132 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 18, 1918. of the pits are able to get along without any acute anxiety, there are other instances where the stocks accumulated for the winter season have been much depleted, and little more than temporary assistance is possible at the moment. Tha demand for small fuel for use by electricity plants is also very brisk, and in this respect it is hardly possible to do more than supply the immediate wants of these concerns. In respect to large steams there is a little improvement for export, but apart from the Admiralty require- ments a big proportion of the large output is cleared for home industries. The consumption in this respect continues to be very extensive, but with the production well maintained the situation is comparatively well met. There is no improvement in regard to the supplies of steam nuts, which are still largely taken for use by the munition works and other engineering concerns, and there seems little likelihood of the normal consumption of this class of coal being again possible. All descriptions of small manufacturing fuel continue in active request, and the inability to maintain the desired delivery of slacks suitable for coke making still exists. The coke making plants are making a vigorous effort to supply the exeedingly large quantity of furnace coke which is so urgently pressed for. Their task continues to be one of great difficulty. Values continue to be of a normal description. Prices at pit. seriously felt, and adds to the strain of administration* The deliveries to London and district are still of an essential character, and they are maintained at the maximum. There is a very keen demand for all classes of household, including both main and deep cobbles and nuts. Small nuts for mechanical .stokers are eagerly sought after, with greater pressure for speedy deliveries. There is a very pronounced preference for bakers’ nuts, which are now very largely used for domestic purposes. The deliveries to country coal merchants are smaller in volume, and great difficulty in handling has been experienced through labour shortage and frosty roads. Supplies of privately owned wagons are abundant, and the traffic is very quickly dealt with. There are no stocks at country stations or at the collieries. Prices at pithead. 1 Current ■L’st week’s House coals:— 1 prices. prices. -D1OUK. A Forest (T Rubble 1 Large •’ J 26/6 26/6 Nuts ) i Rough slack J 15/6 15/6 Steam coal:— Large ... • ■ 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 Small ... . 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Last year’s prices. r 24/ J 23/ 123/3 (.21/6 13/ 20/ -21/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _________ Prices at pit. _________ _________ Current L’st week’s Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 21/ -21/6 j 21/ -21/6 18/6-19/ Secondary do 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ ___________________________ Steam coals:— __________________ Best hard coals 20/ -21/ 20/ -21' 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/3—16/6 Secondary do. 18/6-18/9 18/ -18/9 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do. 13/ —13/6 13/ —13/6 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 18/9 32/ 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 18/9 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 25/8 Best household coal .... Second, hand picked .... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ........ Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 kitcheners.............. 16/ -17/6 Steams, best hand picked 16/6-17/6 Steams, seconds .........__ 15/6-17/ Main cobbles for kitcheners: 16/ —17/6 Main breeze_____.............j 14/9-15/6 prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 15/3—16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 Last year’s prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Hull. COAL. Conditions. in the Humber coal trade are about normal again. Shipments in arrear have been about wiped off, though the wintry weather is still a strong factor to be reckoned with. Supplies from collieries are coming along fairly well, but do not equal in volume those of October and November. The demand nevertheless continues good, and everything is well taken up. There is practically no “free” coal except in second holders’ hands. France is still the chief buyer, and neutrals are only able to get licences or freight room for comparatively small lots. Prices for these are maintained at recent levels, viz., 35s. for best South Yorkshire hards, and 80s. for West Yorkshire screened coal. Very little is moving in the freight market, the supply of tonnage being small and the demand inter- mittent. The output at the pits is again about normal. Supplies are still very short, although they show some improvement on last week. The requirements of the munition works impose a heavy drain upon the output, and fortunately transport has not been interfered with to any great extent. There is a shortage of slacks. Domestic fuel has a brisk market, and merchants are ready buyers of any fuel available. The distressing disaster near Hanley will affect this district indirectly, as some coal will probably be diverted from local collieries to make up for the lost output, which will probably amount to from 300 to 400 tons a day. Prices at pit. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. Messrs. Wade and Son report that the south coast buyers still have reason to complain of the very small quantities of midland coal obtainable under the present allocation of the Coal Controller. The vendor firms who are under legal obligation to deliver this coal, endeavour to fence themselves by the scarcity of railway wagons, although they know that they are compelled to deliver by their own or colliery wagons. The authorities have so far omitted to compel these deliveries, although it is expected that they soon will do so. A good deal more than the one- third proportion of Welsh or Monmouthshire coal has been forwarded, but much of this is unusable for house fires. About three weeks’ stock is held by the largest firms, and a good deal less by the smaller buyers. Chesterfield. COAL. There is a strong demand for house coal, but supplies are barely equal to requirements. Wagons are scarce, and this adds to the delay in getting coal away. The accu- mulation of coal in the sidings of the various works of Sheffield during the recent strike of workmen has been disposed of, and there is an urgent call for fresh supplies. Cobbles and nuts for gas producers continue to be sought after more eagerly than any other class of coal. Consumers experience much difficulty in finding anything approaching adequate supplies. There is a good enquiry for slack for boiler firing, of which the Lancashire cotton mills take substantial quantities daily. Railway and gas companies are in urgent want of coal, and press collieries for deliveries. The export of coal from Derbyshire being prohibited, no business is passing in this section of the trade. The coke market maintains its strong character/ every class of coke finding a ready outlet. IRON. All the works of the district are again in full operation, all labour disputes having been settled. There is a very active condition of things all round. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) ;— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24/6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 21/6 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 20/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 . 18/6 16/ Slack Warwickshire 13/6 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Byder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21/6 19/ cobs 20/6 20/6 18/ Best hard spires 22/6 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18/6 18/6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 17/ 17/ 14/6 ________ _______ Nottingham. COAL. A strong tone characterises the coal trade in this district, the recent severe weather having accentuated the demand in practically every branch. Business done by local merchants has become brisker in consequence of a number of householders having exhausted their stocks, and although the supplies that merchants obtain from the collieries are readily disposed of, there is a fair amount of pressure on owners for deliveries, but delay is unavoidable owing to limited supplies and the difficulty in some cases of securing empty wagons. The,heavy demand for nearly all classes of steam coal continue, and despite the fact that the output is being reasonably maintained it is insufficient to meet all requirements. There is still a shortage of nuts, and ordinary customers have to substitute other grades of steams to keep their works going. Slacks are selling freely, and gas coal is in keener request. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............ Best hard coals......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/3-19 17/ -18/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/3-19/ ' 17/ -18/ 14/6-15/ 13/ —13/6 Last year’s prices. 18,6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6—11/6 11/ IRON. Since the quarterly meeting the strength of the market has been continued, and if anything accentuated by the announcement that the men’s section of the Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board have requested that the 12| per cent advance conceded by the Government to workers under the engineering award shall be extended to them. The matter was considered at a meeting of the Board held at the beginning of the week, and a joint committee was appointed to work out its application. This will doubtless involve negotiations with the Ministry of Munitions on the subject of finished prices generally, and makers will welcome the opportunity to have the position cleared up. The present prices for bar iron—£15 10s. less 2| per cent, for marked qualities and <£13 15s., net, for merchant bars— were fixed somewhere about the middle of 1916 and a revision is now considered due. In anticipation that it will take place, orders are now accepted by most firms subject to whatever change may be made in their favour. The men’s section have also repeated their application that day workers’ wages shall in future fluctuate with the sliding scale. This has been a bone of contention for a long time. Sales of pig iron continue to be made. Northamptonshire houses are selling in fair quantities, but Derbyshire sellers restrict parcels to 100 tons in order to apportion their output among their regular customers. They do everything to discourage heavy purchases. Scrap merchants find a good deal of difficulty in collecting material, as sellers expect them to provide their own haulage and labour from the point of collection to the nearest station—a matter of considerable difficulty in these times. Plate shareings are in active request at the basis price of £10 7s. 6d.—a figure which is increased according to lengths and thickness of the cuttings. Gas strip is dearer, being quoted this week at from <£16 5s. to .£16 10s., which compares with <£15 10s. three months ago. Tube makers are of opinion that the time is ripe for a revision of their discounts. They have to pay more for their strip, and higher wages, while the present rates have remained stationary for many months. Steel strip is firmer at <£18 to <£18 10s., and none is offered except for Government requirements. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — As dealings in tar are regulated by licences, the market position presents little variation. The point specially deserving attention is that of labour in conjunction with local needs. A great deal of tar spray- ing will be necessary on the roads this year, and the various authorities have to consider how far they will be able to carry out the required work. Tar is necessary in every direction for road purposes and miscellaneous use. Scarcity of tonnage makes it needless to discuss the export sidej)f the pitch trade, such small lots as can be placed on board being insufficient to constitute a feature' of any import- ance. A point deserving of note is the tendency to a firmer tone in the north. There the quotations have been con- spicuously low in relation to the London level, putting aside the question of transport charges, and consequently a stronger tone is not surprising. London quotations remain about the same. Benzol is quoted: London, 90 per cent., Is. O^d., naked; North, lO^d. to ll|d.; 50 per cent., Is. 3^d. to Is. 4^d., naked. Solvent naphtha is unchanged, and steady at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. net and naked at London works. Naphthalene is in fair demand. Toluol is about 2s. 3d. North, and 2s. 4d. London. Creosote, carbolic acid, anthracene and other by-products do not present any special feature. Current prices are appended :—Crude tar : London : 32s. 6d. to 35s.; Midlands, 25s. to 26s.; North, 26s. to 27s. per ton ex gas works. Pitch: London, 48s. to 50s.; east coast, 25s. to 30s. f.o.b.; Liverpool, 22s.; west coast, 23s. to 24s. f.a.s. Solvent naphtha : Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. to 3s. 3d.; North, 2s. 9d. to 3s.; 90-160 per cent, naked, London, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d.; North, 4s. to 4s. 3d. Crude naphtha : Naked, 30 per cent., 8^d. to 8^d.; North, 7Jd. to 8id. Refined naphthalene, £32 10s. to £35; salts, 80s. Creosote: Naked, London, 4Jd. to 4^d.; North, 3jd. to 4^d. (Government price, 72s. per ton, equal to 4fd. per gal. f.o.r.). Heavy oil, 4^d. to 4^d.; liquid, 4g;d. to 4^d. Carbolic acid : Crude, 60 per cent, east coast and west poast, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 6d.; crystals, 39-40, Is. 3d. Cresylic: Casks, 95 per cent., 2s. 7d.; 97-99 per cent., 2s. 8d. to 2s. 9d. ex works London, and f.o.b. other ports. Anthracene, 40-45 A, 3d. to 4^d.; B, l|d. to 2d. Sulphate of Ammonia.—Business is proceeding at the official price, £16 7s. 6d. delivered net cash, or 10s. less at makers’ works. A quantity still remains on hand in London, but this is likely to be taken up. In any case, the price is fixed. The export price, £25, of course, is only a paper figure, as exports are not possible. ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business has fallen away again in the last few days. Most makers are comfortably booked, and are adhering to the maximum price, which at present stands round 31s. 3d. per basis box, net, f.o.t. at works, for cokes; but some works are short of prompt specifications, and are willing to make concessions in order to obtain a suitable line. Permits for wasters have again eased off, and makers are complaining that stocks are accumulating. _______ _______ Leicestershire. COAL. The combing-out of men in the pits is beginning to disclose the inevitable result in the reduction of the aggregate output. This reduction, unfortunately, comes at the very period when the lessened supplies of coal are most _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. With the severe weather conditions the demand on collieries for this district’s house coal is exceptionally strong. All the pits are fully engaged on six days per week, and outputs generally are well maintained, but are much below the requirements of merchants. The demand from the inland districts is steady, buyers having settled down to the quantities allocated to them. Shipments show no change. There is still a big demand for steams of all descriptions, and the collieries continue to be hard pressed for deliveries. ____________________________ The United States Supreme Court has decided that employers have the right to prevent labour unions soliciting non-union employees to join labour organisations. £oal and Wheat Shipments. — Agreements have been made by which the United States authorises the export of coal to Argentina in order that Great Britain and France may fulfil the contract to buy and ship before November 1 next 2,500,000 tons of wheat and other cereals grown in Argentina. The British and French Governments have arranged a two-year s’ credit with the Argentine National Bank in order to finance the operations. Exports and Imports of Mining Machinery. — Imports and exports of mining machinery during December were as follow:— December. Jan.-Dec. ______________ ______________ 1916. 1917. 1916. 1917. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Imports ........ 206 ... 82 ... 1,547 ... 1,463 Exports ........ 1,717 ... 780 ... 20,898 ... 13,639 The following shows the value of exported prime movers other than electrical:— December. Jan.-Dec. _______ ________ ' 1916. 1917. 1916. 1917?^ £ £ £ £ Bail locomotives...... 83,911... 75,392... 1,297,296... 1,615,417 Pumping ............. 44,280... 18,189... 520,495... 381,065 Winding ............. ~ ... & 14,819... 14,789