December 8, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1121 Forest of Dean. Lydney. COIL. In the house coal branch of the trade conditions become more strenuous, and there is an almost daily increase in the urgent calls for deliveries. The large number of arrear orders are still occupying much attention, and all new bookings have to take regular turn—which means despatch some time in January. Orders from the inland buyers are still plentiful, many merchants showing anxiety with regard to supplies. The shipping business is considerably handicapped owing to the serious scarcity of tonnage. All kinds of manufacturing fuel are in heavy request, and strong pressure is being brought to bear on collieries for supplies. All the pits are considerably in arrear with their deliveries, and there is no prospect of the position becoming easier for some time to come. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. 1 prices. prices. Block 24/ i 24/ 21/6 Forest 23/ I 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 i 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 ‘ 19/ Rough slack 13/ i 13/ 11/6 Steam coal — j-/ I Large 20/ 20/ 18/ -19/ Small | 16/ -17/ , 16/ -17/ 13/ -14/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a good demand in the south-western counties for house and steam coal. Supplies are now coming forward in good quantities regu- larly. The railways having' released the bar on traffic west of Totnes, coal wagons are coming through regularly and without delay. Prices of household qualities are firmly maintained, but unscreened and slack are tolerably abun- dant. Welsh steam coal is also obtainable at a moderate price as compared with that from other districts. Steam and sailing freights continue quite prohibitive, being very much above the rail freight. THE WELSH C0AL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, Dccember 7. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The steam coal trade continues with a very slack move- ment, quietness prevailing in every branch. Tonnage supplies are far from satisfactory, arrivals having been less numerous than expected, and with little immediate prospect of improvement. Under these conditions values are very irregular, and depend largely upon the position at collieries. Up to 27s. 6d. has been the figure for large coals, and at this Eastern Valley has changed hands, as well as the usually higher priced coals from the more westerly districts, where perhaps pit stoppages for the want of wagons have been more frequent. Pending the disclosure of more ^information regarding the intentions of the Government as to the future of the trade, there is no forward business at all being done, while both enquiries and demand are much slower than salesmen like. The house coal trade is fairly steady for inland delivery, and slow for exports. Patent fuel and coke quiet and unchanged. Pitwood with scanty supplies is a little dearer, at 48s. to 50s. for good wood ex ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. i Current Steam coals:— | prices. Best Black Vein large... 27/ -28/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 26/ -27/ Best Eastern-valleys ..J 25/ -26/ Secondary do. ...■ 24/ -25/ Best small coals ......( 18/ -19/ Secondary do........... 15/ -17/ Inferior do............ 12/ -14/ Screenings ............ 18/ -19/ Through coals ..... Best washed nuts.... Other sorts:— Best house coal...... Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ........ L’st week’s prices. 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ 27/ -28/ 24/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 19/6—20/ 20/ -23/ 25/ -27/. Last year’s prices. 21/6-22/ 20/6-21/6 20/ -21/ 19/6-20/ 12/ -13/ 10/ -11/ 8/ -9/ 15/3-15/6 15/9-16/3 22/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 24/ -24/6 32/ -34/ 36/ -38/ 24/6-26/6 24/ -26/6 22/ -24/ I 22/ -24/ 36/ -38/ < 37/6-40/ 47'6-52/6 ! 50/ -52/6 57/6-65/ | 57/6-60/ IRON. There is little fresh to report in the conditions of the local iron and steel trades, which are maintaining the extreme activity of the past few months, and all works, with the exception of most of the tin-plate forges, are being pressed to the fullest possible limit to maintain their highest outputs. There is nothing fresh to report from tin- plate and sheet bar mills, which, like the rail mills, continue exceedingly busy. Blast furnaces are all actively employed, with makers well booked for some time ahead. The quiet conditions recently reported in the tin-plate trade continue in force, the various difficulties now prevailing as regards permits for shipments, &c., severely handicapping all fresh business. Prices generally remain nominal. COAL. Cardiff. Dramatic changes have taken place in the position of the South Wales coal trade since last week. The independent audit by the Government should prove conclusively whether the men are entitled to the advance or not, and, if so, there will be no difficulty in awarding them the increase. The granting of the increase to the men is resented by the awners, on the ground that it is a breach of the agreement, and strong representations have been made on this point. The only thing that matters is that the questions in dispute have been referred to a Departmental Committee to decide. In the meantime, the market has been very little affected, so far as prices are concerned. The question of values is another matter. At the time of writing, colliery shares in public companies had depreciated to the extent of nearly a million sterling in consequence of Government control, and it is believed that this sum will be greatly increase! in the near future, owing to the enhanced cost of working under Government regulations. Shipments last week amounted to 264,533 tons, against 358,580 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 94,047 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 142,120 tons, against 194,427 tons, of which 52,742 tons went to France, 29,375 tons to Italy, 19,529 tons to depots, and 40,474 tons to neutral countries. From Newport the exports were 68,754 tons, against 70,159 tons in the corresponding period, of which 37,666 tons went to France, 13,255 to Italy, 1Q,5O7 tons to depots, and 7,326 tons t© neutrals. Swansea despatched 24,097 tons, against 55,689 tons in the corres- ponding week, of which 17,458 tons went to France. Port Talbot shipments were 29,562 tons, against 38,312 tons, of which 24,298 tons went to France. Chartering was not so active, the amount of tonnage taken up being 74,970 tons, against 85,300 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 10,310 tons. The Customs returns show that of the whole quantity of exports from the four principal ports of the Channel, 78'61 per cent, was carried in foreign-owned craft, and only 21'39 per cent, in British-owned vessels. The Greek situation has added to the difficulties, and vessels bound to Greek ports have been barred from sailing until the political basis is more clear than it is at present. So far as prices are concerned, there is little change. Ordinary seconds are 27s. to 30s., according to the availability of tonnage, ordinary steams 25s. to 26s. Monmouthshires are in relative proportion, Black Veins being 29s. to 30s., western valleys 28s. to 29s., and easterns 27s. to 28s. The small coal market continues steady, best bunkers being 19s. to 20s., ordinaries 17s. to 19s., and cargo qualities 15s. to 17s. per ton. In the bituminous section there was little doing, No. 3 Rhondda being steady at 29s. to 30s., No. 2 28s. to 30s., and other descriptions at proportionate prices. Patent fuel is steady at 37s. 6d. to 40s., and coke is unchanged. Pitwood is firm at 49s. to 50s., imports being several thousand tons lower than usual. 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 * i _* Seconds 27/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 1 — Ordinary steams 25/ -26/ 27/ -28/ 20/ -22/ Best bunker smalls 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 12/6-13/ Best ordinaries 1 17/ -19/ 17/ -19/ 11/6—12/ Cargo qualities 15/ -17/ 15/ -17/ 8/6- 9/ Inferior smalls 115/ -17/ 14/ -16/ 7/ - 8/ Best dry coals 26/ -27/6 \ 26/ -27/6 25/ -26/ Ordinary drys 24/ -26/ ( 24/ -26/ 22/ —24/ Best washed nuts 27/6-30/ 30/ -31/ 25/ -27/ Seconds 27/ -28/ 29/ -30/ > 22/ -24/ Best washed peas 26/ -27/6 29/ -30/ 17/6-18/6 Seconds 25/ —26/ 28/ -29/ 15/6-16/6 Dock screenings 10/6-12/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 29/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 21/6-22/ Western-valleys 28/ -29/ 27/ -29/ 21/ -21/6 Eastern-valleys 27/ -28/ 25/ -27/6 20/6-21/ Inferior do 23/ -26/ 24/ -26/ 20/ -20/6 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/ -22/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 23/ -24/ Through-and-through 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 21/6-22/6 Small 20/ -22/ 20/ —22/ 19/6-20/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 18/ -18/6 Through-and-through 20/ -22/6 20/ -22/6 | 14/ -15/ Small 18/ -20/ ' 18/ -20/ * 11/ -11/6 Best patent fuel 39/ -40/ 38/ -40/ | 24/ —25/ Seconds 37/6-39/ 37/ -39/ | 22/ -23/ Special foundry coke i 62/6-67/6 62/6-67/6 j 42/ -45/ Ordinary do. ! 55/ -60/ 55/ -60/ \ 38/ -40/ Furnace coke 50/ -55/ 50/ -55/ 1 31/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) i 49/ -50/ 48/ -50/ 52/ -53/ * Nominal. IRON. For A and B certificate work there is still a good margin for stock plates, but prices have increased all round, owing to the great diminution in production. Prices are quoted as nominal, but the fact that only 35 per cent, of the mills are now working has had a stiffening effect upon quota- tions, and rates are generally higher. It is likely in the near future that production will be still further restricted, owing to the shortage of steel bars and acid. Bessemer standard cokes are quoted at 34s. and upwards, with the usual reduction for A and B certificates. Oil sizes are in the same proportion. In the galvanised sheet trade there there is no change. The few mills running are chiefly engaged on Government work, and 24-gauge corrugateds are nominally quoted at £29 and upwards. Welsh steel bars are also nominal, and the same remark applies to pig iron. Iron ore is unaltered, and there is no change in scrap metals. Llanelly. COAL. The tone of the market continues on the weak side, and until tonnage supplies are more favourable there cannot be any improvement. In the anthracite section large kinds were very easy, and concessions in price for prompt ship- ment obtainable. Machine-made qualities were also slow, but owing to the reduced number of days worked by the collieries supplies are limited. Large steam coals of the better grades are firm, but through and smalls are very easy, with good allowances made for prompt clearance of wagons. Manufacturing and house coals are firm. This week’s quotations are approximately as follows :— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do. ... .... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do........... Paris do............ Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current jL’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices, j prices. 29/6-32/ I 29/6-32/ I 35/ -37/ 27/6-30/ i 27/6-30/ : 33/ -35/ 25/6-28/ I 25/6-28/ ■ 35/ -37/ 24/ -25/ j 24/ -25/ 31/ -33/ 37/6—40/ i 37/6-40/6 : 42/ -44/ 37/6-39/6 i 37/6-39/6 44/6-47/ 38/ -40/ I 38/ -40/ 47/6-49/ 37/ -39/ 37/ -39/6 46/6-47/ 28/6-29/6 28/6-29/6 31/ -32/ 20/ -22/ ’ 20/ -22/ : 19/ -20/ 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 7/ - 7/6 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 2/ - 2/6 27/ -28/6 27/ -28/6 22/ -24/ 19/6-22/6 19/6-22/6 14/ -15/6 13/6-17/ 13/6-17/ 6/ - 8/ 17/ -19/6 17/ -19/6 15/6-16/6 Swansea. COAL. Some improvement was shown in the trade of the port last week. Coal and patent fuel exports totalled 52,252 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change, but no improvement to report in the anthracite coal market. Large coal of all qualities was weak, and machine-made cobbles, nuts and beans were all obtainable at less than quoted figures for anything like prompt shipment. Peas were unchanged, but rubbly culm was a shade easier. Duff was firm and rather difficult to stem. Steam coals were still weak, with a very poor enquiry forward. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 36/ -37/ Secondary do. 27/ -29/ 28/ -30/ 34/ -36/ Big Vein Valley large... 24/ —27/ . 25/ -28/ 35/6-36/6 Red Vein large i 22/ -25/ 24/ -26/ 32/ -35/ Machine - made cobbles ' 37/6-40/ 38/6-42/6 43/ -45/ Paris nuts I — — French do ! 37/6-40/ : 38/ -42/6 47/ -49/ 37/6-41/6 44/ -47/6 28/6-29/6 32/ -34/6 Stove do ■ 36/6-39/ Beans 27/6-29/ Machine - made large peas 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ : 18/ -19/6 Do. fine peas — Rubbly culm 12/ -12/6 12/6-13/6 7/3- 8/ Duff 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 , 2/6- 3/ Steam coals:— Best large ' 27/ -28/ 28/ -30/ 20/ -24/ Seconds 25/ -26/ 27/ -28/ 17/ -19/ Bunker throughs 20/ -24/ 21/ -25/ 13/6-15/6 Small 12/ -18/ 15/ -20? ‘ 6/ - 8/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 29/ -30/ 30/ -32/ ’i 23/ -26/ Thro’-and-thro’ — 1 — Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -22/ ! 15/ -16/ Patent fuel 36/ -38/ 38/ -40/ I 22/ -23/ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, December 7. Dublin. No change has occurred in any direction this week, and although the trade is fairly active, less business is doing than usual at similar seasons. Current prices of coal in the city are as follow: Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; retail prices, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack of 10 st.; best coke, 44s. per ton; steam coal, about 40s. per ton. Irish coals from Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, are : Malting, gas, and house coal, 45s. per ton; steam coal, 20s. to 40s.; culm, 12s. to 15s. per ton—all f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connection. It is stated that an offer has been forthcoming from America of capital to build a railway connecting the above collieries with the main line near Athy. The original estimate for construction was about £53,000, the present estimate being £60,000. The coal vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 71, as compared with 55 the week previously, chiefly from Glasgow, Garston, Ayr, Ardrossan, Point of Aire, Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, Whitehaven, Newport, Silloth, West Bank, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, and Partington. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 27,000 tons, as against 22,000 tons in the previous week. Belfast. The local market is more active in all departments, and there has been a sharp advance in prices of house coal since last report. The increased difficulty in obtaining supplies is now being more keenly felt. Current quotations for household coals are: Best Arley, 43s. 6d. per ton; Orrell nuts, 42s. 6d.; English house, 41s. 6d.; Scotch, 39s. 6d.; all less Is. per ton discount. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were from Whitehaven, Glasgow, Garston, Cardiff, Partington, Ellesmere Port, Point of Aire, W’orking- ton, Ayr, Maryport, Birkenhead, and Ardrossan. OBITUARY. Second-Lieut. G. Wm. Robson, aged 21, 8th Durham Light Infantry, only son of Mr. Wm. Robson, manager of Adelaide Colliery, Durham, was killed in action on November 5. Prior to joining the Army, deceased was with the chief surveyor at Cwmaman Collieries, Aberdare, South Wales. Mr. Watson Hunter (74), who carried on business for many years as a coal shipper, died at Hartlepool. Mr. Robert Colver, of the firm of Sir Joseph Jonas, Colver and Company, steel manufacturers, Leeds, died on Saturday last, at the age of 74. For many years he was on the board of Messrs. J. and G. Wells, of Eckington Collieries. The death has taken place at Carrick-on-Shannon of Mr. Michael Leydon, J.P., a well-known mining expert in Leitrim, and owner of coal mines at Arigna.