THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Vol. CXII. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. No. 2919. COAL AND SHIPPING. i ByRi ’ M.I.M.E., A.M.I.E.E., &c. X.—Ports and Coal Supplies in South America. The total coal resources available in the whole of South America are estimated at about 32,000,000,000 tons, but it is anticipated this figure would be consider- ably increased if further prospecting work were carried out. The coal mining industry has, however, not been developed, the annual production being less than 2,000,000 tons, and averaging, in recent years, about 1,500,000 tons. The coal supplies available at present may therefore be considered as comparatively unimpor- tant. As regards the distribution of these resources, the most important known fields are in Colombia, Chili, and Peru. In Peru, there is a coal field about 65 miles from the coast, Chimbote being the nearest port, and an ■ ■ r '•-.-k'&zz--.. -s ■ ■ .- 1 Fig.31.—Coal Storage Ground of a Monte Video , Depot. (Mann-George.) analysis of some of the coal from this source has shown 76 per cent, carbon and 6 per cent. ash. Also, in the vicinity of Cerro-de-Pasco, coal is mined and utilised by the Cerro-de-Pasco Mining Company; and, again, at Huayday, which is about 70 miles from Malabrigo, and 95 miles from Salaverry—both coast towns—coal has been obtained showing a carbon content of about 85 per cent. Information appears to be somewhat obscure, however, with regard to the quantity available and the quality of the product, the output being mostly utilised locally. Several attempts have been made to discover coal in the Argentine, but all the deposits found have proved of inferior quality, of a lignitic nature, and of insufficient value to justify working. In Brazil, as well, although certain coal fields are known to exist, no developments of any consequence have been made. Colombia is believed to possess the largest coal fields, containing about 80 per cent, of the total resources of South America, but, in point of production,' Chili is responsible for about three-quarters of the total. Coal Supplies. There are four coal mining companies operating in Chili, each of which produces from about 200,000 to 400,000 tons per annum, this output being utilised mostly by the railways and for steamship bunker sup- plies. Chilian coal has generally been considered as of rather poor quality, with high ash and sulphur con- tents—in comparison with Welsh coal—but improve- ments have been evident during the last few years, and it is now claimed to be almost of equal average value with Australian coal. In this connection, reference may be made to a recent report of the Chilian State Railways Addministration, which stated that the average analysis of Arauco coal supplied to the Chilian State Railways during the whole of the year 1915 showed ash impurities 4'75 per cent., calories 7,660. The Arauco Company, which supplies to the Chilian State Railways at Concepcion about 80,000 tons per annum, is the only British coal mining company in Chili, and this company also operates a railway, which is 95 kilomis. in length, extending from the prominent town of Concepcion southward to Curanilahue, passing the coal field, whilst a branch line of 8 kiloms. runs to the town of Arauco itself. It will be evident that, in consequence of its small production, South America is dependent on outside sup- plies of coal—in fact, to the extent of about 6,500,000 tons per annum. Of this quantity, the greater propor- tion is Welsh coal, which is consigned to the Argen- tine, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chili. The shipments from the United States to South American ports during the year 1913 amounted to about 441,000 tons; and Australian coal also has been shipped to a considerable extent to Chili. Since the restric- tions placed on coal shipments from this country, and on tonnage, there have been large demands for coal cargoes from the United States, and the con- dition of the market there, owing to excessive export requirements, has caused inflated prices, although there is no doubt that the United States are looking to South America as a greatly increas- ing market for the export coal trade. Shipping and Routes. The only local coal supply which has really attained prominence for bunker supplies is that mined in Chili, which has been taken more particu- larly at the ports of Coronel, Lota, and Lebu, and by coastal vessels. The demand for bunker sup- plies of Chilian coal has, however, increased during the period of the war, owing, as already mentioned, to the fact that the restricted exports and shortage of tonnage have also affected supplies from Aus- tralia as well ais from this country, and it is worthy of note that the Arauco Company alone has been delivering up to 1,000 tons of bunkers a day. The present price of local supplies for bunkers at Coronel is 46s. per ton f.o.b. trimmed in bunkers, and at Lota it is Is. per ton less. To indicate the Fig. 2.—Coal Store and Plant (Monte Video). increase in price through war conditions, it may be mentioned that the pre-war price was about 25s. The demand for coal in South America is, of course, greatly affected by the condition of trade there. For example, a good grain harvest in the Argentine means increased railway transport, which calls for more coal, and the extra tonnage required for the grain_ cargoes tends to increase freight, and offers opportunities for return coal cargoes. The bulk of the cargoes shipped from the Argentine comprise grain, cattle, and frozen meat, and these trades have developed to an enormous extent, calling for a great amount of tonnage, which hais aided the outward shipment of coal from Great Britain, so that coal consignments from this country to the Argentine and Brazil have amounted to about three- quarters of the total cargo shipments thither. It may be mentioned that the average freight to Buenos Ayres for coal cargoes from South Wales, a distance of about 6,250 miles, was about 13s. during the pre-war year 1913, whilst during 1912 it reached the high average of 20s. 6d. Turning to the question of ocean trade routes to South America from Europe, the course is either to the West Indies and then southward along the east coast, or direct to Pernambuco and south, or to the River Plate ports. Other vessels continue their course through the Straits of Magellan or round Cape Horn, up the west coast, calling at the ports of Chili and Peru, whilst yet others proceed further north through the Pacific to San Francisco and British Columbia. The routes to the Pacific ports, however, as mentioned in a previous article, will probably be affected by the Panama Canal. Another service is between the River Plate ports and New York, and there is also one between Europe and Para. Moreover, there is an extensive traffic in wool, grain, and frozen meat from Australia and New Zealand to Great Britain vid Cape Horn. In addition to the regular services indicated, tramp steamers are much in evidence at South American ports. The foregoing refer- ence to ocean routes and the extent of oversea traffic with South America' has been made because of its effect on bunker coal supplies, and it will therefore now be opportune to refer briefly to the ports where bunker supplies are requisitioned. Projects have been under consideration, from time to time and for many years, with a view to improvement in the conditions which have existed at the prominent ports of South America, and plans have been approved and development work proceeded with in the case of some ports. Brazilian Ports. Proceeding southwards along the Atlantic coast of South America, the ports of Brazil come first under observation, chief among them being Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Santos. At Para, which is situated a considerable distance up the river (about 100 miles), harbour works are in course of development, and there are about 5,000 ft. of quayage at present avail- able, with 30 ft. minimum depth of water alongside, for the discharge and loading of general cargoes. Coal has hitherto been generally discharged at anchorage in the river to lighters, but it has been intended for some time to provide accommodation for discharge alongside the quays. The new port of Pernambuco, known as Recife, is the nearest South American port to Europe. It comprises a jetty 880 yds. in length, which, in conjunction with a new breakwater 1,260 yds. long, forms an outer harbour, which is to be dredged to a depth of 30 ft. The inner harbour, which is to be dredged to a depth of 26 ft., is protected by a new sea wall 3,100 yds. in length, and at the southern end of the port is a dam 13,200 yds. long. Four quays have been constructed, one having a length of 1,045 yds., with a depth of 33 ft. alongside, whilst another, which is 1,810 yds. long, provides a depth of 26 ft. alongside. The quays and warehouses are being equipped with electric and steam cranes, which are to be served by railway tracks totalling 12,000 yds. in length. A coal storage ground has also been provided for, with an area of 27,600 sq. yds., and is to be equipped with two transporter bridges and an elevator and con-