THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ 462 September 8, 1916. for July and 8,000 for the corresponding period of last year. At Workington last week 1,149 tons of steel and 600 tons of ferro-manganese were shipped, and the imports of foreign iron ore amounted to 4,720 tons. _________________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. The demand for household coal for inland consumption is quite above the normal level for this period of the year. Full quantities of screened coal are going into consumption for forge and manufacturing purposes. With regard to the ordinary bunkering and export trade, owing to the continued scarcity of tonnage and the limited number of licences granted, things are still quiet. Shipments on Admiralty account are, however, fairly heavy. Quotations for Lancashire steam coals still range from 23s. to 24s. f.o.b. though in some cases prices may be shaded a little for prompt shipment to clear wagons. As regards the coast- wise and cross-channel trade, the quantity passing is not sufficient to entirely satisfy the merchant on the other side, and there is no lack of enquiry for whatever odd lots become available. With regard to slack, the position is much the same as has been reported for the last few weeks, but the cessation of the holiday season will take away whatever surplus there has been apparent latterly. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). further increase in the demand from manufactories engaged on Government work which were recently added to the consumers of factory fuel. The output of coke is still below the demand, and the latter, according to current talk of additional iron and steel furnaces coming into use in the Frodingham district, is likely to increase On all hands a development in the output of coke, if at all possible, would be welcomed. Current pit prices. | Current House coal.•— prices. Best ................; 21/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net); 25/6 Medium..............: 19/ -20/ .............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net); 24/6 Kitchen ..............'j 18/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net); 24/ upwds Screened forge coal........... 18/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b.; 23/ -24/ Best slack ..........16/ Secondary slack ........I 15/6 Common do........... 14/6 L'st week’s/Last year's prices. ' prices. 21/ ! 20'9 ! 25/6 / 22/ -23/ 19/ -20/ . 19/ I 24/6 20/ 18/ 16/9-17/ 24/ 18/ -18/6 18/ - 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 17/6-18/6 16/ : 14/ 15/6 i 12/6 14/6 | 10/ 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/ ' 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ ; 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 19/ -20/ ; 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ ' 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 ! 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ j 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 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 14/ -15/ > 14/ -15/ , 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 9/6-10/6 12/6-13/6 ; 12/6-13/6 9/6-10/6 25/8 25/8 ; 16/ -17/ ________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was moderately attended on Tuesday, but there was not much actual business done. There is not a superabundance of house coal on offer, and prices are firm. Furnace coal is steady, but shipping coal is quiet, and concessions a,re made in cases. The supply of slack at the moment is more than the requirements in consequence of stoppages and holidays at different centres. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......___ Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current iL'st week's!Last year's prices. prices. I prices. 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ j 21/ -22/ 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ j 19/ -20/3 18/ -18/6 • 18/ -18/6 ! 17/ -17/3 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ !• 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ ! 19/ -21/ 16/upwds 16/ upwds. 14/ 14/6upwds114/6upwdsi 11/ -12/ ... • IRON. There was a fair attendance on 'Change in Manchester on Tuesday. As regards prices and business we have nothing further to add to our report of the previous weeks, all prices and deliveries being fixed by the Government. __________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. Tuesday’s market was well attended, and except that sellers were by no means prominent in regard to numbers, the attendance was representative. The demand showed most activity in regard to house coal, and steam coal, especially slacks, was in better request as compared with the last week or two. Colliery representatives reported the continuance of full time work at the pits. The supply of empty wagons is satisfactory, there still being considerable freedom in the procuring of railway trucks. There has been a good deal of blocking of traffic for the south, necessarily causing inconvenience, some of the depots south of London being quite without coal. Since the cooler weather came, increased briskness has been a feature of the London house coal trade. In addition to full pressure for every ton of contract coal, collieries are being inundated with orders and enquiries, but in most cases they have nothing to sell after they have satisfied contract requirements and kept their regular customers supplied. In the coastwise trade there is little change. The bulk of the coal shipped is for the Thames wharves, and is largely contract coal. A few spot parcels of second-class house coals change hands at from 21s. to 22s. per ton f.o.b. Hull. Freights are at the rate of about 12s. Hull-London for handy-sized boats, of which there is great scarcity. In the local house coal market merchants are busier and too fully occupied to have coal to spare for stocking, but in the big towns at least the position with regard to stocks is quite aS good as it was a year ago. Pit prices for the West Biding are, nominally :— Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities, 17s. to 18s. Most of the gas coal contracts are now fixed up. In one or two recent cases the buyers have been able to cover the whole of their requirements. A feature is the marked preference shown for gas nuts. Because of the demand for small slacks for coke-making, unscreened gas coal is not being offered. Shipments of gas coal to France are very heavy, and a good tonnage is going to Italy. Within a few weeks considerable developments with regard to the supply for Italy are expected. While the closing of the Lancashire holiday season has stimulated the demand for steam slacks, available supplies are very much better than was the case a few weeks back. In Bradford, Leeds, the heavy woollen district, and the Colne and Spen valleys the chief industries are very active, and there is consequently a large call for works fuel of all grades. Washed nuts are exceedingly difficult to get hold of. There has been a Barnsley. COAL. There continues to be but little change in the character of business. The collieries are working exceedingly well, and the output is sustained, enabling better deliveries to be given in respect of most classes of fuel. In regard to certain kinds buyers are not so pressing, but colliery representatives have no difficulty in disposing of the pro- duction without troubling to attend the markets. The shipping licences restrictions causes a much larger tonnage of steam coal to be available for the home markets, and values at the ports continue weak owing to the inability to ship the coal. The enquiry is good, apart from the business with France at scheduled prices, and in the meantime home consumers are making the best of the situation and adding to their stocks. This is particularly the case of the railway companies, who should now be able to look to a period of possible irregular deliveries with equanimity, though of course the present consumption must be far larger than on the average. There continues to be a difficulty in meeting the demand for steam nuts, which are needed in even larger bulk for the munition firms, though of course no export of this kind of fuel is permitted. Values at the maximum rate are maintained very easily, and the suggestion of an application for power to increase the maximum rates being made does not appear to have much support. The gas coal collieries, though having a larger than the average tonnage to dispose of, do not appear to have any difficulty. In cases where home concerns are not able to stock the surplus, this is readily disposed of in another direction, and enquiries are more frequent for odd lots of gas nuts, 'the export to France is of a substantial character at the scheduled prices. Though the difficulty of dealing in secondary grade slacks is perhaps hardly so great, there is a considerable surplus to dispose of. The tonnage to Lancashire and other textile districts shows some slight improvement, but it is much below the average, and some collieries in adjoining counties are offering odd lots at considerably reduced prices. This does not refer to coking slacks, which are inadequate for the needs of the moment, and maximum rates are easily obtainable for this class of fuel which may be available. The demand for house coal continues to be of a very active character. Apart from the Metropolis and other long distance markets, there is a disposition to obtain bigger quantities to lay in stock, with the result that new enquirers have waited too long, particularly with regard to the best grade fuel, which already is scarce. Supplies of medium grade coal are fairly obtainable, but collieries have no stocks on hand, and maximum rates continue to be readily paid. The demand for blastfurnace coke is of an exceptionally brisk character, and the make, large as it is, fails to meet the necessities of the present time. The following quotations are again largely nominal. and acting unfavourably upon the market. There is a good deal of large steam coal on offer in second holders’ hands, and where spot accommodation can be had a reduced figure is readily accepted. For September shipments the market is fairly steady, and quotations are well maintained. The home demand is not so pressing and more manufacturing fuels are finding their way into the market. Approximate prices f.o.b. for prompt and September shipment are as follow : — Best South Yorkshire hards, 28s. to 29s.; washed doubles and singles, 23s. to 25s., washed small coal, 19s. to 20s.; rough slack, 16s. 6d. to 17s.: West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. 6d. to 28s.; gas and house fuels (screened), 24s. to 27s.; Parkgate, 25s. to 26s.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), 27s. to 27s. 6d. In the freight market, the supply of tonnage is only small an,d turns difficult to arrange. French fixtures are on limita- tion terms. A steamer of 2,300 tons is reported chartered Grimsby to Malaga at 55s. latter half of September, 350 tons delivery. Chesterfield. GOAL. The coal trade of this district does not present any new feature, business proceeding pretty much on the same lines from week to week. There is a somewhat better demand for house coal, and orders are coming to hand freely. Householders do not, however, appear fully to realise the importance of making provision now for a portion, at any rate, of their winter requirements of coal. Later on they will be importunate in their demands, when supplies will be difficult to obtain and when considerable delay will be experienced in executing orders. There are no stocks on colliery premises, and merchants do not hold much coal in reserve. Manufacturing fuel continues in steady demand, but complaints with regard to shortage of supplies are now much reduced in number. Goal is obviously rather more plentiful at the moment. This is particularly the case with regard to slack for boiler-firing, of which fair quantities are now being freely offered by the collieries, and for which prices are slightly weaker. Gas coal con- tinues in strong demand, and steam coal for locomotive use goes forward steadily, but there is no great pressure for this fuel just now. The position of the export trade is very unsatisfactory, which is due to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary licences to ship. There is not much doing in Derbyshire Hards, the price of which is now 27s. 6d. per ton delivered at Grimsby. There is nothing doing in the smaller qualities, shipment of which is prohibited. Coke is in good demand, prices remaining firm. Prices at pit. Best house coals Secondary do. Cobbles ....... Nuts .......... Slack ......... Current IL'st week’s Last year’ prices. prices. prices. 17/ 17/ 17/ 16/6 16/6 16/6 16/' 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ : 15/ 12/6 1 12/6 | 12/6 ... IRON. Business continues active in all branches of the trade, work being turned out at high pressure everywhere. _______ _______ Nottingham. COAL. There is no indication of any decline in the demand for house coal in this county so far as collieries are concerned. Merchants are not experiencing much pressure, there being a good, steady influx of orders, but the fact that they have no stocks in hand is causing them to take as full supplies as they can obtain from the collieries. Renewal of contracts between owners and merchants is taking place, there being a slight increase in prices, which was not unexpected in view of the present state of the market. It is somewhat difficult for owners to execute all orders for best households, for which class there is a big demand from merchants. A brisker tone has asserted itself in the steam coal branch compared with a month ago, additional pressure being due to the augmented requirements from manu- facturing districts, and most collieries have more orders in hand than they can execute with any promptitude. The trade in slacks is of an active character. Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstono ........: Best Barnsley softs.... Secondary do........ Best house nuts ..... Secondary do_________ Steam coals:— i Best hard coals........ Secondary do.......... Best washed nuts...... Secondary do......... Best slack ........__ Secondary do.......... Gas coals:— Current | prices. ! 20/ -22/ ' 18/6-19/ 17/ -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 Last year’s prices, j 20/ -22/ : 18/6—19/ ; 17/ -17/6 | 16/ -17/ ; 15/6-16/ prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. The conditions are testing the skill and the resources to their very utmost extent, and in spite of all efforts a great deal of confusion prevails. While there is a shortage of railway owned wagons there is an excess in the number of wagons owned privately, and the result is that colliery managers have a heavy task in reserving supplies for smaller merchants who do not own rolling stock. The accumulation of orders which have been accepted is shown by the circumstance that this week there have been clearances and deliveries to complete orders placed at this period last year. Coal merchants are now getting very anxious to secure larger deliveries in order that some small reserves of supplies may be accumulated at country stations to safe- guard important interests against unforeseen emergencies. There are heavy demands from London and district for Screened gas coals ... ........... Unscreened do....... Gas nuts............. Furnace coke..........> 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 16/ 25/8 17/6-18 6 16/6-17/6 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/3 12/6-13/ 10/6-11/ 16/6-17/6 15'6-16/ 16/ 25/8 16 6 15/ -15/6 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 _________ Hull. COAL. There are few. if any, signs of improvement in the coal export trade from the Humber. A fair amount of tonnage is going for France, but not so much as might reasonably be expected. Licences to export to neutral countries are exceedingly difficult to get, demand being restricted ..... __________________________________________________ Prices at pit. Current |L’st week’s Last year's prices. ! prices. I prices. Best household coal .... 17/ -19/ ; 17/ -19/ ! 17 6-18/6 .... Second, hand picked ----- 15/6-17/ 15 6-17/ ! 16,6-17 6 Deep screened cobbles ... 16/6-17/6 ; 16/6—17/6 i 15 6-16/ Deep large nuts ........ 16/ —17/ j 16/ -17/ ; 15/ -16/ Bakers' nuts................. 15/ —16/ 15/ -16/ 14'6-15/ Small nuts.............. 14 6-15/6 14/6-15/6 . 13/ -13'6 Deep breeze ............ 12/9-13/6 ! 12/9-13/6 1 13/6-14/ Peas .................. 12,.- -12 3 ; 12/ -12/3 ' 11/3-12/3 Small dust ............ 6/ - 7/ 1 6/ - 7/ > 5/ - 6/ Main nuts for London ' ! kitcheners____________ 13 6-14’6 ' 13 6-14/6 5 14'9-15/9 Steams, best hand picked 14/ -15/ 14; -15/ 14 6-15 6 Steams, seconds ... ____ 13/ -14 6 13' -14 6 13 6-14/ Main cobbles for kitcheners 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 14 9-15/9 Main breeze____________/ 12/6-13/6 ; 12/6-13/6 j 13/ -14/