February 8, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 283 brisk trade. Bunkers for coastwise and foreign-going vessels are very firm, and gas and engine fuels for home use are in strong request. There is no change to report in the conditions of the shipping trade. The tonnage to Irish ports is still fairly satisfactory. Prices of all varieties are firm and unchanged. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. 25/10 25/10 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 24/2 24/2 21/8 Seconds at pit 23/4 23/4 20/10 Washed nuts at pit 23/4 .23/4 20/10 Do. smalls „ 19/2 19/2 16/8 Do. peas ,, 17/6 17/6 15/ Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scmed 25/ 25/ 22/6 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 23/6 23/6 21/ pit Oughterside best washed 25/ 25/ 22/6 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 23/6 23/6 21/ coal at pit '. St. Helens best house nuts 25/ 25/ 22/6 at pit 23/6 23/6 21/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 22/ 22/ 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going 20/ 20/ 17/6 31/ 31/ 25/ steamers) 31/ 31/ 30/ Best works fuel 22/6 22/6 22/6 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 22/6 20/ works 21/6 21/6 19/ IRON. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the iron smelting district on the west coast. There is a brightening up in the situation not only in West Cumberland, but in other parts of the district, and production is again on the rise. The Solway Ironworks, which were damped down on January 12 owing to the shortage of raw materials, were restarted on Monday, and both furnaces have now been put into full operation. The haematite pig iron trade continues to increase in strength. Important users are still pinched for iron, but considerable relief will be afforded shortly when more furnaces are put into blast. The steel trade is exceedingly brisk, but one or two of the mills have been off for a day or two this week. abnormal conditions, and on the whole requirements are being met in a way which obviates anything in the shape of serious complaint of shortage. The production is main- tained satisfactorily, and the output moves away regularly, notwithstanding that wagon difficulties are by no means absent. In regard to house coal the position is a shade easier on the week, which means, however, no more than that the pressure on the collieries, while still requiring all the house coal raised and more, is in certain directions hardly so urgent. Collieries are still under instructions in regard to the London area and are sending regularly extra quantities but the demand is more discriminative, being unlimited for best qualities, but less pressing for the in- ferior sorts which a short time ago were accepted readily. Any ease in one direction merely enables more attention to be paid to the needs of other places. There is just now in- creased pressure for supplies for Birmingham, and this area is receiving the attention of the Controller, who has issued instructions to collieries for heavier supplies. In the West Riding public demand is increasing, after the comparative lull which is a usual feature of January, and although supplies are restricted they are generally about sufficient in most towns. The regulation of distribution does a good deal to prevent violent fluctuation, which is all to the good. Gas coal keeps about the same. Although the worst of the winter is probably over, many gas works are approach- ing a hand-to-mouth state of affairs, with stocks getting exhausted and contract deliveries unequal to the current consumption of coal. Steam and manufacturing sorts are firmly held. All washed fuels, especially nuts, are very difficult to procure. The demand for these grades consist- ently increases, especially at munition works and the like, and inferior slacks are correspondingly neglected. Smalls, excluding coking qualities, which are as scarce as ever, are easier to secure, although relatively speaking the quantity available is only small. The difficulty of securing adequate supplies of slacks suitable for coking is a standing problem for coke makers, who experience a steadily main- tained demand for the full output of the ovens. All pit prices are more or less normal at the limitation level. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There are more household orders on the books than can be promptly attended to, although the average tonnage going out for household sale is rather below the average for the time of the year. The fact is there are so many calls in the other avenues of consumption for coals, that the fuel which usually goes into the household trade is cur- tailed to provide for the urgent wants of other users. Large deliveries of steam coal and graded nuts continue to be demanded for forges, munition works, and users of these descriptions. With regard to shipping, a fair number of steamers are arriving, and requirements of steam coal are well maintained both for Government purposes and ordinary bunkering. Supplies are not too plentiful, though spot lots may be had through fuel being held up where there is detention of expected steamers. Prices are of course according to scheduled rates. In the coastwise and cross- channel trade the demand is keen, and the fuel is enquired for as fast as suitable tonnage can be fixed. Fixed rates have now been introduced for many ports in Ireland, which, although greater than the freights that were current a few months ago, are very much below recent quotations. The position is much the same with regard to slack and small fuel. There is barely enough produced to keep the user going. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ...... Do. house .......... House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best....... Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal..... Gas nuts.............. Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts........... Large double-screened engine nuts .......... Small nuts........... Rough unscreened engine coal........... Best rough slacks..... Small do. ........... Coking smalls ........ Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke ......... Current prices. 21/6-22/6 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 20/ -20/6 18/6-19/6 25/6—26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 20/6-22/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/6—17/6 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 32/ L'st week's tast year's prices. I prices. 21/6-22/6 | 20/ -21/ 21/ -21/6 ' 19/ -20/ 21/ -21/6 ! 19/ -20/ 20/ -20/6 ! 17/ -18/ 18/6-19/6 | 16/ -17/ 25/6-26/ ! 23/ -24/ 24/ -25/ I 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ i 20/ -21/ 20/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 15/ -16/ 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/6-13/6 32/ 25/8 Current L’st week's Last year's House coal:— prices'. prices. prices. Best 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 21/ -22/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ 25/6 Medium 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 24/6-25/ 24/6-25/ 24/6 Kitchen . 20/6 20/6 18/ Com. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ upwds Screened forge coal 20/6 20/6 18/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 30/ 30/* 23/ -24/6 Best slack 18/6 18/6 16/ Secondary slack 17/6 17/6 15/ Common do 16/6 16/6 14/ * And extra railway rate where required. South Lancashire and Cheshire. IRON. All works are fully employed on Government work, and no steel is available for other purposes unless a very high permit order is issued. Prices remain without alteration. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The position regarding house coal is practically unchanged. The demand is very strong, and almost the same may be said with regard to manufacturing fuel. Shipping coal is in good call, but very little is offered on open sale. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Barnsley. COAL. The local market continues to be uneventful, owing to the almost total lack of supplies of surplus coal. Colliery representatives report that although the output is generally well maintained, the supplies needed on contract account and for prescribed deliveries practically absorbs the pro- duction ; and so far as values are concerned, the position remains nominal. The better supplies, owing largely to the reduced consumption, referred to last week, continues, and with the control of distribution receiving close atten- tion from the committees, there is not a great deal heard of inconvenience in regard to deliveries of most classes of fuel. The principal difficulty is that of obtaining a sufficient supply of slacks suitable for coke making pur- poses, and subsequently to produce an adequate tonnage of furnace coke, which continues to be very strongly pressed for from the North Lincolnshire and the Midland districts. The consumption of raw material appears to increase weekly, and it is recognised as almost impossible to augment the production of this class of fuel. Although the trouble in regard to gas coal supplies has not entirely passed away, the position is much more satisfactory. The control of the distribution still leaves instances where stocks are exten- sively depleted, and the required tonnage cannot be found. In regard to large steams, the demand on export account still fluctuates, but ready outlets are found for any surplus. As steam nuts are still scarce, consumers must take con- siderable deliveries of large steams. The consumption of all descriptions of manufacturing fuel continues very active, and few odd lots are to be found. Ordinary slacks, used for heating and similar purposes, are, at the moment, more freely. obtainable. The demand for house coal continues to be fairly brisk, and a very fair tonnage is available for the local markets, owing to milder weather and the fact that the pressure in respect to the London market is much less rigorous than a few weeks ago. Prices at pit. House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 ______* L’st week’s prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/-20/6 ______* 18/6 upwds 18/6upwds 17/ upwds 17/ upwds Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Let*!. COAL. Demand for coal of all classes continues strong, and the market keeps inactive for the reason that collieries have so little to offer for current business. Enquiry is restricted by the knowledge that it is practically hopeless. While that is the general situation, the trade is in a settled condition, and moves along fairly smooth lines, having regard to the Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 22/ -24/6 21/ -21/6 22/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs | 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 Steam coals:— 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ 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 18/ -18/9 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 18/ -18/9 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10/6-11/ Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 18/9 18/9 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 Hull. COAL. Supplies from collieries continue only on a moderate scale, and exports are more than usually subject to very drastic limitation. Outside of France and Italy very little coal is being sent from the Humber, and only infinitesimal quantities are permitted to neutral countries. The official demands on all available supplies are simply enormous, and these, of course, have precedence over everything else. The Humber trade in the ordinary sense therefore suffers, but in the circumstances it is inevitable. Large steams, which usually form so considerable a proportion of the shipments, are now absorbed to an increasing extent by the Admiralty and munition works, while West Yorkshires are still in big demand for France, the balance being readily taken up on home account. Nuts and all manufacturing fuels are in strong demand, which is quite as big as the supply. A fair amount of coal is being shipped to London and coastwise, but only about half what it was a year ago. Tonnage offers sparingly in the freight market, and several sales have recovered slightly from the recent relapse. Scheduled maximum rates are now in force for coastwise ports on the basis of 17s. to London (against 20s. and 21s. recently paid), with an addition of 10 per cent, for vessels under 500 tons. Other ports are in proportion. Chesterfield. COAL. The mild weather caused a slight weakening of the demand for house coal, and the pressure upon collieries is not by any means as pronounced as it has been. Climatic conditions are materially assisting transport arrangements. Coal for munition works continues in great request, and consumers show as much eagerness as ever to secure supplies, more particularly of the smaller classes. These are still scarce, and buyers find considerable difficulty in securing all they need. There is a well sustained demand for slack for boiler firing, and good deliveries are being made for the Lancashire cotton mills. Railway companies are pressing for supplies of locomotive coal, so as to obviate the necessity of drawing upon their reserve stocks. Licences for shipment of Derbyshire coal are still unobtain- able, and the export branch of the trade is for this reason lifeless. The coke market continues satisfactory, the whole output of the ovens going steadily into consumption. IRON. Every department of the iron trade maintains a great state of activity. Pig iron is in strong demand, and finished iron orders are plentiful. Engineers and iron- founders are busily employed, work being abundant. Nottingham. COAL. With-the weather taking a milder turn there has been less pressure for domestic fuel on local merchants during the past week and also at the landsale depots. Supplies from the collieries are fairly satisfactory and, with orders declining, a few merchants are being enabled to add slightly to their depleted stocks. There is, however, an insistent demand from merchants generally and although this cannot be satisfied to the full, immediate needs are being well met. A strong tone continues in the steam coal branch. The claims for war work absorb a large tonnage and the surplus is eagerly sought for by ordinary manufacturing firms. There is still a big demand for steam nuts and cobbles. Slacks generally are selling well and coking sorts are in exceptionally keen request. The demand for gas coal is increasing and the supply is improving, but little is obtainable in the open market. 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/ Leicestershire. COAL. A decline in the deliveries to London and district has been brought about by a variety of causes, chiefly among these has been the prevalence of fogs, which have greatly interfered with mineral traffic. Colliery managers were quite powerless to obviate these delays, but they form an object lesson in the importance of accumulating heavy reserves at so great a centre of consumption both for manufacturing and domestic purposes. Deliveries are being speeded up as far as possible, and it is satisfactory to state that there has been no falling off in the aggregate output. The supply of privately owned wagons is ample, but at the same time merchants who do not own rolling stock are at a very serious disadvantage, and they have extreme difficulty in obtaining supplies in consequence of the heavy calls upon railway owned wagons. There is an extremely keen demand for all classes of household, including cobbles and nuts for the deep and main seams. Bakers' nuts and small nuts for mechanical stokers are cleared off day by day and the demand for steam purposes far exceeds the supplies. Country merchants only get deliveries in a hand-to-mouth way, with the result that there is very little in reserve at country sidings. There are no stocks at the collieries. r Prices at pit. 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 kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze............. Current 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 L’st week's 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 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/ 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6