870 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN October 25, 1918. towards reducing absenteeism, but the crux of the situation is the labour difficulty, as the men being returned from the Army to the pits do not represent such a reinforcement of labour as is necessary to overtake the prevailing shortage. Merchants cannot cope with all the orders reaching them from householders. IRON. Business is proceeding quietly. With prices high and the outlook uncertain, manufacturers hesitate to enter into forward contracts. Output, however, is not being pre- judiced, nor is there any relaxation of effort. The Ministry of Munitions has granted an advance in furnacemen’s wages to the extent of Is. per shift, with an extra payment for week-ends, retrospective to August. Selling prices of pig iron will, it is understood, not be affected, furnace owners being reimbursed by the Ministry. The furnaces are working rather more smoothly, and output of foundry grades is a shade better. The demand is all-absorbing, and deliveries fall short of requirements. Bar iron makers have outlets for all their material for some time to come. Makers of agricultural implements are large buyers of the best iron, and a very large tonnage is taken up on behalf of the anchor and cable industries of Cradley. Special chain iron, too, is in active demand, at a price about 10s. a ton above that paid for nut and bolt iron, which is £14 15s., plus carriage. A considerable proportion comes from Lancashire, from which district the local wire drawing mills have also to largely depend for their supplies of rods, American supplies being limited. These fetch the full price of £21 10s., and the drawn wire .£24. The flow of bars for the sheet mills is steady, though most of the mills could do with more, especially those engaged entirely on official work. Plate cuttings are not always suitable by reason of their odd lengths, but firms employed on the production of nail and other sheets are able to utilise these, which they procure at <£10 7s. 6d. at works. Little improvement is to be expected in the position of puddled bars while present conditions last. Working staffs are deficient, and composed largely of elderly men, who are unable to turn out the full yield. Producers, therefore, are compelled to restrict supplies to their own particular customers at the control price of <£11 10s., and they decline to enter into contracts. There is no information concerning the expected revision of gas strip, in connection with which complaints are heard that the present maximum price of <£15 5s. is unremunerative. There are openings for all descriptions of scrap —cast, wrought iron, and steel. A small business, and that mainly on Government account, is passing in copper sheets at <£161. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The past week has provided nothing new to report in connection with either the house or steam coal trade of this district. Merchants are still pressing for deliveries of house qualities, but the collieries are unable to forward the allocated quantities owing to “ emergency orders,” lessened output, influenza and various other reasons. The weather has moderated, and shipments have been heavier. All the steam coal collieries are overwhelmed with orders. Full time is being worked by all the pits of the district. Prices at pithead. I Current House coals :— prices. Block 'x Rubble J barge... 30/ Nuts 7 ' Rough slack ..........! 20'6 Steam coal.— , Large ................i 26/6-27/6 Small.................I 23/ L’st week’s Last year *s : prices. prices. ( 26/6 30/ ) 25/6 1 25/9 124/ 20,6 16/ 26/6-27/6 i 22/6-23 6 : 23/ | 18/ -19/ Prices 2s. l|d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 24. Dublin. Business is carried on with the greatest difficulty, some of the merchants being hopelessly in arrears with their orders. Prices recently fixed by the Corporation Coal Prices Committee are .-—Best quality, 57s. 6d. per ton; second quality, 56s. 6d.; standard coal, 53s. 6d. for cash. Retail price, 3s. lOd. per bag of 1$ cwt. in the city. The Dublin Corporation agreed to a resolution calling for a coal rationing scheme to secure equal distribution, and urging the Coal Controller to press for increased supplies for Dublin. It is understood that the Controller has submitted to the Chief Secretary proposals for effecting economy, and that these proposals are being considered. One of the leading mining engineers in the North of England recently visited the Irish coal mines to make an investigation, with a view to the enlargement of the output as rapidly as possible. It is reported that a further supply of coal for Limerick will not be available for some time, and a serious deadlock in business is likely to result. Belfast. There is no improvement in supplies, and stocks in some instances are quite depleted. Current quotations for house- hold coal arranged by the Corporation Committee are:— Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d.; all less Is. per ton for cash; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton net cash. At a meeting held at the City Hall last week in reference to the coal shortage, a resolution was passed demanding an equal distribution. The Coal Controller was called upon to allocate in rotation the services of any steamers regularly employed for the carrying of coal. The Belfast Coal Committee gave notice that, with the sanction of the Coal Controller, registered bell- men and hawkers of coal in the county borough of Belfast are authorised to charge 2d. per bag for delivery, in addition to the schedule price fixed. From September 29 to October 12, the total number of coal-laden vessels arriving in the harbour was 125. Germany’s coal exports to Sweden in September last amounted to 132,680 tons. Mr. C. A. Magrath, Fuel Controller, has been appointed Director of Coal Operations for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. About 120,000 men employed at mines were granted compensation during 1917 for injuries received while at work. The great majority of the cases were underground. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 24. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The market has undergone little change. Tonnage has been arriving in increasing volume, and some delay has occurred in consequence of supplies of coal not being sufficient to meet demands, although there has been a steady improvement in the output. Best large steam coal continues to be commandeered for official purposes. Other qualities are freer. A good deal of small came on the market and met with a ready sale. Gas coals have been in great request. The make of patent fuel has been restricted owing to a lack of labour. Household coke has a very ready sale. 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/ 32 6 Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y 36/ 36/ 31/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 36/ 36/ 31/6 Secondary do. 35/ 35/ 30/6 Best small coals 28/ 28/ 23 6 Secondary do 27/ 1 ! 27/ 22/6 Inferior do 25/ 25/ 20/6 Screenings 30/ 30/ 25/6 Through coals 34/ 34/ 29/6 Best washed nuts 37/ ' 37/ 32/6 Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit ... 40/ i 40/ 35/6 Secondary do. do. ...! 38/ 1 38/ 33/3 Patent fuel 37/ 37/ 35/ Furnace coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 IRON. All the works are engaged to their utmost capacity on official account. Prices are nominal. A steady supply of iron ore has been maintained from home and overseas mines. Heavy work has been turned out with satisfactory despatch from several of the establishments in the district. Tin-plate makers are full of orders till the end of the year. Cardiff. COAL. Although work at the pits has been fully maintained, the position is by no means easy, and even the Admiralty collieries have experienced difficulty during the last few days in keeping pace with the demand for their outputs. Speaking generally, Admiralty pits are fairly well stemmed, but tonnage is not coming forward as freely as anticipated, and work is more or less of a day-to-day character. All superior grades are reserved for official purposes, and there is no margin for private trade. Secondary qualities are in good demand, and these are heavily ordered for inland industrial purposes. Best bunker smalls are selling freely, but cargo sorts and inferior descriptions move off slowly, and stocks are increasing, both in the sidings and at the collieries. Banking is resorted to, in order to release wagons. The demand for coke is as great as ever, and in order that home requirements should not suffer, exports are restricted. Patent fuel makers complain that they are unable to increase their outputs, owing to shortage of labour. House and gas coals are in heavy request. All prices remain unchanged on the basis of the Controller’s fixed schedule. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals 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) Current prices. 40/ 38/6 I 37/9 1 37/ 1 28/6 1 28/ i 27/6 ! 27/ j 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' 1 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L'st week’s prices. 1 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 I ' 33/ ' ' 34/ ' 29/ -30/6 ' 24/ -26' j 37/ 1 37/ 54/6 ' 54/6 I 54/6 65/ Last year’s ! prices. i ! 33/ 31/6 1 30/9 i 30/ i 21/6 21/ 20/6 I 20/ 19/6 19/ 18.6 18/ 30/ 28/6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30/9 30,9 26/ 27/ 22/ -23/6 17/ -19/ ' 30/ ! 30/ ! 47/6 47/6 47/6 70/ -75/ IRON. The position of the tin-plate trade is unaltered, and makers have difficulty in coping with the demands, owing to the shortage of labour. Shipments last week were heavier than usual, and amounted to 47,001 boxes, against 17,492 boxes the previous week and 26,429 boxes a year ago. Receipts from works totalled 30,623 boxes, compared with 42,076 boxes the previous week, leaving 134,783 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans, against 52,737 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Block tin remains steady at <£333 10s. for cash and three months, and Bessemer standard cokes command 32s. 3d. per box, with other sizes in proportion. All the iron and steel works of the district are working at high pressure, and the demand for their outputs continues unabated. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, and all the mills operating are producing black plate and painted sheets for Govern- ment purposes. Prices are nominal. Scrap metals are in short supply, and maximum prices are readily obtained. Swansea. COAL. There was a good attendance on ’Change, but conditions were unaltered. Business opened quietly, and unfortu- nately, the arrival of tonnage over the week-end was not very good. Best anthracite large was steady, and cobbles were a fairly good market. French nuts were in steady request. Stove nuts were quiet, and were offered more freely. Beans were slow. In steam coals large was in fairly good demand, and through was in better request. The lower classes of steam coals were still weak. Llanelly. COAL. There is little improvement to report in the trade of the port during the past week. Tonnage arrivals are still below market requirements, and this has given an easy tone to several qualities on the market. Collieries are also affected by the insufficiency of empty wagons, and are compelled to have idle days. Inland consumers are pressing for their deliveries, but it is impossible to give satisfaction under present conditions. In anthracite coals large kinds of the higher qualities and the Red Vein sorts are firm, with a strong inland enquiry for the latter com- modity. In the machine-made section the larger kinds are firm, cobbles and nuts holding a steady position. Beans are slightly easier, but there is no easing off in the position of peas, and spire parcels are difficult to secure Culm and duff are both unchanged. Steam coals continue irregular, owing to the unsatisfactory tonnage position. Large kinds are fairly firm, especially the better qualities, but throughs, both bunker and cargoes, are not in strong demand. Smalls are very easy, and the lower grades are sluggish. Manufacturing coals are in good demand, and there is a strong demand for gas qualities. Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite; — prices. i prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 36/ 36/ 29/ Thirds | 34/6 34/6 27/6 Red Vein large... l 34/6 34/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds ... ! 48/6 48/6 41/ Thirds 46/ j 46/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles j 43/ 1 43/ 36/ Machine-made nuts j 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds j 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/ '-'I 15/ 8/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through 23/6 Seconds 22/ Bunker through 30/6 30/6 23/6 Smalls 24/ 24/ 19/ Second smalls - — - - 17/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls 31/ 31/ 24/ Gas through 23/6 Gas smalls . — 21/ (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54/6 SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. South Wales and Monmouthshire absorb almost all the pitwood imported into this country. Owing to the large quantity of coal which is shipped to France from South Wales to French ports, there is ample tonnage available for the carriage of pitwood as a ballast return. Without pit- wood as a back cargo, the vessels engaged in the French coal trade would be forced to return in ballast. Last month the total quantity of mining timber imported into the United Kingdom amounted to 49,811 loads. Out of this total South Wales received 47,748 loads. Home Grown and Foreign Imports. The returns of the Board of Trade for the nine months ending with September show that 585,801 loads of mining timber were imported into the United Kingdom, which compares with 806,466 loads imported in the corresponding period of last year. The further sharp falling-off in foreign imports has been made up by the heavy exploitation of home-grown resources. The cutting down of our woods and forests has proceeded apace, and has been much in advance of transport facilities to deal with such cutting. There is a very large amount of wood lying about in various districts awaiting hauliers. Collieries are very well stocked, and there is no danger of any shortage being shown in the winter. Last Week’s Imports. The imports of Irish pitwood were upon a fairly good scale. The quantity of mining timber imported from foreign countries was also good, the following being the actual consignments received:— Date. Consignee. Loads. Oct. 12 E. Marcesche and Co 480 „ 12 E. Marcesche and Co 360 „ 14 Lysberg Limited 720 „ 14 E. Marcesche and Co 24 „ 14 E. Marcesche and Co 48 „ 14 Lysberg Limited 60 „ 14 Morgan and Cadogan . ... 240 „ 14 Bromage and Co 960 „ 16 Budd and Co 163 „ 16 Budd and Co 125 „ 16 Lysberg Limited 1,320 „ 16 Budd and Co . 40 „ 17 Vyvyan Kelly 720 Total ........... 5,260 Prices were at the top scheduled levels.