May 23, 1913. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1069 the market for 60,000 tons of smalls for delivery from June 1 to the end of November, it is thought the market will soon recover. In view of the fact that from the 26th inst. all individual contracts on the part of the workmen shall be terminable by 14 days’ notice, instead of the month hitherto in vogue, it is believed that depot owners generally will deem it prudent to carry heavier stocks than they have hitherto been in the habit of doing. There is no material change in Monmouthshire coals. Buyers are withholding orders as much as possible, in the hope of being able to bear down prices, but up to the present their efforts have been futile, unless it be in the inferior descriptions of eastern- valley coals. Black Veins command from 20s. to 20s. 3d., western-valley 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d., and best eastern-valley 18s. 6d. to 19s. f.ob. Cardiff. According to the Custom House returns, the quantity of coal exported from the Bristol Channel ports to foreign countries in April was .2,717,016 tons. In the corresponding month of last year the quantity was only 476,391 tons, but at that time we were in the midst of the national coal strike, so that any comparison with that period is of little value. From Cardiff in April last, the quantity exported was 1,759,274 tons, Newport 434,092 tons, Port Talbot 202,489 tons, and Swansea 295,037 tons. The following table shows the exports to the chief ntries of the. world in responding month of last April last, as year:— well as in the April 1912. Tons. April 1913. Tons. Russia 1,590 ... 32,057 Sweden 1,807 ... 17,800 Norway 864 ... 12,643 •Germany 7,629 ... 41,924 Netherlands 9 5,717 Belgium 8,474 ... 45,987 France 82,037 ... 628,706 Algeria 3,230 ... 64,705 IFrench Somaliland — 5,885 Portugal 25,983 ... 66,907 Madeira — ... 14,168 Spain 14,380 ... 111,843 •Canary Islands 9,970 ... 73,237 Italy 95,345 ... 423,303 Austria-Hungary 7,928 ... 26,296 Greece 3,746 ... 37,024 Turkey (European) .... — 6,977 Roumania ... 16,644 Egypt 9,610 ... 233,178 'Tunis . — ... 19,350 Chili — ... 88,394 Brazil 9,153 ... 211,644 Uruguay 21,552 ... 60,978 Argentine Republic .... 102,532 ... 291,198 •Channel Islands 2,453 6,026 Gibraltar 16,114 ... 24,271 Malta ... .. — ... 54,836 • Cape of Good Hope .... — 5,081 Aden 10,494 9,461 British India 5,057 5,698 Ceylon 18,242 11,259 Hong Kong — 7,361 Falkland Islands — 5,105 West Africa (French) . 4,575 ... 15,663 „ (Portuguese)... 7,586 ... 33,708 „ (British) . 1,420 ... 12,449 ‘ There is no change in house coals, 19s. 6d. net at pit mouth still being quoted for fancy qualities. Rhondda bituminous coals are for No. 3 large 18s. 6d., and for No. 2 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to 18,252 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 5,782 tons, Swansea makers 9,470 tons, and Newport 3,000 tons. Best brands are still quoted at 26s. The coke market continues very firm, special foundry being 32s. and ordinary 29s. to 30.4. Furnace coke is 25s. Pitwood during the holidays fell somewhat, but on the resumption of work on Monday last the price for best French fir once more went up to 21s. IRON. A few tin-plate mills have resumed work, but there are still about 100 idle. In consequence of the improved situation in the Balkans, tin-plates and black-plates are once more being sent to Roumania, and the receipts from works were insufficient to meet the wants of shippers. Stocks in the docks warehouses and vans are, however, still over 430,000 boxes, as compared with 261,000 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. It is estimated that the purchases made on behalf of the Standard Oil Company amount to about half-a-million boxes, whilst a fair amount of business has also been done with Canada. Considerable orders too have been received from the Far East, so that the market shows a decidedly firmer tendency. Though prices at present do not indicate much change, makers are looking hopefully for an improvement; 14 x 20 cokes are 14s. 3d. to 14s. 4$d., and oil sizes 14s. 7|d. to 14a. 9d. Very little foreign steel has come forward during the week, but Welsh prices continue without change, Siemens tin bars being £5 12s. 6d. and Bessemer £5 10s. per ton. Except in the area controlled by the South Wales Tin Bar Association, it is rarely that £5 12s. 6d. is paid for Siemens tin bars. Indeed, fully 5s. less is reported to have been accepted from works in the Midland district. Only a small amount of business is doing in galvanised sheets. Leading works still . quote Uli 7s. 6d. to J811 10s. for 24-gauge corrugateds, but some makers are selling at Jill 5s. Some of the rail mills are very busy, and contrary to the usual practice the Whit-week holidays were not observed at the Dowlais works. The rail banks were rather congested with the quantity of finished rails turned out. Welsh pig iron is 82s. 6d. to 83s. f.o.t. Swansea. COAL During the past week the trade was affected by the Whitsuntide holidays, the shipments of coal and patent fuel only totalling 80,700 tons. There was a capital attendance on ’Change this morning, and there was a decided improvement in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market. There was an excellent demand for Swansea Valley large, especially the Genoa option hand, and values were again marked up. Red Vein large, however, was a very weak market, and orders for this commodity would be very welcome. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were steady, and both rubbly culm and duff were very firm at last quotations. In the steam coal . market there was an all-round steadiness in evidence, and last prices were fully maintained. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net) ......... Secondary do........... Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) ............ Red Vein large do...... Machine - made cobbles (net) ............... Paris nuts (net) ...... French do. do.......... German do. do..........__ Beans (net) ........... Machine-made large peas (net) ................. Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net)............. Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) ... Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.)____ Through - and - through (less 2| p.c.)_______ Small (less 2| per cent.) Patent fuel do........... Current prices. 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ 17/ to 19/ 12/6 to 14/ 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 16/6 to 19/6 11/3 to 13/ 9/6 to 9/9 6/ to 6/6 19/6 to 21/ 16/3 to 17/ 15/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 Last week’s prices. 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ 16/ to 18/ 13/9 to 14/6 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 16/6 to 19/6 11/3 to 13/ 9/3 to 9/6 6/ to 6/6 19/6 to 21/ 16/3 to 17/ 15/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 19/ to 20/ 16/6 to 17/6 14/9 to 16/ 21/ to 22/6 19/ to 20/ 16/6 to 17/6 14/9 to 16/ 21/ to 22/6 IRON. Last week the pig iron trade compared favourably with that of the preceding week, and a good output was registered. Better outputs were seen in the steel trade owing to a larger number of furnaces working. Operations were resumed at the various tin-plate works on Tuesday morning. All the mills at the Upper Forest, Worcester, and Duffryn works were'fully operating, and trade was also brisk at the Cromfelin Tie-plate Works, Landore, where an additional six mills are working. The shipments of tin-plates were 87,256 boxes, receipts from works 79,526 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 430,269 boxes. The weldless tube trade was one of the most prosperous in the district. The engineering shops were busy, and there was ample work on hand for the moulders at the foundries in the district. Llanelly. GOAL. There is very little movement to report in the local market, and the position is stationary. The pits are at full work again, and the holidays of last week caused a lot of stocks to be removed. There is no improvement worthy of note in the anthracite trade, but colliery people are asking higher figures for forward bookings. This applies chiefly to the machine-made kinds, prices for which have been down very low of late. Large kinds are in poor demand and prices unsteady. Steam and bituminous sorts are still in firm demand, and pricss have not yet been reduced. It is expected there will be reductions in a few weeks’ time, but perhaps not to any appreciable extent until contracts now running expire. Smalls have a big enquiry, and are difficult to get hold of. Quotations this week are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large Secondary do Big Vein large Red Vein do Machine-made cobbles ... German nuts French do Paris do Machine-made beans Do peas Rubbly culm Duff Other sorts:— Large steam coal Through-and-through ... Small Bituminous small coal ... Current prices. 22/ to 23/ 20/ to 21/ 17/ to 18/ 13/6 to 14/ 18/6 to 20/ 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 19/ to 21/ 11/3 tc 13/ 9/ to 9/6 6/ to 6/6 18/ to 18/6 15/ to 16/ 10/6 to 11/6 13/6 to 14/6 Last week’s prices. 22/ to 23/ 20/ to 21/ 17/ to 18/ 13/6 to 14/ 18/6 to 20/ 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 19/ to 21/ 11/3 to 13/ 9/ to 9/6 6/ to 6/6 . 18/ to 18/6 15/ to 16/ 10/6 to 11/6 13/6 to 14/6 THE IRISH BOAL TRADE. Thursday, May 22. Dublin. Coal merchants continue to be very busily engaged, and although the season is so far advanced the demand for house qualities keeps up remarkably well, there being no immediate prospect of a reduction in prices. Difficulty is being experienced in procuring supplies at the other side owing to recent holiday stoppages. Quotations in the city are all unchanged as follow;—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 24s.; best Orrell slack, 21s.; steam coals from 22s. per ton upwards; best coke, 23s. per ton; house coal, retail, Is. 7d. to Is. 8d. per sack. There is a good deal of business current on contract account, and a Kingstown firm of coal importers have recently received a large order for smokeless steam coal for the Swedish navy. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 51, as compared with 62 the week previously, chiefly from Irvine, Garston, Newcastle, Liverpool, Ayr. Campbeltown, Llanelly. Manchester, Girvan, Newport, Whitehaven, Preston and Maryport. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 22,000 tons. Belfast. Owing to finer weather, the demand for house coal is beginning to fall off, both locally and inland, but the high prices maintained at the shipping ports tend to keep rates in this port firm. There is no change in prices of any class of fuel. Quotations in the city are:—Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Quotations ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 24s. per ton; Scotch household, 20s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 17s. to 18s.; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam coal, 20s. per ton; English steam slack, 17s. per ton delivered. There is at present an average supply, cargoes arriving during the week being chiefly from Ayr, Maryport, Ardrossan, Glasgow, Lydney, Troon, Workington, Garston, Ellesmere Port, Manchester, Newport, Partington, Preston, and Girvan. It is stated that there is a good prospect of coal soon being raised in quantity near the railway line from Cookstown to Stewartstown, county Tyrone. Boring operations have been proceeding since February, and a pit will shortly be sunk, when it is expected that the output of the mine will be limited only by the labour available. ___________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Things are quiet, and prices more or less nominal. Benzols, perhaps, are the strongest product, both in price and position. Pitch keeps firm, and creosote commands a* good price. Other products practically unchanged. Nearest values are:— Benzols, 90’s ............................. 1/Ojtol/H Do. 50’s ............................. /10| to /10| .................................... Do. 90’s North______’....................... 1/ to 1/01 Do. 50’s North......................................... /10f Toluol.................................... 110| Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) .......... 1/51 Do. crystals (40 per cent.)................ /5| Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ... 1/1 Crude ditto (in bulk) ..................... /5| Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............ /31 Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ................... 48/ Do. (f.a.s. west coast) .................... 47/ Do. (f.o.b. gas companies) ................ 50/ [Bensols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at makers* works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market rules flat, and buyers are holding off most persistently in the face of the increased amount of sulphate of ammonia offering, a feature which is most noticeable in the northern and southern sections of the market. Prices are naturally somewhat erratic, but current prompt prices may be taken as follow :— London (ordinary makes)............ JH3/2/6 Beckton (certain terms) ............ JS12/15/ Liverpool_____.......................... JJ13/8/9 Hull ............................... £13/5/to J813/7/6 Middlesbrough ..................... £13/ to £13/1/3 ......................... Scotch ports......................... £13/10/ Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 11/9 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 21 per cent, dis- count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess."] _____________________________ At New Brancepeth, on Saturday, a new miners’ institute, given by the owners of the New Brancepeth Colliery, Messrs. Cochrane and Co., was opened by Mr. H. H. Cochrane, one of the directors. Ambulance Work in Mines: the Wood Competition.— The concluding stages of the Wood Shield competition were reached on Saturday at Rotherham. In May 1906 the Hon. Edward Wood, M.P., offered a fine silver trophy for colliery teams, and under the auspices of the Yorkshire Collieries Ambulance League the contests have since gone forward with increasing interest. At Rotherham two teams from the north section met two teams from the south section. Originally 109 teams competed, from 15 divisions, composed of men from 53 collieries. The first round was decided on April 12, and the second on April 26. The four finalists were : Hickleton Main Colliery, Garforth Colliery, Grimethorpe Colliery, and Brodsworth Colliery. There was an excellent attendance to witness the concluding phase. The tests had been carefully drawn, and exercised the skill and resourcefulness of the competitors. Dr. Burman, of Wath, and Surgeon-Captain A. J. Helm Montagu, of Worksop, were the examiners. The competition comprised a stretcher case and four individual tests, illustrating accidents that might at any time occur below ground. When the end was reached Dr. Burman announced that the fight had been tight. The placings were:—(1) Hickleton, 371 marks; (2) Garforth, 367 marks; (3) Grimethorpe, 353 marks; (4) Brodsworth, 336 marks. The possible points were 578. He proceeded to point out various matters in connection with ;the stretcher test, and which had meant the loss of marks. The case was extremely well done by all four teams. Mr. T. H. Mottram, H.M. inspector of mines, who holds the position of chair- man of committee, invited Aid. Mullins to present the shield and certificates to the winning teams. A representative of the Hickleton team received the trophy amid applause, and made a brief acknowledgment. The Hon. Edward Wood, M.P., moved ’ a vote of thanks to Aid. Mullins. In a word of congratulation to the Hickleton team, he said he had had the good fortune to spend most of his life at Hickleton, and therefore it was a special sort of gratification to him to be able to add his words to those of the aiderman in complimenting his close neighbours on their success. The holders of the shield in the past year were Silverwood Colliery, Mr. J. Elce, as manager, having had the charge. Winners in other years were: 1907, Low- moor; 1908, Robinhood; 1909, Featherstone; 1910, Allerton By water; and 1911, Grimethorpe. Members of the successful Hickleton team are the following: J. D. Moore, J. Eccles, J. Robinson, and C. Hanmer. Instructor, Dr. B. Malcolm.