584 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 23, 1917. the practice is anything like general. It is scarcely necessary to repeat the details of a scientific specifica- tion, as we have on many former occasions explained its meaning. Roughly, it provides that the purchaser only pays for the thermal units he receives, with allowances one way or the other, for variations from the specified heating value, and with either additions or deductions according to the moisture, ash or proportion of small coal present in the consignment. Mr. Shepherd suggests certain limiting values for these different factors. He proposes a calorific value of not less than 11,000 British thermal units per pound as determined by a Mahler bomb calorimeter. Moisture is not to exceed 14 per cent, for washed nuts, or 9 per cent, for unwashed nuts. Ash must not exceed 15 per cent., and there must not be more than 30 per cent, of small coal, as determined by a sieve with a f in. mesh. Although these limiting values may, however, be taken as a basis for the rejection of the sample, variations from tender serve only as an index for the adjustment of price. Thus, if the calorific capacity differs from the tender value, the price will vary by the same percentage, being either greater or less as the case may be. A similar adjustment is made according to any percentage increase or deficit in the moisture content. For variation in the percentage of small coal, the adjustment in price is made on the basis of one-quarter of the difference; and for ash the price is altered by the amount of one penny for every 1 per cent, variation from the limit specified in the tender. How this is found to work out in actual practice is shown in a worked example furnished by a cargo of washed nuts, the net result of which was a bonus to the seller of £22 13s. 6d. on the whole consignment of 1,447 tons, the basis price for the quality specified being 15s. lOd. per ton. At first sight it may appear that this method is unnecessarily cumbersome. It may be asked, Why should not the price vary according to calorific value alone, since this factor is dependent upon the propor- tion of moisture and ash present in the coal ? The answer is that moisture does more than merely to lower the calorific value as estimated on the dry coal. It neutralises an equivalent of that value by its evaporation in the furnace. As to ash, the fine of Id. per ton represents merely the cost of its removal from the furnace. Another difficulty presents itself in the comparison of prices tendered by contractors. In order to arrive at a common basis these will have to be adjusted to any arbitrarily selected “ standard coal,” which Mr. Shepherd takes at a calorific value of 12,500 British thermal units, with 20 per cent, small, 9 per cent, moisture and 10 per cent. ash. There are also other considerations for the purchaser to bear in mind. Some coals are found to be unsuitable for burning under water-tube boilers owing to their destructive action on the brickwork. It is not, of course, possible to allow for this action in a specifica- tion, and it is a matter which only experience can deal with. There are, however, obvious objections to the scheme from the seller’s standpoint. To take only one instance, the latter is practically in the hands of the fuel chemist, upon whose assay the purchaser relies for his adjustment of price. To check these assays would be impracticable in the case of a seller continually despatching consignments to a number of customers. His only safeguard, there- fore, is to cover his risk by a careful adjustment of tender values and price. Experience would quickly show how this could be done, and there is no reason why the scheme should work to the disadvantage of the seller. As a matter of fact, every mineral product, except coal, is already sold at a price regulated by its assay value. The seller, moreover, would have this great advantage, that rejections would seldom be necessary, since small departures from tender values would be automatically adjusted. As a matter of fact, Mr. Shepherd stated that he had had ten years’ experience of the working of this system without a single dispute. Mr. W. J. Benson, of Newburgh Hall, Fourstones, who has been appointed High Sheriff of Northumberland, is associated with the coal mining industry of the county. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, March 22. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Generally speaking the situation in the Scotch coal trade shows no new feature. Shipping regulations are still very strict, and the export department is suffering accordingly. In the western district the position is relieved by the continued strong demand on industrial and household account, collieries managing to clear their outputs remark- ably well. Shipments for the week amounted to 90,314 tons, compared with 77,205 in the preceding week and 110,590 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Steam coal 18/ -24/ 18/ -24/ 19/6-22/6 Ell 19 -22/ 19/ -22/ 23/ -24/ Splint 22/ -31/ 22/ -31/ 25/ -34/ Treble nuts 24/ 24/ 21/ -21/6 Double do 22/ 22/ 20/ -20/6 Single do 20/ 20/ 19/6-19/9 IRON. Pig iron producers are very busy, especially with the output of haematite, which is in constant request at local steel works. No. 1 iron, too, is fully taken up, and supplies are now difficult to arrange. Under the circumstances exports are restricted to very small quantities, mostly of No. 3 iron, which is realising firm prices. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1,130s., Nos. 3,125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Garron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. At the malleable iron works still more attention is being given to the manufacture of steel bars, large quantities of which are wanted for Government purposes. A good proportion, too, of the output of iron is on requisition for war requirements, and, consequently, shipments are composed of very meagre lots. “Crown” quality iron bars are quoted about .£15 per ton for export, and mild steel bars <£17 per ton for basis sizes. Black sheets are still on the basis of .£18 net f.o.b. Glasgow. --------qg»- ----- Scotland. —Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians is on the day-to-day principle, and collieries here and there are losing time. Local demands are fairly well maintained, and prices are practically steady. Shipments were 17,841 tons, as against 20,594 in the preceding week, and 25,386 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 25/ 24/6 26/ -27/ Secondary qualities 23/ 23/ 25/ Treble nuts 24/ 24/ 23/ -23/4 Double do 22/ 22/ 21/ -22/ Single do 20/ i 20/ ■ 19/6-20/6 The outlook in Fifeshire cannot be called satisfactory. Collieries have been hard hit by the export limitations, and difficulty is experienced in keeping things going. Despite this, however, prices remain remarkably steady. Clearances amounted to 13,759 tons, against 11,376 in the preceding week and 40,349 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland, Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s . prices. coal .. 30/ 3!/ 28/ -29/ Unscreened do 25/ 251 26/ -27/ First-class steam coal 25/ I 26/ 29/ —30/ Third-class do 20/ 20/ 22/ -24/ Treble nuts 24/ 24/ 22/ -23/6 Double do 22 1 22/ 20/6-22/ Single do / i 19/ 19/ 19/ —20/ . The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 121,914 tons, compared with 109,175 in the preceding week and 176,325 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e weastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. Tonnage supplies have shown progressive improvement in the course of the week under review, and, at the time of writing, there is sufficient shipping to keep most of the collieries fairly well employed, especially in clearing off accumulations of coals which are needed on Government account. Most of the vessels to hand are requisitioned ships, and, therefore, do not aid the private shipper to any extent. The result is that, whilst business at the collieries and the shipping places is much brisker, the prompt coal market is quite dull. There is still requisite a much larger supply of neutral tonnage in order that the many enquiries which are in circulation in the market may have some chance of developing into genuine transactions. Whether the latest relaxations of the limitation rates will aid this increase of shipping is a matter concerning which the market must simply await developments. The lessening of stocks of fuel by shipments on Government account is, of course, having a salutary effect on the tone of the market, and sellers are now holding out firmly for the market quotations, and have abandoned, for the time being, the idea of offering discounts to buyers able to take immediate delivery. Durham gas bests are Is. dearer on the week, gas specials are from Is. to 2s. advanced, and Durham unscreened bunkers are a shade easier. These are the only classes of fuel which show any variation in price. Coke is in keen demand, and the full production is being readily absorbed. Great forward activity is only prevented by the incertitude as to tonnage supplies. There is a very large amount of business on offer for loading within the next few weeks. Norway, for example, is still in a parlous plight because of lack of coal, many of the towns needing fuel very urgently, and Bergen having only a fortnight’s supplies in hand. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ 30/ 32/6-35/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ , 32/6-35/ Secondary, Blyths 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 29/ -30/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 22/6 22/6 30/ Unscreened 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 25/ -27/ Small, Blyths 18/ 18/ 18/ Do. Tynes 17/ 17/ 15/ -16/ Do. specials 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 20/ Other sorts:— Smithies 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 24/ -25/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 26/ 25/ 25/ -25/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 17/ -19/ 17/ -19/ 24/ Special gas coals 30/ -31/ 28/ -30/ 27/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 16/6-20/ 17/ -20/ 23/6-25/6 Do. do. N orthumbr ians 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 25/' -26/ . Coking coals .18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 23/ -24/ Do. smalls 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ ■ 22/ House coals 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 32/6-35/ Coke, foundry 40/ -42/6 40/ -42/6 ; 41/ -42/6 Do. blast-furnace 38/ 38/ ' 41/ Do. gas 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ ) 27/ -28/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 34,975 tons of coal, as compared with 44,590 tons of coal and 1,125 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1916, being a decrease of 9,615 tons of coal and 1,125 tons of coke. This week business opens with very little change in the position of the coal market. There has been a moderate arrival of shipping, and some of the collieries are a little better off for prompt loading. Tonnage scarcity continues to restrict business to the smallest proportions. Plenty of coal is offering. Prices remain nominal, and without much change. The good inland consumption of smalls tends to equalise the poor export business. Gas coals have a steadier tendency. Steams are slow, and only a poor enquiry is current for bunkers, the prices of which are sagging. No change has occurred in coke, but the market is steady. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 28/ 27/ 26/ Secondary do. House coals:— 18/6 18/6 24/6 Best house coals 30/ 30/ 35/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 24/ 24/ 30/ Lambton screened 28/ 28/ 34/ South Hetton do 28/ 28/ 32/6 Lambton unscreened ... 18/ 18/ 24/ South Hetton do. 18/ 18/ 24/ Do. treble nuts 21/6 21/ 28/ Coking coals unscreened 18/ 18/6 24/6-25/ Do. smalls 17/6 17/6 22/ Smithies 20/6 20/ 25/ Peas and nuts 22/6 22/6 27/6 Best blinkers 18/ 18/ 25/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 16/ 16/ 23/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 40/ -42/6 42/6 42/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 28/ Gas coke 32/ 32/ 26/6 Many orders for neutral destinations are offering on the market, but practically no boats are available, although merchants offer full recent rates and ask for counter-offers without success. Fixtures reported are : Alexandria, 100s.; Lisbon, 80s.; Buenos Ayres, 92s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Stimulated by the excellent war news, traders?take a more optimistic view of the situation, but business in coal is still on only a very limited scale. There is rather more tonnage on hand just now, but work at the collieries is considerably below what could be desired. Producers still adhere to scheduled figures, but would probably make concessions in order to secure new business. Durham steam coals were * 29s. 6d. to 30s. Best Durham gas coals were easier at 23s. to 25s.; whilst second qualities ranged from 16s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. Bunker coals were erratic. Unscreened Durhams were 16s. 6d. to 17s., superiors 17s. 6d. to 18s., and Blyths were quoted up to 19s. Household coals were steady at 1 20s. to 21s. for best sorts. Coking coals were fairly plentiful, and unscreened kinds ranged from 17s 9d. to 19s. 6d. Coke continues abundant, but the unabated heavy local demand upholds prices of descriptions needed, with the result that average blastfurnace kinds are still commanding the fixed maximum of 28s. at the ovens, and the limitation figure of 30s. 6d. at the ovens continues to be named for qualities low in phosphorus. Shipments keep limited. Best foundry coke is 40s. to 42s. 6d., patent oven 39s. to 40s., and gas- house product round about 30s. to 32s. IRON. The pig iron market continues to be characterised by much firmness. Home consumers of Cleveland kinds, having made ample arrangements for their early needs, are