March 16, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 539 days’ work, which, under present circumstances, it is impossible to make up. Labour becomes scarcer and supplies shorter. No wonder that the collieries are hardly pressed, and that they have great arrears to work off. The railways are doing their best in the matter of deliveries, but here,, too, the situation is described as very difficult. Double-screened nuts, of which big quantities are used in munition works and for the purpose of generating electricity, are not easy to obtain, every available ton being absorbed. Slacks, with the exception of smudge, continue in heavy demand for industrial concerns. Merchants have a long list of orders for domestic fuel to execute, but in the main the public appreciate the situation, and are not pressing unduly. Of course, business in all classes of fuel between the collieries and the merchants is wholly for contract material. Prices are unaltered as under: Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) ■ House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 22/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ ' 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 19/ Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ 18/ Best hard 18/6 18/6 18/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack 11/6 11/6 11/6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 19/ 19/ 19/ Do. hand-picked cobs 18/ 18/ 18/ Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 20/ Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 14/6 Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 14/6 IRON. The iron and steel trades of the district have developed no material change in their fundamental conditions. All the essential branches are maintained at a high level of activity, and so great is the pressure for material in connec- tion with the war, that civil trade is being more and more elbowed out. Very high prices are sometimes heard of for odd lots of material which find their way into ordinary trade channels, and which are not subject to controlled rates, but, speaking generally, uncontrolled values are not unduly out of proportion to those officially established. Thus, while common bars are firm at <£13 16s. at makers’ works and net, nut and bolt iron is about <£14 5s. delivered in the Darlaston district, with a few shillings extra for emergency lots. In the bar section a lot of leeway has to be made up before books are cleared. Merchants have enquiries for large and small sizes, only to find that their principals in many cases are unable to quote. Pig iron continues to command some attention. The production of basic iron is being appreciably increased, in accordance with the wishes of the Ministry of Munitions, a Derby- shire furnace being now added to the list. The effect is to firm up other branches, notably Northamptonshire forge. Sellers say they will not sell under the maximum, and in some cases are probably getting it, but consumers in the main say they can get supplies within, the figure of 87s. 6d. Producers of foundry grades in Northamptonshire, Derby- shire and South Staffordshire have all the same tale to tell of insistent demand at the full rates for the respective districts, and they are not accepting responsibilities too far ahead. ----------------------------------- THE WELSH COAL AMD IRON TRADES. Thursday, March 15. north Wales. Wrexham. GOAL. Generally speaking, there is little new to report. The demand is still maintained, and all the collieries are working at full pressure, but it is impossible to cope with all the orders which come to hand. During the past week or ten days some downfalls of snow greatly accelerated the demand for house coal. Merchants consequently are urging coal owners to load their wagons promptly, in order that they may be able to supply their customers; but these orders cannot be given precedence over those for fuel required by railway companies and manufacturing works which are under Government control. Notwith- standing the efforts on the part of the coal owners and men, a much larger tonnage than is available could easily be disposed of. There is a fair amount of trade being done in bunker coal at the Mersey-side ports. In regard to gas coal, the supplies are fairly steady, but buyers are asking for additional supplies, so that some of the arrears on expiring contracts may be reduced. Enquiries are now coming on the market for the renewal of these agreements, but there is no news of any important gas coal contracts having yet been fixed up, or what the basis of settlement for the coming year is likely to be. Gas companies still find a ready sale for all available gas coke, and at a good price. Nuts are scarce as usual, though there is a fair tonnage of slack, but there is no accumulation of stocks. Prices at the time of writing remain steady. Best house coal is quoted at 21s. to 23s. per ton at pit; seconds, 20s. to 21s. per ton. Large gas and steam coal is listed at 19s. to 21s. per ton, with nuts at 18s. to 20s. Slack is making 12s. to 14s. 6d. per ton in trucks, according to quality. In the retail business, prices at local landsale depots are from 27s. 6d. to 30s. for best, and 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton for seconds, with household slack at 15s. to 16s. 8d., and gas coke is making 23s. 4d. to 25s. at gas works. The following is a complete list of prices :— Prices at pit f.o.r.w Best house coal ....... Secondary do......... Steam coal........... Gas coal............. Bunkers.............. Nuts ................ Slack ............... Gas coke (at works).. Prices landsale:— Best house coal ..... Seconds ............. Slack ............... Current prices. 21/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 12/ -14/6 23/4-25/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 15/ -16/8 L’st week’s'Last year’s prices, i prices. I 22/ -23/ ) 20/ -22/ I 18/ -19/ I 18/ -19/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 19/ —21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 12/ -14/ 22/6-25/ I 17/6-18/ j 17/6-18/ ! 10/ -11/6 ! 21/8-25/ 27/6-30/ i 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 ; 22/6-25/ 15/ -16/8 | 16/8—17/6 Forest of Dean. Lydney. GOAL. . There is no change of any importance in connection with the house coal trade of this district since last writing. All the collieries report that there has not been the slightest abatement in the pressure for supplies. There is still a heavy accumulation of arrear orders. Kail-borne orders are very plentiful. Shipments are satisfactory, but the volume of business is below the normal owing to scarcity of supplies. The demand for all steam qualities is well ahead of the supplies available. All the pits are as busy as possible, but the enquiry is overwhelming. Prices at pithead. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. There is still a good deal of stagnation in the steam coal trade of the district. The arrival of tonnage has been fair during the past week, but it has not been much more than enough to carry the now slightly restricted output. Stocks have been only diminished to a small extent. Best Admiralty coals are nominal, and there have been sacrifices in some cases on the low figures quoted for other coals to effect prompt sales. Future dealings are regarded as more hopeful. House coals and patent fuel still keep up their prices. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. this scheme will work remains to be seen, but applications have been sent forward, and upon the result will very much depend the chartering of the immediate future. While on the question of chartering it may be mentioned that reported fixtures to date, outside Admiralty business, amount to 1,382,760 tons, compared with 1,340,790 tons in the first ten weeks of last year, so that there is a slight increase of about 42,000 tons. Last week the fixtures were 14,100 tons, compared with 15,900 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 1,900 tons. The usual statistical return of exports for the past week has been withheld by the Customs authorities, so that no com- parison is available. The tonnage conditions have been on a more satisfactory basis, and shipments are proceeding on a good scale. Stocks remain excessive, especially of the lower-grade coals, and the difficulty of releasing wagons is the cause of much anxiety to the colliery owners. Banking has been advocated, and this system is being adopted with small coal, but it is pointed out that in the case of large steams it is better to stop the colliery for a day than unload the trucks on to a bank or wharf. It is not that the coal deteriorates in quality, but that the handling produces a greatly increased amount of small, of which there is already a large surplus. The loss thereby sustained would render it impossible to work the pits at any profit at all. More than sufficient coal is now being produced at the South Wales collieries to supply the ships available, and it is anticipated that the combing out of men of military age will ease the position, and that the supply will more nearly approximate the demand than has hitherto been the case. The effect of the heavy stocks has been to weaken the market, and buyers who are fortunately placed with regard to tonnage have been able to command their own terms, which, it may be stated, are sometimes several shillings below the normal quotations. Best and superior second Admiralties are normal. Ordinary seconds remain steady at 24s. to 25s.; ordinary steams, 23s. to 24s. Monmouthshires are practically without alteration, and command 22s. to 25s., according to quality, with inferior grades at about Is. less. The small coal market remains easy, but with more tonnage available a stiffer tendency is probable. At present best bunkers realise 14s. to 15s., although some producers are holding out for slightly higher figures. Ordinaries are about Is. lower, and cargo descriptions are obtainable at anything between 9s. and 12s. There is no movement in bituminous coals, and the demand is slow. No. 3 Khondda large is 24s. to 25s., No. 2 21s. to 22s., and other grades in proportion. Fuel continues steady at 27s. to 30s. per ton, according to quality. The scarcity of pitwood continues, and French fir realises 74s. to 75s. per ton. Much, however, is expected of the new’ scheme for utilising home supplies, and many large coppice woods are now being offered to the newly-formed pitwood association for immediate cutting. According to the Customs returns the exports of coal from the chief Bristol Channel ports for the month of February amounted to 694,724 tons, compared with 1,404,911 tons in the corresponding month of last year. Of this quantity Cardiff exported 391,931 tons against 770,023 tons, Newport 120,314 tons against 277,013 tons, Swansea 85,838 tons against 190,489 tons, and Port Talbot 86,641 tons compared with 167,386 tons in the corresponding period. The total decrease represents about 700,000 tons, making a total of over a million tons during the two months of this year as compared with the first two months of 1916. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 24/ 24/ 21/6 Forest 23/ 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 19/ Bough slack Steam coal:— 13/ 13/ 11/6 Large 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Small ... 16/ 16/ 13/6-14/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ----—------------ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that supplies of coal are now coming on freely by rail from various colliery districts. The spring-like weather has caused a reduction in the retail demand. Prices of Welsh steam coal are easier, and smalls are abundant. Passenger traffic on the Danish State Kailways has been reduced by one-third in order to economise coal, and a special Commission has advised the Government to prohibit the export of cement on account of the quantity of coal used in its production. The British Consul at Portland, Oregon, reports that a local firm of brokers and manufacturers desires to get into touch with United Kingdom manufacturers of steel and iron, with a view to trade after the Avar. Manufacturers may obtain the name and address on application to the Depart- ment of Commercial Intelligence, 73, Basinghall-street, London, E.C.2. The reference number 1115) should be quoted. I Current Steam coals:— | prices. Best Black Vein large... 24/ -25/ Western-valleys, ordin’y' 23/ -24/ Best Eastern-valleys ...' 22/ -23/ Secondary do. ..J 20/6-21/6 Best small coals ......i 15/ -16/ Secondary do........• 9/6—14/6 Inferior do.........j 7/6- 9/ Screenings ............. 15/6- Through coals ......... 20/ -21/ Best washed nuts..... — Other sorts;— Best house coal, at pit... 24/6-25/6 Secondary do. do. ... 22/6-23/6 Patent fuel ......... 27/6-30/ Furnace coke......... —* Foundry coke ........ —* L’st week’s prices. 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/6 15/ -16/ 10/ -14/6 7/6- 9/ 15/6 19/6-21/ Last year’s prices. 30/ -30/6 29/ -29/6 28/ -28/6 26/ -27/ 15/6—16/6 14/6 -15/ 12/ -13/6 16/ -16/6 22/ -23/ 27/6-28/ 25/6-26/ 22/ -23/6 27/6-30/ 47/6-52/* 57/6-60/* 23/ -24/ 22/ —23/ 34/ -35/ 37/6-40/ 48/6-50/ * Nominal. IRON. There is still great activity in all the iron and steel works of the district, which are working smoothly and yielding large outputs. There has been a much appreciated application on the part of labour to increase the output of all departments by steady continuous work. The tin-plate trade shows little alteration, but prospects are improving. Pitwood remains at about the same figure as in previous weeks—viz., 72s. 6d. to 75s. for best fir. Cardiff. COAL. The chief item of interest during the past week has been the question as to whether the Government would permit open chartering in order to attract neutral shipping to the Bristol Channel. The newly-formed Institute of Ship- brokers asked the authorities to receive a deputation on the subject, and the latter were prepared with valuable information in support of their contentions. There has been a unanimity of feeling that the increased rates allowed some time ago were not sufficiently attractive to neutral owners, who were diverting their steamers else- where, and it was felt by many that the only remedy was to revert to the open chartering. On Monday, a telegram was received that the Controller of Shipping had agreed to rates being fixed outside the old schedule. This apparently means that offers of tonnage will have to be submitted to the Allied Chartering Executive in London, and this body will have discretion to pay whatever rates may be necessary to secured the required tonnage. How Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals # * *• Superior seconds * * Seconds 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 30/ -31/ Ordinary steams 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 29/ -30/ Best bunker smalls 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 16/ -17/ Best ordinaries 13/ —14/ 13/ -14/ 15/ -16/ Cargo qualities 10/ -12/ / _i_ -u/ 10/ -13/ 12/6-14/6 Inferior smalls 7/ —10/ 7/ - 9/ 9/ -12/ Best dry coals 23/ -21/ 22/ -23/ 33/ -34/ Ordinary drys 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/ 30/ -32/6 Best washed nuts 22/ -23/ 24/ -25/ 28/ -30/ Seconds 21/ -22/ 23/ -24/ 25/ -27/ Best washed peas 21/ -22/ 22/ -23/ 27/ -28/ Seconds 20/ -21/ 22/ -23/ 24/6-25/6 Dock screenings 14/ —15/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 30/ -31/ Western-valleys 23/ -21/ 23/ -24/ 29/6-30/ Eastern-valleys 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 28/6-29/ Inferior do 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 27/ -28/ Bituminous coals.-— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) j 23/6-24/6 j 23/6-24/6 22/ -23/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ - 33/ -34/ Through-and-through I 20/ -21/ ! 20/ -21/ 27/ -28/ Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 24/ -25/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 27/ -27/6 Through-and-through 16/6-18/6 i 17/ -19/ 23/ —24/ Small 13/ -14/ i 14/ —15/ 15/ -16/ Best patent fuel 28/ -30/ i 28/ -30/ 35/ -37/ Seconds 27/ -28/ i 27/ -28/ 32/ -33/ Special foundry coke 62/6-65/ 62/6-65/ 50/ -55/ Ordinary do. 52/6-55/ 52/6-55/ 47/6-50/ Furnace coke 45/ -50/ 45/ -50/ | 42/6-45/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 73/ -75/ 74/- 75/ 48/ -49/ * Nominal. IRON. Steps are now being taken throughout the tin plate district for the dilution of labour, and it is stated that many of the men will be taken for national service in the iron and steel trades, where more men are urgently required. Production is diminishing week by week owing to the difficulty of obtaining raw materials, and the output last week only amounted to 25,815 boxes, compared with 36,374 boxes the previous week, and 59,352 boxes a year ago. On the other hand, there was a substantial increase in shipments, chiefly ow’ing to a large cargo being despatched to Genoa, the total being 38,034 boxes against 23,568 boxes the previous week and 54,441 boxes a year ago. The stocks now on hand are 226,680 boxes, or 70,000 odd less than at the corresponding period of last year. Prices