. April 26, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 853 Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The demand for all varieties of fuel, both for shipping and home consumption, is unabated. Local landsale account will soon be down to summer level, but in all other departments business is very firm. The collieries are all working regularly. Little more than 2.000 tons weekly can be spared for the Irish market. Best steam coal, loco- motive, and all varieties of fuel for industrial purposes, are in very strong demand for local use, and practically all the supplies are earmarked. Gas coal is very steady, but no outside business can be accepted. The export trade is well maintained, and the outlook as regards increased supplies of Cumberland coal for export is not very bright. Coke is in keen demand Prices of all varieties are firm, but unchanged. Best sorts at the pit are obtainable at from 25s. to 25s. lOd. per ton ; bunkers are 31s. per ton; export coal is 22s. per ton f.o.b., with washed nuts at 20s per ton. Works fuel is 22s. 6d. per ton, a^d best house coal delivered is Is. 7d. per cwt., or from 30s to 30s. lOd. per ton. 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 21'3 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 15/ Do. peas „ 17/6 17 6 Buckhill best coal at pit... 25; 25/ 22/6 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit 23/6 23 6 21/ Oughterside best coal at pit 25/ 25/ 22/6 Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 23/6 23 6 21/ St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 25/ 25/ 22/6 St. Helens best house nuts 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) 31/ 31/ 25/ Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 31/ 31/ 30/ Best works fuel 22/6 22/6 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... 22/6 22,6 20/ Best washed nuts for gas- works 21/6 21/6 19/ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There is very little change since last week, except that the scarcity of coal becomes intensified as the loss of output in consequence of the comb-out is being felt more definitely. The reduction in production is due not merely to the withdrawal of men, but largely also to the irregular working of their mates in their desire to give them a send-off, as well as occasional disagreement in connection with the balloting. One or two pits at which stoppages occurred last week are now working. Although the reduction in output may not appear to be considerable in proportion to the total tonnage raised, demand was normally so nearly abreast < f supplies that it is sufficient to create a shortage. The collieries are keenly pressed with enquiries and orders which cannot be accepted. On the market on Tuesday, when there was a full attendance, practically no new business could be done, as colliery representatives had nothing to offer. On the contrary, deliveries are restricted, and contracts generally are in arrear. The position in regard to house coal for the London district is comparatively comfortable, the require- ments being normal, except for the commandeering of supplies for gas and bunkering purposes, which has caused buyers to be active in the endeavour to replace the requisi- tioned coal. In the local markets the demand considerably outstrips the quantities available, and as is always the case in the event of temporary shortage, merchants are almost besieged with public orders. Many depots are reported to be almost if not quite without coal. Beyond question, the output of house and manufacturing and steam coals is at present considerably below the requirements of the market, and, while the collieries are doing the best they can, with the prospect of the further withdrawal of miners the immediate future does not promise much improvement, except such as may come by way of the rationing of supplies. Steps are taken officially to see that munition and other Government controlled works are supplied with fuel, but other consumers which have to rely upon the ordinary channels are experiencing serious difficulty in keeping going. The export trade in Hartleys for France is being adversely affected by the shortage, which has resulted in ships being held up for a w^ek or more while awaiting cargoes. With regard to gas coal, supplies are generally sufficient for present needs, but stocking for next winter makes slow progress. Coking slacks are scarcer than ever. On the other hand, the demand for coke keeps heavy, and coke makers have great difficulty in maintaining their outputs. It is only done in some instances by using nuts. Pit prices, more or less normal, are as follow :— Current pit prices. course, the consumption for home purposes continues to be of an extensive character. The supply of gas coal is now considerably affected, and the expected saving in consump- tion, owing to the restricted lighting, is being considered in regard to the supplies. All descriptions of small steam fuel are obtained with difficulty. Ordinary slacks, which for normal uses are more plentiful, are readily disposable for other purposes. A constant effort is still‘needed to supply anything like the tonnage required of slacks suitable tor coke making. Large coal is still being used for this purpose; but the pressure upon collieries appears to be incessant, and, of course, the full output of coke is retarded. During the week the pressure for furnace coke for the blast furnace districts has not been so keen as on former occa- sions, but the daily production is very easily cleared. In regard to the supply of house coal the position has quickly become most acute, and pit supplies are hardly so regular as previously. The collieries are relying upon the rationing scheme to assist them through the summer months. Chesterfield. COAL. The supply of every class of coal continues much below market requirements. House coal orders are in arrear, , but the approaching warmer period of the year will improve the position considerably. Manufacturing fuel is urgently wanted, cobbles and nuts being in special request, but difficult to obtain. Boiler firing slack is in active demand and substantial deliveries are going forward for the Lan- cashire cotton mills. Railway companies continue to press for supplies of locomotive coal, deliveries of which are short of actual requirements. Stock heaps are still being drawn upon. Gas companies are in want of gas coal, and much difficulty is experienced in obtaining sufficient supplies. There is no change in the position with regard to the export trade. The demand for inland consumption is such as to take up all the steam coal that would otherwise go for ship- ment. The coke market continues active, all classes of coke being in great request. Coking slack is enquired for. IRON. All branches of the trade are extremely busy, and great activity is apparent all round. IRON. A very firm tone continues in the haematite pig iron trade. There is no immediate prospect of the much needed expansion of production either in Cumberland or the Furness district. Another two or three furnaces blowing would afford sensible relief. Prices are firmly maintained at the Government maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash 115s. per ton. Special low phosphorus iron is 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron is quoted at 135s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. The position of ferro-manganese is unchanged. The iron ore industry is busy, and all the mines between Cleator Moor and Hod barrow are regularly employed. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The house coal market continues unchanged; orders flow in above the available supply. Requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export are not less than they were last week, the arrival of steamers continuing fairly good, especially as regards those on Admiralty account. Supplies are not over plentiful—in fact, there is in some cases con- siderable difficulty in finding sufficient to meet require- ments Minimum prices are, of course, according to schedule. Forges and manufacturers using round coal and graded fuel continue to take full quantities. A diminished quantity is being shipped from the Mersey into Ireland, as suitable charters are difficult to procure. It is said there is a little easement in the commoner and finer sorts of slack, but it is exceedingly difficult to find any on the market. With regard to the better qualities in small graded fuel, it is with difficulty that the customer gets his daily adequacy. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. 1 prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 21/6-22/6 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 21/6-22 6 ; 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 21/ -21/6 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 21/ -21 6 19/ -20/ Do. house 20/ -20/6 20/ -20/6 17/ -18/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 18'6-19/6 18/6-19,6 16/ -17/ Haigh Moor best 25,6-26/ 25/6-26/ 23/ -24.' Silkstone best 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ Do. house 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ i20/ -21/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 20,6-22 6 20/6-22 '6 19/ -20/ Screened gas coal 18/ -18,6 17/ -18/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coa] ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Washed nuts Large double-screened 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ engine nuts 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/ -17/ Small nuts Rough unscreened 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ engine coal 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Best rough slacks 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 { 14/ -15/ Small do. 13.6-14,6 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 1 12/ -13/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 Nottingham. COAL. The spell of cold weather has brought about a marked change in the condition of the house coal trade in this district, coupled with the comb-out of miners. Whereas a month or so ago the public demand was comfortably met by local merchants, they are now unable to keep pace with the orders. The situation has undoubtedly been aggravated to some extent by the fear of a rationing scheme. There is consequently something of a rush for supplies, and if it continue rationing will in all probability be resorted to. Fortunately, the time for milder weather is at hand, and with an improvement in this respect it is confidently anticipated that there will be a material reduction in the demand. With regard to steam coal, the tone is unchanged, practically all the grades of this class of fuel being in brisk request, and the requirements of customers cannot be fully satisfied. The shortage in other branches has tended to increase the demand for slacks, and better class qualities are readily purchased. The output of gas coal is pretty well absorbed by contracts. Coke is in very good request. Prices at pithead. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s 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/ -19/ 18/3-19/ 17/ -17/6 Secondary do 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ Slacks (best hards) 14/ -14/6 14/ -14'6 12/ -13/ Do. (second) 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10'6-11/6 Do. (soft) 13/ 13/ 1 11/ 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 30/ 18/6 17/6 16/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 23/ upwds 18/ 24/6-25/6 16/ 15/ 14/ Barnsley. COAL. Experience corroborates the expectation that the output would be materially reduced, owing to the additional men called up for Army service, and the unsettled feeling which prevails amongst the rank and file at the collieries. For all practical purposes, efforts to secure extra lots of fuel in the open market are of no avail, and, apart from the pre- ferential claims for supplies, a general reduction in the tonnage has been made. The effect continues to be marked in regard to steam fuel, owing to the extensive demands which are made upon collieries in this area for supplies for Admiralty purposes, munition works and railway companies. It is expected, in regard to the latter, that possibly relief may be gained through the prospective curtailment of the train service; but at the present, the pressure for some- thing like full deliveries is in no way relaxed. Consumers who are not engaged on war productions have still to be content with other grades of coal, which, in turn, inflicts hardship in other directions. In fact, the position generally is that where supplies of any description can be diverted, it is being done. Many of the district collieries, in addition, are called upon to provide supplies for the Allies, whilst, of South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The general conditions remained unchanged, little fuel of any description being on offer. The enquiry for coal for shipment is still quiet owing to scarcity of tonnage. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Leicestershire. COAL. There is an extremely active demand for all classes of steam and manufacturing fuel, and the supplies have to be very rigidly subdivided, in order to cover the most urgent requirements. As the consumption is still expanding, the conditions at the collieries are extremely strenuous, with no prospect of any relief. Household of all kinds is very short at present, as a great deal is diverted to steam-raising purposes, and the domestic consumption, at the same time, is exceptionally heavy. The effect of the calling up of more men for the Army is evidenced by the fact that, at a large number of pits, the output at the present moment has fallen to about two-thirds of the normal tonnage. The effect of this is felt all round, and a large number of urgent calls for deliveries cannot be met. The whole of the output is cleared off day by day, and the colliery sidings are filled with empty wagons, for which no coal is available. There is a very good demand for London and the South and the West of England, but the deliveries are getting more and more below the minimum. Cobbles, as well as large and small nuts, command a ready sale, while peas for automatic stokers are much below the requirements. Country mer- chants cannot get sufficient deliveries to meet current needs, and all orders for supplies to create reserves House coal:— Best Current prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 18/6 upwds 17/ upwds L’st week’s prices. 24'6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/-20/6 * 18/6upwds 17/ upwds Medium Common Furnace coal Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack Cpmmnn slack * As per official list. Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 23/ -24/6 j 23/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 21/ -21/6 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 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— 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 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 12/ -13/6 15/ -15/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do 12/ -13/6 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/6 Gas nuts 18/9 18/9 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 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 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 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/ 15/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ kitcheners............ 16/ -17/6 Steams, best hand picked 16/6-17/6 Steams, seconds .......... 15/6-17/ Main cobbles for kitcheners' 16/ -17/6 Main breeze...............| 14/9-15/6 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