November 10, 1916. 913 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ more and more difficult to obtain, and while the public^are not clamouring the demand is steady. There is still an abundance of lower grade slacks about, this having been superseded largely by better qualities of fuel which produce greater results, but indications are not wanting that with a spell of fine dry weather even this poor stuff will be snapped up. Prices have undergone no change, and stand as follow:— Prices at pit. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 9. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ — Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ — Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ — Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ — Best hard 18/6 18/6 — Forge coal 16/ 16/ — Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 — House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ — cobs 18/ 18/ — Best hard spires 20/ 20/ — Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ — D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 — Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 — __________________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The tonnage supply still dominates the market, and any substantial relief must be preceded by an accession of tonnage that will reduce the present congested stocks to more measurable proportions, while freeing the wagons of which the pits are now in such great need. Prices during the week have varied little, sellers being prompt in con- cessions to secure immediate shipment, while continuing their policy of quoting higher and firmer rates for all forward business. Much irregularity is prevalent according to the position of collieries whose stems are differently filled. In the freight market matters are none too pro- mising, the number of steamers now being offered being scanty in the extreme, with business almost at a standstill. Outside of limitation areas rates quoted were very firm. Pitwood supplies to hand are quite fair in quantity, and despite the scarcity of trucks have been quickly absorbed. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. but the sameJFdifficulty is experiencedj’with regard to shipping facilities, and any buyer with prompt tonnage is able to secure material concessions. For mid and late November shipment, however, collieries are holding out for higher rates. Best Black Veins are 32s. to 34s., and other qualities 2s. to 3s. less, according to grade. The small coal market continues easy, and there is no new feature of interest. Best bunkers are 23s. to 24s., ordinaries 21s. to 22s. and inferior grades anything from 18s. to 20s. Bituminous coals are steady and generally without alteration. Fuel has receded slightly in conse- quence of the lower quotation of small coals. For coke, however, there continues to be the strongest demand, and recent rates have been fully maintained. Pitwood is fairly plentiful, but the scarcity of wagons is militating against prices. According to official statistics issued by the London Custom House, the coastwise shipments from the Bristol Channel during September amounted to 58,875 tons against 104,360 tons in the corresponding month of last year. From Cardiff there were sent away 25,659 tons, of which 10,160 tons went to Bristol, from-Newport 44,883 tons, of which Dublin received 14,210 tons, from Swansea 7,821 tons, of which 4,600 tons were landed at Dagenham, and Llanelly 2,975 tons, Port Talbot 1,030 tons, and Briton Ferry 3,484 tons. IRON. There was a moderate attendance on Thursday’s market, and a good deal of discussion was devoted to the position created by the decision of the iron masters of the United Kingdom to abolish discounts in the finished iron industries. Merchants do not hide their dislike to the innovation, though under present trading conditions it is difficult to see what action they can take. The step practically means au increase of from 7s. 6d. to 10s. a ton in finished iron outside controlled rates, of course, but the demand is such that consumers are powerless. Bar iron makers are full up well into next quarter, and are not worrying about new business. For unmarked bars for ordinary civil business as much as <£14 10s. to £14 15s. is now quoted, while nut and bolt iron is £14 5s. to £14 10s. A tremendous foreign enquiry exists for small sizes of iron. Export business in all departments continues under restrictions, while deliveries for home consumption remain under close control. As regards 'galvanised sheets, export is almost negligible owing to the difficulty of getting permits. The quotation remains at £28 10s. to £29. A good trade is being done in black sheets at £19 a ton unpainted. Gas-strip is maintained firmly at £15 a ton. An important change has been introduced in the pig iron industry. Hitherto Northamptonshire and Derbyshire smelters have quoted inclusive of delivery at customers’ stations, but now they have entered into an agreement, one Northamptonshire firm alone standing out, to quote only at their own stations, leaving the buyer to face the inequalities of freight and demurrage charges. South Staffordshire makers are not affected, as they are so close to customers’ works, and are able to deliver by boat. Customers resented the changed method, but when they found producers refusing their orders they were compelled to fall into line. There seems to be an insatiable demand for high class foundry iron, which is becoming very scarce, and producers are safeguarding themselves against any advance which the Ministry of Munitions may sanction. Forge qualities remain weak, to the extent of from 2s. to 3s. a ton under maximum rates. Good sales are being made, but not to the extent of the output. The pressure of activity in steel is unabated. Sheet bars are unobtainable almost for civil business. Odd lots of material are coming from America, including plate cuttings for rolling down. High prices are exacted. The scrap market remains strong. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts.....__ Other sorts:— Current prices. 34/ -35/ 33/ -34/ 32/ -33/ 30/ -31/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 23/6-24/ 24/ -25/ 28/ -30/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices. 34/ -35/ 18/ -18/6 33/ -34/ ; 17/ -17/6 32/ -33/ i 16/ —16/6 30/ -32/ 15/6—16/ 23/ -25/ ( 11/ -11/6 21/ -23/ i 9/ -10/ 20/ -21/ ; 6/6- 7/6 24/ -25/ | - 24/ -25/ 14/ -15/ 28/ -30/ 15/6-16/ Lydney. _______ _______ Forest of Dean. COAL. It is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the heavy demand for the house coals of this district. All the collieries have sufficient arrear orders to occupy their attention for some time to come. In addition to this, fresh orders are pouring in by every post. The wildness of the weather continues to upset shipping arrangements and most of the coal just now is being consigned to the railborne districts. There is still a very big demand for all classes of steam and manufacturing fuel, and the collieries are hard pressed to carry out their commitments. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 24/ 24/ 21/6 Forest 23/ 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 19/ Rough slack Steam coal ■.— 13/ 13/ 11/6 Large 20/ 20/ 18/ -19/ Small .' 16/6-17/ 17/ 14/ -15/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _______ _______ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that there is no change in the position of the coal trade in the south- western counties. House, manufacturing and gas coals are now being delivered by rail in sufficient quantities, but in some cases the railway authorities find it extremely difficult to cope with the very large coal traffic in their hands. It is suggested that all necessary stocks should be completed at the present time before the winter demand sets in. The larger kinds of house coal are already rather scarce, but small nuts, colliery slack, and unscreened steam and gas coals are more plentifully offered than for some time past. Best house coal....... 24/ -26/6 Secondary do.......... 22/ -24/ Patent fuel ..........' 40/ -42/6 Furnace coke..........I 50/ -52/6 Foundry coke .... | 57/6-60/ 24/ -26/6 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 40/ -43/6 24/--24/6 50/ -52/6 j 30/ -32/ 57/6-60/ 36/ -38/ IRON. The local conditions of the iron and steel trades show unabated activity in all departments, with works fully booked for some time ahead. The tinplate and sheet bar mills keep busy, all running at full pressure, with no relaxation of prices. Rail mills are equally as busy and firm. Blast furnaces maintain a big output, great pressure here too being the rule. Quotations for Welsh haematite are purely nominal, only the smallest of odd parcels. being available. Cardiff. COAL. There is practically no alteration in the condition of the local market. Towards the end of last week tonnage began to arrive more freely, and there was a stronger tone, but a renewal of the gales over the week-end has dashed the hopes of expectant shippers, and the position is now as bad as ever. Although no actual stoppages have yet been reported, it is a notorious fact that many collieries have had the utmost difficulty in keeping the pits going, and in some instances have resorted to banking, a measure which meets with the approval of the authorities. During the last few days a statement has been issued, in which the advisability of laying in the largest possible stocks is advocated by the Board of Trade. This applies more particularly to factories and household supplies, but it is practically impossible to do much in this direction owing to lack of accommodation. In a district like Cardiff, situated right on the verge of the coalfield, storage capacity is reduced to a minimum, and in most cases, if accumulation of stocks were resorted to, it would mean open-air storage, with a consequent deteriora- tion in the essential qualities of the coal used. For this reason it is not believed that the new recommendation will be largely, followed in this district. Shipments last week amounted to 285,207 tons, compared with 364,613 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a falling-off of 79,406 tons. Of this quantity 190,383 tons were sent away from Cardiff —89,436 tons to France, 68,376 tons to Italy, 17,725 tons to Allies and British depots, and only 14,846 tons to neutrals. The latter quantity only represents about 6 per cent, of the whole shipments from Cardiff, and of the total quantity the coal was to the extent of over 81 per cent, carried in foreign owned bottoms. From Swansea the shipments were 18,183 tons, or a decrease of 29,932 tons, of which 10,065 tons went to France, 4,902 tons to Italy, and 3,216 tons to neutrals. Newport exports amounted to 38,777 tons, or a decrease of 2,464 tons, of which 16,361 tons were shipped to France, 7,419 tons to Italy, 6,189 tons to British and allied depots, and 8,808 tons to neutrals. Port Talbot was the only port showing an increase, the shipments being 37,864 tons, or an improvement of 8,795-tons, the bulk of which went to France. Patent fuel shipments were only 13,115 tons, against 21,713 tons in the corresponding week, the greater proportion of which was exported by the Crown Company from Cardiff and Port Talbot. Chartering last week was at a very low ebb, the fixtures reported being only 58,600 tons compared with 67,910 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 9,310 tons. All these various factors have tended to unsettle the market, and for the most part very little business has been done outside limitation prices. The difficulty with Norwegian owners was supposed to be settled at the end of last week, but it is now stated that there is a recurrence of the trouble owing to the fact that the Norwegian owners are now asking charterers to accept the risk beyond | per cent. This is an entirely new departure, and as it involves in many cases a risk of hundreds of pounds, the chartering of Scandinavian tonnage has been practically brought to a standstill. The question of demurrage at foreign ports was also a very knotty point, but the difficulty in this respect has been overcome by the insertion of a clause that the demurrage provision is not to apply if detained for reasons of safety. The only other, point of interest is the fact that the wages of seamen have been increased £1 a month as from November 6, making the rates practically double what they were before the war. So far as prices are concerned, there is little change. Second Admiralties are 32s. to 34s., and ordinary steams 30s. to 31s. per ton. In Monmouthshire coals there is a good demand Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * * Superior seconds * * Seconds 32/ -34/ 33/ -34/ — Ordinary steams 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/ 17/6-19/ Best bunker smalls 23/ -24/ 24/ -25/ 10/ -11/ Best ordinaries 21/ -22/ 23/ -24/ 9/ -10/ Cargo qualities 18/ -20/ 19/ -22/ 6/ - 8/ Inferior smalls 18/ -19/ 19/ —20/ 5/ - 6/ Best dry coals 32/ —33/ 1 32/ -33/ 23/ -24/ Ordinary drys 30/ -31/ 30/ —32/ 20/ -22/ Best washed nuts 30/ -32/ i 31/ —33/ 25/ -27/ Seconds 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/ 22/ -24/ Best washed peas 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/ 19/ -20/ Seconds 29/ -30/ 30/ -31/ 16/6-18/ Dock screenings 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 32/ -34/ 33/ -35/ 18/ -19/ Western-valleys 31/ -32/ 32/ -33/ 17/6-18/ Eastern-valleys 30/ -31/ 30/ —32/ 17/ -17/6 Inferior do 29/ —30/ 30/ —31/ 16/ -17/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 22/ -23/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 34/ -35/ 34/ -35/ 23/ -24/ Through-and-through 29/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 21/ -22/ Small 27/ -29/ 27/6-30/ 19/ -20/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 30/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 15/ -16/ Through-and-through 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 1 13/ -14/ Small 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 1 10/ -11/ Best patent fuel 41/ -42/6 42/ —43/6 i 27/ Seconds 40/ -41/ 40/ -42/ 1 25/ Special foundry coke 62/6-67/6 62/6-67/6 ! 38/ -42/ Ordinary do. 57/6-62/6 57/6-62/6 ( 35/ -37/ Furnace coke 50/ -55/ 50/ -55/ I 28/ -32/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 44/ -45/ 43/ -44/ 46/ -47/ * Nominal. IRON. There is practically no change to report in the position of the tin-plate trade, except that the volume of business done is decreasing week by week, and will soon be at a standstill except for urgent Government orders. Exports last week were the lowest on record, and only amounted to 12,115 boxes against 26,215 boxes received from works, leaving 118,220 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans. There is a considerable margin in prices, and for war work almost any rate is accepted in order to keep the works going. For Bessemer standard cokes 27s. is being firmly demanded for war work, but for private con- sumption the rates are considerably higher. Oil sizes are 27s. 6d. and 38s. 6d. respectively for Class A and B certificates. From stock the quotations are about 10s. more. Welsh steel bars are nominal, and practically the whole of the output is absorbed by Government orders. Welsh pig iron is in the same category, all quotations being nominal. In the galvanised sheet trade, the demand for black and painted sheets continues, and this is really all the business that is being done in these works. Quotations are nominal for 24-gauge corrugateds. Spelter is unchanged at £52 15s. per ton. There is no alteration in iron ore, or in scrap metals, but business is on the slow side. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the local market continues very irregular, owing to the delay to tonnage consequent on the continued heavy weather. Many of the collieries are having idle days through shortage of wagons, and stocks are fairly heavy in ______________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large <... 31/6-32/6 .... Secondary do. ....... 29/ -30/ Big Vein large........1 28/ -30/ Red Vein do......... 26/6-27/6 Machine-made cobbles... 39/6 -42 / Stove nuts........... 39/6 41/6 French do...........; 40/ -42/ Paris do...........’ 39/6-41/ Machine-made beans ... 30/ -31/ Do. peas.... 20/ -22/ Culm ............... 14/ -14/6 ................. Duff.................. 6/ - 6/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... 31/6-32/6 Through-and-through... 26/ -29/6 Small _____.............. 18/ -20/ Bituminous small coal... 18/6-21 / L’st week’s Last year’s prices, j prices. 31/6-32/6 35/ -37/ 29/ -30/ 33/ -35/ 28/ -30/ 35/ -37/ 26/6-27/6 32/ -34/ 39.6- 42 6 42/ -44/ 39 6-41/6 43/ -45/ 39.6- 42/ 45/ -47/ 39/6-41/6 43/ -44/ 30/ -31/ 31/ -32/ 20/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 14/ -14/6 : 8/6- 9/ 6/ - 6/6 ; 2/9- 3/6 32/6-34/ ' 22/ -24/ 26/ -29/6 13/ -14/6 20/ —22/ j 6/ - 8/ 19/ -22/ 15/6-16/6