1084 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 22, 1918. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 21. __________ ________________________________ Scotland.—Western District. COAL. It is tQo early t© expect any great alteration in the coal business, but the changed condition of things will un- doubtedly have an effect in the near future. The return of the miners will add to the output, while the relaxation of the heavy continuous stoking at many of the munition factories will release large quantities for other purposes. Admiralty requirements, too, should not be so heavy. The West of Scotland collieries report a sustained demand for all descriptions of fuel, especially in household qualities, owing to the colder weather. Merchants have great diffi- culty in fulfilling orders, due to a lack of labour. Shipping is fairly active, and is improving. Clearances for the week amounted to 51,447 tons, compared with 79,2^7 in the preceding week, and 79,404 tons in the same week last year. Prices are unchanged so far, being still under Government control. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current |L’st week’s Last year’s prices. ! prices. prices. Steam coal 34/6 1 34/6 27/6 Ell 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ Splint i 35/ -37/ i 35' -37/ 28/ -30' Treble nuts 30/ ; 30/ ■. 23/ Double do 29/ ! 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ i 28/ 21/ IRON. There has not been time to note much change in the Scotch iron trade. All branches of the trade are very active, and are likely to remain so for a considerable period in view of the numerous calls for material which have recently been received. Stocks of pig iron everywhere are greatly depleted, and makers will have as much as they can tackle for a long time ahead. At present haematite and foundry qualities continue scarce, with forge iron in fair supply. Malleable iron makers, also, have plenty of business to fall back on when war orders are a thing of the past. Generally speaking, it only requires the removal of Government restrictions on transactions to free an enormous amount of ordinary business, to say nothing of material necessary for reconstruction work in the devastated countries. In the matter of prices, too, a readjustment will be necessary, but in the meantime the cost of an article is a secondary consideration. ________ ________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. The Lothian collieries have plenty of business, and local consumers are still receiving better supplies owing to smaller shipping requirements Shipments amounted to 17,010 tons, against 17,595 in the preceding week and 17,013 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices Best screened steam coal... 33/6 33/6 26/6 Secondary qualities 32/6 32/6 25/6 Treble nuts 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ ^z 28/ 21/ Business in Fifeshire is very active, and here also local consumers are obtaining better supplies. All descriptions of fuel are in eager demand, and outputs are only restricted by the supply of labour available. Shipments were 13,296 tons, as against 23,791 in the preceding week, and 36,593 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation 1 Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 36/ -38/ 36/ -38/ 29/ -31/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ 24/ -25/ First-class steam coal 35/ 35/ 28/ Third-class do 31/ 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 29/ 22/ Single do ^z 28/ 1 28/ 21/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 81,753 tons, compared with 120,643 in the preceding week, and 133,010 tons in the corresponding week of last year. _________________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL During the later days of last week, conditions in the local mining industry did not differ much from those which prevailed at the time of the writing of our previous report. Only partial resumptions of work were made at some of the pits, whilst others lay idle throughout the week. With the beginning of the present week, the miners turned up to work in practically full numbers and trade resumed its normal aspect. It is regarded as probable that the output will be fully up to the average this week. Last week's cessation of operations had at least the advantage that it permitted the accumulation of a large supply of official tonnage, arrivals of which under ordinary circumstances would have been insufficient. The collieries have resumed production with a very full supply of vessels on hand and in sight, and there is likely to be no impediment to the regularity of large shipments for some days to come. The demands for fuel on Government and Allied accounts con- tinue to be healthy. The enquiry on home account, whilst rather less, perhaps, for engineering and munition works, is still well sustained in all other industrial directions, and is particularly heavy so far as gas undertakings are con- cerned. There is, too, a large request for coal from our neutral customers, but at present this is having to be ignored, there being very small supplies available for ship- ment to neutrals before the turn of the year. Much interest was manifested in the announcement that the Coal Exports Committee was prepared to consider appli- cations for licences to export coal to Holland from the Northumberland and Durham districts and anthracite from Wales, but the speedy correction of the Coal Controller — that this was to fulfil an obligation incurred some months ago, when Holland supplied us with ships, and did not arise from any circumstance which had occurred since the armistice, nor did it mean that there were surplus stocks of coal in this country which permitted of export in the ordinary trading sense—rather sobered optimists The Scandinavian countries are all willing buyers of coal at the scheduled prices, but business with them just now is rather attenuated, because apart from the fact that available stocks of coal are limited, considerable difficulty is experienced by exporters in obtaining supplies of neutral tonnage at what they regard as reasonable rates. In the bunker section there is a good demand on official account, but this request is not sufficient to absorb existing stocks, and exceedingly little is moving off for neutrals. So far as coke is concerned, numerous orders are in circulation for foreign shipment, but here again the tonnage scarcity is playing a big part in hampering shipments. There is absolutely no change in quotation in any section of the market. Coal owners are inclined to chafe over the supposed unwillingness of the Coal Controller to recognise that, now that we are so effectively drawing Germany's teeth and making it impos- sible for her to contemplate a resumption of hostilities, the time has arrived for a very considerable and quick demobilisation of the miners. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals.-— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. i Last year s 1 prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37/ -70/ 37/ -70/ 30 -32/6 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) | 36/6-69/ i 36/6-69/ 29 6-32/ Secondary, Blyths | 32/6-64/ | 32/6-64' 25 6 -28/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 1 , 34/ -64/ 1 34/ -64' ! 27/ -29/6 23/6-27,6 Unscreened 30,6-61/8 30/6-61'8 Small, Blyths 27/ -45/ 25/6-42/ 27/ -45/ 20/ -22 6 Do. Tynes 25/6-42/ 18'6-21/ Do. specials 27/6-45/ 27/6-45/ 20/6-23/ Other sorts: — Smithies 32/ -60/ 32/ -60 25/ -32/6 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -55/ 32/ -55/ i ! 25/ -27/6 Secondary gas coeds (Pelaw Main or similar) 30/6-52.6 30/6-52'6 23/6 -26/ Special gas coals 33 6-57/ 33,6-57/ : 26/6-29/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 31/ - 55/ ! 31/ -55/ 26 6 27 6 Do. do. Northumbrians 31/ -55/ 1 31/ -55/ 26 6-27 6 Coking coals ' 31/ -55/ ! 31/ -55/ 2 V -27,6 Do. smalls ! 31/ -55/ ; 31/ -55/ 1 21/ -27/6 House coals ; 35/6-70/ i 35/6-70/ : 28 6-32/ Coke, foundry : 49/6 -“5/ 49/6-55/ ' 42 6-45/ Do. blast-furnace ■ 49/6-65/ ) 49/6-65/ 42,6-45/ Do. gas ; 47 6 47 6 35/ -37 6 Sunderland. COAL. The coal market opened this week with a somewhat brisker tone. The arrival of tonnage during the holiday was considerable, and the pits have a full supply of boats on hand to load. Shipments therefore promise to be fully sustained. A feature of the market is the expanding enquiry on neutral account—Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland all being active buyers at the schedule prices. The official demand for shipment to France is also heavy, while the enquiry on home trade account is good, though there is naturally a lessening pressure on the part of the munition works. With the full supply of shipping the demand for bunkers has sharply improved. Coke is in full request, and orders are circulating for foreign shipment, but tonnage is not very readily available for coke cargoes. There is no change whatever in prices which remain at the customary schedule figures for the home, Allied and neutral trades. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. coal. Coal is scarce, for the prevailing opinion is that there will be a tight squeeze for supplies between now and Christmas. Enquiries from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland are on a very substantial scale, but the political unrest in neutral areas appears to inspire a spirit of caution. Traders seem to hold the view that the present is hardly a time for speculative operations. With official orders urgent and heavy, merchants are left with very little coal to handle Tonnage is coming forward well. The coke branch is steady and firm. Supply is much improved, and no difficulty is experienced in satisfying the very heavy demand for local use. Average blastfurnace quality is 33s., at the ovens; and low phosphorus sort 35s. 6d. at the ovens. Foundry coke for neutrals remains at 65s, f.o.b. Middlesbrough docks. IRON. As regards pig iron, an uncertain feeling prevails as to the future course of prices, and the extent to which control of trade will be relaxed. Consumers of Cleveland forge pig iron are rather keen to place orders both for early and forward delivery, but makers are disinclined to c minit themselves ahead to any extent. Home demand for foundry quality is also good. Transactions with the Allies in Cleveland iron continue, and very substantial enquiries on behalf of neutrals are reported, but as yet business with the latter is limited. Applications for licences to export to neutrals meet with little success. For home con- sumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, 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 122s. 9d.; and No. 1, 127s. 9d. In the east coast haematite branch production is adequate to all home needs. Parcels for the Allies are on a rather smaller scale than they have been. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. In manufactured iron and steel, demand for shipbuilding and constructional material is still heavy, but in other branches there is now some slackness owing to cancellation of Government orders. The slackness is likely to be only temporary, as there are very numerous private orders to be placed as quickly as possible. Quotations are maintained. _________________ Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal trade is still suffering from the effects of the holidays last week. After being idle for two days a bad start was made on Wednesday morning, and in consequence production dropped to a very low level. As the iron ore mines and most of the steelmakers had a holiday, little or no inconvenience resulted. Now that work has been fully resumed at all the collieries, it is expected that production will soon be normal again. The market is in a very firm condition, and all branches are exceedingly busy. With a smaller output, however, nearly all consumers have been on short rations. Important users at the iron and steel works had some fairly good stocks on hand. There is a marked shortage of coal for landsale purposes, and the amount available for shipping this week has been lower than it has been for months. Best steam coal and all varieties of fuel for industrial purposes are in request, but local works requirements have not been quite so heavy during the last week or two. Bunkers are a shade easier, but gas coal is firmer, and with the return to street lighting, gas com- panies and others are pressing for bigger deliveries. Loco- motive fuels are steady, but there is still a big shortage of smalls and coking fuels, and without the importation of large quantities from outside districts it would still be impossible to keep all the coke plants going. The shipping trade, like all other accounts, is at present suffering from shortage. Irish consumers are not receiving more than one half of the coal they require. The coke industry c mtinues to be fairly well employed, but the output has again diminished, and coke makers are still having a big struggle to keep all their ovens going over the week-end. Qu>tations are unchanged. Current quotations. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’; prices. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit 29'10 29/10 25/10 Best washed nuts at pit... 28/2 28'2 24/2 Seconds at pit 27'4 27 '4 23/4 Washed nuts at pit 27/4 27'4 23/4 Dg. smalls „ 23 2 23/2 19/2 Do. peas „ 21 6 21/6 17/6 Best dry small, at pit 26/ 26/ — Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scrned 29/ 29/ 25/ washed nuts 27'6 27 6 23/6 25/ Oughterside best coal ... . Oughterside best washed <8 2 28/2 nuts ... St. Helens (Siddick) best 26/6 26,6 23/6 coal at pit St. Helens ^Siddick) best 29/ 29/ 25/ house nuts at pit Best Cumberland coal, 27/6 27/6 23 6 f.o.b 26/ 26/ 22/ Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 24/ 24/ 20/ Best bunkers (coastwise) 35/ 35/ 31/ Do. (foreign)... 38' 38' 31/ Best works fuel 26/6 26 6 22 6 Best gas coal. Best washed nuts for gas- 26 6 26 6 22/6 works . 2j 6 25 6 I 21'6 s IRON. The position of the haematite pig iron trade in Cumber- land and North Lancashire continues fairly satisfactory. The steel works at Workington and Barrow have been idle for a few days. In all other departments there is still a great am mnt of activity in all parts of the district. Production is large, and although war work has practically ceased, requirements are still big enough to absorb the entire output. The demand for metal is as keen as ever, and all the iron that can be made is readily absorbed. Prices are maintained at the official maximum. There are 31 furnaces in blast in the whole dis trict. Two of the furnaces at Oldside are engaged on spiegel and ferro-manganese, and the remainder are employed in making Bessemer, special and semi-special iron. Owing to the peace celebrations, there was very little done in the iron ore industry up till Wednesday; but as smelters had some good stocks of ore on hand, no inconvenience was experienced at any of the works. All the mines are now in full swing, and production will soon be normal again. Engineering is fairly brisk, but some of the shops are not quite so busy as they were. ________ ________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the household trade the quantity available is not equal to the demand, and perhaps the shortage is keenest in the qualities which are usually vended by the smaller dealers. There is a fair amount of business in coal ship- ments to France and British possessions. Bunker coal is in fair request, but supplies are rather restricted. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade much more is enquired for than can be produced, but a fair proportion seems to be going through the docks for It eland and coastwise generally. There is a good deal of pressure from gasworks for supplies, as often where they have quantities in stock they plead inability to find labour to fill it except in small quantities. In manufacturing fuel of all grades, notwith- standing the lessened work at some of the munition plants, there is difficulty in keeping pace with the demand. 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 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 27/6-28/6 27/6-28/6 23/6-24'6 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 27/ upwds 25/6-26/6 ■ 25 6-26/6 21 6-22 6 28/6-29/ I 28/6-29/ 26/ upwds 24/6 24'6 20/6 27/ -28/ ' 27/ -28/ 25/ 24/6 i 24/6 20 6 ( 34/6* ' 34/6*) on /R I 65/t 65/f 5 Wp) 22/6 22/6 18/6 21 6 21/6 17/6 20/6 20/6 16/6 * Allies. t Neutrals. ________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The pressure continues for all classes of house and manufacturing coal, and supplies are by no means plentiful. The demand for shipping coal is not quite so keen as it has been in recent weeks. Prices generally are as follow:—