THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _________________________________________________________________________________ December 20, 1918. 1305 without success. The Coal Controller has informed the secretary of the Newcastle Commercial Exchange that a large number of miners will be released from the Army early in the new year, and that thereafter the output of coal should rapidly increase and allow a larger amount of export business to be done This news, together with that to the effect that the early release of all key or pivotal men engaged in the export trades is in contemplation, is very welcome to the local commercial community. In view of the virtual suspension of neutral shipments, f.o.b. quota- tions remain nominally steady this week. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. ; Current Steam coals :— i prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37/ -80/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.)' 36/6—80/ Secondary, Blyths ....I 32/6-67[6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ...34/ -70' Unscreened ..........■ 30/6-61/8 Small, Blyths ........27/ -50/ Do. Tynes..........i 25/6-45/ .............. Do. specials........\ 27/6-50/ Other sorts: — Smithies.............. 32/ 60' Best gas coals (New, Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -65/ Secondary gas co pas (Pelaw Mainorsimilar) 30/6-60/ Special gas coals ...... 33/6-65/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 31/ -65/ Do. do. Northumbrians 31/ -55/ Coking coals.......... 31/ -55/ Do. smalls .... 31/ -55/ House coals .......... 35/6-75/ Coke, foundry .......... 49/6-65/ Do. blast-furnace...... 49/6-65/ Do. gas ........'............| 52 6-55/ iL’stweek’s; Last year’s j prices, i prices. . 37 ' -80/ 30 -32/6 : 36/6-80/ 29 6-32/ 32/6-67/6 25 6-28/ ; 34/ -70/ ' 27/ -29,6 j 30 6-61/8 I 23/6-27 6 i 27/ -50/ i 20/ -22 6 i 25/6-45/ * 18'6-21/ i 27/6-50/ ! 20'6-23/ ’ 32/ -60/ ’ 25/ -33/6 ! ! 32/ -65/ I 25/ -27/6 i 30/6-60/ ‘ 23/6-26/ I 33/6-6 5/ ; 26/6-29/ 31/ -65/ | 26 6-27,6 31/ -55/ 26 6-27,6 31/ -55/ ; 24/ -27y6 31/ —55/ ; 21/ -27/6 35/6-75/ : 28/6-32/6 : 49/6-b 5/ 42 6-45/ j 49/6-65/ 42,6-45/ j 52 6-55/ ! 35/ -37 6 Current quotations. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Lest washed nuts at pit... Seconds at pit Washed nuts at pit Current prices. 29/10 28/2 27/4 27/4 L’st week’s prices. 29/10 28/2 27/4 27/4 Last year’s prices. 25/10 24'2 23 '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-serned 29/ 29/ ' 25/ washed nuts 27/6 27.6 23 6 Oughter side best coal ...... O ugh ter side best washed 28 2 28/2 25/ 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 ; 26/6 266 22'6 Best gas coal Best washed nuts for gas- 26 6 26'6 22/6 works 25/6 25 6 21/6 given, it promises some measure of early relief to house coal merchants and gas engineers The anxiety to secure additional supplies is increased by the prospect of several days stoppage of the pits next week. This prospect, no doubt, has had an influence < n the drastic action of the Controller in regard to exports of coal. There was absolutely nothing offering on the market on Tuesday. With regard to gas coal, many of the large Yorkshire works, and small ones as well, are hard pressed, but an improve- ment in deliveries is noticeable and, besides the coal liberated by the shipping restrictions, in a number of cases official intimation has been received that a lar.er quantity of Durham gas coal will be available for works which have hitherto been cut off from this source of supply. Manu- facturing fuel is more difficult to secure on the week, in consequence of the diversion of slacks for use in gas making, but consumers, although on a hand-to-mouth basis, are pulling through without serious hardship. The demand for furnace coke has further fallen off, and some makers are hardly able to keep their ovens fully at work. Pit prices are nominal, as follow : — Current pit prices. Sunderland. COAL. The coal market is firm but inactive. The Controller insists on all home demands for railways, manufacturing works and gas companies having preference, and the Admiralty is equally insistent on obt lining supplies for France and Italy. As licences are refused, merchants have hardly any chance of carrying business through. The pits are working better, illness not being so rife, but production is still far below needs House coals are in considerable demand. There is practically nothing doing for neutrals, as an official embargo has been put on exports to Sweden, Holland and Denmark. For Norway buyers are pressing for coals, but even in this case licences are held over until more urgent home requirements are covered. There is a steady demand for bunker coals, but supplies are short. Schedule prices are naturally very firm, and any open market business that is workable, commands the highest figure. There is a heavy demand for gasworks coke, but foundry and furnace cokes are quiet, as export is almost stopped. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. co AL. Coal continues in a state of famine. Stringency of supply, it is declared, has never before been equalled. Idle tonnage is waiting for cargoes, but there is no hope of the loadings being carried out in the near future. Traders are anxiously seeking round for small odd lots of as low as 20 tons. They report little success. The overwhelming official demand cannot be fully met. Bunker coal is almost unobtainable. Enquiries on behalf of neutrals are as pressing as ever, but they do not result in business, except in odd cases on forward account at very high figures. There is little alteration in coke. Generally the supply is very scarce. There is not so much coke available for blastfurnace purposes as there was, and indeed deliveries, in many instances, are from hand-to-mouth, but they are maintained on a scale sufficient to meet essential needs. Average furnace coke is 33s. at the ovens, and low phos- phorus quality 35s. 6d. at the ovens. IRON. Discontinuance of the priority certificate for Cleveland pig iron for home purposes is another step in the direction of relaxing official control. Home demand is very heavy, but production of Cleveland foundry iron is still short, and though forge quality is plentiful, the means of distribution are inadequate, and consequently supplies fall much below what could be desired. Export trade is quiet. Licences for shipments to neutrals are still unobtainable, all deliverable non being needed by home customers and by the Allies. Shipments even to the Allies are light. France is taking the bulk of the exports, but for that country loadings are by no means heavy, and December shipments threaten to be very poor. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted 95s., and No. 1 is 99s.; and for export No. 3 and the lower qualities are 145s., and No. 1 is 150s. In east coast haematite urgent home needs still checked somewhat sup- plies to the Allies, but on the whole the situation was not unsatisfactory. Mixed numbers were 122s. 6d. for home use, and 172s. 6d. for export. As to manufactured iron and steel producers appear to have adapted themselves well to circumstances arising out of the transition stage, and their greatest trouble is the acute shortage of coal, which is hampering them considerably. Much overdue orders are being placed with firms enabled to take them by the wholesale concellation of Government work. Prospects are regarded as very bright. __________________ _________________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. The mild weather keeps the household demand within reasonable bounds, but even so there is difficulty in adequately meeting it. With regard to shipping, the scarcity of coal continues to be the prevailing feature of the market. In view of the holidays, the demand for bunkering purposes is strongly maintained. The temporary embargo on the issue of export licences for Lancashire coal has been imposed in the interests of inland consumers, and only very partially eases the shipping position. In the coastwise and cross-Channel trade the same acute demand prevails. Fair quantities are being put aboard, but not equal to the tonnage enquired for. The stoppage of work in the cotton industry has eased the small coal market tem- porarily, and advantage has been taken of this by the Supplies Committee of the county to divert suitable fuels to electricity works and others in urgent need of it. 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 sernd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ......... Common do........... _____________________________ * Allies. f Neutrals. 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/ 21,6-22/6 25/6-26/6 j 25/6—26/6 20,6 28/6-29/ | 28/6—29/ 26/ 24/6 . 24/6 25/ 27/ -28/ ; 27/ -28/ 24/ 24/6 ; 24/6 20.6 ( 34/6* i 34/6*) I 65/t i 65/t J 30/6 22/6 22/6 18/6 21/6 21/6 17/6 20/6 20/6 16/6 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 coal ... 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 prices. 25/6 -26/6 25/ -25 6 25/ -25 6 24' -2^6 22 '6 23 6 29 6 -30/ 28' -29/ 27/ -28’ 24 6 26 6 22/ -22/6 21/ -22/ 20 6 21'6 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' 32/ ! L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 25 6-26/6 21/6-22 6 25/ -25'6 21/ -21 6 i 25/ -25'6 21/ -21 6 24' -21'6 20' -20 6 22 6 -23,6 18 6 -19 6 29/6 30/ 25/6 26' • 28/ -29/ ; 24' -25/ 27/ -28/ ’ 23/ -24/ ; 24/6 26 6 20 6 22 6 22/ -23/6 ’21/ -22/ j 20/6 21 6 ; 22 6 23,6 1 21,6-22'6 20 6-21/6 ' 20/6-21/6 19/6-20/6 j 17/6-18/6 ; 18/ -19/ 18/ -18,6 17/ -18/ 16 6-17 6 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/ I 32/ 32/ _______ _______ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good average attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The keen demand for all classes of house and manufacturing fuel continues. The men are now coming back from the Army in more appre- ciable numbers, and this should have an effect on the production very shortly. Shipping coal continues steady. Prices are as below :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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/ 24J -24 6 __* 22/6 upwds 21/ upwds L’st week’s prices. 28 6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ —24/6 __* 22/6upwds 21/ upwds Last year’s prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 ______* 18/6 upwds 17/ upwds Barnsley. COAL. The Coal Controller has taken action which will be of much benefit to the home consumers. For the present the export of district coal has been stopped, with the obvious object of enabling home industries to obtain something like adequate supplies. The holiday period is likely to extend over four days, soYar as the pits are concerned. As yet the change in the policy of distribution has not had much effect, nor have the collieries so far been able to give the augmented sup lies to gas and electricity plants which were ordered a short time ago. The pressure generally is keen, and the southern districts are far from satisfied with the quota sent to them. Complaints are made of low stocks, with a strong demand for gas and electrici y. The demand for all kinds of steam fuel is of a heavy character. A big tonnage is still claimed for Admiralty and transport purposes, with the railway companies more keenly pressing for deliveries of such a character as will help to replenish stocks. The coal saved by the closing of munition plants has not proved of a very extensive character, owing to the quick adaptation of plants for other classes of work. There is more fuel available for manufacturing purposes —the position being affected by the materially lessened demand for furnace coke and temporarily by the stoppage of work in the cotton districts. The allotment of any surplus affords no difficulty, and works are still laid idle for want of raw material. The supply of house coal continues to improve, though the arrears are so extensive that the extra lots are very easily disposed of. • Prices at pit. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal trade in this district is beginning to show signs of improvement. There is, of course, not yet enough to go round, but more fuel has been available for home consumers, and even landsale is now receiving a more liberal supply. There is a strong market for all classes of fuel, and also a very heavy demand for smalls for coking fuels. Gas coal is firmer, a id with the great increase in street lighting, requirements of local gas makers are now very much heavier than they were. Bunkers are rather easier, but there is a very steady demand for locomotive and best steam coal. It is expected, however, that supplies for Ireland will be much fuller before the end of next month. The shipments for the week have been 2,420 tons, compared with 3,150 tons this time last year. Coke makers are well employed. * As per official list. IRON. All works are busily employed, and rolling mills have no difficulty in working full time on industrial orders, which are gradually coming in. The prices have not been altered to any great extent. Iron bars are quoted at X14 15s., with a certainty of a further rise in January and a still further one in February. The permitted steel makers’ prices for February 1 are already well known. The last increase in wages to labour (December 1), coupled with the prospect of shorter hours, is preventing large works from placing orders for big reconstructional plant. The change-over is taking place gradually, but the chief drawback to large outputs is the serious shortness of fuel. We hear the large steel and iron works on the north-east coast are closing for a fortnight, through shortness of fuel, and there is no doubt that other plants in the country will have to follow the same line. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 27/ -28/6 27/ -28 6 I 22/6-24 6 Best Barnsley softs 25/ -25/6 ' 25/ -25/6 ! 21/ -21/6 Secondary do 23/ -24/• 22/ -24/ 19/6-20/ Best house nuts 22/6-23'6 22/6-23/6 18/6-19'6 Secondary do 22/ —22/6 ’ 22/ -22/6 18/ -18/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 24/ -25/ ; 24/ -25' 20/ -21/ Secondary do j 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 19/ —20/ Best washed nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-24/6 18/6-19/ Secondary do j 21/ —22/ 21/ -22/ 18/ -18/9 Best slack 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 15/ -15/6 Secondary do 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/6 13/ -13/6 Gas coals •’— Screened gas coals 23/ -23/6 23/ -23/6 19/ -196 Unscreened do, 22/ -22/6 : 22/ -22/6 18/ —18/6 Gas nuts 22/ ; 22/ 18 9 Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 32/ Hull. ( COAL. _________ ________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There is no evidence of any material improvement in the output, for although miners are returning from the Army, few of them are yet at work. They are entitled to 28 days leave before commencing work at the pits, and for a con- siderable time afterwards, for physical reasons, they are unequal to an average output per man. The position in regard to supplies remains very difficult, and the market is quite bare. The only material change since last week is that the export of coal from the Humber ports, except to Norway and Italy, has been stopped by the Coal Controller to the end of December, with the object of relieving the serious position in regard to house and gas •coals. While this creates obvious difficulties for exporters, some of whom have ships waiting, as very short notice was The export trade from the Humber has received an unexpected and serious check by the action of the South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Supply Committees stopping all exports abroad, except to Italy, for the remainder of the present month. When these decisions reached Hull towards the close of last week urgent representations were made to the committees and the Coal Controller was interviewed, but the only modification received was from the South Yorkshire Committee, intimating that coal en route would not be interfered with, and that any boats partly loaded might be completed. Except for anything that may be destined for Italy, the export business is at the time of writing at a standstill, and apparently must continue so until the close of the year. Recently the allocation for export was reduced to 75,000 tons per month, but the state of output and the approach of Christmas has not permitted that to be allowed for December. Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for all classes of fuel is active, no signs of any falling off in this respect being apparent. The position regarding supply is still a serious one, the production