664 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN October 6, 1916. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 5. ______________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 5. ___________________________ ________ Trade continues brisk, and the inadequate supplies increase the eagerness to secure any excess coal that can be picked up. The monthly contract quantities are brought into London now by the railway companies in far greater regu- larity, but almost every week the arrears increase, and colliery owners are freely reporting that their entire output does not suffice to satisfy the limited contract arrangements that have been entered into. Tn some cases Government officials have visited the collieries and commandeered a con- siderable quantity, and this has compelled a diminishing tonnage for the consumers under contract. Merchants are beginning to show’ considerable anxiety for supplies now7 the close proximity of the winter is upon us, and the attendance on the market lately lias been much beyond the average. House coals have had a strong demand from the provinces, and very little has been available for London. In the manu- facturing qualities many of the collieries have ceased to screen the coal into the various grades of large coal, cobbles, nuts, etc., and have loaded the output very largely as it comes from the pit, selling it as “ unscreened coal,” but the 'difficulty w’ith the men at the various London depots and the shortage of labour render this quality of coal very perplex- ing to deal with. For gas making there is not so much diffi- culty in manipulating unscreened coal, but at the ordinary depots it is apparently hindering business. The new Rail- borne Coal Far,tors and Wholesale Merchants’ Association held its first meeting last week at the Cannon-street Hotel, and Mr. Geo. Rose (of Myers, Rose and Company) w7as elected chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr. P. Le Mare (of Rickett, Cockerell and Company) vice-chairman. A strong executive committee w7as also elected, and the rules and regu- lations confirmed. The main object of the association is to deal w7ith cases of excessive prices of coal, and to protect the interests of the London wholesale coal trade. Fifty-one members wTere enrolled. In the freight market chartering has improved, ‘and the tonnage has been fairly easy. Fixtures have been made at 12s. from Newcastle to London, and 12s. 6d. from Hull to London. Several steamers have been chartered for the French ports at the limitation rates. Eighteen vessels were returned as entering the Thames for Monday’s market, and 16 for Wednesday, all loaded with contract cargoes. A large number of licences for September cargoes have apparently been left over until the current month, and the export trade, especially from the Humber, is reported increasingly busy. Yorkshire Hards are quoted at 30s. per ton f.o.b. at Hull, and the pit prices in London are 18s. 6d. to 20s. per ton. Derbyshire steams are 29s. per ton f.o.b. and the London quotations are 17s. 6d. to 19s. per ton. It will be seen at once how little can possibly find its way to the London markets unless previously bought under contract. Newcastle quotations are also firmly held. Steam coals are apparently sold for the whole of the month, and Tyne Best are quoted 40s. per ton f.o.b. ; seconds, 32s. to 35s.; unscreened at 25s.; Durham gas coal, 35s.; seconds, 28s.; bunker best, 27s.; ordinaries, 25s. 6d. Many of the London merchants are advocating an advance in public prices now that the increased price comes into operation from October 1 under the winter contract arrangements, but as no lower price was ararnged last April, when the summer prices com- menced, it is hardly considered probable by the large majority of the merchants. _____________ Dublin. The month opens without change, as far as prices are con- cerned, but there are indications that coal will be more difficult to obtain as the season advances, so it is not improbable that rates will be higher later on. Current quotations are :—Best Orrcll, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire blights, 43s. ; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; retail prices, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack; best coke, 43s. per ton net. Demand keeps fairly good, although tlie immediate consumption of house coal is not large, but winter stocks are being laid in by householders and others. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 74, as compared with 81 the week previously, chiefly from Campbel town, Glasgow, Garston, Silloth, Swansea, Maryport, Workington, Newport, Irvine, Parting- ton, Llanelly, Ayr, Liverpool, Manchester, Point of Aire, Troon, Preston, and Ellesmere Port. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 30,000 tons, as against 41,000 tons in the previous week. At a public meeting held recently in Dublin, under the auspices of the Dublin Trades’ Council, resolutions were adopted to demand the Government to take immediate action to reduce the price of fuel, and to develop the Irish peat and coal industries, also where neces- sary, to create light railways or other methods of conveyance to facilitate distribution at all large centres. It was reported at the last meeting of the Limerick Trades’ and Labour Council that a supply of coal from the Arigna mines had been purchased for use in one of the public institutions, and a suggestion was made that the sale ot this coal should be taken up in the city. It is said that the coal can be brought by the Upper Shannon, at a freight rate of about 9s. or 10s. per ton. Belfast. The household coal trade continues to be steady, and supplies are fairly good, steam coals also being somewhat more plen- tiful at present. There is no change in quotations for house coals, viz. :—Best Arley, 41s. per ton: second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s. ; Scotch, 37s. ; Orrell slack, 37s. ; all less Is. per ton discount for cash. pany stated that the military authority had served, or was serving, notices upon all men of military age, and that he had furnished a list of men who could be dispensed with without any personal question entering into the matter. Of the number appealed for, 20 were conditionally exempted; two, both locomotive firemen, were objected to; one, a fitter, was ordered to present himself in a month; and three were exempted until they attained the age of 18 years and 9 months. Of the four adjourned cases, two were refused exemption, and the cases of the other two were adjourned for a week, with a view to other men being substituted. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, September 29.—The seaborne house coal market was unaltered to-day. No cargoes offering for sale. Cargoes, 18. Monday, October 2.—There was a fair enquiry for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but nothing offering. Cargoes, 18. Wednesday, October 4.—There was a steady enquiry demand for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 16. __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — There is very little movement in the majority of products, and consequently very little change in prices. Quotations are steady, considering the slackness of the market. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s ...................... ,, 90’s North ................ ,, . 50’s North ......................... Toluol ............................. Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 160 legs.), as in. quality'and package Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ____ Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............. ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............. Tar (per ton ex works) ............. l/0i /W-/11J 1/3—1/4 2/3 . 3/4 1/3 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. 2/2—2/3 1/10—1/11 /6J-/6| /’2-/2i 16/—16/6 15/—15/6 15/6—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.—The position remains much the same. There is a little more enquiry for forward in some quarters, but in this respect things are still very quiet in the north, and export facilities hampered. The American market is very unsettled, and in some ways unsatisfactory. Closing prices are :— Rise ( + ) or London (ordinary makes) ... £17/18/9 fall ( —) on the week. ... +1/3 Beckton (25 per cent.) £16/17/6—£17 ... +2/6 Liverpool £17/18/9 — Hull £17/12/6 — Middlesbrough £17/13/9 — Scotch ports £18—£18/2/6 I’ +2/6 Wales £17/18/9 — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/9 +/3 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 21 per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.} __________________________ RESTRICTIONS ON MANUFACTURES OF MACHINERY. The Press Bureau has issued the following announcement : The Minister of Munitions in the exercise of his statutory powers, has required all persons, firms, and companies engaged in the manufacture of cranes, aerial ropeways, capstans, conveyors, grabs, elevators, hoists, lifts, runways, shear legs, transporters, travellers or winches, whether operated by steam, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or hand power, not to carry out without a permit issued under his authority, in any factory, workshop, or other premises, any work consisting of the manufacture, assembling, or erection of any of the above-mentioned articles except under :— (a) Orders received from or in connection with work for the Admiralty or War Office; (b) Orders of a value' not exceeding £50 required for war work; s(c) Orders which have already been sanctioned by the Ministry of Munitions as Class “ A ” work. _____________________________ OBITUARY. Mr. Edward Henry, 36 years of age, of Hardybutts, Wigan, colliery contractor at the Worsley Mesnes Colliery Company’s pits, Wigan, was killed through a stone falling upon him from the roof. At the inquest on Thursday last week, a verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned, and the colliery company extended their sympathy to the widow. The death has occurred at Alpine House, Leigh, of Mr. Robt. McGregor, in his 79th year, a member of the firm of Messrs. Harrison, McGregor, and Co., of the Albion Foundry, Leigh. The deceased gentleman was well known and respected in Lancashire iron trade circles. The late Mr. Richard Price-Williams, who died recently at Bournemouth, aged 89, was associated with a great deal of important engineering and mining work. The activities of his busy life included engineering duties on the Great Northern and other railways, the manufacture of Bessemer steel, investigations of raihvay depreciation, the prepara- tion of plans for a trans-continental railway across Aus- tralia, researches in the coal fields of India, Australia, and New7 Zealand, and mining work in the South Wales coal field. Official recognition of his ability was showm when he was employed by the Royal Commission in 1868 to calculate the coal resources in the United Kingdom. Mr. Richard Thomas, who died last week at the age of 80, founded the firm of Richard Thomas and Company, tin- platers, and became associated with a number of tin-plate and steel works in South Wales, in addition to acquiring an interest in the Redbourn Hill Iron and Coal Company and the Lydbrook Colliery. Mr. James Munro, of Salsburgh, who died recently, at the age of 86, invented one of the earliest coal cutters. This was of the pick type, and could undercut 36 yds. to a depth of 3 ft. m eight hours. He also invented a perfect combustion furnace. Sir William Theodore Doxford, of the firm of William Doxford and Sons Limited, ship builders, died ui Sunday, aged 75. ____________________________ MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. The work of combing out men who have gone into Lanca- shire and Cheshire coal mines during the last few months is being steadily proceeded with. Male surface workers called upon for military service are being replaced by females at some pits. Tanfield. Lea miners.’ lodge has sent a written protest to the local tribunal against the military authorities allowing business men to go into the pits in order to avoid military service, whilst other miners wishful of returning, who have been in the Army since the war began, are not given the opportunity of doing so, and others have had to join up com- pulsorily. In reply to the protest, it is pointed out that the only two men to whom the protest could refer are each 40 years of age, and, as ex-pitmen, have been sent to the mines, that being work of national importance. In addition to contributing scores of thousands of miners to the firing line, Durham county has raised five Volunteer battalions, in the composition of which many miners have taken part. Col. Burden, speaking at a V.T.C. meeting at Coxhoe, mentioned these facts, but stated that there were still many young miners wdio were not giving all their ser- vices. They worked short hours, and were putting money into their pockets and salving their consciences by saying that they were working on munitions. Miners at the front knew this, and were thinking about it. He wanted as many miners in the V.T.C. as he could get. He had always been asso- ciated with them, and, if ever he had to go into action, he wanted as many Durham miners behind him as possible. He knew their worth. Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited have obtained conditional exemption for their chief clerk and cashier at Bowburn Colliery. Thirty-six years of age, and married, he had pre- viously been exempted for six months, and when his case came up for revision at the Durham rural tribunal, the firm stated that he had entire charge of the books and traffic arrangements in connection with the working of the colliery. When, recently, four colliery teemers employed by the Seaham Harbour Dock Company appealed to the local tribunal for exemption, they alleged that they had been unfairly singled out by the dock company for service because they were prominent trades unionists. The cases were adjourned. On Tuesday last the matter was reopened by an appeal on the part of the dock company for the exemption of 26 workmen. The clerk said that the company had forwarded a list of the 26 men, together with nine other men whom they could dispense with, the latter including the four men whose cases were adjourned. He read a letter from the secretary of the North-East Trimmers’ and Teemers’ Association, point- ing out that the Board of Trade had certified that dock transport work was of national importance, and that the number of teemers at Seaham Harbour had already been reduced to a minimum. A further letter from the secretary of the Northern United Enginemen’s Association was read, strongly protesting against the action of the dock company, as it was felt that it was owing to the stand Taken by one of their members in representing his society that he was being singled out. A letter from the secretary of the dock com- _____________________________ BOOK NOTICES. •The Excess Profits Duty and Profits of Controlled Establish- ments. By Ernest E. Spicer, F.C.A., and Ernest C. Pegler, F.C.A., Pp. xiv. + 174. 9 in. x 6 in. London .- H. Foulks Lynch and Company, 61. Watling-street, E.C. Price, 6s. net. This is the second edition of a publication that should be helpful to those who are liable to pay excess profits duty, or are interested in the profits of controlled estab- lishments. The first edition was only published this year, but the passing of the Finance Act, 1916, imme- diately rendered it out of date, and necessitated the preparation of a new edition, incorporating the impor- tant alterations and amendments introduced by that* Act. The second edition has also provided an oppor- tunity to utilise the results of some experience in the working of the principal Act, which experience, of course, was not available when the earlier edition was published. The information is comprehensive, the arrangement is good and clear, and reference is facili- tated by a carefully compiled index. A special matter like the excess mineral rights duty no doubt admits of more detailed treatment than it here receives, but that would possibly have been outside the scheme of the book. How to Claim Repayment of Income-Tax for the Year 1916-17. 94 pp. 7| in. x 4$ in. London : F. C. Mathieson and Sons, 16, Copthall-avenue, E.C. Price, Is. net. As was only tn be expected, the magnitude and dura- tion of the war has made the income-tax an impost sufficiently onerous to compel greater attention to ques- tions of exemption, abatement, and recovery. Many taxpayers will prefer to obtain expert professional assist- ance, but a careful study of this little guide should be useful, and certainly a less laborious undertaking than attempting to grapple with the text of the Finance Act, 1916, and previous enactments dealing with income-tax. The question of recovery is, of course, of special import- ance to those in receipt of unearned income, from which is now deducted at the source at the rate of 5s. in the £, and to those whose incomes have declined by more than 10 per cent, as compared with the assessed and charged incomes. The A.B.C. Guide to Patents for Inventions. By R. E. Phillips and A. Millward Flack. 66 pp. 8| in. x 5| in. London : Phillips’s, 70. Chancery-lane. W.C. Price, 6d. In a brief preface to the first edition of a useful little handbook, the compilers frankly admitted that there is no lack of guides and text-books dealing with patents for inventions, and that their only excuse for adding to the number was the adoption of a novel method of pre- senting the matter, which is divided up under the head- ings arranged in alphabetical order. In other words, the form adopted is that of an index, reference being facilitated by numerous cross headings. In a matter of strict procedure, like taking out a patent, the aim will often be to obtain essential information on particular points, rather than make a methodical study of the whole subject. From that point of view the arrangement here adopted may prove useful, and convenient to those in search of guidance.