April 13, 1917. 727 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ times, and as all the docks and railways are well employed, the natural conclusion is that the main business of the port is on Admiralty account, or for shipment under Government instructions to the Allies, figures of which are not avail- able. In the absence of specific figures it may be assumed that the exports are little if any less than a year ago, and not very much below those of pre-war days. Notwith- standing the large number of colliers who have joined the services, the speeding up has been remarkable, and when the Government returns are ultimately published it will be found that the output per head of the men employed has materially increased. So far as prices are concerned there has been little change. Second Admiralties are obtainable at 24s. to 25s., and ordinary steams about Is. less. In Monmouthshire coals the same relative values prevail, Black Veins being 24s. to 25s., western valleys 23s. to 24s., and the best of the easterns 22s. to 23s. The small coal market has been rather easier, and quotations are fraction- ally lower, best bunkers realising 14s. 6d. to 15s., ordinary descriptions 13s. to 14s., and cargo qualities anything from 10s. to 12s. The shortage of tonnage has had a depressing effect on bituminous coals, and very little business is being done in the export trade, the main proportion of the output being used for inland consumption. Prices remain steady, No. 3 Rhondda large commanding 24s. to 25s., No 2 20s. to 21s., and other grades in proportion. There is np change in patent fuel, but a scheme is now being discussed for fixing a limitation price to neutral countries. A meeting of those concerned is to be held at the end of the week, and probably a definite announcement will be made in the course of a few days. At present, the quotation ranges from 27s. to 30s., according to quality. There is no change in coke, for which there is a good demand, and prices are well main- tained. Pit wood arrivals are anything but satisfactory, and the cargoes from France and Portugal are quickly absorbed at the rate of 75s. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do. .. .•....... Paris do.......... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s prices. prices, i 24/6-26/6 j 24/6-26/6 ' 22/6-23/6 19/9-21/ 18/3-19/6 33/ -35/ 32/6-34/6 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 26/ -27/ 20/ -22/’ 8/6- 9/ 6/ - 6/6 Last year’s prices. 22/6-23/6 18/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 26/6-28/6 22/6-23/6 19/9-21/ 18/3-19/6 33/ -35/ 32/6-34/6 ; 27/ -29/ 33/ -35/ ’ 27/6-29/6 33/ -35/ ; 27/6-29/ 26/ -27/6 ""' 20/ -22/ 8/6- 9/ 6/ - 6/6 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 18/ -20/ I 18/ -20/ 8/6-11/ ; 8/6-11/. 16/ -18/6 I 16/ -18/6 30/ -32/ 20/ -22/ 9/ - 9/6 4/ - 4/6 26/ -28/ 23/ -25/ 14/ -18/ 19/ -21/ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 12. ___________________________________________ SOUTH WALES MIMING TIMBER TRADE. The imports of foreign mining timber into the ports of South Wales and Monmouthshire for the week ended April 5 amounted to 13,152 loads, of which 11,952 loads came from France, and 1,200 loads from Portugal. The total imports were much below the average, but supplies were balanced by an increased production and consumption of home-growp. timber. Quotations ruled nominally at 75s. per ton ex ship Cardiff, but the opinion prevails that higher prices may be looked for. The following table shows the actual imports received for the week ended April 5 Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * * Superior seconds * * 1 % Seconds 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 48/ -50/ Ordinary steams 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 45/ -47/6 Best bunker smalls 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/6 25/ -26/ Best ordinaries 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 23/ -24/ Cargo qualities 12/ -13/ 10/ -12/ 18/ -21/ Inferior smalls 8/6-10/ 7/ -10/ 16/ -17/ Best dry coals 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 48/ -50/ Ordinary drys 20/ -22/ . 20/ -22/ 42/ -46/ Best washed nuts 22/ -23/ ’ 22/ -23/ 31/ -32/6 Seconds 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 28/ -30/ Best washed peas 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 29/ -30/ Seconds 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 26/ -28/ Dock screenings Monmouthshire— — — 18/ -20/ Black Veins 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 49/ -50/ Western-valleys 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 48/ -49/ Eastern-valleys 22/ —23/ 22/ -23/ 43/ -45/ Inferior do 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 40/ -42,6 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6—26/6 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 21/6-23/ Bituminous large 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 48/ -50/ Through-and-through 21/6-22/ 21/6-22/ 36/ -38/ Small 19/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 29/ -30/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 20/ -21/ 16/6-17/6 ' 20/ -21/ 36/ -40/ Through-and-through 16/6-17/6 I 1 27/ —30/ Small 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 18/ -20/ Best patent fuel 28/ -30/ 28/ -80/ 27/ -28/ 44/ —46/ Seconds 27/ -28/ 42/ -43/ Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke 62/6—65/ 50/ -55/ 45/ -47/6 75/ 62/6-65/ 50/ -55/ 45/ -47/6 75/ | 57/6-62/6 52/6-57/6 ! 42/6-47/6 38/ -40/ Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal. IRON. There was a big falling off in the shipment of tin-plates last week, the total being only 12,385 boxes, compared with 39,636 boxes in the previous week, and 38,814 boxes in the corresponding week of last year. Receipts from works were also much below the average, and amounted to 10,195 boxes, or less than a third of the total of the previous week and the corresponding period. Stocks amount to 203,113 boxes, against 320,192 boxes last year. It has been announced that the Government intend to further restrict the supply of tin-plate bars by 15 per cent., so that the output will be still more curtailed. At the present time, the supply is only about half of the normal, and the new regulation will bring down the quantity to about 36 per cent, of the pre-war requirements. The combing-out process still continues, and large numbers of men are being drafted weekly into the more essential trades. Prices remain nominal, on the basis of 27s. 6d. for Bessemer standard cokes, with other sizes in proportion. Wasters and oddments are about Is. less. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, and there is practically no demand except on Government account. All the steel and iron works are extremely busy, and outputs are being main- tained at their highest level. Prices are nominal. The iron ore market continues steady, without alteration. There is no change in scrap metals. Trade during the week has been very restricted on account of the holidays, but the demand is as keen as ever, and the .return to cold weather, accompanied by heavy snowstorms, rendered the cartage problem exceedingly difficult. Public orders have steadily increased, and the mass of unexecuted orders on hand is causing considerable anxiety. Supplies at the depots are short, and the diffi- culty of distribution has been very pronounced. The depots have been closed for two or three days, but the post has brought in an increasing number of pressing- orders for coal to be delivered at once. Strenuous efforts were made prior to the commencement of the holidays to send in a portion of the coal on order in ^-ton and 1-ton lots, but the actual consumption has so far increased that the pressure at all the coal offices and depots has been far beyond the normal. Collieries also report that they have an enormous number of orders on hand, and, with the present scarcity of wagons, they are absolutely unable to cope with them. The London Exchange had not met for the whole week, but when the market opened on Wednesday last it was immediately seen that the position as to the supply was most unsatisfactory. Fortunately, a good supply of boats arrived in the Thames, and the unusual number of 68 vessels , were returned for Wednesday’s market. Chartering has been dull, and the shipping ports both in the Humber and in the Tyne report very little business; but it is feared that freights may further increase. The market was well attended on Wednesday, and the enquiries for all qualities of house and hard steam coals was very firm. All business was of a very restricted character, as there was practically no free coal on offer. The stocks of coal in the South Wales dis- trict have been reduced during the holidays, but there is still an abundant supply in the railway sidings, and in many cases the heavy weather along the coast has delayed the arrival of a large number of vessels. All colliery prices are unaltered. Great difficulty has been experi- enced in getting anything like an adequate supply of small nuts, and as these are exclusively confined to muni- tion works and electric concerns, there has been very little for the London market. Slacks have had an unusual run, and the demand is still strong. Patent fuel has been selling freely, and the last quotation from South Wales is given at 28s. to 30s. per ton f.o.b. One of the recent notices published on the notice board of the London Coal Merchants’ Society gave rise to a large amount of discussion on the market, with reference to the claim of the Government to lay violent hands on any of the private- owned wagons running on the various railway companies to meet Government requirements. Hitherto the mer- chants owning a fair number of wagons have been placed in very favourable circumstances as compared with those who have no trucks of their own, and to commandeer these private wagons is looked upon as a growing hardship by all the wagon owners. A recognised payment for use of the wagons will be adopted, but the loss of the tonnage usually brought forward for the individual firms and mer- chants will undoubtedly cause a good deal of friction. Immediately prior to the stoppage for the holidays con- siderable loss both of time and money was caused by the coal porters, especially in North London, refusing to take out coals on account of the snow. __________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Wednesday, April 11.—In consequence of the holidays, there was a large arrival of seaborne house coal, but no available supplies were on offer. The demand, however, continues good, owing to the state of the weather. Cargoes, 68. Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) :— To From Loads. Lysberg Limited .. Bayonne 5,500 Do. .. Bordeaux .... 3,792 Morgan and Cadogan .. .. Morlaix 145 Franklin Thomas .. Bayonne 625 Vyvyan Kelly .. Bayonne .... 1,200 _________________________________________________________ Newport:— Total .... 11,262 Evans and Reid .. Lisbon .... 1,200 Evans and Reid .. France .... 240 Port Talbot:— Total .... 1,440 E. W. Cook .. France 450. The imports of foreign mining timber during March, as might be expected, were below those of previous months, a total of 87,876 loads being received, as compared with 129,285 loads in March 1916. The price of Newfoundland pit props is expected to rise considerably soon. Last year 70,000 loads were imported into South Wales, and hopes are entertained of the trade becoming a permanent one. A well-known merchant informed our representative that a very large number of men are engaged in the cutting of pit props for export to this country, but not so many as was the case last year. By an Act of Parliament, a three-mile limit around the island has been fixed upon, which no cutting must proceed. Inside this limit the woods are privately-owned, and British pitwood merchants have to arrange with owners for such supplies. Minimum prices have been fixed by the Government, as well as an export or war tax of 1 dol. per cord. The minimum prices are 4-50 dols. per cord unbarked wood, and 5-50 dols. barked wood. The coming season, therefore, will find Newfoundland pit props at higher prices. Maximum prices have been fixed by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Colliery Owners’ Pitwood Association at 50s. to 55s. f.o.r. or delivery colliery for larch, and 40s. for hardwood, but the opinion prevails amongst merchants that these levels will have to be increased shortly. The cost of production is increasing, and, as the war continues, supplies will decrease. No hard and fast maximum levels can be rigidly adhered to, for there comes a point at which private enterprise will cease. Doubtless the authorities had this tendency in mind when they insisted on a monthly census of wood stocks. These monthly returns will enable the authorities to keep in close touch with the state of the market. It will offset any tendency to hold stocks for higher prices. The necessity for furnishing such returns has produced initial grumbling from merchants whose staffs have been severely attenuated. Efforts continue to be made by the Colliery Owners’ Association to stimulate pro- duction and deliveries, and much has been accomplished in this direction. At the present time a further “ combing-out ” process is necessary from a national standpoint, and many men in the timber trade married and over 35 years of age are being drafted to the Army. An opinion prevails amongst timber merchants that better service to the national cause could be given by drafting these men to the woods and forests. Their expert knowledge in the matter of measur- ing, sizing, and dealing with the transport of timber would be invaluable, and would lead to the saving of a large amount of waste in time and material. Valuable men are being drafted to the Army who would prove a decided acquisition to the Coal Owners’ Pitwood Association, and as that association is practically quasi-official, there should be no difficulty in the transfer from the Army to the woods. The cutting of pitwood is an urgent national necessity. __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is firm, and prices are well maintained. Solvent naphtha is the turn dearer in the South. Pitch also is promising from the vendor’s stand- point. Tar variable, but firm. Nearest values are :— Llanelly. COAL. There is nothing new to report as to the state of the market. Tonnage arrivals are still far from satisfactory, and collieries are therefore forced to have several idle days through shortage of empty wagons. Large anthracite qualities are very easy, and prices weak for prompt shipment.' Machine-made qualities are also not strong, but supplies are curtailed owing to the many “ play days ” at the collieries. In the steam coal section there is also a decided lack of firmness, and throughs and smalls are unsettled, with concessions in price offering for prompt release of wagons. The inland demand for both anthracite and steam coals is still steady, and there is a satisfactory amount of business passing. Manufacturing coals are very firm, and local works pressing for supplies. This week's quotations are approximately as follow:— ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The demand for plates for both classes A and B is good. Prices are a shade firmer, and 27s. is now the ruling figure for I C 14 x 20 cokes. Most works are fully booked up to end of May, and hesitate to quote beyond this, owing to the uncertainty of steel supplies and labour. Where quotations are obtainable, following are about the figures asked Coke tins : IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 27s. per box and upwards; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 54s.; IC 14 x 18J (124 sh. 1101b.), 27s. 6d. IC squares and odd sizes, 27s. 6d. basis and upwards. Charcoals are firm, at 30s. basis and upwards. . Coke wasters meet with a good enquiry, and plates which can be sold without certificates are realising quite 30s. basis f.o.b. works. Restricted sizes, however, can be bought at about 26s. basis, f.o.b. Wales. All less 4 per cent. __________________________ As previously reported, Mr. J. Dyer Lewis has been appointed divisional inspector of mines for the South Wales Division. All communications for the divisional inspector should be sent to Mr. Dyer Lewis, 21, Stanwell- road, Penarth. His telegraphic address is “ Mines inspector, Penarth," and his telephone number “ Penarth 188." Benzols, 90’s ..................... ........................... ,, 90’s North .............. ,, 50’s North ............... Toluol ....:........................ Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha,| south (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) .... Creosote (for ordinary qualities).... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast)............ ,, (f.a.s. west coast)............ Tar, London (per ton ex works) ... Tar, North (per ton ex works) .... l/0i