April 11, 1913, THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 755 'Veins, whilst the prices for both $ western^ kand eastern valleys coals are quite close to each other. There is no alteration in house coals, neither has any material advance taken place in the better class of Rhondda bituminous coals —No. 3 large still offering at 17s. 6d. No. 2 large, however, is much firmer, realising as much as 16s. 6d. to 17s. per ton. Shipments of patent fuel for the week amounted to no less than 44,427 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 13,942 tons, other local makers 10,200 tons, Swansea 16,635 tons, and Newport 3,650 tons. Best brands have sold for 26s., other qualities 23s. 61. to 24s. 6d. Coke is distinctly easier, especially as regards the cheaper kinds. Furnace coke is 23s. to 24s„ special foundry 32s., and (Ordinary foundry 29s. per ton. Pitwood is 20s. 6d. The Cardiff Journal of Commerce publishes a table giving the average declared price per ton of coal exported from the chief ports of the kingdom in the month of February, from which we extract the following figures relating to the principal Welsh ports;— Cardiff. Newport. Port Talbot. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Large steam ... 17 0 ... 15 7 .. . 16 3 ... 15 2 Through-and-through 14 10 ... 12 0 .. . 11 2 ... 10 11 Small ... 11 0 ... 11 7 .. . 10 0 ... 10 0 Large anthracite ... ...31 3 ... - . 15 5 ... 17 0 Household ... 12 6 ... - . 15 6 ... 16 11 The prices for February last year were:— Cardiff. s. d. Large steam.........16 3 . Through-and-through 13 4 . Small .............. 9 2 . Large anthracite.... 23 7 . Household............. — . Newport. Talbot. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. .. 15 5 .. . 15 9 ... 14 6 .. 12 2 .. . 10 4 . ... 10 2 .. 10 1 .. . 7 10 ... 7 7 .. — .. . 17 5 ik n ... 17 4 .From the above it will be seen that at Cardiff there is an increase of 9d. in the price of large, and Is. lOd. in the price of small coal. At Newport there is only an increase of 2d. in the price of large, but in small it is as much as Is. 6d. per ton. At Port Talbot the increase in the price of large coal is 6d., and in small 2s. 2d. At Swansea large has advanced 8d., and small 2s. 5d. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s .Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam prices. prices. coals 20/9 to 21/ 20/ Superior seconds 20/3 to 20/6 19/3 to 19/6 Ordinary do 19/. to 19/6 18/9 to 19/ Best bunker smalls 15/9 to 16/ 15/6 to 16/ Best ordinaries 15/3 to 15/6 15/3 to 15/6 Cargo qualities 14/9 to 15/ 14/9 Inferior smalls 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 ‘ Best dry coals 19/6 to 20/ 18/6 to 19/3 Ordinary drys 18/ to 18/9 17/3 to 17/9 Best washed nuts 17/ 17/ Seconds 16/ to 16/6 15/6 to 16/ Best washed peas 15/6 15/6 to 15/9 Seconds 14/9 15/ iDock screenings -Monmouthshire— 16/ 15/6 to 16/ Black Veins 19/ 18/ Western-valleys 18/6 to 18/9 17/9 Eastern-valleys 18/3 to 18/6 17/3 Inferior do 'Bituminous coals:— 17/3 to 17/6 16/6 to 16/9 Best house coals (at pit) 19/6 19/6 Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— 17/6 17/6 Bituminous large 17/6 17/6 Through-and-through... 16/9 16/6 to 16/9 Small No. 2 Rhondda— 16/ 15/9 Large 16/6 to 17/ 16/3 to 16/6 Through-and-through... 15/6 15/3 to 15/6 Small 14/6 14/6 Best patent fuel 26/ 25/ Seconds 23/6 to 24/6 23/ Special foundry coke 32/ 32/ to 33/ Ordinary do. 29/ 29/ to 30/ Furnace coke 23/ to 24/ 25/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 20/6 19/9 to 20/ ■ Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 21 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. The situation in the tin-plate trade is unchanged. Though the stoppage of nearly 100 mills has materially reduced the output, the only new business passing is that recorded for the Standard Oil Company, of New York. This consists of 70,000 boxes of oil sizes, but the price obtained is very low, that for 18f x 14 being 14s. lid., and for 20 x 10 19s. 10^d. per box. It is two years since the Welsh makers did any business with this company. Unfortunately it is not anticipated that the order will afford much relief to the market, as there is still a great accumulation of plates in the warehouses, and the first consignment of 40,000 boxes some time this month will probably be taken from stock. Current values for 14 x 20 > common cokes are 14s., for quarters 14s. 3d., and for 10 x 20 sizas 20s. per box. The position of the trade in the Neath - district gives rise to much apprehension. Both the Gilfrew and Aberdulais Tin-plate Works have closed down in- definitely, and the Wern Works at Briton Ferry will follow suit on Saturday. Imports of steel from the Continent during the week were less than 7,000 tons. All the Welsh furnaces aie in operation, most of the works • being booked well ahead with contracts. Nominally the price of tin-plate bars is £5 12s. 6d. There is no change in < galvanised sheets, 24-gauge corrugateds being still quoted at .£11 15s. Big sheets for galvanising, 30-gauge, are .£8 10s. to £9. The same figures are also quoted for C.A. roofing sheets. Welsh pig iron is steady at 84s. to 85s., f.o.t. Scrap metals are firmer, heavy wrought being 57s. 6d., heavy steel 60s., and heavy cast 62s. 6d. per ton. Swansea. COAL. Daring the past week the returns of the trade of the port were satisfactory. Both the coal and patent fuel trades were active, the shipments totalling 108,966 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change this morning, but there was no improvement to report in the general conditions prevailing in the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large was freely offered for prompt delivery at reduced prices. Rad Vein large was also a weak market. Machine- made nuts and cobbles were barely holding their own. Both rubbly culm and duff were very firm at last figures, and both these commodities were very difficult to obtain. There was a very strong feeling in evidence in the steam coal market, all classes being very firm, with the exception of bunkers, which were dull. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Last week’s Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand prices. prices. picked) (net) 22/ to 24/ 22/6 to 24/6 Secondary do Big Vein large (less 2| 19/ to 20/ 20/ to 21/ per cent.) 16/ to 18/ 16/6 to 18/3 Red Vein large do Machine - made cobbles 13/9 to 14/6 14/3 to 14/9 (net) 22/ to 23/6 22/ to 23/9 Paris nuts (net) 23/ to 24/6 23/6 to 26/ French do. do. .. 23/ to 24/6 23/6 to 25/6 German do. do 23/ to 24/6 23/6 to 25/6 Beans (net) Machine-made large peas 16/6 to 20/6 18/3 to 21/6 (net) 11/3 to 13/ 11/3 to 13/ Do. fine peas (net) — — Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 9/ to 9/6 8/6 to 9/ Duff (net) Steam coals:— 6/ to 7/ 6/ to 7/ Best large (less 2|p.c.) ... 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/ Seconds do. ■ 16/3 to 17/ 16/3 to 17/ Bunkers do. 15/-to 16/ 16/ to 17/ Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— 13/6 to 15/6 13/ to 15/6 Large (less 2| p.c.) Through - and - through 18/ to 19/ 18/ to 19/ (less 2| p.c.) 16/ to 17/ 16/ to 17/ Small (less 2| per cent.) 14/9 to 16/ 14/9 to 16/ Patent fuel do 20/ to 22/6 20/ to 20/6 IRON. Trade prospects generally last week were brighter than for some time past. The condition of the tinplate trade is, however, unchanged. The stoppage of about 100 mills has reduced the output considerably, but very little new business has been done and the stocks on hand are very large. Prices have dropped to an unremunerative figure and it is feared that more mills will close down very shortly. The mills which have been idle at the Duffryn Works, Morriston, are now steadily engaged again; the steel trade was brisk, the furnaces at the different establishments being fully employed. The Mannesmann Tube Works were also working full time. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 132,664 boxes, receipts from works 95,335 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 434,887 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market in this district shows very little altera- tion, and prices are much the same as they have been for the past few weeks. In order to have wagons released, collieries often accept reduction of Is. to 2s. per ton below list. The anthracite trade is still very unsatisfactory, and stocks are very heavy for nearly all kinds. Machine-made kinds are difficult to dispose of, and the present would be a very good time for works to stock. They could buy good qualities at shillings per ton below normal, and as the coal is so hard there would be very little fear of crushing. Culm and duff are in big demand with prices going higher. Bituminous kinds are booming, and for the next few weeks at least prices will keep firm. It is fully expected that the market will keep firm over the year. House coals are not in big demand, and prices are easier. This week’s quotations are:— Prices f.o.b. Current Last week’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ Secondary do 19/ to 21/ 20/ to 21/ Big Vein large 17/ to 19/ 17/6 to 19/6 Red Vein do 13/9 to 14/6 14/ to 15/ Machine-made cobbles ... 19/ to21/ 20/ to 21/ German nuts 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 French do 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 Paris do 24/ to 25/ 23/ to 25/ Machine-made beans 19/ to 21/ 19/ to 21/ Do peas 11/6 tc 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Rubbly culm 8/6 to 9/ 8/ to 8/6 Duff 6/3 to 7/ 5/ to 6/ Other sorts:— Large steam coal 18/ to 18/6 18/ to 18/6 Through-and-through ... 14/6 to 15/6 14/6 to 15/6 Small 11/6 to 12/6 13/ to 14/6 Bituminous small coal ... 14/6 to 15/ 12/6 to 13/ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 10. Dublin. Demand for house coal is falling off slightly with finer weather, but business continues to be fairly good in other branches of the trade, prices generally being well main- tained and without further change. Supplies of coke have been difficult to obtain, as well as some qualities of English coal ; but with the settlement of the Garston strike it is anticipated that full supplies will be available in the course of a week or two. City prices stand as follow :—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 24s.; best Orrell slack, 21s. ; best coke, 23s. per ton; steam coals from 22s. upwards. Irish coals at Arigna, from 9s. 2d. to 15s. lOd. per ton at the pit mouth. The coaling vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 62, as compared with 58 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Campbeltown, Whitehaven, Liverpool, Point of Aire, Preston, Troon,* Runcorn, Newport, Partington, Manchester and Glasgow. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 26,054 tons. Belfast. Business continues to be good in nearly all qualities, and prices are very firmly maintained at the recent advances, but there has been no further change during the week, Stocks are unusually low, owing to the difficulty experienced in procuring supplies at the English shipping ports, but there is now a prospect of obtaining cargoes more freely when the coal traffic resumes its normal course. City prices stand as follow:—Best Arley coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current quo- tations ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 24s. per ton ; Scotch household, 20s. 6d.; 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. Cargoes arriving during the week were chiefly from Ayr, Ardrossan, Irvine, Manchester, Liverpool, Maryport, Troon, Fleetwood, Girvan, Preston, Partington, Glasgow, Whitehaven, Swansea, Birkenhead, West Bank, and Workington. From March 16 to 29 the total number of coaling vessels entering the harbour was 111. There is no change in the situation at Galway, there being practically a coal famine in that port in consequence of labour disputes. It is stated that owing to the dearth of coal the prices of turf have reached extra- ordinary figures since the strike began. COHTIHEHTAL CfllHIHG NOTES. Belgium. It now appears to be probable that the general strike on the suffrage question arranged for Monday next will take place, and business is being profoundly affected. The authorities have secured considerable supplies of fuel, and the Minister of Labour proposes to put in force the pro- visions of the Law of 1813, which enable the pumps to be kept going at the mines and the ponies to be fed. The chief concern of the colliery companies appears to be that large numbers of the best class of workmen will emigrate as on former occasions, to the Pas-de-Calais. Otherwise’ they stand to profit from the resultant rise in prices, and in many quarters it is still believed, even at this late hour, that the strike will either not come off at all or be very partial in effect. France. According to the official statistics, the coal production of the various basins in 1912 was as follows:— 1912. 1911. Tons. Tons. Nord and Pas-de-Calais ... 27,801,060 ...26,139,948 Loire 3,825,156 ... 3,735,713 Bourgogne and Nivernais... 2,381,057 ... 2,242,290 Gard 2,143,223 ... 2,081,722 Tarn and Aveyron 1,970,110 ... 1,888,357 Bourbonnais 795,056 808,438 Auvergne 588,340 561,202 Alpes Occidentales 377,275 386,201 Herault 259,689 220,243 Vosges meridionales 203,180 188,133 Creuse and Correze 138,095 151.984 Various 77,856 110,597 Lignite (Provence) 748,483 708,764 Totals 41,308,580 ... 39,229,591 Germany. Ruhr Coal Market.—The situation retains its favourable character, the principal factors being the same as heretofore —namely, the busy state of the iron industry, which will ensure a good demand for fuel for some time ahead, and the active demand for export. Both Holland and Belgium are large customers, whose requirements are growing; and even the increasing competition of English coals has little effect, being hampered by high price. It has latterly been possible to send larger consignments to South Germany, but those of coke are still insufficient to meet the loca demand. In that market, too, the high price of English coals prevents any effectual competition. The effect of the new price-list cannot be judged at present; but as many consumers are not too well supplied, it is not anticipated that business will suffer much decline. Coal Market in South Germany.—The cargoes of Ruhr bituminous nuts find ready acceptance as quickly as they can be discharged, most dealers having very little stock in hand. Broken coke I. and II. is scarce and likely to continue so, and there is little doing in anthracite. Gas coke is very scarce, most of the local gasworks being quite out of stock, and the supplies from Westphalia spasmodic. Lignite briquettes are also in arrears of delivery. Consumers are not so pressing in their delivery requirements of industrial coals, except in the case of small nuts, which are always in request; and, consequently, large lumps and nuts from the Saar district are being offered more freely. English coals are also being offered again, but the high price prevents any important business being done. Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—Nothing has occurred to alter the state of the market, and the volume of traffic remains as high as ever. The pits are not yet able to satisfy the demands of customers as promptly as the latter desire, and arrears of delivery are the order of the day. Traffic facilities are good, but there is an insufficiency of labour, and the difficulties in this respect are being accentuated by the movement for increased wages. The export trade is extensive, and the needs of Austria-Hungary are difficult to meet fully. Northern Germany is also a good buyer, the growing competition of English coals having little effect on the demand. The coke market is ruled by the same favourable conditions, the whole output of blastfurnace and foundry coke being taken up as fast as produced.