May 10, 1918. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 951 Current quotations. 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 Do. peas „ 17/6 17/6 25/ 15/ Buckhill best coal at pit... 25/ 22/6 Do. double-scmed 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/ Pest 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/ trucks is now being felt. There is a good deal of complaint of shortage of trucks, and the position is aggravated by the delay that is taking place on both the outward and return journey. Instances are not uncommon of six weeks being taken between the West Riding and the South of England and back. There is also complaint of the difficulty of tracing trucks taken by the railway companies without advising the owners. Supplies of house coal are far from adequate to meet requirements, and collieries have a difficult task in sharing out the output. While economy is urged as a duty and enforced by shortage, the authorities still insist upon the full tonnage for London. In the local markets, mer- chants are very anxious as to the present and future. Stocks are cleared, and there does not seem to be any possibility of getting fresh stocks for next winter, as the current demand is far from satisfied. Gas authorities are just now concerned about the renewal of contracts. So far as business has been done, prices and qualities remain the same, but in nearly all cases sellers have inserted a clause protecting them against responsibility for full delivery, and contracts are generally subject to any action by the Coal Controller in regard to supplies. Manufacturing fuels are very scarce, particularly good quality rough slacks and coking smalls. Throughout the industrial areas of West Yorkshire there is very little fuel in reserve, and day-to-day deliveries are not sufficient to keep the works going. There is a great outcry for coking smalls, and owing to the general shortage of coal it is less easy to keep the ovens in full work by crushing large coal and nuts. The output of coke is hardly sufficient on account of the maximum yield not being possible for this reason. Pit prices are nominal. Current pit prices. ments are pressing, and, as favourable weather conditions facilitate transport, larger quantities than usual are required. In addition, great use is found for the best Yorkshire steam coal in the smaller vessels, and home industrial demands increase rather than otherwise. There has been next to no surplus coal for some months. Conse- quently a shrinkage in arrivals, even though comparatively small, makes its effect felt almost immediately. Vessels which would otherwise have come to Hull have had to be sent elsewhere to load to relieve the difficulty. Under the circumstances, very little neutral business can be done, and that at advancing prices. Chesterfield. COAL. The market is strong, with an increasing demand for every class of coal. Fuel for domestic use is scarce all round, and orders, which are much in arrear, are not likely to be cleared off at any early date. The reduction of out- put of coal consequent upon the combing-out process is beginning to be seriously felt. Coal for manufacturing purposes is in urgent demand, and consumers are expe- riencing increasing difficulty in obtaining such supplies as they sorely need. Cobbles and nuts continue in the greatest request for gas producers, and deliveries are very erratic. Slack for boiler firing is in steady request, with supplies less plentiful. The various railway companies are short of locomotive coal, and they are pressing collieries to increase their deliveries wherever possible. The same may be said with regard to gas companies’ requirements of gas coal, supplies of which are difficult to secure in adequate quantities. The export trade is unchanged. Coke of every quality is in active demand. IRON. Great activity characterises every branch of the trade. IRON. The west coast haematite pig iron trade remains in a firm condition. Requirements are sufficient to absorb all the low phosphorus and ordinary iron that can be smelted. No additional plant has yet been put into operation, but ________ the prospects for increasing the output are now said to be very much brighter. Important users in Scotland and the Midlands are taking the bulk of the make of low phosphorus iron, and a big proportion of the ordinary iron is reserved for the steelworks in the district. The iron at present in stock in Cumberland storing yards now only amounts to 430 tons. Prices are still at the Government maximum. The iron ore industry is very busy, all the mines in the district between Cleator Moor and Millom being at work. _________________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. The warmer weather has net diminished the number of household orders passing, partly by the fact that stocks laid in for the winter are consumed and supplies for current needs are required, and also, if opportunity is given, the customer is again anxious to see some stored away. Requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export are maintained, the Government demand being increasingly heavy for present conditions. On the other hand, the restricted supplies now available are insufficient to go round, and difficulty is found in providing for some of the steamers in port. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade for household fuel vessels are rather easier to obtain than some little time ago; but coal is more difficult, and there is no doubt that the merchant across the water has very scanty stocks. In slacks and small fuel of all descriptions, there is scarcely enough to supply the daily needs. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal Current L’st week’s'Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 21/6-22/6 21/6-22 6 20/ -21/ ________ Wallsend & London best 21/ -21,6 21/ -21/6 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 21/ -21.6 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/ 20/ -21/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 20 6-22 6 20/6 22 '6 19/ -20/ Screened gas coal 18/ -18,6 18/ -18,6 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Piicesatpit: 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 15/6-16/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Bost rough slacks 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ ' Small do 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 12/ —13/ Coking smalls Coke- Price at ovens 12/6-13/6 Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 Nottingham. COAL. With the combing-out of miners, a reduction in the output of collieries is beginning to have its effect, and the position is consequently less satisfactory than in April. While the tone in the domestic fuel branch continues active, merchants are experiencing more difficulty in obtaining supplies of most grad s of households. As a matter of fact the tonnage they are now receiving is not sufficient to cover current orders, and delay in satisfying the requirements of their customers is inevitable. Never- theless, there is a prospect of the situation becoming easier, and improvement in the weather will tend to lessen public consumption. The demand for all classes of steam coal continues heavy. War work requirements absorb a sub- stantial proportion of the output, and the remaining tonnage is not sufficient to carry out all contract obliga- tions. Slacks generally are in good request, with a market shortage of coking grades. Gas coal and coke find a ready market, the full output of which is quickly disposed of. Prices at pithead. 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 Last year’s prices. prices. 23/6-24/6 21/ -22/ 25/ -26/ 25/6 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 24'6-25/ 24/6 20/6 18/ 23/ -24/ 23/ upwds 20/6 18/ 30/ 24/6-25/6 18/6 16/ 17/6 15/ 16/6 14/ _________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a fair attendance on ’Change on Tuesday, but scarcely a representative with any fuel for sale to be found. The demand for manufacturing fuel of all grades keeps very keen, contracts absorbing the available supply. Shipments at Partington continue to improve. Prices remain as below :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). * House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... 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 Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds Barnsley. COAL. The trouble due to the reduced output is as great as ever, and business has to be conducted on such lines as are possible under the existing conditions. There appears to be little hope in the near future of any particular improve- ment being effected, owing to the fact that, apart from the actual departure of miners for military service, there is a feeling of unrest amongst the younger workers, whose patriotism is of an undoubted character. The collieries are unable to adopt plans for dealing with the situation in an effective manner, owing to the varying calls of the Con- troller. Again, the Control Committee are active in regard to distribution, which tends to contribute to the uncertainty regarding supplies. Gas coal supplies in particular are subjected to a good deal of interference, and a watchful eye is being directed against the accumulation of any stock at the works. It is impossible to alter the position. Screened fuel is very difficult to obtain, owing to the demand which exists for this class of coal for other and more urgent purposes. It is useless to try and obtain this in the open market. The supply of all kinds of steam coal for ordinary purposes is still subjected to the maximum requirements of the Admiralty and munition works being met. Export needs are rather of a restricted character. Large steams are more difficult to procure, and the tonnage required for the needs indicated is of an extensive character in propor- tion to the output. Steam nuts are again almost entirely reserved for the munition works, and all classes of small steam coal are very short. The difficulty in regard to si cks for coke-making is still very great. The ovens can hardly be kept in full operation, and the demand for furnace coke is such that an even larger output is necessary to fully meet the demand. The enquiry for house coal continues brisk, and supplies are inadequate to meet the demands upon the merchants, though the public are showing more rush for supplies than was expected. Prices at pit. Hand-picked brights ...... Good house coals __....... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/ 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/ 17 6-18/ 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/ Last year’s prices. 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 n/ ________ ________ Leicestershire. COAL. Orders from every quarter to replenish depleted stocks and to ensure reserves for contingencies are increasing, while there is a continuous falling-off in the output. The returns show that there is hardly a single colliery turning out more than two-thirds of the normal tonnage, and, at the same time, the cold weather keeps the domestic consump- tion at the great centres of population at a much higher level than anticipated. The calling up of miners leads to lost and broken time As soon as a man