132 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 19, 1918. is seen in the cutting down of contract deliveries to industries not engaged on war production. The needs of the munition works, which are on an extensive scale, have first to be met, together with the heavy demands of a great variety of other establishments turning out articles of military use. The pressure for slacks continues unabated. So far as household coal is concerned, the outlook for merchants is not promising. Working stocks at the depots are at a low ebb, and householders have to be content with reduced supplies, approximating ration proposals. The scheme for rationing has created a good deal of discussion in the district. Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24 6 24'6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22 6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 21/6 19/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 20/6 18' Best hard 21/' 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 18/6 16/ Slack 13'6 13/6 11/6 rv air wicKsmre House coal, best Ryder.. 2 L'6 21/6 19/ Do, hand-picked cobs 20/6 20,6 18/ Best hard spires 22'6 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18,6 18^6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 17/ 17/ 14/6 IRON. The quarterly meeting left things in the iron and steel industries substantially as they were. If there was little new business negotiated it was not because it was not offered, but rather because producers have as many orders on their books as they deem it prudent to undertake. Pig iron smelters have been renewing contracts with old customers over three or four months, with a clause safe- guarding themselves against any advance which the Ministry may grant in consequence of the increased price *ef fuel. Business in finished branches is also done under a similar proviso. In the unmarked bar branch a large quantity of material is sold at a higher figure than the <£13 17s. 6d. fixed for “standard quality ordinary sizes and merchants* lengths,” inasmuch as extras are charged for special sizes and qualities. In order to regulate better the sales of off-iron from the basic furnaces, permits are now required. No change has been made in the price, which is 97s. 6d. a ton, the same as basic iron. The metal rolling mills are well employed for the most part, though they are no longer subject to the sustained pressure experienced when the demand for all descriptions of munitions was at its height. Deliveries of sheet bars are reaching the rolling mills on a substantial scale in order to expedite the production of black sheets for Army needs. Prices are on the basis of .£17 for lots of two tons and upwards, and the small lots of galvanised sheets that are being produced make £28. The Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Association has reaffirmed prices as follow:—Best charcoal, 59s.; charcoal, 57s.; unassorted, 53s. per cwt.; Staffordshire tin-plates, 50s. to 60s. for best charcoal, according to specification. These prices are, however, now net, which represent roughly an advance of 4 per cent In the steel branches the difficulty in securing a sufficient output of raw material seems to be overcome. Plates are also more plentiful, and no change has been made in the official prices of £11 10s. for tank qualities and £12 10s. for boiler qualities. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The pressure for supplies on this district’s house coal collieries is still exceptionally strong. The pits are all on full time, but outputs are inadequate to keep merchants fully supplied. Orders from the inland districts are very numerous. Shipments are a good average. For steam and manufacturing fuel orders are generally in excess of the production. . Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal:— Large ............... Small................ Large ... Current . prices. 30/ 23/ 26/6-27/6 22/ -23/ L’st week’s’ prices. 30/ 23/ ■ 26,6-27,6 22/ -23/ Last year’s prices. <24/ ) 23/ 123/3 (.21/6 16 6 20/ -21/ 16/ -17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. The Lanarkshire Colliery Disaster.—The moss slide and water having abated at the Stanriggs Colliery, Lanark- shire, it is expected that it will be possible in a day or two to recover the bodies of the 19 miners who lost their lives there recently. The bore which was put down the seam disclosed the presence of water to a depth of 8j ft., and it was impossible that any one of the men could be alive. The rescue operations were suspended with a view to sinking a shaft. University of Birmingham School of Mining.—The next session of the School of Mining commences on October 1. The school meets the requirements of those who intend to become practising and consultative mining engineers, petroleum technologists, colliery managers, managers of metal mines, teachers of mining, mine surveyors, land and estate agents, land owners, owners of collieries, and those generally interested in mines and quarries. The degree course includes instruction in mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology and mineralogy, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, mining (coal, pe- troleum and metal), and metallurgy, assaying, and petro- leum refining. In connection with the mining classes there will be frequent visits of inspection to mines in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, and a summer mining school will also be held in the long vacation in some mining district, either at home or abroad. The mining courses are so arranged as to provide for a degree course (three years) and diploma course (three years). They also provide a complete course (one year) for occasional mining students. A complete course of petroleum mining engineering is given in the university. The course of study extends over three years, and leads to the degree of B.Sc. Full particulars may be obtained from the secretary of the university. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 18. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. IRON. Pressure in almost all departments of the coal trade continues. With reduced output (due largely to influenza) and a large arrival of tonnage, the official demand for all the better classes of coal has been so great that no free coal remained on the market for other customers. Through and the better classes of small have been eagerly bought up. Inferior smalls have been dragging. The scarcity has been increased by a gob fire at the Risca pit. There has been a strong demand for gas coal for inland consumption, and also for patent fuel and coke. Prices are on the new schedule : Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current Steam coals: — prices. Best Black Vein large... 37/ Western-valley s, ordin’y 36/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 36/ Secondary do. ...■ Best small coals ...1 Secondary do......... Inferior do.......... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— , Best house coal, at pit .. Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel ........... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ..... ... 35/ 28/ 27/ 25/ 30/ 34/ 40/ 38/ 37/ 52/ 52/ L’st week's Last year’s prices. prices. 35/ . 27/ -29/ 34/ ! 24/6-26/ 34/ : 23/6-24/6 33/ z ; 19 6-21/ 26/ ; 14/6-16/ 25/ ; 9/ -12/ 23/ ; 6/ - 8/6 28/ 15/ -17/6 32/ | 19/ -21/ | 35/ i — 38/ i2'./-26/ 36/ : 22/ -23/6 35/ 30/ -32/6 50/ —* 50/ ; * .Nominal. IRON. Prices are nominal. The arrival of iron ore continues satisfactory. A great many orders have been booked by tin-plate makers for our own and Allied Government purposes. Cardiff. COAL. There is little improvement in conditions, and open business continues to be of the most restricted character. Influenza shows signs of abatement, and production is slightly increasing. It is estimated that the total output is between 20 and 25 per cent, below normal, and this deficiency may take a long time to make up. At this period of the year there is a much greater amount of absenteeism, owing to miners taking their annual holiday. In the present circumstances there is an additional excuse in the argument that they must take a rest in order to recover from the ravages of influenza. The effect will be the same—viz., that outputs for the next two months will be considerably reduced, and there is little prospect of any margin being left for neutral destinations. The local committee have had the matter under consideration, and are fully alive to the situation. No official recommendations have yet been sent out, but it is stated that orders will be distributed according to their urgency, and that shippers will be expected in most cases to export up to 45 per cent, of small. This will have the effect of easing the pressure for best qualities, and will prevent the accumulation of inferior grades, which became such a bugbear to the trade a year ago. In the meantime tonnage is fairly plentiful, though not excessive, and delays in -many cases are inevitable, owing to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient quantities of the specified grades of coal to the docks. Admiralty ship- ments, of course, are in no danger of interference, and exports to Allied countries will receive priority in relation to their urgency and importance. There are no other features worthy of comment. Patent fuel makers are busy, and outputs fully contracted for some time ahead. There is a scarcity of washed coals, due chiefly to labour shortage, and the demand for gas qualities and coke is in excess of the supply. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated) plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 40/ 40/ 33/ Superior seconds 38/6 38/6 31/6 Seconds 37/9 37/9 30/9 30/ Ordinary 37/ 37/ 28/6 1 Steam smalls No. 1 28/6 231 Do. 2 28/ 28/ j Do. 3 Do. 4 27/6 27/ 27/6 ) 27/ j 21.6 Do 5 Do. 6 Do. 7 Do. 8 26/6 26/ 25,6 25/ 26/6 1 26/ j 25/6 1 25/ J i 20/ 1 18/ Best dry coals 37/ 37/ 30/ Ordinary drys 35/6 35/6 28/6 30/ Best washed nuts 37/ 37/ Seconds 35 6 35/6 28/6 Best washed peas 34/6 34/6 27/6 Seconds 33/6 33/6 26/6 Monmouthshire— | Black Veins 37/ ' 37/ 30/ Western-valleys 36/ 36/ 29/ Eastern-valleys 36/ 36/ 29/ Inferior do 35/ 35/ 28/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 40/ 40/ 33/ Second qualities (at pit) I 37/9 37/9 30,9 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large I ! 37/9 37/9 30,9 Small 33/ 33/ 26/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 34/ ■34' 27/ Through-and-through , 29/ -30/6 ; 24/ -26/ 29/ -30/6. 25/ 20/ 32/6 Small ' 24/ -26' Best patent fuel 37/ . 37/ Seconds ... — 37/ 37/ 30/ Special foundry coke 54'6 54/6 47,6 Ordinary do. 54'6 54/6 47,6 Furnace coke 54/6 54'6 47/6 Pitwood (ex-ship) 65/ 65/ 57/6-62/6 * Nominal. IRON. The tin-plate trade continues very firm, and there are large orders in the market for consumers in Allied countries. The position is rather unsettled. Makers are well booked up for several months ahead, and the supplies of block tin are rather uncertain. A further advance has taken place during the last few days, and current quota- tions are £365 per ton, or an increase of £34 per ton since June 24. Prices of Bessemer standard plates, 14 x 20, are rather wide, and range from 32s. 3d. to 32s. 10|d per box, with other grades in proportion. Shipments last week were much heavier, and amounted to 47,306 boxes, against 33,338 boxes the previous week. Receipts, on the other hand, were lower, owing chiefly to absenteeism caused by influenza-, and totalled only 24,658 boxes, against 28,344 boxes the previous week, leaving 127,500 boxes in stock, compared with 150,'48 the previous week, and 84,427 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. All iron and steel works are working at maximum pressure, and prices are nominal. Iron ore supplies are satisfactory. In the galvanised-sheet trade there is no change. Spelter works are busy, but ore supplies are irregular. There is a strong demand for scrap metals, at maximum rates, but supplies are not nearly adequate to the demand. Swansea. COAL. During the past week there was only a limited supply of tonnage available, consequently the shipments of coal and patent fuel were much reduced. The total reached only 58,633 tons. The general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market are without material alteration. Large is freely offered for immediate delivery, whilst machine-made sizes were easily obtainable with the excep- tion of peas, which were well held. Rubbly culm and duff were without movement. In steam coals the better grades were very firm, but the inferior brands were not quite so strong. Llanelly. COAL. The general tone of the local market is not satisfactory, and many collieries are experiencing a great deal of diffi- culty in keeping their pits at regular work. Owing to the continued shortage of tonnage arrivals there is an. accumu- lation of some of the anthracite coals, especially in the sidings, awaiting shipping orders, with the inevitable result that empty wagons have not been sufficient to meet the needs of the collieries. Large anthracites are still slow, and big quantities are available for prompt loadings. Although cobbles and nuts are in some instances doing well, other sellers have more than they can do to dispose of the quantities on their hands. Duff and rubbly culm are quiet, with orders on the short side, but beans and peas are remarkably firm all. round, and in not a few quarters bigger quantities if available could be easily disposed of. In the steam coal market all the best qualities are in a good position, especially in the case of large, for which there is not the least relaxation in the demand. The cheaper grades, however, are inclined to be weak, and there is no trouble experienced in securing prompt lots. For manufacturing fuels there is a heavy call, and outside ordinary contract business only few parcels are changing hands. From inland there is a good enquiry ruling for nearly all coals, especially for house sorts, best large steams and the smaller machine-made qualities, but owing to the shortage in supplies of these coals delays in the execution of orders are very common. Current scheduled prices are as follow:— Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite;— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 34/6 30/ Seconds 36/ 33/6 29/ Thirds 34/6 32/ 27/6 ’ Red Vain large 32/6 30/ 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 47/ 42/6 Seconds 48/ 45/6 41/ Thirds „ 46/ 43/6 39/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 40/6 36/ Machine-made nuts 49/6 47/ 42/6 Seconds 48/ 45/6 41/ Thirds 46/ 43/6 39/ Bed Vein nuts 43/ 40/6 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 42/ 39/6 35/ Seconds 41/ 38/6 34/ Thirds 40/ 37/6 33/ Red Vein beans 38/ 35/6 31/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 24 6 20/ Rubbly culm 20/ 17/6 13/ Red Vein culm 18/ 15/6 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 12/6 10 / Billy duff 13/6 11/. 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 34/6 30/ Seconds 34/ 31/6 27/ Cargo through 28/ 25/ Seconds - 26/6 - Bunker through 30/6 28/ 25/ Smalls 26/ 23/6 19/ Second smalls — 21/6 Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 31/6 27/ Smalls 31/ 28/6 24/ Gas through 28/ Gas smalls 25 6 — (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 — The above prices are subject to an advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in the case of shipments to France and Italy, and coal for the manufacture of patent fuel for shipment thereto. Mr. William Braidford, formerly manager of Lintz Colliery, and for a considerable number of years a member of the Tanfield Council, died at his residence at Lintz Colliery, Durham County, aged 76 years. Lord Rhondda’s Will.—The late Lord Rhondda be- queathed £20,000 to Gonville and Caius Colleges, Cam- bridge (preferably for founding six or ten scholarships) and £20,000 to Cardiff Infirmary. The residuary legatee is his daughter, the new Viscountess Rhondda, to whom the whole estate has been left, subject to the payment of the above legacies and others of a family nature, whiclf include substantial provision for the dowager viscountess. The deceased viscount declared in his will : “ I make no other charitable gifts in this my will, because I have devoted the greater part of my life to public affairs, and I have already given large sums of money for charitable and public services.”