January 12, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 81 required to meet the urgent necessities of factories and works under Government control, and the number of these establishments is still growing. This results in a constant expansion in the quantities that have to be strictly reserved for national purposes, and consequent reduction in the quantity of household coal available for general consumption. There is great pressure to secure supplies to meet the necessities of the thousands of small users at the great centres of population, and the severe weather has brought this up to the maximum. There is a very extensive demand for both main and deep cobbles and nuts for London and district, and after this has been met there is very little available for country stations. The demand for peas for mechanical stokers is now so great that it is very much in excess of the quantities available, and supplies have to be subdivided so as to meet the most urgent cases. The coal yards at country stations are very bare of reserves, and there are no stocks on hand at the pits. Railway-owned wagons are in very short supply, but there are ample numbers of private traders' wagons always in the sidings in consequence of the great improvement in transport. All the collieries are working at high pressure for six and a-half days per week. 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’stweefs 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/ 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/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The attendance on 'Change on* Thursday, being quarter day, was large, but there was no appreciable improvement in conditions. Operations have been hampered during the week by the vile weather, short time having been made at the pits and much delay caused in deliveries. Supplies are not actually short, but there are none to play with, and cartage difficulties are as acute as ever. Last week, increased charges for haulage were notified, and for coal the rate is 20s. a day, but merchants state that they have been paying on this scale for some time. During a recent heavy fog the cost of delivery actually worked out at 7s. a ton. Of the common slacks there are fair supplies, but better- class slacks are scarce. Prices at pit. 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 — IRON. Steadiness was a salient feature of the quarterly meeting on Thursday of the Midland iron and steel trades. Specu- lative buying was conspicuously absent, nor is there any temptation for it at the present time, when prices and supplies are rigidly controlled. But a substantial tonnage of business was put through, and there were also plenty of enquiries about, guaranteeing a continuance of operations on a full scale for months ahead. The attendance included a fair if not a full representation from South Wales, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Liverpool and other centres. A good deal of interest centred in the market for raw material. No alteration in the maximum scale for pig iron seems probable at present, and business, following upon considerable enqmry during the last few days, was active. Sales were made up till the end of March, which is about as far ahead as producers care to go. Maximum values, especially for foundry iron, were firm, but a certain amount of weakness was still discernible fpr one or two makes of Northamptonshire forge pig iron, of which the market is getting quite enough. At the beginning of the first quarter of the new year it may be advisable to re-state the maximum rates. They are:— South Staffordshire common, 90s.; part-mine, forge 95s., foundry, 97s. 6d.; all-mine, forge 115s., foundry 120s.; warm air, forge 145s, foundry 155s.; special quality (Lord Dudley's cylinder), 167s. 6d.; cold blast,- 182s. 6d., North Staffordshire No. 4 forge 95s., foundry numbers 97s. 6d., basic 97s. 6d.; Northamptonshire No. 4 forge 87s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 89s.; No. 3 foundry, 90s.; No. 2 foundry, 92s.; No. 1 foundry, 94s.; basic, 97s. 6d.; Derbyshire : No. 4 forge, 90s.; No. 3 foundry, 92s. 6d.; No. 2 foundry, 94s. 6d.; No. 1 foundry, 95s. 6d.; basic, 97s. 6d. The recently issued regulation with regard to scrap has put this branch on better footing. People with stocks of steel melting scrap were inclined to hold it in the expectation of a revision of the maximum price, and now that this has been accomplished, granting, with the 10s. allowed to be charged for carriage, an advance of 5s. a ton on a considerable proportion of the business done, sales are being made freely enough. A good deal of the scrap is going into South Wales, one of the largest scrap centres. Makers of marked bars have no difficulty in realising the maximum of .£15 10s. a ton. Agricultural implement makers are getting a share of the output for their growing requirements. Makers of common bars have big orders on hand, and there is a pro- nounced business for small rounds, squares, and flats on the basis of <£16 10s for three-eighths sizes. There was no change in the sheet industry. Makers find supplies of semi-finished steel inadequate, and the position as regards American material has not improved. Wire rods have jumped to .£25 and .£26, c.i.f. Liverpool. High prices are being paid for odd lots of other material from America. The Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Association met during the afternoon and reaffirmed the following prices: Best charcoal 48s. per cwt., charcoal 46s., coke (unassorted) 42s. Lydney. Forest of Dean. COAL. There is still a considerable amount of pressure on collieries for despatch of orders, some of which have been on hand for weeks. Fresh orders are as numerous as ever, and the collieries are utterly unable to give the desired supplies. The enquiry from the inland merchants generally is still of an urgent nature, and substantial consignments are put on rail daily. The demand on shipping account is good, but tonnage is scarce. The collieries are stjll experiencing much difficulty in meeting the heavy all-round demand for steam qualities in spite of every effort to keep up production. A large quantity is going to munition works, and the surplus is quite inade- quate to meet other demands. Prices at pithead. 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 House coals:— Block Current prices. 24/ L'st week's prices. 24/. Last year’s prices. 21/6 Forest 23/ 23/- 20/6 Rubble 23/3 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 13/ 216 19/ Rough slack 13/ i 11/6 18/ -19/ Steam coal ■— Large 20/ -21/ 16/ -17/ 20/ -21/ Small ... 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 that the railway forwarding of coal to the south-western district is now in a much more satisfactory state, although a good many wagons under load remain at some of the back sidings. Still, the \ trains that are now being despatched from the various colliery districts are coming through promptly. Best house and steam coals are somewhat scarce, and prompt lots command high prices ; secondary fuel is a little more readily obtainable, and small coal is plentiful. Very little has been done in the way of shipments. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, January 11. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. Owing to the slow arrival of tonnage during the past few days, due chiefly to stormy weather, the coal market has been in an uncertain condition, with a slight tendency for prices to droop. There is so little free coal now available that colliery owners are not able to make much play with prices, but it is felt that the present conditions are quite temporary, and that the market will harden again very soon. There is now a good output of coal and a freer control ever wagons. A good deal of tonnage is expected to arrive at Newport within the ensuing week. Pitwood continues to improve in value, the scarcity being marked. Sellers are asking 53s. to 54s. for ready supplies of wood. The iron and steel works of the district are working at full pressure. There is an improved outlook for the tin-plate trade. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week's Last year's Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 30/ -31/ j 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ W estern-valley s, ordin’y 29/ -30/ ; 29/ -30/ 28/ -28/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 28/ -29/ 1 28/ -29/ 27/ -27/6 Secondary do. 26/6-27/6 I 26/6-27/ 25/6-26/ Best small coals 18/ -19/ j 18/ -19/ 15/ -15/6 Secondary do 12/ -17/ 12/ -17/ 14/ -14/6 Inferior do /. 1. 8/ - 9/ 10/ -11/ 9/6-10/6 Screenings 19/6-20/6 19/ 15/6-16/ Through coals 27/ 22/6 17/6-18/ Best washed nuts — — .18/ —18/6 Other sorts:— Best house coal 35/ -36/ 24/ -25/ 22/ -24/ Secondary do 30/ -31/ 22/6 21/ -22/ Patent fuel 35/ -37/ 35/ -37/ 27/ -27/6 Furnace coke 47 6-52/ 32/ -35/ Foundry coke 57/6-60/ — 40/ -42/6 Cardiff. COAL. Market conditions are on the slow side, and the outlook is scarcely so favourable as it was a week ago owing to the uncertainty which prevails with regard to the tonnage position at the latter end of the month. Arrivals during the past few days have fallen short of expectations, but this may be accounted for to a certain extent by the stormy weather which was experienced over the week end. Tn many quarters the lull is believed to be only temporary, and where these optimistic views are held quotations are firmly maintained, but buyers with prompt tonnage at their disposal have little difficulty in obtaining concessions. The whole situation has a rather unsettling influence on prices, and whilst owners are holding strongly for even higher rates for future business, current transactions are more or less dependent on individual bargaining, with the result that in some instances there is a wide margin in the quotations. Stocks are again accumulating in the sidings, and sellers are rather inclined to hold off the market in the hope of prices becoming easier. Shipments last week again showed a very heavy decrease, the total exports from the four principal ports of the Channel only amounting to 291,166 tons, compared with 399,933 tons in the corres- ponding week of last year, or a decrease of 108,767 tons. From Cardiff there were shipped 173,940 tons, against 267,618 tons in the corresponding week, or a falling off of 93,678 tons. Of this quantity France received 103,469 tons, Italy 21,035 tons, depots 23,487 tons, and neutrals 25,949 tons. Newport shipments amounted to 49,561 tons, com- pared with 59,986 tons, or a decrease of 10,425 tons, and of this quantity France took 30,130 tons, and Gibraltar 9,524 tons. Swansea exported 41,084 tons, or a decline of 31,245 tons, of which the great bulk, amounting to 34,643 tons, went to France. Out of a total of 26,581 despatched from Port Talbot, 16,782 tons were conveyed to France and 9,757 tons to Huelva. Patent fuel shipments were on a small scale, and only amounted to 7,290 tons, or 4,454 tons more than in the corresponding week of last year. Of the tonnage employed 78 per cent, was foreign owned, and only 22 per cent. British. Chartering was on a small scale, amounting to 23,700 tons for the five days, or 13,550 tons more than on the Christmas holiday week. In accordance with the decision arrived at a few days ago, the French and Italian Limitation Committee proceeded to allocate tonnage, but complications arose, and it was reported in several instances that the masters of vessels declined to load or to sail except for their original charterers. The matter was referred to the Central Committee in London, and it is understood that the difficulty will be overcome during the present week. In the meantime, the allocation scheme is at a standstill, and if proceeded with, it is stated that a test case will be fought out in the Courts in order to settle the rights of the parties. So far as prices are con- cerned, the market shows little alteration, but, if anything, there is a slightly easier tendency. Second Admiralties are obtainable at 30s. to 31s , and ordinaries from £8s. to 30s. Monmouthshires are steady at relative figures, Black Veins being 30s. to 30s., western valleys 29s. to 30s., and eastern valleys 28s. to 29s. per ton. Small coals have been quoted up to 22s. for best qualities, but current. rates are on the basis of 19s. to 20s., ordinaries being Is. less, and cargo qualities from 15s. to 17s. For bituminous coals the demand has been slow, No. 3 Rhondda large being 29s. to 30s., No. 2 26s. to 27s., and other grades in proportion. Patent fuel ranges from 34s. to 37s. according to quality. Coke is unchanged and scarce. There is a shortage of pitwood, and French and Spanish fir is realising as much as 54s. to 55s. per ton. 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 30/ -31/ 30/ -32/6 — Ordinary steams 28/ -30/ 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ Best bunker smalls 19/ -20/ 19/ —20/ 17/ -17/6 Best ordinaries 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 15/ -15/6 Cargo qualities 15/ -17/ 15/ -17/ 10/ -12/6 Inferior smalls 12/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 8/ -10/ Best dry coals 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 28/ -/30 Ordinary drys 26/ -27/6 26/ -27/6 27/ -28/ Best washed nuts 27/6-30/ 25/ -21 IQ 25/ -27/ Seconds 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 22/ -24/ Best washed peas 25/ -27/6 24/ -25/ 22/ -24/ Seconds 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 19/ -21/ Dock screenings 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 29/6-30/ Western-valleys 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 29/ -29/6 Eastern-valleys 28/ -29/ 28/ -30/ 27/ -28/ Inferior do 27/ -28/ 26/ -28/ 26/ -27/ 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/ 28/ -30/ 24'6-25/6 Throiigh-and-through 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Small 20/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 20/ -21/ No. 2 Rhondda— J-l Large 26/ -27/ 27/ -28/ 24/ -25/ Through-and-through 20/ -22/6 21/ -23/ ■ 20/ -21/ Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ ’ 14/6-15/6 Best patent fuel 36/ -37/ 35/ -36/ 27/6-30/ Seconds '. 34/ -35/ 34/ -35/ 25/ -26/ Special foundry coke 62/6-67/6 62/6-67/6 42/ -45/ Ordinary do. 55/ -60/ 55/ -60/ , 38/ -42/ Furnace coke 47/6-52/6 47/6-52/6 1 52/ —53/ 32/ -35/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 54/ -55/ 52/ -53/ * Nominal. IRON. As a result of the recent deputation to the Ministry of Munitions, allocation of supplies has now been decided upon, and all tin-plate bars are now controlled by the Government in the same way as haematite pig iron for steel works. The result is that each tin-plate works is allotted: the quantity it is entitled to from the total quantity fixed for tin-plate purposes, so that there may be equality of labour and supplies. No sales or deliveries from stock or otherwise can now be made without class A or B certificates. All prices are nominal. Production last week amounted to 39,126 boxes, against 28,166 boxes exported, leaving 203,041 boxes in stock, against 192,081 boxes the previous week and 287,441 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, but all the mills are engaged in the production of black-plate, painted sheets, and trench plates for war purposes. Corrugated sheets are nominal, and the same remark applies to steel bars and pig iron. Spelter is unaltered at £50 5s. per ton. The iron ore market is steady without, change, and there is no alteration in scrap metals, which are being dealt in at limitation prices.