April 26, 1918. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 855 THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 25. ________________________________________________ The wholesale market on the London Coal Exchange has been confined to very narrow limits. Not only has the attendance been small, but the quantity of coal avail- able for open sale has been appreciably less. The cold wet weather has undoubtedly stimulated the demand from the “general public, and orders have been very plentiful, but the difficulty experienced in getting forward fresh supplies has been unusually great, and merchants have had to fall back upon the stocks on the ground to keep pace with the public demand. The new regulations for diverting the larger tonnage of railborne coal into the sidings of the various metropolitan gas companies have affected the quantity of house coal available for the ordinary London depots. Steam coals continue unusually short, and buyers are very eager. Slacks are moving freely, and the better classes of good nutty slacks suitable for gas making have a very ready sale. The London County Council practically accepted all last year’s con- tracts, and renewed them as and from July 1 next for the following 12 months, but in many cases for additional quantities, if possible. The following important notice was posted on the Coal Merchants’ Subscription Room door on Monday last :—“ Colliery Prices: I have received numerous enquiries as to whether collieries have been instructed to reduce their prices as from April 1. I have enquired from the Controller, and am instructed that where coal has been purchased on a summer and winter price basis, the prices are to be reduced as usual as from April 1. Where direct enquiries have been made to the Controller by collieries upon the question, the following reply has been sent:—‘ In reply to your letter, I am directed by the Controller of Mines to say that it will be necessary to make the customary reduction in prices in respect of supplies as from April 1.’ ” Collieries have also received urgent notice from the Controller asking that when tem- porarily short of orders during the summer time, that the output may be stacked as far as possible rather than lay the pits idle. A report states that the Coal Controller has promised that supplies at Hull will be improved. The shortage has been very acute. The seaborne market has been fairly maintained lately, and the number of vessels arriving in the Thames loaded with coal has been very satisfactory so far this week; 16 were returned for Monday’s market, and six for Wednesday, but the weather seriously interfered with the quantity during the latter end of last week. ________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, April 19.—The continuance of wintry weather caused a, firm tone in the seaborne house coal market, but owing to the very short supplies no transactions were reported. Cargoes, 5. Monday, April 22.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market, which continued firm. No fresh sales reported. Cargoes, 16. Wednesday, April 24.—The seaborne house coal market was again without alteration, there being no cargoes on offer, but a good demand was still noticeable. Cargoes, 6. ______________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 25. Dublin. Supplies show no improvement. The demand has not fallen off so far, the cold weather having kept up sales of house coals, as well as the disposition to secure supplies. Prices remain unchanged, viz.Best Orrell, 51s. per ton ; best Wigan, 49s.; standard coal, 46s. 6d. per ton, delivered; coke, 49s. per ton. Irish coals at Castlecomer pits (County Kilkenny): Best small coal, 30s. per ton; best large coal, 28s. 4d.; bottom coal, 25s. ; breakage, 16s. 8d.; culm, 13s. 4d. per ton. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays during the past week from cross-Channel ports was 25,000 tons, compared with 24,500 tons the week previously. At the port of Galway no coal boats are arriving, and no coal can be obtained except that which is brought through Dublin. The quantity of coal imported to Sligo per year since the war has only averaged 7,000 tons, the quantity in pre-war times being 50,000 tons. Belfast. All qualities are exceedingly difficult to obtain, and there is a great scarcity of English house coal. No improvement is looked for in this respect in the near future. One of the local coal firms state that they are unable to fulfil their contracts, owing to the requisitioning of their ships. Prices of house coal remain unchanged, viz.:—Best English coal, 51s. per ton; English nuts, 50s.; English kitchen coal, 50s.; best English slack, 47s.; Scotch house coal, 45s.; standard coal, 44s. per ton net. Stocks are very low in the port. The Corporation recently agreed to a recommenda- tion to the Coal and Shipping Controller that, with a view to conserving coal supplies, all business establishments in the city be closed not later than 7 p.m. on week-days (Saturdays 9 p.m.). _________________________ SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Consequent upon Irish pitwood being placed upon the same selling basis in South Wales as French pitwood—viz., 65s. ex ship Cardiff or Newport, instead of 65s. “delivered to collieries ”—the trade has received a stimulus. Regular and increasing arrivals of Irish timber are expected at South Wales ports. The timber is brought in small sailing vessels. In the week ended April 20, the quantity of Irish timber imported amounted to 1,220 tons. The wood is extremely well suited for the mining timber requirements of South Wales, and supplements, to a good extent, the foreign and local supplies received. Regular shipments of wood are also received from Cornwall, where the large Vyvyan estates are being exploited by Messrs. Vyvyan, Kelly and Company. This firm are not only cutting and transporting on Canadian methods, but have also adopted a transplanting system, in order to secure rotation of supplies. The supplies of home-grown wood in other directions; continue excellent, and good deliveries are being made to the collieries in the district. Some merchants are demand- ing 10 per cent, above the schedule price for pure larch;: but this, although contained in the Coal Controller’s direc- tions for purchase of mining timber of December 23 last,, does not apply to collieries within the Monmouthshire and South Wales district. Imports of Foreign Mining Timber. The imports of foreign mining timber into South Wales continued fairly good. All these imports were received. from France, and apparently the movement for securing supplies of Spanish timber has not yet matured. For the week ended April 19 the total imports amounted to 12,096 loads, of which 8,416 loads were received by the Admiralty Pitwood Committee. The following shows the actual quantities:— Cardiff (including Barry and Penarth) :— Date. Consignee. Loads. April 15 Lysberg Limited........... 1,090 „ 15 Lysberg Limited........... 1,806 „ 17 Franklin Thomas and Co..... 2,000 „ 17 Lysberg Limited........... 2,160 „ 17 Lysberg Limited........... 2,160 „ 17 Lysberg Limited........... 1,200 „ 18 E. Marcesche and Co........ 600 „ 18 Morgan and Cadogan....... 1,080 Total..... 12,096 Newport, Swansea and Port Talbot:—No imports reported. Plentiful Supplies of French Pitwood. Supplies of pitwood are stated to be very heavy at certain French ports. It is suggested that the Controller of Import Restrictions should allow importations beyond the allotted monthly allowance in all cases where it can be shown that no other important cargo could be carried. At the present time a large number of small sailing vessels, after taking coal to France, return in ballast. If allowed to carry back pitwood, the supply would be improved. _____________________ COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN MARCH. According to the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise, the following quantities of coal were shipped from the United Kingdom during March:— From Total cargo. Total bunker. Bristol Channel ports North-western ports North-eastern ports Humber ports Other ports on east coast Other English ports Total from England and Wales Ports on east coast of Scotland Ports on west coast of Scotland Total from Scotland Irish ports Total from United Kingdom 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. Tons. 114,881 193,704 502,908 53,783 1,145 2,990 Tons. 100,2(2 143,925 308,042 25,154 15,246 7,117 Tons. 9,148 34,372 19,874 4,507 8,655 2,244 Tons. 6,853 34,804 13,817 3,001 1,551 984 869,411 599,686 78,800 61,010 48,971 148,726 27,674 203,672 8,107 22,696 4,803 19,376 > 197,697 231,346 30,803 24,179 — — 2,046 1,694 1,067,108 831,032 111,649 86,883 The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— March 1917. March 1918. Tons. Tons. To ports in England and Wales ...... Scotland.......... Ireland .......... 671,326 ... 435,631 38,105 ... 19,107 357,677 ... 376,294 _______________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—With pitch quoted this week in London at 50s. to 55s., the average is maintained, no matter how indi- vidual transactions may be arranged in the course of negotiations. The absence of any settled market accounts for divergencies, some of which were on the easy side about a week ago. The tone is strong again, helped by enquiries for delivery next season. No fixtures are reported in the freight market this week. Prices in the provinces are firm, ranging from 22s. to 23s. in Glasgow to 26s. to 28s. f.o.b. east coast. The Manchester price is steady at 25s. Crude tar is unchanged, and the business in this by-product appears to have a good deal of sameness about it of late. All the prepared tar required for road use is not forthcoming, inasmuch as official licences are not being granted for the full quantities, and consequently current tenders are uncertain of fulfilment. As indi- cating contract prices, it may be mentioned that the Hampton Court Gas Company, and Messrs. T. Crow and Sons have contracted to supply refined tar (at 4|d. and 4|d. per gallon respectively) to the Twickenham Urban District Council. Benzol, 50 per cent., is fractionally dearer in the north at Is. 4d. to Is. 5d. naked, but otherwise the market position of this by-product is unchanged. Solvent naphtha declined of late in some of the provincial areas, and the supplies even overran the demand, whereas in London the tone was fairly good, and the current quotation there stands at 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. Heavy naphtha is inclined to be dull, and crude naphthalenes are not going very well. The refined sort tends to accumulate, owing largely to the difficulty which arose in the export trade. The consequence of this reflected itself in the transactions on home account- Cresylic is quiet, and aniline oil unchanged. Quotations are appendedCrude tar : London, 32s. 6d. to 35s.; Mid- lands, 27s. to 29s ; North, 28s. to 30s. per ton ex gasworks, Pitch : London, 50s. to 55s.; east coast, 26s. to 28s. f.o.b.; Liverpool, 22s.; west coast, 22s. to 24s. f.a.s. Benzol: London, 90 per cent. Is. 0|d. naked; North, 10| to Hid., 50 per cent., Is. 4d. to Is. 5d., naked. Solvent naphtha : Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d.; North, 2s. 9d. to 3s.; 90-160 per cent, naked, London, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d.; North, 4s. to 4s. 3d. Crude naphtha : Naked, 30 per cent., 8|d. to 8^d ; North, 6^d. to 6|d. Refined naphtha- lene, £30 to £32; salts, 80s. to 90s. Toluol: Naked, London, 2s. 4d.; North, 2s. 3d. Creosote : Naked, London,. 4|d. ; North, 4d. to 4|d. Carbolic acid: Crude, 60 per cent.,. London, 3s. 6d. Sulphate of Ammonia. — Home trade April-May £16 7s. 6d. delivered net cash, or 10s. less at works. The current demand is pressing owing to the advance of the season. No alteration of price is likely at present, but the recent meeting may influence an advance for later business. ______________________ Dr. A. Dick has been appointed certifying surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Acts for Bristol. Vacancies at Motherwell and Newton Abbot are notified. UTILISING ANTHRACITE CULM.* By M. S. Hachita. In order to stop all wastage of fuel, to prevent leakage of steam and to utilise a by-product that was previously considered as waste, the Lehigh Valley Coal Company has perfected a method by which the anthracite culm mixed with bituminous coal can be utilised as a com- mercial fuel. The use of this mixture has brought out another factor heretofore unthought of—viz., that the* evaporative power of this fuel does not depend entirely on the heat content of the coal, but directly upon the mechanics of a more complete combustion. This is clearly shown by the results of tests made on stationary boilers and on locomotives. The culm, slush or silt which passes through a screen of i or in. mesh is so fine that hitherto it was con- sidered as a useless by-product, except in some instances where it is used as packing to support the roof, or, to a small extent, in making briquettes. This material contains approximately 80 per cent, of combustible matter. It therefore has a fuel value approximately equal to that of commercial anthracite. In 1913 the Lehigh Valley Coal Company conducted a series of experiments at its Spring Brook boiler plant, near Hazleton, Penn., with four cylindrical boilers, 33 in. m diameter and 30 ft. long; one smoke stack, 33 in. in diameter and 33 ft. high; a total grate area of 132 sq. ft., having an air space of 19’8 sq. ft., or 15 per cent, of the total area. The pressure of the steam was maintained at 60 lb. throughout the tests. Forced draught was produced by means of a small fan, with a pressure of 4-in. water gauge. The temperatures of the feed water and air were recorded; that of the stack averaged 750 degs. Fahr. The amount of CO2 in the flue gases was determined by the Orsat apparatus. In this test the fuel consisted of culm and bituminous coal. These were weighed on a platform balance before being fired, and the ashes were weighed after each test. During four days the fuel was fired in alternate layers of soft coal and culm, also a thorough mixture of both fuels in various proportions. This was soon discovered to be the better method, and it was therefore used throughout the tests. Tables I. and II. show the analyses of the fuels used in the tests and also of the resulting ashes. Table I.—Analyses of Fuel. Hygro. Vola- Car- moist. Moist, tile. bon. Ash. B.T.U. Coking coal ......... 0’0 ...0*71...24‘48...60'07...14*74...13,005 Non-coking coal .... 4*90...2*14...25*06...62’45..10*35...13,210 Culm .................. 8’50...1’85... 4’40...68'70...25’05...10,772 Spring Brook boiler fuel ................ 0’0 ...3'25 .. 2'99.. 75'80...17'96...11,304 Table II—.Analyses of Ashes. “A.” Coking coal........... “ B ” Non-coking coal ..... “C33 Culm ................ “D” Anthracite boiler fuel... “A” 30 p.c.—“C” 70 p.c., run-of-mine............. “A” 50 p.c.—“C” 50 p.c., run-of-mine............ “A” 70 p.c.—“C” 30 p.c., run-of-mine............. “ A” 30 p.c. pulverised ) ... “C”30pc. J....