1122 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 30, 1913. owing to to the smaller demand, but at present they are not abnormal. A quieter time is anticipated for some weeks, but it is not expected that it will be unduly prolonged. Local merchants are very much quieter, and find consumers reducing supplies to the lowest level. Quotations are still very firm, and the reduced business has not influenced them in a downward direction. Season orders are only accepted at an advance on last year, and the outlook is quite favourable. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. GOAL. There is no change of consequence to report this week in the general condition of the coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district. Business is keeping up remarkably well for the time of the year, and most of the collieries are kept running full time. Orders are fairly plentiful, and there is not yet very much coal in stock. Prices are much the same as when last reported. There is a brisk demand for coal for manufacturing purposes, and slack is in good request. In some cases there is a slight falling off in the enquiry for house coal. Kailway and canal sales are keeping up well, but there is not quite so much business being done at the landsale depots. Birmingham. GOAL. There is nothing special to record in regard to prices this week, as both traders and colliery proprietors prefer to wait till the end of the month. At the same time it is anticipated there will be no reductions, and in some instances a probable advance on July 1 was spoken of. Quotations:— Prices at pit. Current Last week's Staffordshire (including prices. prices. Cannock Chase):— House coal, best deep 18/ 18/ Do. seconds deep 16/6 16/6 Do. best shallow 14/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 13/ 13/ Best hard 14/ 14/ Forge coal 11/ 11/ Slaek 8/6 8/6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder ... 16/ 16/ Do. hand - picked 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/ IRON. The slight improvement in the market observed last week has been more than counterbalanced by the effects of labour troubles which have spread with great rapidity through the district during the week. Though ironworkers are not directly participating in the strikes which have occurred, some of them have already been thrown out of work through the dislocation of industry, and the effects threaten to be much more serious in tne near future. Thousands of Black Country tube workers are on strike with the object of securing a minimum wage of 23s., and the strip trade to-day was consequently almost at a standstill. Manufacturers are entering into no new engagements till they can see their way more clearly, and are unable to accept delivery of raw material already specified for. The labour situation has intensified the caution of buyers generally. Practically the only business done related to small lots for delivery against visible requirements. There is little change in the position of pig iron. The production continues to be regularly absorbed, and there is little confidence in the market, and prices, if no worse, are certainly no better. South Staffordshire common forge is selling at about 60s., and the minimum for Northamptonshire brands is 60s. The high grade Staffordshire irons maintain their position, and at present there are no widespread symptoms of instability in the engineering and related ttades, which are the main support of these branches. Makers of marked bars are in receipt of a fair aggregate of new business, and are able to command the .£10 basis. As regards unmarked iron, however, the market remains weak, owing partly to a falling-off of consumptive demand, and partly to the influence of weakening prices on the Continent. Common Belgian bars for nut and bolt making have been sold here down to £613s. delivered, while the price of the corresponding grade of British bars is £7 15s.—a margin wide enough to cause some apprehension in view of the prospect of less delay in deliveries from the Continent. Merchant bars fetch about £8 to £8 5s. delivered. There is no improve- ment in the sheet trade. Makers of galvanised sheets are putting a considerable amount of business through, but prices are still severely cut. To-day sellers quoted £12 and upwards for the home trade, but shipping business has been done at about £1112*. 6d., and in some cases £11 10s. is accepted to secure a good order. The association which controls the small steel bar trade has reduced prices 10s. Tor heavy sections the basis remains unaltered. Lydney. Forest off Doan, GOAL. The excellence of the demand for all descriptions of steam coal which has obtained during the past few months is fully Prices at pithead. Carrent Last week’s House coals:— prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 Rubble 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 10/ • 10/ Large 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ Small 10/ toll/ 10/ toll/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. maintained, and many contracts are getting into arrears. The supply is much below the demand and many orders for new business have to be refused. The house coal collieries continue to make full time, but it is probable the present warm weather will soon have the effect of checking the number of orders now being received. Good shipments are made, whilst the railborne enquiry is steadily maintained.* THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 29. North Wales. Wrexham. GOAL. The general demand for coal in this district is steady and the output has been well maintained during the past week. There has been practically no change in prices. The household coal trade has fallen off somewhat in regard to deliveries, and landsale depots are anything but busy, though in this trade prices are well maintained and show no signs of reduction. Some buyers are taking spot lots for stocking during the summer where they can buy on advantageous terms, but the colliery people do not appear to jump even at this trade, excepting at good prices. In the gas coal trade the demand is very brisk on account of the expiring contracts, and a number of large contracts have been settled during the past week for supplies during the ensuing year, at the average price mentioned below. Steam coal is well sold also for manufacturing purposes, railway companies are taking large supplies on account of their contracts, and there is a satisfactory market for coal for shipment from the Mersey ports. Nuts are very readily sold, and it is a pity that the supply is so limited—gas companies being very eager to buy these at about Is. per ton less than the large gas coal. The market for slack is good, and all slack of average quality is being sold in large quantities. The market for gas coke also is steady at the same prices as ruled last week. The present market prices are as follow:— Current. Lust week's Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. . Best house coal 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/ Secondary do 14/ to 15/ 14/ to 15/ Steam coal 12/ to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Gas coal 13/ to 14/6 13/ to 14/ Bunkers 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Nuts 11/6 to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Slack 6/6 to 9/ 6/6 to 9/6 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 15/ to 17/6 15/ to 16/8 Best house coal 18/4 to 20/ 18/4 to 20/ Seconds 16/8 to 18/4 16/8 to 18/4 Slack 10/ to 12/6 10/ to 12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. There has been no feature of marked import in the steam coal trade during the past week—matters, in fact, having been quieter than anticipated. Tonnage has not come along as expected, nor has outward chartering been sufficient to assist the position of sellers; while buyers, satisfied with the present trend of events, remain quiescent with a big hope that they will very shortly be able to command more favourable terms. Under these conditions, large qualities have held their values surprisingly, while pretty well everything else in the market shows easier figures. Smalls are down fully 6d., house qualities likewise, while nuts, throughs, and other grades are similarly reduced in price. In the freight market there has been little change in quotations; not much tonnage is offering, while rates, if anything, are scarcely so firm. Pitwood supplies are fully equal to demands from collieries, and values rule around 21s. 6d. for good wood ex ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2£ per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Western-valleys, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 19/6 to 19/9 19/ to 19/3 18/ to 18/3 17/ to 17/6 13/3 to 13/6 12/3 to 12/9 11/9 to 12/ 13/6 15/6 to 15/9 15/3 to 15/6 18/ to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 21/ to 23/ 27/ to 28/ 29/ to 31/ Last week’s prices. 19/6 to 19/9 . 19/ to 19/3 18/ to 18/3 17/ to 17/6 13/9 to 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/3 14/ 16/ to 16/3 15/3 to 15/9 18/9 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/ 21/ to 23/ 27/ to 28/ 29/ to 31/ IRON. There is no great change to report in the local condition of the iron and steel trades, business transacted since last week being only of an indifferent character, with not a great deal of forward enquiry coming along. What alterations there are in official quotations are of a downward character, and, generally speaking, values remain practically as a week ago. Full work is again reported from bar mills, but speci- fications are now practically worked off, and some anxiety is expressed as regards forward makes. Prices are a shade easier on the week, and in some cat es 2s. 6d. per ton less is quoted. Foreign imports total 7,000 tons, and from this quarter, too, quotations are easier. Kail mills continue well engaged, values remaining steady, with perhaps a better enquiry in this department just now than in any other. Welsh haematite is quoted Is. less than last week. Fortunately furnaces have orders in hand that will last some time. The tin-plate trade rules slack; and with the necessity of some holders clearing their stocks the market has suffered, buyers bing likely to obtain concessions where they can give prompt clearance. Latest ruling values :—Steel rails: Heavy sections, £6 10s. to £6 15s.; light ditto, £6 10s. to £7. Tin-plate bars : Bessemer steel, £5 5s.; Siemens steel, £5 5s. to £5 7s. 6d. Pig iron .* Welsh haematite, 88s. to 87s. delivered locally. Tin-plates: Bessemer primes, 20 x 14, 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d.; piemens ditto, 14s. 6d. Finished blackplate, £10 15s. Cardiff. GOAL. In consequence of the heavy commitments of collieries, there has been, comparatively speaking, but little free coal available for prompt shipment, and for spot cargoes of best Admiralty steam coals as much as 23s. has been paid, though most of the transactions have been on the basis of 22s. 6d. For second Admiralties also high prices continue to rule, superior sorts realising 22s. to 22s. 3d., and ordinaries 20s. 6d. to 21s. Of course, most of these prices are subject to a discount of 2£ per cent, on payment within 30/lays, but there is a movement on foot for quoting for business in future on a net basis. At present the proposal refers to collieries on the Admiralty list, but should it be adopted, it is anticipated that other collieries will follow suit. By doing so the market would fall into line with the coalowners in the North, where quotations are already on a net basis. Outputs still continue below the normal, and, with the excessive hot weather prevailing, there is very little prospect of any material increase for some time to come. Shipments to foreign ports last week were considerably better than those for the presjnt week, totalling 324,556 tons for the port of Cardiff alone. Chartering, too, has been on rather an extensive scale, no less than 364,320 tons being fixed during the week. This will doubtless have a stimulating effect on prices a little later on, though, at present buyers are, to a certain extent, holding off the market in the hope of being able to secure special concessions for June loading. Collieries, however, are still very optimistic as regards the future, and are consistently quoting high prices for the remainder of the year— more especially for the next few months—or the period known as the Baltic season. It is true that in some cases buyers are able to discount values a little for forward delivery by dealing with middlemen who, having purchased heavily at much lower figures, are not prepared to risk the loss of a good profit by holding out for extreme rates, but, with a plentiful supply of tonnage in port and on the way, such cases show a gradually diminishing number. When the present week opened there were no less than 211 vessels in the docks at Cardiff, Barry and Penar th, and sales agents generally take a very cheerful view of the future. The Russian Government has ratified the proposition to allow foreign coal into their country free of tax, when intended for railway and manufacturing purposes, has been received with much satisfaction as tending to improve the demand for British coals. The contract for the supply of 16,000 tons of Welsh steam coals for the French Navy has been secured by Mr. Charles le B orgne, of Paris, but at what price has not been disclosed. It is understood that the coals bought are second class Admiralties, and that they have to be delivered at Toulon during June. The Austrian Government are once more in the market for between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of steam coals for delivery by September next. Hitherto they have taken best Admiralties, and it is reported that that during this year Ferndale coal has been exclusively purchased by them. This remark also applies to the Greek Government. The French States Kailways have also asked for tenders for 12 000 tons of large steams for delivery over June, July and August. With regard to the enquiry for 60,000 tons of small, it is reported that the business has gone to Germany, whose prices were two francs below the lowest tender from South Wales. The small coal market is very weak, current values of best bunkerings being 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d., and of cargo qualities 13s. to 13s. 3d. per ton, but it is generally thought that the large amount of tonnage which is fixed will have a beneficial effect on prices. In Monmouthshire coals there is a slightly easier undertone due to the improvement of supplies, but at the time of writing there was no material change in quotations. Black veins were still quoted up to 20s. 3d., and western valleys up to 20s. per ton f.o.b. Cardiff. The total exports from the Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals .................. Superior seconds........ Ordinary do............. Best bunker smalls...... Best ordinaries......... Cargo qualities ......' Inferior smalls......... Best dry coals ......... Ordinary drys .......... Best washed nuts ....... Seconds................ Best washed peas ....... Seconds................. Dock screenings ........ Monmouthshire— Black Veins........... Western-valleys ...... Eastern-valleys ...... Inferior do........... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Khondda— Bituminous large ..... Through-and-through... Small................. No. 2 Khondda— Large................. Through-and-through... Small................. Best'patent fuel ........ Seconds................... Special foundry coke..... Ordinary do. ............ Furnace coke ............ Pitwood (ex-ship) ....... Carrent prices. Last week’s prices. 22/6 to 23/ 22/6 to 23/ 22/ to 22/3 22/ 20/ to 21/ 20/6 14/3 to 14/6 14/9 to 15/ 13/9 to 14/ 14/6 13/ to 13/3 13/9 to 14/ 11/9 to 12/ 13/ to 13/6 21/ to 21/6 21/6 to 22/ 18/ to 18/6 19/ to 19/6 17/6 17/6 16/6 16/6 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ 15/ 15/6 20/ to 20/3 20/ to 20/3 19/9 to 20/ 19/6 to 19/9 19/6 to 19/9 18/9 to 19/ 18/ to 18/3 17/9 to 18/ 19/6 19/6 17/6 17/6 18/ 18/6 17/ 17/3 15/9 to 16/ 16/ 17/ 17/3 to 17/6 15/6 15/9 13/6 13/6 to 13/9 26/ 26/ 24/ 23/ to 25/ 32/ 32/ 29/ to 30/ 29/ to 30/ 25/ 25/ 22/6 21/ Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2£ per cent. Khondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b.