March 30, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 635 THE WELSH COAL AED IROH TRADES. Thursday, March 29. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Very little change has occurred during the past week. All the pits are kept fully employed, and orders for all grades of fuel are plentiful. The house coal demand is maintained, and it is still difficult to cope with the whole of the orders which come to hand. The gas coal trade remains steady, and deliveries on account of existing contracts have been up to the average. Matters have begun to move with respect to the renewal of contracts in this department. Enquiries are coming to hand with a certain amount of freedom, but sellers do not appear to be very eager to fix up quickly, and where contracts are made it is only for a short period, and not for the full 12 months’ supply as heretofore. The bulk of business done is in steam coal. The demand is more intense than ever. There is a fair amount of trade done in coal for shipment ex the Mersey ports, but inland contracts appear to require precedence oh account of their urgency. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board agreed to an advance in the master ports rates by a further 15 per cent., so as to bring these charges in conformity with the advances recently conceded to the dock labourers in regard to wages. As a result of these advances, the Manchester Ship Canal Company announce their intention of increasing their rates for canal toll and wharfage on minerals and other traffic by 15 per cent., to come into operation on April 10, and the charges for discharging and loading vessels will be increased by 25 per cent., in lieu of the 124 per cent, which came into operation in July 1916. The demand for nuts exceeds the supply, but there seems to be a fair amount of slack available, considering the reduced total output at the local pits, and it finds a ready market. Prices on the whole are much the same as they were last week. Best house coa] is making 21s. to 23s. per ton at pit, and seconds 20s. to 22s.; while at the landsale depots the prices for best house coal are from 27s. 6d. to 30s. per ton, seconds at 25s. to 27s. 6d., and household slack at 15s. to 16s. 8d. per ton. The present price of steam coal is from 19s. to 2 Is., and the same figures apply generally to gas coal, but where con- tracts have been fixed up, it is thought that last year’s contract prices will in many cases form the basis of settle- ment for short periods contracts. Nuts are quoted at 18s. to 20s. per ton at pit, and slack is making 12s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. per ton. The Wrexham Union are inviting tenders for three months’ supply of coal and slack. Gas companies have a good sale for their gas coke at 23s. 4d. to 25s. per ton at the works, and very few hold any stocks. The following is a full list of prices :— Prices at pit f.o.r.:— 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/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 12/6-14/6 23/4-25/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 15/ -16/8 I? st week’s (Last year’s prices. | prices. 21/ -23/ j 21/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/- 19/ -21/ I 18/ -19/ 19/ -21/ j 17/6-18/6 18/ -20/ | 17/6-18/6 12/ —14/6 ! 10/ -11/6 23/4-25/ j 21/8-23/4 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 15/ -16/8 | 15/ -16/8 Ilmimoutlishire9 South Wales, Newport. COAL. The market has been rather uneven this week. There has been a moderate supply of tonnage, and expectations of considerably larger arrivals in the near future hardened the market for best steam coal for forward delivery. A good deal of coal is still in stock, and seconds were rather weak. Sellers were inclined to sacrifice a trifle for imme- diate business. Chartering has improved, and though the present position of the market is weak, there is a better outlook. House coal, patent fuel and coke are unchanged. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st Aveek’s Last year's Steam coals:— prices. 1 prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 38/ -40/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 23/ -24/ ' 23/ -24/ 37/-S7/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 22/ -23/ - 22/ -23/ 35/ -37/ Secondary do. 21/ -22/ , ! 21/ -22/ 33/ -35/ Best small coals 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ Secondary do 12/ -14/ - 12/6-14/ 17/6-18/ Inferior do 7/ -10/6 : 96-11 14/ -16/ Screenings 16/ -16/6 s 16/6-17/6 19/ -20/ Through coals 20/6-21/6 20/ -21/6 24/ -25/ Best washed nuts — 28/ -29/ Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit... 25/ -26/ 24/6-25/6 23/ -24/ Secondary do. do. ... 23/6-24/6 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ Patent fuel 27/6-30/ 27/ -30/ 36/ -37/6 Furnace coke -if 42/6-45/ Foundry coke — — 32/6-35/ * Nominal. IRON. There is still a very large output of all classes of iron and steel goods. It is gratifying to be able to report a decided improvement in the attitude of labour to the special demands of the times. The men are loyally realising (with very few exceptions) their obligations to the State. Prices of bars and rails are nominal. The tin- plate trade shows little improvement. There has been only a moderate arrival of pitwood, which still is quoted at about 75s. for best fir. Cardiff. COAL. There is no tangible improvement to report in the position of the Cardiff coal trade, although colliery salesmen are holding out for higher figures for mid-April loading. Tonnage has been arriving in fairly moderate quantities, but the demands on Admiralty and Allied countries'* account are so great that there is little margin left for shipments to neutral destinations. Stocks continue heavy, but there has been an appreciable lessening of the difficulties which were experienced several weeks ago, and the temporary stoppages, which Avere almost of daily occur- rence, are not now anything like so numerous as they were, except in the case of collieries producing inferior grades of coal. With the approach of the Easter holidays, when the miners will take two days, with a probable high percent- age of absenteeism on the Saturday preceding and the day following the holiday, there is bound to be a big reduction of the stocks which have accumulated on the sidings, and the congestion which now prevails will be considerably mitigated. This accounts for the firmer tone, and exporters are of opinion that the quantity of shipping available in the near future will be materially increased. Chartering last week again showed’ a marked decline, the fixtures reported being only 13,880 tons, compared with 30,900 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 17,020 tons. The customary weekly returns published by the Customs authorities are still withheld, and the daily list of sailings has been suppressed, so that it is impossible to give the statistics. It may be stated that the volume of trade keeps up well, and when the figures are available it Avill be found that they will prove very favourable considering the great depletion which has taken place in the ranks of the workmen owing to the demands of the military authorities. Coastwise shipments, from the Bristol Channel during the month of February amounted to 97,357 tons, compared with 112,076 tons in the corres- ponding month of last year. Of this quantity, Cardiff despatched 27,008 tons, Newport 33,268 tons, Briton Ferry 4,399 tons, and Swansea 11,430 tons. With regard to prices, there is little alteration in the current quotations. First and superior second Admiralties are still nominal, and are exclusively reserved for Admiralty purposes. Ordinary seconds are 24s. to 25s , and ordinary steams about Is. less. Dry coals are unchanged. There is a slight easiness in bunkers, chiefly owing to lack of tonnage, best qualities being 15s. to 15s. 6d., ordinaries 14s. to 15s., and cargo sorts 12s. to 13s. Inferior grades are a shade harder. Monmouth shires have also been affected by the tonnage position, and although colliery salesmen are standing out for old rates, middlemen are disposed to accept a trifle less where prompt shipment can be guaranteed. Black Veins are 24s. to 24s. 6d., western valleys 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d., and easterns 22s. 6d. to 23s. 6d. In bituminous coals there is little doing except for home consumption, and prices are unaltered, No. 3 Rhondda large being 24s. to 25s., No. 2 20s. 6d. to 21s., and other grades in proportion. Patent fuel is steady at recent rates, and there is no change in coke. Pitwood continues scarce, and realises 75s. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals # * * Superior seconds * * # Seconds 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 36/ -38/ Ordinary steams 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 35/ -36/ Best bunker smalls 15/ -15/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ Best ordinaries 13/ —15/ 14/ -15/ 17/6-18 6 Cargo qualities 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 14/ -16/ Inferior smalls 7/6-10/ ' 7/ -10/ 11/ -13/ Best dry coals 23/ -21/ 23/ -24/ 36/ -38/ Ordinary drys 1 1 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/6 34/ -35/ Best washed nuts 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 28/ -30/ Seconds 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 25/ -27/ Best washed peas 21/ -221 21/ -22/ 27/ -28/ Seconds 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 24/6-25/6 Dock screenings 15/ -16/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 24/ -24/6 24/ -25/ 36/ -37/ Western-valleys 23/6-21/ 23/ -24/ 35/ -36/ Eastern-valleys 22/6-23/9 22/ -23/ 33/ -34/ Inferior do 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 32/ -33/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) 23/6-24/6 ’ 23/6-24/6 22/ -22/6 No. 3 Rhondda— i Bituminous large 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ i 34/ -35/ Through-and-through 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 31/ -32/ Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 25/ -26/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 20/ -21/ ) 21/ -22/ ; 31/ -32/ Through-and-through 16/6-18/6 16/6-18/6 26/ -27/ Small 12/6-13/6 13/ -14/ ; 16/ -17/ Best patent fuel 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ ! 35/ -40/ Seconds 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ | 33/ -35/ Special foundry coke 62/6-65/ 62/6-65/ ! Ordinary do. ...... 50/ -55/ 50/ -55/ ! , 55/ -60/ • Furnace coke 45/ -47/6 45/ -47/6 ! 42/6-47/6 Pitwood (ex-ship) 75/ 75/ -76/ 46/ -47/ * Nominal. IRON. In the tin-plate trade the combing-out process of the men continues, especially for national service, and the pro- duction is becoming smaller week by week. Receipts from works last week only amounted to 14,661 boxes against 21,995 boxes exported, leaving 208,188 boxes in stock against 215,522 boxes the previous week, and 317,973 boxes a year ago. There is a better enquiry for oddments and washers since the embargo was raised a week or two ago, and business is taking place on a more extensive scale with better financial results. Prices are nominal on the basis of 27s. 6d. for Bessemer standard cokes, with other sizes in proportion. Shipments during February showed a big falling off compared with the corres- ponding month of last year, and this is entirely attribut- able to the Government restrictions and the scarcity of steel bars and acid. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no material alteration, and the number of mills engaged in the production of blackplate has decreased considerably owing to the falling off in the demand by the Allied countries. Prices of 24-gauge corrugateds are nominal. All the iron and steel, ■works continue to be exceptionally busy, and maximum outputs are being main- tained, prices being nominal. Iron ore is arriving in satis- factory quantities, and home supplies are being utilised to a considerable extent. There is no change in scrap metals. Swansea. COAL. The anthracite market is still quiet. Enquiries for all classes were few on account of the continued tonnage difficulty, and transactions were about previously quoted figures. Steam coals were in much the same position, the market in through bunkers being particularly limited. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s'Last year’s Anthracite:— Best malting large prices. prices. | prices. (hand picked) 26/ -28/ 26/ -28/ i 23/ -24/ Secondary do. 22/ -25/ 22/ -25/ j 18/ -20/ Big Vein Valley large... 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ j 16/ -17/ Red Vein large ......... 19/ -20/ 19/ -21/ ; 17/6-19/ Machine-made cobbles; 33/ -35/ 33 -35/ i 27/ -28/6 Paris nuts — __ 1 _ French do 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ ■ 28/ -30/ Stove do 33/ -35/ j 27/ -28/ Beans Machine - made large 26/ -27/ 26/ -28/ i 28/6-31/ I peas 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ ’ 21/ -22/ Do. fine peas — — i — Rubbly culm 9/ - 9/6 9/ -9/6 8/9- 9/6 Duff Steam coals:— 6/ - 7/ ; ; 6/ - 7/ j 4/ - 4/6 Best large 23/6-25/ 23/ -25/ j 31/6-35/ Seconds 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 26/6-28/ Bunker throughs 18/ -20/ I 18/ -20/ i 21/6-25/6 Small Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— 10/ -15/ 10/ -15/ j 13/6-16/ 27/ -29/ { 31/ -35/ Large 28/ -30/ Thro’-and-thro’ ■ — ! Small 18/ -20/ ! 18/ -20/ ' 19/6-22/ 28/ -30/ 32/ —34/6 Patent fuel 28/ -30/ Llanelly. COAL. The tendency of the market continues to be on the easy side for anything like prompt sales, but there is very little business passing. Tonnage arrivals are still far from satisfactory, and boats that do come along are chiefly on account of contract deliveries. Anthracite large qualities are weak, and concessions easily obtainable. The machine-made qualities are not active, but as supplies are limited as compared with the larger kinds, prices are not so liable to alteration. The smaller qualities are keeping fairly firm. The inland demand continues active, and consumers are unable to get anything like prompt delivery. Culm is fairly firm, but duff is inclined to be weak, as at the moment there are more sellers than buyers. Steam coals are inactive, with throughs and smalls very easy. Large kinds are not so firm for shipment, but for inland there is no change to record. Manufacturing sorts and house coals continue very active. THE TI1-PLATE TRADE. ' Liverpool. There, is practically nothing new to report on the wreek. Orders for Class A work are coming along pretty well, and have been booked at prices ranging from 26s. to 27s. 6d. basis. Most works now seem to be fully booked up for the next couple of months. Current quotations may be called : Coke tins : IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 26s. to 27s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 53s. to 55s. per box. I C squares and odd sizes, 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d. basis. Charcoals are firm, at 30s. basis and upwards, according to finish. In regard to wasters, sizes which may be sold without restric- tion are commanding high figures, generally about 30s. basis. Sizes such as C W 28 X 20, however, for which a permit must be obtained, are offering at round 25s. to 25s. 6d. basis. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. OBITUARY. Aid. Alexander Gillies, Avho died at Gateshead last week, at the age of 95 years, commenced business in Gateshead, over 60 years ago, as a coal merchant, under the title of A. Gillies and Company. He acquired certain colliery interests, and established depots at Gateshead, Newcastle, and Yarmouth. His business flourished exceedingly, and it is claimed that he was the pioneer of the delivery of coal in 4 cwt. bags. He Avas director of the South Shields Gas Company for a number of years, and was six times mayor of Gateshead. The death took place on March 22, at the age of 55, of Mr. William Buckland, who was in business as an iron and steel merchant, and well known on Swansea Meta] Exchange. Mr. F. Singleton, manager of the Shireoaks pit of the Shireoaks Colliery Company, who died following upon an operation for an internal complaint, was only 37 years of age, and was very popular at the colliery. The Right Hon. Ralph Smith, Minister of Finance for British Columbia, who has died at the age of 59 years, was, prior to emigration 25 years since, a miner at Holywell, Northumberland. In British Columbia, he settled with his wife and family at Nanaimo, and commenced coal mining Avork. Soon afterAvards, hoAvever, his political opportunity came, and he Avas elected as member for Nanaimo. He occupied several important positions with conspicuous success, and 10 years ago Avas offered the Commissionership of the Yukon, a position he declined, hoAvever, preferring to continue his political Avork. He sat for Vancouver in recent days. Mr. Win. Selkirk, F.G.S., M.Inst.M.M., of Beckermet and London, has been appointed as the representative in Cumberland and the Furness district of the Ministry of Munitions of War, in connection Avith the scheme for increas- ing the output of iron ore. Blinded Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Hostel. — Sir C. Arthur Pearson, chairman of the Blinded Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Care Committee, strongly appeals to members- of the coal trade for gifts in cash or goods to help the Blinded Soldiers’ Bazaar, which is to be held in the Royal Albert Hall in May. Contributions may be sent to the -secretary, Blinded Soldiers’ Bazaar Committee, 6, BaysAvater-liill, London, W,