May 30, 1913 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1123 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bristol Channel ports to foreign countries for the four months ended the 30th of April amounted to 10,159,974 tons, as against 6,061,139 tons in the corresponding period last year. This increase of 4,098,835 tons is more artificial than real, as the four months of last year embraced the period of the national coal strike. The appended table shows the total shipments from January to April to the principal countries of the world, together with the increase or decrease as compared with the corresponding period of last year:— Total Jan .-April Tons. Increase. Tons. Decrease. Tons. Russia 68,596 ... 63,788 .. — Sweden 91,048 . ... 48,355 .. — Norway 40,556 . ... 14,387 .. — Denmark 11,273 , 3,036 .. —— Germany 97,740 . ... 41,184 .. — Netherlands 43,877 . ... 10,845 .. — Java 6,466 — 121 Dutch possessions in Indian Seas 5,436 . 930 .. Belgium 194,972 . ... 122,838 .. — France 2,396,776 . ...1,045,782 .. — Algeria 284,452 . ... 144,278 .. — French Somaliland... 28,068 . ... 20,837 .. — Portugal 276,975 . ... 113,280 .. — Azores 10,140 . — 744 Madeira 47 812 . ’.. 25,774 *.*. __ Spain 446,256 . ... 181,854 .. — Canary Islands 273,013 . ... 45,001 .. — Italy 1,797,008 . ... 587,230 .. — Austria-Hungary .t. 166,805 . ... 149,615 .. — Greece 104,264 . ... 35,288 .. —. Roumania 21,758 . ... 18,730 .. — Turkey (European) 21,432 . — . 12,729 „ (Asiatic)... 16,292 . — . 5,601 Egypt 681,639 . ... 288,021 .. — Tunis 57,856 . ... 33,030 .. — China (exclusive of Hong Kong) 5,765 __ . 4,918 Mexico 10,862 . 8,502 — Peru 5,212 . 4,378 .. — Chile 181,139 . ... 80,352 .. — Brazil 640,594 . ... 311,326 .. — Uruguay 207,413 , ... 14,348 .. — Argentine Republic 1,089,995 ... 481,542 .. —. Channel Islands 17,840 . — 234 Gibraltar 89,571 . 2,105 .. — Malta 268,699 . ... 191,073 .. — Cape of Good Hope 12,752 . 7,806 .. — Mauritius 12,621 . ... 11,132 .. Aden 42 075 . — . 27,703 British India 42,643 . ... 21,811 .. — Straits Settlements 7,353 . 1,378 .. — Ceylon 66,027 . — . 9,958 Wei-hai-Wei 5,807 . 5,807 .. — Hong Kong 27,910 . ... 13,310 .. — Falkland Islands ... 5,105 4,355 .. West Africa: French 58,281 ... 28,403 .. ,, Portuguese 111,234 . ... 24,568 .. — „ British 41,444 . ... 13,453 .. . — In addition to the increased shipments shown in the above table it is interesting to note that to Bulgaria in the first four months of this year no coal whatever was exported, whilst last year 16,251 tons were shipped. To Italian East Africa last year there were exported 22,628 tons—this year nothing. Considerable interest has been evoked on ’Change by the action of the Corporation anent the Cardiff Railway Bill in which power is sought to increase the dock charges. A proposal that the Corporation should remain neutral in the matter was defeated by 20 votes to 14, and eventually it was decided to support the Parliamentary Committee, who by seven votes to six had recommended the Corporation to support the Bill. Some interesting state- ments were made in the course of the discussion, which lasted for some hours. It was stated, for instance, that contracts for the whole equipment of the Queen Alexandra Dock had long since been placed, and when completed, would enable the Cardiff Railway Company to deal with 4 million tons of coal per annum at that dock alone, or double the present shipments. Emphasis was also laid on the fact that whereas the company contributed £33,000 a year to the rates of the city, the bulk of the opponents of the Bill (the shipowners) did not even pay rates on their residences, which are situated outside the city boundaries. The house coal market is not quite so firm. Business generally is quiet, and though there is no change in the quotations of fancy qualities, No. 3 Rhondda large has fallen to 18s. per ton. No. 2, however, is still quoted at 17s. Shipments coastwise for last month amounted to 346,102 tons, as against 158,356 tons in the corresponding month of last year, being an increase of 187,746 tons. From Cardiff alone there were shipped 173,814 tons, of which South- ampton took 45,220 tons, London 42,900 tons, Liverpool 24,600 tons and Bristol 15,207 tons. From Newport the shipments amounted to 57,079 tons, Swansea 50,951 tons, Port Talbot 10>294 tons and Briton Ferry 13 550 tons. Shipments of patent fuel last week were 37,294 tons, of which the Crown Company were credited with 8,764 tons, other local makers 6,520 tons and Swansea 19,910 tons. Best brands are still quoted at 26s. There is no change in coke. Pitwood has gone up to 22s, 6d. per ton. IRON. The demand for tinplate continues very slack, but, as the number of mills idle has been reduced to about 90, receipts from works during the week reached a total of 121,328 boxes. The shipments amounted to nearly 111,000 boxes, no less than 6,500 tons being despatched to New York. There is no change in prices. Common cokes are still quoted at 14s. 3d. to 14s. 4|d., and oil sizes at 14s. 7|d. to 14s. 9d. per box. Specifications for steel bars are coming to hand rather better, but prices are lower, both Siemens and Bessemer bars now offering at £5 5s. There is very little doing in galvanised sheets, many consumers holding off in ______________________________ the belief that prices have not yet touched bottom, though how they can expect further concessions, in view of the fact that some of the sales recently made have been actually below the cost, is inconceivable. The quotation for 24-gauge corrugateds is J>11 5s. to £11 7s. 6d. Reports from the rail mills continue satisfactory. Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds have secured two large orders—namely 6,100 tons for the Federated Malay States, and 5,000 tons for the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. The Newport Corporation have sent £7,000 worth of orders for electric plant to Germany, whose tenders were said to be £1,200 lower than those of English firms, with the prospect of early delivery better. Enquiries for Welsh haematite are rather small and the price has fallen to 82s. f.o.t. Iron ore is also easier, best rubio not commanding more than 20s. per ton. Second qualities are 19s. Scrap metals are cheaper, new steel crop ends being 68s., heavy steel 57s. 6d., steel rails (mixed sections) 55s., heavy wrought 56s. 6d., and cast scrap 57s fid. to 60s. Svansea. COAL The returns of the trade of the port were of a satisfactory nature last week. Both the coal and patent fuel trades were brisk, the shipments together amounting to 100,409 tons. There was a capital attendance on ’Change this morning, and the anthracite coal market displayed a steady tone. Swansea Valley large was a very firm market, especially for the Genoa option brands. Red Vein large continued weak. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were steady. Both rubbly culm and duff were strong, with a very brisk enquiry. The steam coal market was steady generally. Bunkers, however, were a shade easier. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Last week’s Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand prices. prices. picked) (net) 22/ to 24/ 22/ to 24/ Secondary do Big Vein large (less 2j 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/ per cent.) 17/6 to 19/ 17/ to 19/ Red Vein large do Machine - made cobbles 12/ to 13/6 12/6 to 14/ (net) 22/ to 23/6 22/ to 23/6 Paris nuts (net) 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/ French do. do 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/ German do. do 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/ Beans (net) Machine-made large peas 16/6 to 19/6 16/6tol9/6 (net) 11/6 to 13/6 11/3 to 18/ Do. fine peas (not) — —— Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 9/6 to 9/9 9/6 to 9/9 Duff (net) Steam coals:— 6/3 to 6/6 6/ to 6/6 Best large (less 2|p.c.) ... 19/6 to 21/ 19/6 to 21/ Seconds do. 16/3 to 17/ 16/3 to 17/ Bunkers do. 15/6 to 16/ 15/6 to 16/ Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— 13/6 to 15/6 13/6 to 15/6 Large (less 2| p.c.) Through - and - through 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/ (less 2| p.c.) 16/6 to 17/6 16/6 to 17/6 Small (less 2| per cent.) 14/9 to 16/ 14/9 to 16/ Patent fuel do 21/6 to 22/6 21/ to 22/6 IRON. There was, unfortunately, no material improvement in the tin-plate market during the past week. Very little new business was doing, and prices in many instances were unremunerative. Greater animation prevailed in the steel trade, and a steady yield of pig iron was registered at the blastfurnaces. The engineering firms were busy, and foundries were experiencing better times. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 110,928 boxes, receipts from works 121,328 boxes, and stocks remaining in the dock warehouses and vans 440,669 boxes. Llanelly. GOAL. There is very little alteration to report of the coal trade in this district. Some of the anthracite collieries are having idle days, but generally speaking pits are mostly in full work. There is still an excellent demand for the gas and bituminous kinds, and works are experiencing much difficulty in getting their requirements of the better qualities. There is every indication that prices for these sorts will hold firm for some time to come. A year ago no one expected the market to get anything like as firm as it has been during the past few months. Many of the collieries at that time contracted at figures quite 4s. per ton lower than they are asking to day. It is rather strange that whilst the steam and bituminous coals have been in strong demand the anthracite kinds should experience a slump, with prices lower than they have been for a long time. There are prospects, however, of an improvement in the early future. Large qualities are easy, and the machine- made kinds leave plenty of room for improvement, but culm and duff are both very firm. This week’s quotations are :— Prices f.o.b. Current Last week’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ Secondary do. 20/ to21/ 20/ to 21/ Big Vein large 17/ to 18/ 17/ to 18/ Red Vein do 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ Machine-made cobbles ... 18/6 to 20/ 18/6 to 20/ German nuts 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 French do 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 Paris do. 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 Machine-made beans 19/ to 21/ 19/ to 21/ Do peas 11/3 tc 13/ 11/3 to 13/ Rubbly culm 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 Duff 6/ to 6/6 6/ to 6/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal 18/ to 18/6 18/ to 18/6 Through-and-through ... 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/ Small 10/6 to 11/6 10/6 to 11/6 Bituminous small coal ... 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 a substantial increase in the imports this month, the total ______ _______ _____ ___ _________ number of coaling vessels entering the harbour from th* the Underwood Bill which would compel foreign importers 1being Cargoes arriving during , . . . x .. A . ~ . the week were chiefly from Ardrossan, Swansea, Glasgow, to throw their books open to the American Government.' Lydney> Garston, Ellesmere Port, Preston, Maryport, Ayr, The basis of the protest is that the clause is intolerably Point of Aire, Neath Abbey, Whitehaven, Workington, inquisitorial. ' Girvan, Irvine, West Bank and Partington. Great Britain, like Germany and various other countries, has followed France and protested against the clause of THE PRICE OF COAL. Tables have been issued by the Board of Trade showings for each of the years 1900-1912 the estimated value of the imports and exports of the United Kingdom and the price* prevailing in 1900, taken as a standard year, the object being to show the effect of the elimination, as far as possible, of the fluctuation of prices and so to secure a> basis for a closer comparison between the volume of import* and exports in each year. For all classes of imports the declared value amounted in 1912 to £744,897,00Q, an increase when compared with 1900 of £221,822,000, or 42 4 per cent. Two-thirds of this increase was due to increased volume of trade and the remainder to higher values, the increase in volume amounting to 28 4 per cent., whilst the average values in 1912 were 10*9 per cent, higher than those of 1900. Applying the same method to exports, we find that the total value of these has grown from £291,192,000 in 1900, to £487,434,000 in 1912, an increase of £196,242,000, or 67'4 per cent. The bulk of this increase, however—viz., £186,798,000, was due to the larger volume of exports, the increase in declared values accounting for only £9,444,000. The volume has, in fact, increased by 64*1 per cent., whilst the level of average values has increased by 2 per cent. While the declared value of the exports of raw materials and articles mainly manufactured has grown from £44,987,000 to £59,428,000, the proportion which this class bears to total|exports has fallen from 15 to 12 per cent. The volume of trade in 1912 was greater by 58*4 per cent, than in 1900, but there was a heavy fall, amounting to 16*6 per cent., in average values, the net result being an increase in the declared values of £14,441,000, or 321 per cent. This result is entirely due to the dominant position of coal in the class. The declared value of the coal exported was £36,410,000 in 1900 and £40,495,000 in 1912, an increase of 11 per cent. The actual tonnage exported, however, rose from 44,089,000 tons to 64,445,000 tons, an increase of 46 2 per cent, in the period. This greatly increased quantity of coal was exported in 1912 at an average value lower by 31*5 per cent, than in 1900, prices of coal in the latter year having reached a higher level than in any year since 1874. In other words, if the average values prevailing in 1900 had obtained in 1912, the exports of coal in the latter year would have realised £53,250,000 instead of £40,500,000. When 1912 is compared with 1911, it is found that the exports of “ raw materials ’’ increased in declared value by £5,703.000, the major portion of this increase being due to higher average values. The volume of the exports, indeed, showed an increase of ;only 2 8 per cent., whilst average values increased by as much as 71 per cent. These results are mainly attributable to coal, the average value of which increased by 111 Per cent., whilst the quantities exported showed a small decrease. ____________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 29. Dublin. The warm weather which has set in has caused a falling off in demand for house coals; and should this continue, prices will probably be reduced next month. At present there is no change either in household or steam qualities, quotations in the city standing as followBest 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. Irish coals at Arigna, county Leitrim:—Best coal, 15s. lOd. per per ton; nuts, Ils. 8d.; culm, 9s. 2d. per ton at the pit- mouth. Amongst the numerous contracts issuing is that in connection with the Irish prisons for the usual 12 months’ supply of house and steam coals, and some gas coal contracts are also open in the inland districts. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 55, as compared with 51 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Newport, Ayr, Whitehaven, Partington, Irvine, Point of Aire, Campbeltown, Swansea, Preston, Workington, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, Troon and Newcastle-on-Tyne. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 23,851 tons» Moderate stocks are still only moderate. Belfast. There is a fairly good demand for steam coal, especially Scotch sorts, but business in the household branch is now quiet, although prices still keep firm and unchanged. 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. fid.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current prices 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 a plentiful supply in the port, there having been