1128

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 30, 1913.

irrespirable atmosphere; otherwise, there is no regula-
tion in force in France which provides for the approval
of particular appliances of this description. In the
course of the report some interesting comparisons are
made between the Fleuss and other apparatus.

Price Formulae.

Not long ago the Belgian railway authorities decided
to abolish the system of open tenders in the purchase of
locomotive fuel, and to substitute for it private negotia-
tion, with the use of a formula to establish the price.
An interesting article, containing suggestions for a
briquette formula, appears in a recent number of the
Revue Universelle des Mines from the pen of M. Henry,
of the Hasard Collieries. At the outset, he observes
that an examination of the variations of the mean
selling prices of coals sold for commercial purposes (the
railway supplies being excepted) by the Hainault
Collieries over a considerable period shows that, when
these are compared with range of prices of Type IV.
coal, there is an average ^difference of 1| fr. per ton*
Type IV. is a small coal with an evaporative capacity of
7*5 kilogs. of water under a pressure of 120 mm. The
ash content varies from 16 to 17 per cent. The average
selling price is determined by the mines administration
by estimating the value of the^quantities supplied to
coke ovens and briquette factories owned by the collieries.
The coals are put in at a price which is equal to one-
third of the selling price of the products of these
establishments, the gross profits on the manufacture of
coke or briquettes being thus eliminated. The price of
Type IV. coal having been established, a formula is
proposed which takes into account the price of this
grade of coal and the cost of pitch. This formula, which
presupposes a consumption of pitch of 10 per cent, and
allows 2 fr. for the cost of production, is as follows :—

0’9 (price of Type IV.) + 01 (price of pitch) + 2fr.
= the price of briquettes (Type II.).

There are two types of briquettes used by the railways
—viz., Type II. evaporating 9 kilogs. and containing
8 per cent, of ash, and Type I. evaporating 8 kilogs. and
containing from 8 to 11 per cent, of ash. Over a period
of 10 years the difference in price between the two types
has been 2'025 fr.; thus by adding 2 fr. to the price of
Type II., the formula is also applicable in determining
the price of Type I.

gohtihehtal marnc, sms.

Germany.

Discovery of Extensive Coalfields in Bavaria.—Three seams
of lignite and a 5 ft. seam of “ pitch33 coal have been
discovered at Wasserburg on the Bi ver Inn. The lignite
seams are computed to contain some 22 million tons.

Coal Syndicate Report for April.—Total coal raised,
8,903,611 tons (7,520,197 tons in April 1912), or 342,447 tons
(313,341 tons) per working day. Calculated distribution,
7,269,253 tons (6,196,470 tons), being 279,587 tons (258,186
tons), or 105'84 per cent. (98'29 per cent.) of the participa-
tion. Total coal distribution of the syndicated pits,
8,871,688 tons (7,643,361 tons), or 341,219 tons (318,473
tons) per working day. Deliveries, including local sales,
miners’ house coal, and supplies to pits’ own ironworks:
Coal, 5,750,632 tons (4,892,043 tons), or 22,178 tons
(203,835 tons) per working day; coke, 1,805,930 tons
(1,595,375 tons), or 60,198 tons (53,179 tons) per working
day; briquettes, 410,588 tons (325,915 tons), or 15,792 tons
(13,580 tons) per working day.

Ruhr Coal Market.—Business continues favourable. A
large trade is being done in gas and gas-flaming coals,
though the supply exceeds the demand. House coal is going
off more slowly in consequence of the advance of the season.
Calls for delivery in coking coals are very brisk, and the
same applies to most grades of industrial fuel. Owing to
the favourable state of the river it has been possible to
make regular shipments to South Germany, where business
is good, although the consignments are not fully absorbed
—particularly in the case of house coals. Belgium con-
tinues to be a fairly good customer, though the unfavour-
able influence of the strike on the trade of the country is
now becoming apparent. In other respects, the export
business may be regarded as satisfactory. Negotiations
for the renewal of the Syndicate have again cropped up, but
nothing definite has been settled as yet.

Coal Market in South Germany.—The favourable tone of
the market has not suffered any alteration. None of the
colliery districts supplying this market has any superfluity
of coal available for the moment, the Saar pits being able
to dispose of their output as fast as raised, whilst consumers
of Belgian coals hsve suffered from the shortage resulting
from the strike. The strike in Upper Silesia has not greatly
inconvenienced Bavarian buyers, except that stocks have
begun to run out and recourse has had to be made to the
Saar and Buhr districts. The removal of all restriction on
the Westphalian output has not enabled any very large
quantities to be shipped up river, the home market being
extensive; consequently the stocks in the Upper Bhine

transhipment ports have not grown very much. Industrial
consumers in general are taking their full quota, and the
house coal trade is very satisfactory for the time of year,
owing to the cool weather, anthracite and ovoid briquettes
being in good request in view of the approaching rise in
prices. Broken coke is also going off well, but the demand
for small gas coke has declined, and many of the works are
accumulating stocks again.

THE LOHDOfl COAL TRADE.

Thursday, May 29.

The warm weather has had a marked effect upon the
London coal market for every variety of household fuel.
The demand for manufacturing qualities is at present very
little affected—in fact, the volume of trade seems rather
inclined to increase than otherwise, but the house coal
market is unusually dull. Many of the contracts have now
been settled for the ensuing year, and as the advance of Is.
per ton dates from July 1st, it is anticipated that before
the close of June the buying will be more freely entertained
again. The premonition of the hot weather invariably stops
all demand for household fuel, as the general public await
the recommendation of the various merchants before
ordering their summer stock, and as the actual consumption
just now is confined to the regions of the kitchen, the
quantity required is excessively small. On Monday’s market
the attendance was fairly good, but it was speedily seen
that merchants were not prepared to buy except at very
reduced prices, and colliery representatives, although
prepared to meet the matter to a certain extent, were
decidedly opposed to the “break up’’prices suggested by
some of the merchants. The restriction therefore upon the
house coal market is very great. In the seaborne market
however, the enquiry is still good, and some Yorkshire
cargoes changed hands at fairly steady prices. Thirty-six
cargoes were reported as arriving in the Thames for
Monday’s market, and only five on Wednesday. The
Wednesday’s market was unusually thinly attended, and it
soon became apparent that only those merchants who had
stock on hand to sell had attended, so that the difficulties of
colliery representatives in their endeavour to secure current
orders were only increased. Very little business was doing
in any direction. The circulars of the “ lowest summer
prices ” will not bring any return until the month has
turned, and even the ordinary householder does not like to
lay in his stock until August or September, but the enrol-
ment of the order, though late, enables them to buy more
freely, even if it has to be put into stock. The iron and
steel trade seems to be falling, but arders on hand are still
reported to be very heavy, and likely to keep the works
busy during the whole of the summer months. Considerable
satisfaction was felt in the Canning Town and Greenwich
district when it became known on Wednesday that the
Thames Ironworks had been bought by a firm of engineers,
and that the works would shortly be open again and
employing about two thousand men. The main property at
Canning Town has been secured by the Great Eastern
Bailway. but the installation is still to be disposed of. Many
of the London merchants have adopted a novel campaign
this year against the wholesale growth of gas stoves for
cooking and household use, and have issued a circular
pointing out the merits of the ordinary coal fire grate, and
the demerits of the gas stove. The delivery trade at the
various depots is reported to be exceedingly quiet, and the
stables are full nearly all day as well as night. Gas coals
are still in good demand. Small nuts and slacks are also
finding favour, and are in good demand. Many of the larger
buyers are prepared to buy forward at the present prices, so
the demand seems likely to continue.

Market quotations (pit mouth) :

Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure
accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these
prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations.

	Current
Yorkshire.	prices.
Wath Main best coal		13/6
Do. nuts		  Birley cube Silkstone		12/6 12/
Do. branch coal 		15/
Do. seconds		11
Barnsley Bed Silkstone..			12/6
West Biding Silkstone 		12/
Kiveton Park Hazel 		13
Do.	cobbles		13/
Do.	nuts		12/
Do.	hard steam		11/
New Sharlston Wallsend 		14/
Wharncliffe Silkstone coal		14/
Do. Flockton Main 		13/6
Do. Athersley house coal		11/6
Newton Chambers best Silkstone		15/
Do.	Grange best Silkstone	14/
Do.	Hesley Silkstone 		13/
Do.	Bockingham selected	13/6
Do.	Bockingham Silkstone	13/
Derbyshire.	
Wingfield Manor best		H/
Do.	large nuts		10/9
Do.	small nuts		10/
Do.	kitchen coal		9/6
West Hallam Kilburn brights		11/
Do.	do. nuts 	,.	10/9
Do.	London brights 		10/
Do.	bright nuts		9/6
Do.	small nuts 	  Manners Kilburn brights		10/  11/
Do.	do. nuts 		10/9
Shipley do. brights 		11/
Do.	do. nuts 			10/9
Mapperley brights		11/
Do hard steam 	  Cossall Kilburn brights		10/9 11/
Do. do. nuts	  Tro well Moor brights		10/9 11/
Do. do. nuts		10/9
Grassmoor Main coal		12/6
Do. Tupton 		H/
Do.	do. nuts			12/

Last
week’s
prices.
13/
12/
11/6
15/
11/
12/6
12/
13
13
12/
11/
14/
14/
13/6
11/6
15/
14/
13/
13/6
13/

12/
11/9
9/6
10/
12/
11/9
11/
10/9
9/6
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
12/
11/9
11/6
n/
12/6
11/
12/

Derbyshire—(cont).	Current prices.	Last week’s prices.
Clay Cross Main coal			12/6	12/6
Do.	do. cubes 		12/	12/.
Do. special Derbys		11/9	11/9-
Do. house coal				H/	H/ '
Pilsley best blackshale 			12/6	12/6-
Do. deep house coal 		10/6	10/6
Do. hard screened cobbles 		10/	10/
Hardwick best Silkstone 		12/6	12/6
Do. Cavendish brights		11/6	11/6
Do. cubes 		11/6	11/6 •
Nottinghamshire.		12/
Clifton picked hards 		12/	
Do. small hards		11/	11/
Do. deep large steam 		12/	12/
Annesley best hards 		12/6	12/
Do. bright cobbles 		11/9	11/3.-
Linby best hards		12/6	12/
Do. bright cobbles		11/9	11/3
Digby London brights 		12/	12/
Do. cobbles 			12/	12/
Do. top hards 		18	13/
Do. High Hazel coal		14/	14/
Best wood hard steam coal		12/	12/
Do. bright cobbles 		11/3	11/3
Hucknall Torkard main hards		12/3	12/3
Do.	do. cobbles 		11/3	11/3
Do.	do. nuts		11/	11
Do.	do. High Hazel H.P. ...	14/9	14/9
Do.	do. London brights		12/3	12/3
Do.	do. large nuts 		12/3	12/3
Do.	do. bright nuts		11/3	11/3
Sherwood H.P. hards		12/	12/
Do. hard steam		10/6	10/6
Do. brights 		11/3	11/3
Do. cobbles 		11/3	11/3
Do. large nuts 		11/9	11/9
Warwickshire.		
Griff large steam coal			10/9	10/9 -
Do. screened cobbles 		11/'	11/
Do. bakers’ nuts 		11/	11/
Do. loco Two Yard hards 			14/	13/6
Do. Byder nuts		11/6	11/6 ■
Do. do. cobbles 		12/6	12/6
Nuneaton steam coal		10/9	10/9'
Do. screened cobbles 		11/	11/
Do. nuts		11/	H/
Haunchwood steam 		10/9	10/9-
Do.	screened cobbles		11/	H/
Do.	nuts 		11/	11/
Wyken steam coal 		10/9	10/9-
Do. screened cobbles 		11/	11/
Do. nuts		11/	11/
Exhall Ell coal spires		12/6	12/6
Do. large steam coal		10/9	10/9
Leicestershire.		
Snibston steam		10/6	10/6
Do. cobbles		10/3	10/3
Do. nuts 			10/6	10/6
South Leicester steam 		10/	10/
Do.	cobbles or small hards	10/6	10/6 ■
Do.	nuts 		10/6	10/6
Whitwick steam		10/6	10/6
Do. roasters 		10/6	10/6
Do. cobbles 		10/6	10/6
Do. nuts		10/6	10/6-
Netherseal hards 		17/	17/
Do.	Eureka		12/6	12/6
Do.	kitchen		10/6	10/6 • 10/
Ibstock kibbles 		10/	
Do. large nuts		10/	10/
Do. bakers’ nuts 		9/6	9/6-
Do. Main nuts		10/	10/
Do. hards 		9/6	9/6-
Granville New Pit cobbles		11/6	11/6
Do. Old Pit cobbles 		10/6	10/6
North Staffordshire.		
Talk-o’-th’-Hill best 		13/6	13/6
Sneyd best, selected 		14/6	14/6
Do. deeps		14/	14/
Silverdale best		15/	15/
Do. cobbles 		14/	14/
Apedale best 		13/6	13/6-
Do. seconds		13/	13/
Podmore Hall best		13/6	13/6 ■
Do. seconds		13/	13/
South Staffordshire (CannockDistrict).  Walsall Wood steam coa], London		
brights		13/	13/
Do.	shallow one way		12/	12/
Do.	deep nuts		11/6	11/6 ■
Cannock steam		11/	11/
Coppice deep coal 		13/	13/
Do. cobbles 		12/	12/
Do. one way		12/	12/
Do. shallow coal 		12/	12/
Cannock Chase deep main		17  12/	17/
Do.	Deep kitchen cobbles ...		12/
Do.	best shallow main 		14/	14/
Do.	shallow kibbles 		13/6	13/0
Do.	best brights		13/	13/
Do.	yard cobbles		13/6	13/6
Do.	yard nuts 		12/6	12/6
Do.	bakers’nuts		10/3	10/3
Do.	screened hards		11/	11/

From Menn. Dinham, Fawom and Oo.’i Report.

Friday, Slay 23.—There was a steady enquiry for sea-.
borne house coal at to-day's market, but no cargoes on
offer. Cargoes 22.

Monday, May 26.—The seaborne house coal market was
steady to-day with no Durham or Yorkshire cargoes on
offer. Cargoes 36.

Wednesday, May 28.—Although the weather was
exceedingly warm, the amount of enquiry for seaborne
house coal was fairly good, but no ready cargoes available.
Cargoes 5.

An application has been made to the Development
Commissioners for a grant of £3,000 to defray the expense
of surveying the route of the proposed canal between the
Forth and the Clyde.