July 3, 1914, ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 27 demand for London is becoming more and more restricted, and the business in household coal especially is getting down to the minimum. New season’s contracts for the year are being arranged rather slowly. The change is more marked towards quietness, and colliery proprietors report more difficulty in fixing up business. Under these circum- stances prices show more signs of weakness, and they are now 3d. to 6d. per ton below last season on all kinds of coal. There is another factor in the situation due to the fact that whereas the shipping trade last year was distinctly good, this season it is exactly the reverse, and the tonnage lost to collieries on this account alone makes a very material difference. The following are the prices generally in force at the collieries in this district:—Best household coal 13s. to 14s. per ton at pit; second-hand (picked), 12s. to 13s. per ton; deep screened cobbles, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton ; deep large nuts, Ils. per ton; bakers’ nuts, 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton; small nuts, 9s. 6d. per ton; deep breeze, 8s. 6d. to 9s. per ton; peas, 8s. to 8s. 6d. per ton; small dust. 2s. 6d. per ton; deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers, 9s. to 10s. per ton; steams, best hand- picked, 9s. 6d. to 10s. per ton ; ditto, seconds, 8s. 6d. to 9s. per ton; cobbles for kitcheners, 9s. 6d. to 10s. per ton. ________ _______ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. The falling off in the coal trade of the Cannock Chase district has been somewhat more pronounced during the past week and orders are now scarce and the collieries working irregularly, in some cases little more than half time being worked. Owing to the warm weather now being experienced, the house coal trade is very quiet, and the demand for fuel for manufacturing purposes is not so satisfactory. Railway and canal sales are quieter and there is not much business being done at the landsale depots. Birmingham. COAL. Trade is extremely quiet, and the pits are doing three to four days a week. Nothing of any moment is doing in household fuel, and for works qualities trade is also slow. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 17/6 17/6 18/ Do. seconds deep 15/ 15/ 16/6 Do. best shallow 13/6 13/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 12/9 12/9 13/ Best hard 14/6 14/6 14/ Forge coal 10/6 10/6 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ 8/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 15/6 15/6 16/ cobs 13/ 13/ 13/9 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 10/6 10/6 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 9/6 Small (do.) 8/ 8/ 8/6 IRON. In view of the quarterly meeting next Thursday the market was well attended, and enquiries were on a pretty extensive scale. Some good sales have also been recently negotiated, and some people are optimistic enough to believe that the autumn will bring with it a forward movement. Little encouragement was forthcoming to those who have been hoping for easier rates, circumstances are against them. The excessive heat has brought a large curtailment of production. The ironworkers cannot stand for long before the furnaces. A natural result of this is to stiffen values. The dead charges still goon. For puddled bars buyers have had to pay £4 7s. 6d., which is Is. 3d. a ton more than recently. Pig iron makers also stand firmly to their rates, and this branch is in a steady position. The output, however, is very much less, owing to the blowing in of furnaces. In some instances deliveries have to be com- pleted from stocks, and these are accordingly being gradually reduced. Another factor is that fuel and iron- stone are relatively high. South Staffordshire common forge remains at 48s. to 49s.; part-mine 50s. to 51s.; best all-mine forge, 85s. to 90s.; best all-mine foundry, 92s. 6d. Northamptonshire iron, which is on a firmer basis than recently, fetches 48s. to 49s. for forge qualities, and Derbyshire is in the neighbourhood of 51s. The position of marked bars is not likely to be altered next week. The difference in price between marked and unmarked qualities, amounting to £2, is above the average, but the expectation is that the latter will tend to gradually harden and in this way bring the two irons into more equal proportions. The basis for best bars is now <£8 10s., and apart from the steady demand for engineering purposes producers find that the price of their raw material is maintained at a high level. For unmarked bars the general quotation is <£6 10s.; in a very few special cases £6 12s. 6d. is given. Numerous sales of small rounds, squares and flats are being made at <£6 12s. 6d. delivered Birmingham, a slightly enhanced price owing mainly to the torrid temperature. No change falls to be recorded in gas strip. The most common quotation is <£6 5s., but some few sales have been made at £6 2s. 6d. The better tone in the galvanised sheet trade noticeable last week is maintained. Australia and New Zealand are steady markets, South America is an improving one. The leading houses, there- fore, hold out for the £11 minimum, and good sales have been made at that figure. Many others are made at 2s. 6d. less. The steel trade is quiet and competition for orders is keen. A northern firm is trying to obtain a footing in the market. __________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. All the steam coal producing pits manage to keep at full work, but there is nothing in the way of pressure in the demand. Stocks are practically nil. With the intense heat of the last few days the house coal demand has naturally declined, and the pits this week are only engaged about half time. Shipments are fairly maintained, but the inland merchants are buying very sparingly. Slacks are finding a good market. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 15/6 Rubble 15/9 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ 14/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 6/6 6/6 10/ Large 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/6-14/ Small 8/ - 8/6 8/ - 8/6 10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. ________ ________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that the wholesale demand for house coal at the south coast ports has been very little stimulated by the low quotations now generally current. The hot weather is causing a state of lassitude amongst buyers, excepting that there is some enquiry for contract rates from buyers of gas coal. Steam and sailing freights are lower, with plenty of tonnage offering. ________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 2. _____________________ _________________________ The London coal trade during the past week has not shown any signs of an improvement and the reports coming to hand from the various depots do not give any hope of an immediate alteration in the tonnage passing. The householders appear to be leaving the question of filling up their cellars until the last possible moment, and in consequence merchants are finding it increasingly difficult to make room for supplies under contract on their already stocked wharves. Collieries have been compelled to reduce working in order to keep the loaded wagons from accumulating to unwieldy proportions, and factors with wagons standing at the various sidings have to make very substantial concessions to clear the wagons and avoid siding rent. The question of contracts still occupy the minds, and tongues, of both buyers and sellers, but apart from the better descriptions of brights very little, if any, real progress has been made. It is becoming very evident that the holders of the cheaper qualities of coals, if they really wish to make any forward sales, will have to make some concession in their prices to induce the buyers to agree to contract, and in fact, it is reported that in some districts concessions have already been made of 6d. and 9d. per ton below last year’s prices. In other cases it is reported that a special price has been quoted for July and August business, pending negotia- tions for an alteration in the contract basis. Generally speaking, the colliery quotations for current business are being firmly held, but stocks are increasing and some special spot prices are offered from one colliery or another on almost every market day. Best house coals and best brights keep in good demand and prices are firmly held, and second quality brights are receiving better attention, although prices are still somewhat weak. Bright house nuts are weak, and prices show a drooping tendency. Kitchen cobbles, nuts and stove coal are all in very poor demand, and special prices are being quoted for these descriptions from almost all sources. Small nuts and slacks are in better demand, and the previous weak tendency of these qualities has been arrested, although it cannot be said that any appreciable stiffening in price has as yet taken place. Best hard steams command a steady sale at fully last prices, but second-grade steams are slow and prices difficult to maintain. Hard cobbles and bakers’ nuts are quiet, with prices quoted at about last rates. Gas coke is almost neglected. The seaborne market is very quiet, with practically nothing on offer, and in consequence official prices are purely nominal. A small quantity of Yorkshire coal (part only of a cargo) has been reported as being sold during the week, but the price was not disclosed. Apart from this, the cargoes arriving have all been on contract account. ____________ ___________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, June 26.—The continuance of warm weather caused a dull market for seaborne house coal to-day, with little enquiry, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes 16. Monday, June 29.—There was very little enquiry for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market. A cargo of Sharlston Main was disposed of, but no price quoted. Cargoes 29. Wednesday, July 1.—The seaborne house coal market was exceedingly quiet to-day, no cargoes being on offer. Cargoes 6. ________________________________ New Explosives Order.—The Home Secretary has given notice of an Order under section 61 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, entitled “ The Explosives in Coal Mines Order of June 22, 1914,” the effect of which is as follows :—(1) To add the following explosives, viz., “ Herculite,” “ Nation- alite No. 1,” “ Neonal No. 7,” “ Stomonal No. 1,” ” Super Excellite No. 3,” and “ Thames Powder ” to the permitted explosives named and defined in the first schedule to the Explosives in Coal Mines Order of September 1, 1913: (2) to substitute an amended definition of the ” Brock squib ” for the definition in the fifth schedule to that Order: (3) to substitute the words “ chlorate of potassium ” for the words “ chloride of potassium ” in the list of ingredients in the definition of Ammonite No. 4 in the schedule to the Explo- sives in Coal Mines Order of May 13, 1914. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 2. ________________ ________________ Dublin. Business in the coal trade upon the whole is extremely slow, particularly in the household branch, although a good many contracts are open both locally and inland. The Board of Public Works are inviting tenders for supplies of coals and coke for the next 12 months, representing over 12,000 tons altogether. No further reductions have been made in prices, which stand as follow:—Best Orrell, 26s. to 27s. per ton; Abram, 25s. to 26s.; best Wigan, 24s.; best Whitehaven, 24s.; Pemberton Wigan, 22s.; kitchen nuts, 21s.; Orrell slack, 20s.—all less Is. per ton discount. Steam coals from 22s. per ton; best coke, 20s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Arigna, County Leitrim, are :— Best coal, from 15s. lOd. to 18s. 4d. per ton ; nuts, 13s. 4d.; culm, 10s.—all at the pit mouth. Pit mouth prices at Wolfhill, Queen’s County :—Large coal, 20s. per ton ; small coal, 18s. 4d.; nuts, 16s. 8d.; beans, 15s.; peas, 12s. 6d.; culm (coarse), 10s.; culm (in pond), 3s. 4d.; culm (fine), 5s. The cross-Channel trade continues to be good, the collier vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounting to 51, as compared with 54 the previous week, chiefly from Preston, Liverpool, Irvine, Neath Abbey, Troon, Garston, Ayr, Newport, Saundersfoot, Partington, West Bank, Workington, and Glasgow. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 22,000 tons. Belfast. Business locally is about at the usual summer level, being very quiet for household requirements, although prices remain unchanged. The easier prices ruling for the classes of coal mostly in request for the inland trade are an inducement for consumers to lay in winter stocks, and orders from these districts are increasing. Quotations in the city are:—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton ; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. per ton; Scotch slack, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton; Welsh steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Workington, Ayr, Maryport, Garston, Sharpness, Girvan, Penarth, Preston, Irvine, Troon, Glasgow, Partington, Ardrossan, Burryport, Swansea and Silloth. The strike of marine engineers has somewhat of a hardening effect upon the freight market. ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There has been a little more enquiry during the past few days, but there is no improvement in the general position. Transactions are largely confined to near dates, and are of the hand-to-mouth description. Prompt prices continue to change owners at very low figures, and “ bearing ” is taking place in forward goods. Following are about makers’ present quotations for coke tin-plates, shipment over the rest of the year :—IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), Ils. 10|d. to 12s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 12s. 3d. to- 12s. 4’d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 24s. to 24s. 3d. per box ; I C 14 x 18| (124 sh. 110 lb.), 12s. 3d. per box ; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.), 12s. 3d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 17s. 6d. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 12s. 3d. basis for approved specifications. Coke wasters are in moderate demand, and are quoted:— C W 14 x 20 Ils. 4ld. per box, C W 28 x 20 23s. 3d. per box, C W 20 x 10 "14s. 3d. per box, C W 14 x 18| (very scarce) Ils. 6d. to Ils. 71d. per box. Charcoal tins are quoted 14s. basis and upwards according to tinning, and are in quiet request. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ____________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Things are quiet, and prices in some cases easier, as for instance pitch on the East Coast, though West Coast values are unaltered. Benzols remain firm and in fair request. Napthas steady, while creosote is firm. Crude carbolic acid is. the turn easier, but crystals are unchanged. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s ............................... Do. 50’s ......................................................... Do. 90’s North _______........................ Do. 50’s North ......................... Toluol ..................................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) .......... Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ........ Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... Crude ditto (in bulk) ....................... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............ Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ..................... Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ..................... Tar (ex-works, London) ___:................... /Il /10 /10to /10| /i° /10| 1/1 /3* ' pi /3f 31/6 to 32/ 30/6 to 31/6 24/3 to 28/3 [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids* usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—There is virtually no change in the market. Business is slow, and prices continue to rule low, but why it is not easy to say. The spirit of co-operation is apparently little understood as yet, otherwise there would not even be the semblance of coercion in agreeing on something like unanimity of action in the present impasse :—Closing prompt values are:— London (ordinary makes) .......... £10/1/3 Beckton (certain terms) ............ £9/17/6 Liverpool ......................... £10'7 '6 to £10/8'9 ............................... Hull................................ £10/6/3 Middlesbrough ...............’.................... £10 '7,6 Scotch ports ....................... £10/10 to £10/12/6 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 9/104 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis- count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.]