May 16, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1015 Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .................. Medium .............. Common .............. Furnace coal .......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack............. ■Common slack.......... Current prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 Last week’s prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 are refusing to contract at the present prices, and business | stand at about 17s. per ton delivered free alongside steamer at Grimsby for the best brands of Derbyshire Top Hards. The supply, apart from contract requirements, is, however, of a limited character. There is a well-sustained demand for cobbles and nuts for near Continental ports. The coke market is much quieter as regard forward business, although the demand for all classes of coke for current consumption is by no means unsatisfactory. Prices are quietly steady. Coking fuel is scarce and dear. ________________________Prices at pit._____________________ goes along largely from hand to mouth, with prices about as last quoted, but lacking a firm tone. Prices at pit. IRON. There is practically nothing to report as regards the trade in this district, everybody being shut down for holidays. All prices remain as last reported. Yorkshire and Derbyshire^ Leeds. COAL. The Yorkshire Coal Exchange was closed on Tuesday last •on account of the holidays. Business during the week has naturally been quiet. Pit prices, on the whole, are firmly Jheld, although the warmer weather has caused a little weakness in the prices of house coal. Forward business in all branches of the trade is not accepted without a sub- stantial advance in the prices of the expiring contracts. In house and gas coals this advance averages Is. per ton, but some special qualities of washed gas nuts are quoted at -an advance of Is. 6d. Recent events have tended to strengthen the forward market. Among these may be mentioned the possibility of a strike among the miners on the non-union question, and the practical certainty of an advance (in the railway rates of coal and coke. All tenders for forward business are being made subject to the condi- tion that any advance in railway rates shall be added to the prices of the contracts. The pits have averaged about three days’ work. The only item of interest has been the number of new gas coal contracts booked, and it is said that these already exceed, both in numbers and tonnage, those of -any previous year. Nearly every gas authority is asking for extra tonnage this year, and some of the pits are already fully sold for the next twelve months. Manufacturing fuel is scarce, and prices of slacks and nuts have an upward tendency. House coals:— Best Silkstone...... Best Barnsley softs. Secondary do. Best house nuts .... Secondary do...... Steam coals:— Best hard coals .... Secondary do...... Best washed nuts . Secondary do. Best slack........ Rough do.......... Gas coals.-— Screened gas coals . Gas nuts ......... Furnace coke ....... Current prices. 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 13/6 to 14/ 12/9 to 13/3 12/3 to 12/9 11/6 9/3 to 9/9 8/6 to 8/9 12/3 to 12/9 12/ 17/6 to 18/ Last week’s prices. 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/3 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 12/6 10/6 to 11/6 13/6 to 14/ 12/9 to 13/3 12/3 to 12/9 11/6 9/3 to 9/9 8/6 to 8/9 12/3 to 12/9 12/ 17/6 to 18/ Current Last week’s Best house coals prices. 14/6 prices. 14/6 Secondary do 12/6 12/6 Cobbles 12/ 12/ Nuts 11/ 11/ Slack 9/ 9/ Hull. COAL. IRON. The holidays have interfered somewhat with the produc- tion of finished iron, but all the works are again in full swing, and likely to be busy for months to come. Prospects are considered good, and with the restoration of peace in the Balkans, a revival of business is confidently looked for. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wailsend& London best Silkstone best ........ Do. house ........ House nuts .......... Prices f.o.b. Hull : Haigh Moor best...... Silkstone best ...... Dd. house ........ Other qualities...... 'Gas coal:— Prices at pit : Screened gas coal ... Gas nuts ............ U nscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts ......... Large double-screened engine nuts ......... Small nuts .......... Rough unscreened engine coal ......... Best rough slacks ... Small do. ........... Coking smalls ....... Ooke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ........ Current Last week’s prices. prices. 14/ to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 11/6 to 12/ 11/6 to 12/ 17/ to 17/6 17/ to 17/6 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ 15/6 to 16/ 15/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 12/3 to 12/9 12/3 to 12/9 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 11/3 to 12/ 11/3 to 11/9 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 9/6 to 10/ 9/3 to 10/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/3 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 17/ to 18/ 18/ The attendance on the Humber Coal Exchange to-day was only moderate, and business restricted, owing to the holiday spirit still prevailing. Very little buying was in progress and that of a hand to mouth order, prices being nominally unchanged from last week. It will be a day or two before things get into the stride again and shipments become again normal. The main interest just now is in the development of the big latent demand for foreign export. That there are extensive developments abroad to be satisfied seems pretty certain, but buyers are not very active in coming forward with prices so high and so firmly held by coalowners. One thing in their favour is that freight rates are much easier than they were, and for Baltic destinations about a shilling lower than they were a month or six weeks ago, when most of the first open-water tonnage was booked. Those with c.i.f. contracts are by no means badly placed. Shipments at the docks at all the Humber ports this week have been delayed by the holidays, and it is inevitable that the week’s returns should be on the light side as compared with the heavy shipments of the three or four weeks pre- ceding. There is no lack of facilities, and loading conditions are generally reported good, prompt or nearly prompt turns being readily available. The freight market has been very dull and inactive. With a fair amount of tonnage on offer, rates are pretty much on the same level as a week ago, steamers for Baltic destinations being available at 5s. to 5s. 3d., and for the Mediterranean at 9s. to 9s. 3d. Genoa or Leghorn, 9s. 3d. to 9s. 6d. Alexandria. The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull, &c.:— Nottingham. GOAL. With the intervention of the Whitsuntide holidays the past week has been a slack one, as most collieries in Nottinghamshire were standing from Friday night or Saturday, until Wednesday. Apart from this break in the ordinary working conditions, the general tone of the trade is satisfactory. There has been no material change in the position of the domestic fuel section, except that the advent of warmer weather is certain to curtail the demand, but at present there is no indication of prices declining. With the expansion in the export trade, the section for steam fuel is one of marked activity. All qualities of steams are in brisk request, and, with collieries having a difficulty to execute orders with promptitude, prices are showing a hardening tendency. Slacks are in much the same favour- able position as a week ago. Prices at pithead. Current Last week’s Hand-picked brights Good house coals...; Secondary do Best hard coals Secondary do Slacks (best hards) Do. (seconds) Do. (soft) prices. 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 13/ 11/ to 12/ 12/3 to 13/ 11/ to 12/ 9/ to 10/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/ to 8/6 prices. 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 13/ 11/ tol2/ 12/3 to 12/9 11/ to 12/ 9/ to 10/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/ to 8/6 BarnsleyB COAL. As expected, the holidays have proved to be extended in this district, and little output was available before Thurs- day and but a small tonnage then. Consequently business was only of a restricted character, but, though the usual local market was not largely attended, the anxiety of buyers was very marked, particularly those engaged in the export branch of the trade. Though so great a bulk of fuel is being forwarded to Hull, the railway loading arrangements at the port are so admirable that a greater volume of tonnage could be easily dealt with, but pressure on coal- owners is useless, for stocks are not on hand, and the prospective output is well earmarked. The scarcity of supply is sure to be experienced for some few weeks ahead, and prices are remaining very firm in consequence. Several of the Continental as well as the Baltic markets are seeking additional tonnage. Once again the best quality York- shire hards are preferred. Though the quotations are about as last week, more money could be-realised if tonnage was available. The position of secondary quality hards is very strongly maintained, and the home consumption of this •quality coal is especially large, particularly on railway account. All kinds of small steam fuel are in very strong demand, and the forward tone is still as pronounced, but prices are showing an upward tendency which checks any •extensive forward arrangements. Best washed nuts and slacks especially are strongly enquired for, and the position will be little changed, for, contemporaneous with the setting down of the mills and large works, the pits have been idle. Rougher kinds of small fuel continue to make good prices, and the same may be said of gas fuel, which is being bought in larger bulk on current account. As time wears on, the coalowners are keeping a stronger position in regard to contracts, and consumers now find no excuse for giving the demand for an advance of from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton. In regard to house coal, the demand naturally has fallen away, but collieries find a fair bulk of orders, and though prices may be slightly weaker officially, there has been no reduction in the quotations on the week. The position in regard to coke shows little variation, though there continues to be a greater degree of uncertainty with respect to forward business. Bakers are still having to con- tend against the high price of raw material, whilst smelters South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards...» Current prices. 17/ to 17/3 15/ 14/3 to 14/6 14/6 to 14/9 14/ 12/6 11/9 14/3 11/9 to 12/ 10/6 to 11/ 14/6 13/ to 13/3 17/to 17/3 16/6 to 17/ 13/9 13/6 14/6 14/ 17/ 16/9 to 17/ • Last week’s pricas. 17/ to 17/3 15/ to 15/3 14/ to 14/6 14/6 to 14/9 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 11/9 to 12/ 14/3 11/9 to 12/ 10/6 to 11/ 14/6 13/3 to 13/6 17/3 16/9 to 17/ 13/9 13/6 14/6 14/3 17/ 16/9 to 17/ Washed double - screened nuts Unwashed double- screened nuts Washed single - screened , nuts Unwashed single-screened nuts Washed smalls Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— Hartleys Rough slack Pea slack Best Silkstone screened gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened gas coal Derbyshire and Notts;— Best steam hards Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Leicestershire. COAL. Business in this district was generally resumed on Wednesday and the rest of the week was fully employed. The holidays caused a cessation of operations, so far as new business is concerned, but there is enough on hand to busily employ the various collieries for some little time to come. A considerable amount of coal will be delivered this week-end. There is a good enquiry for household coals of middle and lower qualities. For the best kinds there is not quite as much enquiry. Steam coals of all sorts are in good demand, but the holidays will make this a quieter week for these. Local merchants, on the whole, are having a quiet week, as retail consumers are not buying much, and the local steam users are making a very partial week. The quotations current are practically unaltered and full late rates are asked for. Chesterfield. COAL. Owing to the intervention of the Whitsuntide holidays the pits of the district were idle for nearly three days, and the output of coal is substantially reduced from this cause. With regard to house coal there is a slight falling off in the demand, but in spite of this the orders already booked are sufficient to enable the collieries to work full time. Prices still remain on the winter level, and it is now improbable that there will be any reduction. New contracts continue to be made at advances ranging from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton upon the prices at which the expiring ones were arranged. Stocks are exceptionally low at the collieries, and also in dealers’ possession. The demand for fuel for manufacturing purposes is as strong as ever, and prices still show a hardening tendency. Cobbles and nuts for gas-producers are in short supply, and consumers are all pressing for increased deliveries. It is, however, quite impossible to satisfactorily meet the requirements of the market. Slack for boiler firing continues in great request at prices that are fully sixpence per ton higher than they were a month ago. This fuel is scarce, and customers are put to much inconvenience in consequence. Large quantities of slack are steadily being taken off the market by colliery proprietors, who require it for their by-product plants which are being erected at almost every colliery. A good demand is experienced for steam coal for locomotive use, and the various railways are urgently pressing for deliveries so as to obviate the necessity of drawing upon their reserve stocks. Matters are active in the export branch of the coal trade, and heavy demands are made upon the collieries of this district for steam coal for prompt shipment. Prices South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. GOAL In consequence of the Whitsuntide holidays, there is not very much business being done this week in connection with the coal trade of the Cannock Chase district, Most of the collieries were lying idle the first three days of the week, and they will probably be short-handed for another day or two, but it is generally expected that after the holidays they will be kept busy for some time, as there is not much coal in stock, and there are a fair number of orders in hand. There is no change of consequence to report in prices. The house coal trade has kept up remarkably well so far, and there does not appear to be any likelihood of much falling- off in the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes. There is a good enquiry for slack. There is not much doing at* the landsale depots this week. Birmingham COAL The market was quite of a holiday character, and afforded little opportunity of testing prices. A good many contracts, however, are now being signed at the enhanced rates demanded by coalowners. As regards smalls, prices will be largely regulated by the demand of the next few weeks. 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 : 13/ 14/6 Do. seconds do. 13/ Best hard ; 14/ 14/ Forge coal ! U/ 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— ■ 8/6 8/6 House coal, best Ryder ... Do. hand - picked i 16/ 16/ cobs 13/9 13/9 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 10/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 10/ 10/ Small (do.) 9 9/