May 30, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1121 tained; and although full time is worked at the collieries there is comparatively little spare coal. Prices of screened Lancashire steam coals remain steady at about 14s. f.o.b. for the ordinary grades, and up to 14s. 6d. f.o.b. for the best descriptions. Negotiations are taking place in various directions for the renewal of contracts, and for those already settled the average advance is about 2s. to 2s. 3d., though in a few cases it is understood the period is six months instead of the usual 12 months. The coastwise and cross- Channel shipments of household coal continue good without any change in prices. Considerable advances are being asked for renewals of contracts for the coming 12 months. It is a little easier to get supplies of slacks, although there is scarcely more than an adequacy. South Lanoaohlro and Choshira, COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was fairly well attended on Tuesday. The warmer weather has had its due influence on the demand for house fuel and this is very quiet. Furnace coal continues to be in good demand and shipping coal is also brisk. Sellers of steam and gas fuel for the coming year’s contracts are very firm as to price. Slack keeps very steady. Generally, prices are firm and unchanged. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s House coal:— prices. prices. Best 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ Medium 15/3 to 16/ I 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 9/ to 9/6 IRON. As can only be expected, with the warrant market at 70s. 6d. for cash and 60s. 9d. in one month, there is not much inducement for a would-be buyer of pig iron. The makers keep fairly firm and good foundry iron can be bought at 69s. to 69s. 6d. Manchester. The forges are only moderately employed. The price of Crown iron remains at £8 15s., with second quality £8 5s., hoops £8 17s. 6d., sheets £9 5s. to £9 7s. 6d., steel bars £8 to <£8 5s., and billets £6 net. Foreign material is being offered at considerably under these figures. The foundries, textile engineers and wagon works are all busy. Heavy engineers report better trade. Boiler makers have a fair amount of work in hand. Yorkshire and Darbyshlrot Leeds. COAL. Although the market was well attended on Tuesday, the volume of business done was much below that of average previous weeks. The warmer weather has set back the demand for house coal, and very few orders beyond contract quantities were given out. Most of the business done was in steam coal and manufacturing fuel, although several sales of gas coal were mentioned. The pits have worked full time, but part of the output of house coal has been put to stock. Wagons are fairly plentiful, and the railway companies have been able to deal with the traffic fairly well. House Coal.—The demand is much quieter from all the markets, and this is particularly noticeable with regard to London. The declaration of lowest summer prices has so far affected the demand very little. Forward business, however, is being done in fairly large bulk, and in all cases contracts are quoted Is. per ton advance. A heavy sale of Silkstone best house coal has been made this week at 13s. pit for the summer months and 14s. pit for the winter months. A sale of Haigh Moor best is reported at 6d. per ton more than the above figures. The current prices of house coal for the London market are officially unchanged, but concessions are offered for fairly large parcels. The coastwise trade keeps up fairly well. Freights are a shade firmer this week, small sailing craft commanding a high rate of craft. In the Yorkshire markets the retail trade is very quiet, but there has been no alteration in official pit prices, which average as under:—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. Gas Coal.—Although the current demand shows signs of falling off, there is still a ready sale for all the gas coal raised. A good many new contracts have been booked this House coal:— Current Last week’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ 14/ Wallsend & London best 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Silkstone best 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 Do. house 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull: 11/3 to 11/9 11/6 to 12/ Haigh Moor best 16/9 to 17/3 17/ to 17/6 Silkstone best 16/3 to 16/9 16/6 to 17/ Do. house 15/ to 16/ 15/6 to 16/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 Screened gas coal ...... 12/3 to 12/9 12/3 to 12/9 Gas nuts 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit : 10/9 to 11/3 11/ to 11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 engine nuts 11/ to 11/9 11/3 to 12/- Small nuts Rough unscreened 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 engine coal 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Best rough slacks 9/3 to 9/9 9/3 to 10/ Small do. 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 9/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ Furnace coke 16/6 to 17/ 17/ week, and the official Is. advance is secured without difficulty. As showing the high values current for forward business, we may mention that a sale has been made of a heavy tonnage of unscreened gas coal for some of the nearer Continental ports at 13s. 9d. per ton f.o.b. Hull. Manufacturing Fuel.—There are no stocks of these qualities at the pits, and if the house coal trade should fall off there is likely to be a scarcity in slacks and coking smalls. Washed nuts are particularly firm, but rough slacks are a shade cheaper. Not many new contracts have been booked this week, as buyers are holding back in the expectation of lower prices later on. Washed Furnace Coke.—Further weakness has developed in the value of furnace coke, and sales have been made this week at 16s. 6d. per ton at the ovens, with unwashed samples as low as 15s. Very little new business is being booked, but makers have no difficulty in disposing of the output, and there are no stocks. Very little is being sent into the Middlesbrough district, but a big tonnage is going into consumption at Frodingham, and also in the Midlands. Hull. COAL. There is a much easier feeling in the market this week, especially where steam hards are concerned. Prices for accommodation lots on spot for prompt shipment have gone down with a run and have been bought at 16s. for best sorts, and are now quoted at from that figure to 16s. 3d. Second holders have been willing sellers towards the close of the month, while exporters have been inclined to hold off the market, believing that they will ultimately gain thereby. Derbyshire and Nottingham steams have also receded, but not to the same extent. Secondary sorts steadily maintain their values, but small coal and slack are again lower. House coal, with the advent of the hot weather, is in very poor request, and prices have a drooping tendency. The export demand for all kinds of coal, and especially steam hards, continues strong, but forward business is difficult to negotiate, owners’ ideas being above those of the would-be buyers. The Norwegian State Rail- ways are reported to be in the market for 70,000 tons of steam coal from South Yorkshire and the Humber area for shipment July to December, chiefly to Christiania (36,000 tons). Other large requirements are expected to come into the market shortly, especially from Russia, where it is thought the abolition of the import duty on coal will stimulate the demand. Shipments from the Hull docks and the Humber ports generally continue on a large scale, and despatch (all things considered) is good. What delay there is is due not to lack of facilities, which are sufficient to do twice the present volume of trade, so much as to the difficulty of getting delivery over the rails of particular sorts required to complete cargoes. Several vessels have recently been held back or have sailed short on this account. As showing the position of affairs at one deck at Hull (the Alexandra), there are to-day berths for 10 or 12 more steamers, and there are at least 40,000 tons of coal standing on the rails. As a result of conferences between the shipowners and exporters on the one side and the coal tippers and trimmers on the other, an agreement has been come to to cease coaling operations at Hull at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, unless vessels inward complete for sailing, when work will continue until eleven o’clock on Saturday night at overtime rates, work to be resumed on Monday morning at six o’clock. Sunday work is thus abolished. The freight market is easier and moderately active, tonnage for Baltic ports being taken? up at 5s. to 5s. 6d., and Mediterranean on the basis of Genoa 10s., Leghorn 9s. 7|d. For Hamburg 3s. 6d. has been paid, for Kiel 5s. 3d., and for London 3s. 3d. The following are the approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull:— South Yorkshire:— Current prices. Last week’s prices. Best steam hards 16/ to 16/3 16/9 Washed double - screened nuts 15/ 15/ Unwashed double- screened nuts 14/6 14/6 Washed single - screened nuts 14/6 to 14/9 14/6 to 14/9 Unwashed single-screened nuts 14/ 14/ Washed smalls 12 6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Unwashed smalls ■ 11/ 11/6 West Yorkshire: — Hartleys 14/3 14/3 Rough slack 11/3 to 11/6 11/6 to 11/9 Pea slack 10/6 to 11/ 10/6 to 11/ Best Silkstone screened gas coal 14/6 14/6 Best Silkstone unscreened gas coal 13/3 13/3 Derbyshire and Notts:— Best steam hards 16/6 to 17/ 17/ Do. (Grimsby) 16/9 16/9 Derbyshire nuts (doubles) 13/9 13/9 Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) 13/6 13/6 Derbyshire large nuts ... 14/6 14/6 Do. do. (Grimsby) 14/ 14/ Nottinghamshire hards ... 16/9 16/9 Do. do. (Grimsby) 16/6 16/6 Barnsley^ COAL. Although there was rather less pressure in the demand for most classes of coal at the local market, the position may be reported upon as being steady. Buyers are apparently minimising their requirements as far as possible in the hope of prices falling, and, although in respect of certain classes of fuel there was an easier tone, values remain firm, with a fairly strong forward tone in the steam coal branch of the trade. The demand on export account was buoyant, although it was reported there has been a rather abnormal tonnage at Hull awaiting shipment, but, on the other hand, it has to be remembered that more than an average tonnage has been sent to the Immingham dock or there would undoubtedly have been a repetition of the congested state of affairs which prevailed several years ago. Coalowners are finding a speedy return of wagons for the taking away of contract supplies, and, although the demand may be, for the moment, rather quieter on current account, a very strong effort continues to be made to maintain prices at last week’s quotations. In fact, many of the large collieries producing a quality of the Barnsley bed fuel, which, ordinarily, has sold from 3d. to 6d. per ton less than the best grade, are insisting upon 13s. 6d. per ton in the home market, and the scarcity of supply at the present time is assisting them. The best hards are making about the same as a week ago, but secondary descriptions are a shade weaker and values are from 12s. 9d. to 13s. per ton on export account. Though, there may have been a little less activity in regard to small steam fuel, the enquiry continues to be in excess of the production, although there are labour troubles in some Yorkshire woollen centres, which, if continued, would liberate a considerable quantity of slack. For the present,, however, late prices are fairly well maintained. With respect to house coal, although the hot weather has naturally caused the demand to diminish, most collieries are still fairly well placed with orders, and, officially, nothing has been done so far to make the customary Is. per ton reduction for summer rates, and the demand is continued for an advance of Is. per ton for contracts for the next 12 months. No doubt, rougher qualities of house coal are being disposed of at slightly reduced prices. The business in regard to coke is virtually unchanged and producers have to face a somewhat peculiar position. Owing to the state of the iron trade, buyers are not disposed to renew contracts, whilst' the cokemakers have to continue paying very high prices for raw material, and there is some talk of restriction of the output of coke unless the position alters. At the present ; prices are again about 17s. per ton for ordinary brands at the ovens. 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 13/3 11/6 to 13/6 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 Secondary do 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Best washed nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/3 to 12/6 Secondary do. 11/6 n/6 Best slack 9/3 to 9/6 9/3 to 9/9 Rough do Gas coals:— 8/6 8/6 to 8/9 Screened gas coals 12/3 to 12/6 12/3 to 12/6 Gas nuts 12/ 12/ Furnace coke 17/ 17/ to 17/6 Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for house coal has eased off a good deal during the last few days, but the call for fuel for manufac- turing purposes remains as great as ever. All other classes of coal are much wanted. The export trade continues active without any change in prices. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s prices. prices. Best house coals 14/6 14/6 Secondary do 12/6 12/6 Cobbles . 12/ 12/ N uts 31/ 11/ Slack 9/ 1 9/ Nottingham. COAL. Taking the coal trade as a whole in Nottinghamshire, the tone is satisfactory, the general demand being such that most of the collieries are working five days a week, tn the past week, however, less activity has characterised the section for house coals. This is mainly accounted for in consequence of the advent of summer weather. Merchants now take only small supplies, whilst the public also are purchasing sparingly in the hope that prices will be shortly reduced. The trade, however, has been so good this month compared with the customary trade in May, that owners are not likely to make any material reduction at present, and prices generally are being well maintained. Steam coals are in a strong position, the increased demand for shipments having augmented the activity in this section. Practically all the pits turning this class of fuel have a plentiful supply of orders and the difficulty is to meet the daily demand. In the home market industrials are a prominent feature, and all round prices are very firm. Despite a slight falling off in regard to slacks, the position is favourable to owners, who are asking for an advance on renewal of contracts. Gas coals are in good request, but coke is somewhat irregular. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ...... Good house coals.......... Secondary do.............. Best hard coals .......... Secondary do.............. Slacks (best hards)....... Do. (seconds)........... Do. (soft).............. Current prices. 12/6 to 13/6 11/6 to 12/ 10/6 to 11/ 12/ to 13/ 11/ to 12/ 8/6 to 9/ 7/6 to 8/6 Last week’s 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 Leicestershire. GOAL. The recent hot weather has made itself felt in this district in the household coal market. Merchants are little inclined to operate in this coal, and the output at the collieries has been considerably lessened. The demand for the better qualities and households has shrunk very markedly, but there is some enquiry for the sorts used in the retail trade. There is not so much alteration in the con- dition of the steam coal market. There is yet a good demand for all sorts of these coals, and it is likely to continue, as consumers of this coal will be wanting it for steam raising purposes for some time to come, judging from the reports of industrial centres. Stocks are accumulating to some extent,.