November 24, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1015 Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Tenders have been sent in to the Danish State Railways for supplying 18,COO tons of best steam coal over December, also to the Danish Municipal Gas- works for 11,000 tons of Wear special gas coal over December and February. Considerable quantities of unscreened coal are said to have been purchased at 26s. for bests and 23s. 6d. to 24s. for second class qualities. It is also reported that considerable quantities of good Durham bunkers have been sold to coal station contractors for delivery over next year at from 25s. to 26s. per ton. Further sales of gas coals for shipment to France and Italy have been effected at limita- tion figures. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current L’st week’s'Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 29/ 30/ 21/ Secondary do. 25/ 26/ 17/ -17/6 House coals:— Best house coals 30/ 30/ 23/ Ordinary do 25/ 25/ 18,6 Other sorts :— Lambton screened 27 6 28/6 20/6 South Hetton do 2//6 28/6 20/6 Lambton unscreened ... 19/ 20/ 16/9 South Hetton do 18/ 19/ 16/9 Do. treble nuts 22/ 23/ 17/6 Coking coals unscreened 18/6 17/ 21/ 17/ Do. smalls 18/ 16/9 Smithies 19/ 19/ 18/6 Peas and nuts 24/ 24/6 20/6 Best bunkers 19/6 19/ -20/ 17/6 16/6-16/9 Ordinary bunkers 17/6—18/6 18/ Coke:— Foundry coke 37/ 37/ 33/ -35/ Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 33/ Gas coke 31L 31/ 29/ Chartering is still held up by the lack of tonnage, a large number of orders being current for all destinations, with shippers offering full maximum figures for French and Italian destinations and enhanced rates for elsewhere, but without finding boats. Recent fixtures include :—London, 15s.; Lisbon, 50s.; Passages, .r 0s.; Barcelona, 65s.; Porto Ferraio, 62s. 6d.; Copenhagen, 34 kr ; Gothenburg, 30 kr.; Stockholm, 30 kr. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The stormy weather at the beginning of the week further curtailed shipping facilities. The position is entirely dominated by the supply of tonnage, but supplies of fuel have been reduced and quotations promise to be sta’ ionary. There is no news to hand with regard to the placing of the Danish Railway contracts, and the opinion is expressed that they have been placed in Germany. Best Durham gas coal is on sale at round about 25s., and second quality is in the neighbourhood of 20s. Bunker coal shows further weak- ness. Second-hand holders have a good deal to dispose of, and competition for any prompt business is very keen. Fair qualities of Durham bunker coal are obtainable at 17s., and quotations run from that figure to 19s. 6d. according to quality. There are reports of rather large sales of bunkers at from 25s. to 26s. for delivery over periods next year. Household coal shows no change. Coking coal continues in fairly good request. Smalls are 18s. to 18s. 6d., and un- screened kinds range from 18s. to 20s. Best foundry coke varies fr< m 35s. to 42s. 6d.; patent coke is round about 34s., and up to as much as 33s. is quoted for gas coke. Demand for coke for local use is large, and the qualities needed maintain their values notwithstanding plentiful supply. Average blast furnace kinds continue to realise 28s. at the ovens, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is still asked for low phosphorus sorts. IRON. The removal of the embargo on deliveries of Cleveland foundry pig iron to Scotland beyond the present month has brought in a number of December orders for supply to customers North of the Tweed, and a moderately good business in other directions is reported. An additional blast furnace is to be blown in on Cleveland pig almost immediately. English foundries are enquiring for iron over the first half of next year, but producers are not dis- posed to commit themselves beyond the first quarter, and even then are inclined to concede only a portion of the quantity requested. This attitude of makers is due to apprehension of issue of further regulations as to the use of various qualities which may render void contracts made for No. 3. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 87s. 6d.; and No. 1 is 91s. 6d. For shipment to our Allies No. 3 is 97s. 6d.; No. 4 foundry, 96s. 6d.; No. 4 forge, 95s. 6d.; and for export to neutral countries No. 3 is 105s., and No. 1 110s. Early delivery business in east coast haematite iron is hardly practicable, but further negotiations for supply of substan- tial quantities next year are reported. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d, for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. Numerous enquiries for most descriptions of finished iron and steel attract little atten- tion, and in fact practically no commercial work is possible except in the case of material for mercantile shipbuilding, which is being manufactured in increasing volume. Prices are very strong. Maryport. Cumberland. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade continues firm and brisk, and business is well maintained in all the main branches. Some delay and inconvenience has been caused owing to the scarcity of wagons and the lack of shipping, and one of the large collieries has been idle for a day and a-half on this account, but, with this exception, there has been very little change in the situation since last week. There is an abnormal demand for coal in both the home and coastwise markets, and on local account the collieries are finding some difficulty in meeting requirements. Landsale is very active just now, and orders are coming in to the depots more quickly than they can be dealt with. Manufacturing fuel is in very keen demand all over the district, and local works requirements are greater than ever. The iron and steel works in this locality are taking increased supplies, and during the past few weeks more coal has also been going to the iron ore mines. As far as small coal is con- cerned, a very large proportion of the output is being absorbed at the Cumberland by-product ovens, and they could do with considerably more coal than they are a't present receiving. Gas coal is very firm, and engine fuels for the local railways are in very keen request. The wild weather has adversely affected the export trade during the last fortnight, and cross-Channel shipments have therefore been below normal at all the Cumberland ports. Quite a number of coasting steamers have been windbound in Irish ports for some days,, with the result that between 2,000 and 3,000 tons of coal is held up and awaiting shipment at the Maryport dock. The weather conditions were so bad that up to Sunday there had only been two arrivals during the week. All sorts are in very brisk request in the Irish market, and consumers are still unable to secure anything like the amount of coal they need. Supplies of smalls and works fuel are still very scarce. Only six vessels have sailed during the week with coals from Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 1,580 tons, compared with 4,170 tons this time last year, or a decrease of 430 tons compared with last week. Coke is in very firm demand for local use, and all the Cumberland by-product ovens are in full operation. The whole of the output is freely absorbed at the iron works in the district. The production of local coke is fairly satisfactory, but it is still rather below requirements, and local smelters are still using about 6,000 tons of north-east coke weekly. There is continued activity in the by-products trade, and all the works in this locality are as busy as they can possibly be. During the week 1,800 tons of creosote oil has been shipped from Maryport to Birkenhead, from the Maryport Benzol Works. There has been no alteration in either local or export prices. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6 o to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best Cumberland coal f.o.b. at Maryport is 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton, delivered in the district. All classes of bunkers are in very brisk demand. Best sorts for foreign-going vessels are from 25s. to 30s. per ton, and for coastwise vessels, from 21s. 6d. to 25s. per ton. At Maryport best house coal delivered is from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton; with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 2 s. lOd. per ton; with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 21/3 Buckhill best coal „ 22/6 22/6 22/6 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 21/ pit 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/ Best dry small at pit 12/6 12/6 12/ Best steam nuts „ 19/ 19/ 19/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) 25/ 25/ 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 ... Best washed nuts for gas- 20/ 20/ 20/ works 19/ 19/ 19/ . IRON. The west coast haematite iron trade is in a remarkably brisk condition, and the greatest activity continues to prevail in the iron, steel and allied industries in Cumber- land and North Lancashire. Each of the industries is exerting unparalleled efforts to secure a big output, and the production of both iron and steel in this district is now probably larger than it has been for some years. The demand for both special and ordinary iron is enormous. There has probably never been in recent years such an extraordinary call for metal. Makers have more orders on hand than they will be able to cope with for months to come, and at the moment very little new business is being accepted. The entire output is now required for Govern- ment purposes ; smelters have little or none to sell and therefore iron for ordinary commercial work is now almost unobtainable. The distribution is in the hands of the Government, and consignments of metal are being sent to where it is most urgently needed. Proof of the extra- ordinary demand for iron is furnished by the determined efforts which are being made by smelters in both Cumber- land and the Furness area to secure an expansion of production. Busy preparations are still being made at Harrington, Workington, Maryport and in the Furness district for the lighting of additional furnaces, and it is stated that if sufficient labour is forthcoming it may be possible to put three, if not more, furnaces into operation early in the new year. Requirements of iron, however, are still greatly in excess of the supply, and this is likely to be the case even when all the furnaces, which it is hoped may be lighted, are put into full operation. Prices have under- gone no change, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton, f.o.t., while warrants at cash are idle at 115s. per ton. Special iron is 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron is quoted at 135s. 6d. per ton f.o.t With regard to ferro - manganese, the situation is unchanged. The output is being drawn from 29 furnaces, 20 of which are in Cumberland and nine in North Lan- cashire. In Cumberland, there are two furnaces in blast at the Solway, at Maryport; and at Workington, there are four at the Derwent works, three at Moss Bay, two at the Oldside works, and one at the Lowther works. Millom have four furnaces blowing, Cleator Moor and Distington have two each in blast, and in the Furness area Barrow have five, while Carnforth and North Lonsdale have two furnaces each in operation. With the exception of two at Oldside, all the furnaces are engaged on Bessemer, special and semi-special iron, and the entire output is going into immediate consumption. The whole of the make of ordinary iron is retained for use locally at the steel works, and the bulk of the special and semi-special iron is going to consumers engaged on Govern- ment work in the Midlands, Scotland and other parts of the country. There has been no change in connection with the steel trade. All the plants are as busy as they can possibly be, and both Barrow and Workington are maintaining big outputs. Steel rails, light sections, are quoted at from .£12 to <£12 10s. per ton, with heavy sections from .£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s., and billets are a very steady trade at <£12 per ton. Engineers are very busy, and some of the shops in this locality are still working overtime. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom district is in a lemarkable state of activity. Native ore is in firm demand, and all the local iron ore mines are very busily engaged. Efforts are still being made to increase the output in the district. The amount of high grade ore being raised is adequate for all the furnaces on special iron, but supplies of ordinary sorts are still much below requirements, and smelters on ordinary iron are still having to use large quantities of imported iron ore in order to keep all their furnaces in full blast. There has been no alteration in prices. Best Hodbarrow ore is quoted at 38s. per ton, good ordinary grades from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. The imports of foreign ore at Maryport dock last week amounted to 5,900 tons. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The demand for household coal is brisk, and there is a shortage, which is felt especially in the better qualities. Maximum quantities of screened coal for forge and manufacturing purposes are being taken. With regard to shipping things are quiet, more so even than during recent weeks. The commandeering of vessels by the Admiralty, delays through bad weather, and various other causes all contribute to a scarcity of tonnage for general shipping purposes. Government needs tend to increase, but supplies on the whole are ahead of requirements. Quota- tions for Lancashire steam coals may be said to rule from 23s. to 23s. 6d. f.o.b., with concessions in special cases to clear wagons. There is some dislocation in the coastwise and cross channel trade, for which bad weather is respon- sible, and although the merchant on the other side is anxious to get supplies, the bad running of the vessels is interfering with shipments being made. This dislocation at the ports has naturally resulted in a good many wagons being held up and the collieries are suffering in conse- quence, fuel in many cases having had to be put on the floor this week owing to the lack of empty wagons. The demand for slack is keen, and the production is only barely sufficient to meet the demand. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Current prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ upwds. 18/ 23/ -23/6 16/ 15/6 14/6 L’st week’s! Last year’s prices. » prices. 21/ 20/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ upwds. 18/ 23/ -24/ 16/ 15/6 14/6 i 22/6-23/ 1 19/ 20/ -21/ 16/9-17/ 1 18/6-19/ | 16/ -17/ 18/6-19/3 14/6 12/6 11/ -11/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack Secondary slack Common do Rouse coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. Tuesday’s attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange was good. The demand for house coal is brisk, and there is very little offering on open sale. In furnace coal also the demand continues good and coal for shipment is enquired for freely. Slack is in good request, although a number of offers of common qualities are being made. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’sjLast year’s prices. prices. prices. 22/ -23/ ; 22/ -23/ ' 21/ -22/ 19/6-21/ ! 19/6-21/ i 19/ -20/3 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 I 17/ -17/3 17/6-18/ 1 17/6-18/ ' 16/ -17/ 25/ -26/ ; 25/ -26/ | 19/ -21/ 16/upwds 16/ upwds. j 14/ 14,6 upwds; 14/6 up wds^ 11/ -12/ IRON. There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday. Recent prices are all maintained, and new material is extremely hard to secure in anything like a reasonable time. All works are very busy on war material Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The conditions which have prevailed for many weeks continue without appreciable change, except that the pressure for supplies becomes keener. This is particularly so in regard to house coal, which was in very strong request at the market on Tuesday. The attendance was again very large, and included many representatives of traders from a distance. Colliery agents reported full time working of the pits, where there are no stocks of any kind. The wagon supply is far from satisfactory. Delays to traffic are more pronounced, and empties are being held up on the return journey irom long distances, creating difficulties at the collieries, where absenteeism on the part of the men is also causing a good deal of trouble. Blocks on the railway in the south are reported on various lines. With regard to the