902 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 3, 1918. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ is to be taken of the industrial situation that is expected to arise, there may be serious objections to curtailing power developments at such a time. There _________________ _______________________ is certainly a great deal in this argument. It applies throughout to many of the proposed revolutionary changes now threatening. The Ministry of Recon- struction is endeavouring to take time by the forelock in anticipating the country’s needs after the war. It will be an anxious and trying time, this passage from war to peace conditions. Is it, therefore, wise to introduce more complexities than will naturally arise ? If peace should confront us simultaneously with a General Election, Home Rule all round, remodelling of the Second Chamber, com- pulsory decimal system, and a score or so of other innovations now in the air, the atmosphere will certainly not be congenial for the energetic prosecu- tion of trade and industry. But this is digressing. Mr. Hatton estimates that the capital sum (based upon pre-war cost of plant) required to save 55,000,000 tons of coal per annum, will be £210,000,000 for the mere cost of making the power supply available, without taking into account the enormous capital cost of the plant necessary to take this supply. This cost could scarcely be expected to be borne by the manufactories except by gradual outlays extending over many years, and in this connection it is worth while to remember that the power companies in the north-east coast area have been 16 years attaining their present position of supplying one-fifth of the present output of elec- tricity for the whole country ; and this applies to an area exceptionally favoured in its coal and coke pro- duction and in its shipbuilding and other industries. Based upon practical experience afforded by this area, it would seem impossible for the expectations of the Sub-Committee to be realised within at least a generation. In short, Mr. Hatton seems to prove that the whole report of the Coal Conservation Sub-Committee is based upon the fallacy of assuming that the con- ditions in the north-east coast area are applicable to the rest of the country. He pleads frankly for allowing this question to develop naturally upon economic principles, thus securing that continued progress in fuel economy which has hitherto been maintained. In connection with this subject it is noteworthy that municipal authorities have already been awakened to the possibilities of the situation. ________ _______ Mr. Furness, borough electrical engineer of Black- pool, for example, has just prepared a preliminary report on the conditions of supply in that area. Within a radius of seven miles there are at least seven electric power stations, with a total plant capacity of about 15,000-horse power. Mr. Furness makes the practical suggestion that a conference should be held to consider a scheme of centralisation ; and the example might well be taken by local authorities in other areas. It is upon lines such as this that a great deal might be done to remedy existing defects arising from parochial systems of power supply. __________________________________________________ PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE,_________________ HOUSE OF COMMONS.—April 29. Coal Miners. Mr. Aneurin Williams asked the Under-Secretary for War whether coal miners who early in the war volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps, and were afterwards placed in Class W and returned to their civil employment, were now being called up again and drafted into the infantry; whether these men, owing\ to their age and employment, might in many cases have remained in civil employment all the time had they so wished ; whether he was aware that they are now drafted into*the infantry while other men of their age are left in civil employment; and whether he would arrange to leave them in civil employment or in the service for which they originally volunteered. The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Mac- pherson) replied that men physically fit for service in a combatant unit, and of suitable age, were required for duty with such units. Fit men who under other cir- cumstances had volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps- could not be excepted from the rule. Mr. Williams asked whether the Under-Secretary for War was aware that some of these men were 47 years of age, and were being treated more severely than conscripts. Mr. Macpherson said he was not aware of it. If specific cases were submitted he would consider each on its merits. _______ May 2. Nitrogen from the Air. Mr. Kellaway, Parliamentary Secretary to Munitions, answering Sir W. Beale, said:—The Haber process for fixing nitrogen in the form of ammonia had not yet been used by British manufacturers for actual production, the research work having only recently reached a practicable stage. Information of value to those desiring to erect a large Haber plant could be communicated confidentially if proposals for the erection of a plant were put forward and the financial arrangements approved by the Treasury. Economising Transport. Mr. Bonar Law, in a written reply to questions by Mr. Herbert Samuel as to the reports of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, stated that the Admiralty was in full sympathy with the policy of using Scotch or other local coals with a view to economising transport, so far as possible without detriment to the Fleet, and would continue to effect such economies wherever possible. Arrangemerfts had been made with the Coal Exports Com- mittee whereby the Admiralty had first call (in preference to export) on all the best Scotch navigation coals. The Controller of Coal Mines had also been asked whether the production of this coal could be increased, and to what extent. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 2. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Conditions in the Scotch coal trade continue very active, and there is still a decided shortage of all classes of fuel. Supplies for home markets are difficult to regulate, and many consumers are short of their requirement. Export tonnage has been more plentiful of late, and if deliveries were a little easier the returns would show a substantial rise. Business in the West of Scotland district shows no alteration. Shipments for the week amounted to 101,216 tons compared with 96,078 in the preceding week and 103,727 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current 1 ■ 1 i L’st week’s Last year’s prices. { prices. prices. Steam coal 27/6 1 27/6 18/ -24/ Ell 26/6-28/ j 26/6-28/ 19/ -21/6 Splint 28/ -30/ | 28/ -30/ 18/ -31/ Treble nuts 23/ ! 23 / 23/6 Double do 22/ i 221 22/ Single do 21/ ! 21/ 20/ IRON. The pressure in all departments of the Scotch iron trade is unabated. In pig iron there is no easing off in the stringent conditions which have characterised proceedings for a long time back, and makers have frequently to split deliveries in order to cover the more insistent demands. Home prices are unchanged, while export is firm, though practically nothing is doing in the latter department. Approximate quotations Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at 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. psr ton. Makers of manufactured iron are finding it almost impossible to make up arrears of deliveries. Orders increase in number, and with the shortage of labour and raw material, producers are in an unenviable po-ition. Malleable iron makers have a constant call for marked bars, with special qualities, too, in large demand. The requirements for home use are of such magnitude that practically nothing is available for export, even if shipping permits were procurable. Black sheet makers are doing next to nothing in ordinary mercantile work, as outputs are almost entirely absorbed by naval and military necessities. Engineers and boiler- makers are very busy, and good orders are also going through for wrought iron pipes. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. . Collieries in the Lothians continue active, with a steady outlet for. outputs. Shipments 'were 17,720 tons against 20,170 in the preceding week and 20,464 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 L’st week’s prices. prices. 26/6 26/6 25/6 25/6 23/ 23/ 22/ 22/ 21/ 21/ Last year’s prices 23/ -23/6 21/ 23/ 21/ 19/6 Fifeshire collieries have plenty of good orders on hand, both for local consumption and export. Clearances for the week amounted to 44,310 tons against 35,793 in the pre- ceding week and 19,154 tons in the same week last year. Prices f o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Current prices. 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 28/ 24/ 23/ 22/ 2!/ L’st week’s prices. 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 28/ 24/ ' 23/ 22/ 21/ Last year’s prices. 30/ 25/ 25/ 20/ 24/ 22/ 19/ Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do ________ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports last week were 163,246 tons compared with 152,041 in the preceding week, and 143,345 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Negotiations have recently taken place among the Fife and Lothian coal masters, with a view to increasing prices of fuel exported to neutral countries. As a result it has been decided that all Fife coal and washed materials, with the exception of third class Fife coal, will be increased by 2s. 6d. per ton over the prices stipulated for France and Italy, and this increase is also applicable to Lothian large coal and washed materials, with the exception of second class Lothian large coal. In the meantime no increase has been decided on for West of Scotland coal. The Controller of Mines has been advised of the action taken. _________________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. The market still “booms.” Practically every c lliery in Northumberland and Durham is working up to its fullest capacity of output in an endeavour to cope with the big demand for fuel for Government, allied, home and neutral destinations. They are finding that it cannot be done, and the neutrals are having to go exceedingly short and are now being quoted higher prices for their requirements. There is exceedingly little surplus of coal or coke available for the satisfaction of neutral needs over the first half of May, and the “ squeeze” for supplies does not show much sign of being eased even after Whitsuntide is passed by. At present, those collieries which normally produce chiefly for export find their production taken up ahfiost exclusively for official and home accounts. Requisitioned tonnage is coming forward in quite adequate volume, and no appre- hensions on this matter are felt with reference to the immediate future—excepting that some of the gas-coal collieries are a little bit “ shaky ” as to their forward posi- tion with reference to cargo carriers. Just now, at least, there is no need for any panic, and the market is very firm and with a strong undertone. A few small lots of steams and gas sorts have been sold for neutral consumption at prices which show an advance of 2s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers are moving off steadily, mainly for the supply of requisi- tioned vessels. Coking coals, households, and smithies are all well absorbed on inland account, and high prices are being asked from foreign customers. Coke, too, is very well taken up, mainly for home manufacturers. The con- tract to supply the Norwegian State Railways with 16,000 tons of Northumberland and/or Durham best steams for delivery to stipulated ports over June and July has been given to a Newcastle exporting firm at the scheduled minimum prices, plus the usual 5 per cent, commission to merchants. This week, there has been a general advance in scheduled top prices by 2s. 6d per ton. The lower prices, e.g., 30s. for best Blyth steams, are fixed and invariable, and apply to sales . for France, Italy, British possessions and protectorates and to coaling stations therein, excepting in the case of bunkers the prices of which are fixed regardless of their destination, whether home, allied, or foreign (in the case of Durham bunkers, ordinaries are quoted at 29s , bests at 30s., and specials at from 32s. 6d. to 35s., a splitting up which accounts for the apparently wide range of the quotation given below) ; all coal for shipment as cargo to other destinations abroad or for the manufacture of patent fuel for such destinations is quoted at the higher prices, e.g., 35s. for best Blyth steams ; supplies for home consumers—save for domestic purposes— are at the higher rates ; and foundry and blastfurnace cokes follow the general rules as to coal. Gas coke is out- side the scheduled arrangement. The present advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in all sorts of fuel constitutes the first occasion on which it has been found justifiable to raise prices above the scheduled minimum figures since these latter were .fixed; the advance is largely nominal, inasmuch as very little fuel is obtainable—for neutrals, at all events —at any price at present. Later. —Best Blyth steams are stated to have been sold somewhat extensively to neutrals for forward loading as far ahead as July at 35s. per ton, but further orders at that price have been declined. Some collieries are quoting higher prices ; others, which are likely to be fully engaged on production of official account, are refusing to quote. Lambton steams are listed at up to 40s. per ton, 7s. 6d. above the minimum schedule. Foundry and blastfurnace cokes have been sold to neutrals at 50s. per ton. The calorific value of steam smalls seems to have been re-discovered, and there is quite a run on this hitherto- despised fuel. It appears pretty evident that the increase in scheduled prices is not to apply to home consumers, but solely to neutrals.^ Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current (L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. j prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ -35/ ! 30/ -32/6 30/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 29/6-34/6 29/6-32/ 27/ -28/ Secondary, Blyths 25/6-30/6 ! 25/6-28/ 21/ -22/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 27/ -32/ 27/ -29 6 22/6 Unscreened ....; 23 6-30/ i 23/6-27/6 18/ -20/ Small, Blyths ! 20/ -25/ : 20/ -22/6 i 18/6-21/ 18/ Do. Tynes 18/6-23/6 16/ -17/ Do. specials ; 20,6-25/6 ! 20/6-23/ 19/ -20/ Other sorts:— Smithies j 1 25/ -33/6 i 25/ -33/6 20/ -21/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside)! 25/ -30/ 25/ -27/6 26/ Secondary gas coals; (Pelaw Main or similar) 23/6-28,6 23/6-26/ 17/ -19/ Special gas coals 26/6-31 6 26/6-29/ 30/ -31/ Unscreened bunkers, | Durhams; 29/ -35/ 26/6-32,6 j 16/6-20/ Do. do. Northumbrians! 29/ -30/ Coking coals........... 24/ -30/ Do. smalls....| 24/ -30/ House coals ..........j 28/6-35/ Coke, foundry ..........: 42/6-50/ Do. blast-furnace......; 42/6-50/ Do. gas ..............| 35/ -40/ 26/6-27/6 I 24/ -27/6 i 24/ -27/6 ! 28 6-32,6 ! 42/6-45/ ; 37/6-40/ 42/6-45/ j 37/6 35/ -40/ 30/ -32/ 18/ -20/ 48/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 27/6-30/ Sunderland. COAL. The market is strong, but tonnage supplies are irregular. Bunkers have a fairly active tone. No change in smithies is reported, but coking coal and households are firmer. Foundry and blastfurnace coke has been sold to neutrals at an advance of 5s. Gas coke is unchanged. M i d d I esbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel market is very strong, with supply anything but as good as could be wished. With tonnage coming forward satisfactorily, there is very considerable activity in ship- ments, and large general enquiry from neutral sources is reported, demand being mainly from Scandinavia. Any coal to spare for neutrals readily realises the 2s. 6d. increase over scheduled minimum price With the exception of steam smalls, which are still depressed, all Durham coals are in good request. Durham bankers of good quality now command 30s. Coking coals, both unscreened and small, are in strong demand. Coke for domestic use is sought. Average blastfurnace kind is 33s. at the ovens, low-phosphorus quality 35s. 6d. at the ovens, and foundry descriptions 38s for home use. For shipment to neutrals, producers suggest a 5s. advance over the minimum schedule, and business is slow. IRON. On the whole, the situation in the Cleveland iron trade is more favourable than for some time past. The position as regards trucks shows marked improvement. Though wagons are still far from abundant, the supply has increased sufficiently to enable substantial quantities of iron to be railed to home customers, many of whom were threatened with partial stoppage owing to difficulties of transport of pig. Cleveland iron is quite plentiful, and with May allocations on a very liberal scale to home consumers, deliveries over the month promise to be heavy. Export trade is still very limited. For home consumption, No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s.; and for shipment to France and Italy, these qualities are 114s.; whilst No. 1 is 99s. for home use, and 119s. for export to the Allies. Supplemented by the now large output of basic iron, supply of east coast haematite is not only sufficient to adequately meet essential requirements, but to leave a fair surplus available for export. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d for home use, and 147s. 6d. for ship-