June 20, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1337 slightly easier for the time being, prices of screened ordinary Lancashire qualities being 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d. f.o.b., with best grades 14s. to 14s. 3d. f.o.b. The coastwise and cross- Channel trade in household coal keeps at a fair average— rather more than is usual at this time of the year. There is not much to comment upon with regard to slack and small fuels generally. As annual contracts come to end, advances are quoted for renewals. The height of the gas coal season has passed, and most purchases have now been made, the minimum advance obtained being Is. and upwards to Is. 6d. where prices have previously been upon a low basis. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s House coal:— prices. prices. Best ... 16/3 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 16/6 to 17/ 16/9 to 17/ Medium 14/6 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 15/ to 15/6 15/3 to 15/6 Kitchen 12/3 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) 13/9 to 14/6 13/9 to 14/6 Screened forge coal 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Best screened steam coal (f.o.b.) 13/6 to 14/3 13/9 to 14/6 V1’*^**'*/ Best slack 10/6 10/6 Secondary slack ■*’/ 9/9 9/9 Common do 9/3 9/3 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a poor attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The summer weather has naturally brought down the consumption of house coal to vanishing point. Prices, however, remain very steady. There is a steady enquiry for furnace coal and coke, and shipping coal maintains its position, prices being unchanged. Slack has a good appearance. Prices for the better qualities keep firm, but in the lower sorts they are not quite so strong. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .................. Medium ............. Common ............... Furnace coal .......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack............. Common slack........... Current prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 Last week’s prices. 16/6 to 17/ 15/3 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 14/ 10/ to 10/6 9/ to 9/6 IRON. There is not much business t? record yet, although present contracts are being carried out, and there is a fair amount of work going through. Prices of pig iron vary considerably, good foundry iron can be got at 63s. to 63s. 6d. delivered Manchester. There is no inclination to purchase, so there is nothing really to test the market. The same remark applies to forge iron, buyers are holding off as long as they can. They are fairly busy, but the majority of them are not working full time. The Association prices of bars are still kept up, viz.: £8 15s. Crown, second quality .£8 5s., hoops .£8 17s. 6d., sheets £&. Steelworks are still busy on old contracts, foreign prices are preventing much new work coming forward, and English billets have had to come down somewhere in the neighbourhood of £5 7s. 6d., bars being still quoted at Jj8. Ironfounders, engineers and. wagon works are all fairly busy, but would like to see new enquiries coming forward. Yorksiilra and Oerbyctilrti Leeds. COAL. The attendance at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange on Tuesday was much below the*average, and business also was very quiet. There was practically nothing doing in house coal, the only enquiries being for prompt supplies of manufacturing fuel and steam coal. It was reported that the pits had averaged four to five days’ work this week, and that there was again a scarcity of empty wagons. Stocks at the pits, apart from house coal, are practically nil. (louse Coal.—Very few orders are coming through from any of the markets, and merchants generally are taking barely contract quantities. The London market is quiet as regards prompt business, but a good deal of forward orders are being placed, and the official advance of Is. is still being insisted upon. In this department the position has been strengthened by the publication of the results of the County Council contracts, which show that in house coal Is. advance has been paid; with regard to other sorts the advance has averaged Is. to 2s. 6d. per ton. It is said that the total bought exceeds 115,000 tons. Further stacking orders are reported to have been placed for delivery during July and August. These generally average current values. There is nothing of special interest to report in the coast- wise trade, the only sorts selling at all readily being the cheaper qualities of Silkstone house. In this branch of the trade very little is being sold forward, as merchants on the south coast seem to prefer to risk the open market. In the West Riding, merchants are quieter, as the retail trade is dull and lifeless. Official pit prices are unchanged, but concessions equal to wagon hire are frequently offered. Current quotations:—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 16s. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 16s.; other sorbs, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Gras Coal—A large number of new tenders are being sent out this week, and in each case the official advance of Is. per ton is being quoted. A number of acceptances are also reported. A noticeable feature of the new business is the large percentage of gas nuts specified, and for some of these special brands up to Is. 6d. per ton advance is obtained. The current demand is considerably quieter, as stocks at the works are fully up to the average. Manufacturing Fuel.—There are no stocks at the pits, and prices generally are as quoted last week. A number of washing plants have come into operation, and washed slack is being more freely offered on the market. Washed Furnace Coke.—Prices for prompt delivery have .again broken away, and there is a good deal of disparity between quotations given by different makers. Prompt sales have been reported at 14s. per ton at the ovens, while others still insist upon 16s. Speaking generally, the average will be Is. per ton less than the prices quoted last week. A new battery of ovens at Soothill Wood Colliery has been lighted recently, and others in the district are expected to be at work shortly. 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 11/6 to 12/3 11/6 to 12/3 House nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Prices f.o.b. Hull: Haigh Moor best 16/ to 17/ 16/ to 17/ Silkstone best 15/9 to 16/6 15/9 to 16/6 Do. house 14/6 to 15/6 14/6 to 15/6 Other qualities 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit : 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 ... 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 Other sorts :— Prices at pit : Washed nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 11/ to 11/6 11/ to 11/6 Small nuts 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 Rough unscreened engine coal 10/9 to 11/3 11/ to 11/6 Best rough slacks 9/3 to 9/9 9/3 to 9/9 Small do. 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 Coking smalls 8/6 to 9/ 8/9 to 9/ Coke:— Price at ovens : Furnace coke 15/ to 16/ 16/6 to 17/ Barnsleya COAL. There is still a quieter tone apparent in regard to the export trade, but the position from the point of view of sellers has improved on the week. The reduced activity on the part of shippers at the Humber ports is attributed to their desire to hold back shipments as much as possible to force down prices, but sellers are firmly of opinion that big tonnage for the Baltic ports and other markets is still to be placed and are holding out for higher prices. At the present time buyers are still able to find offers for large steams at slightly less than nominal quotations, but generally coalowners find strength in the strong home demand, and are keeping up values with very great success. The best hards maintain their position of about a week ago, when there was a slight increase, but secondary descriptions show a greater variation. The position in regard to small steam fuel is little changed, and although the demand may not be quite so strong as before, the output of slacks is decreasing owing to the shorter working of house coal collieries. This enables prices to be maintained as about a week ago, whilst contracts are still being renewed at the usual rate of advance compared with a year ago. Although the demand for gas coal has decreased considerably, collieries are able to get along without much trouble being caused from stocks, though concessions have to be made to avoid accumulating certain stocks of fuel. On contract account coalowners continue to obtain something like the rate of advance which was demanded. The house coal market continues to be sluggish, although in some respects more than an average trade is being done. Officially, winter prices are still prevailing, although thin seam fuel is offered at the market at less than schedule rates. Mer- chants continue to enter into contracts at Is. per ton increase over last year. There is a little more strength in the cake trade, and although buyers aro averse to concluding con- tracts, prices are a little firmer on the week. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s House coals:— prices. prices. Best Silkstone 14/6 14/6 to 15/ Best Barnsley softs 14/ 14/ to 14/3 Secondary do 11/6 to 13/ 11/6 to 13/ Best house nuts 12/6 to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 11/ to 12/ 11/ to 12/ Best hard coals 13/ 13/ to 13/3 Secondary do 12/6 to 12/9 12/6 to 12/9 Best washed nuts 12/ to 12/6 12/6 Secondary do. 11/6 11/6 Best slack 9/3 to 9/6 9/3 to 9/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 8/6 to 8/9 8/6 to 8/9 Screened gas coals 12/ to 12/6 12/3 to 12/6 Gas nuts 11/9 to 12/ 12/ Furnace coke 17/ 17/ Hull. I COAL. The Humber coal trade is feeling the general depression, and the market is very weak and prices generally on the downward grade. The only exception, probably, is best Yorkshire steam hards, which for prompt shipment in accommodation lots have remained fairly steady at late rates. Secondary sorts are lower than they have been for some time, and though there is a fair demand for small coal and slack, these, too, have receded. West Yorkshire gas coal is also easier, and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire steams are now quoted for shipment at Grimsby and Immingham about 6d. lower than best Yorkshires at Hull. The present position has not been altogether unforeseen, exporters for some time past only buying from hand to mouth, acting in the belief that the high prices could not be main- tained, and that a break must come sooner or later. To-day foreign buyers are still holding aloof, and forward business remains as it has remained for some time in a state of suspension. It is also noticeable how the idea is gaining ground that the tide has turned in the heavy industries both in England and abroad, and that the demand for coal by them will not be so great in the immediate future as in the past. Shipments at the docks at the Humber ports are on a fairly large scale, but are chiefly under contract to the Russian and near Continental ports. There is, however, no crowding at the appliances. The dull state of the forward coal market is reflected in the freight market, which has been only moderately active at rates rather lower than a week ago, Baltic business being on the basis of Cronstadt 5s. 4|d. to 5s. 6d., and Mediterranean-Venice Ils. 3d. The following are the Approximate prices for prompt shipment f.o.b. Hull. ) South Yorkshire:— Best steam hards Current prices. 16/ to 16/3 14/6 to 15/ 14/ to 14/6 14/6 13/6 11/6 to 11/9 10/ 13/3 to 13/6 11/ to 11/3 10/6 14/3 to 14/6 13/ to 13/3 W 15/6 to 15/9 13/6 13/3 14/6 14/ 16/ 15/6 to 15/9 Last week’s prices. 16/ to 16/3 14/9 to 15/ 14/6 14/6 to 14/9 14/ 12/ to 12/3 10/9 13/3 to 13/6 11/3 10/6 14/6 13/3 16/3 16/ 13/6 13/3 14/6 14/ 16/3 16/ Washed double - screened nuts Un washed double- screened nuts Washed single - screened nuts Unwashed single-screened nuts Washed smalls Unwashed smalls West Yorkshire:— Hartleys ? Rough slack Pea slack Best Silkstone screened gas coal Best Silkstone unscreened gas coal Derbyshire and Notts:— Best steam hards Do. (Grimsby) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) Derbyshire nuts (doubles) (Grimsby) Derbyshire large nuts ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Nottinghamshire hards ... Do. do. (Grimsby) Chesterfield. COAL. Considering the warm weather, it cannot be said that the demand for house coal is unsatisfactory. It is certainly more in request than is usual at this time of the year. Prices are firmly maintained, and contracts for the ensuing twelve months continue to be renewed at a minimum advance of a shilling per ton. Fuel for manufacturing purposes is in steady demand, and this applies particularly to cobbles and nuts suitable for gas producers. Expiring contracts in this section also are being renewed at advances ranging from a shilling to eighteenpence per ton. The position of the market for slack is, on the whole, quite sound. This class of fuel is, no doubt, somewhat more plentiful at the moment, which is due to exceptional circumstances such as strikes in industries where slack is, as a rule, the only fuel that is consumed. The enquiry for forward delivery is, however, of an active character, and prices are quoted Is. to Is. 3d. per ton higher than the figures that operated a year ago. Stocks of slack are unusually low. Steam coal for locomotive purposes continues in steady demand. The export trade is fairly active, and the orders for steam coal are plentiful. Prices of best Derbyshire top hards stand firm at 16s. per ton delivered free alongside steamer at Grimsby. There is an exceptionally brisk demand for washed nuts as well as for the unwashed kind. Slack for export, however, is not much sought after at present. It is believed to be only a temporary lull, and that a renewed demand will be experienced with the turn of the half year for this as well as for other classes of coal. There is no change in the coke market. The demand is quietly steady without any change in prices. Coking fuel is readily disposed of. Prices at pit. Current Last week’s Best house coals prices. 14/6 prices. 14/6 Secondary do 12/6 12/ Cobbles ., 12/ 12/ Nuts 11/ 11/ Slack 9/ 9/ IRON. The iron market is quieter, and while the works of the district have sufficient orders on hand to keep them fully occupied for a few months, there is a falling off in the business offering for later delivery. Hottinoham. COAL. Ther^has been a decidedly weaker tone in the coal trade of Nottinghamshire during the past week and business is assuming a midsummer aspect. With warmer weather prevailing, there has been a declining demand for household fuel and the soft coal pits are working short time. In face of this fact, the stocks at collieries are growing, but at present owners generally are maintaining late rates, though slight reductions are being made on certain classes of fuel in some cases. In the steam coal branch a fair trade is being done, but the position is not quite up to expectations, a falling-off in the home demand affecting the market. Still, shipments are on a reasonable scale and there is a satisfactory request for industrials. Small steams are meeting with a good sale at steady prices. In regard to slacks, the position is not so favourable to owners as a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, a fair amount of orders are coming to hand and prices are being reasonably maintained. Gas coal is in moderate request, inland works taking steady supplies at the re-arranged contract rates. The demand for coke is on the slow side. Leicestershire. COAL. There is no increase of the amount of business being done in this district, and at the same time there is no serious lessening from last week. The general aspect of business is