586 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 23, 1917. entertained at the present time. Supplies are being carefully watched to avoid the accumulation of stocks, and deliveries are of a piecemeal character. Some odd lots of steam coal are met with, but generally speaking there is little surplus on offer, and this is dealt with fairly easily. The consumption of large steams on home account continues to be of a heavy character, and this kind of fuel is still being taken in substitution for steam nuts, which are almost entirely taken for munition and other engineering concerns. A good deal of difficulty is again experienced with regard to obtaining adequate supplies of small steam fuel and slacks, particularly grades suitable for coke manufacture. A very sustained effort is needed to procure anything like an adequate supply to keep the by-product plants in full operation and even then it is not possible to satisfy the enquiry for coke for the blast furnace district. Gas coal deliveries are fairly well maintained and as yet nothing is known in regard to the new regulations affecting the contracts which, have been renewed for next year. Prices at pit. Prices at pithead. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 17/6-19/ Good house coals 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 16/6-17/ Secondary do 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/ Best hard coals 17/ -17/6 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 Secondary do 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Slacks (best hards) 12/ -13/ ' 12/ -13/ 11/9-12/6 Do. (second) 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/ Do. (soft) H/ 11/ 11/ Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/6 Secondary do 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 15/6-16/3 15/6-16/3 15/9-16/3 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Secondary do. 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 16/ Furnace coke.. 25/8 25/8 24/ Leicestershire. COAL. The control of the collieries by the Government has not up to the present resulted in any appreciable changes. Voluntary recruiting efforts to secure men from the pits are in full blast this week. There is a heavy demand for London and district for all classes of household, but the supplies available are restricted. Government controlled works take a very large proportion of the total output. There is a keen and general demand for main and deep cobbles and nuts both for London and country stations. Coal merchants have advanced the wages of carters and loaders by 2s. per week. There are no stocks at the pits, and the reserves at country stations are very small. Prices at pit. of the rumoured intention to place a limit on the price of wrought-iron material, which is being sold from £6 10s. or £6 15s. up to £7 5s. Steel scrap finds a ready market in South Wales. ------------------ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. With the continued scarcity of all qualities of household coals there is little alteration to record in the position of business since last writing. The demand absorbs the out- put at each of the collieries, all of which are hard pressed to keep up deliveries. The enquiry from the inland districts remains very active, whilst a fair business is passing in shipments though not equal to normal times. There is no change in relation to the demand for steam qualities; requirements for all sizes are very heavy and much in excess of available supplies. Prices at pithead. Current L’stweek’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/ Rough 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. Hull. COAL. The announcement of the discretion given to the Inter- Allied Chartering Executive to vary the limitation rates of freights to France and Italy, as market conditions may seem to warrant, has met with a good reception among exporters here. They are rather inclined to be sceptical Us to whether it will bring the supply of neutral tonnage that is so urgently needed. It is regarded as a move in the right direction, and is possibly not the last move we shall see intended to improve the facilities for transport of coal to our Allies. Neutral owners are still chary of offering their ships to fetch coal for their own countries because of the conditions attached and the delays at French ports. Under the circumstances the export market has continued dull and prices for large steam coal easy, best South Yorkshire hards being quoted 28s. with a substantial discount obtainable where ready accommodation is available. Derbyshire steam hards at Grimsby are also very quiet and more or less nominal at 27s. to 27s. 6d. Manufac- turing fuels and gas and house coals are steadily taken up by the home demand and practically nothing is offering for export. Chesterfield. COAL. A strong demand is experienced all round for coal of every class, and customers are insistent upon prompt atten- tion to their various requirements. To the reduced supply must be added the further difficulty of shortage of wagons for the conveyance of coal to its destination. It is practically impossible to work the pits with the regularity that is essential to a full output. House coal orders are abundant, but great delay is unavoidable in the execution of these. Fuel for munition works is in urgent demand, and everything possible is done in order that establishments that are engaged upon Government work may not in any way suffer from want of adequate supplies. All classes of nuts are exceedingly scarce, and in some cases consumers are compelled to make use of large coal to prevent their plant from having to come to an occasional standstill. Gas companies and railway companies continue anxious as to the necessary supplies of fuel, their stocks being seriously reduced. In compliance with the recent Govern- ment order, contracts are now being entered into for a period of three months only. There is a full demand for all qualities of slack for boiler firing. Coke continues in strong demand. 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/ 15/6-17/6 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’stweek’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/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Scarcity of most classes of fuel continues to be the dominating feature of the Midland market. The position does not improve, and merchants are hard put to it to satisfy even regular customers. Production of all descrip- tions of manufacturing fuel is absorbed by the huge local demand, and no supplies are available except under contracts. The recent decision of the Controller that con- tracts should be restricted to three months has not come into operation in this district yet, as the bulk of contracts do not expire until the end of June. A few terminate at the end of March, and these, no doubt, will be renewed on a three months basis. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 22/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ Best hard 18/6 18/6 18/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 19/ 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 THE WELSH COAL AID IROI TRADES. Thursday, March 22. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Local collieries continue to work at full stretch in order, as far as possible, to cope, with the heavy demand for all kinds of fuel which still prevails. Orders for house coal continue to come to hand freely, notwithstanding the warmer weather. In some of the towns it is stated that many coal dealers owning a “ one-man business ” have given same up and joined the Colours, making it increasingly difficult for small householders to obtain fuel. So far as deliveries are concerned there is little alteration in regard to the gas coal trade, and sellers effect delivery of as goodly a tonnage as possible on account of expiring contracts. Enquiries for tenders for new contracts are now coming to hand freely. The demand for steam coal for locomotive, manufacturing and shipping purposes is unabated, and coal owners are hard pressed to meet the demands made upon them. Gas companies have a ready sale for their gas coke at good prices, and the demand for nuts and slack is well maintained. Prices have not altered much since last week, and current quotations have been on the basis of 21s. to 23s. per ton at pit for best large house coal; seconds, 20s. to 22s. per ton; while at local landsale depots the retail prices are 27s. 6d. to 30s. for best, seconds at 25s. to 27s. 6d., and household slack is sold at 15s. to 16s. 8d. per ton. Steam and gas coal is quoted at 19s. to 21s. per ton at pit, with nuts a shilling or so per ton less, and slack at 12s. to 14s. 6d. per ton, according to quality. Gas coke prices vary from 23s. 4d. to 26s. 8d. per ton at the gas works. The following is a complete list of the week’s quotations :— Prices at pit f.o.r.- 1 Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Secondary do 20/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 20/ -22/ Steam coal 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Gas coal 19/ —21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Bunkers 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 17/6-18/6 Nuts 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 Slack 12/ -14/6 12/ -14/6 10/ -11/6 Gas coke (at works) 23/4-25/ 23/4-25/ 21/8-23/4 Prices landsale:— Best house coal 27/6—30/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 Seconds 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ Slack 15/ -16/8 15/ -16/8 15/ -16/8 Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 17/ Secondary do 16/6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/6 IRON. Every department of the iron trade is very fully employed, work being plentiful. lottlnoham. COAL. There has been no particular change in the tone of the coal trade in this county during the past week. Despite milder weather, the coal merchants are receiving a sufficient number of orders to exhaust what deliveries they can obtain from the collieries, which in most cases are not up to full contract supplies. The demand on the collieries from merchants generally continues strong, and with the arrears on hand in regard to contracts there is little oppor- tunity of any outside dealings. A good trade in households is being done at the landsale depots. In the steam coal branch a heavy demand for all classes of fuel prevails, and although the export trade is on a limited scale it is more than counter-balanced by the increasing requirements for home consumption, more particularly in respect to supplies to works engaged in the manufacture of munitions and other war requisites. Slacks of nearly all grades are in active request, better class qualities being eagerly purchased. IRON. Since last week, two minor price movements have been recorded which affect the Midland market. Copper sheets have been advanced by £2 a ton, raising the price to <£174, and spiegel has jumped from .£12 to £15 a ton. In other respects values have undergone no change, but they rule very strong where they are unrestricted by the Ministry of Munitions. If anything, pressure for deliveries of all essential materials is intensified, and merchant business has become negligible for the time being. Sales of pig iron are being made for periods of from two to six months. The best grades are quickly absorbed at maximum rates, forge qualities have levelled up, and there is once more talk of the necessity for an increased maxima to compensate makers for increasing cost of production. There is, however, difference of opinion on this point, as an alteration in pig iron would have an unsteadying effect on the market generally. The movement for the production of basic iron seems confined to Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, and Lincolnshire. The demand for steel seems insatiable, American supplies are badly missed, and negotiation for future shipments is extremely difficult. A few wire rods are to be bought at £29, but conditions of delivery are not satisfactory. The shortage of sheet bars is accountable in large measure for the small output of sheets. Galvanisers have also to pay more for their spelter, but business is practically confined to Government orders of moderate dimensions. Black sheet mills are rather busier, both for plain and corrugated kinds, and the price is maintained at £19 10s. For finished iron, as for steel, demand is unrelaxed, and practically nothing is available for ordinary distribution. Marked bars are £15 10s., less 2| per cent, discount, and unmarked bars £13 15s., net, at works. The scrap trade is fairly active. Nothing has been heard so far Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. There is a distinct improvement in the tone of the coal market this week. The arrival of tonnage has been above the average of the past six or eight weeks, and a fair amount of coal from stock has been used. There is, how- ever, still a considerable quantity in store. The collieries are working more regularly, and prices are showing a distinctly hardening tendency. Admiralty coals are out of Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit... Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ......... Current L’stweek’s prices. I 24/ -25/ < 23/ -24/ ' 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 15/ -16/ 12/6-14/ 9/6-11/ 16/6-17/6 20/ -21/6 prices. 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/6 15/ -16/ 9/6-14/6 7/6- 9/ 15/6 20/ -21/ Last year’s prices. 32/6-33/ 31/6-32/ 30/6-31/6 29/6-30/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 11/6-13/ 16/6 22/ -22/6 27/ -28/ 24/6-25/6 23/ -24/ 27/ -30/ __>>£ __ 24/6-25/6 22/6-23/6 27/6-30/ 231 -24/ 22/ -23/ 36/ -37/6J 40/ -42/6j 49/ -50/ , * Nominal.