344 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN August 16, 1918. the demand for all grades being incessant. The bar mills, too, recommenced on a big list of orders, while the sheet mills have big contracts for war work on hand, and the present capacity will be occupied for months to come. Business in steel is on the old basis, and the tendency in the matter ©f supplies, at least for all war or otherwise essential work, is easier. THE WELSH COAL ANO IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 15. North Wales. Wrexham. IRON. The pits in this locality were restarted on Tuesday after the holiday, and the proportion of absentees was small. Demand still exceeds the supply. A dispute has arisen at Vauxhall Colliery, Ruabon, in connection with the pay- ment for dirt raised, which culminated in the men tendering fourteen days notice. The Coal Controller has recommended that the question be decided by a committee. This has been agreed to. The local bodies are still proceeding to appoint fuel overseers in connection with the new Lighting Order, though the ration forms have not yet been dis- tributed. With reference to steam coal the position is unchanged, and the quota's for railway companies and other steam-producing purposes is met in a fairly satisfactory manner. There is not nearly so large a tonnage sent down to the Mersey ports for shipment as was formerly the case, but a fair tonnage is yet dealt with at Birkenhead. The supply of gas-producing fuel is also fairly steady and there is a ready sale of coke at local gas works Small coal is in fair demand, but the tonnage available is very limited just now. Prices, best household fuel 25s. to 27s. per ton at pit ; seconds, 24s. to 26s. per ton; nuts, 24s. to 25s.; steam coal, 24s. to 26s.; and slack, 15s. to 17s. 6d. per ton, all at the pit. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The position in the coal market of this district shows an improvement. Perhaps as the result of the appeal of the Prime Minister at Newport last Saturday, there has been an improved output. But there is still a great deal of leeway to make up before the supply is equal to the demand, especially in the better classes of large steam coal, almost all of which is still commandeered. Good demand exists for through coal. Smalls, which are mixed in judicious quantities with large coals, are selling very freely. There has been a considerable arrival of tonnage, some of which had to wait for coal. Gas qualities for inland consumption are much enquired for. All prices are on the new schedule. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 37/ 37/ 30/ Western-valleys, ordin’y' 36/ 36/ 29/ Best Eastern-valleys ...; 36/ 36/ 29/ Secondary do. ...! 35/ 35/ 28/ Best small coals I 28/ 27/ 28/ 21/6 Secondary do j 27/ 20/ Inferior do 25/ ■ 25/ 18/ Screenings 30/ 30/ 23/ Through coals 34/ 34/ 27/ Best washed nuts V JJ/ 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 ' 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke I 1 52/ 52/ 47/6 * Nominal. IRON. The normal output has been resumed after the works holiday. In many cases the stoppage of work was taken advantage of to overhaul plant, and in some cases new plant was installed. The statement which gained cur- rency at the beginning of the week that an amalgamation of the Ebbw Vale Company and another large concern in the neighbourhood was about to take place has been authoritative'y denied. All prices are nominal, the output of the various concerns being almost entirely on Govern- ment account. The increased cost of block tin is naturally causing uneasiness in the tinplate trade. There is a good supply of iron ore. Pitwood at the controlled price has been arriving in fairly large quantities. Cardiff. COAL. As foreshadowed last week, the miners did not return to work in full strength after their three days holiday, and on the Thursday morning, when operations were resumed, absenteeism at some collieries amounted to 30 or 40 per cent, of the men employed. Large numbers of men returned home over the week-end, and when production was resumed on Monday morning outputs had almost reached their normal proportions. There is a considerable amount of leeway to be made up, and, as official demands continue exceedingly heavy, there is not likely to be any relief in the pressure until about mid-September. What- ever may be the cause, the result remains, that the output is lower per man employed than at any other time in the history of the coal field, although the pressure for delivery was never so great. The visit of the Prime Minister to South Wales at the end of last week was a timely one, and his appeal can scarcely fail to influence output. In the case of several disputes which were pending, the men have been instructed by their leaders to continue operation [or return at once if out. In the meantime market operations are strictly confined to official business, and there is no margin left over for private traders. The amount of tonnage in the port is more than sufficient for current needs and delays are occurring at all the docks owing to the inability of the coal owners to get the coal down in ample quantities to meet requirements. So serious is the shortage that Mr. F. A. Gibson has issued a circular asking for information as to the quantities of small coal banked at the collieries, and whether this is suitable for coke making with or without the admixture of pure coking coal. Although banking was resorted to in some districts last year during the shortage of transport facilities, there are no great reserves in South Wales, because these have been constantly drawn upon for home consumption during holiday periods. The enquiry is likely to lead to good results, and may be the means of finding a market for the large quantity of small coal which in normal circumstances is difficult to dispose of. Coke is in great demand both for home consumption and for export, and there is a difficulty in meeting requirements notwithstanding the extension of coking plants- since the outbreak of war. Patent fuel manufacturers are busy, and well supplied with orders for several months ahead. 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/ i 371 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L’st week’s prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 ) 28/ ) 27/6 1 27/ ) 26/6 ) 26/ J 25/6 ) 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/ 32/6 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 58/ -60/ 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 > Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) IRON. All works are busily engaged, and maximum outputs are again being produced. Iron ore supplies are well main- tained, and all the blast furnaces are in full operation. Two new furnaces at Ebbw Vale and one at Blaenavon are approaching completion. The annual holiday in the tin- plate trade enabled bar mills to work off arrears, and conditions are now more satisfactory. Receipts from tin-plate works last week only amounted to 3,265 boxes, whilst shipments totalled 30,836 boxes, thus leaving 103,539 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans, compared with 131,110 boxes in the preceding week, and 44,822 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Block tin is easier, the price having receded from .£399 to £387 during the past week. Quotations for standard plates are therefore fractionally lower, Bessemer cokes 14 x 20 being 33s. 6d. per box f.o.r., with other sizes in proportion. There is no change in the galvanised sheet trade. In the spelter industry supplies of ore are irregular, and it is with difficulty that the mills are kept going. Scrap metals are scarce, and maximum rates are readily obtained. LlaneHy. COAL. Supplies are very scarce on the market. Tonnage is plentiful at the moment, and colliery outputs are mainly devoted to clearing vessels, so that inland orders are practically neglected, There is a shortage of many qualities, and the position of buyers and sellers at present Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year's Anthracite;— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 36/ 34/6 32/6 36/ 29/ Thirds 34/6 27/6 Red Vein large 32/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 . 49/6 42/6 Seconds ... 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 42/ 42/ 35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ 34/ Thirds 40/ 40/ 33/ . Red Vein beans 38/ 38/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 27/ 20/ Rubbly culm 20/ 20/ 13/ Red Vein culm .. .. 18/ 18/ 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ 10/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam::— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through — — — Seconds — — — Bunker through 30/6 30/6 25/ Smalls 26/ 26/ Ity Second smalls — ■— Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls 31/ 31/ 24/ Gas through — Gas smalls — — — (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54'6 47/6 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. is very difficult. Anthracite coals are in strong demand, and the higher grades of large in particular are difficult to secure. Red Vein qualities are also moving very satis- factorily. Machine-made sorts are scarce, and cobbles, nuts, beans and peas are very strong with no spare parcels available. Culm and duff are both easy, and good stocks are available for any orders offering. Steam coals are very scarce, with both large and through coals in heavy demand, but supplies are on the short side. Smalls are also a good market. Manufacturing coals are sought after, but owing to the heavy local demands there is not much “free” coal available. Inland orders are very plentiful for all qualities on the market. Swansea. COAL. There was an excellent attendance on ’Change, and the anthracite coal market displayed a very firm tone. With the increased demand for all classes, and the reduction in output, steamers experienced the greatest difficulty in loading. There was a very strong demand for steam coals of all classes, with practically no free coal available. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. The consumption of mining timber in South Wales and Monmouthshire during the past four weeks has been materially lessened as a consequence of the poor coal out- puts following the withdrawal of a large number of work- men for the Army, and heavy percentage of avoidable absenteeism amongst miners. Good supplies of French, Irish and home-grown timber have been received, and collieries have taken advantage of the situation by laying in stocks as a precaution against contingencies in the winter, when deliveries of home-grown wood may be spas- modic, owing to bad weather. Collieries are endeavouring to secure an eight weeks supply of wood, which would con- stitute a very safe margin against intermittent deliveries. There is every indication that any heavier demand will be adequately met. Market prices were at the maximum scheduled levels. The imports of Irish pitwood were fair. During the past few days the imports of foreign mining timber were good, a large number of the smaller sized sailing vessels having arrived. The actual quantity of mining timber received from August 1 to August 8, was as follows:— Cardiff (including Barry and Penar th) : — Date. Consignee. Loads. Aug. 1 ~ E. Marcesche and Co. ..,. 360 „ 1 Vyvyan Kelly and Co...... 2,040 „ 3 Bromage and Co........... 1,440 „ 3 Lysberg Limited............. 96 „ 3 Budd and Co. .............. 100 „ 3 E. Marcesche and Co....... 120 „ 3 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,200 „ 6 Lysberg Limited .......... 840 „ 6 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,200 „ 6 E. Marcesche and Co........ 360 „ 6 Grant Hayward and Co...... 168 „ 7 Lysberg Limited ........... 30 „ 7 Lysberg Limited ........ 1,200 „ 7 A. Bromage and Co........ 120 „ 7 E. Marcesche and Co.........• 36 THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 15. Dublin. Prices remain unchanged, and any stocks held by the merchants are extremely low. So far from there being any improvement in supplies, last week’s arrivals of coal from cross-Channel ports declined to 15,433 tons, compared with 19,754 tons the week previously. In pre-war times weekly average deliveries were between 35,000 and 40,000 tons. Quotations for house coals: Orrell, 55s. 6d. to 56s. 6d. per ton; Wigan, 54s. 6d.; Whitehaven, 54s. 6d. ; Pemberton Wigan, 53s. 6d.; standard coal, 51s.; slack, 50s.; all less Is. per ton discount; coke, 53s. per ton. A conference was held last week at the Coal Controller’s office regarding additional imports. The whole question of imports of coal into Ireland was gone into. Preferential treatment to Belfast and the diverting of Dublin’s supply to other parts of the country were under consideration. Satisfaction was expressed that every possible precaution was being taken by the Coal Controller to safeguard Dublin’s supply, and that necessary measures were now being taken to prevent the coal from being sent to other districts. A- scheme is under consideration for the better allocation of coal arriving at the principal ports in Ireland. At a meeting of the Dublin Port and Docks Board it was suggested that the Lord Mayor should call the merchants of the city together for the purpose of approaching the Chief Secretary. At a recent meeting of the shareholders of the Arigna Mining Company, resolutions were adopted to increase the capital of the company, with the object of connecting the company’s mines with the railway now being constructed by the Government up the Arigna Valley, the building of addi- tional cottages for miners, and the introduction of new machinery for coal cutting, etc One effect of the coal shortage in Mayo has been extraordinary prices demanded for turf, putting the purchase altogether out of the reach of the poor in the towns in the west. Belfast. The position does not improve in the port, all qualities of coal being scarce, and supplies from the other side difficult tc obtain. Current quotations for house coals : Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton ; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 51s. 6d.; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton. From July 11 to August 3, the total number of coal-laden vessels arriving in the harbour was 146. At a meeting of the Newry Urban Council last week, arising out of a letter from the honorary secretary of the Newry Coal Merchants’ Asso- ciation, it was decided to advance prices by 4s. 6d. per ton, and 3d. per bag of II cwt. The Donegal Guardians passed a resolution requesting the Chief Secretary to take steps to have the coal pit near Lough Eske railway station reopened. There are shafts on both sides of the line convenient to the station and only 3 miles from Donegal. Arising out of the underground hauliers’ wage dispute at Tirydail Colliery, near Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, nearly 2,000 colliers have come out on strike at neighbour- ing anthracite pits in sympathy. The men have been urged to return, the owners agreeing to abide by the decision of the Disputes Board, but so far without avail.