700 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 5, 1918. IRON. The week has been uneventful in the iron and steel trades. At works engaged on the production of war material there was no break at Easter, at others there was a stoppage for a few days. Demand for pig iron is imperious, and the necessity of getting deliveries is more important than questions of prices. Best foundry numbers can hardly be obtained, and the ordinary grades are heavily booked. Efforts are being made to increase output, and recently two furnaces in Staffordshire have been brought into service again after a period of suspension. The bar mills resumed operations on a large accumulation of orders. Marked qualities remain at the maximum of <£16, f.o.t., fixed two months ago. Large quantities are wanted for the chain and anchor works in the Cradley district, and by agricultural implement makers. Unmarked bars are nominally subject to the <£13 17s. 6d. limit, but that price applies to a proportion only. The control of gas strip has not yet taken effect, and quotations continue to range from <£16 to <£16 10s. for urgent lots. Demand is considerably ahead of supply, and there is also a scarcity of puddled bars. A large proportion of the makers are also consumers, and under present conditions have none to offer on the open market. Nut and bolt iron commands <£14 10s. Sheet makers entertain only those order® which command a high priority. The galvanising side of the industry is stagnant. The demands upon the output of steel are as heavy as ever, and everything is being done to develop a largely-increased productive capacity. Forest of Dean. Lydney. ‘ COAL. Outputs for the week were reduced by more than one- half as the result of the holiday, so that the railborne merchants will not receive the full quantities allocated to them for the month. The demand on shipping account continues steady, and vessels are now receiving quicker despatch. Numerous orders are still coming in, and appearances point to a scarcity of house coal throughout the summer season. The market for steam coals is still an excellent one, and collieries are pressed on all sides for deliveries. Prices at pithead. Last year’s prices. ( 24/ J 23/ ; 23/3 (.21/6 13/ 20/ -21/ 16/ Large ... House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal :— Large ............... Small................ Current B’st week’s prices. ! prices. 26/ ! 26/ 15/6 15/6 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. Wade and Son report a limited wholesale demand for house and steam coal at present. The mild weather has caused the house coal trade to be restricted, and buyers are not anxious to go beyond their allocation of coal on last year’s basis. Any demand at all is for free-burning coal only. A great number of the slow-burning coals which have been allocated are found to be most unsatisfactory for small grates in this district. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 4. Dublin. Business continued active up to the holidays, and a disposition is still shown on the part of consumers to lay in supplies as far as possible. The imports of coal for the week ended March 23 showed a considerable increase on previous weekly averages, and totalled 35,500 tons. The deliveries during the past week from cross-Channel ports dropped to 21,393 tons. The requisitioning by the Govern- ment of ships carrying cargoes to Dublin will probably not only reduce imports ot coal to Dublin, but curtail supplies to other parts of Ireland. At a meeting of the Corporation last week the Lord Mayor referred to the question of the coal supply, and urged the Council to protest against the unfair proportion of reduction applying to Ireland as com- pared with the South of England. It was suggested that the Public Health Committee should be empowered to search private residences with a view to preventing coal hoarding. The Irish railway companies, in order to con- serve supplies of coal, did not supplement their ordinary train services for the Easter holidays. Prices of house coals (unchanged) : Best Orrell, 51s. per ton ; best Wigan, 49s.; standard coal, 46s. 6d. per ton, delivered. Irish coals at Castlecomer pits : Best small coal, 30s. per ton; best large coal, 28s. 4d.; bottom coal, 25s.; breakage, 16s. 8d.; culm, 13s. 4d. per ton. The annual report of the Dublin Port and Docks Board shows that during 1917 the total quantity of coal imported was 1,217,516 tons, an increase of 70,600 tons over 1916. Belfast. The large demand during recent weeks has been sufficient to absorb supplies coming into the port, so that there is no improvement with regard to the stocks held by the local merchants. Prices remain as recently fixed by the Coal Committee of the Corporation, viz., best English coal, 51s. per ton; English nuts, 50s.; English kitchen coal, 50s.: best English black, 47s.; Scotch house coal, 45s.; standard coal, 44s. per ton net. From March 3 to 16, the total number of coal-laden vessels entering the harbour was 138. At a conference regarding the coal-saving problem, held in the city last week, further restrictions in connection with public lighting were ordered. THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business is very quiet, and the tone of the market con- tinues weak. Several makers seem to be short of specifica- tions, and are willing to take low prices to secure same. Where sellers are well booked the full official maximum is generally quoted. Wasters are in good demand still, and on the whole realise full prices. Terne plates are in very poor request. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, April 4. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. After the stormy weather of last week-end, tonnage arrivals improved, and gave the coal market in this district a somewhat better tone. In the early part of the week there was not a very appreciable shortening of the heavy stocks of coal, but some reduction must become a fact. Prices of best large steam coal and house and gas coals have been well maintained, and the demand has not abated. There has been less enquiry for inferior sorts and smalls. Cokes and patent fuel are unchanged. 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 i 23/ -24/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 31/6 * 1 31/6 : 22/ -23/ Secondary do. 30/6 30/6 : 21/ -22/ Best small coals 23/6 23/6 . 15/ -16/ Secondary do 22/6 i 22/6 . 10/ -12/6 Inferior do 20/6 20/6 8 6- 9/ Screenings .... 25/6 25/6 16/ -17/ Through coals 29/6 , 29/6 , 20/ -21/ Best washed nuts 32/6 32/6 — Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit... 35/6 i 35/6 24/6-25/6 Secondary do. do. ... 33/3 i 33/3 23/ -24/ Patent fuel 32/6 32/6 27/ -30/ Furnace coke 47/6 47/6 * Foundry coke 47/6 47/6 * * Nominal. IRON. The position of the iron and steel industry of the district is unaltered. The works were quickly in full blast again after the holidays, which were utilised in several cases in overhauling plant, and, in some cases, in renewals. As the output is almost entirely on Government account, prices are nominal. The import of iron ore, in spite of many difficulties, has kept up wonderfully well. Official figures for the past month show that Newport Docks have secured the first position in the kingdom for the rapid discharge of iron ore cargoes, an average of 1,151 tons having been discharged per day from each vessel. Cardiff. COAL. There is no change in the general position, and the market is devoid of interest. The colliers took a three days’ holiday, and the attendance on ’Change has been very small since Thursday. Monday and Tuesday were blank days, and even on Wednesday the business transacted was negligible. Chartering has been slow, and arrivals of ton- nage over the week-end were comparatively small, so that no great relief has been afforded. Stocks of all kinds have been plentiful, but, pending resumption of work by the miners, little of the superior qualities of coal was being released except for Admiralty purposes. The allocation of business scheme came into operation on Monday, but it is yet too early to express any opinion as to whether it will be beneficial or otherwise. Owners generally are optimistic that the new conditions will be satisfactory, and that more regular working will be ensured at the pits. There is a brisk demand for house and gas coals, but otherwise the market is quiet. Patent fuel is in good supply, and there is a steady enquiry for coke. Cardiff Prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated), plus 2s. fid. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Steam coals:— Current prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 35/6 Superior seconds 34/ Seconds 1 33/3 Ordinary 1 32/6 Steam smalls No. 1 I 24/ Do. 2 > 23/6 Do. 3 ! 23/ Do. 4 1 22/6 Do. 5 1 22/ Do. 6 1 21/6 Do. 7 1 21/ Do. 8 20/6 Best dry coals 32/6 Ordinary drys 31/ Best washed nuts 32/6 Seconds 31/ Best washed peas 30/ Seconds 29/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 32/6 Western-valleys ! 31/6 Eastern-valleys . 31/6 Inferior do 1 30/6 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) i 35/6 Second qualities (at pit) ; 33/3 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large i 33/3 Small / 28/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 29/6 L’st week’s iLast year’s prices, j prices. 34/ 33/3 32/6 24/ 23/6 2 0 22/6 22/ 21/6 21/ 20/6 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/ 30/ 29/ i —* ______* i 24/ -25/ i 23/ -24/ j | 14/6-15/6 j 13/ -14/ j 10/ -12/ } 7/ -10/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 1 32/6 i 24/ -25/ i 31/6 ' 23/ -24/ I 31/6 j 22/ -23/ I 30/6 \ 20/ -22/ I 35/6 ; 25/6-26/6 i 33/3 23/6-24/6 Through-and-througlL 24/6-26/ Small ..............; 19/6-21/6 Best patent fuel ......... 32/6 Seconds................... 32/6 Special foundry coke .... 50/ Ordinary do. ...........; 50/ Furnace coke ...........| 50/ Pitwood (ex-ship) ......i 65/ 33/3 ! 24/ -25/ ! 28/6 5 18/ -20/ 1 29/6 j 20/ -21/ ! 24/6-26/ I 16/6-17/6 i 19/6-21/6 I 12/6-13/6 ! 32/6 ' ! 28/ -30/ 32/6 j 27/ -28/ 50/ ' 62/6-65/ ! 50/ j 50/ -55/ j 50/ ! 45/ -47/6 i 65/ i 75/ * Nominal. IRON. Production has been maintained throughout the holidays, and although a certain amount of absenteeism has taken place, work has been continuous in all the departments. Rail mills are busy, and the same applies to the bar mills. A large supply of steel billets has just been landed, and this will help the local works materially. Shipments of tin plates last week amounted to 24,480 boxes, whilst receipts from works only reached 15,844 boxes, leaving in stock 139,550 boxes against 205,303 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Block tin remains at <£316 per ton, and prices of Bessemer standard cokes are unaltered. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, and quotations are nominal. Scrap metals are firm, with little business passing. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. The imports of foreign mining timber in the last week of March were upon a good scale, the Controller granting an excess over the quantity allowed to be imported. For the week ended March 29 the total quantity imported amounted to 16,729 loads, of which 11,040 loads were taken by the Admiralty Pitwood Committee. It is understood that the Committee has some thousands of tons of wood in France awaiting shipment to this country, the quays of certain ports being blocked with stocks. The tonnage shortage constitutes the chief difficulty. The actual quantity of pitwood imported was as follows:— Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) :— Date. Consignee. Loads. March 22 Morgan and Cadogan....... 120 „ 22 Morgan and Cadogan........ 360 „ 22 Morgan and Cadogan........ 480 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co..... 108 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co...... 132 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co...... 120 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co...... 54 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co....... 54 „ 22 Gra t Hayward and Co...... 42 „ 22 Budd and Co. Limited ...... 168 „ 22 Budd and Co. Limited ...... 204 „ 22 E. Marcesche and Co.......... 7 „ 22 A. Broinage and Co........ 120 „ 25 Morgan and Cadogan........ 960 „ 25 Mathew Thompson.......... 1,680 „ 25 Mathew Thompson......... 1,080 „ 25 Lysberg Limited........... 240 „ 25 Lysberg Limited......... 2,400 „ 25 Lysberg Limited......... 2,010 „ 25 Lysberg Limited......... 2,280 „ 25 Lysberg Limited......... 4,080 Total.....16,729 Quotations were at the scheduled prices. Collieries are sufficiently supplied with wood, although their stocks are not heavy. Good deliveries of home-grown timber are now being made to the collieries by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners’ Pit wood Association and by merchants. As the better weather comes along, it is confidently anticipated that the cutting and transporting of home-grown wood will be greatly increased. It is possible that a further curtailment in foreign imports may be ordered, and that an attempt will be made to render the collieries almost wholly dependent upon home supplies. The great rate of exploitation of our home timber resources cannot last long, but hopes are confident that the war will be over before home supplies begin to peter out. Substitutes for Mining* Timber. A fillip has been given to the employment of substitutes for mining timber. Concrete props have recently been tried with success in some important collieries. Up to the present these props have been manufactured for experi- mental ^purposes only, but a large manufactory is being built at Cardiff, where they will be made. The props are composed of reinforced concrete, and are cast in various sizes. They are slightly heavier than wood, and possess immense strength. They give warning of sudden roof pressure, and colliery workmen have overcome their distaste of the innovation after stern practical tests. We understand that two large colliery companies have embraced the idea, and hopes are entertained of the larger colliery companies erecting their own manufactories adjacent to their pits. The project should have been started 12 months or more ago, but still the substitute is welcome, especially in view of the possible continuance of the war or further curtailment in the imports of foreign mining timber. Midland Iron Trade.—The returns of the sales of iron made by 17 selected firms to the Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board for January and February show that the average net price realised was £15 12s. 3d., compared with £15 10s. in November and December, an increase of 2s. 3d. per ton. The total output was 31,260 tons in the first two months of this year, against 31,034 tons in the two closing months of 1917. The production of bar iron (21,762 tons in January and February) was 523 tons more than in November and December, and the average net selling price in the respective periods was £15 4s. 5d. and £15 Is. lOd. The output of hoops, strip, and miscellaneous iron decreased by 125 tons in January and February, compared with the previous two months, but the selling price increased by 2s. 5d. per ton. In accordance with the sliding scale, the wages for puddling remain unaltered at 19s., plus 6d. per ton bonus. Petrol from Cannel Coal.—The Institution of Petroleum Technologists has appointed a committee to enquire into the possibility of employing cannel coal, and allied sub- stances, available in Great Britain, as a source of supply of motor spirit, fuel oil, and other products; and to formu- late a scheme for the use of those minerals in the manner indicated. Among those who have agreed to serve on the committee are the following:—Sir Clarendon Hyde (chairman), Lord Glenconner, *Captain W. Barnett, M.P<, *Mr. Charles Greenway (ex-officio), Captain H. Fitz- Herbert Wright, M.P., Sir Ralph P. Ashton, Admiral Sir Edmund J. W. Slade, Mr. Edmund W. Abram, *Prof. J. S. S. Brame, *Mr. W. J. A. Butterfield, *Mr. A. W. Eastlake (ex-officio), and Mr. A. E. M. Taylor. (The starred names are those of members or associates of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists.) Invitations to nominate representatives have been sent to the Mining Association of Great Britain and to the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. The following are technical advisers :— *Geological, Mr. E. H. Cunningham-Craig ; *Mineral and Supplies, Mr. J. Arthur Greene (hon. secretary) ; *Retort- ing, Dr. F. Mollwo Perkin; *Chemical, Dr. A. E. Dunstan and Mr. A. G. V. Berry; *hon. treasurer, Mr. W. Rogers. The office of the committee is at Trafalgar Building, 1, Charing Cross, W.C. 2.