February 7, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 287 supply is rather short. For ordinary Durhams 16s. rules and 17s. is named for best qualities. Coking coal, both unscreened and smalls, range from 14s. 9d. to 15s. 3d. Coke prices are settling to something like normal rates. Medium blastfurnace kinds are now 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. delivered at Teesside works; best foundry coke ranges from 28s. 6d. to 30s. f.o.b., and gashouse coke is quoted 17s. to 18s, IRON. The pig iron trade is lifeless just now and values of Cleveland kinds are falling. Buyers are once more very backward and are purchasing only what they need to meet early requirements. Producers, however, have good con- tracts made and they are not prepared to sell Cleveland iron at the market rates of merchants, who now offer No. 3 g.m.b. at 65s. 6d. f.o.b., which price also rules for both No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge. No. 1 is 68s., and mottled and white iron each 65s. All the foregoing quotations are for early delivery. There is practically no east coast haematite pig iron available for early delivery. Second hands quote 82s. 6d. for mixed numbers, but they cannot guarantee delivery early enough to induce buyers to place orders. Makers* quotation stands firm at 83s. Foreign ore is still inactive, but market rates are upheld on the basis of 22s. 9d. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are very busily employed, some firms having so much on hand that they experience much difficulty in coping with requirements. Quotations all round are very strong. Principal market rates stand: Common iron bars, £8 15s. ; best bars, £9 2s. 6d.; beat best bars, £9 10s.; packing iron, £6 15s. ; iron ship plates, .£8 2s. 6d. ; iron ship angles, £8 15s. ; iron ship rivets, £9 15s. ; iron boiler plates, £8 17s. 6d. ; steel bars (basic), £7 17s. 6d. ; steel bars (Siemens) .£8 5s.; steel ship plates, .£8 5s.; steel ship angles, £7 17s. 6d.; steel boiler plates, .£9 5s.; steel joists, £7 7s. 6d.; cast iron railway chairs, £4s 10s.; heavy steel rails, £6 15s.; steel railway sleepers, £7; and iron and steel galvanised corrugated sheets, £12 15s. to £13— sheets less 4 per cent, f.o.b.; railway material net, and all ■other descriptions less 2| per cent. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The continuance of the mild weather precludes any acuteness in the demand for household fuel. Full supplies of round screened coal continue to be taken by forges and other users of this size of fuel. Shipping does not show much change. Bunkering requirements under contract are heavy, and outside enquiry is fairly brisk. Sailings have hardly yet got on to normal lines again after the disloca- tion caused by the recent severe weather. Supplies of coal are fairly adequate. A fair average quantity of house- hold fuel is being shipped for the coastwise and cross channel trade. The demand for slack and all sorts of fuel of small grades continues at its maximum, and the whole of the tonnage goes into consumption as produced. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s House coal:— prices. prices. Best ... 16/3 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, not) 16/6 to 16/9 16/6 to 16/9 Medium 14/6 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 15/ to 15/3 15/ to 15/3 Kitchen 12/3 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) 13/6 to 13/9 13/6 to 13/9 Screened forge coal 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Best screened steam coal (to b.) 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 Best slack 10/6 10/3 Secondary slack 9/9 9/6 Common do 9/3 9/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The demand for house coal is only on the easy side. Generally prices remain the same, but concessions have been made in cases to clear loaded wagons. Furnace coal keeps steady, and there is a good enquiry for shipping coal. Slack is still in very good call and prices have advanced 6d. per ton as from the 1st instant. 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. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 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/ IRON. The pig iron market continues brisk, and prices remain unchanged. Forges are asking £8 15s. for crown iron bars, second quality .£8 5s., hoops .£8 17s. 6d., sheets £9 7s. 61., and are much behind with orders. Steelworks are very busy, and prices are as last reported, viz., bars £8 10s. to .£8 12s. 6d. less 2| per cent., billets .£6 12s. 6d. net. Wagon builders and textile machinery makers very busy. Heavy engineers and ironfounders fairly well employed. Yorhshlro and Darbyalitrai Leede, COAL. The attendance at the market on Tuesday showed a con- siderable improvement compared with last week, and was thoroughly representative. Most of the Hull exporters were represented, and there was also a fair attendance of local merchants. Business, apart from house coal, was fairly brisk, the demand being chiefly for steam coal and manufacturing fuel. It was reported that practically full time had been worked at the pits without stocks being increased. Wagons have been fairly plentiful, and the output has been cleared daily. House Coal.—The demand for house coal is disappointing. London merchants have taken little beyond contract tonnage, and there has been some weakness in prices, parti- cularly of the better qualities. Quotations are not officially altered. The coastwise trade has shown some improvement during the last day or two. Freights are still high, and there is a scarcity of small coasting tonnage, particularly sailing vessels. West Riding merchants are quiet, the chief demand being for the cheaper grades. Pit prices for the West Riding average as follow :—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s. ; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s. ; Silkstone best, 16s. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 15s. 6d.; ordinary house coal, 14s. to 15s.; secondary sorts, 13s. to 14s. Gas Coal.—Schedules of deliveries for February show little or no alteration compared with last month. The requirements of the works are still very heavy, and gas engineers are buying in the open market. Gas nuts are particularly firm. A large number of Continental enquiries are circulating. These concern chiefly unscreened coal, which local owners do not care to sell, there being such a strong demand for coking smalls. Current f.o.b. Hull figures average as under:—Screened gas coal, 14s. 9d. to 15s. 6d.; gas nuts, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 6d.; unscreened gas coal, 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. Manufacturing Fuel.—Small nuts, washed nuts and fine slacks are all in very active demand. Best qualities of slack have been offered at from 3d. to 6d. per ton less than the high prices quoted a week ago, but it is thought that the weakness is only temporary. Forward business certainly shows no weakness in any direction. In the Huddersfield district and the Spen and Colne valleys the consumption of manufacturing fuel must be a record, as many of the factories are working overtime. Increased quantities of nuts are being sold in the East Lancashire district. Furnace Coke.—The output of the ovens has been increased, one or two new batteries having come into work. Prices are a shade easier, especially for forward business. It is reported that a contract has been taken within the last few days covering 200 tons per week of washed patent oven coke at 19s. per ton at the ovens, for delivery over the ensuing six months. There are no stocks anywhere, and spot lots average about 20s. per ton at the ovens. House coal:— Current Last week’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Wallsend & London best 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Silkstone best 13/ to 13/6 13/6 to 14/ Do. house 12/6 to 12/9 12/6 to 13/ House nuts 11/6 to 12/ 11/6 to 12/ Prices f.o.b. Hull: Haigh Moor best 16/9 to 17/6 16/9 to 17/6 Silk stone best 16/3 to 16/6 16/3 to 16/9 Do. house 15/ to 15/6 15/3 to 15^6 Other qualities 13/6 to 14/3 13/6 to 14/3 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 12/9 to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 Gas nuts 11/9 to 12/6 11/9 to 12/6 U nscreened gas coal ... 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/3 to 12/6 Large double-* cnened engine nuts 11/3 to 11/9 11/3 to 11/9 Small nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Rough unscreened engine coal 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Best rough slacks 9/6 to 10/ 9/9 to 10/3 Small do. 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ Coking smalls 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 19/ to 20/6 20/ to 21/ Barnsley. COAL. Though, generally, there is no material change in any section of trade on the week, there is rather an easier tone in respect of large steam coal. Arrangements for shipping are varying in a considerable degree, and with the collieries keeping at full work, any delay in shipping tonnage is quickly felt. For the moment, prices are a shade easier, perhaps 3d. per ton on the week, but with regard to forward business, the position of coalowners continues to be very strong, there being every indication that prices will reach a higher level. A remarkable indica- tion of the future is afforded by the fact that the Great Central Railway Company, whose contracts expire at varying periods of the year, have had to pay 12s. 6d. per ton in order to renew contracts of a substantial quantity for twelve months. This price is Is. per ton higher than other railway companies were able to arrange for last December* or 2s. 9d. per ton increase over the amount which was paid for last year’s supplies. A good deal of speculation is being indulged in as to what rate of increase the railway company will have to pay in order to renew contracts which fall out at subsequent periods of the year, whilst very little has been done in regard to contracts with shippers, who, in the main, are still standing aloof. At the present time business in large steams is being done at about 12s. 6d. per ton for the best grades, and secondary descriptions are from 6d. to 9d. per ton less. In regard to small manufacturing fuel there seems to be a little variation in the experience of colliery representatives, but, on the whole, the demand is still well ahead of the supply. In some instances, slightly lower prices than ruled a week ago have been accepted, but so far as the best quality fuel is concerned, there is no weakening in values. The demand for slacks continues to be particu- larly good on cokemaking account, and larger coal is still being used for this and other purposes, instead of ordinary slacks. The dyers’ strike in the Bradford district may have contributed a little to influence the market in buyers’ favour, but practically only the near district collieries are affected. In respect to gas coal, enquiries for special lots continue to be freely made, and sellers are able to command an advance of Is. 6d. to 2s. per ton over the contract rates. The house coal trade continues to be of a very variable character, business with London and the south scarcely being an average one, and apparently considerable stocks are still on hand. In the West Riding and Lancashire districts, business is more active, especially in regard to the best quality of this class of coal, and prices are main- tained on last week’s quotations. The demand for coke is sustained, though perhaps there has not been as much rush for special lots as formerly, but the output is readily disposed of, and prices, on the whole, are a shade easier. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s House coals:— prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/ 15/ Best Barnsley softs 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Secondary do 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 13/ Best house nuts 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/6 to 11/6 10/6 to 11/6 Best hard coals 12/6 12/9 to 13/ Secondary do U/9 11/9 to 12/ Best washed nuts 12/3 to 12/6 12/6 Secondary do. 11/3 to 11/6 11/6 Best slack 9/6 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 8/6 8/6 Screened gas coals 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Gas nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Furnace coke 20/ to 21/ 21/ to 22/ Hull. GOAL. There is a much easier tone apparent in the market to-day, and prices for the best Yorkshire steam hards have shown distinct signs of falling away from the high level which has obtained for some weeks. Exporters have held back for some time waiting for the break, and the fact that not an ounce of the Swedish Government contracts has come to either South Yorkshire or Derbyshire has apparently justified their opinion that the market could not hold out. It was confidently anticipated that the Humber would get a share of the Swedish orders, but the fact that the Tyne has accepted a figure that works out at about 14?. 7|d. f.o.b., allowing 6s. for freight, has upset all calculations, the Yorkshire f.o.b. quotation, it is stated, not being within Is. 6d. of this figure. It is also reported that the later requirements of the Russian State Railways have Prices f.o.b. Hull (prompt shipment). South Yorkshire:— Current prices. Last week’s prices. Best steam hards 15/3 to 15/6 15/9 to 16/ Washed double - screened nuts 14/6 to 15/ 15/ to 15/6 Unwashed double- screened nuts 14/ 14/ to 14/3 Washed single - screened nuts 14/6 to 14/9 14/6 to 15/ Unwashed single-screened nuts 13/ to 13/6 13/6 Washed smalls 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Unwashed smalls ; 10/9 11/ West Yorkshire:— Hartleys ! 13/6 13/6 Rough slack ; 11/3 to 11/6 11/6 to 11/9 Pea. slack 10/ to 10/6 10/ to 10/6 Best Silkstone screened gas coal 14/9 14/9 Best Silkstone unscreeneo! gas coal 13/6 13/6 Derbyshire and Notts:— Best steam hards 15/6 15/9 Do. (Grimsby) 15/ 15/6 Derbyshire nuts (doubles) 13/6 13/6 Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) 13/ 13/ Derbyshire large nuts ... 14/6 15/ Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/ 14/6 Nottinghamshire hards ... 15/6 15/6 to 15/9 Do. do. (Grimsby) 15/ 15/3 to 15/6