^"“January 31, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 235 whilst second qualities are 14s. 9d., and special sorts up to 163. 6d. Bunker coal is generally in good request, with an ample supply to meet needs. Business has been done in ordinary Durham bunkers at 14s. 4|d. f.o.b., but, as a rule, 14s. 6d. is named, best kinds being 15s. and specials 15s. 6d. to 16s. Household coal continues in fairly good request. Ordinary Durhams command 16s. and bests are quoted 17s. Coking coal keeps in good demand at about 15s., though business might be done at a trifle less. Coke has eased, as was expected. The general market quotation for average blastfurnace kinds, delivered at Teesside works, is in the neighourhood of 25s, though many sellers are inclined to hold out for a higher figure. On the other hand, a sale has occurred at 24s. 6d. Foundry coke is said to be nothing below 80s. f.o.b., and above that figure is quoted by some firms, whilst gashouse coke is put at 18s. to 19s. IRON. The returns of the Middlesbrough Chamber of Commerce for the last quarter of 1912 show that at the end of the year, of 77 furnaces built within the port of Middlesbrough at the end of last year, 61 were in operation, and produced during the three months ending December 31 650,000 tons of pig iron, as compared with an output of 590,000 tons during the previous quarter, and 550,000 tons for the corresponding period in 1911. Imports of foreign iron ore into Middles- brough last quarter reached 518,813 tons, as compared with 627,851 tons during the previous quarter, and 354,197 tons during the fourth quarter of 1911. The total value of goods other than coal and coke exported to foreign and colonial destinations from Middlesbrough during last quarter reached ^62,767,397—an increase of j6545,820 as compared with the last three months of 1911. The pig iron market is steady, with a fair amount of business passing in Cleveland kinds No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is firm at 66s. f.o.b., and that price is also asked for No. 4 foundry, whilst No. 1 is 68s. 6d., No. 4 forge 65s. 9d., and mottled and white iron each 65s. 3d.— all for early delivery. Producers adhered firmly to 83s. for early delivery of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast haematite pig, and that was the general market quotation, though second hands with small lots to dispose of were prepared to sell at less, in some cases naming as low as 82s. 6d. Foreign ore values show no alteration. Producers of all descriptions of manufactured iron and steel are working at full pressure and experience difficulty in fully satisfying needs. Quotations are unaltered. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is nothing new to report with regard to household trade. The demand could only be described as fairly satisfactory. Forges and manufacturers using round screened coal continue to take full supplies. Bunkering requirements this week are, if anything, slightly below those of recent weeks, but the demands, nevertheless, exceedingly good both for contract and open sale account. Some dislocation has been caused by the late arrival of steamers through the recent stormy weather^ some of the steamers being so much damaged that the advertised sailings have had to be cancelled. In consequence of this, coal has tended to accumulate a little in the sidings, and though quotations of screened Lancashire steam coals still range from 13s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. f.o.b., an occasional lot may be picked up at the moment at some slight reduction. For forward business, however, quotations are very firm. Ship- ments in household coal for the coastwise and cross- channel trade are getting more into the usual routine again after the storms and delays of the past few weeks. The demand for slacks and all grades of small steam fuel does not abate, and the whole of the tonnage is billeted as soon as it is loaded into wagons. An advance in engine fuel takes. place on February 1, both on open sale and quotations for contract, of 6d. per ton. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal Best screened steam coal (f.o.b.) Best slack Secondary slack Common do Current prices. 16/3 16/6 to 16/9 14/6 15/ to 15/3 12/3 13/6 to 13/9 12/6 to 13/ 13/6 to 14/6 10/3 9/6 9/ Last week’s prices. 16/3 16/9 14/6 15/3 12/3 13/6 to 13/9 12/6 to 13/ 13/6 to 14/6 10/3 9/6 9/ South Lanoashlro and CheshCro. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The demand for house coal is fair. It cannot be said that there is any winter pressure. Prices remain unchanged. Furnace coal remains steady, and shipping coal is brisk. Slack continues in good call. The Lanca- shire coalowners decided on Tuesday to advance prices of engine fuel 6d. per ton from February 1. Prices are generally as follow:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Current prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 9/6 to 10/ 8/6 to 9/ Last week’s prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 9/6 to 10/ 8/6 to 9/ Medium Common Furnace coal Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack Common slack IRON. There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday last, and although there was not much buying taking place, prices are still very firm. The forges are fully engaged, and have full order books for some time ahead. Prices remain as before, viz., .£8 15s. for crown bars, second quality .£8 5s., hoops .£8 17s. 6d., sheets £9 7s. 6d. Steelworks are as busy as ever, and are much behind with deliveries, and are quoting £8 10s. to £8 12s. 6d, for bars less 2| per cent., and £6 12s. 6d. net for billets. Wagon builders are exceptionally busy. Heavy engineers and ironfounders moderately employed. Textile machinery makers fully occupied. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The attendance at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday was considerably better than for the past few weeks. All sections of the trade were represented, including the Hull shippers and one or two London factors. Business in all departments was brisk, and the tone of the market cheerful. The bulk of the business done was in steam coal and manufacturing fuel, although a fair number of spot lots of gas coal changed hands. Colliery representatives reported practically full time work at the pits, with siding stocks about cleared. The scarcity of wagons is less marked than last week, although there is considerable delay to wagons, especially to the ports. House Coal.—The continued colder weather has caused a fuller demand for house coal from all the markets. London merchants and factors have sent considerable batches of orders for supplies in colliery and railway wagons this week, in addition, to better supplies of private wagons. Pit prices for London and district show no official alteration, but values generally are firmly held. The coastwise trade shows considerable activity, with the chief demand for the medium qualities of Silkstone house coal. The local markets in the West Biding are busier, merchants reporting a fair demand from the public. Current pit prices for the West Biding average as follow:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s. ; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s. ; Silkstone best, 16b. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 15s. 6d.; ordinary house coal, 14s. to 15s.; secondary sorts, 13s. to 14s. Gas Coal.—The position in gas coal is one of great strength. Forward business is fairly plentiful, especially for export. With regard to forward business inland, those closely associated with the trade suggest that prices are likely to show an average advance of Is. to Is. 6d. per ton over the contract figures of last summer. A fair amount of open market buying for prompt delivery is being done. The export trade shows little change on the week. Current f.o.b. Hull figures average as follow .-—Screened gas coal, 14s. 9d. to 15s. 6d.; gas nuts, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 6d.; unscreened gas coal, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best Current prices. 14/ to 14/6 13/ to 13/6 13/6 to 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/ 16/9 to 17/6 16/3 to 16/9 15/3 to 15/6 13/6 to 14/3 12/9 to 13/6 11/9 to 12/6 11/ to 11/6 12/3 to 12/6 11/3 to 11/9 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 9/9 to 10/3 8/6 to 9/ 8/3 to 8/9 20/ to 21/ Last week’s prices. 14/ to 14/6 13/ to 13/6 13/3 to 13/9 12/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/ 16/9 to 17/6 16/3 to 16/9 15/3 to 15/6 13/6 to 14/3 12/9 to 13/6 11/9 to 12/6 11/ to 11/6 12/3 to 12/6 11/3 to 11/9 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 9/9 to 10/3 8/6 to 9/ 8/3 to 8/9 21/ to 22/ Do. house House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull .- Haigh Moor best Silt? stone 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 Bough unscreened engine coal Best rough slacks Small do. Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke Manufacturing Fuel.—Small slacks, small nuts and coking slacks are all very scarce, and prices in all descriptions are well maintained. The Bradford dyers’ strike is still unsettled, but it is hoped that an understanding will be arrived at before the end of the present week. Some of the collieries owning coke plants are still crushing large coal in order to keep the ovens at work. Furnace Coke.—Washed samples of furnace coke are possibly a little easier on the week. This is certainly the case as regards forward business, as buyers are refusing to contract beyond the end of June at the prices quoted. Open market sales realise up to 21s. per ton at the ovens. The demand is particularly strong from the Frodingham district and the Midlands. Barnsley. COAL. During the week-end the railway companies have facilitated business very materially by a general clearance of the traffic which had accumulated at the collieries and in the sidings during the past week or so. However, the return of foggy weather seems likely to renew the trouble, and at the local market on Wednesday colliery represen- tatives were again apprehensive with regard to the interruption of traffic. Generally there was very little change in the position on the previous week, and although the collieries are making full time working, there was still very little coal on offer at the market. The continued improvement in the foreign enquiry again gives a strong tone to large steams, and an unusual active business for abroad, along with the fact that contract supplies are being supplemented by home consumers, kept prices very firm. From 12s. 9d. to 13s. per ton has now to be paid for the best hards, which have been increased about 3d. per ton on the week, and secondary descriptions are about as last quoted— from 9d. to Is. per ton less. All descriptions of small steam coal suitable for manufacturing purposes continue to be in extensive demand, and the recent advanced prices were not shaken, but, on the reverse, there is every indication that a larger amount will have to be paid where contract supplies have been fixed up. This is particularly the case with regard to pea nuts and slacks, in consequence of the very large tonnage which is being taken, and apparently will continue to be required for coke manufacture. The owners of by-product plants are experiencing even greater difficulty than before in having their needs supplied, and many collieries have still to purchase in the open market to supplement their own production. Collieries producing gas coal have to meet with an active enquiry for special supplies owing to insufficient tonnage under contract, and current sales are still making about 2a. per ton increase over the contract figures. There is rather more doing in regard to all classes of house coal, and collieries are now beginning to feel more the effect of the clearance of large stocks in the hands of merchants. This improvement tends to late quotations being very firmly held, and less is heard of clearance lots being offered. The position in regard to coke is again of a remarkable strong character, and the output is readily dealt with, whilst in the case of any surplus lots being available there is no difficulty in obtaining a larger price than was quoted even a week ago. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s 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 Bough do Gas coals:— Screened gas coals Gas nuts Furnace coke prices. 15/ 14/ to 14/6 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/9 to 13/ 11/9 to 12/ 12/6 11/6 9/6 8/6 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 21/ to 22/ prices. 15/ 14/ to 14/6 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 12/9 11/9 to 12/ 12/6 11/6 9/6 8/6 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 21/ to 22/ Hull. 00 AL. Some of the pressure in the colliery districts having been removed, there is a prospect of coal being more available in the near future. This and other causes operating towards the end of a month have caused best Yorkshire steam hards at Hull to show signs of weakening. Prices for prompt delivery by second holders have eased off somewhat, and the market after the rush in supplying the extra demands of Bussia and Italy is resuming a more normal condition. Business, however, is brisk all round in both foreign and coastwise trade, and during the past few days large quantities have been shipped at the docks, the features being the consignments to France and to London, The present Baltic demand is about at zero; and reports from Beval and Biga indicate wintry weather and several degrees of frost. There is, however, a fair demand for the Mediterranean, but no abnormal qualities have thus far been shipped. The home demand for manufacturing fuel is keeping up the price of smalls and nuts, which are still considerably above recent contract prices, though West Yorkshire slacks are easier on the week. Generally there is a firm tone in the market, and the forward outlook is good. It is expected that the returns of exports from the Humber ports ^during January will show a substantial increase over the corresponding month last year. The freight market remains quiet with but few fixtures reported. Bates for the Baltic are on the basis of 6s. 10|d. to 7s. for Beval, which prices have been paid for medium sized steamers. Mediterranean market is easier, 10s. 9d. having been paid for a prompt steamer for Genoa. Alexandria and Port Said are quoted at about the same figure as Genoa and Buenos Ayres at 16s. 6d. The following are the