April 27, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 815 IRON. Enquiries for pig iron, both on home and foreign account; are on a good scale, and a good deal of business is passing. One or two more haematite furnaces are likely to be changed on to the production of Cleveland pig before long. Of the 77 blastfurnaces at present in operation on the north-east coast, 34 are making Cleveland pig, 30 are running on haematite, and 13 are manufacturing special irons. There is now an ample supply of railway wagons, with the result that home consumers of pig iron are receiving regularly supplies quite sufficient to meet their needs. Licences for export of Cleveland pig to France and Italy are no longer difficult to obtain, but permits for shipments to other countries are issued very sparingly. Shipments are now on a fairly good scale, and would be much heavier but for the tonnage difficulty. No. 3 Cleveland pig is 92s. 6d. for home consumption, and 102s. fid. for shipment to our Allies; whilst No. 1 is 9cs. 6d. for home use, and 107s. 6d. for despatch to our Allies. Prices of the lower qualities of Cleveland pig for home use are the same as the rate ruling for No. 3, but for export No. 4 foundry is 10is. 6d., and No. 4 forge, 100s. 6d. Great firmness characterises the east coast hsematite branch, and with sellers as pronounced as ever in their claim for advances, the tendency is upward, but whether a rise will be sanctioned is open to doubt. General disinclination is shown to accept orders to any extent at the quotations which have ruled for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 for some time past, viz., 122s. fid. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel continue working at high pressure, and still adding to their huge output. Quotations are stationary. ——------------------------------------ Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade remains in an exceedingly brisk condition. With the return of more seasonable weather, house coal is a shade easier, but in all the other branches business is so well maintained that all the coal that can be raised is being readily absorbed, and the output is still a long way short of actual requirements. There is a clamorous demand for fuel, both for local use and shipping, and the collieries have still considerably more orders on hand than they can deal with. Production is now very much larger than it has been since the holidays, but at the moment little more can be done than to cope with the wants of Ideal consumers and landsale require- ments. The home market is very active, and some of the pits have now so much coal to send to the public works and the coke ovens that they have none to spare to send out of the district. The position in the coal industry in this district is that the bulk of the industrial fuel is required for local consumption, and after the needs of the iron ore mines, the iron and steel works, the by-product coke ovens, and other important users on Government work have been fully met, there is very little left either for shipping or outside consumers. With the lighting of another furnace in West Cumberland, the demand for works fuel is greater than ever, and the consequence is that supplies for the docks have dwindled still further this week. All the pits in the county are working on an average of six days a week. Landsale is quieter than it was a week ago, but some of the depots have still a fair amount of business on hand. Coal for gas-making is in steady request, and engine fuels for the local railways are in firm demand. Require- ments of industrial fuel for the by-product coke ovens and the local works were never so large as they are at present, and there is no likelihood of any diminution in this branch so long as the iron trade remains in such a brisk condition. Coasting vessels have been sailing more regularly since the weather moderated, but supplies of all sorts of export are still very scarce. A strong enquiry is current for all classes of fuel for the Irish market, but the collieries are still too busy locally to give much attention to the export trade. Very little works § fuel has been shipped for some time, and smalls for export are practically unobtainable. For the past fortnight a con- siderable quantity of manufacturing fuel for the east coast has been shipped from the Maryport dock. During' the week 12 vessels have sailed from Maryport with coals for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 3,230 tons, compared with 3,440 tons at the corresponding period of last year, with a decrease of 490 tons compared with last week. The largest cargoes have been for Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Londonderry and Carrickfergus. Coke is very firm, and the entire output of local coke is being taken by local smelters, who in addition are still using between 5,000 and 6,000 tons from the east coast weekly. The by-products trade is very brisk, and all the works in this neighbourhood are actively employed. Quotations are unchanged. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, 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 pit 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 „ Best Cumberl’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 with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best export coal is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. All classes of bunkers are in very strong request. Best sorts for foreign-going vessels are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton ; and best bunkers for coasting steamers are 25s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton delivered in the district. Best house coal delivered in Maryport is from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s, lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt. or 24s. 2d. per ton. IRON. The haematite pig iron trade on the west coast continues to be marked by very great strength. There is feverish activity all over the district in both the iron and steel industries, and some of the plants are probably busier than they have been for years. Production is creeping up again, and the lighting of a furnace in West Cumberland is another indication that smelters are slowly but surely overcoming the difficulties which for some time have stood in the way of expanding production. The demand for iron, both ordinary and special brands, is enormous, and although the output is larger, smelters are still unable to fulfil requirements. Local needs are increasing, and the wants of users on important work for the Government were pro- bably never so busy as they are at present, but it is stated that a determined attempt will shortly be made to secure a much larger output of metal. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have lighted one of their furnaces at the Lowther Ironworks, at Workington, and it is reported that one or two more in West Cumberland, which are ready, will be put into operation before the end of the half-year. Busy preparations are also being made in the Furness district, with a view to increasing the output. Carnforth will have one ready for lighting shortly, and it is expected that one of the furnaces at the Askam Ironworks will be put into blast in the course of the next few days. More labour is now available for the works and the mines, and smelters are receiving bigger deliveries of native ore. The amount of iron in public storing yards in Cumber- land now only amounts to 430 tons. Prices are unchanged at the maximum fixed by the Government, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. Special iron is 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron is quoted at 135s. per ton, f.o.t. The market for ferro-manganese is firmer, but prices are unchanged. The number of furnaces in blast from Solway to Carnforth is 29, 20 of which are in Cumberland and the remaining nine in the Furness area. In West Cumberland the Workington Iron and Steel Company have 12 furnaces blowing, 10 at Workington and two at Maryport. Millom have four in operation, Disting- ton and Cleator Moor have two each in blast, and in the Furness district, Barrow have six, North Lonsdale two, and Carnforth one in draught. All the haematite pig iron smelted in this district is going into home consumption. All the make of ordinary iron is being absorbed locally at the steelworks, and the entire output of special iron is being taken by important users in Scotland and the Midlands, and a few fresh consumers in other districts, who are engaged on special work for the Government. The steel trade is as busy as ever, and all the mills at both Workington and Barrow are working at top pressure. No railway material is being rolled, but all the plants are heavily engaged on work of national importance. Heavy steel rails are quoted at from <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s. per ton, light sections from £14 to £14 10s. per ton. Billets are in keen demand at £12 per ton, heavy tram rails £14 per ton, ship plates £11 10s. per ton, and boiler plates £12 10s. per ton. The engineering trade is brisk, and most of the shops in this district are busy on Government work. The iron ore industry in the district from Cleator Moor to Millom is tremendously brisk, and there is a very heavy demand for all grades of native ore. Production is larger but it is still short of requirements. Prices of all sorts are unchanged. Best sorts i are quoted at 38s. per ton; ordinary grades range from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are quoted at from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. ...----------- South-West Lancashire. COAL. With the welcome change in the weather a natural falling off has taken place in the number of household orders coming in, and which will give retailers an oppor- tunity of thinning out the arrears which are so plentiful on the books. With regard to shipping, requirements for general bunkering and export' continue on a moderate scale, Government requirements being fully maintained. On the whole, available supplies are barely sufficient for all purposes, and prices of Lancashire steam coal are firm at 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. f.o.b. with a tendency further to harden. In the shipment of household fuels for the coast- wise and cross-channel trade there is still much anxiety on the part of the merchant to get forward supplies. Slacks and small fuel generally continue scarce, and it is difficult to meet day-to-day requirements in their entirety. 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 sernd. 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/ 24/6-25/6 16/ 15/ 14/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 21/ -22/ 20/9 25/6 abt. 24/6 19/ -20/ 19/ 24/6 22/ -22/6 18/ 17/ 23/ upwds. 21/6 upwds 18/ I 17/6-18/ 24/ -25/6 ' 23/6-24/ 16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ 15/ 14/ 14/ upwds South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. There is not much change to report in the situation. Buyers are not able to obtain their full requirements in either house or manufacturing fuel, but with the warmer weather the position is expected to be eased in respect to the former. There is a steady enquiry for shipping fuel. Prices all round are firm, and are as below:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal Best .............. Medium............. Common............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current L’st week’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6—21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds 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 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ abt. 22/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds IRON. No change to report here, with the exception that foundries are now asked 5s. per ton more for Middles- brough pig. The jobbing foundries in this district are not lovers of this iron, so that unless other makers in Lincoln- shire, Derbyshire and Northampton follow suit it will not affect local foundries. 'I rade generally in foundry work is not good. The forges, rolling mills, and steel works are all working at full pressure. Steel scrap is scarce, and full rates are eagerly paid. Wrought iron also is scarce. Heavy engineers are very busy, not only on Government work, but rolling mill engines, etc. Wagon works very busy at high prices. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. A very busy market on Tuesday was well attended by London and Hull traders, in addition to a strong contingent of local merchants. The pits have worked full time this week, and the wagon supply having been probably better than at any time since Christmas, the output has been more satisfactory. Reports from London with respect to the house coal position indicate a slight ease in the public demand as a result of warmer weather, but merchants have still many arrears of orders, and supplies at the depots are very scarce, ground stocks being practically non-existent. Merchants are feeling no little concern about stocks for next winter, but it is difficult to see how they are to secure adequate reserves, as the output is already spoken for. There will certainly be no speoial prices for this purpose as in ordinary years. The better qualities are the most scarce, such as Haigh Moor, Wallsend and Silkstone best, commoner qualities being rather more plentiful. Boats are impossible to secure for the coastwise trade, and contractors’ boats, to which the shipping is confined, are coming to hand at both Goole and Hull in limited numbers. In the West Riding, trade continues on recent lines. With regard to house coal generally, it is understood that the collieries are at liberty to renew contracts on the same terms as gas coal—namely, that there should be a clause reserving to the Coal Controller the right to cancel the contract, if it is in the public interest to do so. This tends to simplify the position, and a number of contracts have been renewed on these conditions. There is a fair amount of enquiry for the renewal of gas coal contracts, and these are being dealt with pretty much on the same lines as last year. The position with regard to current supplies is very acute, stocks at the works being well nigh exhausted. Here again the question of next winter’s supplies is a serious problem. Manufacturing coal is being distributed mostly in accordance with the wishes of the- local Coal Distribution Committee, and although here and there large consumers are embarrassed through temporary shortage, the method of distribution is fairly satisfactory. The shortage of coking smalls is still serious. A good deal more coke could be made if slacks were procurable. If anything, the pressure for supplies of coke tends to increase. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. 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 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Do. house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ j 19/ -20/ Other qualities 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 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 ... 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 16/ -17y. 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Rough unscreened engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11 /—12/ Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 24/ -25/ Barnsley. COAL. Little relief is experienced in regard to the shortage of supplies, and collieries continue to be keenly pressed for more regular and larger deliveries. , The advent of the warmer weather had some effect in regard to house coal, but collieries are still unable to entertain the offer of new business. Effort is still being made to give something like equal supplies, but avoiding any tendency to lay in stocks, which would only prejudice the subsequent working of the collieries. In regard to practically every class of fuel, no alteration is observable. A better enquiry is reported for steams on export account, but there has yet been little activity, and the big tonnage of hards can still be easily dealt with owing to the heavy consumption for