910 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 2, 1913. THE COAL AHD IROR TRADES. Thursday, May 1. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. There has been continued activity in the coal trade since last report, although the shipments fell considerably short of what they were in the preceding week. There are decreased returns both from the Clyde and the Forth, but Fife ports show an increase of about 6,000 tons. The aggre- gate shipments from Scottish ports in the past week reached 316,060 tons, compared with 346,755 in the preceding week and 380,106 in the corresponding week last year. The clearances at Glasgow were 58,339, as against 86,342 in the preceding week, and as regards the lower Clyde ports there was despatched from Bowling 439 tons, Irvine 857, Greenock 2,725, Ardrossan 2,959, Troon 9,407, and Ayr 17,410—total 33,797 tons, compared with 28,667 in the preceding week. There has been a somewhat quieter feeling in the household coal department as regards coal for home consumption, but the better qualities of ell coal are in demand and firm in price. Steam coal has been in demand at steady rates. Not- withstanding the advance of the season, the supplies of splint coal, which are heavy, are going into consumption at firm prices. Treble and double nuts are not so fully disposed of, but there is a brisk demand for single nuts at firm rates. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current Last week's Steam coal prices. 13/6 to 14/ prices. 13/6 to 14/ Ell 13/9 to 14/3 13/9 to 14/3 Splint 14/9 to 15/3 14/9 to 15/3 Treble nuts ' 13/3 to 13/9 13/3 to 13/9 Double do 13/3 to 13/9 13/3 to 13/9 Single do 13/3 to 13/9 13/3 to 13/9 There is a heavy demand for furnace coal, the consumption in foundries, iron and steel works and other factories being very large, and prices do not show much variation. IRON. The Glasgow iron market is still in an abnormal position owing to the state of the oversold account, and but little free business is transacted. The cash price since last report fell back from 68s. lid. to 67s., business being after- wards done from 67s. 4|d. to 67s. 2d. For one month 67s. Id. was paid, and the three months rate went back from 62s. Id. to 61s. 7|d. It is understood that a good deal of iron formerly sold by the bears has yet to be adjusted, and it will be seen that the backwardation is very heavy. The arrivals of pig iron at Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district were 7,750 tons in the past week, compared with 10,706 in the corresponding week of last year. The number of furnaces in blast in Scotland has been increased to 92, compared with 90 last week. There is a steady demand for Scotch makers' iron, and the prices are main- tained. Govan and Monkland are quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1 75s., Nos. 3, 73s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 78s., No. 3, 74s.; Clyde, No. 1, 80s., No. 3, 75s.; Calder and Summerlee, Nos. 1, 80s. 6d., Nos. 3, 75s. 6d.; Gartsherrie and Langloan, Nos. 1, 81s. 6d., Nos. 3, 76s. 6d.; Coltness, No. 1, 98s., No. 3, 80s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 76s., No. 3, 75s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 82s., No. 3, 77s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 76s. 6d., No. 3, 74s. 6d.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 80s., No. 3, 75s.; Carron, at Grangemouth, No. 1, 82s., No. 3,77s. per ton. The finished iron trade has fair employment, but it was found impossible to keep all the woiks fully going. Enquiries from abroad have been somewhat more encouraging. Prices are nominally unchanged, but merchants are reported to be selling below the official rates. The steelworks are busy, having good contracts on their books. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The collieries in the Lothians are fully occupied with a heavy demand for whole coal. Business in treble nuts has not been so good, but doubles and singles have been selling well about former rates. The shipments have been: at Granton 10,012 tons, Bo'ness 155,954, Grangemouth 32,681, and Leith 35,111—total 93,758 tons, compared with 107,404 in the preceding week and 119,635 in the corrresponding week of last year. The demand for steam coal has been good, and best screened qualities are 3d. per ton dearer. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal Secondary qualities Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 13/6 to 14/ 12/3 to 12/9 12/9 to 13/ 12/6 to 12/9 12/3 to 12/6 Last week's prices. 13/6 to 14/ 12/3 to 12/9 13/ to 13/3 12/6 to 12/9 12/3 to 12/6 There is a good demand for dross, which is selling at 9s. 6d. to 10s., f.o.b. Leith. The inland demand for house coal is well maintained, and prices are steady. An interesting feature of the Fife coal trade is the heavy shipments at Methil, resulting from the recent extension of the docks there. The quantity despatched from Methil in the past week reached the large total of 70,282 tons, and the other clearances were at Burntisland 53,650, Dysart 2,155, Alloa 1,729, Wemyss 1,480, Tayport 695 and Charleston 175—total 130,166 tons, compared with 124,342 in the pre- Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do Current prices. 17/ to 17/6 15/ to 15/6 15/3 to 16/ 12/9 12/6 to 13/ 13/ to 13/3 12/6 to 12/9 Last week's prices. 17/ to 17/6 15/ to 15/6 15/3 to 16/ 12/9 12/3 to 12/9 13/ to 13/3 12/6 to 12/9 ceding week and 104,991 in the corresponding week of last year. There is now a brisk demand for coal for shipment to Baltic ports, and the general trade is good. There is a good demand for small coal and dross for export, but the enquiry for treble nuts has fallen away to some extent. The inland coal trade is active for the season, and prices are steady. Northumberland. Durham and Cleveland. iewcaatle-upon-Tyne. GOAL. During last week 146,281 tons of coal and 2,076 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 12,929 tons of coal and 502 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 53,660 tons of coal and 1,059 tons of coke, a decrease of 5,037 tons of coal and an increase of 745 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments aggregated 92,762 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 6,626 tons. The Union de Gaz, of Paris, is stated to have con- tracted for 150,000 tons of Durham gas coal for shipment to Genoa and Savona from May 1913 until July 1914. The contract includes 50,000 tons of Holmside or Boidon coals at 13s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., a quantity of Lambtons at 13s., and a balance of Londonderry or Wearmouth coals at 14s. The coals are stated to be for a number of Continental works, for which the union acts as an agency. Some 20,000 tons of best Durham unscreened bunkers are stated to have been sold for delivery to coaling stations over the remainder of the year at 15s. per ton f.o.b. For similar shipment, a quantity of ordinaries is stated to have realised 14s. 3d. per ton. The Dublin gasworks are stated to have contracted for 60,000 tons of Durham gas seconds at from 13s. 9d. to 14s. per ton f.o.b., delivery over 12 months. The contract for the balance of the 80,000 tons originally asked for is said to have been postponed. Three cargoes of Hastings- West Hartley steam coals are stated to have been arranged for for May shipment to Alexandria. Current prices are stated to have been paid for the 15,000 tons involved in the sale. There is a deal of postponement of coal business at the present time. The Wismar gasworks are stated to be withholding their order for their annual supplies of gas coals. The Altos Homos Ironworks, Bilbao, which usually takes 200,000 tons of Durham coking coal per annum, are reported to have decided to postpone contracting for two or three months, and, meanwhile, to buy “from hand to mouth." The Elba Ironworks, which have been enquiring for 150,000 tons of similar fuel, have postponed purchasing on account of the highness of present prices. Tenders of 100,000 tons of steams for the Finnish State Railways have been forwarded. The Russian Government is again inviting offers of 100,000 tons of steam coals for delivery from May 15 to July 15. It is averred that the order is certain to come to this district. The threatening outlook in the Near East is causing some perturbation locally. Merchants and shipowners have had enough trouble with Mediterranean shipments during the last two or three years to serve them for a generation, but the end of the mischief does not seem to be yet. Another foreign development which is causing considerable interest, but no anxiety here, is the extension of the strike of miners in Silesia. It is said that from 80,000 to 100,000 men have ceased work. Should the stoppage be of long duration, it cannot fail to do good to this market by diverting Baltic steam coal business, which usually is placed with Silesia, in this direction. With these Continental troubles, and with prices high and loading turns congested here, there is a marked disposition on the part of buyers to hold off for a time. Collieries are so well employed, however, that the attitude of potential purchasers is causing no worry. There is a good enquiry for forward loading, and it is believed that several big orders are being held back as long as possible. Prices of most descriptions of fuel show an advance on the week. F.o.b. quo rations for prompt shipment have varied as follow:—Best steams, Bly ths, are 3d. dearer on the week; seconds, Bly ths, ditto; Tynes, ditto; Tyne smalls, 3d. reduced ; specials, ditto; gas bests, 3d. increased ; seconds, ditto; specials, ditto; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, from 3d. to 6d. higher; Northumbrians, 6d. more; coking coal, from 6d. to Is. advanced ; smalls, 3d. up; other descriptions of fuel are well maintained. The conclusion of the Belgian strike has had a buoyant effect on the coking coal demand and prices The Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Company invites imme- diate tenders of 300,000 tons of Durham gas coals for delivery over 12 months. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Current prices. Last week's prices. Beat, Blyths (D.C.B.) 16/9 16/6 Do. Tynes (Bowers, &c.) 16/9 16/ Secondary, Blyths 14/ to 14/3 14/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) 14/6 14/3 Unscreened 13/6 13/6 Small, Blyths 12/ ,12/. Do. Tynes 11/ 11/ to 11/3 Do. specials 12/3 12/3 to 12/6 Other sorts:— Smithies 15/6 15/6 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) ... 16/ 15/9 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 15/3 15/ Special gas coals 16/ 15/9 Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 15/3 to 16/3 15/ to 15/9 Do. do. Northumbrians 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 Coking coals 15/6 to 16/ 15/ Do. smalls 15/ 14/9 House coals 16/ to 17/ 16/ to 17/ Coke, foundry 27/6 27/6 Do. blast-furnace 24/6 24/6 Do. gas 18/ 18/ Sunderland. GOAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 91,695 tons of coal and 780 tons of coke, as compared with 104,705 tons of coal and no coke for the corresponding period of 1912, being a decrease of 13,010 tons of coal and an increase of 780 tons of coke. The coal market is quietly steady. There is a good enquiry for May loading and turns are already well booked up, but there is still a disposition on the part of both buyers and sellers to hold off. Tne high prices for forward business is also proving a drawback to sales of any consequence. Best gas coals are still difficult to obtain, coking coals are in good request, and bunkers of all descriptions are readily taken up ; coke is steady. The Union de Gaz, Paris, are said to have contracted for 100,000 tons of Durham gas coal on the f.o.b. basis of 14s. for Londonderry-Wear mouth and 13s. 6d. for Lambton shipment from May 1913 to July 1914. The company is also said to have contracted for 50,000 Holmside or Boidon at 13s. 6d. The Dublin Gas Company have bought 60000 tons of Durham seconds at 13s. 9d. to 14s. delivery over 12 months. The Russian Railways are again enquiring for steam coal, and the Altos-Hornos Ironworks, Bilbao, have postponed buying for the present, but are arranging for odd lots of coking coal for shipment, pending their finally contracting. The outward freight market is, if anything, quieter, Genoa having got on at 9s. 3d. Other fixtures include Algiers 8s. 6d., Alexandria 10s., Marseilles 9s. 3d., Piraeus 10s., Las Palmas 9s. Bay is quiet. Oporto 8s. 10|d., Cadiz 9s. Baltic: Aalborg 3s. 6d., Stockholm 5s., Riga 5s. 6d., Cronstadt 5s. 6d. Coasting: London 3s., Antwerp 4s. 3d., Rotterdam 3s., Hamburg 3s. 6d., Boulogne 4s., and Rouen 4s. 7|d. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current Last week's Gas coals:— prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals ... 15/9 Secondary do. 15/ to 15/3 15/ House coals:— Best house coals 18/ 18/ Ordinary do 17/ 17/ Other sorts:— • Lambton screened 16/6 16/6 South Hetton do 16/6 16/6 Lambton unscreened 15/6 1, 15/3 South Hetton do 15/6 15/3 Do. treble nuts 17/ 17/3 Coking coals unscreened... 15/6 to 15/9 15/6 D 3. smalls 15/3 15/ Smithies 16/ 15/6 Peas and nuts 17/ 17/6 Best bunkers 16/3 16/ Ordinary bunkers 15/6 15/ Coke:— Foundry coke 27/ 27/3 Blast-furnace coke (dlvrd. Teesside furnaces) 24/6 25/ Gas coke 17/ 17/ Middlesbrough-on-Tees. GOAL. On the whole the fuel trade is steady and firm, though some branches are rather quieter. There are continued good enquiries for best kinds of gas coal, and the price runs from 15s. 9d. to 16s. Second qualities of Durham gas coal are quoted 15s. to 15s. 3d. Bunker coals are well taken up. Ordinary Durhams are 15s. 3d. to 15s. 6d., f.o.b., best sorts 16s. 3d., and specials 17s. Household coal is in moderate request, and without change in price. Coking coal is in good demand, and unscreened and smalls range from 15s. to 16s. Both home consumers and shippers of coke are taking large supplies. The heavy local requirements are well met, and average blastfurnace kinds are in the neighbourhood of 24s. 6d. delivered at Teesside works. Best foundry coke ranges from 27s. to 29s., f.o.b. Gashouse coke 17s. to 18s., f.o.b. IRON. Shipments of pig iron from the Tees last month reached 104,213 tons as compared with 103,982 tons for the previous month, and 108.374 tons for April of last year. Of the pig despatched last month 93,078 tons went from Middles- brough and 11,135 tons from Skinningrove, 10 594 tons of the latter going to Scotland, and 540 tons to Holland. Of the pig iron despatched from Middlesbrough during the fourth month of the year, 56,503 tons went abroad, and 36,575 tons to coastwise customers. Scotland was again the largest receiver, taking 24,871 tons, Sweden being second with 9,344 tons, whilst France took 7,152 tons, Belgium 7,131 tons, Japan 4,855 tons, Germany 4 408 tons, Wales 4,360 tons, Italy 4,151 tons, and America 3,575 tons. Last month’s shipments of manufactured iron amounted to 17,153 tons, 11,332 tons going abroad, and 5,821 coastwise, and the steel loaded reached 47,666 tons, 42,136 tons of which went to foreign ports, and 5,530 tons coastwise. As usual, India was the largest receiver of both manufac- tured iron and steel, importing 5,943 tons of the former and 12,609 of the latter. There is very little business passing in pig iron just now, the unsteady state of Middles- brough warrants having stopped buying of makers' Cleve- land pig iron. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 67s. f.o.b., No. 1 is 69s., No. 4 foundry 66s. 6d., No. 4 forge 66s, and mottled and white iron 65s. 6d., all for early delivery, and no disposition to do forward business is shown just now. There is continued scarcity of east coast haematite pig, and difficulty is experienced in meeting customers* demands on contract. For early delivery of mixed numbers, 81s. 3d. is the price, but for delivery over the second half of the year, there are sellers at 80s. There is nothing passing in foreign ore, and market rates remain nominally on the basis of 21s. ex-ship Tees. Manufactured iron and steel firms are very busy, but are booking very few new orders. Quotations are easy, but the only actual alteration is a fall of 5s. in iron ship rivets, the price of which is now .£9 10s. South-West Lancashire. COAL. As may be expected, the inland demand for household coal is easing, but the demand for other purposes continues to take rapidly whatever coal the lessened household demands set free. There is no change to report in prices. With regard to shipping, there is no falling off in the demand for steam coal, bunkering requirements being heavy not only on contract but on open sale account. The approach of the holidays is naturally causing some extra pressure, and the excursion steamers are beginning to take appreciable quantities. What with the good demand and a somewhat diminished output, there is very little surplus coal, and prices are very firmly held at 13s. 9d. to 14s. f.o.b., for