May 23, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1067 With regard to shipping, bunkering requirements this week are fully up to the average, and the present activity is likely to be maintained for a while, at any rate, as most collieries seem well booked up for the next few weeks. Supplies are coming forward fairly well for so soon after the holidays, but there is little or no surplus coal, and prices of screened Lancashire steam coals range from about 14s. f.o.b. for ordinary grades, up to 14s. 6d. f.o.b. for the best. The demand for slack continues very good, and the output is absorbed as produced. A fair number of gas purchases have now been made and many tenders are under con- sideration. The minimum advance is Is., with more where low prices have previously ruled. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was only a moderate attendance on the Manchester ■Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and not much business done. The house coal trade continues somewhat languid, but prices are steady. Furnace coal maintains its strong position, and shipping coal is also brisk. Slack meets with good enquiry, while there are good supplies of the commoner qualities offering, but prices are very firm. Further gas fuel contracts for the next season have been placed at from Is. advance upwards on last year’s prices. Generally prices are as below:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s x House coal:— prices. prices. Best 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ Medium 15/3 to 16/ 15/3 to 16/ Common 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Furnace coal 12/6 12/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 14/ 14/ Best slack 10/ to 10/6 10/ to 10/6 Common slack 9/ to 9/6 j 9/ to 9/6 IRON. There are no buyers, and the position is unchanged. The result of the warrant market is anxiously awaited; there are no alterations to report in prices as yet. In the mean- time forges are fairly busy. Steelworks are also busy. Foreigners are offering very cheap quantities of billets. Foundries are well employed. Rather more enquiry is reported from heavy engineers. Textilists are also full of work. Wagon builders have nothing to complain of. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was well attended, the members present including a good many representatives of the Hull exporters and also one or two factors from the London market. Business, on the whole, was fairly good, although the current sales of house coal were few and unimportant. The chief enquiries concerned manufacturing fuel, steam • coal and gas coal. It was reported that the pits had worked full time during the week, and the supply of wagons being ample, a fair output had been dealt with. There is con- siderable complaining on the part of the management of the collieries at the large percentage of absentees among the men. House Coal.—Reports from all the markets indicate a falling off in the retail trade, but this has had very little effect upon colliery quotations, which are firm. London merchants and factors are taking full supplies of contract coal, and also a fair quantity of the best Haigh Moor qualities. A large number of new house coal contracts are said to have been booked in the London district this year, and we understand that there has been no difficulty in securing an advance of Is. per ton. It is expected that the declaration of lowest summer prices will increase the demand, especially for best coals, as a large number of stocking orders are likely to be given out during the next six weeks. The coastwise trade is fairly good for the time of the year. Freights are still in buyers’ favour, but the supply of small sailing craft is very much below the demand. In the local markets merchants are quiet, but there is very little weakness apparent in pit prices, which continue to be quoted as follow:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 16s. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 16s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Gras Coal.—There is no weakening in quotations for gas coal either for prompt or forward delivery. Many of the Current Last week’s prices. prices. 14/ 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 12/ 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 9/3 to 10/ 9/6 to 10/ 8/3 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 17/ 17/ to 18/ House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ........ Do. house ......... House nuts .......... /'Prices f.o.b. Hull : Haigh Moor best...... Silk stone best ..... Do. house ........ Other qualities...... 'Gas coal:— • Prices at pit: Screened gas coal ... Gas nuts ............ Unscreened 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 ....... Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ........ larger works are but indifferently stocked, and a good deal cf buying is being done on the open market. Further progress is reported with regard to new contracts, and it is said that in no case has an advance of less than Is. per ton been accepted. Several large collieries are said to be very heavily sold, especially in gas nuts. Manufacturing Fuel.—Considerable difficulty is still being felt in the Bradford and Leeds district in securing sufficient supplies of slack and small nuts to keep the factories at work. A number of contracts covering the period from July 1 to June 30 next year have been booked this week at full current list rates. There are no stocks of any kind of manufacturing fuel at the collieries, and many of the coke- oven plants have a difficulty in keeping in full work owing to the scarcity of smalls. Washed Furnace Coke.—Possibly the weakness in the warrant market explains the further drop in the value of furnace coke. At any rate, prompt supplies can be obtained at 17s. per ton at the ovens, and we hear of one or two short term contracts being accepted at this figure. A very large tonnage is being sent into the Frodingham district;, and also into the Midlands, but the demand from the Leeds district is on the quiet side. Barnsley^ COAL. Although the collieries are working practically full time, there are general complaints about lost time on the part of the men and the output is reported to have been reduced in a very material degree. This renders the position of buyers still more unsatisfactory than during recent weeks, and, of course, enables prices to be maintained very firmly, although the demand is not quite so vigorous as during recent weeks. Consumers are also complaining of the delay in delivery, and apparently the aftermath of the holidays is still being acutely felt. In regard to the steam section of the trade, the active demand on export account continues to be strongly marked, in spite of the fact that buyers are putting back enquiries as far as possible, owing to the high prices. There is also a quieter enquiry from home markets, but prices as stated are not affected. The best hards are again a strong feature and for ordinary delivery 13s. 6d. per ton is being obtained, but on forward account very little is done. Secondary descriptions of large steams are a shade easier and top prices are about 13s. per ton. The position in regard to all kinds of small steam fuel has not materially altered during the week, although there are indications that the pressure for supplies is hardly so keen as prior to the holidays and is likely to be so for some months, owing to stoppages of works due to local festivities. Collieries, however, find no difficulty in disposing of the whole of their output and continue to demand the advanced prices which have ruled for some time, and the business done in slacks is of a particularly strong description. To a great extent, the arrangements in regard to gas coal contracts have been completed and there has been no great difficulty in obtaining the advance which was demanded. Some of the district gas works have yet to place their contracts and it is inevitable that they will have to pay the corresponding rate of increase, although they have held off until the present time. The demand for house coal has been of a varying character, but the volume of business is such that coalowners feel strong enough to resist the reduction of prices, which, compared with other years, is considerably overdue. However, secondary sorts are scarcely so active as before, and merchants are able to obtain a little concession for this class of coal. More is now being done by collieries in this district in regard to the renewal of house coal contracts for next year, and it seems to be taken for granted that Is. per ton advance will have to be paid by merchants. The position in regard to coke is unaltered. Buyers are still holding off for making contracts at the present rates, but makers are able to clear the output, though the forward business is still of an unsettled character. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s House coals:— prices. prices. Best Silkstone 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 15/ Best Barnsley softs 14/ to 14/3 14/ to 14/3 Secondary do 11/6 to 13/6 11/6 to 13/ Best house nuts 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/6 to 11/6 10/6 to 11/6 Best hard coals 13/6 13/6 to 14/ Secondary do 12/6 to 13/ 12/9 to 13/3 Best washed nuts 12/3 to 12/6 12/3 to 12/9 Secondary do. 11/6 11/6 Best slack 9/3 to 9/9 9/3 to 9/9 Rough do Gas coals:— 8/6 to 8/9 8/6 to 8/9 Screened gas coals 12/3 to 12/6 12/3 to 12/9 Gas nuts 12/ 12/ Furnace coke 17/ to 17/6 17/6 to 18/ Hull. COAL There has been a welcome return to normal conditions at the Humber ports, though, thanks to good stocks ready for shipment, the holiday dislocation has been less seriously felt than it otherwise might. The recent pressure having been somewhat relieved, there is now a greater disposition on the part of colliery owners to do business, as with prices for steam hards somewhat lower there seems to be a better probability of the demand developing. Trade generally has a good tone, and though South Yorkshire best steams have receded for prompt shipment, other kinds show but little variation. Secondary sorts are well maintained, smalls are very firm, and slack is a little cheaper. But taken alto- gether it is surprising how well the market holds so steady. Derbyshire steam hards are worth about the same figure at Grimsby as Yorkshire’s are at Hull, though Nottingham hards are about 3d. less. Shipments at the docks both foreign and coastwise are very satisfactory, coal coming over the rails from the collieries freely, and loading conditions being good. A bigger demand for handy-sized tonnage has had the effect of hardening freight rates. Several steamers have been booked for Cronstadt and Petersburg at 5s. 6d., and 5s. 7|d. from Hull. Recent advices from Cronstadt stated that at the beginning of the week all berths were occupied, and that coal-laden steamers were waiting in the roads. Mediterranean freights are on the basis of about 9a. 9d. Genoa, though little chartering is in progress. Fixtures :—Cronstadt or Petersburg (several steamers) 5s. 4|d. to 5s. 9d., Reval 5s. 4|d., Hamburg 3s. 6d. From Grimsby, Petersburg 5s. 6d., Cronstadt 5s. 4|d., Gefle 4s. 6d. The following are the approximate prices for prompt ship- ment f.o.b. Hull:— South Yorkshire:— Current prices. Last week’s prices. Best steam hards Washed double - screened 16/9 17/ to 17/3 nuts Unwashed double- 15/ 15/ screened nuts Washed single - screened 14/6 14/3 to 14/6 nuts Unwashed single-screened 14/6 to 14/9 14/6 to 14/9 nuts , 14/ 14/ Washed smalls 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— 11/6 11/9 Hartleys 14/3 14/3 Rough slack 11/6 to 11/9 11/9 to 12/ Pea slack Best Silkstone screened 10/6 to 11/ 10/6 to 11/ gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened 14/6 14/6 gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— 13/3 18/ to 13/3 Best steam hards 17/ 17/to 17/3 Do. (Grimsby) 16/9 16/6 to 17/ Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) 13/9 13/9 (Grimsby) 13/6 13/6 Derbyshire large nuts ... 14/6 14/6 Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/ ■ 14/ Nottinghamshire hards ... 16/9 17 / Do. do. (Grimsby) 16/6 16/9 to 17/ Chesterfield. COAL. The condition of the coal trade of north Derbyshire continues satisfactory, and the demand for all classes of fuel is quite good. Even for domestic purposes coal is freely ordered, and is in greater request than is usual at this period of the year. Prices, too, are firm. All the pits of the district are working full time. There is still a shortage of wagons, which is causing considerable loss and inconvenience. The demand for coal for manufacturing purposes is unabated, and prices of cobbles and nuts suitable for gas producers are still tending upwards. Consumers continue to complain of the short supplies that are coming forward, but collieries are quite unable to increase deliveries at present. Slack for steam-raising purposes is in active request, and prices are strong. Contracts expiring at the end of June can only be renewed at advances ranging from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton. Stocks are low everywhere, and the production of slack is obviously below the needs of the market. Steam coal for locomotive use continues to be urgently called for, and deliveries have never been on so large a scale. The condition of the export trade is active, and heavy shipments of all classes of fuel are being made. Some foreign buyers are, for the present, holding back some important orders, with the hope that by delaying their purchases more favourable terms may be secured. General indications, however, hold out no such prospect; on the contrary, it is believed that prices will go still higher, seeing that collieries have already, in the majority of cases, entered into contracts that will absorb all the steam coal that the pits will raise between now and the close of the season. Present prices are strong, the best brands of Derbyshire being quoted at the same figure as South Yorkshire Hards—namely, 17s. per ton delivered free along- side steamer at Grimsby. There is a full demand for cobbles and nuts for near Continental ports, and prices are firm. Washed nuts and washed slack continue to move freely, the whole production being readily taken up. The coke market continues quietly steady, without any change in prices. Prices at pit. Best house coals......... Secondary do............. Cobbles .,............... Nuts .................... Slack.................... Current Last week’s prices. prices. 14/6 14/6 12/6 12/6 12/ 1.2/ 11 11/ 9/ 9/ IRON. Enquiries for forward delivery of pig iron are less plentiful, but makers show no anxiety on this account, as they are in possession of fairly well-filled order books, and are looking forward to a resumption of buying in the near future. All the works of the district are fully employed. Leicestershire. COAL. Business continues quite satisfactorily, considering that we are in mid-May. Buyers are still inclined to operate, and placed orders which are being completed are fully delivered. The demand for household coal, especially of the better qualities, has declined to some extent, as may be expected. But there is yet a continued good enquiry for the middle and lower qualities. Small household coals are yet in good enquiry. The demand for steam coals continues very good. Not only is there a continued enquiry for steam coals and cobbles, but slacks of all sorts are in request, special nut slacks still being much wanted. Thb present condition of business enables the collieries to make pretty nearly a full week. At the same time stocks are quite inconsiderable. Local merchants are not at all pressed, consumers’ wants having considerably declined. There is no alteration in quotations, the market being quite steady, with a slight tendency towards further firmness. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. The coal trade generally throughout the Cannock Chase district continues in a satisfactory condition, and most of