650 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN March 28, 1918. Sunday. Producers and distributors have, therefore, to make provision for next week, a by no means easy under- taking in view of present shortage and transport difficulties. The proposed new rationing scheme has been the subject of a good deal of discussion, and so far as the Midland area is concerned, the opinion, in the light of the informa- tion at present available, seems to be that its operation will be more or less normal. Much will depend upon how far the output will be reduced by the “ comb-out” of the miners, and to what extent the coal will be diverted to London and the south. Thanks to the open weather there has been no coal famine, and in the matter of industrial fuel care is taken that all the essential works are kept supplied. IRON. With the approach of a new quarter enquiry runs largely on future deliveries, and it cannot be said that the outlook holds out any promise of immediate relief from the extreme pressure that has been experienced for months past. Makers of pig iron find it impossible to meet all demands, and consumers are prepared to pay high prices for what is not infrequently a relatively inferior article. A number of houses are distributing their output as it comes from the furnaces, and are naturally not disposed to entertain big contracts. The tendency in the finished branches is very firm, and substantial premiums are obtained in cases where mill owners have a free hand to negotiate. Unmarked bars are nominally subject to the <£13 17s. 6d. maximum; nut and bolt iron is .£14 10s. and upwards, delivered in the district; a slow trade is being done in Lancashire bars for export at £15 10s. to .£16. No official announcement has up to now been made on the subject of the control of gas strip. It is stated that the figure proposed is .£14 7s. 6d» at makers’ works, which is from 32s. 6d. to 42s. 6d. below the uncontrolled prices which have recently been quoted. Strip makers express the view that if prices are controlled some limit should also be placed upon the price of puddled bars, from which gas strip is made. There is a heavy accumulation of orders for steel of all kinds for essential purposes. Nothing has yet transpired with regard to steel billets, for which makers have been asking for an advance. The maximum price of .£10 7s. 6d. has been unaltered since the system of control was established two years ago. This was considerably below the previous uncontrolled price, and since then the cost of production has advanced very appreciably. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The market for the house coal of this district continues very firm, in spite of the summer-like weather we have recently enjoyed. A good number of orders have been received the last few days in anticipation of the Easter holidays. The pits will close for three days, and it is hoped to resume work on the Wednesday. Steam coal buyers have been pressing for deliveries all this week. _ Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal:— Large ................. Small ... ........... Large ... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. ( 24/ 26/ 26/ \ 23/ 123/3 (.21/6 15/6 15/6 13/ 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Summer Mining and Engineering School, South Wales.— The Summer Mining and Engineering School (South Wales Coalfield) will be held during the month of August 1918, at the Technical College, Swansea, and courses will be provided as follow:—Mining Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (mainly practical), Teachers’ Course —Chemistry, Physics and Geology (mainly practical). A special short course for candidates preparing for the fire- men’s certificate will be conducted by members of the county staff, and an examination will be held at the end of the course. Full particulars, prospectus and forms of application may be obtained, on receipt of a stamped addressed foolscap envelope, from the Chief Education Official, Glamorgan County Hall, Cardiff. Manchester Association of Engineers.—At the annual meeting of the Manchester Association of Engineers on Saturday last Mr. J. Butterworth was elected president for the ensuing year. In their sixty-second annual report the council stated that during the year there had been added to the membership roll 53 new members, four asso- ciate members, and two transfers from associate to member. After taking into account the loss by deaths and resigna- tions, the names on the books numbered 688 (as compared with 648 in the previous year), made up as follows:—11 honorary life members, 153 members entitled to financial benefit, 510 members and 14 associate members. The balance standing to the credit of the Association after payment of all accounts due up to December 31, amounted to £6,735 15s., as against £6,692 5s. 6d. at the close of the preceding year, showing an excess of receipts over expenditure of £43 9s. 6d. With reference to the Tool Steel Research, the council reported that the work of the Tool Steel Committee during 1917, though suspended for a portion of the year, had been continued, and the programme originally set forth was being pursued. The problem was a large one and complex, but it was believed that valuable information to the trade would result from the work of the Committee. The method of treatment of steel tools, and the furnace for the purpose, developed by the committee had proved very successful, and the appli- cation of these to certain special requirements of the Government had been of such value that a letter acknowledging the value of the work had been sent to the committee by the Government department concerned. The committee desired to acknowledge the generosity of Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Company Limited, in again letting them have, free of cost, steel and tool steel for experimental purposes. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Wednesday, March 27. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. Little change is observable in the conditions of the coal market of this district. Up to the early part of the week shipments had been rather heavier than previously, as tonnage arrivals had been better. But they were still far too small to clear off the large stocks, especially smalls and other inferior coals. Some of the collieries which relied entirely on export were reported to have as much as 80,000 tons of small in stock on the ground. But in other cases where inland orders were a feature the accumulation was not nearly so large. Some of these stocks are being slightly reduced by the mixing of a third of small coal with two- thirds large in cargoes for export. The demand for best large as well as for house and gas coals has been well maintained. There has bee*n no change in the position of patent fuel and coke. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. ! Current | L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. ; prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 32/6 ! 32/6 24/ —25/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 31/6 , 31/6 23/ -24/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 31/6 1 31/6 22/ -23/ Secondary do. 30/6 t 30/6 21/ -22/ Best small coals 23/6 ; 23/6 15/ -16/ Secondary do 22/6 i 22/6 . 12/ -14/ Inferior do 20/6 1 20/6 7/ -10/6 Screenings 25/6 25/fi , 16/ —16/6 Through coals 29/6 29/6 i 20/6-21/6 Best washed nuts 32/6 32/6 ; — Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit... < 35/6 j 35/6 | 25/ -26/ Secondary do. do. ...j 33/3 33/3 ! 23/6-24/6 Patent fuel 32/6 32/6 1 27/6-30/ Furnace coke 47/6 47/6 j —* Foundry coke 47/6 47/6 | —* * Nominal. IRON. The works throughout the district have been all going at full pressure, mostly on Government account. Prices are consequently nominal. Pit wood has been scarce, and the controlled price has been well maintained. Swansea. COAL. There was no material improvement in the trade of the port last week. An excellent attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was no alteration in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market. All classes were freely offered for immediate delivery, but owing to the small quantity of tonnage that arrived over the week-end, there were very few enquiries, leaving stocks greatly exces- sive. Steam coal conditions were also very poor. Values remain on the scheduled basis. Llanelly. COAL. With an unsatisfactory tonnage position it cannot be expected that the local market should show signs of activity. The general position is most difficult, and stocks are accumulating, which naturally means irregular working of the collieries. The pits are likely to have idle days most of next week owing to the Easter holidays, and the majority of wagons now under load may, therefore, be cleared. In anthracite qualities there is no shortage of supplies, and buyers are able to cover their requirements. Large kinds of all grades are easy, and there is no improvement to report in the position of the machine-made sorts. Cobbles are not active, and beans which hitherto have been very firm are now lacking enquiry, and supplies of all grades on offer for prompt business. Nuts are not well supported, and peas are slow with good stocks standing. Culm and duff is weak, and excessive quantities are on hand. The inland demand continues fairly satisfactory for most qualities. Steam coals are sluggish, and not much business doing. Large kinds are easily obtainable, and through coals of all grades offering more freely than buyers can entertain. Smalls are neglected, and heavy stocks standing. Manufacturing coals are steady, but house coals offering more freely. Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best malting anthracite... 30/ 30/ 25/ -27/6 Seconds 29/ 29/ 22/ -25/ Thirds 27/6 27/6 Red Vein large 25/6 25/6 19/6-20/6 Machine-made cobbles 42/6 42/6 33/ —35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ — Thirds 39/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 36/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 42/6 42/6 _ ■ Seconds 41/ 41/ Thirds 39/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 36/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 35/ 35/ 26/ -27/6 Seconds 34/ 34/ Thirds 33/ 33/ Red Vein beans 31/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 20/ 20/ 20/ -22/ Rubbly culm 13/ 13/ 8/6-9/ Red Vein culm 11/ 11/ Breakers duff 8/ 8/ — Billy duff 6/6 6 6 6/ - 6/6 Steam:— I ’ Best large steam 30/ ; 30/ 23/ -24/ Seconds 27/ ! 27/ Cargo through 23/6 23/6 18/ -20/ Seconds 22/ 22/ Bunkers through 23/6 23/6 Small s 19/ 19/ ■ 8/6-11/6 Second smalls 17/ 17/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 27/ 27/ — Smalls 24/ 24/ 16/6-18/6 Gas through 23/6 | 23/6 Gas smalls 21/ | 21/ — SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. The importers of South Wales through their Association have agreed not to purchase their wood from French growers at a price above 63s. c.i.f. in steamers and 62s. 6d. c.i.f. per ton in sailing vessels. All importers have agreed to abide by these purchasing prices, and as the wood has to be sold at 65s. per ton ex ship Cardiff, Newport or Swansea, a guaranteed profit is thus secured to importers. In one or two cases importers paid higher c.i.f. prices than those agreed upon, but it is understood that these importers will fall into line and purchase at the indicated levels. French. Exporters’ Large Profits. Private advices from the Bordeaux district indicate an abundance of pitwood, large stocks of wood lying in the stations waiting to be sent to the ports of shipment, where the stocks are also very large. The price of the wood varies from 40 fr. to 42 fr. f.o t. Boucan and 43 fr. 45 fr. f.o.t. Bordeaux Docks. As freight rates to the Welsh ports are only 17s. from Bordeaux and 20s. from Boucan, and as the maximum selling price in South Wales is 65s. ex ship, there is a very large margin of profit left to the French exporter. The British Admiralty Pitwood Committee, which is represented in France by Mr. E. Plisson, managing director of Messrs. Lysberg Limited, has about 12,000 tons of wood at Boucan, and about the same quantity at Bordeaux and the small ports on the Bordeaux River. The quays are so blocked that clearance at the stations is difficult. At the stations the committee has about 100,000 tons in stock. Control of Pitwood Supplies. The Coal Controller has issued instructions to South Wales collieries, asking for particulars as to contracts and purchases of pitwood. Collieries are requested to specify on a form full particulars of the terms of every current contract or purchase entered into under which delivery was not complete on March 16, comprising pitprops, bars, crown trees, sleepers and mining timber of any other description, including purchases of standard timber. This has involved extra work upon an already overworked and attenuated staff. Imports of Foreign Mining Timber. The imports of foreign mining timber into South Wales ports for the week ended March 22 amounted to 9,138 loads, of which 2,604 loads were received by the Pitwood Com- mittee of the Admiralty collieries, the details being as follow:— Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) — Date. Consignee. Loads. March 16 Franklin Thomas and Co..... 1,876 „ 19 Lysberg Limited........... 2,400 „ 19 W. H. Williams ............... 750 „ 20 Lysberg Limited............. 204 „ 20 Morgan and Cadogan......... 144 „ 20 Morgan and Cadogan......... 144 „ 20 Morgan and Cadogan......... 1,700 Total..... 7,218 Newport:— March 19 F. R. Howe and Company..... 1,920 Total..... 9,138 THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—In a broken week, such as this, actual transactions are not readily summarised in a trade report. In some instances tar prices are relatively favourable to purchasers. For instance, the British Gas Light Company recently contracted to supply S waff ham U.D. Council with a specified quantity at 56s. per 190 gals. In this case both sellers and buyers are in one county (Norfolk). The price is slightly under the lowest figures of any of the contracts we mentioned within the past few weeks. Yet many holders consider that circumstances point to a higher price through reduced lighting and lesser output. Contracts with public authorities are the only salient matters at present, and these are mostly conditional. For instance, several firms have undertaken tar spraying in Westminster, subject to obtaining material, labour and Government permission. A Poplar firm has renewed its contract with the Marylebone Council at an increase of fd. per gal. for tar and an increase of 35s. 6d. per ton for pitch. In the market pitch remains at its usual level. Not much scope for export can be detected in the tonnage outlook. Solvent naphtha became appreciably cheaper a week or two ago, and one must expect a comparatively dull period after the run on this product. Heavy naphtha and crude naphthalene still meet with a steady demand. The other by-products are almost featureless this week. Late advices show a considerable advance in London pitch, 55s. to 57s. 6d. being quoted. Solvent naphtha, North, has improved. Sulphate of Ammonia.—No change has occurred in the official figures, and consequently all business transacted must be on that basis. Proportional Representation.—The South Wales Minora’ Federation council have resolved to offer strenuous oppo- sition to the proposal to apply the principle of propor- tional representation to the seven divisions of Glamorgan- shire and some divisions in Monmouthshire. It was decided by the Scottish miners’ executive to petition in favour of proportional representation for Lanarkshire. German Coal Tickets.—The German Coal Controller is at present showing great activity, and elaborate plans are being made to prepare immediately for next winter. Great efforts will be made to deliver a great part of next winter’s supplies during the months from May to August. As last year, coal tickets are to be issued during the spring for the whole of the next 12 months, but there are certain interesting innovations. The authorities have decided to compel consumers to register with particular retailers, so that they will be more dependent than before upon the successful distribution of sufficient supplies. Separate tickets are now to be issued for coal for cooking and coal for heating. In Berlin the cooking coal ration will range from 12 cwt. for households containing one or two persons to 1 ton 12 cwt. for households containing more than 10 persons. The heating coal ration will range from 5 cwt. for dwellings of one room, to 3 tons for dwellings of more than six rooms. The Vorwarts points out that the rationing favours people with large houses, and is grossly unfair to the worst-fed and worst-clothed classes of the population.