March 20, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

606
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________

Letters to the Editor.
__________________________________________________

The Editor is not responsible either for the statements
made.or the opinions expressed by correspondents.

All communications must be authenticated by the name
and address of the sender, whether for publication or
not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations.

Asreplies to questions are only given by way of published
answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped
addressed envelopes are not required to be sent.

_________________________________________________

MINE MANAGERS’ EXAMINATIONS.

Sir,—Will you kindly allow us space in your columns
to say that every reader who either passed or failed at
either of the examinations held last November, or who
was debarred from sitting by any regulation of the new
Board for Mining Examinations ; and also every reader
of this letter who knows of anyone who comes under
either of these descriptions, is earnestly requested to
send us at once, in strict confidence, his or their name
and full postal address, stating whether he passed or
failed, or was debarred, and whether at the first- or
second-class examination or surveyors’ examination:

Letters on this subject should be addressed “Nov.
Exam. Dept. A, the Universal Mining School, Cardiff.”

Copies of statistics which we propose to publish will
be sent free of charge to everyone who assists us in this
way.	T. A. Southern.

Universal Mining School,	H. W. Halbaum.

Cardiff, March 15, 1913.

qualities of steam coal. City prices are as follow:—Giant’s
Hall Arley coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan,
25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell
slack, 23s. 6d. The following are the current quotations
ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 24s. per ton; Scotch house
coal, 20s. 6d. per ton; Scotch steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per
ton; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam coal,
20s. per ton; English steam slack, 17s. per ton delivered.
The supplies of English coal are still scarce owing to the
dockers’ strike at Garston, but there has been a fairly good
trade with some of the Scottish ports. Cargoes arriving
during the week were chiefly from Fleetwood, Ayr, Girvan,
Preston, Liverpool, Troon, Manchester, Lydney, Glasgow,
Bristol, Ardrossan, and Partington.

Current

__________________________

THE USE OF COMPRESSED AIR.

Sir,—In a recent issue of your periodical we note a
reference to our air-compressing machinery contained
in the abbreviated account of a paper on compressed
air read by Mr. George Blake Walker before the
Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical
Engineers, wherein our designs are mentioned as being
of the slow-speed type.

We fear that this may convey an erroneous impression
to your readers, as we have for some time past equipped
our engines with light disc valves to our own patents,
rendering them quite suitable for high piston speeds
with good volumetric and mechanical efficiencies.

Though the free-air capabilities of our standard air-
compressing engines, working under normal conditions,
are based on piston speeds of 500 to 600 feet per minute
—dependent upon the size of plant—yet we have many
instances of speeds materially in excess of this, some
exceeding 800 ft. per minute.

We do not think these piston speeds are exceeded in
ordinary practice by any other makers, though naturally,
in some instances, engines of the vertical type have an
increased number of reciprocations of piston in order to
Compensate for the shorter stroke customary in these
designs.

Thanking you in anticipation for an insertion of this
in your journal,

For Walker Brothers (Wigan) Limited,

________________________________________________

THK LONDON COAL TRACK.

Wednesday, March 19.

The London coal trade for the past week has been fairly
busy, and the volume of trade doing at all the various
depots has been well maintained. The colder weather and
the near approach of the Easter holidays has awakened a
stronger demand, and although no change has taken place
in the prices, the delivery trade on all sides has been brisk.
Some difficulty has been experienced by the railway com-
panies in bringing the traffic forward, but the factors and
merchants who had allowed their stocks to get low, were
disposed to buy up more freely in the hope of getting some
of the loaded wagons through before the holidays com-
menced. Collieries were beginning to show an increase in
the stock on hand, and as the fixed contracts commence the
summer prices from April 1, fears were entertained that
the remaining few days of March would prove a very dull,
slow time for orders. Happily, however, the return to
colder conditions saved the situation and brought in a fair
number of wholesale orders. Bakers’ nuts and hard kitchen
cobbles, together with all kinds of cheap stove coals, have
been bought up freely, and manufacturing coals have also
had a good strong demand. The better qualities of hard
steam coal have also sold freely. The rough winds of the
past week have created a good deal of havoc amongst the
loaded barges of coal along the River Thames, and in many
cases the low-lying barges have been swamped. The sea-
borne market has not been over-stocked, and the household
prices continue nominal. No cargoes of either Durham or
Yorkshire qualities have been on offer. Thirty cargoes were
reported as arriving in the Thames on Monday’s market.
The heavy snowfalls in the north, and the difficulty of
navigating the vessels along the coast, has diminished the
number of boats arriving. The attendance on market
during the week has been good, and evidently an awakened
interest in the demand and supply has been occasioned.
The pits will stop for at least four days during Easter, and
all prices are firmly held. The cheaper qualities of bright
household fuel have been somewhat slow. Small nuts and
slacks are still finding favour, and are in good demand.
Many of the larger buyers are prepared to buy forward at
the present prices, so the demand seems likely to continue.
The question of contracting for house coal over the ensuing
year has already been under discussion, and collieries are
claiming a further Is. advance on last year’s rates. The
merchants,, however, are very much opposed to this, and
point to the fact of last year’s prices being largely against
the merchants. Those merchants who were free to buy on
the open market had the advantage of Is. to Is. 6d. as
compared with the contractors, the advertised prices ruling
about the same for four out of the six months, but the pit
prices under contract averaging at least 2s. per ton more.

Market quotations (pit mouth) :

Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure
accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these
prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations.

Derbyshire—(cont).

Clay Cross Main coal.......__.........

Do. do. cubes ...................

Do. special Derbys...............

Do. house coal...................

Pilsley best blackshale .............

Do. deep house coal ...............

Do. hard screened cobbles .........

Hardwick best Silkstone .............

Do. Cavendish brights.............

Do. cubes ........................

Nottinghamshire.

Clifton picked hards ................

Do. small hards...................

Do. deep large steam .............

Annesley best hards .................

Do. bright cobbles ................

Linby best hards.....................

Do. bright cobbles..................

Digby London brights ................

Do. cobbles ........................

Do. top hards ......................

Do. High Hazel coal.................

Best wood hard steam coal............

Do. bright cobbles ...............

Hucknall Torkard main hards.........

Do.  Do.	do.  do.	cobbles 	  nuts	
Do.	do.	High Hazel HP. ...
Do.	do.	London brights	
Do.	do.	large nuts 	
Do.	do.	bright nuts	
Sherwood H.P. hards			

Do. hard steam..
Do. brights ... .
Do. cobbles ........

Do. large nuts ..

Warwickshire.

Griff large steam coal..
Do. screened cobbles

Do. bakers’nuts ............t____

Do. loco Two Yard hards .........

Do. Ryder nuts...................

Do. do. cobbles .................

Nuneaton steam coal...............

Do. screened cobbles ...........

Do. nuts........................

Haunchwood steam .................

Do. screened cobbles...........

Do. nuts .....................

Wyken steam coal .................

Do. screened cobbles ............

Do. nuts.........................

Exhall Ell coal spires...................

Do. large steam coal..................

Leicestershire.

George L. Walker.

Pagefield Ironworks, Wigan,
March 18, 1913.

_________________________________________________

THE IRISH GOAL TRADE.

Wednesday, March 19.

Dublin.

There has been no falling off in demand during the past
week, business having been very active in all branches, and
enquiry on household account almost up to a winter average.
Prices are keeping firm, and without further change.
Quotations in the city are 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, from Is. 5d. to Is. 7d. per sack; coke, 23s. per ton;
steam coals from about 22s. per ton upwards. Irish coals, at
Wolfhill, Queen’s County:—Large coal, 21s. 6d. per ton;
small household, 20s.; gas-producer coal, 20s.; culm, 6s. 8d.
per ton—all at the pit mouth. In consequence of the
continuance of the Garston strike fewer colliers are arriving
in the Liffey, and work amongst the coal porters is becoming
slack. Coaling vessels arriving during the week were chiefly
from Birkenhead, West Bank, Preston, Glasgow, Partington,
Newport, Irvine, Ayr, Troon, and Liverpool. It is stated
that a seam of coal has been discovered near Bally james-
duff, county Cavan, and that a public meeting has been
called for the purpose of taking steps to have the seam
worked.

Belfast.

There has been much activity during the past week in
the local coal trade, and there appears to be no immediate
prospect of any reduction in prices, the advance of Is. per
ton in best qualities of house coal made last week being
maintained. There has also been a slight advance in some

Yorkshire.

Wath Main best coal.................

Do. nuts...................._____

Birley cube Silkstone...............

Do. branch coal ..................

Do. seconds.......................

Barnsley Bed Silkstone..............

West Riding Silkstone ..............

Kiveton Park Hazel .................

Do.	cobbles................

Do.	nuts...................

Do. hard steam.................

New Sharlston Wallsend .............

Wharncliffe Silkstone coal..........

Do. Flockton Main ..............

Do. Athersley house coal........

Newton Chambers best Sil fc stone...

Do.	Grange best Silkstone

Do.	Hesley Silkstone ....

Do.	Rockingham selected

Do.	Rockingham Silkstone

Derbyshire.

Wingfield Manor best..................

Do.  Do.	large nuts	  small nuts	
Do.	kitchen coal			
West Hallam Kilburn briehts			
Do.	do. nuts 	
Do.	London brights 	
Do.		  bright nuts	
Do.	small nuts 		
Manners Kilburn brisrhts		
Do.	do. nuts 	
Shipley	do. brights 	
Do.	do. nuts 	

Mapperley brights..................

Do hard steam .................

Cossall Kilburn brights............

Do. do. nuts.....................

Trowell Moor brights...............

Do. do. nuts....................

Grassmoor Main coal................

Do. Tupton ....................

Do. do. nuts...................

pric-'F.

12/6
12/
11/9

12/6
10/6
10/
12/6
11/6

11/6

!2/

12/

12

11/3

11/3
12/
12
13/
14/
.12/

11/3
12/3
11/3

14/9

12/3

12/3

11/3

12/

10/6

11/3

11/3

11/9

10/9
11/
11/
13/6
11/6

12/6
10/9
11/
11/
10/9

11/
11

10/9
11/
11

12/6
10/9

Last
week’s
prices.
'12/6
12/ '
11/9
11/
12/6
10/6
W/
12/6
11/6
11/6

12
11/
12/
12/
11/3

12/
11/3
12/
12

13

14/
12/
11/3
12/3
11/3

11/
14/9
12/3
12/3
11/3

12/
10/6
11/3
11/3
11/9

10/9

11/

11/

13/6

11/6

12/6
10/9
11/
11/

10/9

11/
11/

10/9

11/

12/6

10/9

Current
prices.

13/
12
11/6
15/
11
12/6
12/
13
13
12
11
14/
14/
13/6
11/6
15/
14/
13/
13/6
13/

12/
11/9

9/6
10/
12/
11/9
11/
10/9

9/6
12/
11/9
)2/
11/9
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
11/6
11/
12/6
11/
12/

Last
week’s
prices.
13/
12/
11/6
15/
11
12/6
12/
13
13
12/
11/
14/
14/
13/6
11/6
15/
14/
13/
13/6
13/

12/
11/9

9/6
iO/
12
11/9
11/
10/9

9/6
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
11/6
nl,
12/6
11/
12/

Snibston steam.......................

Do. cobbles........................

Do. nuts ..........................

South Leicester steam ...............

Do.	cobbles or small hards

Do.	nuts .................

Whitwick steam.......................

Do. roasters .....................

Do. cobbles __.....................

Do. nuts..........................

Netherseal hards ....................

Do.	Eureka....................

Do.	kitchen...................

Ibstock kibbles .....................

Do. large nuts ________..................

Do. bakers’ nuts ..................

Do. Main nuts......................

Do. hards .........................

Granville New Pit cobbles............

Do. Old Pit cobbles ...............

North Staffordshire.

Talk-o’-th’-Hill best ...............

Sneyd best, selected ................

Do. deeps........................

Silverdale best......................

Do. cobbles ......................

Apedale best ........................

Do. seconds.......................

Podmore Hall best....................

Do. seconds.....................

South Staffordshire (CannockDistrict).

Walsall Wood steam coal, Londoi
brights..............................

Do. shallow one way.............

Do. deep nuts...................

Cannock steam........................

Coppice deep coal ...................

Do. cobbles .......................

Do. one way........................

Do. shallow coal ..................

Cannock Chase deep main..............

Do.	Deep kitchen cobbles ..

Do. best shallow main ..........

Do.	shallow kibbles .......

Do.	best brights...........

Do.	yard cobbles..........

Do.	yard nuts .............

Do.	bakers’nuts...........

Do. screened hards..............

10/6
10/3
10/6
10/
10/6
10/6
10/6
10/6
io/;
10/6
17/
12/6
10/6
10/
10/

9/6
10/

9/6
11/6
10/6

13/6
14/6
14/
15/

14/

13/6
13/
13/6
13/

13/

12/
11/6
11/
13

12/

12/
12/
17

14/
13/6
13/
13/6
12/6
10/3

10/6
10/3
10/6
10/
10/6
10/6
10/6
10/6

10/6
10/6
17/
12/6
10/6
10/
10/

9/6
10/

9/6
11/6
10/6

13/6
14/6
14/
15/
14'/
13/6
13/
13/6
13/

13/

12/
11/6

11/

13/

12

12

12/

17

12/

14/
13/6
13/
13/6

12/6
10/3
11/

From Meaara. Dinnam, Fawcua and Oo.’a Report.

Friday, March 14 —The seaborne house coal market con-
tinued quiet to-day, with no cargoes on offer.

Monday, March 17.—Although the weather keeps cold,
there was no improvement in the enquiry for seaborne house
coal at to-day’s market, no Durham or Yorkshire cargoes
being on offer.

Wednesday, March 19.—In consequence of the approaching
holidays, the seaborne house coal market was exceedingly
quiet to-day, with no business reported.

Prices.—	Mar. 14. Mar. 17. Mar. 19.

Best (Durham) .........	—	...	__ __

Seconds do. __............... —	...	__ __

Sharlston W.E. York ...... —	...	__ ...	__

No. of cargoes...........	30	...	30 ...	11