February 21, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

397

■'Combine. Mr. Thomas regards most optimistically the
^probabilities of American coal trading, especially in
view of the opening of the Panama Canal, and may
hereafter open out business—at least, so he indicates.
There are numerous small operators; and Mr. Thomas
evidently thinks that the combine principle which he
has made so successful in South Wales has a good field
for application in the States, where prices are lower
than they would be but for the keen competition that
prevails.

Shipping conditions—indeed, transport conditions
altogether—he found much more favourable than at
home. Coal is carried to port in wagons of 30 to 50 tons;
and shipment is made upon waters with only 3 to 4 feet
tide, so that expenditure on docks is avoided, whereas
South W ales has to deal with tides of 30 ft. to 40 ft.
But American coalowners have, on the other hand,
some strongly adverse conditions to encounter; they
have a run of 300 to 400 miles from pit to port, whilst
the South Wales owner has not more than 20 miles,
many of the pits having much less. On one point the
Americans seem to have got right ahead of the British,
for their despatch is remarkable, a 7,000-ton cargo
'being loaded in less than five hours, and the vessel
being unloaded at destination in about 12 hours.

Mr. T. J. Callaghan, who accompanied Mr. Thomas,
does not anticipate serious competition. They visited,
he states, the Pocahontas and New River districts,
which were the chief steam coal areas now in competi-
tion with South Wales, and it was one consolation to
them to know that the quantity of coal of that class
was limited, although there was an immense quantity
of anthracite and highly bituminous coal in America.
Unless new coalfields are discovered, South Wales has
not so much to fear as he had at first thought. They
•obtained a mass of information, which would be very
useful, and might eventually lead to business. Enormous
developments were in progress, and that was one reason
why he was glad for the Welsh trade that the quantity
•of coal competing with them was limited—as far as is
at present known. The American coal is now sent to

■	the Mediterranean and South America, in competition;
’’but the great advantage of the British shipper is in
/freights. American coal required careful handling,
'being more friable than Welsh; and where it had been

■	shipped in competition there had been complaints as to
size. It was practically no better than our colliery
bmalls. The method of working was by levels or drifts,
at about a third of the cost in South Wales. They

* simply bored into the side of a mountain, and the roofs
: stood practically without timbering. Mr. Callaghan
added: “Personally,! am not so much afraid of their
vcompetition. They are going to be strong competitors
generally; but not so much with our Welsh coal unless
vthey find new fields/’

In the course of an address at Garndiffaeth, on
Monday, Mr. W. Brace, M.P., president of the South
Wales Federation, said that the Conciliation Board was
not what it ought to be. Its basis should be amended,
so that the terms of reference for the purpose of
regulating wages should include not only the selling
price of large and small coal, and the volume of trade,
but also the cost of production and the dividends made-
Then, but not till then, they would have fair treatment.
'The men must have a fair return for the services they
^rendered.

For the ensuing year the following officials were
-elected at the annual meeting of the South Wales and
Monmouthshire Colliery Officials’ Association on Satur-
day:—President, Mr. Wm. Lewis (Pontnewydd); vice-
president, Mr. Morgan Dyer (Cilfynydd); treasurer, Mr.
H. Richards (Ferndale); secretary, Mr. D. G. Price
(Tylorstown). The retiring president (Mr. J. Williams),
in submitting the year’s report, made special reference
to the burden imposed by recent legislation. Old and
experienced firemen had been compelled to undergo
examination testing their ability to detect gas, when
their ability was perfectly manifest to their employers.
The conditions prevailing in a mine could not ba demon-
strated on the surface. The gas used in testing was not
of the same composition as that found in the mine, and
the test, therefore, was unfair. Nevertheless, every
member of the association had gained his certificate of
-efficiency. The membership of the association had
greatly increased during the year.

The deputation which waited on Friday upon Mr.
McKenna, the Home Secretary, included representatives
from South Wales, and it is stated that they alleged
some infractions of the Eight Hours Act in this district.
JBut no particulars were allowed to become known.

Representations were made to the Home Secretary
by Mr. Brace, M.P., president of the South Wales
Federation, who asked that the certificates of the
Glamorgan Council for proficiency in ambulance work
should be accepted by the Department in the same way
as the certificates of the St. John Ambulance Associa-
tion were accepted. Mr. McKenna promised to consider
the matter.

From the Ebbw Vale Iron and Coal Company a
very good report is anticipated, the year’s operations
having been, both in steel and coal, upon an excep-
tionally good market. It is significant that the directors
are enlarging the steelworks, expending large sums in
order to keep abreast of the requirements of the trade.
Last week witnessed the opening of the new sheet mills,
which will add materially to the demand for labour and
bid fair to increase substantially the earning power of
the undertaking.

In the course of an address, Tuesday evening, at
Newport, on “ The Labour Question from an Economic
Standpoint,” Mr. F. Mills, manager of Ebbw Vale, said
that labour was receiving a million per annum, whilst
5 per cent, on the capital of the concern was only
£37,000.

In several districts the doctors question is still a
live issue; and in Mountain Ash last week there was a
strenuous campaign arising out of a ballot promoted by
the doctors. The issue was—a clear poundage of 2d.
direct from the colliery office, and free from control of
the workmen’s committee. There are about 5,000 men
employed in the area affected; but less than 2,000 voted,
and of these about three-fourths favoured the doctors’
proposal. The men’s committee challenge the right of
the doctors to organise a ballot, and an appeal is made
that the result now announced should be] ignored. In
another part of the coalfield, the question at issuejis
complicated by the demand that the medical men should
attend the members of the colliers’ families, as has been
done hitherto; but in this instance, also, the chief
difficulty seems to be whether control should be exercised
by the men’s committee.

THE IRISH COAL TRADE.

Thursday, February 20.

Dublin.	~~

Demand for house coal is exceptionally good for the time
of year and business in other qualities is also active, prices
generally remaining unchanged. There is some anxiety
amongst the local coal merchants owing to the continuance
of the strike upon the quays, as it has now lasted for three
weeks, and the coal trade will undoubtedly suffer if the
trouble should spread. The dense fogs experienced for the
past week have retarded the arrival of steam colliers, and
the supplies are none too plentiful. City prices stand as
follow.-—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best
Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 23s.; best
Orrell slack, 21s.; house coal, retail, Is. 5d. to Is. 7d.
per sack; coke, from 23s. to 25s. per ton; steam coals,
from about 21s. per ton upwards. Irish coals, at Gracefield
collieries, Queen’s County:—Large coal, 21s. 6d. per ton;
small household, 20s.; gas-producer coal, 20s.; culm, 6s. 8d.
per ton at the pitmouth. It is stated that the proprietor
of the above collieries has recently acquired ,the mineraj
rights of the Firoda (Castlecomer) Peasant Proprietors, and
intends reopening some coalmines which were worked about
60 years ago. The coaling vessels arriving in the port of
Dublin during the week amounted to 43, as against 48 ,the
week previously, chiefly from Garston, Preston, Widnes,
Ayr, Whitehaven, Point of Aire, Girvan, Neath Abbey,
Maryport, Glasgow, Swansea, Newport and Campbeltown.;
The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was
19,500 tone.

Belfast.

There is no further advance in prices here, notwith-
standing the fact that shipping rates and freights are still
keeping very high. Stocks have been much run upon of late
weeks, as Scotch coals have been difficult to obtain, and full
supplies have not been forthcoming from other districts, so
that the supply in the port at the moment is only moderate.
The demand for all qualities continues to be fairly good.
City prices are :—Giant’s Hall Arley coal, 26s. 6d. per ton;
Hartley, 25s. 6d.; Wigan, 24s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 25s. 6d.;
Scotch house, 22s. 6d. ; Orrell slack, 22s. 6d. Current
quotations ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 22s. 8d. per ton;
Scotch household, 19s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 17s. to 18s.
per ton; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam, 20s.;
English steam slack, 16s. per ton delivered. Cargoes
arriving during the week were chiefly from Girvan, Garston,
Ardrossan, Workington, Preston, Maryport, Neath Abbey,
Ayr, Troon, Whitehaven, Swansea and Glasgow.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Furness Railway
Company, on Friday, the Duke of Devonshire, in reply to a
question, said the company would welcome any step in the
direction of a combination with the Maryport and Carlisle,
Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith and Solway Junction
Railways. The stronger the combination, he said, among
those whose interests were identical, the better it would be
for all concerned.

THE T1HPLATE TRADE.

Liverpool.

The situation continues very unsatisfactory, and some
mills have already been forced to close down for want of
orders. Buying is confined almost entirely to spot lots,
and for these some very low figures have been taken.
Unless matters quickly improve, more mills will be
stopped. Quotations are very unreliable just now, but the
following will give an indication of the ruling prices :—
Coke tinplates: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. fid. to
14s. 7|d. per box ; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 29s. 3d. to
29s. 6d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. 10$d. to
15s. per box; IC 14 x 18$ (124 sh. 110 lb.), 15s. to 15s. 3d.
per box; I C 14 x 19$ (120 sh. 110 lb.), 15s. to 15s. 3d. per
box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 21s. 91. to 22s. per box;
I C squares and odd sizes, 15s. to 15s. 3d. basis for approved
specifications. Charcoal tins are easy at 17s. basis and
upwards according bo tinning. Blackplate rules weak at
£10 2s. 6d. per ton for P and C A rectangles. Coke wasters
are in moderate demand and are quoted :—C W 14 x 20,
13s. 7|d. per box ; C W 28 x 20, 27s. per box; C W 14 x 18$,
13s. 9d. per box; C W 20 x 10, 19s. 9d. per box—all f.o.b.
Wales, less 4 per cent.

THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE.

Tar Products.—The market generally is steady, and
prices much about the same, though there is a slightly
easier feeling in the north, scarcity notwithstanding.
Benzols firm. Carbolics unaltered. Pitch steady and in
fair request. Creosote firm. Naphthas about the same as
last report. Closing values are:—

Benzols, 90’s London ..................... 10$ to /Il

Do.	50’s London ...................... /10|

Do. 90’s North......................... 10$ to 10$

Do.	50’s North........................ /10

Toluol....................................... /10$

Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ...... 1/11A to 2/

Do. crystals (40 per cent.)............. /6|

Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ...	1/0$

Crude ditto (in bulk) .................... /o$

Creosote (ordinary qualities)............. /3$

Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ................ 48/6 to 49/

Do. (f.a.s. west coast) .................. 47/ to 49/

Do. (gas companies)....................... 50/

[Bensols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids,
usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at
makers* works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch
f.o.b. net.]

Sulphate of Ammonia.—Quiet but steady. The welcome
change in the weather will help agriculturists immensely,
and under the circumstances the preference should go to
sulphate as a spring stimulant, as the proudness of winter
wheat will need reviving if a cold, dry spell supervenes.
The statistical position *is most satisfactory and American
advices reassuring. Closing prompt prices are:—

London (ordinary makes)............. JB13/10/

Beckton (February-April) ........... £\4/

Liverpool............................... £14/3/9

Hull ............................... £14/5/

Middlesbrough (about)................... £14/2/6

Scotch ports......................... £14/5	to £14/10/

Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ...	12/

[Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis-
count ; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance
for refraction, nothing for excess.']

The Price of Gas Coal.—Following upon the observations
of Sir Corbet Woodall at the half-yearly meeting of the Gas
Light and Coke Co., we have the remarks of Dr. Carpenter,
at the half-yearly meeting of the South Metropolitan Gas
Company. Dr. Carpenter said there was a deficiency of
£31,727 on the six months’ working. The keynote of the
explanation appeared in the report as the phrase “the
abnormal price of coal.” Looking back over records during
the past 25 years he could only find one occasion upon
which the present figure had been equalled, and that was
in the year 1900. Their position, in common with other like
users, was that they had to bear the burden of a coal boom
after experiencing heavy losses by the great coal strike,
when they had to deplete their insurance fund to the extent
of £75,000, and to pay for freightage from Canada and
America more than double the price at which they had
bought their coal in Great Britain. The coal they bought
was not in any way a manufactured article. It was certainly
picked over before being put into the ships so as to free it
partially from the sulphur or " brasses ” it contained, but
with this exception it was the run of the mine, loaded
without screening or washing into the vessels which brought
it to London; there was no waste, because the dust was
practically as good for their purpose as the lumps. It is
for this material that they were to-day asked to pay
somewhere about 15s. per ton put on board ship in the
north. This price was out of all proportion to the cost of
production plus a fair profit, but it existed partly because
of the demand for iron and steel, but mainly because
nearly everybody seemed struggling both here and abroad
to replenish their depleted stocks, for which they were
content to pay an extra cost which, in the majority of
instances, they passed on to their customers. In the case
of gas, there was a difficulty in doing this. Dr. Carpenter
said it was a thousand pities that the Government did not
adopt the course advocated by Sir Corbet Woodall, of
reimposing a tax upon all coal exported out of the country
until the needs of our many industries were satisfied. He
had never been able to understand why the tax was
repealed. A member of the firm of one of the largest coal
factors in the kingdom told him the export trade in coal
would stand a tax up to half-a-crown a ton regularly
imposed, but what would upset trade would be the*
uncertainty of its being levied or not. It seemed incon-
ceivably bad statesmanship that the foreigner should be
able to buy freely our national store of raw material with-
out contributing one penny to the State, and to use it not
only for his domestic purposes, but in competition with the
British manufacturer.