January 4, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

19

noticeable that several West Yorkshire pits, and
newer collieries, have contributed a larger tonnage,
showing that the coal produced by the larger firms has
been diverted for other uses. Perhaps the most pro-
nounced difficulty in regard to the supplies of steam
sorts has been in respect of nuts. The consumption of
this class of coal by munition factories and other war
essential industries has been an ever increasing
quantity, and it has been extremely difficult to keep
deliveries on a satisfactory level. This has only been
possible by the more extended practice of restricting
and entirely ceasing supplies of nuts to industries
which have been regarded as of a less important kind
during the present period. The demand has always
been in excess of the supplies, but the official control
of the distribution has assisted collieries, who with
official approval have substituted other grades of fuel
to pre-war uses. The values of this class of coal have
ranged from 16s. 6d. to 15s. 6d. per ton during the
greater portion of the year.

Manufacturing Fuel.

All descriptions of small fuel used by the various
industries have been very heavily in demand through-
out the year; and in many respects double-screened
sorts have been unobtainable, and in this connection
perhaps inconvenience has been felt by consumers
owing to their being deprived of the normal quality
suitable for their respective purposes. It has been
inevitable that those industries have found their coal
bill not so satisfactory as before; but, all things con-
sidered, they have been rather fortunate in receiving
a fairly good supply, although it has not been always
possible to give adequate deliveries. The activity of
the distribution committees in the case of supplies
needed by electricity plants and for by-product plants
has been very noticeable. The greater industrial
demands have called upon electricity concerns for
bigger supplies of power which were not calculated
upon, and the ordinary contract supplies of fuel, of
course, have been inadequate; but every individual
case has received careful consideration, and in pro-
portion supplies have been augmented. In regard to
the supplies of slacks suitable for coke making, the
position has been one of ever-increasing difficulty. The
tonnage required has been continually growing, and it
has been very difficult indeed to obtain a sufficient
tonnage to keep the plants in anything like full oper-
ation, which has been so necessary, having regard to the
residuals, which are of primary moment. Supplies of
slacks for lesser essential industries have been greatly
reduced, with the prospect of almost entirely ceasing,
in order that the by-product industry can be main-
tained. The tendency of the authorities has been one
of continuous encouragement to develop the by-pro-
duct industry, and under the present scheme of con-
trol it is obvious that the necessary supplies of fuel
will have to be found and maintained at the present
level. Considerable assistance has been rendered in
the production of this grade of fuel by the constant
opening out of seams near the surface in close proxi-
mity to the plants. Many collieries have been unable
to get along with their own production, and interest-
ing developments in regard to supplies can be looked
for.

Gas Coal.

This section of the trade has been one of great diffi-
culty during the year. The changed distribution of
contract supplies, giving equal supplies throughout the
year, was generally effective during the summer
months,’ and where concerns had facilities for laying
in stocks, the position was fairly satisfactory. Gradu-
ally, however, the use of gas for cooking and heating
purposes became so extensive that the ordinary, sup-
plies proved inadequate, and where plants were
adapted to produce residuals of importance to the
making of munitions, larger deliveries of fuel had to
be provided to augment the contract quantities. This
could only be done at the expense of smaller plants,
and by restricting the exports to the Allies. The pro-
blem became more acute during the winter months, and
many plants had to continue with but low stocks,
which aroused no little anxiety. The original pro-
posal to cut off supplies to Lancashire from district
collieries was not persevered with, and efforts have
been made to divert surplus fuel from Durham to the
nearer plants, but this, added to the congestion on the
railways and in other ways, did not prove to be econo-
mical. Scarcely at any period of the year has there
been any surplus of screened fuel; and, on the whole,
there has been no variation in values, which have been
firmly maintained at from 17s. 6d. to 15s. 6d. per
ton, plus the extra 2s. 6d. per ton which came into
operation in October.

House Coal.

Collieries employed largely in this section of the
trade have experienced the greatest difficulty, and
have been more extensively under the ban of the
officials responsible for the distribution. A continuous
strong effort has been made to ensure a good supply
for London, the South, and dlher distant markets.
Regardless of their other obligations, collieries had to
augment contract supplies within specified periods, and
those which hitherto had no business connection with
the Metropolis had to provide coal in proportion to
their position of accessibility to London. In the early
months of the year the position became particularly
acute, and collieries were absolutely unable to give
anything like the requisite tonnage. Buyers for the
South were reported to be offering largely increased
prices to procure supplies, but generally collieries con-
tented themselves with supplying old customers, apart
from the tonnage they had to provide in response to
official orders. In March and April the shortage
became very acute, and added to this was the scarcity
of carting facilities. In the summer months the diffi-
culty was little relieved, owing ’to the official advice
of laying in stocks having been accepted by the con-
sumers in London and the South. An exceedingly
large tonnage was continually sent to enable this to
be done, and the stock of coal in the cellars must have

assumed very heavy dimensions. The requirement of
local consumers had almost entirely become one of
secondary consideration. Consumers in the nearer
areas were denied extensive facilities to lay in stocks
—though in these districts this was not regarded as a
prime essential necessity—yet they were badly hit when
they had to look around for their needs to find an
increased charge of 2s. 6d. per ton falling upon them
from the latter end of September. During the latter
part of the year the restrictions imposed on house-
holders has assisted the position, and except in cases
of very severe weather the problem of supply Jias been
fairly well solved. The scarcity of best grade fuel
has been generally experienced, and secondary sorts
have been more freely obtainable in comparison. Values
again have been largely nominal, about as follow until
the September advance became operative : —Silkstone,
20s. to 22s. per ton; Barnsley softs, 17s. to 19s. per
.ton ; and house nuts, 15s. 6d. to 17s. per ton.

Coke Manufacture.

Amidst all the difficulties, it can safely be said the
output of furnace coke has never been so large, so far
as this district is concerned. The importance of the
industry has never been so highly regarded, and facili-
ties have been officially given to augment the plants
wherever possible. It has been hardly possible to pro-
vide an adequate tonnage for the North Lincolnshire
area, which draws so large a proportion of its require-
ments from this district; and very urgent pressure has
been applied on producers at certain periods to aug-
ment deliveries. The stress of the situation has again
brought into prominence the beehive product, which,
with prices unlimited, has sold at high values, though,
on the whole, the fixed price for by-product coke, viz.,
25s. 8d/ per ton up to the September increase, making
32s. per ton, has been regarded as satisfactory.

DERBYSHIRE.

The past year witnessed an unceasing demand for
every class of coal, which put a great strain upon the
capacity of collieries. House coal orders came to hand
in a never endirig stream. The summer demand was
heavy, because householders were anxious to build up
stocks for the winter, so that collieries in this way
experienced a uniformly brisk demand for house coal
during the whole of the year. In a similar manner,
coal for manufacturing purposes was in pressing
request ; indqed, it is undoubted that never in the
history of the coal trade of the country has there been
such a demand for all classes of fuel as that which was
experienced during the year that is gone. While
much difficulty has been found in satisfying customers’
needs in respect of coal generally, there has been prac-
tically a famine with regard to nuts, which of recent
years have come into greater use than ever. The coal
distribution scheme caused a partial disturbance of
supplies when it was launched, but it appears, on the
whole, to have worked smoothly subsequently, and the
co-operation of the collieries has contributed to this
end. A very substantial tonnage of coal from this dis-
trict was diverted to London for household purposes
by the instructions of the Controller. Gas coal was in
strong demand all through the year, and collieries
found it difficult to maintain their contract supplies,
while gas engineers showed great anxiety with regard
to the state of their reserve stocks, in view of the
approach of winter. Practically the whole of the
output of large steam coal was required for railway
locomotive contracts and for works which are under
Government control. Under these circumstances, it
was inevitable that shipments of coal would be pro-
hibited, and, so far as Derbyshire was concerned, the
export trade has been at a standstill practically since
last September. Licences are still unobtainable. The
Admiralty took substantial quantities of steam coal
from this district during the past year, and fresh con-
tracts have been entered into for 1918. The demand
for slack for boiler firing was of a steady character
throughout the year, and the whole production was
readily absorbed. The demand for all classes of coke
was very strong during the past 12 months, and the
whole of the coking plant of the district was kept
working at full pressure in order to meet as far as
possible the urgent needs of customers. Coking slacks
have been in short supply occasionally, and much diffi-
culty has been experienced in keeping the whole of
the ovens at work from this cause. As time goes on,
the demand for coal of every class seems to become
more and more pressing, and the anxieties of pro-
ducer and consumer become correspondingly greater.
There is apparent, however, a cordial spirit of co-oper-
ation, and on both sides one is imbued with the desire
to do all in his power in his particular sphere to help
his country in her time of trial.

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE.

The year has been one of extreme difficulty for every-
body connected with the colliery trade in South Staf-
fordshire. In the first place, the output has undoubt-
edly decreased, due chiefly to the requirement of men
for the Army. Although coal producers have not been
taken, still the system adopted has had the same effect,
inasmuch as ultimately coal producers have had to be
utilised to man the gaps. Another aspect which cannot
be overlooked is the fact that in the Midlands there is
no export trade, as in Northumberland and Fife, for
instance. These districts, which usually exported
largely to Norway and the Baltic, have had their sup-
plies thrown back upon them, with the result that
these areas have been working only part time. In the
South Staffordshire district, the pits have never
stopped, except for standard holidays. On the whole,
the year can be described as one in which the district
has been marking time. There have been few labour
difficulties in the district. The prinicpal one, which
began in the Old Hill district, and was then per-
petuated in the Cannock Chase area, arose out of
dissatisfaction at the delay of the Coal Controller in
coming to a decision on the most recent demands of
the men.

The problem of providing sufficient pit timber during
the year has been terribly acute. The Birmingham
Pitwood Association has now been floated, comprising
the coal fields of North Stafford, Cannock Chase, War-
wickshire, part of Lincolnshire, part of Derbyshire,
Gloucestershire, South Staffordshire, and Shropshire.
The association is getting to work, and will deliver its
supplies early in the new year. The difficulty of
getting stores of every description ha® gone up enor-
mously, and the prospects are not at all bright in this
particular, while prices generally have become inflated.
The difficulty with regard to timber, however, bids
fair to being overcome, but the man-power question
will be a very serious problem for the district.

SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE.

Notwithstanding the many difficulties which beset
the South Wales coal trade during the past year, it is
a matter for congratulation that the results have
proved so satisfactory, as they are acknowledged to be.
First and foremost, the duty of South Wales was to
supply the British Admiralty and the Allied Navies
with the steam coal for which the district stands pre-
eminent. This has been successfully accomplished, and
huge supplies have also been shipped to France and
Italy, both for transport and munition purposes.
Figures are not available, as the Government quite
early in the year decided that it was not politic to
disclose the shipments either to Allied or neutral
countries. Comparison, therefore, is impossible, but
it is believed that when the statistics are available, it
will be found that the production of the coal field has
not fallen far short of other years. The year 1913,
of course, was a record year, and war conditions have
prevailed since, with the result that exports to many
neutral countries, especially South America and the
Atlantic Islands, have been practically suspended. On
the other hand, exports to France and Italy have enor-
mously increased, and, owing to the Controller’s
restrictions, they have been supplied at a minimum of
cost, both with regard to the coal itself and the expense
of transport. In the earlier months of the year the
market was depressed, but there was a spurt after the
Easter holidays, which continued up to the end of
May,* after which there was again an easier tendency.
Then, in June, the Controller fixed a schedule of mini-
mum prices, which continued in operation throughout
the year, with the exception that an increase of 2s. 6d.
per ton was made on October 12 on all grades of coal,
with the exception of those shipped to France and
Italy. Throughout the year small coals have been a
drug on the market, and difficult to dispose of. Values
fell heavily in the early months, due chiefly to the
shortage of tonnage; and at one time it was possible
to obtain cargo qualities at as low as 10s. to 12s. per
ton. Owing to the shortage of railway stock, and the
difficulty of clearing wagons, enormous quantities of
small coals were banked at the collieries, and these
will probably remain as monuments of the Great War
for many years to come. The inland demand for bitu-
minous and semi-bituminous coals has been the main-
stay of the Monmouthshire trade, especially as under
one of the numerous regulations imposed by the Con-
troller it was enacted that, in order to save transport,
the western counties should take their, supplies from
the nearest coal field. Although patent fuel was
scarce in the early months of the year, the lack of
tonnage seriously affected the industry, and in the
later period supplies have been ample, with little
opportunity for disposal. The enormous demand for
coke, both by home consumers and Allied countries, has
far exceeded the supply, and at the end of the year
French consumers were requested to arrange for a
portion of their supplies from the North of England,
in order that Welsh coke might be reserved for inland
purposes. In order to make the position more secure,
there was also a suspension of French export licences.
The various features of the year’s trade are sum-
marised in the monthly record which follows, but it
would not be fitting to conclude the introductory para-
graph without a passing reference to the New Year
Honours which his Majesty has been graciously pleased
to confer on several gentlemen connected with the
South Wales coal trade. In the first place, upon Mr.
T. E. Watson, of the firm of Pym'an, Watson and
Company, has been conferred a baronetcy, and it is
agreed on all hands that no man in the coal trade is
more worthy of the honour. When war was declared,
Mr. Watson was the president of the Cardiff Chamber
of Commerce, a position which he has filled with dis-
tinction ever since. He has devoted himself heart and
soul to the many problems that have arisen from time
to time, and whilst on every occasion he has sought to
assist the Government, he has not refrained from the
most candid criticism when he believed the authorities
were at fault. His services to the trade have been
invaluable, and his knowledge and experience have on
many occasions been utilised by the Government in the
solution of difficult questions. Upon Mr. Tom
Richards, M.P., the secretary of the South Wales
Miners’ Federation, and joint secretary of the Concili-
ation Board, has been conferred the dignity of a Privy
Councillor. A consistent supporter of the Govern-
ment, Mr. Richards has not been afraid to administer
stern rebuke to the ‘1 hot-heads ’ ’ who sometimes try
to rule the impetuous Welsh miner; and to his cool
and sensible reasoning has been due the fact that so
many difficulties that have arisen have been so easily
overcome. Last, but not least, is the honour of
knighthood conferred upon Dr. W. N. Atkinson, for
many years an inspector of mines, well known through-
out South Wales, and who is one of the great authori-
ties on the inflammability of coal dust. He has now
retired from active work, and the title bestowed upon
him is a fitting reward for his lifelong service to
improve the conditions of the miner, as well as the
working of the collieries. So far as the new year is
concerned, prospects at the moment are not hopeful,
but it is believed that, when peace is declared, there
is an era of prosperity in front of the South Wales
coal trade which will last for years.