August 16, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 343 supplies for export are lower than they have been for months. Landsale is strictly rationed, but even in this branch local merchants can scarcely secure enough to satisfy customers. Engine fuels are very steady. Gas coal is very firm. Slacks, smalls and all vaiieties for manufacturing purposes are in keen demand. With the exception of shipping, no supplies of any description are being sent out of the district. South-West Lancashire. COAL. In household coals the available supply is steadily below the demand, and there does not seem any prospect of the merchant accumulating the usual summer stocks. As regards shipping, the demand for steam coal for bunkering and export is strongly maintained, Government require- ments being particularly heavy. As the special shipments also have to be kept up, the lot of the ordinary shipper in view of the diminishing supplies of coal is by no means an enviable one. Naturally in a number of cases steamers must either be delayed or go short of coal. As wu- facturing fuel comes temporarily upon the market in consequence of the holidays at one or other of the manu- facturing towns, diversions are being made to places that are urgently requiring it, either for immediate consumption or to form a little stock for winter use. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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. 27/6-28/6 29/ -30/ 25/6-26/6 28/6-29/ 24/6 27/ -28/ 24/6 _____* 22/6 21/6 20/6 L’st week's prices. 27/6-28/6 29/ -30/ 25'6-26/6 28/6-29/ 24/6 27/ -28/ 24/6 ______* 22/6 21/6 20/6 Last year's prices. 21/ -22/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 23/ upwds 18/ -t 16/ 15/ 14/ * New schedule, f As per official list. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was moderately attended on Tuesday. The difficulties in getting supplies of fuel for house and manufacturing purposes seem to be increasing, and the market generally is disturbed by the uncertainties and perplexities of the distribution scheme. The demand for shipping coal remains steady. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). This has helped to ease the situation in regard to these qualities, but the relief is only slight, and a good deal of concern is felt about the future. The threatened strike of miners throughout Yorkshire was naturally the subject of a good deal of discussion. With regard to present supplies, shipment to France is still making heavy claims. In addition extra quantities are being requisitioned for Admiralty purposes. The demand on the collieries for house coal is very pressing, for the London area as well as the nearer local markets. The present position is that, in the height of the summer season, merchants in the West Riding are hopelessly in arrears with their orders, with no prospect of overtaking them. There is no change as to gas coal. Deliveries are on too low a scale for much provision to be made for next winter’s consumption. To secure extra quantities is out of the question. Furnace coke is in very heavy demand, particularly for Frodingham and the Midlands, and requirements would more than absorb the maximum output of the ovens. Pit prices are nominal. Barnsley. COAL. A disturbing element still exists in the threatened strike throughout the county, relative to the disputed award respecting the working hours of a section of the surface workers. Negotiations with the coal owners' associations have failed, and a further meeting is to be held in London. It is believed, considering the small number of men affected, an amicable settlement will be arrived at before the notices have expired. There has been no practical improvement with regard to the supply of any class of fuel. Complaints are still made of an abnormal degree of absenteeism prevailing. The distribution committees have the utmost difficulty in obviating inconvenience, but the position for the present appears to be unavoidable. The scarcity in respect of all kinds of steam coal continues to be of a very marked character. This is largely accounted for, owing to continued orders to collieries for large deliveries for the use of the Allies and the Admiralty. In the case of several collieries, the tonnage called for is a large percent- age of the production. There continues to be a dearth of screened coal apart from the allocated supplies, and enquiries in the open market are of no avail. More complaints are to hand of the serious curtailment of contract deliveries of manufacturing fuel to certain indus- tries in the textile districts. Strenuous efforts are still necessary to provide anything like the tonnage of coking slacks required to keep the plants in full operation. The shortage of furnace coke is serious, causing a good deal of complaint from the pig iron industries. Supplies of gas coal and deliveries required for the electricity plants are still on a low scale, and the anxiety for the winter months is far from removed. In regard to house coal, the realisa- tion on the part of the public of the inability to obtain extra supplies is helping the merchants in their task of dealing with the orders on the books with the short deliveries available. Prices at pit. Nottingham. COAL. Throughout this district the general situation has not displayed any marked change, scarcity of supplies characterising every branch. So great is the demand for house coals, compared with the output, that merchants have to accept whatever grades of fuel owners can supply, and the public likewise have to be content with whatever qualities merchants can supply. Apart from quality, there is a pronounced limitation in quantity, and there is now little chance of either merchants or householders securing surplus stocks for winter use. The full output of steams is readily absorbed by war requirements and contracts, and on the latter arrears are accumulating. Steam nuts and cobbles are very difficult to obtain. Slacks generally are selling actively, and of coking sprts the supply is not equal to the demand. Prices at pithead. 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 prices. 25/-26/ 24/ -25/ 22/6-23/6 22/ -23 21/ -21 6 18/ -19/ , 16/6-17/6 ( 16/ -17/ Last year's prices. 18'6-19'6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/9-17/6 16/ -16 6 12/ -13/ 10'6-11/6 11/ Leicestershire. COAL. More men are returning to work after influenza, and the epidemic is rapidly disappearing. Yet the shortage of fuel for domestic and steam raising purposes is very acute. In the larger towns merchants are hard pressed. There is a great shortage of privately owned wagons. Running repairs are increasing and the cost is much greater both for materials and labour. The deliveries to the south and west of England are greatly reduced, and there is no pros- pect of any increase in the near future. The supply of fuel for France has been partially resumed, and great efforts are being made to extend them. The necessities of London and district are taking up heavy quantities, and minimum deliveries have to be most strictly carried out every day. Household, large and small nuts, and steam-raising fuel, including smalls for automatic stokers, are all far short of the demand and even of pressing necessities. Country merchants are only getting spasmodic supplies, and the arrears are increasing rapidly. There are no reserves of any kind either at country sidings or at the collieries. Prices at pit. Current House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 28/6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 ______* L’st week's prices. 28/6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 22/6 upwds 22/6upwds 21/ upwds 21/ upwds Last year's prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds * As per official list. IRON. There was a good attendance on 'Change in Manchester on Tuesday, but nothing new to report. All works are very busy on war requirements. Prices and deliveries are still controlled by the Ministry. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 27/ -28/6 27/ -28'6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 25/ -25/6 25/ -25,6 18/6-19/ Secondary do 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 22/6-23'6 22/6-23/6 22/ -22/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 21/ -22/K; 15/6-16/3 Best slack 19/ -19/91 .19/ -19/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do 16/ -17/6 Wl -17/6 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 23/ -23/6 23/ -23/6 16/6-17/ Unscreened do 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 22/ 22/ 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 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 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/ 19/ -20/6 19/6—20/6 18/6-20/ 19/ -20/6 18/9-19/6 13/6-14/ 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6—13/6 Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. Supplies are scarcer than ever. Colliery representatives generally complain sorely of still lower outputs. The pits last week, despite the appeal to the miners to limit the stoppage as much as possible, had a bad time. In most cases the pits were idle on two days, and the holiday spirit influenced adversely the production of coal for the rest of the week. A moderate estimate puts the week’s output at less rather than more than the equivalent of three days' normal work. The consequence is that the shortage is more serious than ever, although to some extent the demand for nuts and slacks for manufacturing purposes is for the moment moderated a little by holiday stoppages and the commencement of the Lancashire “ wakes " season. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week's Last year's Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 25/6-26/6 25/ -25'6 25/ -25/6 25/6-26/6 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 25/ -25/6 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 25/ -25/6 19/ -20/ Do. house 24/ -24/6 22/6-23/6 24/ -24/6 17/ -18/ House nuts 22/6-23/6 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 29/6-30/ 29/6-30/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 28/ -29/ 28/ -29/ 22/ -23/ Do. house 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ : 20/ -21/ Other qualities 24/6-26'6 24/6-26/6 19/ -20/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gag coal 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 15/ -16/ Other sorts:— Pi ices at pit: Washed nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6—23/6 17/ -18/ Large double-screened engine nuts 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 16/ -17/ Small nuts 20/6-21/6 20,6-21/6 15/ -16/ Rough unscreened engine coal 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Bost rough slacks 19/6-20/6 19/6-20/6 Small do 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 12/ -13/ Coking smalls 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/6 Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke ....' 32/ 32/ 25/8 Hull. COAL. There is not sufficient coal to go round. Very considerable quantities are being taken for official purposes, and it is a matter of great difficulty to get plenty to load the ships, of which a large number arrived within the past few days. Efforts are being made to expedite supplies, but it is obvious that the rate of progress made in catching up arrears and restoring the balance depends in the main upon the improvement of output. The official return of arrivals at Hull from the collieries in July is quite encouraging, the total of 303,288 tons being 47,209 tons better than June and the highest monthly total since September 1916. A considerable proportion of this has been exported to France. The total for the seven months to date is thus advanced to 1,567,915 tons, against 1,688,920 tons. The freight market is quite dull, chartering being hindered by the difficulty in arranging cargoes for shipment. Shipments are fairly good, but long turns frequent. Chesterfield. COAL. The serious difference between the demand for, and supplies of all classes of, coal is felt to a greater degree week by week, and to expect any relief in the position at present is futile. The pressure for house coal is severe, and such orders as come to hand day by day only tend to add to the list of arrears. The demand for fuel for manu- facturing purposes is very heavy, but it is impossible to meet customers' needs with any degree of satisfaction. Cobbles and nuts suitable for gas-producers are most urgently wanted for steel-making, and many works engaged upon orders of great importance are put to serious loss and inconvenience owing to short supplies of these qualities. All grades of steam coal continue in great request. Locomotive coal is badly wanted, and railway companies find it impossible to obtain the necessary tonnage to meet their current consumption. They are compelled to draw upon their reserve stocks. Admiralty requirements are heavy, and a good tonnage of steam coal is despatched from this district. There is no change in the condition of the export trade, in which no business is passing so far as this coalfield is concerned. There is an active demand for coke of all grades, and the output is going steadily into consumption. Difficulty is experienced in obtaining full supplies of coking slack. IRON. The iron trade of the district maintains its condition of great activity, every branch being employed to its full capacity. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Output has improved this week. Merchants are struggling to make up leeway, with indifferent success. They are being asked to furnish a lot more details to the authorities, probably in preparation for some scheme of rationing industrial fuel, especially where small quantities only are consumed. Considerable quantities of coal are still being sent outside the district. Slacks have been abnormally scarce during the week. This, however, is an inevitable holiday sequel, as the collieries are obliged to keep a lot for their own use. There is nothing of any kind on the open market, and contracts are in ar rear. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. 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/ 18/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ Forge coal 18/6 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 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. During the past week there has been an overhauling of maximum prices for finished iron. Makers of nut and bolt bars, which are unfettered by control, have raised their prices proportionately to the new rates for marked and merchants’ qualities. Lancashire crown bars are now offered at <£15 5s. 6d., delivered Darlaston district, the former figure being about <£14 8s. Carriage represents about 10s. 6d. a ton. These advances (millowners state) will fairly cover the increased working costs entailed by the dearer fuel and appreciation in other directions. Nothing is said about pig iron, and the inference is drawn that this material will be dealt with, as on a former occasion, without affecting prices on the market. All the works resumed at the beginning of the week after the holidays. The blastfurnaces alone were kept going unin- terruptedly, and the extra output will speedily be absorbed,