502 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 6, 1918. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, September 5. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. There is no change to report in the Scotch coal trade. The prevailing feature is the shortage of supplies both for home consumption and export. Everything produced is quickly absorbed and all qualities are behind with deliveries. Shipments amounted to 123,483 tons, against 115,424 in the preceding week and 114,510 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coal prices. prices. prices. 34/6 34/6 27/6 Ell 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ Splint 35/ -37/ 35/ -37/ 28/ -30/ Treble nuts .. 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ 28/ 21/ IRON. Activities in the Scotch iron trade are maintained as fully as possible. War necessities still monopolise the bulk of the output, and very little ordinary business is passing. As regards pig iron, haematite continues to receive most attention and is in fair supply. Foundry iron could hardly be scarcer, while forge quality is not over plentiful. Values are firm, with a tendency to appreciate. Monkland and Carnbroef.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1,140s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Govan, No. 1,135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 150s., Nos. 3, 145s.; Glen- garnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3,135s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts at Leith, No.l, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. Malleable iron makers still find business un- affected by the dearer prices. Anything going through for export is of an urgent nature, with price a secondary con- sideration. Wrought iron and steel tubes are in large demand at present. Structural and other engineers have very full order books and only the supply of raw materials and labour restrict the output. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians are heavily booked and have very little “free” fuel at the moment. Home deliveries, too, are difficult to obtain. Shipments were 18,229, against 16,274 in the preceding week, and 16,957 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities Treble nuts Current prices. 33/6 32/6 30/ 29/ 28/ L’st week’s prices. 33/6 32/6 30/ 29/ 28/ Last year’s prices 26/6 25/6 23/ 22/ 21/ Double do Single do Fifeshire collieries have a firm Government demand for fuel, and best qualities are quickly taken up. Clearances vrere 46,006 tons, against 39,930 in the preceding week and 3,4,289 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Bpst screened navigation coal Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s . prices. prices. 36/ -38/ 36/ -38/ 29/ -31/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ 24/ -25/ First-class steam coal 35/ 35/ 28/ Third-class do 3.1/ 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ 29/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 22/ Single do. 28/ 28/ 21/. All prices quoted apply only to French and Italian busi- ness. The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 187,718 tons, compared with 171,628 in the preceding week and 165,756 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-on-Ty ne. COAL. The difficulties resulting from the detention of expected tonnage at Allied discharging ports are still responsible for a considerable amount of ease in the local coal market, albeit the position is improved by comparison with a week ago. Steam coal collieries are fairly well supplied with requisitioned tonnage and railway trucks at the time of writing, although these transport facilities are sufficiently moderate to allow otthere being a surplus of coal available for spot shipment to those neutrals who can command ready tonnage. At the gas coal pits, the position is not so favourable, for neither steamers nor railway wagons are to hand in anything like satisfactory volume. Generally speaking, neutrals still have a fine opportunity of replenishing their depleted stores, but in most instances are unable to avail themselves of this opportunity, by reason of the fact that neutral tonnage is even more scarce than Allied. For forward loading there is any amount of enquiry, alike on official, home and neutral accounts, and late prices are steadily upheld. It is understood that the Norwegian State Railways are appealing to the British authorities to be allowed to take their supplies of loco- motive coal unburdened by the stipulation as to a percentage of smalls. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. | prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37' -70/ 37/ -70/ 1 30/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 36/6-70/ 36/6-70/ ' 29/6 Secondary, Blyths 32/6-65/ 32/6-65/ . 25/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 34/ -65/ 34/ -651 27/ Unscreened 30/6-40/ 30/6-40/ 23/6-25/ Small, Blyths 27/ -45/ 25/6-40/ 27/ -45/ 20' Do. Tynes ... 25/6-40/ 18 6 Do. specials .... 27/6-45/ 27/6-45/ 20 6 Other sorts:— Smithies 32/ -40/ 32/ -40/ 25/ -30/6 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -50/ 32/ -50/ 25/ Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 30/6-45/ 30/6-42'6 33/6-55/ 23/6 Special gas coals 33/6-55/ 26/6-30/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 31 /-47/6 31/ -47/6 . 24/ -25/ Do. do. N orthumbr ians 31/ -45/ 31/ -45/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ Coking coals 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ Do. smalls 31/ -40/ 24/ -25/ ' House coals 35/6-70/ 35/6-70/ 28/6-30/ Coke, foundry 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 42'6 Do. blast-furnace ’ 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 42'6 Do. gas 4...| 47/6 47,6 29/ -30/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market has a better tendency. Tonnage is coming forward more satisfactorily, though not adequately, and there is a prospect of more activity in shipments this week. Official requirements for shipment are already larger, and the home demand, too, is active. Deliveries are still somewhat handicapped. The neutral enquiry is brisk, but actual business is limited by the scar- city of boats. Prices for open market sale remain firm, and current figures are readily obtained for forward shipment— 70s. for steams and 45s. for smalls being paid for delivery October-November. Gas coal is 50s. to 55s. for best, and 45s. to 48s. for seconds. Bunkers are in stronger request and less easy to arrange, with ordinaries at 42s. 6d. to 47 s. 6d.; superiors 48s. to 55s., and screened special bunkers 60s. to 70s. The coke demand continues strong, but supplies remain scarce. For good foundry 65s. is offered by neutrals. Gashouse quality is firm at 45s. to 47s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade shows little change. Tonnage continues to be the most important factor, but it is gratifying to be able to report some little improvement in this direction, and output of fuel is rather better. Gas coal is in heavy request, and deliveries would be larger if the tonnage difficulty were less. There is a good demand for bunker coal, and supplies are said to be none too easily arranged. Coking coal is promptly taken up. Neutral business in fuel shows no alteration. Some local consumers have recently received rather better deliveries of coke, but there is a shortage. Demand is as insistent as ever. Average blast- furnace quality is 33s. at the ovens, and low phosphorus sort 35s. 6d. at the ovens. For neutral business 65s. f.o.b. Middlesbrough docks is still offered for good foundry coke, "* but with little or no success. IRON. For the first time since May 10 last, the return of the stock of Cleveland pig iron in the public warrant stores shows a change, 40 tons having been taken out, thus reducing the quantity held to 250 tons, all of which is No. 3 quality. The pig iron market is steady, firm and fairly active. September allocations of Cleveland foundry iron are coming forward satisfactorily, but this quality is anything but plentiful, and, indeed, merchants complain of difficulty in obtaining supplies, though recently produc- tion of foundry pig has sho^n some increase, and prospects are regarded as slightly more favourable to con- sumers. At the same time prevailing conditions prohibit supply of foundry iron to otheiTthan Class A consumers. On the other hand, forge quality, which is not restricted by allocation, is plentiful, and is selling rather freely for delivery as far ahead as the end of the year. Shortage of labour still hampers distribution, but all the iron that can be handled is despatched promptly to customers. Export trade in Cleveland pig is proceeding steadily through official channels. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland, 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 119s., and No. 1 is 124s. The heavy demand for east coast haematite shows no abatement, and with supply limited, but for the increased use of basic iron by steel makers, and the effort to uphold supply of scrap for steel making, stringency in this branch would be most pronounced. As matters stand, by careful distribution under official supervision, urgent home needs are adequately dealt with, and a fair surplus of iron is left to meet the pressing requirements of France and Italy. Mixed numbers of haematite are 122s. 6d. for home use and 147s. 6d. for export to the Allies. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are very busily employed. Producers of shipbuilding material have their work well in hand, but in some other departments much pressure for delivery is reported. Prices are very stiff. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The Cumberland coal industry continues in an exceed- ingly brisk condition. There is a strong market for all classes of fuel, and the entire output is readily absorbed. The pits are working regularly, and production is fairly satisfactory. The demand for coal for local con- sumption is unabated. The home market is firmer. Owing to the scarcity of smalls coke makers are having a keen struggle to keep all their plants at work. Landsale is improving. Bunkers are in firm request, and gas coal is very steady, but supplies are scarce. The collieries are still so busy locally that they are unable to give much attention to the export market. The shipments for August amounted to 12,920 tons, compared with 13,795 for July, and 9,375 for the corresponding period of last year. Current quotations. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit Lest washed nuts at pit... Seconds at pit Current L’st week's Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 28/4 28/4 23/4 26/8 26'8 21/3 25/10 25/10 20/10 Washed nuts at pit 25/10 25/10 20/10 21/8 21/8 16/8 20/ 20/ 15/ Dg. smalls ,, Do. peas ,, Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at nit 27 6 27 6 22/6 26/ 26/ 21/ 27,6 27'6 22/6 26/ 26/ 21/ 27,6 27/6 22/6 26/ 26/ 21/ 23/ 23/ 19/6 21/ 21/ 17/6 33 6 33/6 28,6 36/ 36/ 28 6 25/ 25/ 20/ 25/ 25/ 20/ 24/ 21/ 19/ Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit BestCumberl’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 IRON. The condition of the haematite pig iron trade in the district between Mary port and Carnforth is unchanged. The situation at present is fairly satisfactory; but there is no immediate prospect of an increase in production. Smelters are receiving fairly good deliveries of foreign and local iron ore. The Cumberland iron ore industry is in a remarkably brisk condition. All the mines are working regularly, and the output is now larger and more satis- factory than it has been for some time. The demand for. all grades of native ore is very keen. South-West Lancashire. COAL. A strong demand is maintained for all descriptions of household coal, and although deliveries from the collieries show some improvement upon those of rhe previous month, pressure for delivery far exceeds the supplies forthcoming. Requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export tend, if anything, to increase, the demand on Admiralty account being especially heavy. The recent stoppage in the York- shire coal field has affected supplies, causing the shortage for the time being to be more marked. In the coastwise trade a good deal of pressure continues to be exercised by the merchants for better supplies, particularly in mid and south Ireland. With regard to gas fuel, strenuous attempts are being made by the gas companies to get in some reason- able stock for winter, but up to the present not with very marked success. In slacks and all grades of manufacturing fuel no relaxation in the pressure is to be noted, and there is barely enough to supply even present somewhat curtailed requirements. 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/ ______* 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, t As per official list. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was only a moderate attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. There is nothing fresh to report in the coal trade. All classes of fuel are in con- siderable demand, offers of engine fuel being entirely absent, and there is a continuance of the strong call for coal for shipment. Prices generally are as below.-— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current iL’st week’s prices. prices. 28 6 | 28/6 26/ -27/ ! 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24'6-25/ House coal:— Best .............. Medium............. Common............. Furnace coal......... 24/ -24 '6,24/ -24/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) —* • —* Best slack ........... 22 6 upwds 22/6upwds Common slack ..........!211 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 Tuesday in Manchester, but no change to report in the -state of i rade in this district. All works are fully engaged on war material, and there is nothing new of importance to record. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was the usual good attendance at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday, but business was quiet. The market is completely controlled, so large a proportion of the output being required to satisfy the Controller’s instructions that what is left for distribution in the ordinary channels is totally insufficient to meet the heavy demand. The collieries have settled down again after the recent upset, but a greatly increased output would be required to ease the situation. The scarcity of house coal is severely felt, in regard to London and the south and the nearer districts alike. Local merchants are working