184 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN July 26, 1918. inadequate almost to meet the daily needs, and stocks are extensively depleted. All efforts in regard to increasing the supply of slacks for the manufacture of coke appear to be of no avail. The plants cannot be kept in full operation, whilst the pressure for coke is exceedingly heavy. In regard to the advanced price of coke following upon the increased selling price of coal, it is understood the autho- rities will provide for the increased cost in a manner other than adding to the selling price, but the amount allocated is not yet officially announced. The supply of house coal shows no material alteration. It is realised supplies will probably be cut down until, at all events, the actual needs are calculated upon the experience under the scheme of rationing. The market is inactive, owing to the absence of any surplus fuel, and values are prac- tically nominal. Hull. COAL. The market here retains its leading characteristics of firmness and a certain amount of activity, limited only by the shortage of supplies. A matter of 50,000 tons or more per week is coming forward, but is nothing like the amount that could be dealt with in export and home trades. Large steams are a strong market, and after official demands have been met there is only a small margin left for business with neutrals. West Yorkshire screened sorts are still in keen demand by French buyers, and supplies fall short of what is required. Other departments remain about unchanged. Current quotations for best South Yorkshire hards are 37s. for Allies and 40s. for neutrals, and West Yorkshire Hartleys, 34s. 6d. for Allies. Shipments are maintained at recent average. Chesterfield. COAL. The position is now a most difficult one for those con- nected with the coal trade, whether as producer or con- sumer, owing to the inadequate production. House coal is now in very short supply, and orders are greatly in arrear. New works have been erected, but it is impossible to put them into operation owing to the shortage of coal. Cobbles and nuts are very scarce, and slack for boiler firing is in short supply. Railway companies continue to cry out for locomotive coal, of which they are very short, and gas com- panies are in an equally bad way for fuel. There is no change to report in connection with the export trade. In steam coal for the Admiralty a fair tonnage is going for- ward from this district. The coke market is strong, and the full output of the ovens is quickly taken up. Coking fuel continues in short supply. IRON. Great activity is apparent in every section of the iron trade, work being abundant. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The collieries seem to make no headway in overtaking the heavy demand. All the conditions are against a large out-turn from the pits, and the requirements of France, together with the supplies diverted to London, make a con- siderable toll on the quantity available. Double screened nuts are practically all allocated for munition purposes, only a small tonnage being available for anything outside. Deliveries are accordingly cut down to actual necessities. Similarly with slacks the shortage is very acute, the collieries having scarcely enough for their own purposes. Consumers are working on their stocks. Merchants are having an anxious time over household deliveries. Their depots are practically bare of stocks, and there seems no prospect of their being able to build up any throughout the summer. There is practically no fuel offering on the open market, and values are merely nominal. Prices at pit. Current L'st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 22/6 21/6 24/6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 21/6 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 18/ Do, seconds do. 20/6 20/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 13/6 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21/6 19/ cobs 20/6 22/6 20'6 18/ Best hard spires 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 WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 25. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. IRON. Pressure continued this week for almost all classes of coal. There has been a slight recovery in the matter of output, but as tonnage arrivals have been very high, a number of steamers have had to wait for cargoes. The demand for large steam coal has again exceeded the supply. Through coals and the better classes of smalls have also been in great request. Inferior small has been dragging. A large demand exists for patent fuel and coke. The house coal trade is a little weaker, but gas coal for inland consumption is still very strong. Prices are on the new schedule:— Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals: — !, prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 37/ 37/ 30/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 36/ 36/ • 29/ . Best Eastern-valleys ...■ 36/ ’ 36/ 29/ Secondary do. ...i 35/ 35/ 28/ Best small coals i 28/ 28/ 21/6 Secondary do .J 27/ 27/ 20/ Inferior do ' 25/ 25/ 18/ Screenings ’ 30/ 30/ 23/ Through coals t / : 34/ 34/ 27/ Best washed nuts 37/ 37/ 30/ Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. 40/ 40/ 33/ Secondary do. do. ... 38/ ' 38/ 30/9 Patent fuel 37/ 37/ 32/6 Furnace coke i ’ 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke I 52/ 52/ 47/6 Nottingham. COAL. The position is much the same as a week ago. Fortu- nately, the absentees from the pits on account of influenza are becoming fewer, and with the consumption of domestic fuel by the public being on a comparatively small scale, the pressure on local merchants is scarcely as great. Nevertheless, the demand by merchants is very keen, and a scale of restricted supplies continues in operation. All grades of domestic fuel are eagerly accepted by dealers at the landsale depots, but the tonnage available is small. Steam-producing fuel is in as big a demand as ever for war work. Railway companies are taking a considerable tonnage of large steams to their locomotive depots. Large nuts and cobbles are difficult to obtain. Contracts fully absorb the output of gas coal. Most grades of slacks are in very active request. Prices at pithead. At the moment the dominant feature is the question of the amount of compensation likely to be conceded as an off- set against the increased price of fuel. In the case of coke this is reported to be 7s. 3d. a ton as from July 8, and in Birmingham Is. 6d. a ton will be added in the case of carted coke This means a substantial rise in the cost of producing pig iron—10s. lOd. on the basis of 30 cwt. of coke for one ton of pig. Smelters express themselves as not greatly concerned, as they expect to be indemnified against loss. Similarly the cost of finished and semi-finished iron will be raised in proportion. The matter is in the hands of the Ministry, and an official announcement is expected soon. Business, pending a decision, is restricted, and subject to such advance as may be granted. Pig iron smelters, especially those engaged in the production of foundry grades, find themselves unable to give larger deliveries than one to two hundred tons, in order to keep as many customers as possible going. In finished iron only the most urgent needs of the merchant trade can be entertained. There is a very active demand for small iron rounds, from three-eighths to five-eighths, for military contracts. The bar firms are fully booked. The general position in steel is much less anxious, the difficulty of securing a sufficient output of raw steel being overcome. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 22/6-23/6 22/ -23/ 21/ -21/6 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ L'st week’s Last year's prices. 25/-26/ 24/ -25/ 22/6-23/6 22/ -23 21/ -21/6 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ prices. 18 6-19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16 9-17/6 16/ -16 6 12/ -13/ 10'6-11/6 11/ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There has been nothing, in the enquiry for the household coals of this district to call for special comment since last writing. The heavy demand shows no sign of lessening, and the collieries, with outputs considerably reduced, are experiencing a difficult time. The enquiry for all sizes of steam and manufacturing fuel ;s very brisk, and the collieries are doing all possible to meet the wants of buyers — a difficult matter. Prices at pithead. * Nominal. IRON. There has been a very large output from the local iron and steel works of all classes of goods on Government account. The tin-plate trade is still making considerable headway, in spite of the increased price of tin and various restrictions. Orders for the British and Allied Govern- ments have been booked for months ahead. The demand for waste wasters is a large one Iron ore is arriving in satisfactory quantities. There has been an improvement lately in the quantity of pitwood imported. Cardiff. COAL. There is no change in the general position of the market. < The shortage of supplies continues and there appears to be little prospect of any material improvement for at least another month. Whilst the number of absentees due to influenza is diminishing, except in the western portion of the coal field, there is no increase of output, and this is attributable to the fact that many colliers are taking their annual summer holiday. This aspect of the situation will probably prevail until after the middle of September. In the meantime there is great pressure for shipment, and large quantities of coals intended for private despatch on inland consumption are being diverted by the authorities to the several ports of shipment for official purposes. This not only applies to the better grades of steam coal, but also to bituminous qualities, the demand for which has been increased accordingly. Although stormy weather interfered with arrivals of tonnage at the latter end of last week, there was a steady influx of vessels over the week end, and there is now ample tonnage in port to meet current needs. In fact, in some instances there is a waiting list, and delays have been inevitable owing to the inability of the collieries to send the coal down to the docks in sufficient quantities to release the ships. Much has been done in the matter of speeding up, and still further improvements are anticipated as a result of the action of the new co- ordinating committee. The official title of the committee will be the Bristol Channel Shipping and Coal Co-ordinating Committee, and its functions will be to arrange with the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee a definite House coals:— Leicestershire. COAL. Complications and difficulties of every kind continue to multiply. Instructions and orders are coming to hand for consumers not previously supplied. The coal necessary for this purpose does not reach the pitbanks. In other words, the instructions exceed the output. This output is still greatly reduced at each pit by the enforced absence of miners who are ill with influenza. The call for deliveries of all classes of fuel for London and district is unabated in volume, and minimum deliveries have to be rigidly kept up. Household, cobbles, large and small nuts, bakers' nuts and small fuel for automatic stokers are in demand for most urgent requirements. Very extensive reductions have to be made in the quantities sent out to country merchants, and strong complaints are being re- ceived that their operations have been completely dis- organised. There are no reserves of any kind at country stations or at the collieries. Prices at pit. 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/ J 23/3 (.21/6 16/6 20/ -21/ 17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that contract supplies of coal are coming forward in a very limited manner. Stocks are very low everywhere, and local merchants are asking the Coal Controller to put pressure on collieries and vendor firms to increase supplies. Current Best household coal ..... Second, hand picked ..... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ......... Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze............. prices. 23/ -24/6 22/ -/23 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 20/6-21/6 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-18/9 12/6-13/6 19/ -20/6 19/6-20/6 18/6-20/ 19/ -20/6 18/9-19/6 L'st week's prices. 23/ -24/6 22/ -23/ 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 20/6-21/6 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-18/9 12/6-13/6 19/ -20/6 19/6-20/6 18/6-20/ 19/ -20/6 18/9-19/6 Last year's prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -16 6 15/ -15 6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 13/6-14/ 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 School of Mining, Birmingham.—The next session of the School of Mining in connection with the University of Birmingham will commence on October 1. The School of Mining 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 engineer- ing, electrical engineering, civil engineering, . mining (coal, petroleum and metal), and metallurgy, assaying and petroleum 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—degree course, three years; diploma course, three years; occasional mining students, a complete course in one year. A com- plete 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. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated) plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 28/ 27/6 27/ 26/6 26/ 25/6 25/ 37/ 35/6 37/ 35'6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26/ 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L’st week’s prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 1 28/ J 27/6 1 27/ j 26/6 ) 26/ j 25/6 1 25/ j 37/ ' 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26/ 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ Last year’s prices. 33/ 31/6 30/9 30/ 23/ 21/6 20/ 18/ 30/ 28/6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30/9 30,9 26/ 27/ 25/ 20/ 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 60/ -62/6 Superior seconds Seconds Ordinary Steam smalls No. 1 Do. 2 Do. 3 Do. 4 Do. 5 Do. 6 Do. 7 Do. 8 Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Sma.ll Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal,