June 8, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1085 is very limited, though it is gratifying to learn that more licences are being issued on Allied account, and shipments show some improvement. Sellers are still very reluctant to book foreign orders on terms obtainable. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. No new develop- ment is noticeable in finished iron and steel. Quotations are firm and unaltered. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal trade in this district is very firm, and there is a strong market for all classes of fuel. The pits are all working regularly, and production is fairly satisfactory, but without the importation of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons weekly from the east coast, a good many consumers would still have to go short. In the home market business is exceedingly brisk, and there is an abnormal call for fuel for local consumption. Coal for industrial purposes is in very strong request for the West Cumberland iron and steel industries, and with the lighting of an additional furnace, local needs this week are bigger than usual. The collieries have some good orders on hand, and one or two of the larger pits are so heavily booked, that they are still unable to accept any new business. Landsale is very dull, and in some parts of the district business at the depots is reported to be quieter than it has been this year. Any supplies that are released on this account are easily disposed of at the docks. Locomotive fuels for the home railways are in steady request, and coal for gas making is in very keen demand all over the district. Practically all the supplies of gas coal which are being sent away at present by rail and boat are on contract. The cross-Channel trade is healthy, and there is a vigorous demand for all classes of fuel for export. Irish customers are not yet able to secure as much as they need, but of late consumers have been receiving rather better supplies. During the week 13 vessels have sailed from Maryport with coals, all for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 3,570 tons, compared with 5,420 tons at the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 770 tons compared with the previous week. The biggest cargoes have been for Belfast, Dublin, Bangor and Carrickfergus. About 600 tons of coal from the east coast were shipped this week, and the remainder from the Brayton, St. Helens and Oughterside collieries. The exports have also included a good cargo of pitch, for a Continental port, from the West Cumberland by-product works. The shipments for May amounted to 13,340 tons, against 12,080 tons for April and 16,907 tons at the corresponding period of last year. The coke industry is exceedingly busy, and all the 390 by-product ovens are in full operation. The entire output, in addition to about 5,000 tons of east coast coke, is being freely absorbed at the local iron works. There has been no alteration in either local or export quotations. Best sorts at the pit are obtainable at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best coal for shipping is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best works and and gas coal is 20s. per ton, with best washed nuts at 19s. per ton delivered in the district. All varieties of bunkers are in keen demand. Best sorts for foreign-going vessels are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton; best bunkers for coasting vessels are 23s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best house coal delivered in the Maryport district is from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton; with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds at 24s. 2d. 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. Other current quotations are as follow :— 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/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 19/3 18/3 IRON. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite pig iron trade, and the outlook, both as regards production and the supply of raw materials is probably better than it has been for months. Smelters are still unable to fulfil requirements. The amount of pig iron in stock in the public storing yards in Cumberland still stands at 430 tons. Prices remain 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. Steel billets are in firm demand at <£12 per ton, but ordinary commercial sorts are quiet. No railway material is being rolled at present. All the iron ore mines are regularly engaged, but it is still impossible to raise sufficient ordinary sorts to satisfy all requirements. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The demand for house coal of all descriptions is unusually heavy for the time of the year, many householders pressing for supplies in order to get something in hand. In screened round coal for forge and manufacturing purposes full supplies continue to be called for. There is little change as regards shipping. Requirements for general bunkering and export are only fairly moderate, but coal is not over plentiful, and prices remain steady. Lancashire steam coals may be said to rule about 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. f.o.b. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade generally there is a good demand for all household coals ; in fact, rather more than can be met. In slacks and small fuel when, from one cause or another, there is a little available for open sale it quickly finds a purchaser. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ............... Do. (f.o.b. Gvrston, net) Kitchen............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/9 25/6 25/6 24/6-25/6 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 24/6 24/6 23/6-24/ 18/ 18/ 17/ -18/ 23/ upwds. 23/ upwds. 23/ upwds 18/ 18/ 18/ 24/6-25/6 24/ -25/ 26/ -27/ 16/ 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ 15/6 14/ 14/ 14/6 upwds South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was only a small attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and little business was done. There is little to report. The position is not much changed, and although the weather has naturally curtailed the con- sumption of house coal, there is no overplus on the market. Manufacturing fuel continues brisk, and shipments of coal are steady, mostly on contract account. Prices generally 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 prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6upwds L’st week’s 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. There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester ©n Tuesday. The position of affairs remains without change. All works are busily employed on munitions, prices and deliveries being controlled by the Ministry. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. It was a well-attended and active market on Tuesday, probably more London representatives being present than at any market for several months past. The chief demand seemed to be for prompt parcels of house coal, especially for the distant markets, and there was plenty of enquiry for rough slacksand coking slacks. Supplies all round were sparingly offered. The pits have worked full time this week, and the wagon supply has been satisfactory. There are a few complaints again about delays, but it is gratifying to note that a few railway trucks have been available for traffic to the south. The recent suggestion of the Coal Controller that the public should stock, has caused London house coal merchants to be inundated with orders, with which they cannot cope. Attempts to place extra orders with the collieries have generally failed. Almost any price could be had if it were not for the operation of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Reports from London and southern districts suggest that the depots all round are very bare of supplies. So far as can be seen at present, it seems quite impossible that adequate stocks will be secured. Private wagons, especially from depots north of the Thames, are making quicker journeys, and this has relieved the tension to some extent. There is rather more doing coastwise. Boats are coming fairly freely under the circumstances to both Goole and Hull, and good supplies ex contracts are being sent to the south coast, with occasional sales of spot parcels of medium quality Silkstone at about 21s. 6d. f.o.b. Locally, there has been a decided falling off in the demand. Renewals of orders are proceeding more or less satisfactorily on the same terms as last year, except that in most cases the tonnage is again reduced. This is inevitable while combing-out of men at the collieries continues. Gas coal stocks at the works are increasing, but new business drags to some extent, as collieries do not exactly know what to do Current pit prices. House coal:— Current * L’st week’s It 4. Last year i 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/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Do, house 20/ —21/ 20/ -21/ i 20/ -21/ Other qualities 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ Large double-screened engine nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Rough unscreened engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 12 1-131 Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/6—13/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 25/6-26/ until they have a clearer idea of what the conditions of State control may be. Generally contracts are being renewed as they fall due, with the usual safeguards. A good deal of screened gas coal is being sent to France. Supplies of manufacturing fuel are fairly adequate to the demand, which is not so keen on account of the warm weather and the absence of need to warm the mills and factories. Washed nuts and pea nuts, and specialised fuel generally, are reserved for Government controlled works. Coking smalls are still in heavy demand, although the pressure for washed furnace coke is not so keen as recently. Barnsley. COAL. The demand for all classes of coal is unabated, and collieries are in such a position with orders and contracts on the books, that there is little free coal offering in the open market. Delivery is expedited in a satisfactory manner. The output on the whole is well maintained, though the export of large steams continues to be some- what inactive. There is again a heavy demand for steam nuts and larger fuel. Two outstanding features occur in regard to gas and house coal. Though being consumed almost at the minimum level, there continues to be pressure for deliveries at a ratio equal to the full capacity of the collieries. The export of gas coal to France is much more active, home concerns find deliveries less regular. The public use of gas for cooking purposes keeps up the demand on the works to something like the average. Regarding house coal, efforts are directed to send a big tonnage to London for stocking purposes, and there is not a large supply left for the nearer districts. The desire to lay in stocks in the provinces is not so keen, though, of course, these markets are within nearer range, but the deliveries in this direction are hardly as adequate as might be wished. The enquiry for all descriptions of small fuel continues to be very active, particularly slacks for coke making. Though the pressure for supples of coke for certain districts is less keen, the output is well maintained, and stocks are not of a heavy description. Values all round are firmly maintained about as follow. Prices at pit:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ Secondary do 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Best hard coals 17/6-18/6 17/6-18'6 17/6-18/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 15/6-16/3 15/6-16/3 15/9-16/3 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Secondary do. Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/6 Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 16/ Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 25/ Hull. COAL. The tone is firm, and holders are able to command full “limitation ” figures where business other than for France is concerned. Large steam coal is none too plentiful, and nuts and manufacturing fuels generally are so largely drawn upon for home industrial requirements that they are, as a rule, very difficult to buy. The demand from neutrals is very strong, but the development of negotiations is slow, owing to the extreme difficulty of chartering steamers. The supply to France continues good, but a very strict surveillance over the issue of licences is again noticeable. Current values for prompt and June shipment are approximately as follow :—Best South Yorkshire hards, 30s.; washed nuts, 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d.; washed small coal, 20s.; rough slack, 17s. to 17s. 6d.; Parkgates, 27s. to 27s. 6d.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. 6d. to 28s. 6d.; screened gas coal, 26s. to 26s. 6d.; Derbyshire hards, 28s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. (at Grimsby). There is practically nothing doing in the freight market outside the allocation of steamers in the French trade. Coke rates have been revised, and are now for north French ports 45s. to 47s. for British steamers and 73s. 3d. Rouen (and Is. less other ports) for neutral vessels; Bay ports, 20s. per ton over the scheduled rates for coal, British and neutral steamers alike. Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for coal of every class still grows, but there is no corresponding expansion of supply. Nuts for gas producers continue to be urgently wanted, and cobbles are in pressing demand for the same purpose. Boiler fuel is in much better request, but supplies are less plentiful than they have been for some time. House coal continues to be ordered pretty freely, despite the warm weather. House- holders appear to be putting a little into stock. Loco- motive coal as well as gas coal is in strong demand, but it is not possible to find the necessary supplies at the moment. The position of the export trade is unchanged. Business continues on a small scale, owing to the scarcity of ships. For such lots of coal as are being sold, the price of Derbyshire Top Hards is from 28s. 6d. to 29s. per ton delivered Grimsby. The quantity that is going forward for export is, however, very small. The coke trade maintains a steady character, the whole production going into con- sumption regularly from day to day. Coking fuel is in good demand, and prices are firm. Prices at pit: Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 17/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/6 IRON. The active condition of the iron trade of the district is fully maintained. Pig iron is in good demand. To meet this, it .has been necessary to increase the output by putting additional furnaces into blast. Nottingham. COAL. Since the resumption of work at the collieries after the Whitsuntide holiday, there has been an active tone in the coal trade of this district. While the demand on local