496 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Makch 7, 1913. require. Prices are firm with a hardening tendency. Coke continues in good demand, all qualities being much wanted. Prices show signs of recovery from the slight weakness which they recently displayed. Coking fuel is dear and in short supply. IRON. There is a much better tone about the market this week, and there are indications that the year, as it advances, will develop a more active demand for pig iron and finished iron than even the past twelve months witnessed. At present all the works of the district are actively employed, and they are likely to be fully occupied for many months to come. Hull. GOAL. After a period of slackness there is a manifest improve- ment in the tone of the Humber coal market, and to-day best Yorkshire steams, which have been rather a drug on the market, are i quoted 3d. to 6d. up on the week. The influences that have operated to bring this about are the prospects of an early opening of the Baltic season and of an unusually heavy demand. A feature for some time past has been the healthy state of the export trade from the Humber, and the outlook is not less encouraging. In addition the easing of freight rates and the quantity of tonnage in sight have had a stimulating effect. Secondary sorts, doubles and singles, are also a firm market, and slacks keep up their value astonishingly well. House coal only just maintains late quotations, and seems likely to continue to the end a very disappointing season. The shipments, foreign and coastwise, from Hull and the Humber ports have been on a fairly large scale, and continue to show an improvement on last year's exports. The loading conditions at the docks are good, and turns easy. In the past week a larger quantity than usual has been sent coastwise. The freight market has been very quiet, charterers in a falling market being none too eager to take up tonnage. Baltic ports are much easier, and top figure quoted for Riga to-day is 5s. 9d., while Libau is 5s. 6d. and Reval 6s. 6d. Mediterranean rates are also easier, and 9s. 9d. to 10s. is the rate for Genoa, while South American bottoms can be done at 16s. 6d. Fixtures during the week: From Hull, Cronstadt, 3,000 tons, 6s. 4|d. f.o.w.; Rotterdam, 1,500 tons, 4s.; Delfzill 1,300 tons, 4s. 6d.; Buenos Ayres, 5,000 tons, 16s. 3d.; Buenos Ayres, 16s. 6d. (300 tons daily discharge), 15s. 9d. (200 tons). From Grimsby, Aarhus, 1,000 tons, 6s. 9d.; from Goole, Rotterdam, 1,300 tons, 5s.; Ghent, 1,500 tons, 5s. 3d.; Bruges, 950 tons, 5s.; Stettin, 1,400 tons, 6s. 9d. Coastwise rates are easier, London being about 3s. to 3s. 3d. To-day's report from Riga states that the weather is mild, with a westerly wind; fairway clear, 'the following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards Current prices. 14/9 to 15/ 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 14/6 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 12/ to 12/6 10/ 13/6 10/9 to 11/ 9/6 to 10/ 14/9 13/ 15/3 !5/ 13/6 13/ 14/6 14/ 15/3 15/ Last week’s prices. 14/3 to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 13/9 to 14/ 14/ 13/6 11/6 to 12/ 10/ 13/3 to 13/6 10/6 to 11/ 9/6 to 10/ 14/9 13/6 15/ to 15/3 14/9 to 15/ 13/9 to 14/ 13/6 to 13/9 14/ 13/9 15/3 15/ Washed double - screened nuts Unwashed double- screened nuts Wa shed sin gle - screened nuts Unwashed single-screened nuts Washed smalls Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— Hartleys Rough slack Pea slack Best Silkstone screened gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— Best steam hards Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottingham. GOAL With the unrest prevailing in the railway world, and the threat of a general strike being made on behalf of the workers, the coal trade in this county has assumed a little more activity during the past week. In the domestic fuel section this improvement has perhaps been most noticeable, merchants being more anxious to obtain supplies in case a stoppage should occur on the railways, and the public have commenced to purchase more freely. Still, business in this branch cannot by any means be described as brisk—it is fairly satisfactory. The demand for better-class house coals is steady, common qualities being in good request. Values show little change from a week ago, except that quotations for best sorts are a little easier in some cases. The tone in the steam coal branch is slightly steadier. The falling off in shipments is mainly responsible for this. There is, however, a brisk sale for small steams for manufacturing purposes. The position of slacks is well maintained, and collieries can only just meet the demand, there being little stock to fall back upon. There is a fair sale of gas coal. Prices at pithead. Current Last week's prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 13/ Good house coals 11/ to 12/ 11/6 to 12/6 Secondary do 10/6 toll/ 10/6 to 11/6 Best hard coals 11/3 to 11/9 11/6 to 12/ Secondary do 10/3 toll/ 10/3 to 11/ Slacks (best hards) 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ Do. (seconds) 7/6 to 8/ — Do. (soft) 7/6 to 8/3 7/6 to 8/3 Leicestershire. GOAL. There is little to say that is new as to the condition of business in this district. It is proceeding steadily on the lines it has done for some weeks past. There is a quite good demand for household coals of all descriptions. Best and middle qualities are in request, perhaps there is little less enquiry for small coals. In steam coals there is a continuance of the good demand, both coals and slacks are wanted. The collieries are maintaining a full output, and deliveries are also full, so that there is generally but little stock on hand. The outlook continues very favourable. Local merchants are still fairly well employed, business continuing steady. The quotations current show no notable variation on those which sellers have obtained for a considerable time. Further it may be remarked that there are no signs cf any change at present. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. GOAL There has not been any great alteration since last report in the condition of the coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district, and there is not likely to be much falling off before the Easter holidays. Orders are coming in fairly well for most qualities, and there is not very much coal in. stock, so most of the collieries are working full time. The house coal trade is keeping up very well, and there is a brisk demand for coal for manufacturing purposes. There is a good sale for slack. Business at the landsale depots continues fairly brisk. Birmingham. GOAL. The market was agitated by the trouble in the railway world. Consumers are anxious to lay in stocks, and the tendency was for prices to harden, although they were not quotably dearer. Spot lots were fetching 6d. to Is. more, but these were very scarce. The house trade is better, and stocks at the pits have been wiped out. The following are the prices:— Prices at pit. Current Last week's Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase):— prices. prices. House coal, best deep 18/ 18/ Do. seconds deep 16/6 16/6 Do. best shallow 14/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 13/ 13/ Best hard 14/ 14/ Forge coal 11/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 8/6 8/6 House coal, best Ryder ... Do. hand - pickec 17/6 17/6 cobs 13/9 13/9 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 10/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/3 9/3 Small (do.) 8/3 8/3 IRON. Although there was a good attendance at the weekly meeting on Thursday, business was still flat, and in some sections prices were again slightly easier. In the bar trade the normal level between marked and unmarked qualities has been reached. For some time merchant bars stood at £8 12s. 6d. to .£8 15s., now few are sold above .£8 10s., and for some classes £8 5s. has been accepted—not the best iron, certainly, but good commercial material, and subject to satisfactory specifications. This leaves a difference between standard and second bars at the normal figure of 30s. to 35s. The mills are going full time, but those engaged in the production of common iron in the Darlaston and Wednesbury districts are not so happily situated, and recently they have not started till Tuesday morning. Prices for this material range from £7 17s. 6d. to £8 2s. 6d. Pig iron values have not receded further on the week, and a recovery is predicted as soon as peace is declared. Consumers, however, show no disposition to buy largely, so that quotations are to some extent nominal. Anyone with an attractive offer could certainly obtain favourable terms. A better demand is reported for galvanised sheets, though prices are unaffected. Makers' quotations stand at £11 17s. 6d. to £12 2s. 6d., but merchants are cutting even these low rates. Competition in this branch is exceedingly keen. Makers of black sheets are not selling quite so rapidly, but the smaller output compared with the large quantities used by galvanisers prevents any fall in prices meantime. Singles are £8 5s., doubles £8 12s. 6d., and trebles £9. Small rounds are easier, the latest quotations being £8 7s. 6d. to £8 10s., delivered Birmingham. Steel hoops are in good request at £8 17s. 6d. to £9 a ton for best quality, while heavier gauges vary from £8 5s. to £8 15s. Continental material in competition with hoops cannot be bought under £8 12s. 6d. net, so that naturally the home maker has the preference. The Gas Strip Association prices remain at from <£8 10s. to £8 12s. 6d., according to quantity. All the finished steel mills continue busy, and some big enquiries are on foot. Demi-products are obtainable at £5 17s. 6d. to £6 2s. 6d. Forest of Dear. Lydney. GOAL. The steam coals of this district are still in heavy request,. and the collieries are experiencing much difficulty in getting sufficient coal to meet the requirements of customers. Some of the collieries are fully sold for the month. It is impossible to keep any fctock, and delay in executing orders is inevitable. House coals, too, are in better demand this week, and the majority of the pits are working full time. Stocks have been reduced. Shipments during the week have been unusually heavy. Rail borne orders are coming in well. All qualities of small coal are selling freely. Current Last week’s House coals:— prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 Rubble 15/9 15/9 ' Nuts 14/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 10/ »/ Large 13/ to 14/ 13/ Small 10/ toll/ 10/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. GOAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a good demand at tha south-coast ports for house, steam, and gas coal. Wholesale prices are well maintained at last rates, and freights for steam colliers are firm. Sailers are willing to accept rather lower rates for those ports in which they have to compete with steamers. There is already some enquiry for quotations for coal by contract for forward delivery. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, March 6. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The position at the Mersey ports is still as acute as; ever, and all the dock workers at Garston docks are out on strike, everything is at a standstill, and no traffic is being dealt with. There does not appear to be any prospect of an immediate settlement. With reference to the coal trade generally, the majority of the collieries continue to work full time, and are able to find a market for the whole of the output. There is not a very heavy demand at present for coal for household purposes, and this can hardly be expected now that the weather has become so much milder, but there is little or no difference in the ruling prices. Gas coal, both large coal and nuts, goes away steadily against contracts, and the great question with coalowners at the present moment is what will be the advance which they will be able to obtain over and above the existing contract prices. In some quarters it is maintained that the advance should not be less than 2s. or even more, while others I am inclined to think will be agreeable to take a lesser advance. This question, however, will soon now be settled, as there are several gas coal and other contracts now on the market, and for which prices will have to be quoted immediately. Steam coal for locomotive contracts, as usual, is in fair demand, and all the collieries who hold contracts under the different railway companies who take their supplies from this coal- field, welcome this trade at the present time, as the wagons come in readily, enabling the bulk of the output of this class of fuel to be disposed of quickly. Coal for manufacturing purposes is sold well, and there appears to be no slackening in prices at present. Bunkers are in greater demand during the last week than the week previous, and large quantities have been sent down to Birkenhead and Ellesmere Port, but owing to the strike at Garston none can be shipped there at the present time. Slack of good quality can demand a good price, but with regard to gas coke there is a distinct falling off in prices obtained for this commodity, to the extent of about Is. 8d. per ton in some cases. The present ruling prices are as follow :— Current Last week's Prices at pit f.o.r. — prices. prices. Best house coal 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/6 Secondary do 14/ to 15/ 14/ to 15/6 Steam coal 12/ to 13/6 12/3 to 13/3 Gas coal 13/6 to 14/6 i 12/6 to 13/6 ~ Bunkers 12/ to 13/ 1 12/ to 13/ Nuts 11/ to 12/ ! 11/ to 12/ Slack 6/6 to 9/6 i 6/3 to 9/6 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 15/ to 17/6 ' 16/8 to 18/ Best house coal 18/4 to 20/ 18/4 to 20/ Seconds 16/8 to 17/6 ■ 16/8 to 18/4 Slack 10/ to 12/6 | 10/ to 12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. GOAL The steam coal market has ruled very steady for the past week, the only discernible tendencies apparently being a firmness for large of all qualities and an easiness for smalls, both of which are so slight as to be scarcely noticeable. The truth is that stems are so congested now that the new business done has been almost negligible, and this state of business will exist until after the holidays, and it will need a regular accretion of tonnage to meet shippers* require-