860 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 25, 1913. these classes of coal. Prices are still tending upwards. Washed nuts and washed slack are in strong demand, and high figures are quoted and readily paid for such supplies as are obtainable. There is not, however, sufficient of this class of fuel to meet the requirements of the market at present, nor is the position likely to improve for some time to come. The coke trade maintains a steady tone, although the demand is not quite so pressing as it was a few months ago. The output of the ovens of the district is readily absorbed, and prices show no further signs of weakness. Coking fuel remains scarce and dear. IRON. There were no changes in the week in respect to demand or prices. Work is plentiful in every branch of the trade, and the outlook continues bright. Nottingham. COAL. In practically every branch of the trade in Nottingham- shire, the tone continues to be of a satisfactory character and the collieries are making better time than is customary at this period of the year. The recent cold weather has helped the section for domestic fuel very materially, and merchants have been busier this month than for some years past—that is, so far as April is concerned—whilst an active trade has been done at the local landsale depots. As indicative of the favourable position, it need only be mentioned that on Tuesday of this week the owners advanced the prices of the common qualities of households 6d. per ton, no change being made in quotations for better-class fuel. In the steam coal branch there is a buoyant feeling, the demand being well maintained, and values are inclined to advance. This section is being assisted by larger consignments on export account. With regard to slacks, particularly for industrial purposes, there is no slackening off in the demand, and owners have advanced prices Is. per ton. Gas coal is having a fair sale at late rates, but coke is in declining request. Prices at pithead. Current Last week’s prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 12/6 to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Good house coals 12/ to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 Secondary do 11/ to 12/ 10/6 to 11/6 Best hard coals 12/3 to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Secondary do 11/6 to 12/ 11/6 to 12/ Slacks (best h%rds) 9/3 to 10/ 8/3 to 8/9 Do. (seconds) 8/6 to 9/ 7/6 to 8/ Do. (soft) 8/ to 8/6 7/6 to 8/3 Leicestershire. COAL. The condition of business in this district continues good, exceptionally good for the time of the year. Most of the collieries are well employed, and sending the greater part of the output away. Generally the collieries are making pretty nearly a full week, though there are exceptions. Buyers have been more inclined to operate this week. The demand is not confined to one class of coal, but is pretty general. Household coals of all kinds are in fairly good request. But there is a considerable demand for the middle qualities, and for the retail trade. At the same time some business is being done in the best qualities, and an improved enquiry for small household coals. The market is very brisk for steam coals of all descriptions. Both coals and cobbles are in good demand, and also nut slacks continue to be wanted. The outlook is very favourable at the present, and there appears every probability of the present busy conditions continuing. The quotations current continue quite firm, and any change is not likely at present. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. There is again considerable activity in the coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district, orders are coming freely to hand, and prices are well maintained. There is very| little coal in stock—indeed, on many of the colliery sidings there are large numbers of empty trucks waiting to be loaded. Most of the collieries are running full time, and are not likely to slacken off much before Whitsuntide. The demand for coal for manufacturing purposes is well maintained, and there is not yet much to complain about in the house coal trade. The demand for slack continues brisk. Business at the landsale depots is not quite so brisk as a few weeks ago. Birmingham. COAL. The demand keeps up well. The warm weather will soon tell a tale, but some time must elapse before the collieries are affected. Slacks are still scarce. Prices are unchanged on the week, and no alteration is expected this side of Whitsuntide. 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 n/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 8/6 8/6 House coal, best Ryder ... Do. hand - picked 16/ 16/ cobs 13/9 13/9 Best hard spires Forge (steam) 14/6 10/ 14/6 1°/ D.S. nuts (steam) 10/ 10 Small (do.) 9 9/ IRON. The attendance on ’Change was thin and business was quiet. Orders keep coming in for small parcels and at keen prices. Although all the pig iron is going into consump- tion—none being bought for ‘Speculative purposes—prices still tend downwards. Staffordshire part-mine is quoted 67s. as a result of the recent big drop in Northamptonshire iron, and although the nominal quotation for that material remains at 64s., there was talk of some low prices being accepted. No change falls to be recorded in the price of standard bars, which rose to .£10 at the end of last year, and one maker said there was not likely to be any alteration during the summer. Second qualities, however, are selling at .£8 2s. 6d. to .£8 5s. delivered Birmingham, so that the disparity between the two prices is much above the 30s. usually recognised as normal. Business in the bar branches has slackened. Galvanised sheets are in fair demand, but competition is keen and values do not improve. High-class hoops sell at £8 10s. per ton at makers’ works, and a fair volume of business is being transacted for stronger gauges at .£8 to .£8 2s. 6d. per ton, and in special cases 2s. 6d. less. Small rounds, squares, and flats are in good request, and the general price is .£8 7s. 6d. per ton basis for f rounds, delivered in the district. Makers of gas-strip retain an £8 10s. basis, though supplies can be obtained at from 2s. 6d. to 5s. under that figure. In the finished steel trade, contracts for work for forward delivery are of such magnitude that full employment is secured for six months to come. Billets and bars are easier at £5 7s. 6d. to £5 10s. despite the Belgian strike. In the Cradley district, there is no falling off of orders for cables, chains, and anchors from the great ship- building houses in the north of England and Scotland. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is still heavy buying of this district’s steam coals, and all the pits continue in full work. It is impossible to execute all the orders received, as most of the collieries have contract engagements to fulfil. The enquiry for smalls and through is very strong. The demand for house coal is not so brisk, but the pits are still making full time. It is quite possible that orders will be less plentiful in a week hence. Slacks are selling well. Prices at pithead. 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/ 10/ Large 13/ to 13/6 13/6 to 14/ Small 10/ to 10/6 10/ to 10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. GOAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report a moderate demand for house, steam and gas coal, but that buyers are hanging back in the hope of reductions in prices, as summer is so much nearer. Steam freights are little easier. The coal importers of the port of Plymouth have resolved to resist the proposed new charter conditions, as being entirely unreasonable and against immemorial customs and legal decisions. The committee have resolved to deal preferentially with owners who will agree to the customary conditions, whether British or foreign. Although the new charter has been accepted under protest, in consequence of unusual pressure, the local merchants do not intend to forget that in a Free Trade country “ the buyers must form the ultimate Court of Appeal.” THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. * Thursday, April 24. North Wales. Wrexham. GOAL. The general state of the coal trade in this locality continues to be good on the whole, and prices generally are on the up-grade, especially for forward business. In the house coal market there has not been the demand for immediate sales during the past week owing to the fine weather which has set in, but there is no falling off in prices, and close attention is being given to booking forward contracts for this class of fuel, as well as for cheaper qualities. The average advance is Is. per ton on the last year’s prices. The gas coal market is now the most active, and there are a large number of enquiries to hand, and contracts are being fixed up quickly, much earlier in the year than has been the case formerly, May and June having been the busiest months in former years. A large tonnage has been fixed already, and all the contracts have been renewed on the basis of an advance of from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton on last year’s prices, and as the latter were fixed at from 2s. to 2s. 6d. advance on the previous year’s rates, it means that the current contract prices will be from 3s. 6d. per ton advance on the year 1911-12. Gas companies are pressing for all the supplies they can possibly get on account of the existing contracts. With reference to steam coal for manufacturing purposes the demand continues to be steady, and the prices fairly good, with a slightly rising tendency, and as trade generally continues to be good in this locality there is no lack of orders for this fuel. The railway companies, too, are taking good supplies on account of the locomotive contracts, but some of them seem to be holding back a little in regard to making their contracts for the next year’s supply, being evidently of the opinion that a “ wait and see ” policy is best in view of the present state of the markets. Those collieries who do a shipping business are being kept busy at the present time, and large quantities are being sent down regularly to the Mersey ports. Labour troubles there have not altogether subsided, as both at Liverpool and Birkenhead there have been further disputes during the past week, but it is anticipated that terms will be arranged which will avoid a strike. Owing to the fact of the advance in prices large fuel there is a great demand for nuts for contracts, especially for gas making, and the prices being asked and obtained for nuts contracts must almost establish a record for a normal market. Unfortu- nately, however, the supply of these is very limited in this locality. Slacks find a good market at steady prices, and below are given the average ruling prices for the various grades of coal, etc., at the time of writing. Current Last week’s Prices at pit f.o.r. — prices. prices. Best house coal 15/ to 16/ 14/6 to 16/ Secondary do. 14/ to 15/ 13/6 to 15/ Steam coal s : 12/ to 13/6 12/6 to 13/ Gas coal ! 13/6 to 14/6 13/ to 14/ Bunkers 12/ to 13/ 12/ to 12/6- Nuts 11/6 to 12/6 11/3 to 12/3 Slack 7/ to 9/6 6/3 to 9/6 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 15/ to 17/6 15/10 to 16/8 Best house coal 18/4 to 20/ 18/4 to 20/ Seconds 16/8 to 18/4 16/8 to 17/6 Slack 10/ to 12/6 10/ to 12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. GOAL. The tightness of the coal market, so prominent a feature' last week, has relaxed sufficiently to ease the prices of ordinary quality coals, although the best grades, being still in big request, hold their values unyieldingly. Tonnage supplies have fallen away considerably, the effects of the slack chartering of recent weeks being undoubtedly the main cause. More activity was shown in the freight market yesterday, when the enquiry was quite sufficient to maintain firm rates, especially for near dates. Stems being now easier, sellers seem more inclined to do business,, supplies being more freely offered, except of the best grades. Smalls are now considerably weaker, the famine prices of a fortnight ago having come down to 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. for best qualities. Throughs and nuts are also inclined to be easier, but house coals maintain their position despite weather which ordinarily has a weakening effect upon this market. Patent fuel and pitwood show practically no change, good French fir being obtainable at 21s. ex-ship.. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— i Best Black Vein large ... Wes tern-valley s, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys .... Secondary do. ........; Best small coals ......i Secondary do..........i Inferior do............ Screenings ............ Through coals ......... Best washed nuts ...... Other sorts Best house coal ....... Secondary do........... Patent fuel ........... Furnace coke .......... Foundry coke........... Current prices. 18/6 to 18/9 17/6 to 18/ 17/ to 17/6 16/6 to 16/9 14/3 to 14/6 13/3 to 13/6 12/9 to 13/ 14/6 16/3 to 16/6 16/3 to 16/6 18/9 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/ 22/ to 24/ 27/ to 28/ 29/ to 31/ Last week’s prices. 18/6 to 18/9 18/ to 18/3 17/3 to 17/9 16/9 to 17/ 15/ to 15/3 14/3 to 14/6- 13/3 to 13/9 15/ to 15/3 16/3 to 16/9 • 15/3 to 15/9' 18/9 to 19/ ’ 17/6 to 18/ 23/ to 26/ 27/ to 28/' 29/ to 32/ IRON. There is little fresh to re'port in local conditions of the iron and steel trades, for while there is quite a fair number of small orders about, large enquiries are still conspicuously absent. There appears no immediate anxiety as to the - condition of order books, but the future is viewed with some concern. At bar mills work is again reported good, . and output satisfactory, but with only small orders coming in, quotations remain unchanged. Imports of foreign bars again topped 10,000 tons on the week, quotations for these* * . too, being unaltered. The rail department shows a busier time, with more specifications coming to hand, but here, . too, large orders remain scarce, Welsh haematite, in harmony with the warrant market, inclines to harder values, furnaces maintaing an excellent output. Iron ore is an idle market. Tinplates continue the most unsatis- factory feature. Stocks are increasing despite the stoppage of so many mills, and there appears no sign of improvement. . The advance of 3d. in quotations does not represent the enhanced value of block tin. Following may be taken as latest ruling values ;—Steel rails : Heavy sections, £6 10s. to £6 15s.; light sections, £6 15s. to £7. Tin-plate bars: Bessemer, £5 12s. 6d.; Siemens, £5 12s. 6d. to £5 15s. Welsh haematite, 87s. 6d. to 88s. delivered in the district. Iron ore: Best rubio 21s. 6d. to 22s. c.i.f. Newport. Tin-plates, Bessemer primes, 20 x 14, 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d.; Siemens, . 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. Finished blackplate, £10 7s. 6d. to £1010s. Cardiff. GOAL. This market is in much the same condition as last week. Collieries generally are too fully stemmed to do either current business or for some time ahead except for very small parcels, and although the shipments last week amounted to over 430,000 tons, the great bulk of the coal supplied was under old contracts or in execution of sales made a month or six weeks ago. Orders are being refused on all sides, and so far as present appearances are concerned, the supply of coal for some time to come will be considerably below the demand. It is known that there are a number of orders to come on to the market, but though feelers are being put out with reference to prices, no definite business has been arranged beyond that for the French Admiralty. Even in this case the quantity of coal actually to be supplied is only 15,000 tons instead of the full amount of 31,000 tons for which tenders were solicited. This contract has been placed with Messrs. D. Davis and Sons, of the Ferndale Collieries, and one or two other firms, but as the contract is a c.i.f. one, it is difficult to ascertain the price, but the colleries concerned seem to be quite satisfied