338 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 14, 1913. THE COAL AHO IROH TRADES. Thursday, February 13. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. There has been a further increase in the coal shipments from Scotch ports since last week, the increase amounting to 12,068 tons compared with the preceding week and 262,692 when contrasted with the corresponding week of last year. The aggregate shipments since January 1 amount to 1,693,150 tons, which is 180,142 tons greater than in the same period last year. At Glasgow the week’s clearances reached 74,799 tons, comparing with 65,283 in the preceding week and 7,623 in the corresponding week of last year, when the shipments were very much reduced, owing to a strike of dock labourers. It is likely that the improve- ment in shipments at Glasgow would have been consider- ably larger, but for the carters’ strike. At the lower Clyde ports there has been an increase of 6,000 tons in the ship- ments, partly accounted for by business being diverted from Glasgow. The proportion of shipments at Glasgow was 43,074 foreign and 231,725 tons coastwise, and of the total of 33,468 tons shipped at the lower ports, 7,966 were sent abroad, and the rest coastwise. From Bowling 114 tons were cleared, Greenock 951, Ardrossan 5,030, Troon 9,085, Irvine 1,074, and Ayr 17,214—total 33,468 tons, compared with 27,330 in the preceding week, and 41,860 in the corre- sponding week of last year. Of 500,000 tons of coal just purchased for the Swedish State Bail ways, about 230,000 tons have been obtained by Scotch shippers. There is a healthy activity in the various branches of the coal trade. A good demand exists for steam coal, house coal and splint coal, while the different grades of nuts are selling very freely. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current Last week's Steam coal prices. 13/6 to 14/6 prices. 13/6 to 14/6 Ell 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 Splint 15/ to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 Treble nuts 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Double do 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ Single do The prices of household coal have been advanced since last week in the large centres of consumption, the charge, delivered in hundredweight bags, ranging from 22s. 6d. to 24s. 3d. per ton. The miners are under the impression that they ought to have a further substantial advance in wages, and the coalmasters are at the same time (owing, it is presumed, to increased costs of output) asking for a reduction in the men's wages amounting to 12£ per cent. The matter is to be referred to arbitration, with Lord Balfour of Burleigh as neutral chairman. IRON. There was a further decrease in prices of pig iron warrants on Glasgow Exchange since last report. Iron for delivery in three months went down to 64s. 6d. per ton, while cash iron was done at 64s. 8d. It is a very unusual occurrence for forward iron to be sold at a lower price than prompt, but the market was disorganised by fluctuations in other metals and persistent selling from the south. In the last few days business has assumed a more favourable aspect, and this seems to be warranted by the demand and the decrease in stocks. Scotch pig iron has been steady. Govan and Monkland are quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 77s., Nos. 3, 75s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 80s. 6d., No. 3, 76s. 6d. ; Clyde and Calder, Nos. 1, 82s., Nos. 3, 77s.; Summerlee and Gartsherrie, Nos. 1, 82s. 6d., Nos. 3,77s. 6d.; Langloan, No. 1, 83s. 6d., No. 3, 78s. 6d.; Coltness, No. 1, 99s., No. 3, 81s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 77s., No. 3, 76s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 83s. 6d., No. 3, 78s. 6d.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 78s., No. 3, 76s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 82s., No. 3, 77s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 83s., No. 3, 78s. The finished iron trade, owing to various causes, is not quite so strong, but the steel trade continues exceedingly busy. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The coal shipments at Firth of Forth ports, although a fair average, are not so large as in the preceding week. At Granton 9,165 tons were despatched, Bo'ness 16,408, Leith 38,001, Grangemouth 39,477—total 103,051, contrasted with 113,648 in the preceding week, and 107,908 in the corre- sponding week of 1912. There have been good orders at the collieries, and prices have a hardening tendency. / Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal Secondary qualities Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 13/3 to 13/6 12/3 to 12/9 13/6 to 14/ 12/9 to 13/ 12/3 to 12/6 Last week's prices. 13/3 to 13/6 12/3 to 12/6 13/6 to 14/ 12/9 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 The inland business in house coal is very active all over the district, and it is not unlikely that prices may still further advance, especially if the present cold and unsettled state of the weather continues. Business has been good in the Fife coal trade since last report. While complaints are made that it is difficult to get coals sent forward from the collieries to the shipping ports, the quantity of coal despatched in the past week has been considerably larger than usual. At Methil 60,642 tons were shipped, Burntisland 53,020, Alloa 2,577, Dysart 1,697, Wemyss 950, Tayport 753, and Charleston 680—total 120,349 tons, compared with 113,438 in the preceding week and 111,584 in the corresponding week of last year. There is every prospect of an increasing business being done at the principal ports, Burntisland and Methil. Facilities for loading at the latter have been materially increased. There has been a good supply of vessels, but complaints are made that coal is not being got forward in such quantity as could be desired. Prices are generally firm. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. do. Best screened navigation coal.................... Unscreened do........... First-class steam coal.. Third-class Treble nuts Double do. Single do. Current prices. 16/3 to 17/ 14/6 to 15/ 13/ to 13/6 12/ 13/3 to 13/9 13/ to 13/3 12/6 to 13/1 Last week's prices. 16/6 to 17/ 14/6 to 15/ 13/6 to 14/ 12/3 to 12/6 13/ to 14/ 13/ to 13/3 12/ to 12/3 There have been numerous arrivals of vessels at Burntisland, where some days have had to be spent in awaiting loading places. The demand for house and manufacturing sorts of coal has been quite active for inland use, and prices are firming. Harthumiserland. Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. GOAL. During last week, 139,965 tons of coal and 2,945 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 14,290 tons of coal, and an increase of 788 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 58,518 tons of coal, and 1,345 tons of coke, a decrease of 1,586 tons of coal and 176 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments totalled 90,399 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 3,278 tons. The Swedish State Bail way s' contracts for nearly 500,000 tons of steam coals, details of which were given last week, are estimated to work out, so far as the local coal taken is concerned, at about 14s. 9d. per ton, f.o.b. for D.C.B. quality. The contract to supply the Gefle-Dala railways with 100,000 tons of steam coals over the Baltic season is stated to have been allotted for local coals at round about 21s. per ton, c.i.f. Eighty thousand tons of the total are to be supplied through Swedish merchants. The coal is to be shipped, as to 30,000 tons to Stockholm, as to 40,000 tons to Gefle, and as to 30,000 tons to Gothen- burg. A cargo of 5,500 tons of best Bly th steams has been booked for shipment to Bombay, and enquiries for addi- tional cargoes are in circulation, a circumstance which is regarded as very satisfactory in view of the recent competi- tion of South African coal in the Indian market. The contract to supply 10,000 tons to Norrkoping from April to November has been placed for Newbiggin coals at 21s. per ton, c.i.f. Tenders of half-a-million tons of steam coals, for delivery to the Bussian State Bailways over the Baltic season, have been forwarded. The Konigsberg Gasworks are in the market for their annual supplies of 80,000 tons Durham gas coals. The Danish Sugar Works are enquiring for 25,000 tons of Northumbrian steams for delivery over the year. The prompt coal market has been very dull and lifeless this week, and the following variations in f.o.b. quotations are to be recorded :—Best Bly th steams are from 3d. to 6d. down on the week; Tynes, 3d. cheaper; seconds Blyths, easier; Tynes, 3d. lower; smalls, Blyths, stronger; specials, firmer; smithies, 6d. reduced; gas bests, 6d. fallen; seconds, 9d. lower; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 6d. down; Northumbrians, 6d. cheaper; coking Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Beat, Blyths (D.C.B.)... Do. Tynes (Bowers, &c.) Secondary, Blyths ...... Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ..... Unscreened ............. Small, Blyths .......... Do. Tynes ............. Do. specials .......... Other sorts:— Smithies ............... Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) ... Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas coals...... Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals........... Do. smalls ......... House coals ........... Coke, foundry ............ Do. blast-furnace......... Do. gas .................. Current prices. 14/6 14/9 to 15/ 13/6 to 14/ 14/ 13/ 10/3 !°/ 11/ 14/6 14/6 13/6 15/ 14/ to 14/6 13/ 14/6 to 15/ 13/6 to 14/ 15/6 to 16/ 28/ 25/ 18/ Last week’s prices. 14/9 to 15/ 15/ to 15/3 14/ 14/3 13/ 10/ to 10/3 10/ 10/6 to 11/ 14/6 to 15/ 15/ 14/3 15/ 14/ to 15/ 13/ to 13/6 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 15/6 to 16/ 28/ to 30/ 25/ ,18/ to 18/6 smalls, from 6d. to Is. fallen ; and gas coke, 6d. down. Descriptions of fuel not specifically mentioned, are unaltered. Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 98,630 tons of coal, and 1,555 tons of coke, as compared with 95,805 tons of coal, and 375 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1912, being an increase of 2,825 tons of coal, and 1,180 tons of coke. The allotments of the Swedish State Bail ways, as affecting this district are as follow:—For Gothenburg, 70,000 tons of Lambton at 20s. 4d. c.i.f. April-January; Holmstadt, 6,000 tons of Lambton or Helton at 21s. 10£d.; Norrkoping, 20,000 tons Lambton at 21s. 7d., option Bandolph or South Hetton, 21s. 5d. April- November ; Stockholm, 40,000 tons Lambton at 20s. 10|d., option D.C.B. 20s. 7|d. or Hastings Hartleys at 19s. 4|d., 30,000 tons Lamb ton or South Hetton at 21s. 5d., option D.C.B. 21s. 2d. Altogether some 530,000 tons have been contracted for for shipment during the Baltic season. It is also reported that the Gefie-Dala Bailways have contracted for 26,000 tons of Lambton coals at a price said to be about 21s. c i.f. The coal market generally is distinctly quieter, notwithstanding the Bussian State Bailway enquiry for about 500,000 tons. Middlemen are showing more disposition to realise below colliery quotations, hence prices are easier. On the whole, there is a fairly steady tone for forward business. Quotations are as follow:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals ... Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals......... Ordinary do............ Other sorts:— Lambton screened ...... South Hetton do........ Lambton unscreened..... South Hetton do........ Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened.. Unscreened smalls ..... Smithies .............. Peas and nuts.......... Best bunkers .......... Ordinary bunkers ...... Coke:— Foundry coke .......... Blast-furnace coke (dlvrd. Teesside furnaces) .. Gas coke .............. Current prices. 15/6 to 16/ 14/ n/ 16/ 15/9 15/6 14/ 14/6 17/ 14/6 14/6 14/3 to 14/9 16/ to 17/ 14/6 13/9 28/ to 29/ 24/6 to 25/6 17/6 List week's prices. 16/ 14/3 to 14/6 !7/ 16/ 15/9 15/9 14/6 15/ 17/3 14/9 to 15/3 14/6 15/6 16/ 15/ 14/3 28/ to 29/ 25/ 18/ Outwards the Mediterranean freight market is firmer, Ils. 6d. having been paid for Genoa. Other fixtures include Civita Vechia 12s., Piraeus 12a. 4£d., Trieste 13s. 4£d., Port Said Ils. 3d., Algiers 9s., Marseilles 10a., Las Palmas 9s. 6d. Bay is on the basis of St. Nazaire 5s. 6d., Bordeaux 5s. 9d., Lisbon 7s. 6d. There is not much doing for the Baltic, although a fair enquiry is about for over the season business. Fixtures have been Halmstadt 6s., Lubeck 6s. 3d. The coasting market is on the easy side, with London at 3s. 3d., Rotterdam 3s. 6d., and Hamburg 3s. 9d. Middlesbrough-on-Teei. GOAL. The fuel market is somewhat featureless. There is at present no rush to buy, but quotations now appear to be settled and steady. Gas coal is, if anything, rather easy, and deliveries are commencing to show some falling off. A sale of best Durham gas coal is reported at 14s. 6d.; but the general market quotation ranges from 14s. 9d. to 15s. l|d.; whilst second kinds are 14s.; and Wear specials 16s. 6d. The rather large demand for bunker coal is met by a full supply. Ordinary Durham bunkers are 14s. l^d. to 14s. 3d.; bests, 14s. 6d.; and specials, 15s. 6d. to 15s. 9d. Household coal keeps fairly steady, ordinary Durhams being 16s., and best kinds 17s. Coking coal is well taken up at 14s. 6d. to 15s. Coke is steady with only a moderate business passing. Average blastfurnace kinds are quoted 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. delivered at Teesside works; best foundry coke 28s. 6d. to 30s. f.o.b.; and gas house coke 17s. to 18s. IRON. The market is very unsettled so far as Cleveland pig is concerned. Buyers are very backward, and prices tend downward—a movement somewhat unexpected and sur- prising with the statistical situation so satisfactory, as well as other features which encourage the opinion that brisk trade should rule. Following the increased production of pig iron in the United States, and in Germany the output here is being added to by the blowing in of one or two blastfurnaces that have been standing idle, and the larger output promises to be fully absorbed. Notwith- standing these favourable features the “bear” element dominates the market for the time being, and their speculative operations have had a depressing influence. Second hands are now prepared to sell No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig at 65s. 3d. f.o.b., and that figure is also generally quoted for both No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge, whilst No. 1 is 67s. 9d., and mottled and white iron each 64s. 9d , all for early delivery. Makers are not prepared to sell at the foregoing quotations. There is still great scarcity of east coast haematite pig. Producers adhere firmly to 83s. for Nos. 1, 2, and 3 delivered to the end of