1176 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 22, 1917. general trade are so much in arrears that increasing anxiety is felt regarding the future. Large and important institutions are now beginning to accumulate stocks for essential purposes, and wagons are being sent more freely to be available in the sidings whenever there is any surplus coal. Country coal merchants are now able to handle their business more effectively, but the difficulties are still great. All classes of household command a very keen demand for London and district, and there is a strong effort to increase deliveries of main and deep cobbles and nuts as well as small nuts for mechanical stokers. Bakers* nuts, which are easy to handle with no wastage, are cleared off as fast as they are available. There are no stocks at the pits or at country stations. THE WELSH COAL AKD IR0H TRADES. Thursday, June 21. South Staffordshire, Korth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. No abatement is noticeable in the demand for practically all classes of fuel, and production, although as well main- tained as labour conditions will permit, still falls below requirements. Despite the weather, householders are wonderfully insistent, chiefly with the view of acquiring winter stocks. All grades of industrial fuel are in active request. Private wagons are making heavy drafts upon the output, and free coal is practically unobtainable. Nuts are scarce, and adequate supplies of the better class slacks are also short. Prices are firm. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 22/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ Best hard 18/6 18/6 18/6 Forge coal....» . 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 19/ cobs 18/ 18/ 18/ Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 20/ Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 14/6 Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 14/6 s l©rth Wales. Wrexham. COAL. During the past week trade has been steady, and all the pits have worked full time. Only a moderate demand for house coal exists, though merchants appear to be inclined to stock a little in anticipation of a possible scarcity later. Gas coal buyers are pressing for delivery of outstanding arrears on the old contracts, and. in some cases are com- mencing to draw on account of the 1917-1918 contracts. A fair tonnage of large gas coal is available at present, but the supply of nuts is only limited. The bulk of trade is in steam coal. Deliveries are pressed for by all classes of buyers, railway companies, shipping agents and industrial firms, and the tonnage disposed of during the week has been a large proportion of the total output of the area. A fair tonnage of slack is on the market at the time of writing. Prices remain steady, and quotations are mainly based on the following figures :—Best house coal is offered 21s. to 23s. per ton at pit, seconds 20s. to 22s. per ton; while at landsale depots retail prices range from 27s. 6d. to 30s. for the best large household fuel, and 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton at pit. Household slack is quoted at 15s. to 16s. 8d. per ton at retail wharves. Large gas coal is quoted at 19s. to 21s., and nuts 18s. to 20s. per ton, and the same prices generally apply to steam coal and fuel for shipment; while slack is listed at 12s. 6d. to 14s. per ton according to quality. Gas coke has a ready market at 21s. 8d. to 23s. 4d. at the local gas works. The following is a complete list of the week’s quotations : — Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. shire coals were comparatively more steady, except for bituminous descriptions, which were easier in consequence of the withdrawal of the Order prohibiting the transport of Forest of Dean coal into Monmouth and Glamorgan. There was a glut of small coal, and sales at considerably below quoted figures are being made in order to release wagons. Best bunkers are 16s. to 17s. and cargo sorts any- thing from 10s. to 13s. Washed coals continue in steady demand at high figures. In bituminous coals there is practically no alteration, and there is no change in. patent fuel. The scarcity of pitwood continues and importers have no difficulty in securing 75s. per ton ex ship. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal ' 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Secondary do 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Steam coal 19/ —21/ 19/ —21/ 18/ -20/ Gas coal 19/ —21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ Bunkers 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ Nuts 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 17/6-19/6 Slack 12/ -14/6 15/ -16/8 11/ -13/6 Gas coke (at works) 21/8-23/4 21/8-25/ 23/4-26/8 Prices landsale:— Best house coal 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ Seconds 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 Slack 15/ -16/8 15/ —16/8 14/2-16/8 IRON. The volume of business in the iron and steel trades of the district is still on the increase, and, with the growing pressure, there is also noticeable firmness in most depart- ments. South Staffordshire pig iron producers find no difficulty in securing the increased maxima of 100s. and 102s. 6d. for part-mine forge and foundry iron respectively. As regards Derbyshire and Northamptonshire brands, it seems now to be generally accepted that no advance is to be granted, and, that being so, the effect on prices of finished material will be so slight that any general revision is not likely. In one or two isolated cases the tendency is to quote slightly higher. Por small rounds, squares and flats, for instance, <£16 10s. remained a fixed basis for a considerable time; now it has a range of £16 10s. to £16 15s. There is no surplus to meet additional needs after war requirements are met. Merchant bars are firm at the controlled price of £13 15s. net at makers’ works, and marked bars are £15 10s., less 21 per cent. These figures, however, cannot be universally applied, because each return shows some increase in the selling price of bar iron. But any general advance in finished iron would necessarily have an unsettling effect on the whole industry, and will not be lightly undertaken. Puddled iron is increasingly difficult to obtain. There is none in the open market, and the scorching weather will still further reduce output. This tends to keep nut and bolt iron very firm, and quotations range up to £14 10s, delivered in the Darlaston district. The volume of business in the sheet trade is small, and the mills are kept going with difficulty. Galvanisers accept orders only if they can be assured of spelter supplies. Scarcity of sheet bars is another handicap. The price of black sheets is retained at £19 10s., but the usual extra of 20s. for painting has been increased to 25s. to cover increased cost. Ship fittings are in constant request, while makers of chains, cables and anchors in the Cradley district are working at full pressure. ————————---------- Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The coal market continues in a very uncertain and dull condition. There has not been a very large arrival of tonnage, and some of the mines in the western valleys of Monmouthshire have been on part time in consequence of a shortage of wagons. In addition, stocks are still con- siderable. Enquiry for Admiralty coal has slightly diminished. These are some of the causes which have led to a drooping of the market, though the nominal quota- tions of most qualities of coal have not varied much. An appreciable tendency occurred to meet buyers for early shipment with a considerable rebate. Best Monmouthshire coals were about the best selling sort on the market at the beginning of the week. Smalls were weak. House coals still keep up their values. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current Steam coals:— prices. Best Black Vein large...i 27/ -29/6 \A/ AO'bnYtn tto 11 rvvrc? i-n 9m OR Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is not much change to note in the state of the house coal industry here. The demand exceeds the supply as a rule at all the collieries, and full time is worked at every pit. Nevertheless, collieries are not in a position to satisfy all the calls upon them, especially in view of the large number of arrear orders still unexecuted. The demand for steam qualities is a very active one, consumption keeping on a large and, in some cases, expanding scale; collieries are experiencing considerable difficulty in dividing up supplies. Prices at pithead :— 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 ......... 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 20/ -21/ 17/ -18/ 10/ -13/ 6/6— 9/ 17/9-18/6 20/ -21/6 25/ -26/ 22/ -23/6 27/6-30/ __ __* * Nominal. House coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Block 24/ 24/ 21/6 Forest 23/ 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 19/ Rough slack 13/ 13/ 11/6 Steam coal:— Large ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Small 16/6 16/6 13/6-14/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ------------------ Bern, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that supplies are now being forwarded freely from the Midlands, Forest and South Wales districts, and some of the chief merchants are finding themselves in a position to place coal in stock. The railway companies are helping matters by adding new sidings, as well as by improved direct running’ trains for distant coal traffic. Very little coal is now obtained by sea in the South of England, as there are so few colliers moving in this direction. L’st week’s prices. 27/6-30/ 26/ -26/6 24/6-25/6 20/6-21/6 18/ -18/6 11/ -14/6 7/ - 9/6 18/6-19/ 21/ -22/ Last year’s prices. 49/ -51/ 48/ -49/ 47/ -48/ 39/ -43/ 25/ -27/ 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 26/ -27/ 26/ -30/ 30/ -33/ 25/ -26/ 22/ -23/6 27/6-30/ _____* __# 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 55/ -60'l 50/ -52/6 61/ —62/ IRON. The iron and steel trades of the district continue to show great activity in all sections without exception. In fact, with the installation of new plant in many of the works there is a much larger output than ever before. The tin- plate trade is taking on a much healthier tone. Pitwood continues firm, best fir commanding 74s. to 75s. Cardiff. COAL. The market generally is dull. No announcement has yet been made with regard to the new prices, and the uncertainty militates against forward business. Admiralty demands during the last few days have not been so heavy, with the result that stocks are accumulating, and in some cases the scarcity of wagons is beginning to cause uneasi- ness. Tonnage conditions over the week end were not so favourable as was anticipated, and there is no loading pressure. The chief difficulty appears to be that colliery owners do not know their position with regard to prices or profits. Negotiations have not reached finality, and further meetings will probably be held between the owners’ representatives and the Government, before any announce- ment is made. In the meantime there is little buying or selling except for the purpose of meeting immediate requirements. Quotations are more or less nominal, and concessions are made according to the particular situation of the persons negotiating. Chartering has not been so good, the amount of tonnage taken up last week being 33,310 tons compared with 42,610 tons in the preceding six days. At the time of writing, stocks of nearly all descrip- tions of coal were plentiful, but the difficulty was that outside the requisitioned tonnage there were no vessels available, the result being that quotations had a sagging tendency. Second Admiralties were obtainable at 28s. to 29s. and ordinary descriptions about Is. less. Monmouth- Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ................ Superior seconds ..... Seconds .............. Ordinary steams ...... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries..... Cargo qualities....... Inferior smalls ...... Best dry coals ....... Ordinary drys ........ ‘ Best washed nuts ... Seconds .............. Best washed peas...... . Seconds .............. Dock screenings ...... Monmouthshire— Black Veins ........ Western-valleys .... Eastern-valleys .... Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... Through-and-through Small .............. No. 2 Rhondda— Large............... Through-and-through Small .............. Best patent fuel ....... Seconds ................ Special foundry coke ... Ordinary do. ........... Furnace coke ........... Pitwood (ex-ship) ...... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. __* __# 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 16/ -17/ 13/6-15/6 10/ -13/ 8/6-10/ 29/ -30/ 27/ -28/ 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 26/ -27/ 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ ___* ___& 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ —14/ 81 -10/ l 29/ -30/ ■ 27/ -28/ 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 27 '6-28/6 26/6-27,6 __* __* 49/ -50/ 48/ -49/ 29/ -30/ 26/ -28/ 20/ -22/6 19/ -20/ 47 6-48/6 44/ -47/ 36/ -38/ 33/ -36/ 32/ -35/ 30/ -32/ 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 27/6-29/ 27/ -28/ 49/ -50/ 48/ -49/ 46/ -48/ 40/ -45/ 25/6-26/6 23/6-24/6 27/ -28/ 23/6-24/6 18/ -19/ 23/6-24/6 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/6 30/ 28/ -29/ 4116-501 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 76/ 25/6-26/6 23/6-24/6 27/ -27/6 23/6-24/6 18/ -19/ 24/6-25/6 18/6-19/6 13/6—14/6 30/ 28/ -29/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 75/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/6 47/ -50/ 37/6-41/ 30/ -35/ 38/ -40/ 32/ —35/ 24/ -25/ 50/ —52/6 48/ -50/ 62/6-65/ 60/ -62/6 50/ -55/ 40/ -41/ * Nominal. IRON. The tin-plate trade is extremely firm, and order books are well filled. In fact, many makers will not undertake new business until the position is more assured with regard to the deliveries of bars. These are in short supply, and temporary stoppages take place at the mills from time to time. Shipments of tin-plates last week amounted to 34,419 boxes, against 10,099 received from works, leaving only 92,658 boxes in stock, against 116,978 boxes the preceding week and 207,145 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Stocks are now lower than they have been for years past. For Class A work, standard sizes realise 36s. per box, but "‘free” plates command 40s. and even more, with other sizes in proportion. There is no improve- ment in the galvanised sheet trade, and works continue to be mainly employed on the production of black plate, for which there is a steady demand. All rail mills and blast- furnaces continue busy, and maximum outputs are being maintained. Quotations are nominal. There is a good enquiry for scrap metals at maximum figures, but supplies are short. Swansea. COAL. There were few enquiries for anthracite and steam coal. Tonnage supplies dominated the market, and as these were still short, enquiries were consequently affected. Anthra- cite large and duff continued slow, but machine-made sizes were busy, though the larger sizes seem a shade easier. Steams and bunkers had an easier tendency. Llanelly. COAL. There is not much change to report as to the local market. All anthracite machine-made qualities continue in good demand, and as supplies are reduced through the idle days at the collieries there is every prospect of these qualities continuing active. Large quantities are very easy, with heavy stocks on hand, so that prices are difficult to maintain. Culm is firm, but duff easy. Steam coals are irregular, owing to a lack of clearance to orders. Large kinds are obtainable at slightly easier prices for prompt business, and throughs are also less active. Smalls are offering very freely, and prices inclined to be unsteady. Tonnage arrivals have been far from satisfactory, and this accounts for the irregular tone of the market. Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do......... Big Vein large..... Bed 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 prices. 24/ -25/6 21/6-23/ 19/ -20/ 18/ —19/ 32/6-35/6 32/6-35/ 34/ -36/ 34/ -36/ 28/6-30/ 20/6-22/ 10/6—11/6 5/3- 5/6 25/6-26/6 20/9-22/3 9/6-13/ 17/6-19/ L’st week’s' , prices. 24/ -25/6 21/6-23/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 34/ -36/ 34/ -36/ 28/6-30/ 20/6-22/ 10/6-11/6 5/3- 5/6 25/6-26/6 20/9-22/3 9/6-13/ 17/6-19/ Last year’s prices. 33/ -36/ 31/ -32 6 32/6-34/6 26/ -30/ 35/ -38/ 37/ -40/ 37/6-40/6 36/9-39,6 33,6-34/6 22/ -23/ 14/ -15/ 4/6- 5/ 41/ -43/ 32/6-35/6 21/6-23,6 29/ -31/6 The Advisory Committee (Ministry of Munitions) is seeking the loan of the services of the managers of various London municipal electricity undertakings in connection with experiments for the economical use of coal.