March 15, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 543 Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The demand for all classes of fuel is well maintained. The situation as regards output is probably more satis- factory than it has been for a long time. The disputes have been settled, and at the time of writing the pits are all in full swing. Requirements at the iron and steel works have been bigger than ever during the past fortnight. The house coal trade is a shade easier, but some of the depots have quite enough to be going on with for the next week or two. Locomotive fuels for the home railways are in steady request; bunkers are very firm. Gas coal is in firm demand, but stocks are rather scarce. There is an abnormal demand for works, gas and house coal for the Irish market. All the by-product coke ovens between Whitehaven and Oughterside are in full operation. Prices are unchanged. Current quotations are appended :— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 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-scrned 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. ... 20/ 20/ 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going 31/ 31/ 25/ steamers) 31/ 22/6 31/ 30/ Best works fuel 22/6 • 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 22/6 22j6 20/ works 21/6 21/6 19/ IRON. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the pig iron trade in West Cumberland and North Lancashire. The necessity for blowing in additional furnaces is as urgent as ever, but at present there is very little hope of any further addition to the output before the middle of next month. Prices are firmly maintained at the Government maximum. The iron ore industry continues in a flourishing condition. All the mines are securing good outputs. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was about an average gathering on the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The demand for coal waA moderately active, and especially so for steam coal and good quality rough slacks. The wagon question is to a large extent the crux of the position, delays on long distances still being serious. There have been reports recently that Yorkshire coal would probably be stopped from being sent to North-Eastern Railway depots in York- shire in the near future, and coal from Durham and Northumberland substituted, under orders from the Coal Control Office, but it is understood that after close con- sideration by the railway authorities, and taking into account the strong opposition of the traders and the West Yorkshire Coal Owners’ Association, the scheme has been abandoned, at any rate for the present. At the pits full time work is the rule, and not much complaint is heard of irregular attendance by the miners. With regard to house coal the London market would seem to be pretty well supplied on the whole. Reports from the depots indicate that ground stocks are fairly substantial. The trolley trade is brisk, and only the best quality of coal can be described as scarce. The easier position is enabling better supplies to be sent south of London. The coastwise trade between the Humber ports and the Thames wharves and the south is next to nothing, owing to the continued scarcity of boats. In West Riding markets there is a fair demand for house coal, and generally supplies are about sufficient, except in regard to the best sorts, of house nuts especially. The position in regard to gas coal improves as daylight lengthens, but engineers are still anxious about their dwindling stocks. There is very little gas coal offering on the open market, although shipments to Allied countries are restricted by scarcity of tonnage, and inland contracts are generally in arrears with deliveries of nuts, screened coal being fairly up-to-date. Manufacturing fuel is scarce all round. From all the manufacturing centres of the West Riding, including Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, the heavy woollen districts, and the Colne and Spen valleys, come reports of limited supplies, especially of nuts and rough slacks, and reserves both at depots and works are nearly exhausted. The output of coking slacks is nowhere near sufficient for the full working of the coke ovens, and many of the latter are still using nuts and crushing large coal. Furnace coke is less plentiful on the week, but supplies are about sufficient to meet requirements. The keenest demand is from Frodingham and the Midlands, the Leeds district being fairly well supplied. Current pit prices. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The weather is moderating the household demand; there is an easier feeling in the trade, and arrears on the books are being steadily lessened. No change has taken place with regard to the heavy demand for screened coal and graded nuts for forges, manufactories and munition works. Requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export keep well up to the recent average. The number of steamers is, of course, limited; but in many cases increased quantities are being taken. There is not over much coal about. Minimum prices are according to schedule. With respect to the shipments of household coal for the coastwise and cross-channel trade, there is a certain amount of irregularity in getting vessels to sea, but generally the merchant is eager to have the fuel. In slacks the demand keeps up and is rather more than the available supply. Odd lots are occasionally to be met with for open sale, but they are the small slacks and of common grade. 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 ......... I I Current IL’st week’s Last year’s prices. ; 21/6-22/6 ! 21/ -21/6 j 21/ -21/6 I 20/ -20/6 I 18/6-19/6 ! prices. 21/6-22/6 21/ -21/6 ' 21/ -21,6 ! 20/ -20/6 i 18/6-19'6 ' prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ i 17/ -18/ : 16/ -17/ 25/6-26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 20/6-22/6 25/6-26/ : 24/ —25/ ! 23/ -24/ j 20/6-22/6 j 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -18;6 | 18/ -18 6 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ : 15/6-16/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 ! 15/ -16/ 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/ I 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/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/6-13/6 House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Com. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current prices. 23/6-24/6 25/ -26/ 21/6-22/6 24/6-25/ 20/6 23/ -24/ 20/6 30/ 18/6 17/6 16/6 L’st week’s prices. 23/6-24/6 25/ -26/ 21/6-22/6 , 24/6-25/ ; 20/6 23/ -24/ ; 20/6 i 30/ ! 18/6 17/6 16/6 Last year’s prices. j 21/ -22/ ! 25/6 i 19/ -20/ 1 24/6 18/ 23/ upwds ! 18/ . 23/6-24/6 16/ 15/ 14/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday, but little business done. There is not quite the same pressure there has been for some time in house coal, and rather more fuel is on hand at the different depots. Manufacturing fuel continues brisk, and there is a good demand for shipping coal. 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. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ —20/6 _____* |L’st week’s ; prices. i 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/-20/6 18/6upwds 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 * As per official list. IRON. There is no new feature to report this week from this district. Every class of works is fully engaged and at top pressure on work for Government. Prices remain without change. There is a shortage of wrought iron scrap in the forges and of steel scrap at the steel works. This, coupled with delays on the railways, affects the output. 32/ 32/ j 25/8 Barnsley. COAL. In a general sense the character of business remains unaltered, and the demand is still of a very active descrip- tion, but on the whole continues to be fairly well met. Consumers are experiencing rather serious disadvantages in the distribution of supplies. An instance of this was forthcoming at the recent meeting of the Barnsley Town Council, when it was explained that the contract for the supply of the electricity department had been transferred from the Manvers Main Colliery to the Old Silkstone Colliery. The quantity was 250 tons per month, and the increased cost at the rate of 25 per cent, would involve <£300 extra. The Town Clerk was instructed to make representa- tions. In other cases trouble is experienced by transfers which still involve the delivery of a different grade of fuel to that previously used. But on the whole, arrangements regarding the distribution are causing less trouble than might have been anticipated. The greatest inconvenience is in regard to slacks for coke making and gas coal, and in some areas small manufacturing fuel. Collieries are still being pressed to find suitable fuel for crushing, and it seems unlikely that the enormous consumption by the by- product plants can be satisfied in any other way. The position in regard to gas coal is affected by the utilisation Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstono ....... Best Barnsley softs... Secondary do.......... Best house nuts ...... Secondary do.......... Steam coals:— Best hard coals....... Secondary do.......... Best washed nuts...... Secondary do.......... Best slack ........... Secondary do.......... Gas coals:— Screened gas coals ... Unscreened do......... Gas nuts.............. Furnace coke............ | Current |L’st week’s prices. 1 prices. 23/ -24/6 ' 23/ -24/6 21/ -21/6 ■ 21/ -21/6 19/ -20/ : 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 I 18/6-19/6 18/ -18/6 I 18/ —18/6 20/ -21/ ! 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ ! 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 ' 18/6-19/6 18/ —18/9 ' 18/ -18/9 15/ -15/9 ! 15/ —15/9 12/ -13/6 ; 13/ -13/6 19/ -19/6 ! 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 ; 18/ -18/6 18/9 j 18/9 32/ 32/ Last year’s prices. 20/ -22/ 18/6—19/ 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 17/6-18/6 16/6—17/6 16/3-16/6 15/6-16/3 12/6-13/ 10/6-11/ 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 16/ 25/8 of nuts for the former purpose, and little progress has been made on the part of gas concerns of late to add to stocks. The extensive production of large steams continues to be well disposed of, and the export trade is rather more active. Ordinary slacks may be regarded as adequate for the demand, and there continues to be a scarcity of steam nuts, owing to the reservation of this fuel for the munition factories. House coal supplies are on a satisfactory level. North Lincolnshire and North Midland districts demand large supplies of furnace coke, and the production at the ovens is hardly sufficient to meet the situation. Hull. COAL. The official returns of the arrivals of coal in Hull from the collieries during February shows some improvement, the total of 224,255 tons being 10,600 tons better than February last year, and 6,000 tons more than in January. Nevertheless, there is a deficit of 34,000 tons to date, com- pared with the corresponding period a year ago. The industrial and other demands upon the Yorkshire and Derbyshire output are so heavy that only a bare margin is left for export to our Allies, and preciously little to neutral countries. Supplies coming to hand at the Humber ports are no more than equal to official and Allied demands, and requirements, modest though they may be, are not by any means easy to meet. A little large' steam coal is now and again disposed of to neutrals at 35s. and upwards for best South Yorkshire hards. Otherwise, transactions are mostly with France at scheduled prices. Tonnage is still very scarce. Chesterfield. COAL. A strong demand prevails for house coal, supplies of which are difficult to secure. Stocks are practically exhausted. Coal for manufacturing purposes is in greater request than ever, and new works which are approaching completion will be at a loss to obtain fuel. The large steel works of Sheffield and district are very short of cobbles and nuts, of which there is a great scarcity. Slack for boiler firing is in active demand, and the whole of a pit’s production is readily disposed of. The Lancashire cotton mills continue to draw a substantial tonnage of small coal from this district. Railway companies are badly in need of locomotive coal, and are pressing collieries to increase their deliveries. Gas companies are in much the same position with regard to gas coal, stocks of which are at a low point. The condition of the export trade is unchanged, no shipments of Derbyshire coal being permitted. Fair quantities of steam coal for the Admiralty are going forward, the remainder of a colliery’s output of this class of coal being steadily taken up for inland consumption. The coke market maintains a strong tone. There is a good demand for every class of coke, which is going forward daily for home requirements. Coking fuel is in request, but supplies are below the needs of the market. IRON. There is an active condition of things apparent in every branch of the trade, all the works of the district being taxed to their utmost capacity. Nottingham. COAL. The conditions of the trade in this district have under- gone little change during the past week. There is a rather more active tone in the domestic fuel branch, and the demand by the public from local merchants and at landsale depots and the collieries generally is well main- tained. Merchants are receiving good supplies on contract account, arrears in many cases being gradually wiped off, and collieries do not experience any undue pressure for deliveries. At the same time pits have no stocks on hand, and prices remain firm. Steam-producing fuel of all kinds remains in strong demand, the home consumption for some purposes being on an extensive scale. The tonnage left after preferential claims have been met is readily disposed of. There is an increasing demand for gas coal, the output of which is at a satisfactory level, but it is not sufficient to meet all requirements. Slacks generally are having a good sale, while an active business is being done in coke, furnace coke particularly being in strong request. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -19 /6 Good house coals 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -18/6 Secondary do 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ Best hard coals 18/3-19/ 18/3-19/ 17/ —18/ Secondary do 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ -4. I 1 J-V*/ 16/ -17/ Slacks (best hards) 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ Do. (second) 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/61 10 6-11/6 Do. (soft) 13/ 13/ 11/ Leicestershire. COAL. The demand is concentrating in a very marked degree on all classes of steams, and the pressure for speedy delivery has not been so severe since the outbreak of war. These orders have to receive very prompt and preferential treat- ment because large Government works and important municipal and other undertakings of a national character are involved. Small nuts for automatic stokers are taken up as fast as they are available, and the demand is very much in excess of the supplies, there being no margin sales outside of contracts. Very large quantities of household 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/ 18/6-19/6 186-19/6 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