464 September 8, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN ________________________________________________________________________________ which has previously been almost exclusively in the hands of South Wales manufacturers. In the galvanised sheet trade there is little doing, but most of the works are fully employed on the production of blackplate and trench plates for Government purposes. For 24-gauge corrugateds £29 to <£30 is quoted, but the figure is purely nominal. Welsh steel bars are scarce, and only nominally quoted at £14 10s. Spelter is steady at about £49. Rail mills are busily engaged in turning out both heavy and light sections, the prices being £14 10s. and upwards. Welsh pig iron is nominal at £7 2s. 6d., but there is nothing offering, as the whole of the output is controlled. Scrap metals are also more or less controlled, and there is no change in quotations. Llanelly. COAL. There is practically no change to report in the condition of the market. Anthracite qualities are going strong, with a shortage in the supply of machine-made cobbles. Large and the smaller machine-made kinds are also in good request, and the demand from inland customers continues satisfactory. In the steam coal section all qualities are in good request, and supplies of the better grade large con- tinue short. Bituminous coals are scarce, with local works taking all available supplies. This weed’s quotations are approximately as follow :— Prices f.o.b. _____________ Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large .... 31/6-32/6 ........ Secondary do. .... 28/ -29/6 Big Vein large........ 28/ -30/ Red Vein do.......... 26/6-27/6 Machine-made cobbles... 39/ -41/ Stove nuts............ 38/6-40/6 ........... French do.......... 38/6-40/6 Paris do.............. 38/ -40/ Machine-made beans ... 30/ -32/ Do. peas.... 22/ -23/ Culm ................ 15/ -15/6 .................. Duff.................. 5/ - 5/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... 34/6-36/ ................ Through-and-through... 27/6—31/6 Small ................ 20/ -22/ Bituminous small coal... 24/6-26/6 L'st week's Last year’s prices. prices. 31/6-32/6 27/ -29/ 28/ -29/6 26/ -28/ 28/ -30/ 28/ -32/ 26/6-27/6 23/ -25/ 38/ -39/6 35/ -40/ 37/6-39/6 38/ -40/ 37/6-39/6 39/ -41/ 37/ -39/ 38/ -40/ 30/ -32/ 26/ —29/ 22/ —23/ 18/ -19/6 15/ -15/6 12/ -12/6 5/ - 5/6 5/6- 6/6 34/6-36/ 26/ -28/ 27/6-31/6 17/ -18/ 20/ -22/ 12/ -14/ 24/6-26/6 18/ -20/ Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port has been rather less active, but there was some activity in the coal and patent fuel trades, the shipments together amounting to 100,831 tons. Anthracite coals continue firm in most departments. Large was well enquired for, and machine-made cobbles and nuts were extremely scarce. Beans were a shade firmer, while peas held their own. Rubbly culm and duff showed a slight easiness. Steam coals were all well stemmed, through showing the most strength. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L'st week’s Last year's Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ 30/ -32/9 Secondary do. 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ , 29/ -31/ Big Vein Valley large... | 28/6-30/ 28/6-30/ 30/ -33/ Red Vein large , 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ Machine - made cobbles ; 39/6-41/ 38/ —39/6 40/ -42/ Paris nuts I French do 39/6-41/ 38/ -39/6 42/ -45/ Stove do 39/ -40/ 38/ -39/ , 40/ -43/ Beans i 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/6 Machine - made large peas 20/ -22/6 20/ -22/6 ! 18/6-19/6 Do. fine peas i Rubbly culm ■ 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 10/9-11/6 Duff 5/ - 5/6 5/ - 5/6 , 5/3- 5/9 Steam coals:— Best large .......... 34/6-35/6 34/ -35/6 25/ -27/6 Seconds ............... 30/ -32/6 : 30/ -32/6 22/ -25/ Bunker throughs....... 25/ -29/6 25/ -29/6 16/6-18/6 Small ................. 20/ -22/ i 20/ -22/ 11/6-14/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large____ ............. Thro'-and-thro'..... Small .............. . Patent fuel ............ 37/ -39/ 37/ -39/ ' 23/ -26/ 25/ -27/ ! 25/ -27/ : 18/6-19/ 40/ -45/ ‘ 45/ -50/ . 30/ -32/ ______________________________ Offer for North’s Navigation Collieries.—The directors of North’s Navigation Collieries (1889) Limited have received from Lord Rhondda, the Imperial Navigation Coal Com- pany Limited, Lysberg Limited, Mr. A. Mitchelson, and Mr. H. S. Berry jointly, an offer to purchase the ordinary shares of £1 each of any shareholder of North’s Navigation Collieries at £2 per share. It is reported that the directors, Mr. J. J. Smith, Sir Robert Harvey, Messrs. E. L. Evan-Thomas, G A. Locket, and W. St. I. Partridge, have agreed to sell the bulk of their ordinary shares on these terms, and, with the exception of Mr. Evan-Thomas, to retire from the board in favour of nominees of the purchasers. The directors, other than Mr. Evan-Thomas, are to be paid by the buyers a lump sum of £10,250 as compensation for their loss of office, but no part of the compensation will be paid out of the assets of the company. There are 600,000 ordinary shares, so that the offer involves a sum of close on 1| million. Lord Rhondda will act as chairman of the com- pany, the other directors being Messrs. H. Seymour Berry, E. L. Evan-Thomas, A. Mitchelson, and J. Wentworth Smith. Mr. Evan-Thomas, who remains a member of the board, has been a director for the past 27 years, while Mr. J. Wentworth Smith, who now joins the board, is the son. of the retiring chairman, Mr. J. J. Smith, whose connection with the undertaking goes back over half a century. An arrangement is being made by which the selling of the com- pany’s coal will be placed in the hands of Messrs. Lysberg, of Cardiff, who already act as selling agents for several adjoining collieries. This will bring the sales policy of these collieries into line, and the scheme will be laid before the shareholders at a general meeting. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 7. Trade during the week has shown practically no change. All qualities of screened coal are in strong demand, and the majority of merchants are reporting a slightly better enquiry at the depots for house coals. Large steam coal is in good request in all quarters, but is practically impossible to obtain owing to the collieries being so heavily contracted. Derby brights, Silkstones, kitchen cobbles, and house nuts are all in good demand, and when there is a small parcel available it is snapped up at once by one or other of the seller’s usual customers. Small nuts and peas are also in urgent request. Unscreened coal of all descriptions is a shade easier, although there does not appear to be any great quantity available, but the demand for this is certainly not quite so strong for the time being. Nutty slacks have slightly improved, but there is a large surplus at the collieries, and prices are still very weak. The enquiry for forward business of this quality is still strong. The majority of sellers are not in a position to entertain any business for many weeks ahead, and prac- tically all transactions have to be on the basis of immediate delivery. Fine slacks are very hard to dispose of, as there is practically no demand just now for this quality, and in consequence prices have eased again. Traffic is coming through very well to London depots, and the men are work- ing at full pressure, except on days when the wTeather has been so abnormal, and it is not to be wondered at that many depots did only a small turn during the days that the weather was so trying. Complaints are still being made that undue preference is given to export business, as comparing with inland, owing to the higher prices permissible under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, but the majority of merchants seem to have settled down to existing condi- tions, and to realise that it is impossible to obtain very much more fuel than is coming forward to them. Even if they could obtain it, it is doubtful if they could find the labour to deliver it. Stocks on depots are at present very light, but from the majority of reports coming to hand it appears that the stocks in the householders’ cellars and the big con- sumers’ bunkers are large. Therefore, it is hoped when the cold weather comes upon us that the reserves will be sufficient to carry the public forward well into the spring, and so release the majority of merchants for dealing with the smaller orders for people who are unable to take in more than a few hundredweights at a time. The seaborne market is unchanged, with no free cargoes on offer. Twenty cargoes were reported as being in the Thames on Monday, and 10 on Wednesday, but all of' them were contract. From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, September 1.—The seaborne house coal market was again without alteration to-day, no business reported. Cargoes, 18. Monday, September 4.—The demand for seaborne house coal continued steady to-day, but no available cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 20. Wednesday, September 6.—Seaborne house coal was again in fair demand, but no available cargoes at present coming forward. Cargoes, 18. __________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Business is far from brisk, but prices generally remain steady. In some districts there seem to be expectations of an improvement in pitch. Other products are stationary. Nearest values are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ..................... 1/04 ••• — ............................. ,, 90’s North ............... /10|—/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 160 degs.), as in quality and package... 2/ ... • — Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/10 ... — Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... /6j—/6f ... — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .... /2—/2| ... — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............ 16/—16/6 ... — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............ 15/—15/6 ... Tar (per ton ex works) ............ 15/9—19/6 ... — [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 is very little movement in the market either for prompt or deferred delivery, but quota- tions are firm. The cheap supplies for home use have at least procured sulphate of ammonia a free advertisement in the daily Press, apparently through the initiative of the Board of Agriculture. Closing prompt prices are :— Bise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. London (ordinary makes) ... £17/17/6 ... — Beckton (25 per cent.) .... £17 ... — Liverpool ................ £17/15—£18 ... — Hull .................... £17/12/6 ... — Middlesbrough ........... £17/13/9 ... — ............. Scotch ports ............. £18 ... — Wales ................... £17/18/9 ... — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/6 ... — [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE, Liverpool. The tone of the market is exceedingly strong. Stock lots in some sizes are commanding almost any price holders like to ask, while for plates to make it is impossible to get quota- tions without a permit. For the home trade nothing can be supplied without a Class A or B certificate. Makers’ prices, subject to war regulations, range as follow Cokes : IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 32s. 6d. to 35s. per box; IC 28 X 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.). 68s. to 75s.; I C 14 x 18| (124 sh. 110 lb.), 34s. to 36s. I C squares and odd sizes, 34s. to 36s. basis. Charcoals are quoted 38s. a box and upwards, and ternes are quite nominal, at round 65s. a box. Coke wasters are firm and advancing. To-day’s prices run :—C W 14 x 20. 32s. per box and up; C W 28 x 20, 70s.; C W 14 x 18j, 32s.; C W 20 x 10, 47s. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. THE STRUCTURE OF COAL* By Dr. M. C. Stopes and Dr. R. V. Wheeler. In dealing with the composition of coal, the chemist is faced with the difficulty that there are contained in it a number of different compounds, which must be separated from one another before their characters can be determined. The only clue to their composition is the fact (no longer seriously disputable) that they are of vegetable origin. In estimating the nature of coal unaltered by heat or chemical action, up to date the chemist has done no more than, by means of solvents, roughly to separate coal into two main classes of constituents, which have been termed “cellulosic” and “resinic.” Of these, the “ cellulosic ” constituents are separable into two groups. Palaeobotany has established the fact that some, if not all, ordinary bituminous coals are formed from a mixture of various parts of land plants. No living plant is so simply divisible into two constituents as is coal into “ cellulosic ” and “ resinic ” : cellulose forms the major part of the cell walls of the soft tissues, resin may be present in special cells or glands, and may possibly be modified from various cell contents, but the different portions of even the simplest land plants are composed of a great variety of distinct chemical compounds, many of which have been named and classified by plant physiologists. Though a number of these substances may be but slight variations of the “ cellulose ” complex molecule, yet in the living plant they have distinctive work to do, and have recognisably various morpho- logical and physical properties. It is not unnatural to assume therefore that these various substances may be the sources of different chemical compounds now in coal. It will be readily understood that were different bv-products from coal traceable to specific parts of plants, and these plant remains were visually recognis- able in the coal itself, a considerable step might be made in our knowledge of coals and their potentialities. For the individual plant portions might be isolated by suit- able methods, and the substances for which they were responsible when coal is heated, determined. It is on such work that we are at present engaged, using as the starting point the instance that the phenols obtained when coal is destructively distilled are derived from that particular class of compounds grouped as “ cellulosic.” As plant mechanisms had evolved many distinctive forms of cellulosic compounds even by the time of the carboniferous epoch, we think it is necessary to ‘ascer- tain whether the various modifications of cellulose differ materially in the compounds they yield, and, if so, which part of the plant substance corresponds to any particular coal derivative. An illustration may be useful here. Conspicuous in the construction of many coals are the small yellow bodies known to everyone as spores. Their walls are formed of a derivative of cellulose. Are they, or are they not, still in a condition to react distinctively to treatment by pyridine? Those who have experience in the examination of coals will recognise the practical difficulties in the way of answering so apparently simple a question, for hitherto spores have not been recog- nisable in lump coal, but in thin sections: while, on the other hand, thin sections are not suitable for extraction by pyridine. Nevertheless, the difficulties have been overcome, and in the insoluble residue of coal extracted by pvridine we have observed unaltered spores in large numbers. This proves that the particular modification of cellulose forming their walls is one of the “ cellu- losic ” derivatives insoluble in pyridine. Since some coals are largely composed of spores, this fact is of some value’, more particularly as spores have a most distinc- tive appearance, and are generally recognisable in thin sections. The next stage in the work is the isolation from coal of a sufficient number of spores to make possible n chemical examination to ascertain what particular tvpe of chemical compounds they yield on destructive dis- tillation. Spores, though the most conspicuous, are by no means the principal constituent of most coals : wood, soft parenchyma, cork, chlorophyll - containing or green tissues of leaves, must all have been almost universally present in proportions varying from inch to inch in the mass of debris from which any humic coal was formed. Cuticles, morphologically very distinctive portions of plants, and at the same time largely formed of a specific chemical compound to which the name cutin has been given, are conspicuous in the coal substance. We have now isolated sufficient pure cuticles from coal to distil them separately. It will be our business to track down the substances in coal one by one. and to isolate them in such a form as will render their chemical examination possible. To hunt this extremely elusive game, the microscope is necessary, and the chemist alone is unable to interpret what is to be seen on its field: the palfeo- botanist alone cannot probe into the chemical composi- tion of even the plant structures he best recognises. This is obviously a case for co-operation. The practical aim of such work should be to devise methods whereby satisfactory evidence can be obtained as to the most economic use to which a given coal seam can be put. coal being regarded not only as a fuel, but as the source of innumerable, and some perhaps unsns- neefod. materials of increasing importance in modern life. The ultimate aim of the research is a complete scien- tific knowledge of the chemical composition and mode of formation of coal. .... ________________________ __________ * Pane? road before a ioinf meeting of the Chemistry and Geology Sections of the British Association. ____________________________ It is stated on good authority that a Liverpool syndicate is about to commence boring for coal in the neighbourhood of Culcheth, a few miles on the eastern side of Warrington.