THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN ________________________________________________________________________________ October 6, 1916. 661 Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. .... _________ Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. ; prices. 35/ 34/ : 19/ 28/ 28/ ■ 16/9-17/ 40/ 40/ ; 20/ 28/6 28/ ' 18/ 35/ 40/ i 20/ 3o i ; 40/ 1 1^/ 25/ i 25/6 ! 15,6 25/ 25/6 i 15/3 26/6 26/6 166 25/ 25/ ! 15/6-15 9 23/ 24/ 1 15/ 26/ 25/6 ' 16/ -16/3 27/6 27/6 ! 17/ —17/3 27/ 26/ 16/3 -16/6 22/6 24/9 j 15/ 37,6 40/ 27/ . 28/ 28/ 25/ 33/ 32/6 26/ Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals ..... Ordinary do______.....' Other sorts :— ; Lamb ton screened ....i South lletton do......1 Lambton unscreened ..J South Hetton do_____I Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened Do. smalls ........ Smithies_____________ J Peas and nuts ........' Best bunkers...__...... Ordinary bunkers...... Coke:— i Foundry coke ........ Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... Gas coke...............’ ..... The freight market shows about the average activity on French account. Coasting is firm. More orders are being circulated for Scandinavian account. The Mediterranean is rather on the easy side. Fixtures are : - London, 12s. ; Lisbon, 40s.; Oporto, 45s.; Huelva, 35s.; Barcelona, 60s.; Malta, 73s.; Valencia, 60s. ; Genoa, 72s. 6d. ; Leghorn, 72s. 6d.; Santos, 37s. 6d. ; River Plato, 30s.; Drammen, 24 kr.; Christiania, 27 kr. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. GOAL. A strong feeling continues to characterise the fuel industry. The buoyancy which appeared in some depart- ments a few day s ago has subsided. Considerable anxiety is expressed as regards the shortage of steamers for next week. On the whole a fair amount of business is passing, and the situation is not at all unsatisfactory. Some im- provement in demand for gas coal is reported, and best Durhams are put at 32s. 6d. to 35s.; whilst seconds are in the neighbourhood of 27s. 6d^ both quotations being subject to discount for prompt tonnage. Bunker coal is in pretty good request. Ordinary Durhams are round about 26s., and best sorts run from 27s. 6d. to 28s. Household coal shows no change. Coking coal is fairly well taken up at 25s,, but the feeling is slightly easy in this branch. Coke, for home use, is < ffered rather freely, the supply being considerably more than ample, but local demand keeps good, and quotations are maintained. Average blast furnace kinds keep at 28s. at the ovens, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is still asked for qualities low in phosphorus. Best foundry coke for shipment is quoted 40s. f.o.b. and in some cases rather more, whilst patent is round about 35s. Gas coke varies from 30s. to 35s. ' IRON. New business in pig iron is quiet, but order books of both makers and merchants are both very well filled, and October deliveries promise to be on a substantial scale. Stocks are very low. The quantity of Cleveland pig in the public warrant stores is now little over 11,000 tons, and by far the greater part of this is earmarked for delivery, there being warrants in circulation for only 3,' 00 tons. Cleve- land forge iron is plentiful, and could doubtless be bought at below recognised market rates. No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all put at 87s. 6d., and No. 1 is quoted 9Is. 6d. for home delivery. No. 3 is fully 97s. 6d. for export, and any odd parcels of warrants that come on the market for prompt shipment readily realise 100s. No. 1 is 102s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 96s. 6d., and No. 4 forge 95s. 6d. for shipment abroad. Mixed numbers of east coast haematite iron remain at 122s. 6d. for home use and for shipment to France, and 140s. and upward for general export. Supplies of foreign ore continue to come regularly to hand. Unloadings at the port of Middlesbrough during September reached 211,102 tons, and the imports for the first three working days of this month amount to 28,324 tons. Producers of finished iron and steel are still too busily engaged on Government work to pay much attention to the numerous private enquiries there are in the market, and consequently ordinary commercial business is largely neglected. Quotations all round are very strong. ________________ Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade is rather steadier this week, but business on all accounts is scarcely as brisk as it was some time ago. The whole of the output is being absorbed, and there is still barely sufficient to go round, but the market is not as active as it was at the beginning of September. There is a fairly strong enquiry for fuel in the home market, more particularly for the public works, but even in this branch the demand for all sorts is not quite so pressing. Local requirements have not diminished, but for some reason or other the pits have now more coal to spare, and therefore the majority of local users are practi- cally receiving all the supplies they need. But for the fact that the coke ovens, the iron and steel works and other public works in this locality are still taking large quantities of manufacturing fuel, business in the Cumberland coal industry would be extremely quiet just now. The collieries have some fairly good orders on hand for the home market, but there is very little doing in the export branch. It is fully anticipated that trade will be much brisker in all departments before the end of this month. The Whitehaven collieries were idle on Monday owing to a wage dispute, but the remainder of the pits are all working regularly and yielding good output. The joint committees are now dealing more strictly with absenteeism, and at a special sitting last week, a number of the more serious offenders were dealt with, and in one or two cases fines were imposed. Coal for household use is now fairly steady, and there has been a marked improvement in this branch since last week. Gas coal is firm, and locomotive fuels for the local railways are a very steady trade. As far as local manufacturing requirements are concerned, the situation is unchanged. All sorts of industrial fuel are in very keen demand, and local consumers are still absorbing a very large proportion of the output. The cross-channel trade is easier and business in this branch is slacker than it has been for the last twelve months. There is a fairly steady demand for works for the Irish market fuel, but all other varieties are rather quiet. During the week 11 vessels have sailed with coals for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 2,865 tons, compared with 5,300 tons at the corresponding period of last year, or a decrease of 1,625 tons compared with the previous week. The shipments for September have been 15,635 tons compared with 19,335 tons for August and 21,915 tons this time last year. Coke is in firm demand, and all the local by-product coke ovens are in full blast. The whole of the production of Cumberland coke is being absorbed at the blastfurnaces in the district. Business is exceptionally brisk ;n the by-products trade, and all the works in this locality are working at their fullest capacity. There has been no alteration in either home or export quotations. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is from 22s. 6d to 23s. 4d. per ton, witb. best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best export coal is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers for coasting vessels are from 21s. 6d. to 25s. per ton, and for foreign going steamers from 25s. to 30s. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton delivered in the district, with washed nuts at 19s. per ton. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is from Is. S^d. to Is. 6d. per cwt. or from 27s. 6d. to 28.‘4d. per ton ; with best washed nuts at 25s. 10d. per ton and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt. or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt. or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follows: Current quotations. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best CumbeiTnd coal at pit prices. 23/4 prices. 23/4 prices. 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 21'3 Buckhill best coal „ 22/6 22/6 22 6 Do. double-serned washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ Oughterside best coal at Fit 22; 6 22/6 22,6 Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit . 22,6 22 6 22 6 St. Helens best house nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ 12/ Best dry small at pit 12,6 12/6 19/ Best steam nuts „ 19/ 19/ 1.9/6 BestCumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) 25/ 2o / 19/ Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 30/ 30/ 19/ Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) 21/6 21/6 17/ -17/6 Do. (foreign) 25/ 25/ 17/ -17/6 Best coal for gasworks ... 20/ 20/ 20/ Best washed nuts for gas- works 19/ 19/ 19/ IRON. Business is still tremendously brisk in the Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade, and the activity that prevails in all departments is unprecedented. Makers are as busy as they can possibly be, and the clamour for iron is as great as ever; but busy as they are at present, there is every likelihood they will be very much busier before the spring of the year, when more furnaces have been put in draught, and when the important developments, which are at present in progress in the steel trade, are completed. There is an abnormal demand for both ordinary and low phosphorus iron, and requirements of local and outside users on Government work are so heavy that makers have little or none to spare, and therefore iron for ordinary commercial purposes is almost unobtainable. Makers are doing their utmost to expand production, and good progress is being made, more particularly in West Cumberland, but, as there is still a great shortage of both labour and raw materials, it may be some weeks before it will be possible to put more furnaces into blast. It is fully anticipated, however, that the third furnace at the Solway works at Maryport, and probably one or two in the Workington district, may be lighted befoiethe end of the year. For some months requirements have been in excess of the supply, and, un ess there is a very great increase in the output, it is doubtful whether it will be possible to overtake the ever-growing demand for iron before the end of the war. Prices are unaltered at the Government maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. Special iron is 140s. per ton f.o.t., and semi- special iron is quoted at 135s. 6d per ton. The position of ferro-manganese is said to be rather easier. Makers have none to sell for this year, but it is stated that a few orders have been booked for shipment in the spring of 1917 at about .£30 per ton, f.o.b. There are 30 furnaces in blast on the west coast, 20 in Cumberland and 10 in the Furness district. All the production, of both ordinary and special brands of iron, is going into immediate use. The entire make of Bessemer iron is being absorbed at the steelworks at Barrow and Workington, and a large proportion of the special and semi-special iron is still going to Scotland and the Midlands, for the use of high-class steel makers engaged on Government work. There is continued activity in tbe steel trade, and the plants at Barrow and Working- ton are very briskly employed. Rails, heavy sections, are from £10 17s 6d. to £11 10s. per ton ; light rails, from £12 to £12 10s per ton, and billets are in strong demand at £12 per ton Local engineers have a good deal of work on hand, and most of the shops in this locality are busily engaged. The Cumberland iron ore industry is flourishing, and there is a strong demand for all varieties of native ore. All the iron ore mines are working full time and yielding good outputs, but production is still rather below requirements. Very little native ore is now going out of the district. Quotations for all varieties are unaltered. Best sorts are 38s. per ton, ordinary grades are from 2 Is. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are quoted at from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton. The imports of foreign iron ore at the Senhouse dock at Maryport during September have amounted to 21,300 tons, compared with 11,100 tons at the corresponding period of last year. _______________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. Every week sees an increase in the demand for household coal for inland consumption, and even now collieries have difficulty in meeting the demands made upon them for this branch. Forges using screened coal are on a heavy consumption. The position as regards shipping is much as it was, requirements for ordinary bunkering and export purposes being only moderate owing to shortage of tonnage and restriction of licences. Shipments on Government account, however, are well maintained, and on the whole supplies do little more than meet demand. Quotations for Lancashire steam coals rule from 23s. to 24s. f.o.b. Difficulties in the coastwise and cross-Channel trade do not diminish, and the task of satisfying the insistent call for fuel with the quantities available is no light one. As regards Mac s, the position is much the same as reported last week except that the slight excess of supply over demand therein noted is diminishing. frices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Cun ent House coal — | prices. Best .................; 21/ Do. (f.o.b. Garstor., net)! 25/6 Medium ..............., 19/ -20/ Do. (f.o.b. Garstun, net)i 24/6 Kitchen ...............j 18/ Do. (f.o.b. Gars ton, net)/ 24/ upwds Screened forge coal................ 18/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b.i 23/ -24/ Best slack ...............j 16/ Secondary slack ........| 15/6 Common do........... j 14/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 20 9 22/ -23/ 19/ 20/ 16 9-17/ 18/ -18/6 16/ -17/ 17/6-18/ 14/ 12/6 10/ prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24,6 18/ 24/ upwds 18/ 23/ -24/ 16/ j 15/6 14/6 ______________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The pressure on house coal continues, and supplies are not equal to the demand even for contract quantities, very little therefore being offered for open sale. Furnace coal is brisk. There is a good enquiry for shipment, chiefly for bunkering purposes. Slack is rather dull and is offered in quantities more thap. can be absorbed. Prices are rather weaker. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ..... .... Common slack ......... Current L’st week’s Last year’s nrices. prices. s prices. 22/ -23/ : 22/ -23/ , 21/ -22/ 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ 19/ -20/3 18/ -18/6 , 18/ -18,6 i 17/ -17/3 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ : 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ 19/ -21/ 16/upwds 16/ upwds. 14/ 14 6 upwds. 14(6upwdsi 11/ -12/ IRON. There was a good attendance on ’Change on Tuesday, but as regards business we have nothing to add to our reports of the past few weeks. All works are fully employed on war material, deliveries and prices being controlled entirely by the Ministry of Munitions. _________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. More numerous than last week, the attendance at the Coal Exchange on Tuesday again included a strong repre- sentation of traders from distant markets. The feature of the market was the all-round strength of the demand, with emphasis on house coal, nuts and coking slacks. Endeavours were made by representatives of controlled works to secure supplies of steam coal, and there were many enquir.es for coking. Empty wagons have been scarce this week, and in consequence the pits have failed to make quite full time. Railway wagons have been scarce, a large number of blocks on the railway operating against the expeditious move- ment of London traffic. On the whole the output of the pits is fairly satisfactory. The London demand for house coal continues to expand, and is greater than the quantity of coal available. There is, in fact, a very limited amount of coal free for the London market, and many collieries have had to send back batches of orders recently to hand. The depot trade in London is rep rted to be very active. Merchants are experiencing considerable difficulty owing to the shortage of carmen and loaders. Coastwise, a fair number of cargoes of second class house coal have been sold for the Thames and the south coast, but best qualities are only being shipped to contractors and regular customers. Freights are a little firmer, 12s. 6d. Hull to London being quoted for boats of about 1,000 tons. West Riding house coal merchants are busy, but those who do not own trucks are suffering severely through the difficulty of getting supplies. Pit prices ; Haigh Moor selected 21s. to 22s., Silkstone best 20s. to 21s., Silkstone house 18s. to 19s., other sorts 17s. to 18s. With regard to gas coa), theie is extra pressure for deliveries on contract, and there is a little more doing in the open market. Any prompt parcels that are available are readily purchased, especially by London and southern works. Numerous transactions in gas coal, ex Hull for France and Italy, are reported. Manu- facturing coal is characterised by great firmness. Besides the increasing consumption of munition works, some controlled establishments are getting short of supplies, and in view of the nearness of winter this has led to efforts to improve the position by open market purchasers. For washed or unwashed nuts specially high prices are being offered, but generally speaking the collieries have nothing much to offer, piactically the whole output having Deen sold under contract. The demand for coking smalls is very keen, but this quality is increasingly difficult to get hold of. The same applies to washed furnace coke, which is