March 30, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 633 Ordinary Durham bunker coal is 16s. 6d. to 17s., and superior 17s. 6d. to 18s. Household coal is steady. Best is 20s. 6d. to 21s. for home use, and round about 30s. for export. Smithy coal varies from 20s. to 23s. Coking coal is fairly well taken up, and unscreened kinds are quoted 17s. 9d. to 19s. 6d. Satisfactory accounts are given generally of the coke trade. Some good lines are under- stood to be circulating for shipment, and home demand is very considerable. Local consumption continues heavy, with the result that descriptions needed still command fixed maximum rates. For shipment best foundry coke is 40s. to 42s. 6d., patent oven 38s. to 40s., and gashouse product 30s. to 32s. For local use average blastfurnace kinds keep at the limitation price of 28s. at the ovens, and 30s. 6d. at the ovens is asked for qualities low in phosphorus. IRON. The iron market continues to be characterised by firmness. Home users of Cleveland pig are well placed, and though some of them are still arranging contracts up to the end of the half year, subject to any alterations in fixed maximum prices, most of them are waiting until the announcement of April allocations, which will be made in the course of the next few days. As iron is fairly plentiful the allotments promise to be on a very liberal scale. There are reports of sales of forge iron at maximum rates to Scotland for bar making. Export trade is still hampered to some extent by the tonnage situation, which, however, shows some improvement. Despatches to France are quite good, and licences for export to Italy are being issued. No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge all stand at 87s. 6d., for home consumption, and for shipment to our Allies these qualities are quoted 97s. 6d., though in some instances rather more is asked for No. 3. The prices of No. 1 are 91s. 6d. for home use, 102s. 6d. for despatch to our Allies, and 105s. and upward for export to neutral countries; whilst the minimum quotation for No. 1 for export to neutrals is 110s. Business with neutrals, however, is at a standstill. In the east coast haematite branch, notwithstanding reduced make, owing to transference of haematite furnaces on to manufacture of other descriptions of iron, all legitimate home needs are being adequately supplied, some improvement in the wagon situation facilitating deliveries, and the fair quantities available for export are being despatched as expeditiously as circum- stances will permit. Values are well maintained. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy, but makers are by no means keen sellers at these rates. Supplies of foreign ore are coming to hand fairly well, imports to Middles- brough this month being in the neighbourhood of 150,000 tons. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel keep working at high pressure, and are still steadily adding to their very heavy output. Quotations are strong. ------------------ Cumberland. Maryport. GOAL. The coal trade in this district remains in a very firm and active condition. There is the same heavy demand for coal. Since last week requirements have increased on all accounts, and the demand is now so keen that both shipping and landsale are again on short commons. A week ago it was believed that the house coal trade was easing off, and it was anticipated that by the end of the month a con- siderable quantity would be released for shipment, but with the return of colder weather, it is now picking up again, and at the moment it is hardly possible to cope with the demand. Production is fairly satisfactory, but it is still very much below requirements, and it will have to be very much larger before it will be adequate for home needs, not - to speak of sending increased supplies to the docks. There is a phenomenal call for fuel in all markets, and the. pressure of demand for both shipping and home consumption is more insistent than ever. Stocks of all sorts, more particularly coking and works fuel, are rather scarce, and at present the collieries have very little to offer. In fact, they have as much as they can do to keep pace with the needs of local consumers. The pressure of orders on home account is tremendous. Nothing like it has ever been experienced before. There has pro- bably never been such a clamour for works fuel in this locality, and local needs were never so large as they are at present. Manufacturing fuel, for the industries in West Cumberland, is in particularly keen request, and a good many users are now requiring bigger deliveries. The iron ore mines and the iron and steel works are taking as much as they can secure, not only for immediate needs, but also for stocking over the holidays. . Efforts are also being made to increase the output of local coke, and the Cumber- land by-product coke ovens are absorbing the entire production of coking fuel, in addition to large quantities which are being regularly imported from the collieries on the east coast. All the pits in the county are working regularly, and although outputs are steadily but slowly increasing, there is still room for considerable improvement in some parts of the district. The house coal trade is busier again this week, and nearly all the depots have more orders than they can deal with. Engine fuels are in steady request, and gas coal is very firm, but at present the collieries have very little to spare, and the only stocks now being sent away are for consumers in the county. The export trade is brisk, but the stormy weather on Monday and Tuesday interfered considerably with the sailings this week. The demand for all classes of fuel for Ireland is undiminished, but with the increased pressure in the home branches the collieries have been unable to send so much coal to the docks, with the result that the tonnage to Irish ports has again fallen below normal. Most of the pits are now too heavily engaged locally to give* very much attention to the Irish market. During the week 10 vessels have left Maryport with coals, all for Irish ports, and the shipments have been 2,545 tons, compared with 3,545 tons this time last year, or a decrease of 1,800 tons compared with last week. The largest cargoes have been for Dublin, Belfast, Carrickfergus and Portrush The coke trade is exceedingly brisk, and all the ovens in the county are working at top pressure. All the production is going to the blastfurnaces in West Cumberland and Millom, and in addition local smelters are using between 5,000 and 6,000 tons of coke weekly from the north-east coast. The by-products trade is still very busy, and all the plants in this neighbourhood are working at their fullest capacity. There has been no alteration in prices, and at present no change is anticipated in either home or coastwise quotations. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. 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 Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton, with washed nuts at 19s. per ton delivered in the district. All varieties of bunkers are in very keen request. Best sorts for foreign-going steamers are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton. Best bunkers for coasting vessels are 25s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best house coal delivered in the Maryport district is quoted at from Is. 5kl. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is obtainable at from Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. per cwt., or from 24s. 2d. to 25s. lOd. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow : — Current quotations. 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 Fit 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 „ BestCumberl'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 haematite pig iron trade on the west coast, and ceaseless activity prevails in every department of the iron and steel industry. The demand for ordinary and special low- phosphorus iron is unprecedented, and the needs of both local and outside users are still increasing. Production is not yet as large as it was at the beginning of the year, when there were 30 furnaces in blast, but it is gradually increasing, and there is every reason to expect a further increase. Makers are overwhelmed with orders, but they have already more in hand than they can deal with, and at the moment very little business is being transacted. The demand for both ordinary and special iron is still very much in excess of the supply, and smelters have booked sufficient business to keep them fully employed for months to come. Prices are unchanged at the Government 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 still rather quiet, but prices are unchanged. The home quotation is .£25 per ton, and the price for shipment is from <£35 to <£38 per ton f.o.b. There are 28 furnaces in blast, compared with 30 in January. Of this number 19 are in Cumberland and nine are in the Furness area. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 11 furnaces in draught, nine at Workington and two at Maryport. Millom have four furnaces blowing; Distington and Cleator Moor have two furnaces each in draught, while in the Furness district Barrow have six, North Lonsdale has two, and Carnforth has one furnace in operation. All the production of both special and ordinary iron is going into immediate use. The bulk of the make of Bessemer iron is retained for use locally at the steelworks, and the whole of the output of low phosphorus iron, which is being allocated and distributed, is going to consuming areas where it is most urgently needed, but a very large pro- portion is still being consigned to users on important work, in Scotland, the Midlands and other parts of the country. The steel trade is tremendously brisk, and all the mills in this locality are working at top pressure. Business in commercial sorts is quiet, and the only rails being rolled at present are for the Government. Heavy sections of steel rails are quoted at from <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s. per ton, and light sections are from <£14 to £14 10s. per ton. Billets are in very firm demand at £12 per ton. Heavy tram rails are quoted at <£14 per ton, boiler plates are £12 10s. per ton, and ship plates are <£11 10s. per ton. The engineering trade is very brisk, and all the shops are very busily engaged on work for the Government. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom districts has never been busier. All the mines are very fully employed, and are raising as much ore as they possibly can under the two-shift system. Production is now larger than it has been for some time, but it is still insufficient for all requirements. It is expected that outputs will be very much larger shortly when the three shift system is adopted at all the mines in this district. No iron ore is now being sent out of the district, and practically all the output is going to the furnaces in Cumberland and North Lancashire. There has been no alteration in prices. Best Hodbarrow ore is 38s. per ton ; ordinary grades are from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are quoted at from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. The imports of foreign iron ore at the Senhouse dock, Maryport, this week have amounted to 7,500 tons. South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the household trade there are heavy arrears yet to fill, and with the near prospect of a holiday stoppage it is unlikely that any change can take place until that has passed, and the pits are in regular work again. Forges and users of screened coal as a general rule are taking maximum quantities. Shipping requirements this week of steam coal for ordinary bunkering and export purposes are rather heavier than they were. Supplies do not improve, and little spare coal is available. Prices of Lancashire steam coals are firm at 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. f.o.b. with a tendency to advance. In the coastwise and cross-channel trade a good deal less than average time is being got out of vessels, and even with this there are as many fixings as there is coal available, but the merchant across the water is undoubtedly in want of coal. In slacks a very strong tone prevails even down to the commoner and finer sorts, and all qualities find a billet as soon as they are loaded into wagons. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack Secondary slack Common do Current prices. 21/ -22/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 23/ upwds. 18/ 23/6-24/6 16/ 15/ 14/ L’st week’s: prices. 21/ -22/ 25/6 upwds 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 23/6 18/ 23/6-24/6 16/ 15/ 14/ Lastyear’s | prices, j 20/9 24/ 19/ 22/ 17/ 20/6-21/ | 17/6-18/ 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ 14/6 14/ ■South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a full attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. There continues to be a keen demand for all classes of house and manufacturing fuel, and supplies are not equal to it. Shipments keep up very well, mostly on contract account. The work of railway traffic has improved, although not yet normal. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .............. Medium............. Common............. Furnace coal......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack .......... Common slack ........ Current prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6upwds L’st week's prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds Last year's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ —21/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds IRON. Prices which are fixed by the Ministry of Munitions as regards finished material, remain unchanged, and all deliveries are controlled by the same authority. The only alteration that has taken place of note is, that there has been a considerable reduction made by the Ministry, in the maximum prices at which iron scrap may be sold. All works connected with iron and steel are fully employed. -------- Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The usual full muster on the Coal Exchange on Tuesday was especially strong in representatives of the London market, and eagerness to secure supplies was very manifest. Enquiries were almost numberless for nuts, washed and ordinary, but scarcely a ton of this material was offering. Colliery agents reported full time at the pits, with a considerable improvement in the supply of wagons, and it was also reported that the working of long distance traffic was better. The London house coal trade continues busy. Reports from the depots indicate that merchants are only able to supply a portion of the needs of the public, and have still to rely upon much of the coal being fetched in customers' vehicles. ' Coastwise there is very little doing, as scarcely a boat of any size is offering, and freights are anywhere from 18s. to 19s. a ton Hull to London, and correspondingly dearer to the south coast. Locally there is a dearth of supplies, merchants having full order books, and ground stocks at the depots are completely exhausted. Pit prices for the West Riding, more or less nominal, are still on the following level:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities, 17s. to 18s. The position in regard to gas coal seems to get worse. Deliveries ex contract are inadequate, and stocks are getting in a bad way. There is Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s (Last year's Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices, i prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ : 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ —18/ 17/ -18/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -11/ Haigh Moor best 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ I 22/ -23/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 1 21/ -22/ Do. house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ : 19/ -20/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 engine nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Small nuts Rough unscreened 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ i 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11 /-12/ Coking smalls Coke Price at ovens: 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 i 11/6-12/6 Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 24/