March 14, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 549 account of the strike at Liverpool there is a very small quantity going down for shipment at the present time. Coming at this particular time, this makes it somewhat awkward, as more fuel is on the open market, prices are inclined to fall as a consequence, and contractors are trying to take advantage of same, though it is hardly likely to have much effect on future contracts, as immediately the strike is over, there will be a demand for bunkers, and coal will not be so plentiful as at present. The position of the trade with regard to nuts, slack and gas coke is similar to last week. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. GOAL. This week's conditions in the steam coal market are those usually prevalent the weeks antecedent to holiday times. The majority of collieries are very full and not able to look at new business until their stems become easier. A few others, not so well placed, are willing to come to terms in order to secure the little amount of free tonnage there is to be had. Actual business of this sort has been but little, with the effect though of weakening the market figures. Meanwhile, for coal to be delivered after the holidays, buyers are holding off, being of opinion that they will then obtain better terms. Small coals remain relatively as strong as last week, there being not a great supply avail- . able. House coals also maintain their values, although the demand is relaxing. Patent fuel remains unchanged, while pitwood with a better demand and supplies hardly so plentiful has firmed up a shilling. Coke continues very scarce and rather dearer. In the freight market chartering proceeds easily, the congested state of stems hampering business. Owners are now showing more willingness to close for future dates, although rates are hardly so firm. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. - Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Western-valleys, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals : Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals "Best washed nuts 'Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 17/6 to 17/9 17/ to 17/3 16/ to 16/6 15/9 to 16/3 14/3 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 12/9 to 13/ 14/6 to 14/9 15/3 to 15/9 14/3 to 14/6 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6 22/ to 23/ 28/ to 28/6 29/ to 32/ Last week’s prices. 17/6 to 18/ 17/ to 17/3 16/3 to 16/6 16/ to 16/3 14/3 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 12/9 to 13/ 14/6 to 14/9 15/3 to 15/9 14/3 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6 22/ to 23/ 27/6 to 28/6 29/6 to 32/ IRON. Local conditions in the iron and steel trades show only -slight alteration since last week. Business continues irregular, but with manufacturers holding out for their prices, buyers are showing rather more inclination to close for their requirements for slightly forward deliveries. Work continues fairly good, and outputs normal. From sheet and tin-plate bar mills, full work is again reported, although part of the current make is now going into stock through the closing down of tin-plate mills. Work is good at rail mills, prevailing quotations ruling on .£6 10s. to .£6 15s. for heavy sections. Blast furnaces are busy, with arrears of orders still to be dealt with, good business is passing, and -there is a healthy forward enquiry. Welsh hsematite remains steady at 88s. 6d. to 89s. delivered locally. The tin-plate trade at last shows a slight reaction after the slump. There is for the moment a better enquiry, with perhaps rather more orders being placed. To-day's values are based upon 14s. 3d. for Bessemer primes 20 x 14. Cardiff. COAL. Though the shipments last week were very satisfactory, the quantity of coal exported to foreign countries being over 400,000 tons, the total would have been much greater had the facilities for coping with the traffic been more adequate. In numerous instances heavy demurrage was incurred through the inability of the dock companies to supply the necessary tips, and as much as from .£80 to <£100 had to be paid by some of the collieries. To use a familiar phrase, this “took the gilt off the gingerbread," and unfortunately there is only too much reason to fear that with any rush of trade this state of things seems more likely than not to become chronic. It goes almost without saying that the effect on prices is very detrimental, but in addition there is one feature that is apt to be lost sight of when the question of dock accommodation is being considered, and that is the large number of collieries which are now in course of development, and which are planned on a far more extensive scale than used to be the case. In days gone by, a colliery which had a regular output of about 600 tons a day was considered to be doing well, but in the present go- ahead times, unless a pit is capable of turning out well over 1,000 tons a day it is not looked upon as being up to date. So far as the present month is concerned collieries generally have sufficient orders on their books to carry them well into April, and for this reason they are quoting best steam large firmly at from 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d., whilst best second Admiralties are held for 19s., and ordinary seconds for 18s. 6d. per ton. It was reported that the administration of the Hungarian State Railways had asked for tenders for the supply of about 100,000 tons of steam coals for delivery over the next 12 months, but the prices sent in were so much in excess of what was anticipated that it was decided to pursue a hand-to-mouth policy. The Government have since sent out fresh specifications, in which they simply ask for tenders for 20,000 tons of Admiralty or other good quality coal for delivery at Fiume over a period of three months, but as there is not likely to be any relaxation in prices it is doubtful whether any business will result. Amongst other contracts which are sought to be placed is one from the Crown Agents of the Colonies, who, acting on behalf of the Government of Mauritius, have invited tenders for the supply of 20,000 tons of steam coals for delivery into lighters at Port Louis. There is also an enquiry in the market for the Baltic, but the quantity required in this case is not known. In consequence of the difficulty of stemming, freights are very weak, Genoa having been done several times at 8s. 6d., and, until the present congestion at the docks has been lessened, there does not appear to be much prospect of a rise. As regards the small coal market, it appears for the moment to be easier. This is no doubt due to the improved situation in Belgium. According to the latest advices, the fears of a strike there are less acute and consequently there is not the same pressure for delivery under the contracts recently placed with Welsh collieries. The result is that best bunkerings are now obtainable at 15s. 6d., while cargo qualities are selling at from 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. per ton. It is rumoured that the French State Railways were about to come into the market for between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of small coal, but the high prices quoted were altogether against business, and for the moment the authorities are taking some of the cheaper large coals from the German collieries. What the future course of the market will be it is difficult to foracast. There is ample tonnage in port, the number of vessels in Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Docks at the beginning of the week being over 260. The loading pressure therefore is likely to continue right up to Easter, but as the amount of tonnage engaged is now weekly declining—last week it only represented a carrying capacity of 247,000 tons—the situation will, no doubt, be materially relieved after the holidays. The stoppage at Easter will certainly have an effect on the market. There will be at least three days’ holiday, and by the time the men get back to work again it is expected that the present congestion will be almost at an end. The market for Monmouthshire coals is very strong. Practically all the coal sent up is commandeered by contractors and there is but little free coal obtainable; the result is that prices are about 3d. higher than last week, best Black Veins being 18s. and western-valleys 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. f.o.b. Cardiff. Best eastern-valley coals are only 3d. below the price of western-valley. Best bituminous coals are still quoted at 18s., but there are collieries which are still ready to accept 17s. 6d. No. 2 Rhondda keeps excep- tionally high, as much as 16s. 6d. being paid for prompt supplies. The patent fuel market remains without much change. Very few purchases are being made, and the ship- ments, which last week amounted to over 30,000 tons, are mainly on account of old contracts. Swansea headed the list with 15,905 tons, whilst the Crown Company sent out 8,000 and other local makers 6,900 tons. As much as 25s. is still being paid for best brands. Owing to the depression in the tin-plate trade, there is much less pressure for steel bars, and this has reacted on the coke market. Still for special foundry from 32s. to 33s. is being asked by some makers, whilst furnace coke ranges from 24s. to 27s. per ton. The pit wood market is rather firmer, 20s. being paid for best French fir. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam prices. prices. coals 19/6 to 19/9 19/6 Superior seconds 19/ 18/9 to 19/ Ordinary do 18/6 17/6 to 18/ Best bunker smalls 15/6 16/ Best ordinaries 15/ 15/9 Cargo qualities 14/6 to 14/9 15/ to 15/3 Inferior smalls 14/ to 14/6 14/6 Best dry coals 18/6 to 19/ 18/6 to 19/ Ordinary drys 17/3 to 17/9 17/ to 17/6 Best washed nuts 17/ to 17/3 16/6 to 17/ Seconds 15/6 to 15/9 15/6 to 16/ Best washed peas 15/6 to 15/9 16/3 Seconds 14/ to 14/3 14/9 to 15/ Dock screenings Monmouthshire— 15/9 to 16/ 16/ Black Veins 18/ 17/9 Western-valleys 17/6 to 17/9 17/6 Eastern-valleys 17/3 to 17/6 16/3 to 16/6 Inferior do Bituminous coals:— 16/9 15/9 to 16/ Best house coals (at pit) 19/6 19/6 Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— 17/6 17/6 Bituminous large 17/6 18/ Through-and-through... 16/6 17/ Small . No. 2 Rhondda— 15/6 16/ Large 16/6 16/ to 16/3 Through-and-through... 15/6 15/3 to 15/6 Small 14/6 14/6 Best patent fuel 25/ 24/6 to 25/ Seconds 23/ 23/ to 23/6 Special foundry coke 32/ to 33/ 33/ Ordinary do. 30/ 30/ Furnace coke 24/ to 27/ 25/6 to 28/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 20/ 19/ Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2£ per cent. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. There is rather more enquiry for tin-plates, a drop of a further .£6 in block tin having apparently raised hopes in the minds of buyers that it would be possible to do business at a lower level of prices. A few small parcels of common 14 x 20 cokes have been sold from stock at 14s., whilst for delivery over the rest of the month it has been possible to buy at 14s. l|d. to 14s. 3d. Works, as a rule, are not willing to sell under 14s. 6d. for later delivery. A fair amount of business has been done in oil sizes, one order being for 50,000 boxes for the East at 14s. 6d., or l|d. below current quotations. There is no change in tin bars, which are still quoted at from .£5 12s. 6d. to .£5 15s. per ton. As regards galvanised sheets, business is of a very dragging character. There is a fair enquiry from South America, but very little doing for India; 24-gauge corrugateds are Xll 15s. After next month shipments of tin-plates and galvanised sheets will be made direct to Java instead of being forwarded coastwise to Liverpool and then re-shipped in the Mersey. The Ebbw Vale Company have received a large order for steel rails and fishplates from the New South Wales Government, delivery of which will begin in the autumn and extend well into next year. Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds have also received an order for 17,000 tons of 100 lb. rails for the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Two new steel furnaces are being erected at the Pontymister Steel and Tin-plate Works. Welsh pig iron remains steady at 86s. f.o.t. New steel crop ends are 72s. 6d. to 73s., heavy steel scrap 603., and heavy wrought 57s. 6d. per ton. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port was again very active during the past week. The coal trade was good, and there was a moderate export of patent fuel. The shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted to 110,294 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change this morning, but very little movement was noted in the conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large moved off fairly well, especially the Genoa option brands, but Red Vein large continued weak. There was not much demand for machine-made nuts and cobbles, and prices were easier. Rubbly culm was very scarce, and a further advance in prices was noted. Duff was also a very strong market. In the steam coal market prices continued to rule very firm, but there was very little new business passing, as sellers were fully stemmed for forward delivery. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net) ........ Secondary do........... Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) ........... Red Vein large do...... Machine - made cobbles (net) ............... Paris nuts (net) ...... French do. do.......... German do. do.......... Beans (net) ........... Machine-made large peas (net) ............... Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net)............. Steam coals:— Best large (less 2|p.c.) ... Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2|p.c.).. Through - and - through (less 2| p.c.)..... • Small (less 2| per cent.) Patent fuel do............ Current prices. 22/6 to 24/6 20/ to 21/6 16/6 to 18/3 14/3 to 14/9 21/9 to 23/9 23/6 to 26/ 23/6 to 26/ 23/6 to 26/ 18/ to 20/ 11/3 to 13/ 8/6 to 9/ 5/6 to 6/ 18/6 to 19/ 16/3 to 16/9 16/ to 17/ 13/ to 15/6 18/ to 19/ 16/ to 17/ 14/9 to 16/ 20/ to 20/6 Last week's prices. 22/6 to 24/6 20/ to 21/6 16/9 to 18/3 14/6 to 15/ 21/9 to 23/9 23/6 to 26/ 23/6 to 26/ 23/6 to 26/ 18/ to 20/ 11/3 to 13/ 8/3 to 8/9 5/6 to 6/ 18/6 to 19/ 15/9 to 16/6 14/6 to 16/ 12/6 to 14/ 18/ to 19/ 16/ to 17/ 14/3 to 15/6 20/ to 20/6 IRON. During the past week the trade of the district was, on the whole, good. The pig iron trade remained firm, and the weekly yield of material was again satisfactory. Activity was seen in all branches of the steelworks. Bar rolling mills were also busy, and the Duffryn mill was kept operating right up to Saturday to ensure a sufficient supply of tin bars for the tin-plate mills. A dozen more tin-plate mills were at work than in the preceding week, and a few more will be set going this week. The various sections of the large sheet and galvanising establishments were fully operating, and full time was registered at the Mannesmann Tube Works. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 102,306 boxes, receipts from works 119,408 boxes, whilst stocks in the dock warehouses and vans were 435,231 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The boom in the steam and bituminous market continues and buyers are experiencing much difficulty in getting their wants supplied. The coming holidays, when pits will be closed down for three days, is also making the market very much firmer and the works are trying to lay in some stock as well as get sufficient to keep going now. Prices received are very high. As much as 6s. per ton was paid during the week by one work, more than normal times for through coal. The position is getting serious with the manufac- turing works, and already some have closed down, owing to the difficulty in getting supplies and the high prices asked for raw material. There is no improve- ment in the demand for anthracite, and collieries have all their work cut out to keep going anything like full time. There is quite a lull in inland orders, and there is plenty of room for improvement in the shipping trade. Stove and suction gas kinds are being offered at very low figures. Culm and duff are very scarce, and prices are being easily maintained. This week’s quotations are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite Best malting large.... Secondary do.......... Big Vein large........ Red Vein do........... Machine-made cobbles ... German nuts .......... French do.............. Paris do............... Machine-made beans .... Do peas........... Rubbly culm ........... Duff .................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... Through-and-through ... Small................. Bituminous small coal ... Current prices. 22/ to 23/ 20/ to 21/ 17/6 to 19/6 14/6 to 15/6 20/ to 21/ 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 23/ to 25/ 19/ to 21/ 12/ to 12/6 8/ to 8/6 5/ to 6/ 18/ to 18/6 14/6 to 15/6 13/ to 14/6 12/6 to 13/ Last week's prices. 23/ to 24/ 20/ to 22/ 18/ to 20/ 14/6 to 15/ 20/ to 21/ 23/ to 25/ 23/ to 25/ 23/ to 26/ 20/ to 21/ 12/ tc 13/ 7/ to 8/3 5/ to 6/ 18/ to 18/6 14/6 to 15/6 13/6 to 14/6 12/ to 12/6 Mr. Wm. Maurice, F.G.S., M.I.E.E., will lecture on miners' electric lamps at the University College, Nottingham, at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, the 15th inst. Con- siderable interest attaches to this lecture, as it is expected that the new Edison lamp will be there exhibited for the ’ first time in this country.