May 18, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 953 steel strip. In all material civil requests are perforce ignored. There is no prospect of any abatement in the stringency as regards steel material, Government require- ments accounting for all the output. Joists and sections are firm at .£11 2s. 6d. All controlled quotations are upheld. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. New business continues to come in steadily for the house- hold coals of this district, but generally the demand has become less urgent owing to warmer weather. Numerous orders are held by the collieries, which will take, in many cases, some weeks yet to work off. Shipments are good with stems a fair length. Good train loads are leaving the collieries daily for the inland districts. The steam coal pits are all exceptionally busy, as, owing to the heavy requirements for war work, there is great pressure for supplies from all directions. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block ................ Forest ............... Rubble ............... Nuts ................. Rough slack .......... Steam coal:— Large ................ Small ... ...... ..... Current L’st week’s Last year ’ prices. prices. , prices. 24/ 24/ 21/6 23/ 23/ 20/6 23/3 23 3 20/9 21/6 21/6 19/ 13/ 13/ 11/6 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 16/ i 16/ 13/6-14/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AHD IROH TRADES. Thursday, May 17. Horth Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The demand for house coal has lessened considerably, yet a certain amount of merchants’ trade is being done at good prices. In all other departments trade still continues to be very brisk. Buyers of locomotive coal and fuel for industrial works are as eager as ever to secure supplies, and as far as is possible the demand is being met. A fair trade has been done in coal for shipment from Liverpool and other Merseyside ports during the week. The gas coal trade has changed but little during the past week. Supplies are normal, and gas companies appear to be getting a fair pro- portion of their contract quantity while the work of settling new contracts is proceeding briskly. A large number have been fixed up for another year. Nuts are scarce, but a fair tonnage of slack is available for the open market. Prices continue firm, house coal being 22s. to 23s. per ton at pit, seconds 21s. to 22s. per ton. At the landsale depots the retail prices are for best coal 27s. 6d. to 30s. per ton, seconds 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton, while household slack is making 15s. to 16s. 8d. per ton. Steam, large gas coal and bunkers are quoted at 19s. to 21s. per ton, nuts 18s. to 20s., and slack 12s. to 14s. 6d. per ton at pit. Gas coke is offered at 21s. 8d. to 23s. 4d. at the works. Quotations are as appended : — Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 22/ -23/ 21/ -23/ ( 22/ -23/ Secondary do 21/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 21/ —22/ Steam coal 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ —19/ Gas coal 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Bunkers 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 17/9-18/9 Nuts 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 Slack 12/ -14/6 12/6-14/6 11/ -13/4 Gas coke (at works) 21/8-23/4 21/8-25/ 25/ -27/6 Prices landsale:— Best house coal 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 Seconds 25/ —27/6 25/ —27/6 22/6-25/ Slack 15/ -16/8 15/ -16/8 15/ —16/8 Monmouthshire; South Wales, Newport. COAL. The market on the opening days of this week was irregular and inclined to drop. Tonnage arrived fairly well at the end of the previous week, but it did not prove sufficient to comply with all requirements. The quoted prices of coal did not show much alteration, but there was a disposition to ease the top rates for prompt shipment. Sellers still look most hopefully to the future to provide a still more, improved market. Collieries are working steadily with little loss of time. House coal and patent fuel have shown no appreciable change. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ...... Secondary do........... Inferior do............ Screenings Through coals ......... Best washed nuts....... Other sorts:•— Best house coal, at pit... Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel ........... Furnace coke........... Foundry coke .......... Current L’st week’s prices. | prices. 26/6-28/ 29/ -30/ 25/ -26/ •' 28/ -29/ 24/6—25/ s' 26/6-28/ 21/ -22/6 I 24/ -25/ 18/ -18/6 ; 18/ -19/ 15/ -16/6 15/6-16/6 7/6-12/ : 7/6-12/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -21/6 j22/ -23/ Last year’s prices. 54/ -55/ 54/ -55/ 54/ -55/ 53/ -54/ 31/ -32/6 29/ -30/ 25/ -27/ 31/6-32/6 38/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 25/ -26/6 22/6-24/ 27 6-30/ __* 25/ -26/6 22/6-24/ 27 6-30/ __# , ___ 23; -24/ 22/ -23/ 50/ -55/ 50/ -52/6 60/ —62/6 * Nominal. IRON. No change worth speaking of has occurred in the iron and steel trades of the district. All the works are in full operation, and are maintaining a good, steady output. Happily the engineers’ trouble does not affect this district. The tin plate trade shows little alteration. There is still a great shortage of raw material, and a fair demand which now obtains can only be met with a good deal of difficulty. Pitwood continues to hold a steady and high rate in the market, best fir being at about 75s. Cardiff^ COAL. The anticipations of a continuation of the improvement in the coal trade of this district have not been realised, and at the end of last week it became evident depression would recur. The keynote of the position is the tonnage question. Whilst vessels were arriving freely there was plenty of animation and a hopeful outlook, but when the tonnage available showed signs of becoming materially lower, there was a manifest desire on the part of sellers to grant conces- sions and make the most of their opportunities. Buyers were not slow to take advantage of the position, with the result that there was a marked decline in the volume of business done, and such transactions as were recorded were the result of individual bargaining between buyer and seller, and did not in any degree represent the market prices as disclosed by the daily quotations. Over the week-end the arrivals have been of only a moderate character, and the tonnage available is not sufficient to meet the general requirements of shippers. There has been no lack of requisitioned ships for Government and Allied demands, and business therefore has practi- cally been confined to narrow channels. The main result has been an accumulation of stocks, which are daily increasing, but at the time of writing no stoppages. Best and superior second Admiralties are unobtainable, and the quotation is nominal. Ordinary seconds are 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d., but in several instances even lower figures have been accepted, and the same remark applies to ordinary Cardiff steams, which range from 25s. to 26s. In sympathy with the decline in the better descriptions of steam coals, Monmouthshires are also lower, but the demand continues active, and it is only the lack of shipping facilities which keeps down the price. Black Veins realise 27s. to 27s. 6d., western valleys 26s. to 27s., and the best of the eastern valley coals are only about Is. less. There has been marked weakness in the small coal market, and a decline of several shillings is recorded. Although best bunkers are nominally quoted at 17s. to 18s., business has been done at lower figures, and there is a prospect of a further fall, unless the tonnage position improves within the next few days. Ordinaries are 16s. to 17s., and cargo descriptions anything from 12s. to 15s. per ton. For bituminous coals there is little demand, except for gas- making qualities, and these are in good request for inland consumption. Prices, however, are easy, No. 3 Rhondda large not being more than 27s. to 27s. 6d., No. 2 25s. to 26s., and other grades in proportion. In sympathy with the decline in small coals, patent fuel is rather easier, and is obtainable at 28s. to 30s. There is no change with regard to coke, except that it is reported that the attempt to fix prices for neutral ports has proved a failure, and business has been done at 47s. 6d., the same figure as to scheduled destinations. Pitwood continues to arrive in fairly moderate quantities, and the market is firm at 75s. per ton for French fir. Chartering last week showed a marked falling off, the quantity of tonnage taken up being only 12,700 tons, compared with 37,530 tons in the preceding six days, and the total falling off during the year now amounts to nearly 1| million tons. 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 26/6-27/6 30/ -32/6 1 54/ -55/ Ordinary steams 25/ -26/ 29/ -30/ 52/ -53/ Best bunker smalls 17/ -18/ 21/ -22/ 32/6-33/6 Best ordinaries 16/ -17/ 18/6-19/6 30/ -32/ Cargo qualities 12/ -15/ 15/6-17/6 24/ —28/ Inferior smalls 10/ -12/ 12/6-15/ 22/ -24/ Best dry coals 26/ -27/ 29/6-30/6 52/6-55/ Ordinary drys 24/ -25/ 27,6—28/6 47/6-52/6 Best washed nuts 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ Seconds 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ # Best washed peas 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ . Seconds -. 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ # Dock screenings # Monmouthshire— Black Veins 27/ -27/6 29/ -30/ 54/6-55/ Western-valleys 26/ -27/ 28/ -29/ 54/ -54/6 Eastern-valleys 1 25/ -26/ 27/ -28/ 50/ -52/6 Inferior do 23/ -24/ 25/ -26/ 50/ -51/ 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/ -23/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 27/ -27/6 28/6-29/6 57/6-60/ Through-and-through; >23/ -24/ 23/6-24/6 42/6-45/ Small 18/ -19/ 19/ -20/ 33/ -35/ No. 2 Rhondda— 1 Large 25/ -26/ , 26/6-27/6 48/ -49/ ' Through-and-through 18/ -19/ 20/6-22/6 38/ -40/ Small 14/ -14/6 16/6-17/6 27/ -28/ Best patent fuel 30/ 30/ 50/ -55/ Seconds 28/ -29/ 28/ 47/6-50/ Special foundry coke 47/6-50/ —■ 62/6-65/ Ordinary do. 47/6-50/ 47/6J; 70/X 60/ -62/6 Furnace coke 47/6-50/ 47/6f;65/X 50/ -52,6 Pitwood (ex-ship) 75/ 75/ 42/ -44/ * Nominal, f Allied. X Neutral. IRON. The tin plate trade continues very firm, and prices are advancing. This is due to the rise in the cost of practically all materials, coupled with the increased war bonus of 15 to 20 per cent, which has been granted -to the workmen. These factors are materially adding to the cost of pro- duction, and manufacturers state that they must increase their prices accordingly or close down their mills. As a matter of fact, some of the latter are working irregularly, owing to the intermittent character of the supply of bars and other materials. For Bessemer standard cokes in class A certificates 31s. to 32s. per box is being obtained, but for “free” sizes there is no difficulty in securing as much as 37s. per box, with wasters about Is. less. Receipts from works last week were only 6,420 boxes, against 22,097 in the preceding week and 61,404 boxes in the corresponding week of last year. Shipments amounted to 38,621 boxes, against 88,620 boxes a year ago, leaving in stock 156,136 boxes, compared with 228,635 boxes in the corresponding period. The galvanised sheet trade is practically non- existent, and were it not for the steady demand for black plate, in the production of which most works are now engaged, many makers would have to close down. Quota- tions are nominal. Spelter is unchanged at .£54 per ton. In the iron and steel works there is unabated activity, and production is entirely controlled. Rail mills are hard pressed to cope with the demands, and heavy . sections are unobtainable except for war purposes. All quotations are nominal, and the same applies to Welsh haematite, which is exclusively reserved for munition purposes. The iron ore market shows no change, and arrivals continue satisfactory. In scrap metals there is an active demand, and maximum prices are being realised. Swansea. COAL. Only very limited business was pos=ible in any branch of the trade, owing to the small quantity of tonnage coming to hand. Anthracite coal was easy, with the exception of machine-made sizes, which were steady. Steams were dull, with the exception of bunker throughs, which were in fair request. Llanelly. COAL. There is not much change to report as to the state of the local market. Quiet conditions are ruling for practically all qualities, and there is not much business passing. Tonnage conditions are responsible for this lack of activity, and until necessary supplies are more satisfactory it is impossible to give clearance to orders. Colliery order books are well filled for some time ahead, but as things are quiet at the docks it is impossible to keep collieries working 'anything like full time, owing to shortage of empty wagons. Anthracite large kinds are very weak and stocks heavy. The machine-made qualities maintain their position, as supplies are not too plentiful, owing to the short time worked at the collieries. Culm is advancing in price but duff is very weak. Large steams are a little easier, and for some grades concessions in prices are obtainable. Throughs are also weaker, owing to the falling off in bunkers. Smalls are unchanged; manufacturing coals are steady, with works taking practically all available supplies. Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s, Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. | prices. Best malting large ..1 24/ -25/6 24/6-26/ | 33/ -36/ Secondary do ..j 21/6-23/ 22/3—23/6 i 31/ -32/6 Big Vein large . „l 19/6-21/ 19/9-21/ ! 32/6-34/6 Red Vein do 18/3-19/ 18/3-19/6 I 25/ -27/ Machine-made cobbles., ,.j 34/ -36/ 33/ -36/ ’ 34/ -36/ Stove nuts ..| 33/ -35/6 32/6-34/6 ! 33/ -35/6 French do 33/ -36/ . 33/ -35/ 34/ -36/ Paris do J 33/ -36/ 33/ -35/ 33/6-35/6 Machine-made beans . ..! 27/ -28/6 26/6-28/ 33/6-36/6 Do. peas 20/6-22/ 20/ -22/ 24/ -26/ Culm . 1 10/3-11/3 9/ - 9/6 14/ -15/ Duff ,. 5/3- 5/6 5/3- 5/9 4/6- 5/ Other sorts:— I Large steam coal J 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 ! 45/6-48/6 Through-and-through.. J 18/ -21/ 18/ -21/ 34/6-38/6 Small .1 9/ -12/6 8/6-11/ 22/ -26/ Bituminous small coal.. . 19/ -20/ 17/ -19/ 30/6-35/6 THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—London sellers quote about 37s. net f.o.b. makers’ works for pitch. Other lines are dull, and solvent naphtha is inclined to a lower quotation. Creosote is nominally 4^d. net per gal. In the provinces, gas works tar is quoted 20s. 3d. to 24s. 3d. Pitch, east coast, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d.; ditto, Manchester, 15s. 6d. to 16s.; ditto, Liverpool, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. Benzol, 90 per cent., north, 10^d. to ll^d.; 50 to 90 per cent, naked, north, Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. Toluol, naked, north, 2s. 3d. Coal tar crude naphtha, in bulk, north, 6^d. to 6^d. Solvent naphtha, naked, north, Is. 8d. to Is. 9d. Heavy naphtha, north, Is. 2d. to Is. 3d.. Creosote, in bulk, north, 3^d. to 3^d. Heavy oils, in bulk, north, 3^d. to 4d. Carbolic acid, 60 per cent., east and west coasts, 3s. 4d., naked. Sulphate of Ammonia.—Quantities of sulphate are still being purchased at the official price of <£16 per ton direct to farmers net, and c£15 10s. to mixers and distributors. Nitrate of soda is very firm, at 25s. 6d. per cwt. for ordu nary quality, and 26s. for refined. THE TIH-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. “ Free ” sizes are commanding high figures, 38s. and upwards having -been paid during the past few days. There is plenty of Class A work, but makers are not anxious to commit themselves. Where quotations are obtainable at all, the following figures are asked :—Coke tins: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb. j, 31s. 6d. per box and up ; IC 28 X 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 63s. per box and up. IC square and odd sizes, 32s. basis and upwards. Charcoals rule firm, at 34s. basis and upwards, according to finish. In regard to coke wasters, GW 14 x 20 are worth about 27s. 6d. to 28s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20 about 56s., but “ unrestricted ” sizes would bring 35s. or 36s. basis easily. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Spain’s Coal Imports.—Senor Alpa, Minister of Finance, in reply to a statement that no coal was now reaching Spain, declared that coal imports were normal, and that on Saturday last, for instance, 19,000 tons of coal were unloaded at Spanish ports. Russian Coal Monopoly Probable. — According to a Petrograd official paper, a proposal to introduce a coal monopoly is under the serious consideration of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in whose care the project is being carefully worked out. It is suggested that the monopoli- sation shall begin to take effect before mid-June (new style). Triple industrial Alliance.—A special conference of the three executive committees of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, the National Union of Railwaymen, and the National Transport Workers’ Union, forming the Triple Industrial Alliance, was held on Wednesday, to con- sider the question of industrial compulsion. Mr. Robert Smillie was in the chair. The most important decision of the meeting was the calling of a national conference to determine the steps to checkmate the attacks upon trade union organisation and influence. A warning was issued concerning any form of labour conscription. The confer- ence passed a resolution of condolence with the family of the late Aid. W. House, of Durham, vice-president of the Miners’ Federation, who died suddenly on Monday of last week.