May 18. 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 951 THE COAL AMD IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 17. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Conditions in the Scotch coal trade are still rather disappointing, and the tendency is not in the direction of an improvement. In the west of Scotland district the situation has been further complicated by transport difficulties. Many of the collieries have become blocked by an accumulation of loaded wagons, and have been forced into idleness. Local industrial requirements are fairly well maintained, but export business is very difficult to conduct. Shipments for the past week amounted to 78,063 tons, compared with 67,233 in the preceding week and 118,628 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. current prices. Although practically nothing has been heard recently of the scheme for fixing minimum prices for the supplies of coal required by neutral consumers, it is now being hinted that the matter is still under considera- tion, and that there may be a satisfactory pronouncement on the subject at an early date. At present, the problem is being solved, very largely, by the neutrals themselves, for they are sending very few boats in this direction, with the result that they are receiving very little British coal. Later.—The Stockholm Gasworks and the Norwegian State Bail ways are stated to be enquiring for fuel supplies. Details are not yet to hand as to quantities. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Steam coal 18/ -24/ 18/ -24/ 28/ -32/ Ell 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/6 35/ -40/ Splint 18/ -31/ 18/ -31/ 32/ -42/ Treble nuts 23/6 23/6 21/ -22/ Double do 22/ 22/ 20/6-21/6 Single do. . 20/ 20/ 19/3-20/ IRON. There is little in the way of fresh interest to report in connection with the Scotch iron trade. All branches are working under tremendous pressure, chiefly on the pro- duction of war material, directly or indirectly. Pig iron makers have no lack of good orders, but owing to curtailed production sales are limited. Certain qualities are very scarce, notably haematite and No. 1 foundry iron. Stocks of No. 3 iron are now given at 1,573 tons. Though exports are practically off, prices are firm and unchanged. Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Glen- garnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3,121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos 3,125s. per ton. While the new order prohibiting the export of iron capable of being used in shipbuilding may indicate still further restriction in the malleable iron trade, it is questionable if much real difference will be apparent. For a considerable time past the majority of the mills have been producing steel, and the output of iron confined to very small limits, with exports of the latter almost at a standstill. Crown quality iron bars continue on the level of .£15 5s. per ton net for export, but much higher prices are being obtained for anything approaching prompt deliveries Black sheets are still very firm at <£18 per ton net for export. Makers of machinery of all descrip- tions are working under continuous pressure, and double shifts have frequently to be resorted to. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ 30/ 60/ -61/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 55/ -60/ Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 1 45/ -50/ or West Hartleys) ... 22/6-23/ 22/6-23/ 50/ Unscreened 18/ -20/ 18/ -20 40/ -50/ Small, Blyths 18/ 18/ 35/ Do. Tynes 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 27/6-30/ Do. specials Other sorts:— 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 35/ Smithies Best gas coals (New 21/ 21/ 35/ Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals 26/ 26/ 36/ (Pelaw Main or similar) 17/6-19/ 30/ -31/ 17/6-19/ 33/ -34/ Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, 30/ -31/ I 1 37/6-40/ Durhams Do. do. 17/ -20/ 17/ -20/ i 33/ -35/ N orthumbrians 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 40/ 33/ -35/ Coking" coals 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ ! 17/ -18/ ' Do. smalls 17/ -18/ 33/ House coals 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ ' 50/ Coke, foundry 40/ -42/6 40/ -42/6 | 47/6-50/ Do. blast-furnace ’ '40/ 40/ ! 44/ Do. gas | 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ j 28/ and foreign business being on a limited scale owing to difficulty of despatch. Deliveries by rail are stated to be very ample and quite regular, and shipments are'being dealt with as expeditiously as circumstances will permit. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted 92s., 6d., and No. 1 is 96s. 6d.; and for shipment to France and tq» Italy No. 3 is 102s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 101s. 6d., No. 4 forge 100s. 6d., and No. 1, 107s. 6d. East coast hsematite iron shows marked upward tendency. Sellers are most reluctant to make further contracts at current ra,tes, and declare most emphatically that the situation warrants very sub- stantial rise. Most of them incline to the belief that advance will be sanctioned in the near future. Dp to the present, however, the recognised market rates for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 remain at 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. Finished iron and steel quotations are well maintained, and manufacturers are working at such high pressure that production is steadily increasing. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians coal trade is also very dull, and while local demands are comparatively good, broken time is frequent. Shipments amounted to 18,512 tons, against 19,169 in the preceding week and 39,525 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s prices. prices. prices Best screened steam coal... 23/ -23/6 23/ -23/6 39/ -40/ Secondary qualities 21/ 21/ 38/ -39/ Treble nuts ....'. 23/ 23/ 23/ -24/6 Double do 21/ 21/ 22/ -23/ Single do 19/6 19/6 20/ -21/ No change is noticeable in the Fifeshire district. Collieries are in need of business both for home and export consump- tion, and the situation is far from encouraging. Shipments were 13,850 tons, against 27,986 in the preceding week and 53,316 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best screened navigation coal 30/ 30/ 40/- 45/ Unscreened do 25/ 25/ 35/ -40/ First-class steam coal 25/ 25/ 40/ -42/6 Third-class do. ...... 20/ 20/ 32/ -38/ Treble nuts 24/ 24/ 23/6-24/6 Double do 22/ 22/ 22/6-23/6 Single do 19/ 19/ 19/6-21/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 110,425 tons, compared with 114,388 in the preceding week and 213,469 tons in the corresponding week of last year. -------------------------------------- Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. With a continuance of the dearth of free tonnage on offer in the local chartering market, ordinary transactions are exceedingly limited in number and volume. Collieries, however, are well supplied with vessels for the carriage of coal on official and contract account, and little time is being lost at the pits. The outlook, so far as employment of the collieries is concerned, is good for the whole of the present month. Individual merchants find comparatively little coal on offer for prompt shipment, although supplies of steams promise to be rather more plentiful a week hence; all other descriptions of fuel are well booked up, however, and prices all round are very firmly maintained. Coke is especially scarce and dear. There has been no change in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment since last report. A group of Danish gasworks are inviting immediate offers of about 40,000 tons of gas coals for shipment in regular monthly quantities over the present year. Merchants are not inclined to speculate so far ahead, however, and are making their tenders of supplies over a shorter period. They are stated to be offering the fuel on the basis of full Sunderland. COAL. The coal market has a somewhat better tone. There is no particular change in prices, but merchants have a little enquiry, especially from Scandinavia, and there is more prospect of tonnage and licences being forthcoming. The collieries meanwhile are working more steadily, thanks to requisition business and the home demand, best class of steams being strong. The weakest spots in the market are steam smalls and bunker coals. Foundry coke of all kinds is firm, the demand being good, and supplies are well taken up for home trade. The Danish combination of gasworks are asking for immediate offers of 40,000 tons of gas coals over 1917, but merchants cannot quote so far ahead, being restricted by Government regulations, and ask for counter for three months only on the basis of 26s. for New Pelton or Holmside. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 27/6 27/6 37/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 18/ 18/ -18/6 35/ Best house coals 30/ 30/ 50/ Ordinary do Other sorts :— 23/ 23/ 40/ Lambton screened 29/ 28/ -28/6 55/ -57/6 South Hetton do 29/ 28/ -28/6 55/ -57/6 Lambton unscreened ... 17/6 17/6 33/ -33/6 South Hetton do. 17/6 17/6 34/ -34/6 Do. treble nuts 20/6 21/ 18/6 30/ Coking coals unscreened 18/6 34/ Do. smalls 17/ 16/9-17/ 32/6 Smithies 21/6 21/6 35/ Peas and nuts 23/ 22/6 37/6 Best bunkers 18/ 18/ 36/6-37/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke 16/ -16/6 16/6-16/9 32/6-33/6 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 40/ -42/ 41/ 47/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 28/ Gas coke 30/ -32/ 31/ 27/6-28/ Outward chartering is still at the lowest ebb, there being plenty of enquiry, but next to no tonnage offering, and business almost at a standstill. Fixtures, apart from France, include: Gothenburg 200 kr., Las Palmas or Teneriffe 75s., and London 20s. M i d d lesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Little or nothing has been heard of late of the scheme evolved by coal owners some time ago for placing business on a sounder basis. It is now stated that negotiations are once more active, and that some announcement with regard to the matter may be made at an early date. The coal market presents few new features, but if anything the mood is rather more cheerful, and especially is this the case so far as steam coals are concerned. Enquiries on behalf of Norway are reported, and some forward business with that country is being put through, tonnage being promised, and licences being regarded as assured. Large Durham steam coals are firm at 29s. to 30s., but smalls are rather too plentiful for needs, and are somewhat easy. Best Durham gas coals are 25s. to 26s., and seconds run from 16s. 6d. to 18s. Bunkers are offered freely, and are easy in price. Ordinary unscreened Durhams are put at 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., good ordinary 17s. to 18s, and specials 20s. to 21s. 6d. Smithies range from 20s. to 23s. Demand for household coal shows some falling off, but quotations are well maintained. Best sorts are in the neighbourhood of 21s. for home use, and 30s. for export. Coking coal continues to be fairly well taken up at prices ranging from 18s. to 19s. 6d. for unscreened kinds. Coke keeps in very good request for home use, local needs being heavy, but export trade is quiet. Descriptions needed for the blastfurnaces on the north-east coast continue to realise the fixed maximum prices. Thus, average furnace kinds are 28s. at the ovens, and low phosphorus qualities 30s. 6d. at the ovens. Foundry coke is quoted 41s. to 42s. 6d., patent oven 38s. to 40s., and gas-house coke round about 30s. v IRON. Firmness continues to characterise the market so far as pig iron is concerned, but for the time being transactions are only small, arrangements for this month's supplies to home users and to customers in Scotland having been made, Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. Business is exceedingly well maintained in the home and export branches. A marked falling off has occurred on landsale account, but so far any stocks that have been released are easily disposed of in other directions. All the pits are fully employed. Gas coal is in steady request all over the county. The shipping trade has been rather busier than usual this week. Manufacturing fuel, gas and house coal are in strong request for the cross-channel market, and during the last few days some good consign- ments of Cumberland and east coast coal have been shipped. The coke output is gradually increasing, but the entire production of local coke is still going to the smelters in West Cumberland and Millom. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton delivered in the district. Bunkers are very firm at from 25s. to 30s. per ton for best sorts, and from 21s. 6d. to 25s. for mixed sorts. Works fuel is quoted at 20s. per ton. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is obtainable at from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton. Best house coal delivered in Workington is quoted at Is. 4d. per Cwt., or 25s. lOd.per ton; with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24