1224 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December 22, 1916. Hull. COAL. The market has had a holiday tone all the week so far as the export trade is concerned. The want of shipping tonnage continues to be very marked, and except for the little there is doing for neutral countries in their own steamers, next to nothing in the way of fresh business is to be recorded. Transport to France is still a long way below actual requirements, and shipments are suffering in conse- quence. Owing to scarcity of coal on offer, brought about by the enormous inland demand, quotations are firm and range a little higher, approximate, but more or less nominal, values for this month’s shipment, f.o.b., being as follow:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 29s. 6d. to 80s.; washed doubles and singles, 24s. to 25s.; washed small coal, 17s.; rough slack, 15s. 6d. to 16s. ; gas and house fuels (screened), 26s. to 28s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. to 27s. 6d.; Parkgates, 26s.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), 28s. to 29s. In the freight market there has been only a limited amount of business at limitation rates to France, while steamers have been fixed at 33 kr. Hull to Gothenburg (much more is now asked) and 34s. 6d. Hull to Malaga. Chesterfield. COAL. The wintry weather has caused a very greatly increased demand for house coal, and collieries are inundated with orders, customers clamouring for the execution of these before Christmas. Only a small proportion of them can be dealt with. The approaching suspension of work at the pits has quickened the demand for fuel for the large iron and steel establishments of Sheffield. Collieries are, how- ever, handicapped by the serious shortage of railway wagons, which in many cases has had the effect of stopping work at the collieries. The position is aggravated by fog and snowstorms, which have interfered seriously with the regular working of railway traffic. All classes of coal are urgently wanted, and several qualities are quite unobtain- able outside contracts. Nuts have never been known to be so scarce as they are now. Gas companies are badly wanting supplies of gas coal, and railway companies are pressing for locomotive coal. There is a fair demand for coal for export, but business is made extremely difficult by the shortage of shipping tonnage. Prices are a shade firmer on the week, which is, no doubt, due to the fact that exporters require more coal in order to get away, before the holidays, such steamers as have been stemmed for the present week. The demand for all classes of coke is fully maintained, and the market is firm and active. Prices at pit. Best house coals Secondary do Current prices. 17/ 16/6 L’st week’s prices. 17/ 16/6 Last year’s prices. 17/ 16/6 Cobbles 16 16 16/ Nuts /. 15/ 15 AM/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/6 IRON. The market is strong for all classes of iron and the works of the district are actively employed, the various plants being pressed to their utmost capacity. Nottingham. COAL. With the approach of Christmas and the prevalence of keener wintry weather, there has been a heavier demand on the domestic fuel branch during the past week. Local merchants have experienced something of a rush of orders, which they are unable to carry out fully. Merchants in London and the country districts are strongly pressing for deliveries, but in their case some inconvenience has been caused in the delay of transit owing to fog. Notwithstand- ing, owners are endeavouring to fairly distribute the output to obviate any undue shortage to the public. Better class grades are still somewhat difficult to obtain, but merchants do not hesitate to accept second or common sorts in view of the present shortage. The pressure on the steam fuel branch is being fully maintained and all the output is readily disposed of, there being plenty of eager purchasers for the surplus available after the tonnage has been allotted to munition works and the railway companies. Slacks generally are in active request, particularly those suitable for coke making, but there is a fairly good supply of smalls. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 18/6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ —18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ Last year’s prices. 17/6-18’6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ 11/ Leicestershire. COAL. Conditions are more strenuous and difficult. The short- age of railway owned wagons is extremely trying. There are many privately owned wagons available, but they cannot be used for other purposes. Where space is avail- able coal is being stored on the banks, but this is a costly method during a period of great labour shortage. All the railway owned wagons are exclusively used for the transit of coal, and where collieries have other subsidiary works they cannot execute even Government orders, because no wagons can be spared. The demand for all classes of coal is large, and the severe weather has brought a great influx of business for the supply of consumers. Large proportions of the output have to be reserved for Government purposes and household has to diverted for this purpose. The result is that only the most urgent orders can be dealt with. There is a great demand for main and deep cobbles and nuts for -London and district. Small dust is accumulating in consequence of the shortage of stokers at the places of consumption. Full time of five and three-quarter days is being worked. Prices at pit. Best household coal ..... Second, hand picked ..... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ......... Bakers’ nuts...... ...... Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners.............. Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze......... ... Current prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ —16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 L’st week’s prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 14/ -15/ 14,6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ —15/ 12/6-13/6 LaSt year’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6—15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ —13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13 6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There has been a considerable rush during the week on the part of the public to get in supplies before Christmas, but a lot of the orders have to be held over through inability to overtake them. The demand has also been stimulated by the wintry weather which has set in. A general shortage of wagons exists, which prevents even the short supplies available being fully utilised. Manufacturing demand absorbs a large proportion of output. The Christmas holiday at the pits will probably last for three days next week. Prices at pit: Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. i prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ ' 22/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ — Do. best shallow 19/ i 19/ — Do. seconds do. ! 18/ i 18/ — Best hard i 18/6 18/6 — Forge coal 16/ 11/6 i 16/ — Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 — House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ — cobs 18/ i 18/ — Best hard spires 20/ 20/ — Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ — D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 — Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 — IRON. With the near approach of Christmas the market was rather sparsely attended. Activity, however, continues to dominate the condition of the iron and steel industries of the district, and the holiday break will be reduced to a minimum.» All the works are going at full pressure, and only orders under the primary certificates of the Ministry of Munitions are accepted. Interest continues to centre in pig iron. In recent weeks there has been a big recovery, and now maximum prices are demanded for all descriptions, forge and foundry alike. The output is mainly for Govern- ment purposes, and a good export enquiry continues for allied countries, but a certain amount of delay is experienced in getting the material away by reason of the difficulty of procuring wagons. The regular working of mills and forges at home also causes a big home demand for pig iron, and this has been a factor in the improved position. Bar iron makers are so favourably placed that they are not quoting forward, and here too no order which does not carry the A certificate has any chance of consideration. Unmarked bars are firm at <£13 15s net at makers’ works, and nut and bolt iron is firm at £14 5s. net. The call for small iron is maintained at high pressure. The sheet trade shows little variation from recent weeks. Black corrugated sheets are <£19 10s. (unpainted), and galvanised <£26 10s. minimum. Hoops (iron and steel) remain at <£17 10s. to <£19. These branches are are not under control, and with few exceptions prices are now quoted net. The copper sheet market is easier than for some time, a result doubtless of the regulation of sales by the Government. The price is now <£185 a ton, being a drop of <£4 on the week. Practically no steel is available for ordinary trade, and consumers are unwilling to pay the extravagant prices asked for American material. There is, therefore, little on offer for the time being. A small quantity of finished steel has been coming through, the price mentioned being <£18 to <£20 a ton c.i.f. Liverpool. The cold-rolled steel trade has fallen into line with other branches in the matter of abolishing discounts, but prices have been readjusted, so that they will not be higher. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a good wholesale demand in the south western counties for house and steam coal. Prices continue firm and supplies are by no means abundant. At some points a considerable blockage on the railway has occurred. Very little coal of any kind is being imported at the ports along the south coast, and this has thrown an extra and unexpected burden on the railways. Lydney. Forest of Dean. COAL. The pressure for supplies of the household coals produced in this district has been exceedingly acute since last writing. Many of the merchants appear to be in a hopeless position, having to deal out reduced supplies as best they can. The enquiry for steam and manufacturing fuel is very heavy and is steadily increasing in volume, but outputs are decidedly short of requirements. The enormous amounts of preferential claims for supplies is leaving very little fuel available for distribution in other directions. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 24/ ■ 24/ 23/ 21/6 Forest 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 : 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 19/ Rough slack Steam coal — : 13/ i 13/ 11/6 Large ? 20/ -21/ 20/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/ Small ... i 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, Dccembeb 21. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. A welcome influx of tonnage the early part of the week has enlivened the coal export trade considerably. Ship- ments have been brisk and heavy, all parties working to get away all tonnage possible before the holidays, so stronger conditions like these are not without effect upon current values. Moreover, shippers cannot discount too easily the effect upon colliery outputs of the holiday stoppage, although great efforts are being made to minimise this, and confine it within the limits of Christmas and Boxing days. The idle position of the chartering market is the most disappointing feature just now, tonnage being very scarce indeed, despite the high offers for any destina- tion outside the limitation scheme. Pitwood continues in good demand, buyers giving up to 50s. for good wood of suitable sizes. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. ! Current L’st week’s|Last year’s Steam coals: - prices. prices. | prices. Best Black Vein large... 29/ -30/ 26/ -27/ 24 6-25/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 28/ -29/ 25/ -26/ j 23/6-24/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 26/ -28/ 24/ -25/ | 23/ -23/6 Secondary do. ... 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ Best small coals .... 17/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 13/ -13/3 Secondary do .... 14/ -16/ 12/ -16/ 11/6 12/ Inferior do .... 12/ -14/ : 10/ -12/ 8/6-9/6 Screenings ..... 19/ -20/ ' 17/ -18/ 13/3-13/6 Through coals . .. ; — 15/3-15/6 Best washed nuts — — 16/ -16/3 Other sorts:— Best house coal .... 24/6-26/6 24/6-25/6 22/ -24/ Secondary do .... 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 21/ -22/ Patent fuel .'... 35/ -37/ 35/ -37/ 24/ -24/6 Furnace coke ...J 47'6-52/6 47/6-52/6 32/ -35/ Foundry coke ....j 57/6-62/6 62/6-65/ 37/ -40/ IRON. Continued activity dominates the present conditions of the local iron and steel trades. In many cases extensions to works are being pushed forward with all speed to endeavour to relieve the existing pressure. All works are going at full capacity, and, with the exception of tin-plates, makers are exceedingly well placed. There is little fresh to report at the tin-plate and sheet bar mills, as well as rail mills. In both departments the highest possible outputs are maintained, and prices are purely nominal. Blast furnaces also continue exceedingly busy, Welsh haematite being officially unaltered on the week. No developments of a favourable nature have taken place with regard to the tin-plate trade, and while there are some fairly good enquiries on the market, general con- ditions must still be regarded as unsatisfactory. Iron ore supplies continue to arrive in fair quantities, several cargoes being now in the port awaiting discharge. Cardiff. COAL. In view of the approaching Christmas holidays, Admiralty requirements have been materially heavier than usual, and some of the collieries producing the best steam coals have been stemmed throughout the week. Fortunately arrivals of tonnage over the week end were very satisfactory, and when the market opened on Monday it was characterised by a more buoyant tone than has been the case for weeks past. For some time business has been done at figures below limitation prices, but on Monday there was a marked improvement in tone, and this was followed on Tuesday by an advance in quotations. Owing to the increased Govern- ment demands, very little of the superior coals came on to the market, but for secondary descriptions the price ranged from 29s. to 30s., whilst ordinary steams commanded 27s. to 28s., or 2s. more than could be obtained at the end of last week. In some cases, however, middlemen were induced to accept 27s. 6d. for prompt shipment, but for next week’s loading and also early January business, higher figures are being demanded. The miners’ holiday will be two days, and it is therefore anticipated that the large stocks which have been standing on the sidings will be greatly reduced. This will release a great number of wagons, and colliery owners will be in a more comfortable position than they have been since October. Their ideas for January loading are considerably firmer, but of course whether their hopes will be realised depends entirely on the facilities granted by the licensing authority. There has been an increased demand for Monmouthshire coals, and although quotations do not show much alteration, sellers are asking up to 30s. for best descriptions, although there was little to choose in this respect between Eastern and Western Valleys and Black Veins. In the small coal market there is also a firmer tone, but at the time of writing there had been no material advance, and prices were in the neighbourhood of 19s. to 20s. for best qualities, and 13s. to 16s. for cargo sorts. There was a better enquiry for bituminous coals, and rates are rather higher, No. 3 Rhondda large being 28s. to 30s.; No. 2, 25s. to 26s., and smalls 19s. to 21s. and 18s. to 20s. res pectively. Paten