May 24, 1918.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1055

response to the urgent appeal of the Coal Controller, com-
municated to the miners by Mr. William Straker, the men
made a good restart on Tuesday instead of taking two days
off. Tenders to supply the Norwegian State Railway with
16 000 tons of Northumberland and or Durham best steams
delivered at stipulated ports over July-August have been
duly forwarded, and probably will give a bit of a shock to
the Department, being- based, it is said, on from 50s. to
52s. 6d. per ton for D.C.B.’s, as compared with the 32s. 6d.
at which recent supplies were quoted, and 35s. actually
paid in respect of the last contract entered into.

Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment.

| Current

^team coals ;—	i prices.

Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ...: 30/ -50/

Do. Tynes (Bowers,<fcc.); 29/6-50/
Secondary, Blyths ....; 25/6—45/

Do. Tynes (Hastings'

or West Hartleys) ...; 27/ -45/
Unscreened _____..........;	23/6 30/

Small, Blyths ........1 20/ -25/

Do. Tynes...........| 18/6-23/6

Do. specials ........• 20 6-25/6
Other sorts:—	l

Smithies...............j 25/ -33/6

Best gas coals (New|

Pelton or Holmside) | 25/ -35/
Secondary gas coals ■

(Pelaw Main or similar); 23/6-30/

Special gas coals ......; 26/6-35/
Unscreened bunkers, i

Durhams' 26 6-35/

Do. do.	I

Northumbrians; 26/6—37/6

Coking coals..........' 24/ —30/
Do. smalls ....j 24/ -30/

House coals ..........j 28.6-35/

..............

Coke, foundry ..........; 42/6-50/
Do. blast-furnace......! 42/6-50/
Do. gas .................'	35/ -40/

L’stweek’s	[Last year's
prices.	! prices.
30' -50/	i 30/
29/6-40/	; 28/ -30/
25/6-30/6	22/ -23/
27/ -32/	22/6-23/
23 6-30/	18/ -20/
20/ -25/	18
18/6-23/6	16/ -17/
20,6-25/6	19/ -20/
25/ -33/6	21/
25/ -35/	_________	________  25/ -26/
23/6-30/	17/6-19/
26 6-35 6	30/ -31/
26/6-35/ i	16 6-19/
26/6-30/ J	18! -20/
24/ -30/ |	18/ -20/
24/ -30/	16/ -18/
28/6-35/ !	27/6-30/
42/6-50/ ]	40/ -42 6
42/6-50/ i	40/
35/ -40/ |	30/ -32/

house coal can be easily disposed of in other directions. No
outside business is being accepted, and the only consign-
ments sent away by rail are for users in the district.
Bunkers are very steady. The shipping trade is very busy
and the demand for all sorts for the Irish market is being
well maintained. House coal for export is rather weaker,
There has been no alteration in either local orcoastwise
quotations. Best sorts at the pits are obtainable at from
25s. to 25s 1( d. per ton, with best washed n'<ts at from
23s. 6d. to 24s. 2d. per ton. Works fuel is 22s. 6d. per ton,
and best coal for export is 22s. per ton f.o.b. Best house
coal delivered is Is. 7d. per cwt. or from 30s. to 30s. lOd.
per ton.

IRON.

A very firm tone continues to prevail in the haematite pig
iron trade in the district between Mary port and Carnforth.
The situation is improving, and there is now some reason-
able hope of a slight increase in iron production shortly.
Prices are very firmly maintained at the Government maxi-
mum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at
127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with warrants at cash at 115s.
per ton. Special iron is 140s per ton, and semi-special iron
is quoted at 135s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. The market for ferro-
manganese is very strong. The home quotation is at
<£26 10s. per ton, and from .£60 to £62 is quoted for export.
Stocks are low. The imports of foreign iron ore for last
week amounted to 5,180 tons.

Prices at pit.

	Current L’stweek’s	Last year’s
House coals:—	prices. 1 prices.	prices.
Best Silkstone 		23/ -24 6 I 23/ -24'6 21/ —21/6 ■ 21/ -216	20/ -22/
Best Barnsley softs			18/6-19/
Secondary do.			19/ -20/ , 19/ -20/	17/ -17/6
Best house nuts 		18/6-19 6 i 18/6-19 6	16/ -17/
Secondary do	  Steam coals:—	18/ -18 6 i 18/ -18/6	15/6-16/
Best hard coals		20/ -21/ ' 20/ -21/	17/6-18/6
Secondary do		19/ -20/ i 19/ -20/	16/6-17/6
Best washed nuts		18,6-19/6 ; 18/6-19/6 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9	! 16/3-16/6
Secondary do			! 15 6-16/3
Best slack 			12/6-13/
Secondary do	  Gas coals:—	12/ -13.6 . 12/ -13/6	10/6—11/
Screened gas coals 		19/ -19 6 19/ -19/6 i	16/6-17/6
Unscreened do		18/ -18/6 | 18/ -18 6 1	15/6-16/6
Gas nuts		18 6 i 18 6	16/
Furnace coke			32/	32/ j	25/8

South-West Lancashire.

COAL.

Two days holiday at the pits was observed in this
district, in some cases Saturday and Monday being
selected, but in the majority Monday and Tuesday, and
there was a fair turn-up of men when work was resumed.
The advent of summer weather has made no difference to
the volume of household orders, and the deliveries from
the collieries are not coping with them. No stocking is in
progress yet at the wharves, the fuel that comes to hand
going direct to the consumer. As regards shipping, the
demand for steam coal for ordinary bunkering and export,
as well as for Admiralty account, is strongly maintained.
As supplies were short before the holidays, the position is
now becoming very difficult. A number of steamers have
been kept waiting for coal, and in view of the loss of output
through the holidays and further comb-out of miners, the
prospect is not encouraging. Prices are based on full
schedule rates. A few gas companies are issuing advertise-
ments for contracts, but generally it is recognised that the
present suppliers will continue. Steam-raising fuels of all
descriptions continue in keen demand, the supply being
scarcely up to present needs.

Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated).

Leeds.

COAL.

The position is unaltered, except such as is inevitably
caused by the stoppage of the pits for Whitsuntide. On
the average the pits took two days holiday, and the market
being already depleted of supplies, the effect of the
stoppage is to accentuate the general shortage of coal,
which is being severely felt in every direction. There was
no meeting of the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday,
and every little business has been done as has been possible
this week. The demand for every sort, especially house
coal, manufacturing fuel, and coking smalls, is practically
unlimited, but the collieries generally are in arrears with
old orders, and are sending out reduced quantities, and
only in exceptional cases is there anything available for
fresh business. Much concern is felt as to the future, as
more men are still to be withdrawn from the mines, and
there is every prospect of the present acute scarcity of
supplies continuing throughout the summer. Values are
very largely nominal.

Current pit prices.

Sunderland.

COAL.

As the holiday stoppage reduced' supplies, the market
is very strong. Neutral buyers are enquiring freely, and
there is no doubt a good business could be done if we had
the coals to spare, but almost the entire supply is now
absorbed on home and Government requisition account.
Only a very small fraction is left for export to neutrals.
Large consignments of gas and coking coal continue to go
forward by rail to Yorkshire, the west coast and London.
The demand for manufacturing qualities is unabated.
Bunkers, too, are in good request, and better qualities
readily realise 30s. Coke is firm with values stiffly held.
Apart from the advance to neutrals, schedule quotations are
unaltered.

Middlesbrough-on-Tees.

COAL.

The fuel market is very strong, with a further upward
tendency in prices for neutrals. There is a good deal of
activity in better sorts of bunker coal, but inferior kinds
are dull. For good quality the quotation is in the neigh-
bourhood of 30s. Coke keeps in heavy request, both on
home and foreign account, and supply is hardly adequate.
For home consumption foundry description is 38s.; average
blastfurnace kind, 33s. at the ovens; and low phosphorus

quality, 35s. 6d. at the ovens; whilst for shipment to	__________________

neutrals, 50s is named for both foundry and furnace coke.

IRON.

Opportunity for transaction of new home sales of Cleve-
land foundry iron are few, as the May allocations are
placed, but pressure for delivery is unabated. Home
demand for Cleveland forge iron is as pronounced as ever,
and this quality, which does not come under the allocation
system, readily realises the fixed maximum figure for early
and forward delivery. Consumers are anxious to place
substantial forward orders, but makers are still reluctant
to commit themselves ahead to any great extent. Foreign
business is quiet. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland
pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s., and
No. 1 is 99s.; and for shipment to France and Italy, No. 3
and the lower qualities are quoted 114s.; and No. 1 is 119s.
Production of east coast haematite is well maintained.

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/ -25/
16/
15/
14/

_________________

Cumberland.

Mary port.

COAL.

The market continues in a very firm and active condition.
A dispute occurred at Lowca last week and the colliery was
idle fully six days before a settlement was reached. Land-
sale has fallen off considerably since the beginning of the
month, and business at the depots is now quieter than it
has been this year. In all other departments, however,
the demand for fuel is very strong, and any surplus of
_________________________________________________

South Lancashire and Cheshire.
COAL.

Owing to the holidays there was only a small attendance
on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Practically
no business was done. The conditions continue to be
similar to those reported last week with regard to house
coal and manufacturing fuel. Prices generally are as
below:—

Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated).

Last year's
prices.

22/ -23/
19 6-21/
18/ -18/6
17/6-18/ ‘
25/ -26/
16/ upwds

14/6 upwds

* As per official list.

House coal:—	Current-	L’st week's Last year’s	
■Prices at pit (London) :	prices.	prices.	j prices.
Haigh Moor selected ...	21/ -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	l 17/ -18/
House nuts 		18 '6-19 6	18/6-19,6	1 16/ -17/
Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best		25,6-26/  24/ -25/	25,6-26/	I  ! 23/ -24/
Silkstone best 			24/ -25/	I 22/ -23/
Do. house 		23/ -24/	23/ -24/  20/6-22/6	j 20/ -21/
Other qualities		20 6 22 6		19/ -20/
Gas coal:—  Prices at pit:  Screened gas coal		18/ -18,6	18/ -18/6	16/ -17/
Gas nuts		17/ -18/	17/ -18/	15/6-16/6
Unscreened gas coal ...	16/6-17/6	16/6-17/6	15/ -16/
Other sorts:—  Prices at pit: Washed nuts		18/6-19/6	18/6-19/6	17/ -18/
Large double-screened engine nuts 		17/6-18/6	17/6-18/6	16/ -17/
Small nuts		16/6-17/6	16/6-17/6	15/ -16/
Rough unscreened engine coal		16/6-17/6	16/6-17/6	15/ -16/
Bost rough slacks		15/6-16/6	15/6-16/6	14/ -15/
Small do		13/6-14/6	13/6-14/6	12/ -13/
Coking smalls 		14/ -15/	14/ -15/	12/6-13/6
Coke:—  Price at ovens  Furnace coke 		32/	32/	25/8

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 I

L'st week’s
prices.

24'6
22/ -23/
20/6-21/
20/-20/6
__*

ijl8/6upwds
117/ upwds

Current quotations.

Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Seconds at pit 	  Washed nuts at pit	  Dg. smalls „ 	  Do. peas „ 	  Buckhill best coal at pit...  Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit ...... Oughterside best coal at pit 	  Oughterside best washed nuts at pit	  St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit	  St. Helens best house nuts at pit 	  EestCumberl'nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 	  Best works fuel	  Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works 		Current prices.  25/10  24/2  23/4  23/4  19/2  17/6 25/  23/6  25/  23/6  25/  23/6  22/  20/  31/  31/  22/6  22/6  21/6 ___________________________________________________________	L’st week’s prices.  25/10 24/2 23/4 23/4 19/2 17/6  •	25/  • 23,6  25/  23 6  25/  23/6  22/ 20/ 31/  31/ 22/6 22 6  21/6	Last year’s prices. 23/4 21/3 20/10 20/10 16/8 15/ 22/6  21/  22/6’  21/  22/6  21/ 19/6 17/6 25/  30/ 20/ 20/  19/

________	________

Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
COAL.

Barnsley.

The stoppage for the holidays extended until Wednes-
day morning, and though the collieries endeavoured to
restart, there was not a big response. Generally, the
position in regard to the demand is unaltered, though, of
course, the further loss of production is bound to be
seriously felt In some cases, the preferential demands
have greatly extended, and the diversion of deliveries is
fairly general. Home considerations are receiving careful
attention in the disposal of the reduced tonnage, though
district collieries continue to be called upon to deliver a big
bulk of their output of steam fuel for the purpose of the
Admiralty, the railway companies and the munition works.
The holiday set-down in the case of the latter will have
assisted the position somewhat, but little stock was held
prior to the holidays. The quantity of coal sent for ship-
ment continues to be of moderate dimensions, but even
with this there is a marked absence of surplus fuel on the
open market. The supply of gas coal is subject to a good
deal of restriction, and supplies continue to be of a hand-
to-mouth character. The tonnage received is hardly
sufficient to meet current needs, and the supply of nuts is
exceptionally meagre. Small steam fuel is very difficult to
find, and contract supplies are again short. Rough slacks
are more scarce, whilst slacks suitable for coke manufacture
are again in short supply, and the by-product plants can
only be kept in anything like full operation with the
greatest difficulty. The return of the hot weather has
relieved the tension in regard to house coal supplies,
though the empty depots in various parts of the country
call for early deliveries, but the mass of orders on the
colliery books cannot be dealt with for a long time ahead.
The pressure for furnace coke is very keen, and cannot
be fully met. Values remain of a purely nominal
description.

Hull.

COAL.

Business is practically at a complete standstill this week,
and there is little possibility of anything being done until
arrears of supplies over the holidays have been caught up.
There is more than a sufficiency of steamers, and the
general hope is that some means will be found to expedite
deliveries. Meanwhile, no neutral or fresh business can be
contemplated.

Chesterfield.

COAL.

The collieries of the district, after a stoppage of two days
for the holidays, resumed work on Wednesday. House coal
is in very short supply. Fortunately, the warmer weather
has eased the position so far as current requirements are
concerned, but the limited deliveries from the pits prevent
householders from building up a reserve. The demand for
fuel for manufacturing purposes is stronger than ever, but
it is impossible to satisfy requirements. The shortage of
nuts for gas producers is serious, and the large steel estab-
lishments of Sheffield and district find great difficulty in
carrying on from week to week. Cobbles and slack for
boiler firing are equally difficult to find, and there is a
growing scarcity of these qualities. Railway companies are
pressing for supplies of steam coal for locomotive purposes,
and, to make up for the shortage, they are compelled to
continue drawing upon their reserve stocks. No licences
for the shipment of Derbyshire coal being obtainable,
deliveries from this district to the Humber ports are
entirely stopped. Fair supplies are going forward on
Admiralty account. The coke market continues active—all
classes of coke being readily taken up.

IRON.

Owing to the intervention of the Whitsuntide holidays,
the works of the district suspended operations for a couple
of days. They are all in active work again—every industry
being busily employed.

_______	_______

Nottingham.

COAL.

Although the holiday was in most cases restricted to two
days, the loss of output caused thereby must tend to make
the position more difficult. The change in the weather
will have the effect of easing the situation in regard to
domestic fuel in the course of the next month or so, for
the public consumption will undoubtedly be materially
reduced. At the same time it must be remembered that
most local merchants have a number of outstanding orders
that need attention, and they are also anxious to get in a
little stock as soon as possible. The tone in the steam coal
section remains very active, and all available supplies are