November 8, 1918. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current quotations. BestCumberl'nd coal at pit Eest washed nuts at pit... Seconds at pit .......... Washed nuts at pit....... Do. smalls ,, ______ Do. peas ,, ........... Best dry small, at pit .. Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scrned washed nuts ........... Oughterside best coal ____ Oughterside best washed nuts................... St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit ...........__ St. Helens (Siddick) best house nuts at pit______ Eest Cumberland coal f.o.b................... Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (foreign)... Best works fuel.......... Best gas coal ........... Best washed nuts for gas- works .......................... ...................... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 29'10 29/10 25/10 28/2 28'2 24'2 27/4 27/4 23 4 27/4 27/4 23/4 23/2 23/2 19/2 21 6 21/6 17/6 26/ 26/ — 29' 29/ 25/ 27/6 27-6 23 6 28 2 28'2 25/ 26/6 26 6 23 6 29/ 29/ 25/ 27/6 27/6 23 6 26/ 26/ 22/ 24' 24/ 20/ 35/ 35/ 31/ 38/ 38' 31/ 26/6 26 6 22 6 26 6 26 6 22/6 25 6 ________________________________ 25 6 21 6 IRON. A more hopeful situation has developed in the west coast hsematite pig iron trade this week. The trouble in the iron ore industry has been settled, and work has been resumed. The steel trade continues very brisk, and all the mills at Workington and Barrow are very fully employed. Ordinary commercial sorts are quiet, but billets and plates are in very firm request. Rails (heavy sections) are quoted at from <£10 17s. 6d. to £11 per ton, with light sections at from £14 to £16 per ton. Billets are from £10 17s. 6d. to £11 per ton; ship plates, £11 10s per ton; boiler plates, £12 10s. per ton; and heavy tram rails, from £14 to £15 per ton. Engineering is brisk, and all the shops in the district are very busily employed. ________________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the inland household trade, orders on hand still exceed available supplies, and there is urgency in the merchants’ demand. This appertains also to gas fuel, as supplies forthcoming are barely enough for daily requirements. In some cases the small stock laid by is already being entrenched upon. With regard to shipping, things have not varied to any extent to speak of since last report. Owing to diversion of steamers, contract quantities for ordinary bunkering are not being taken. Admiralty requirements are well maintained. Exports are hardly what might be expected in view of the allocations, but freight room is limited, and the issue of licences restricted. On the whole supplies of shipping coal about equal the demand, though considerable quantities are temporarily held up through steamers being detained. Much pressure continues from the Irish merchant and the control officials in Dublin to get more household coal shipped for Ireland, the effort being to get at least as much as was shipped in the latter portion of 1917, after the restrictions came into force. In slacks and manufacturing fuel of all grades there is the same keenness of demand. There is scarcely a spot lot available on the coal markets, and in many cases diversions are being made from manufacturers with above the average stock to help others who are in daily want. Prices at pit (except where otherwise state!). _______________________________________________________ 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 ’L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 27/6-28/6 • 27/6-28/6 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 25/6-26/6 25 6-26/6 28/6-29/ ' 28/6-29/ 24'6 27/ -28/ 24/6 ( 34/6* t 65/f 22/6 21 6 20/6 24/6 27/ -28/ 24/6 34/6* ) 65/f ) 226 21/6 20/6 ... prices. 23/6-24 6 27/ upwds 21 6-22;6 26/ upwds 20/6 25/ 20 6 30/6 18/6 17/6 16/6 * Allies. t Neutrals. ________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance of members on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. Considerable pressure for all qualities of house and manufacturing fuel is still in evidence, and the supply does not meet the demand. The call for shipping coal is not quite so keen as it was. Prices generally are as below ;— Prices at pit (except where otherwise state!). 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 j prices. ' 28/6 i 26/ -27/ | 24/6—25/ ; 24/ -24/6 __* Last year’s prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 __* 22/6 upwds 22/6upwdsT8/6 upwds 21/ upwds|21/ upwdsjl7/ upwds * As per official list. IRON. One finds evidence of more inclination to sell forward on the part of makers of iron and steel. It is fully expected that large numbers of Government contracts will be can- celled ; otherwise there is no change to report in prices. Delivery and the difficulty of getting their allocated quantities still remains. The fuel question is by no means scotched, and works managers are in a very bad position. Already many works have lessened turns through shortage of supplies. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 975 Yorkshire and Derbyshire. LMds. COAL. Output has been checked to a rather serious extent by influenza, and supplies all round are consequently more scarce. Colliery representatives on the Coal Exchange on Tuesday reported in some districts an increase in unavoid- able absenteeism amounting to nearly 25 per cent. The demand becomes more pressing as the season advances, especially for house coal and gas coal. So far there is no appreciable result from the rationing scheme. There is a less call for Yorkshire coal for export to France, as ship- ments from the Humber ports are reduced by one-third, being replaced, it is understood, by north-country coal, with a view to affording more ample supplies of Yorkshire coal for the railways and other inland users. The pressure for house coal is acute in regard to distant and local markets alike. London merchants are not getting enough to enable them to keep customers supplied even under the rationing scheme, and collieries are not in a position to offer any- thing. The coastwise trade continues inactive, confined to a few cargoes of contract coal. Local merchants make no headway against their arrears of orders, as supplies coming to hand are insufficient even to enable them to keep pace with the demand, much less to pay regard to recent instruc- tions requiring them to lay in stocks. For the West Riding, pit prices remain more or less nominally as follow: — Haigh Moor selected, 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; Silkstone best, 26s. to 26s. 6d ; Silkstone house, 25s. to 25s. 6d. ; and other sorts 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. With regard to the scarcity of gas coal, the position becomes more difficult, as consump- tion is on the increase. Generally speaking, deliveries barely suffice to keep the works going, without adding to stocks ; in fact, in some cases it is already necessary to dip into the low reserves. Enquiry for manufacturing fuel is very active and persistent, for while there is no appreciable falling off in the call for supplies for munition works and other concerns with first claims, the lessened output is causing great difficulty for other users. Probably not for months has the Bradford district been so bare, and hardly to a less extent does this apply to Huddersfield and other industrial centres. Coke makers make continued effort to keep up the output, as the demand cannot be fully satisfied. Pit prices are mostly nominal. Current pit prices. HulL COAL. The month opened with a very active demand for export, and available supplies for some time ahead are well booked. France and Italy continue to make strong demands, but it seems likely that shipments from now onwards will be restricted to a certain amount in the interests of the local supply, which is in a very precarious state. Official demands take up a very big proportion of the large steams, and no abatement is probable just yet. The general features of the market have undergone no change, all supplies being readily absorbed. Chesterfield. . COAL. • The coal trade of this district is without any change on the week. The demand for all classes of fuel is very fully maintained, but supplies are totally inadequate to meet the requirements of the market. Orders for house coal, already greatly in arrear, are being added to by further requisitions, which have no prospect of being honoured for several weeks to come. Coal for consumption in the large steel works of Sheffield is in pressing demand, cobbles and nuts for gas-producers being particularly wanted. Supplies of these classes of fuel are unfortunately most difficult to find, and works managers are frequently at their wits’ end to know how to carry on. There is a steady call for slack for boiler firing, of which there is a serious shortage. The position with regard to gas coal is without change, supplies being still much below requirements. Locomotive coal continues in urgent request. The demand for all qualities of coke continues strong. The export trade shows no signs of improvement. IRON. The iron trade continues brisk in every department. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) . Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best .....__ Do. house ______ House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull Haigh Moor best____... Silkstone best ....... Do. house __......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal______ Gas nuts.............. Unscreened gas eoa] ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts........... Large double-screened engine nuts ......... Small nuts............ Rough unscreened engine coal........... Bost rough slacks..... Small do.............. Coking smalls __....... Coke Price at ovens Furnace coke __........ Current |L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 25/6-26/6 25 6 -26/6 21/6-22 6 25/ -25/6 25/ -25/6 21/ -21/6 25' -25 6 i 25/ -25 6 21/ -21 6 24/ -24/6 24' 24 6 20' -20 6 22 6 23 6 22 6 -23'6 18 6 -19 6 29/6-30 ’29/6-30/ 25/6 26 28/ -29 ' ; 28' -29/ - 24' -25' 27/ -28' ; 27/ -28/ : 23/ -24' 24'6-26 6 24/6 -26 6 20 6 -22 6 22/ -22/6 i 22/ -22/6 17/6-18 6 21/ -22/ : 21/ -22/ : 17/ —18/ 20/6 21 6 I 20/6-21/6 ■ 16 6-17 6 22/6-23,6 21/6-22/6 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 19/6-20/6 17/6-18/6 18/ -19/ 22,6-23/6 21/6-22,6 20 6-21/6 20/6-21/6 19/6-20/6 17/6-18/6 18/ -19/ 18 6-19 6 17/6-18 6 16/6 -17 6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 13 6-14/6 14/ -15/ 32/ 32/ j 25/8 Barnsley. COAL. Illness in some parts of the district has a material effect on the output. The improvement following upon the steady return of miners from military service is negatived by the cause referred to, but on the whole the position is of a more satisfactory character. However, so far as the home market is concerned there is no alteration, and practi- cally no surplus lots are to be found. With the continued depletion of stocks, a period of greater test awaits consumers, but until there is some sign of reduced export to the Allies, there appears to be little chance of any improvement on home account. The collieries still feel heavy pressure, in regard to shipments for the Allies and the Admiralty. There is no relaxation in the demand for heavy supplies, which still entail the diversion of tonnage for home requirements, especially of all kinds of screened fuel. Little tonnage of hards is available for the neutral markets. At home the needs of the railway companies are becoming more urgent, with the stocks held of a low character. Though there appears to be less pressure for screened nuts on the part of munition works, the demand is still of an extensive character. The enquiry for all descrip- tions of manufacturing fuel is exceedingly brisk, but any class or quantity of fuel has to be accepted. As time goes on there is greater assurance felt in regard to gas coal supplies. Larger stocks at the works are desirable, but generally the position affords less anxiety. A marked diffi- culty is the obtaining of supplies of rough slacks for general use, and the supply of working material is still only of a reduced character. Though the output of the plants is well sustained, it is short of the consumption, and, in regard to house coal supplies, are insufficient. Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstone ....... Best Barnsley softs____ Secondary do. ........ Best house nuts ...... Secondary do_________ Steam coals:— Best hard coals....... Secondary do.......... Best washed nuts...... Secondary do.......... Best slack ........... Secondary do........__ Gas coals ■— Screened gas coals ... Unscreened do........ Gas nuts.............. Furnace coke............ Current prices. 27/ -28/6 25/ -25/6 22/ -24/ 22/6-23/6 22/ -22/6 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 22/6-23/6 21/ —22/ 19/ -19/9 16/ -17/6 (L’st week’s ! prices. ' 27/ -28/6 : 25/ -25/6 ' 23/ -24/ 22/6-23/6 22/ -22/6 Last year’s prices. 22/6-24/6 21/ —21/6 19/6-20/ 18/6-19/6 18/ -18/6 24/ -25' ; 23/ -24/ , 22/6-23/6 I 21/ -22/ ! 19/ -19/9 ! 16/ -17/6 20/ -21/ | 19/ -20/ I 18/9-19/ 18/ -18/9 I 15/ -15/6 i 13/ -13/6 23/ -23/6 23/ -23/6 22/ -22/6 i 22/ -22/6 22/ j 22/ 32/ | 32/ 19/ -19,6 18/ -18/6 18/9 32/ __________________ Nottingham. COAL. Activity prevails in every branch of the trade, and practically no fuel is obtainable in the open market. A shortage in the supply of steams continues, the output being t substantially absorbed by Government and contract orders. The irregular supply of railway wagons is causing a delay in deliveries from some of the collieries Steam nuts are in very heavy request formunition and engineering works. Regarding domestic fuel, the position has under- gone no material change. The demand still exceeds the supply, despite the fact that the output is steadily increasing. The tonnage allotted to local merchants is on a restricted scale, and though orders are executed on a rationing basis, customers have to wait their turn. There is a fair output of gas coal, which is readily disposed of on contract account. Coke is in brisk request at maximum rates. The tone in the slack market is very active, and all qualities meet with a ready sale. Coking slacks are particularly in heavy request. 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 Last year’s prices. 25/—26/ 24,1 -25/ 20/ -21/ 22/6-23/6 I 19/6-20/ 22/ -23 , 18’6-19/6 21/ -21 ’6 17/9-18 3 18/ -19/ 14/6-15/ 16/6-17/6 i 13/ -13/6 16/ -17/ | 13/ prices. 21/ -22/ 19/6-20/ _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. Although there is not the slightest easing in the pressure for speedy deliveries, changes have commenced which it is hoped will liberate a good deal of fuel for steam-raising purposes for the ordinary civilian trade, and also gradually increasing quantities of household for domestic consump- tion. It is, however, only a change in the direction of consumption - not a reduction in volume. The domestic needs are of the most urgent character, and all supplies available have to be strictly subdivided. There are very extensive calls for large and important works of a public character, and it is evident that these cannot diminish during the coming winter, because there is an absence of the usual reserves on the spot. There is still the greatest urgency to maintain the minimum deliveries day by day for London and district. Household, cobbles, large and small nuts, small fuel for automatic stokers and for steam- raising purposes generally are all in much greater demand than can be covered. Country merchants are getting more regular deliveries, but they are small in volume and entail extra cost and labour in their subdivision and delivery. Supplies of empty wagons are ample, and long delays are unavoidable, especially during the prevalence of fog. There are no reserves of any kind. Prices at pit. ; Current • prices. Best household coal ....j 24/ -25/6 Second, hand picked ____j 23/ -24/ Deep screened cobbles ...j 22/6-23/6 Deep large nuts ...........j 22 6-23/6 Bakers’ nuts.............I 21/6-22/6 Small nuts...............■ 21/ -22/ Deep breeze .............i 20/ -21/ Peas ............................ 19/6-19/9 Small dust ............. 13/6-14/6 Main nuts for London! kitcheners____ ............ 20/ -21/6 Steams, best hand picked! 20/6-21/6 Steams, seconds ... .....! 19/6-21/ Main cobbles for kitcheners: 20/ -21/6 Main breeze ______............j 19/9-20/6 L’st week’s urices. 24/ -25/6 ' 23/ -24/ 22/6—23/6 22/6-23/6 21/6-22/6 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 19/6-19/9 13/6-14/6 Last year’s prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19'6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14'9 8/6- 9/6 20/ -21/6 20/6—21/6 19/6-21/ 20/ —21/6 19/9-20/6 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14'9-15/6 _________________ South Staffordshire. North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There has been a slight increase in the allocation of household coal to Birmingham, but supplies are still inadequate, and pressure is being put upon the various classes of consumers to use coal sparingly. The output from the pits shows some little improvement, but there are openings for every ton, and the general situation is in no wise relieved. Many works in the district are harassed by