September 15, 1916. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 511 out of the way. The demand for household for London district and for country stations is greater than ever, and the supply is most inadequate. Coal merchants in country districts have their yards quite empty. In some cases horses, men and carts are kept absolutely idle for two and even three days in the week, and this adds immensely to the percentage of the cost of handling. There is an enormous demand for main and deep cobbles and large and small nuts for the London district. The only stocks in hand at the pits consist of small dust, and that is due to the fact that nothing is now required for the purpose of brick burning, which under normal conditions takes up a very large proportion of this fuel. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, September 14. ________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The market was thinly attended, and business was restricted. Customers who have returned after the holidays are pressing for deliveries of orders placed some months ago, and merchants are hoping that the weather will remain reasonably mild until these are worked off. Deliveries are no better, and there are no stocks. Best coal is exceedingly scarce. Manufacturing fuel continues in active request. It is reported that the experiment of setting up pit committees with the view of improving time keeping and increasing production has not proved as effective as was hoped for in some parts of the Midlands. _________________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COAL. The steam coal market is maintaining remarkable strength, the demands for all the better-class coals by the authorities being more extensive than ever. Tonnage supplies continue fairly abundant for the present, but chartering is awkward and difficult. Rates for the Penin- sula and Mediterranean rule uncertain, and in some instances much lower than last fixtures. The forward market in coal is negligible in view of the uncertainty regarding the pending scheme for the limitation of prices to new spheres. Smalls for bunkering purposes are scarce and firmer in value, meeting a good enquiry. House coals are difficult to secure, a lot of complaint being heard regarding the arrangements in vogue to provide a certain proportion of last year’s supplies to merchants, while the price question is always interesting. Pitwood continues firm around 14s. 6d. ex-ship for good fir. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Prices at pit. 1 Current L’st week’s Last year’; Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 23/ Do. seconds deep 2o/ 20/ 21/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 20/ Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/6 18/ 19/ 19/6 Best hard 18/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack : 11/6 11/6 11,6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 19/ : 19/ 21/ Do. hand-picked I cobs 18/ 18/ 1 20/ Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 1 19'6 Forge (steam) i 16/ ' 16/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) ! 14/6 14/6 16/ Small (do.) 14'6 14.6 : 15/ Current Steam coals: — prices. Best Black Vein large... 44/ -45/ Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y 44/ —45/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 41/ -45/ Secondary do. ... 39/ -42/ Best small coals ...... 28/ -30/ Secondary do......... 26/ -28/ Inferior do......... 21/ -22/ Screenings .......... 29/ -30/ Through coals __........ 27/ -30/ Best washed nuts.....__ 30/ -32/ Other sorts:— L st week s Last year’s ! prices. i 44/ -45/ , 44/ -45/ 43/ -45/ J 40/ -42/ I 28/ -29/ 1 26/ -28/ 21/ -22/ i 28/ -29/6 27/ -29/ i 30/ -31/ prices. 23/6-24/ 22/ -22/6 20/ -217 19/ —20/ 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 12/ -14/ 17/6 ' 16/6-17/ 17/0-18/ Best house coal....... 24/ -26/6 ; 24/ -26/6 21/ -22/ Secondary do......... 22/ -24/ ; 22/ -24/ 20/ -21/ Patent fuel ......... 45/ -47/6 45/ -47/6 32/ -33/ Furnace coke......... 50/ -55/ j 50/ -52/6 I 30/ -32/ Foundry coke ....... 60/ -65/ | 60/ -62/6 • 36/ -38/ i'I*I Mediterranean ports and to Italy and the Upper Mediter- ranean only. Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar have thus been eliminated from the scheme. With regard to prices the market generally continues firm with a slightly hardening tendency. For ordinary second Admiralties the quotation has ruled between 44s. and 45s., but business was done on Tuesday at 46s., and sellers are asking high rates for forward shipment. Ordinary steams are scarce at 42s. to 44s., and the same remark applies to Monmouthshires. Best grades are being largely drawn upon for the Allied Governments, with £he result that Eastern Valleys have been more in demand for ordinary commercial purposes, and the quotation has advanced in consequence. Black Veins command 45s. to 46s., Western Valleys 43s. to 45s., and best Easterns 41s. to 43s. and even 44s. The small coal market is firm, and there is no relaxation in the demand. Best bunkers are in the neighbourhood of 31s., ordinary qualities 29s. to 30s., and even cargo qualities realise 24s. to 26s. per ton. House coals are unchanged, and with the object of regulating supplies the local committee is preparing figures so that the trade may know what the demand and supply are likely to be during the winter months. Bituminous coals are practically without alteration, No. 3 Rhondda large remaining at 42s. to 45s., No. 2 36s. to 37s. 6d., and other grades in proportion. The output of patent fuel is well maintained, but as almost the whole production has been contracted for there is practically nothing coming on to the open market, and export figures are little guide owing to Government requirements being so heavy. Prices are nominally 45s. to 47s. 6d. for best qualities, with a small reduction for secondary grades. Pitwood is more plentiful and is quoted at 44s. to 45s. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current prices. IRON. The market did not present any special feature. The problem with manufacturers is how to give deliveries. They are not for the moment concerned with new orders, so full are they up in most branches. Indeed, orders placed months ago are not yet cleared. This is the condition of the bar iron houses, and only in special cases will they quote at all. For merchants* bars no one will accept, except to controlled houses, less than <£14 10s., less 2| per cent, delivered in the district. For marked bars maximum rates prevail—£15 10s., less 2| per cent., with 12s. 6d. extra for the Earl of Dudley’s brand. Nut and bolt makers are mostly working on contracts, quotations outside range from £14 5s. to <£14 10s., delivered in the Darlaston district. No quotations are obtainable for puddled bars for the time being, makers preferring to clear their books before entering into any new commitments. For a similar reason makers of small rounds, squares and flats are holding off the market. A lot of heavy stuff, from five to seven inches, is on offer from America, but these large sizes are not of much use in this district, and moreover they are of special tempers. Since the st* aightening out of the tangle which hampered the pig-iron market, business has settled down. Demand largely runs on foundry sorts, a lot of this material being used for making grenades. Consumers have to pay full rates, but for Northamptonshire forge iron sales are being made slightly under the maximum, to the excent of a shilling or so. Moderately good sales of Staffordshire iron are passing. The trade in galvanised sheets is more restricted than ever. All home work is now put into class C, and it is often crowded out. Recent quotations hold good—namely, <£28 10s. to £19, while black sheets range from £18 10s. to £19. Gas strip is from £14 15s. to £15, and hoops (iron and steel) £17 10s. to £18 10s. The position as regards steel has undergone no change, and control is so complete that very small quantities get into the hands of the ordinary com- mercial consumer. No American quotations are obtainable for sheet bars. The big American houses are reported to be sold to the end of next year. Lydney. _______ _______ Forest of Dean. COAL. Orders for the house coals of this district are coming to hand in overwhelming volume, and the supply is only half of what could be disposed of at present. There has been a gradual accumulation of orders for some time, and five or six weeks behind is quite a common occurrence. With the cold season again in view merchants are pressing more and more for deliveries, and the situation is a very perplexing one and requires the most careful handling. The demand for steam and manufacturing fuel is exceedingly brisk and the pits are hard pressed for supplies. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week*s 1 Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 21/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 20/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 20/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 19/ Rough slack 13/ 13/ 12'6 Steam coal:— Large . ; 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Small ... ...... 16/ 16/ 14/ -15/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. IRON. There is little or no change to be reported in the local conditions of the iron and steel trades. Works generally are all favourably situated as regards their outputs, and there are very few, if any alterations, to record in values. At bar mills matters remain very much as when last writing, with no change to record in prices, the latest official quotation being £10 2s. 6d. for Welsh bars. Steel rails also show no alteration, either for light or heavy sections. Work continues busy at blastfurnaces, and another furnace has now been blown in, but still the production of haematite is quite insufficient to meet all requirements, values remaining as last quoted. The tin-plate market rules firmer, prices having advanced to 37s. 6d. for 20 * 14 and 80s. for 28 x 20 either Bessemer or Siemens. Cardiff. COAL. The demands of the Government for best Admiralty steams are as insistent as ever, and the whole output is strictly reserved for Admiralty purposes. The same observation applies to superior seconds and the best grades of Monmouthshires. The result is a marked shortage for the general market, and those merchants who are able to obtain the small oddments that come into the market are realising high prices. Except to allied countries licences are very sparingly granted, and from Cardiff the great proportion of the foreign shipments are to French and Italian ports. Exports last week amounted to 343,412 tons, as compared with 395,711 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 52,299 tons. From Cardiff the shipments were 156,085 tons, against 269,459 tons, or a decrease of 113,374 tons, and of these quantities 21,294 tons went to Rouen, 12,994 tons to St. Nazaire, 10,563 tons to Spezia, 10,162 tons to Savona, 9,860 tons to Bordeaux, and 8,187 tons to Genoa. From Newport there were despatched 61,091 tons, or an increase of 24,284 tons, of which 13,796 tons went to Rouen. The latter port also took 20,408 tons of the total of 57,037 tons shipped by Swansea. Port Talbot shipments amounted to 69,199 tons, or an increase of 50,702 tons, and of this quantity 10,130 tons was sent to Rouen, 10,161 tons to Bordeaux, and 10,787 tons to Bilbao, from which port large quantities of iron ore are being imported. Tonnage prospects are satisfactory, and although the number of ships in the various docks is not much in excess of the normal, it is anticipated that there are sufficient vessels available to meet all requirements during the next fortnight, with the result that existing prices are likely to be maintained to the end of the month at all events. New business is within small compass, and chartering has not been quite so active. During the six days of last week the amount of tonnage taken, was only 65,460 tons, or a decrease of 20,990 tons. This week, however, there has been a spurt, 7,350 tons being fixed on Monday and 31,070 tons on Tuesday, so that there is every probability of a big increase during the week. These figures, of course, do not include vessels engaged on Admiralty business, and they are also exclusive of fixtures made by certain firms, who, for various reasons, are not desirous of their arrangements being known. While on the point of chartering, it may be interesting to point out that of the 302 vessels which left the various docks last week, no fewer than 255 or 84’44 per cent, were foreign-owned, and 47, or 15’56 British. From Cardiff and Newport only 13 vessels were British compared with 117 foreign. The natural inference of course is that the great bulk of the Cardiff and Newport trade is with the British Admiralty in British owned boats. With regard to the Italian limitation scheme to which reference was made last week, a further conference has resulted in the shipowners making a con- cession in the matter of freights. Instead of 62s. 6d. from the Bristol Channel to Marseilles the new rate has been fixed at 60s., Genoa 62s. 6d. against 65s., and Algiers and Oran 50s. The latter rate is 7s. 6d. lower than that pro- posed for Algiers, and 6s. lower for Oran. Locally the suggested arrangements are considered satisfactory, but the whole matter is subject to the approval of the Board of Trade, and if accepted the scheme will probably come into operation as from the 1st of October. It is announced that the modified terms will apply to the French and Algerian Steam coals :— ; Best Admiralty steam) coals ..............| Superior seconds ....; Seconds .............. Ordinary do........... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries.. Cargo qualities.. Inferior smalls ... Best dry coals ... Ordinary drys ... Best washed nuts .... Seconds .............. Best washed peas.. Seconds .... ... Dock screenings .. Monmouthshire— Black Veins ... W estern-valley s .... Eastern-valleys .... .... Inferior do. Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) ' 25/6-26/6 Second qualities (at pit)! 24/6-25/6 No. 3 Rhondda— I L’st week’s Last year’s I prices prices. __* __* 44/ -46/ 42/ -44/ 30/6—31/6 29/ -30/ 24/ -26/ 20/ —23/ 42/6-45/ I 40/ -42/6 ! 36/ -38/ 1 34/ -36/ 33/ —35/ 31/ -33/ 1 44/ -45/ : 42/ -41/ ! 30/6-31/6 : 29/ -30/ ; 24/ -25/ j 20/ -23/ ; 40/ -42/ . 37/6-40/ : 36/ -38/ ’ 34/ -36/ : 33/ -35/ • 31/ -33/ __* 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 17/ —18/ 16/6-17/ 10/ -11/6 9/6-10/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 26/ -28/ 23/6-25/6 21/ -24 6 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ J 45/ -46/ ! 43/ -45/ .) 41/ -43/ J 39/ -41/ : 44/ -45/ ■ 42/ -44/ ! 41/ -43/ ' 39/ -41/ j 23/ -24/ I 22 6-23/ I 21/ -22/ | 19/ -20/ i 25/6-26/6 ■ 23/ -24/ ; 23/6-24/6 | 21/ -22/ Bituminous large...i 42/ -45/ Through-and-through 34/ -36/ Small .............i 30/ -32/6 No. 2 Rhondda— ! Large............. 36/ -37/6 ............. Through-and-through! 29/ -31/ Small .............., 24/ -25/ Best patent fuel .......■ 45/— 47/6 Seconds ..............; 43/ -45/ Special foundry coke ....i 62/6—67/6 Ordinary do. ....! 60/ -62/6 Furnace coke ......... 52/6-57/6 Pitwood (ex-ship) ......< 44/ -45/ * Nominal. 42/ -45/ 34/ -35/ 30/ -32/6 ; 24/ -25/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 36/ -37/6 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 45/ -47/6 43/ -45/ 62/6-67/6 ) 60/ -62/6 , 52/6-57 6 | 44/ -45/ ’ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 I 12/ -13/ i 33/ -34/ 1 31/ -32/ ; 42/ -45/ ! 36/ -40/ i 31/ -33/ i 34/ -35/ IRON. There was a big reduction both in the output and the export of tin-plates last week, and makers are fortunate who can keep their mills regularly employed. There is a scarcity of steel bars, and also of acid, and in some instances mills have been idle for several days owing to this shortage. Shipments last week amounted to 23,108 boxes, against 31,519 boxes received from works, thus leaving in the docks warehouses and vans 109,463 boxes. New business is quiet, and manufacturers do not seem anxious to increase their obligations at the present juncture. Bessemer standard cokes are 36s. to 37s. 6d., although in some instances 35s. has been accepted for prompt delivery. Oil sizes 18| x 14, and 20 x 10 sheets, are 36s. 6d. to 37s. 6d. and 52s. to 53s. respectively. In the galvanised sheet trade there is little doing except that most works are engaged in the manu- facture of trench plates, blackplate and painted sheets. A few hundred tons have been exported to South Africa, but with this exception there is little demand. For 24-gauge corrugateds, the quotation is £29 upwards. Spelter has advanced to £52 per ton. Siemens and Bessemer steel bars are nominal at £14 10s. per ton, but the Government demand for munition purposes has been the means of materially reducing the quantity available for ordinary manufactures. All steel works are working to the utmost limits of their capacity, and outputs are steadily increasing. The rail mills are also busy, but there is no change in prices. In iron ore there has been a substantial increase in imports. According to official returns, Cardiff received during August 61.500 tons, against 72,350 tons in August 1915; Newport 102.245 tons, com- pared with 35,621 tons in the corresponding month ; Swansea 5,836 tons, against 3,356 tons last year: and Port Talbot 17.453 tons, against 5,795 tons. There were also landed of iron and steel billets, blooms, Ac., at Cardiff 1,589 tons, Newport 5,978 tons, Swansea 4,323 tons, and Port Talbot 6,783 tons. Current prices of best rubio ore are on the basis of 36s. 6d. to 3Ss. per ton Bristol Channel. Scrap metals are unchanged, with little business doing. Swansea. COAL. A good attendance assembled on ’Change, but new business in anthracite coal was restricted owing to the scarcity of most of the grades, and only here and there were buyers able to secure supplies. Large was not quite 8J difficult to secure as other classes, but the collieries