852 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN April 26, 1918. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. ___________________________________ _______________ Australia. Miners' Phthisis in Queensland.—Pending the passage of the Industrial Diseases Act, the present Queensland Government, when it assumed office, approved of an allow- ance of 10s. per week to each indigent person suffering from miners’ phthisis. When the measure became law ii covered only those workers who were employed in different industries on July 1, 1917; but, as announced by the Assistant Minister for Justice, the Government has arranged that the pension of 10s. per week to invalids who ceased employment before July 1917, will be continued ; and, in view of the excessive hardships involved in nearly every case, the pension of 10s. will revert to the widow for two years after the invalid’s death. This pension is, of course, supplemental to the various allowances which the Home Department is authorised to make under the State Children’s Act for the children of such sufferers, the Minister stated that at the present time there are nearly 100 sufferers from miners’ phthisis who receive the allowance from the Home Department under the Govern- ment scheme. The Insurance Commissioner took over the administration of the business from the Home Department on December 1. Canada. Experiments with Peat.—The Dominion Government and the Government of Ontario are to co-operate in compre- hensive experimental work during the coming season in the possibilities of peat as a fuel. The question has been under consideration by the Recommendation and Develop- ment Committee of the Cabinet. Special attention has been given to it also by Hon. Martin Burrell, Minister of Mines, who has considered it with the technical officers of his department, with R. A. Ross, consulting engineer, of Montreal, who is a member of the Research Council, and with E. V. Moore, who constructed the first mechanical peat excavator built in Canada. To provide the money necessary for such an investigation, the authorities have set aside 100,000 dols. in the supplementary estimates. Fuel Resources.—Canada, which is dependent on the United States for 55 per cent, of the total coal require- ments, is suffering from a fuel situation of great gravity, and attention is now being drawn to the possible utilisa- tion of native low-grade coal. The fuel resources of Canada exist in the vast coalfields of the extreme eastern and western portions of Canada ; the lignite fields of the western provinces; the natural gas fields of western Canada, and the Province of Ontario, the petroleum fields of Ontario; the oil shales of New Bruswick, Nova Scotia, and elsewhere; the standing forests; and the great areas of peat bogs. The following is an estimate of the actual coal reserves of Canada, based on actual thickness and known extent, the location and approximate classification of the coals being also shown :— Tons. Class. Nova Scotia........ 2,137,000,000 ... Bituminous coal. Do. ........ 50,000,000 ... Cannel coal. Saskatchewan ......... 2,412,000,000 ... Lignite. Alberta............ 382,500,000,000 ... Lignite or sub-bitu- minous. Do............... 1,197,000,000 ... Low carbon bitu- minous coal. Do............... 2,026,000,000 ... Anthracite and bitu- minous. Do............... 669,000,000 ... Semi-anthracite. British Columbia ... 23,653,000,000 ... Semi-anthracite and bituminous. Do. do. ... 118,000,000 ... Low carbon bitu- minous coal. Do. do. ... 60,000,000 ... Lignite. In addition to these admittedly great reserves, 37,000 sq. miles of the Dominion are covered with peat bogs. The total estimated tonnage of fuel represented in this area is 28,000,000,000 tons of 25 per cent, moisture peat fuel, equivalent, on the basis of actual heating value, to about 16,000,000,000 tons of good coal. Of this total area, however, only a portion is favourably situated with respect to economic development. Twelve thousand square miles of peat bogs are distributed throughout the central provinces—Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Bruns- wick—and the estimated tonnage of peat in this area is 16,000,000,000 tons, which is equivalent, on the basis of actual heating value, to about 9,000,000,000 tons of coal. _________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The official maximum price is firmly adhered to by many makers, but where orders are wanted it is possible to get on at about 31s. 6d. basis, net cash, f.o.t., at works. There are fewer eager sellers now than a week ago. Wasters are in good demand, 28 y 20 being exceedingly scarce. Terne- plates are very slow of sale. Coal Consumption in Paper Mills.—The president of the Board of Trade has appointed Mr. H. A. Vernet (chair- man), Mr. G. R. Hall Caine, Mr. George Clapperton, Mr. Stanley Cousins, Mr. Harry Cremer, Mr. F. W. Dobson, Mr. A. D. Jaffe, Mr. J. G. Flowerdew Lowson, and Mr. Oscar H. Stone to be a committee to consider and report as to the consumption of coal in mills engaged in the manufacture of paper, and the best means of effecting economies in coal and transport. Mr. A. W. Foster will act as secretary, and all communications intended for the committee should be addressed to 23, Buckingham-gate, London, S.W. 1. Reconstruction in Belgium.—An organisation has been created with the co-operation and under the control of the Belgian State, to help in reconstructing Belgian industry and trade by furnishing tools and necessary raw materials for every possible industry, including metallurgy, materials for construction of buildings, leathers, textiles, farming implements, chemical products, wood machines, electrical material, optical instruments, motor cars, vans, wagons, oils and greases of all kinds, refractory materials, etc. English manufacturers and merchants are invited to send their catalogues and price lists, in triplicate, to the Comptoir National pour la Reprise de FActivite Economique en Belgique, 110, Cannon-street, London, E.C. 4. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, April 25. _________________________________________ Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The Scotch coal trade is still fairly active all round. Orders for all grades are plentiful, but consumers are finding difficulty in securing full deliveries owing to depleted outputs due to labour scarcity and to an insufficient supply of railway wagons. The call for fuel for industrial pur- poses is as heavy as ever, while domestic calls are fully maintained, the fear of rationing evidentally impelling many to lay in stocks. Shipments, too, are comparatively good under the circumstances. Clearances for the week amounted to 96,078 tons, against 109,373 in the preceding week, and 94,053 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Steam coal 27/6 27/6 18/ -24/ Ell 26/6-28/ 26/6-28/ 19/ -21/6 Splint 28/ -30/ 1 ! 28/ -30/ 18/ -31/ Treble nuts 23/ I 23/ 23/6 Double do 22/ ! 22/ 22/ Single do 21/ : 21/ 20/ IRON. Energies in the iron trade are so bound up in war work that very little attention can be given to ordinary com- mercial wants. The new Man-Power Bill will likely pro- mote a still more difficult situation with regard to ordinary dealing. In the meantime no material alteration has taken place. In pig iron, home requirements practically mono- polise the entire output. While home trade and prices are unchanged, export values are very firm. Licences, however, are now very seldom granted, and transactions are very few and far between. Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. Glasgow, Nos. 1, 140s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Govan, No. 1, 135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos* 1, 150s., Nos. 3, 145s.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3, 135s.; Eglinton at Ardrossan or Troon and Dalmellington at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. At the malle- able iron works there is continued pressure for deliveries of the best iron. Wagon builders and railway workshops absorb large quantities, while shipbuilders are taking large deliveries of certain sections. Exports are of little account in the meantime. Engineering shops are unceasingly active, while producers of machine tools are full up with good business. Home orders for nails are very numerous, and hoop makers are also very busy. _________________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians are doing a considerable amount of Admiralty business. Local requirements, too, are heavy, and employment is very full. Shipments amounted to 20,176 tons, against 17,388 in the preceding week, and 19,873 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 26/6 25/6 23/ 22/ 21/ L’st week’s prices. 26/6 25/6 23/ 22/ 21/ Last year’s prices 23/ -23/6 21/ 23/ 21/ 19/6 The position in Fifeshire is also fairly satisfactory. The improvement in export continues, and calls from consumers in the district are of considerable bulk. Clearances were 35,508 tons, compared with 56,110 in the preceding week, and 20,801 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 29/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 30/ Unscreened do 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 25/ First-class steam coal 28/ 28/ 25/ Third-class do. 24/ 24/ 20/ _______________________________ Treble nuts 23/ 23/ 24/ Double do 22/ 22/ 22 j Single do 21/ 21/ 19/ All prices quoted only apply to French and Italian business; for other orders 2s. 6d. per ton must be added. The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports amounted to 151,762 tons compared with 182,871 in the preceding week, and 134,727 tons in the corresponding week of last year. ________________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-on-Ty ne. > COAL. Business during the week under review has shown abso- lutely no falling off. Practically the whole of the collieries in Northumberland and Durham continue to work at their maximum rate of production, and their output is being absorbed as speedily as transport facilities will permit. Official requirements are as large as ever, and the pits find it difficult to keep pace with the arrivals of requisitioned tonnage. Bunkers are much more active than they were a little while ago, and, at intervals during the week, have been reported to be quite scarce. Smithies, coking coals, households, and all descriptions of coke, are still in first- rate request, and are practically absorbed for inland con- sumption. There is a strong neutral enquiry for most descriptions of fuel; but the commitments on Government, Allied and home account are so great as to leave little surplus available for export to non-Allied destinations. Throughout the week, advances in the prices of best descriptions of steam and gas coals have been talked of, but there is no evidence of higher prices having been secured as yet. The Norwegian State Railways are again in the market—this time for 16,000 tons of Northumberland and/or Durham best steam coals for delivery at stipulated ports over June and July. The attention of exporters is called to the official announcement as to the limitation of coal contracts to periods not exceeding three months, in view of the probable effect of the man-power proposals on the mining industry. F.o b. quotations for prompt ship- ment are unaltered this week. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current prices. 30/ -32'6 29/6-32/ 25/6-28/ 27/ -29/6 23 6-27/6 20/ -22/6 I 20/ -22/6 18/6-21/ 20/6-23/ 25/ -33/6 25/ -27,6 Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths .... Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened .......... Small, Blyths ........ Do. Tynes............ Do. specials......... Other sorts:— Smithies..........____..... Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) • Secondary gas coais! (Pelaw Main or similar) j 23 /6 -261 Special gas coals ......! 26,6-29/ Unscreened bunkers, I Durhams, 26/6-32/6 Do. do. I Northumbrians 26/6-27/6 Coking coals..........• 24/ -27/6 Do. smalls....\ 24/ -27/6 House coals .......... 28/6-32/6 Coke, foundry ..........■ 42/6-45/ Do. blast-furnace......; 42/6-45/ Do. gas ..............■ 35/ -40/ jL’st week’s Last year’s ! prices, j 30/ -32/6 prices. 30/ i 29/6-32/ ( 27/ -28/ !—-—/ 21/ -22/ j 25/6-28/ ; 27/ -29 6 ' 23/6-27/6 18/6-21/ 20/6-23/ 25/ -33/6 25/ -27/6 ’ 23/6-26/ I 26/6-29/ ■ 26 6 32 6 ? 26/6-27/6 J 24/ -27/6 ‘ 24/ -27/6 22/6 18/ -20/ 18' 16/ -17/ 19/ -20/ 20/ -21/ 26/ 17/ -19/ 30/ -31/ 16/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 28 6-32,6 ! 27/6-30/ 42/6-45/ ' 40/ -42/6 42/6-45/ ' 38/ -40/ 35/ -40/ ( 30/ -32/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market opened this week with a strong tone and good prospects. The demand for steam coals on requisition account is fully maintained, and enquiry from neutral sources, particularly from the Scandinavian countries, is better. Gas and coking qualities are in good request, and both classes of bunkers are fairly active. Smithy nuts and peas and washed smalls for industrial purposes are urgently enquired for. Coke is in full demand on home account, but shipments are only indifferent for want of tonnage. There is no change in market values from last week. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 29/ -32/6 29/ -32/6 27/ Secondary do. House coals:— 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 18/ Best house coals 32/6 32/6 30/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 30/6 30/6 23/ Lambton screened 31/ -32/6 31/ -32/6 28/ South Hetton do 31/ —32/6 31/ -32/6 28/ Lambton unscreened ... 26/6 26/6 17/3 South Hetton do. 26/6 26/6 17/3 Do. treble nuts 22/6 22/6 21/ Coking coals unscreened 27/6 27/6 18/ Do. smalls 27/6 ■ 27/6 17/ Smithies 27/6 27/6 21/ Peas and nuts 27/ -28/6 27/ -28/6 22/6 Best bunkers Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 27'6 26/6 27/6 26/6 18/ 16/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did.' 42/6-45/ 42/6-45/ 40/ Teesside furnaces) ... 42/6-45/ 42/6-45/ 28/ Gas coke 1 35/ -40/ 35/ -40/ 31/ M i d d I esbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade is much more animated than it has been of late, the reason being the passing of tonnage irregularity. The change was not unexpected, but it is none the less very gratifying. Collieries now find themselves much better placed than for some time past, and the opinion prevails that there is likely to be quite a squeeze of certain coals. Many of the Durham pits have heavy supplies on hand, waiting for teeming, but opportunity has now arrived for disposal of stocks, and shipment is exceedingly active. Official absorption of coal continues large, and there is much improved enquiry on behalf of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Steam coal is in heavy request, and there is good demand for gas fuel, whilst coal continues to be well taken up. Bunker coal shows little change, any orders moving being chiefly for best quality. Coke is in only moderate request for shipment, but the home market is active: Average blastfurnace quality is 33s. at the ovens; low phosphorus kind, 35s. 6d. at the ovens; and foundry description, 38s. for home use. IRON. Buying of Cleveland pig iron on home account, under April allocations, has been practically completed, and export transactions are very small, so that business is quiet. The market fully maintains the firmness that has characterised it for some time past, and a gratifying feature is the steady improvement in the truck supply, which is enabling much needed heavier distribution to home consumers. At the same time the wagon situation still leaves much to be desired. For home consumption—No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all 95s.; and No. 1 is 99s.; and for shipment to France and Italy, No. 3 and the lower qualities are 116s.; and No. 1 is 119s. The situation as regards east coast haematite is nothing like so stringent as it was a little while ago, the gradual growth of con- sumption of basic iron for steel-making having very consider- ably relieved the position. Whilst output of haematite is fully taken up, it is gratifying to know that no difficulty is now experienced in regularly meeting all essential home needs, and that some surplus iron is available for export whenever cargo space can be arranged. Mixed numbers of haematite are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for ship- ment to France and Italy. The manufactured iron and steel trade is active in all branches, and output of ship- building material is on a huge scale.