560 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN September 22, 1916. still a shortage in supplying the needs of the moment, but the present supply is of a very heavy character. The traffic at the present is expeditiously dealt with, but stocks would be welcomed to provide against possible delays in less favourable weather. The demand for house coal is again a prominent feature of the position. The arrival of colder weather has quickened the enquiry generally, and the un- mindful are now more actively concerned with regard to taking in stocks, and already supplies of such bulk are not permissible. Quite a strong effort prevailed to procure bigger supplies of the best class coal, but collieries are heavily booked up with contract arrangements, and other orders have merely to wait execution in order of accept- ance. It appears to be evident that so far as the nearer markets are concerned supplies will be of a hand-to-mouth character. The demand for slacks is also of an improved character, and whilst, perhaps, the margin of surplus is not yet fully exhausted, there are less surplus lots offering, and prices are recovering to the maximum. Collieries con- tinue to be able to give satisfactory supplies of gas coal, and though the output is comparatively greater hereabouts the greater readiness to take in winter deliveries will renew the pressure upon them. A fairly active enquiry for gas nuts apart from contract supplies still exists, but there is little offering. A strong enquiry for coking slack is still met with, but supplies are difficult, and so far as furnace coke is concerned the demand is again well in excess of the production. The following list of quotations remains largely of a nominal character :— Nottingham. COAL. The improved demand for house coals, noted a week ago, is maintained, and merchants are kept fairly busy with current orders, apart from forward purchasing. All classes of households are in request, and with better class qualities being eagerly bought common sorts are meeting with a good sale. Considering the abnormal conditions collieries are dealing with orders as promptly as possible, though in most cases delay is caused owing to the absence of stosks at the pits, and supplies are dependent on the daily output. For certain special kinds of domestic fuel, such as ashless and hand-picked brights, some owners are unable to accept new business. With regard to steam coal, although the pres- sure is perhaps not so heavy as was the case some weeks ago, still the tone is one of continued activity, and taking this section as a whole the demand is fully equal to the supply. Slacks are in good request, more particularly the better class sorts, and merchants are experiencing less difficulty in obtaining deliveries than formerly. Steam nuts are a feature of the market, and most owners are unable to fully complete orders. Prices at pithead. Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstono ....... Best Barnsley softs... Secondary do. ........ Best house nuts ...... Secondary do.......... Steam coals:— Best hard coals....... Secondary do.......... Best washed nuts...... Secondary do......... Best slack ............ Secondary do.......... Gas coals ••— Current |I/st week’s Last year’s prices. ! prices. | prices. 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ : 20/ -22/ 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 ; 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ : 16/ -17/ , 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ ■ 15ZG-16/ i 15/6-16/ 17/6-18/6 : 17/6-18/6 ; 17/ -17/6 ; 16/6-17/6 ; 16/6-17/6 : 15/6-16/ 16/3—16/6.16/3-16/6 ' 16/ -16/6 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/6-159 12/6-13/ • 12/6-13/ ! 12/6 10/6-11/ 10/6—11/ ! 10/6-11/ Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards) __.... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 18/6-19/6 16/6—17/6 16/ -16/6 17/ -17/6 16/ —16/6 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/ 11/ |L’stweek’s 1 ' prices. ! 18/6-19/6 ! 16/6-17/6 i 16/ -16/6 17/ -17/6 | ! 16/ -16/6 j : 12/ -13/ ; : 10/6-11/6 I I 11/ I Last year’s prices. 18/ -18 6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ I 16/ -16/6 i 15/ —15/6 ! 11/ -12/ I 10/6-11/ | 10-6-11/ ________________ Leicestershire. Screened gas coals ...! 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 j 15/6-16/ Unscreened do.......! 15/6-16/ i 15/6-16/ I 14/6-15/ Gas nuts.............! 16/ ! 16/ ; 15/ -16/ Furnace coke........... 25/8 ( 25/8 , 15/ -16/ Hull. COAL. There has been rather more activity in the Humber coal market in the past few days, arising out of an improved demand for France and a readier flow of licences for September shipment. Consequently, large steam coal main- tains the improvement reported last week. The supply continues to be fully equal to the demand, which, so far as neutral countries are concerned, is limited, while as for Italy and other Mediterranean destinations, things are held up more or less pending an announcement of the projected scheme of limited prices and freights. The market is thus principally interested in prompt business. No disposition manifests itself to fix up anything ahead, though a fairly active enquiry for October shipment seems probable. In other classes of coal there is a good home demand, and, generally speaking, late values are fully maintained. The following are approximate prices for prompt and September shipment :—Best South Yorkshire hards, 29s. to 30s.; washed trebles, 23s.; washed doubles and singles, 23s. to 25s.; washed small coal, 20s. to 20s. 6d.; rough slacks, 16s. 6d. to 17s.; screened gas and house fuels, 24s. to 27s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. 6d. ; Parkgate, 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), nominally 27s. Shipments at the docks are somewhat better, and more activity has taken place in the freight market in steamers chiefly for French ports at limitation rates, though the supply of tonnage is still barely sufficient to meet requirements. COAL. The difficulties in administration are greater than ever, and there are no signs of any relief in the near future. The advent of cold weather has stimulated the domestic demand for bag coal, but merchants complain that they are badly handicapped by the great irregularities in the deliveries. The orders at the collieries pour in with great persistence, and it is astonishing how many new customers are anxious to get even an occasional wagon or two of any kind of coal that may happen to be available. The colliery sidings are crowded with merchants’ wagons, and great delays are inevitable on account of the utter inadequacy of the supplies. The London demand is extremely great for main and deep cobbles, as well as large and small nuts. The small dust tends to accumulate at some collieries on account of there being no demand for the ordinary brick burning. Offers of business for shipment cannot be enter- tained. Manufacturing fuel is in enormous demand, and it is believed that the consumption for munition works has now reached the maximum. There are no stocks at the pits, and the country yards of coal merchants are quite bare, and deliveries have frequently to be suspended for a whole day. The miners are working full time of five and three-quarter days per week. Prices at pit. IRON. The market was fairly well attended, but with prices and output effectively under State control the weekly meetings cannot be said to altogether reflect the industrial activity of the district. So little free material is available that bargaining is largely suspended. Moreover, order books are congested, and there are long lists of arrears to clear off, a circumstance which prevents many manufacturers undertaking;new business. In pig iron a better demand is experienced for foundry than for forge, and for these maximum prices in the main are forthcoming, but forge iron is still selling below the limit to the extent of Is. 6d. to 2s. a ton. There is a good deal of forge iron about. Much inferior slack is also used in the furnaces, so that it is not always possible to get full value out of the iron. The amended maxima for Derby- shire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire iron, following upon the settlement of the recent deadlock, have now been officially notified as follows :—No. 4 forge, 90s.; No. 3 foundry, 92s. 6d.; No. 2 foundry, 94s. 6d.; No. 1 foundry, 96s. 6d.; basic, 97s. 6d. In finished branches Government orders seem as plentiful as ever, and output has been helped by the return of a number of former workmen from the Army. Bar iron houses, marked and common, report heavy bookings. The bulk of the output of small rounds, squares, and flats is disposed of without coming on the market at all In this department the requirements of France are extensive, and our own Government have big contracts. Makers of the smallest sizes have big enquiries for their limited output. The generally accepted quota- tion for outside business is <£16 10s. to <£16 15s., but there is very little on offer. The sheet trade is of limited dimensions. The export side has dwindled to very small figures indeed, owing to a large extent to the difficulty of getting permits. Galvanisers in normal times are busy at this season, but this year’s autumn trade is not of much bulk. Quotations remain at £28 10s. to <£29. Spelter is again on the up grade, and sheet bars are scarce as ever. Outside controlled supplies it is not possible to get any under <£13 10s. The small local output is increased by equally small supplies from South Wales and driblets from the United States. Black sheets remain at <£18 10s. to <£19 10s. In steel there is practically no material to be had except for war contracts. Copper sheets have under- gone two advances during the week of £4 and <£3 respectively, and now stand at <£157 a ton. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL The heavy demand for the house coals of this district reported for some time back shows no signs of lessening, and is, as might be expected, rather on the increase. Coal merchants, generally, are short of stocks, and are clamouring for supplies, which are difficult to secure. Each of the collieries has a heavy list of arrear orders. A continued shortage of supplies of all qualities of steam coal is still experienced and the position on the whole is that of the last few weeks. Chesterfield. COAL. The market gathers strength week by week, and the demand for coal of all classes becomes increasingly brisk. House coal orders are coming along in considerable numbers, and it is certain that the demand during the winter months will be exceptionally heavy. Consumers are now becoming anxious with regard to supplies. The call for fuel for munition works is as persistent as ever, and the pressure upon collieries is very great. Best brands of slack for steam-raising purposes are scarce, but ordinary kinds are not by any means difficult to find. Prices are rather steadier than they have been of late. Gas coal is much wanted, and steam coal for locomotive use is coming into greater requisition. There is not much change in the condition of the export trade, but the tone of the market is, if anything, slightly better. It is believed that business will improve next month, and that licences will be issued somewhat less sparingly. Prices have a tendency to move upwards. There is not as much business being done with France as was expected when maximum prices were recently fixed. This is due to the great con- gestion on the other side. When prices for coal to Italy are definitely arranged, it is hoped and believed that ship- ments to our Allies will be substantially increased. The coke market maintains a steady character, all classes of coke being in good demand. Prices are a shade weaker. Prices at pit. Best household coal ....i Second, hand picked ....1 Deep screened cobbles ...! Deep large nuts ........! Bakers’ nuts...... ___.. I Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze............. Current prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 L’st week*s Last year’s prices. prices. 17/ -19/ : 17/6-18/6 15/6-17/ | 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 , 15/6-16/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ ■ 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/6 13/ -13/6 12/9-13/6 13/6-14/ 12/ -12/3 I 11/3-12/3 6/ ~ 7/ 5/ - 6/ 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 < 12/6-13/6 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ —14/ __________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The market was unaffected by the reported intentions of the Government with regard to the coal supply. A heavy demand was reported for all descriptions of fuel, and it is highly probable that with the beginning of October there will be a readjustment of prices, which will take the form of a levelling up. The cooler weather has stimulated household demand, more especially among small consumers, who will be the first to feel the pinch. Slacks are fairly abundant, but less than they were a week or two ago—a result of the lengthening nights and increased consumption. Supplies of all kinds of coal are restricted, but fortunately deliveries are fairly regular. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ ; 17/ 17/ Secondary do A 1 1 16/6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15 / 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/6 IRON. There is no new feature to be reported. Work continues abundant, with every prospect of a busy winter in all departments. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including | Cannock Chase) :— i prices. ; prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 23/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 21/ Do. best shallow; 19/ 19/ 20/ Do. seconds do. ; 18/ 18/ 19/ 19/6 Best hard ! 18/6 18/6 Forge coal i 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 __________________________ 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 21/ cobs 18/ 18/ ; 201 Best hard spires 20/ 20/ ! 19/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ I 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 | 16/ Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 ! 15/ Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year3 House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 21/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 20/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 i 20/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ ' 19/ Rough slack Steam coal — 12/6 13/ 12/6 Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ : 18/ -19/ . 14/ -15/ Small 16/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _______ ______ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that almost normal conditions are prevailing in the wholesale and retail coal trade of the South of England, excepting in one local large distributing company where a labour strike exists. Supplies are coming on freely, and good qualities of all kinds are on offer, while some shipments are being arranged by sailing colliers, and others by merchants’ own steamers. Complaints, however, are made in regard to the prolonged delay in the delivery of some coal purchased a considerable time ago, especially from one district which appears to have become almost hopelessly over-booked. ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Unless matters improve, more mills will have to close down for want of orders. Spot lots are realising very high figures, but where a munition certificate can be given some very keen cutting is going on. For example, 55s. 6d. has been quoted for I C 28 x 20 with certificate, and 68s. 6d. has been refused for the same size for delivery from stock without certificate. The quotations named below are for class A or B work only; outside this anything may be asked. Coke tins :—IC 14 X 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 28s. per box and up; IC 28 X 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 55s. 6d.; IC 14x18$ (124 sh. 1101b.), 35s. (nominal): I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 50s. (nominal). I C squares and odd sizes, 29s. basis and up. Charcoals, IC 14 x 20, 35s. per box and up. Terne-plates are nominal, at round 64s. a box for IC 28 X 20. Coke wasters are firm, as follow :—C W 14 x 20. 30s. per box and up; C W 28 x 20. 69s.; C W 14 x 18$. 32s. 6d.; C W 20 x 10, 46s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Becent registrations include Morris Collieries Limited i nominal capital £4.000). to acquire Col'ingwood Colliery, Heslerysidc Colliery, and Swarland Colliery. The directors are Mr. B. Morris. Northumberland. and Annie Morris. The Fast Tanficld Col’icry Company Lmiiied incminal capital .1'3.000) has been formed lo acquire the colliery business of Messrs. A. F. Storer. J. Lawson, and F. Richardson at East Tan field and elsewhere.