March 16, 1917. ^^racsmi^BiCTffisssissiEsssssssKaEs THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 537 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. Business in the prompt coal market during most of the week has been exceedingly scanty, by reason of lack of transport facilities. During the last two or three days, however, arrivals of neutral tonnage have improved to some extent, and the tone of the market has proportionately brightened. The improvement is not very great so far as collier tonnage supplies are concerned, but it is welcome as, it is hoped, a harbinger of more adequate cargo-space. It has enabled shipments to coasting ports — especially to the Thames—to be rather larger, and, to that extent, should assist in overcoming the metropolitan coal shortage. There is still urgent need of very much more tonnage, however, for there is a keen demand for spot coals, a demand which must remain unsatisfied for the most part until steamer arrivals are more numerous. A good deal of time is still being lost by the collieries, and substantial discounts are still on offer to those purchasers who can take immediate delivery. F.o b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied little on the week, the only changes being that Tyne steam seconds are 2s. 6d. cheaper and that Tyne smalls are Is. down. Coke is in active demand, and the output is readily absorbed at very firm figures. There has been considerable discussion locally with reference to the Coal Controller’s notice regarding the making of no contracts for more than three months ahead and the advantages of coal supplies being taken from the nearest possible collieries. It is recognised that, whilst these provisions may cause some inconvenience and, possibly, some expense to big consumers such as gas and railway companies, they are war measures, and, in so far as they economise energy, are entitled to respect and compliance. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ 30/ 32/6 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ < 31/6-32/6 Secondary, Blyths 21/ -22/ 21/ —22/ j 28/6-30/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 22/6 22/6-25/ I 29/ -30/ Unscreened 18/ -20/ 18/ —20/ 1 25/ -27/ Small, Blyths 18/ 18/ ! 17/ -18/ Do. Tynes 17/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -15/6 Do. specials 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Other sorts:— Smithies 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 25/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 25/ 25/ 25/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 17/ -19/ 28/ -30/ 17/ -19/ 24/ -24/6 Special gas coals 28/ -30/ 27/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 17/ -20/ 17/ -20/ 23/ -25/ Do. do. ’ N orthumbrians 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 26/ -27/ Coking coals 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 22/ -24/ Do. smalls 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 22/ House coals 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 32/6 Coke, foundry 40/ -42/6 40/ -42/6 ; 41/ -42/6 Do. blast-furnace j 38/ 38/ 1 41/ Do. gas | 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 27/ -28/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 33,095 tons of coal, as compared with 73,170 tons of coal for the corresponding period of 1916, being a decrease of 40,075 tons. The coal market is still without any material change, except in so far as rather fuller arrivals will assist the collieries a little over a few days. Generally speaking the supply of tonnage shows no improvement, and many of the pits are still losing time, though the position in this respect is hardly as bad as last week. Prices remain stationary and nominal at late figures. Special Wear gas coals are quoted at 27s. Bunker coals are quiet, prices running from 16s. to 18s. The demand for coke for ship- ment is better, though boats are difficult to arrange. Forward business is slow, owing to the shipping problem. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 27/ 26/6 26/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 18/6 18/6 24/ Best house coals 30/ 30/ 32/6 Ordinary do Other sorts:— 24/ 23/6 30/ Lambton screened 28/ 28/6 32/6 South Hetton do 28/ 18/ ■ 28/6 32/6 Lambton unscreened ... 17/ -17/6 24'6 South Hetton do 18/ 17/ -17/6 24/3 Do. treble nuts 21/ 21/ 27/ Coking coals unscreened 18/6 18/ 23/6 Do. smalls 17/6 17/ -18/ 22/ Smithies 20/ 19/ 25/ Peas and nuts 22/6 22/ 27/ Best bunkers 18/ 18/ -18/6 25/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 16/ 16/6-17/ 23/6 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 42/6 42/6 42/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 30/ Gas coke 32/ 32/ 26/6-27/ Outward chartering is slow, neutral tonnage being only obtainable to a very small extent, and Allied boats unobtain- able. Several neutral steamers have been fixed for London at 20s., otherwise nothing special to report. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel market shows little or no change. There is practically no dealing in coal. All descriptions are abundant and are offered very freely, with the result that there are many opportunities for bargains, but traders show very little disposition to avail themselves of the situation. Working at many of the collieries is stated to be very indifferent. Producers, as a rule, adhere to schedule prices, but it is difficult to ascertain on what terms some second hands would be prepared to operate. Durham steam coals are put at 29s. to 30s. Deliveries of gas coals in fulfilment of contracts are moderate. Best Durhams are 25s. to 26s., seconds 18s. to 20s., and special Wears 28s. to 30s. Business in bunkers is inactive, but some improvement is looked for in this branch. Ordinary unscreened Durham bunkers are 16s. 6d. to 16s. 9d., and superiors 18s. to 20s. Smithy coals are round about 23s. There is no new feature in the household coal trade. Unscreened coking coals run from 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. Coke keeps in heavy demand for local consumption, and the consequence is that values of the descriptions needed are upheld. Thus 28s. at the ovens continues to be realised for average blastfurnace kinds, and up to 30s. 6d. at the ovens is still named for qualities low in phosphorus. Best foundry coke is quoted at 40s. to 42s. 6d., patent oven round about 40s., and gas coke is in the neighbourhood of 30s. IRON. Pig iron is fairly plentiful. The March allocation of Cleveland kinds for home foundries and for Scotland have been on such a liberal scale that consumers have been able to arrange for ample supplies, and as a consequence, for the time being, prompt home business is on only a small scale, but forward transactions continue to occur, subject to any alterations in the fixed maximum quotations. Consumers north of the Tweed are purchasing for delivery to the end of June. Export trade shows some improvement, and new licences are being issued for Allied destinations, but with considerable arrears of shipments yet to make up, new business is not very extensive. A rumour is current that two furnaces producing Cleveland pig are to be transferred to the manufacture of haematite. Such a change would not be welcome, as any curtailment of the output of pig might render it very difficult to fully satisfy customers. At present all legitimate home needs for haematite are being adequately dealt with, notwithstanding some irregu- larity in deliveries due to the continued shortage of trucks, and very considerable quantities are available for export. Prices of all descriptions of pig iron are steady and firm. For home consumption, No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge all stand at 87s 6d., and No. 1 is 91s. 6d.; for despatch to our Allies, No. 3 is 97s. 6d. and upward; No. 4 foundry 96s. 6d., No. 4 forge 95s. 6d., and No. 1 102s. 6d., and for shipment to neutral countries the minimum quotations are 105s. for No. 3, and 110s. for No. 1 ; whilst Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast haematite are 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. There is rather more doing in foreign ore, and supplies are coming forward better. So far this month imports discharged at the port of Middlesbrough total 63,674 tons. Output of finished iron and steel is large and increasing, and it is gratifying to have the assurance that, despite claims for delivery of other descriptions, production of mercantile shipbuilding material has now assumed very large proportions, and is still growing. Quotations all round are very stiff. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal and coke industries remain in a very firm and brisk condition. Landsale is probably not quite so pressing, and the shortage in some quarters is not so pronounced as it was at the beginning of the month, but there has been no diminution in the demand in any of the branches, and the collieries have still as much as they can do to keep pace with the orders that are coming in on time account. There is still a clamorous demand for fuel in both the home and export branches, and business is exceedingly brisk in all departments. The Irish demand is greater than can be satisfied, and this is true also of landsale and local manufacturing. With a bigger output the collieries are now in a much better position than they were| for dealing with home requirements, but Irish merchants and outside users are still going short, and even local landsale is not always fully supplied. The pits are all working regularly, and production all over the county is now more satisfactory than it has been for some months. There is not yet enough to go round, and it is still impossible to satisfy the requirements of all consumers to the full, but if the present production continues to be well maintained it will soon be possible not only to deal more successfully with local needs, but also to give more attention to the wants of Irish merchants. The collieries have some good orders on hand. Landsale is very steady, and although the pressure of demand in this branch is not quite so keen as it was last week, some of the depots have still sufficient business in hand to keep them well employed till the end of the month. Gas coal is in firm demand both for shipping and for home consumption, but the only stocks being sent away at present are for consumers in the county. Engine fuels for the local railways are in strong request, but stocks are not very plentiful, and consumers are still receiving the bulk of their supplies from Scotland and other districts. In manufacturing fuel the situation has undergone very little change since last week. Manufacturing fuel for home consumption is in very keen demand, and a very large proportion of the output is being absorbed at the iron and steel works and the iron ore mines and other industries in the district. The entire output of small coal is going to the Cumberland by-product coke ovens, and it is still necessary to import large quantities of coking coal from the east coast in order to keep the whole of the ovens in full operation. The export trade is brisk, but the bad weather has interfered considerably with the sailings this week. The demand for fuel for Ireland is undiminished, but supplies are scarce, and the collieries are still too heavily engaged locally to deal with much business in this branch. The outlook, however, is much brighter, and it is fully expected that when landsale is easier, one or two of the pits will be in a better position to send increased supplies to the docks. One or two good cargoes of industrial and house coal have been shipped, but smalls for shipment are still unobtainable. Irish merchants are now scarcely able to secure more than a third of what they need, and a good many export consumers are receiving the bulk of their supplies from Scotland. During the week 11 vessels have sailed with coals from Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 2,125 tons, compared with 4,470 tons this time last year, or a decrease of 85 tons compared with the previous week. The largest cargoes have been consigned to Belfast, Bangor, Carrickfergus, London- derry and Larne. Coke is in firm demand, and all the 390 by-product coke ovens from Oughterside to Whitehaven are in full swing. The entire production of local coke is going to the furnaces at Millom and West Cumberland. The output of local coke is increasing, but it is still rather short of requirements, and smelters are using about 6,000 tons of east coast coke weekly. The by-products trade is very busy, and all the plants in the district are working at their fullest capacity. There has been no alteration in either home or export prices since last week. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best export coal is 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Mary- port, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best manufacturing fuel is 20s. per ton, best gas coal is 20s. per ton, with best washed nuts at 19s. per ton delivered in the district. All varieties of bunkers are in very keen request. Best sorts for foreign-going vessels are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton; and best bunkers (coastwise) are 25s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best house coal delivered at Maryport is quoted at 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 at 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered in the district is Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow: — Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts „ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) Do. (foreign) Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ Last year’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 IRON. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the Cumberland and North Lancashire hsematite pig iron trade. Makers are very fully employed; there is the greatest activity in all branches of the iron and steel industry, and every effort is being made to secure as large an output as possible. Smelters are now receiving bigger deliveries of iron ore, both from the local mines and overseas, the situation is gradually improving, and there is every reason to think that the output of both iron and steel will soon be as satisfactory as it was at the turn of the year. The production of the furnaces is not yet as large as it was, but it is steadily recovering, and if sufficient material is forthcoming it is fully anticipated that before the end of the month, all the furnaces which were either damped or put off blast will • again be put into operation. Makers are still making pre- parations to- increase the output; and several furnaces are now ready for lighting all over the district, and one or two may be lighted before the end of April. There is a phenomenal demand for metal, both for ordinary and special brands, and makers are so well sold forward that they are unable to accept much of the business which is now being offered. Prices are firm at the Govern- ment maximum, 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. per ton f.o.t. Ferro- manganese is quiet, but prices are firm. The home quotation is about <£25 per ton, and the export price from £35 to £38 per ton f.o.b. So far this year, however, there has been no shipment of ferro-manganese from any Cumberland ports. There are at present 28 furnaces in operation in the district from Maryport to Carnforth, 19 of which are in Cumberland, and the remaining nine are in the Furness area. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 11 furnaces in blast—viz., four at the Derwent Works, three at Moss Bay, two at the Oldside Works—all at Workington, and two at the Solway Works, at Maryport. Millom have four furnaces in draught, and Distington and Cleator Moor have two each in blast; while in the Furness district, Barrow have five, and Carnforth and North , Lonsdale have two each in operation. With the exception of two, which are ferro-manganese and spiegel, all the furnaces are on Bessemer, special and semi- special iron, and the entire make is going into imme- diate use. Practically all the make of Bessemer iron is going into consumption locally at the steel works at Barrow and Workington, though a small proportion is also going to approved users outside of the district. All the special and semi-special iron is being distributed by the Government to consumers engaged on work of national importance, and the bulk of the output is being consigned to users in the Midlands and Scotland, while a small proportion is also going to other consuming areas where it is most urgently needed. The steel trade is feverishly busy, and all the mills at both Workington and Barrow are working at top pressure. Production is large, but it will be very much larger when more iron becomes available. Heavy sections of steel rails are quoted at from £10 17s. 6d. to £11 10s. per ton, light sections are from £14 to £14 10s. per ton, heavy tram rails are £14 per ton, ship plates are £11 10s. per ton, and boiler plates are £12 10s. per ton. Billets are in firm demand at £12 per ton. The engineering trade is very brisk, and some of the shops in