you paying now ? Have you been able to secure a contract for your supplies and to what date ? If not, how are you being supplied? It transpires that there are 108 gas works in Ireland, and the annual consumption of coal is about 600,000 tons. The shortage in supply at the present time promises to be ____________________________________________________ serious. The Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, also, _________________ does not appear to have been very effective in keeping down the cost. It is stated that increased ______ _____________________________ charges by railway and canal companies amount to 31 *3 per cent, more than in 1914, while the f.o.b. price has gone up as much as 52’08 per cent. Freights have gone up in some cases as much as 229 per cent., and the total result has been to increase fuel charges by 79T3 per cent, in the case of the 55 gas works taking part in the referendum. There has been much criticism of the working of _________________________________ the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and accusations of evasion by coal owners have been somewhat extrava- gant. But the answer to such charges is remarkably simple. Any aggrieved person can lay his case before the Board of Trade. The recent increase of the standard in South Wales, also, has raised much apprehension amongst consumers that the example is to be followed in other coalfields. So far, there is no ground for any anxiety in this matter, for, except in the Forest of Dean, where the matter is now under investigation, there has been no application to the Board of Trade from any other coal mining district asking for a revision of the standard fixed by the Act. ___________________________________________________ Possibly the notion that all round revision was. in the air has been to some extent stimulated by the action of the coal owners themselves, who are said to __________________________ be insisting upon a clause in new contracts to the effect that if the Board of Trade should grant an increase it should apply to the contract whether the Board of Trade grant were retrospective or other- wise. A moment’s thought, however, will show that the addition of such a clause is a natural consequence of the confusion caused by the Price of Coal (Limita- tion) Act when it first came into force, necessitating a good deal of compromise so far as existing contracts were concerned. Few coal owners, in the face of present conditions, would omit any obvious precau- tion to guard against possible future contingencies. Who can say what the events of the coming year may bring, or what additions to the cost of working may be forced upon the collieries ? In the meantime consumers must bear in mind that dear coal is a result of many factors, and although the coal-owner always comes in for the blame it is not necessarily the pit-head price that is responsible. Many people talk as if the coal owner regulates the price of coal all the way from seam to cellar, whereas his power of control ceases, in most cases, as soon the coal leaves the colliery. THE APPOINTMENT OF COLLIERY DEPUTIES. At the Trades Union Congress in Birmingham on Tuesday, Mr. Gill (Chesterfield) moved that : “ In the opinion of this Congress, any legislation which has for its object an attempt to diminish the number of accidents in mines would be most likely to accomplish that object if the official who is respon- sible for the daily inspection of -a district of a mine was so placed under the protection of Government as to enable him to make an unbiased report of the condition of the district. We therefore instruct the Parliamentary Com- mittee to press that the State employment and payment of deputies be included in the Amended Mines Bill, and that any further legislation on the eight hour day movement shall include in such movement the colliery firemen, examiner, and deputy. ” He said the duties of colliery deputies were defined by the Coal Mines Act, and he considered they should be appointed by the State, and responsible to the State for the proper carrying out of their duties. The resolution was carried. Mr. Shirkie (Glasgow, Scottish Colliery Enginemen) pro- posed : “ That it be an instruction to the Parliamentary Com- mittee to press upon the attention of the Home Secretary the fact that the following regulations, under Mines Act, 1911, relating to (a) the provision of signal indicators in winding engine-houses ; (b) sanitary arrangements in winding engine- houses ; (c) the alteration of the official code of signals for use in winding engine-houses (as agreed to by Mr. McKenna when he was Home Secretary) are not being carried out; and (d) to provide that mines inspectors shall be instructed to recognise the rights of workmen to be considered and con- sulted upon any accident occurring, or any incident arising upon which it may be necessary for the inspector to make enquiry; also that the mines inspectors be requested to visit the winding engine-houses when visiting collieries, and to enquire of the winding engineman as to the real state of the machinery, brakes, signals, ropes, etc., unaccompanied by the colliery manager.” This motion was agreed to, as was another by Mr. H. Parker (Hanley) in favour of an eight hours day for pump- men, mechanics, enginemen, boilermen, and stokers.* The question of dumping was discussed at the Congress. The Miners’ Federation had 600,000 votes, which were at first cast against the clause in favour of keeping out cheap goods, but it was pointed out to Mr. Smillie that the miners’ delegates had decided to support this proposal. By leave of the Chairman, the Federation vote was then transferred from one side to the other, resulting in a majority of 1,023,000 for a comprehensive post-war resolution which included the clause mentioned. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 7. Dublin. Business generally is active, and merchants are somewhat better placed with regard to supplies, stacks now being fairly good in the port. There is a scarcity of coke at present, but the price remains unchanged at 43s. per ton net. House coals are also unaltered, at the following : Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s. ; retail prices, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 73, as compared with 84 the week previously, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being 27,500 tons, as against 32,500 tons in the previous week. As a result of recent investigations at the Wolf hill collieries, Queen’s County, by some members of the North and South Dublin Boards of Guardians, it is stated that the coal is considered by them as unsuitable for domestic use, but it is thought that it can be use’d with advantage in the furnaces of the work- houses. It has been agreed to obtain a wagon load of each of the qualities for practical test purposes. The prices are 35s. per ton for screened nuts, and peas 25s. per ton, delivered at Kingsbridge Terminus, Dublin, or at the canal bank. The Athy Guardians last week adopted a resolution received from the Irish Gas Managers’ Association, which viewed with apprehension the present prohibitive price of gas coal, which would mean the closing down of many of the smaller works and other industries. Adequate supplies of gas coal were urged for Ireland at reasonable prices. Belfast. There is a moderate demand in this port, and a fairly good supply of most of the qualities is available, prices generally remaining unchanged. Current quotations for household coals are : Wallsend, 41s. per ton; second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s.; Scotch, 37s. ; Orrell slack, 37s. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Ardrossan, Troon, Garston, and Glasgow. The steamer ” Torridge,” one of the finest of the Tatem Steam Navigation Company’s fleet, has been torpedoed. Nineteen of the crew landed at Plymouth. At an auction sale of colliery plant at Hanley, a range of C.I. pipes realised £200; 100 pit tubs, £100; a pump by Owen,, 8 in. for 1,200 ft. head, £162 10s.; a paar of Foden’s horizontal winding engines, £150; a pit screen, £160; double-head gear, £30; another, £40; another pair of winding engines, £225; four Lancashire boilers, ranged to £224; a pair of endless rope engines, £125; several other steam pipes, from £40 to £65 a lot; a single engine, £50; a lighting dynamo, £21 10s. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, September 7. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. No change of importance has occurred in the west of Scotland coal trade during the past week. Business is still very quiet, without much promise of improvement, and the market still inclines in favour of the consumer. Ell coals are moderately placed, but can be obtained under official quotations. Splints are firm, but navigations are easier at 32s. per ton, while steams show a further decline. Smalls have improved somewhat, but the home demand is still restricted. Shipments for the week amounted to 105,090 tons, compared with 122,863 in the preceding week, and 148,750 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’sILast year’s prices. prices. ! prices. Steam coal.............. 22/ -25/ 22/ -27/6 ' 17/ Ell ..................... 25/ 24/ -26/ , 17/6-18/ Splint................... 25/ -35/ 25/ -35/ .17/6-22/ Treble nuts ............ 23/ 23/ 18/ Double do............... 22/ , 22/ 17/ Single do............... 21/ ; 21/ . 16/ IRON. Great activity again prevails in the Scotch iron trade, the majority of the works having resumed operations. The bulk of the output is, of course, war material, the demand for which is as insistent as ever, and ordinary home business is of small dimensions, while exports to neutral countries are now practically out of the question owing to licensing regulations, which are becoming more and more stringent. The pig iron market is unchanged. The demand for hsematite is still the chief feature. Little of this iron is being sold outside of war requirements. Ordinary brands are fully taken up. Pig iron warrant stocks continue to decrease steadily and now amount to 17,134 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the close of 1915. The prices of Scotch makers iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Lang- loan, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1,131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmel- lington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton There is great activity in the malleable iron trade. Prices are tending upward, but, in view of the inability of pro- ducers to give deliveries except for a few sizes, values are unchanged so far. Crown quality iron bars are quoted £14 12s. 6d. less 5 per cent, for home delivery, and £14 5s. to £14 10s. per ton, net, for export. The activity in the black sheet trade is unabated. The output of iron sheets is, however, greatly curtailed in view of the demand for steel. The price remains about £18 10s. per ton, net, f.o.b. Glasgow. Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. The position in the Lothians is far from satisfactory, and collieries have had to make considerable concessions in price in order to secure anything in the way of prompt business. Shipments for the past week amounted to 27,000 tons, against 32,028 in the preceding week and 40,080 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. ! Current 'L’st week’s Last year’ 1 prices. 1 prices. prices. Best screened steam coal., .. 25/ 1 28/ 15/6 Secondary qualities .. 24/ 27/ 14/6 Treble nuts .. 23/ -24/ : 23/ -24/ ; 20/ Double do ... 22/ -23/ 1 22/ -23/ 17/6 Single do 21/ -22/ j 21/ -22/ , 16/ Trade in Fifeshire cannot be called satisfactory so far as regards prompt business. First-class steams are a little busier, but the supply of tonnage is only moderate and the demand is easily overtaken. Other sorts are plentiful, and supplies can be secured under official quotations. Clearances for the past week amounted to 42,523 tons, compared with 59,655 in the preceding week and 57,733 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. ’ Current L’st week’s' Last year’s Best screened navigation prices. prices. prices. coal 40/ 39/ -41/ 23/ Unscreened do 30/ -35/ 37/6-40/ 21/ First-class steam coal 341 -35/ 35/ 17/ -18/ Third-class do 26/6-28/ 28/ 14/ -15/ Treble nuts 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 20/ -21/ Double do 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ ; 17/6 Single do 21/ -22/ j 21/ -22/ | 16/6-17/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 174,613 tons, compared with 214,546 in the preceding week and 246,563 tons in the corresponding week of last year.