July 17, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 145 of hand moderately well, seconds are having a slow sale. Not much gas coal is being purchased in the open market, despite the fact that business in reference to the renewal of contracts is being retarded by the firmness of values. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 13/ 13/ -14/ 12/ -13/ Good house coals 11/ —12/ 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ Secondary do 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/ 1 1 10/ -11/ Best hard coals 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 11/6-12/6 Secondary do 9/3-10/ 9/3-10/ 10/6-11/6 Slacks (best hards) 6/6- 7/ 6/3- 6/9 8/6- 9/ Do. (second) 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ 7/6-8/ Do. (soft) 5/6- 6/ 5/6- 6/ 7/6- 8/3 Leicestershire. COAL. In spite of the continuance of very severe heat the position of affairs in this coalfield shows some changes for the better. Thanks very largely to the extensive buyings for stocking large houses at the low summer prices, there is now a distinct move on for the finest qualities of household coal. The stocks of these qualities are now within very moderate limits, and the deliveries show a steady and very healthy increase. This has created a better tone generally, although there are some directions, in which a revival would be warmly welcomed. The demand for fuel for manufacturing purposes is maintained at a high level, and the whole of the supplies available are cleared off at once at very fair prices. There is still considerable absence of demand for house cobbles for the coal bag trade, which has become so large a section of the business. It is unfortunate that little comparatively can be done towards pushing business in this direction during,the warm weather, because if this could be accomplished it would confer benefits on the consumers and the colliery proprietors. The London trade, it is satisfactory to state, shows a somewhat better demand for engine cobbles and nuts. Some of this increase is no doubt due to the easing of prices and the sale of special lots at spot rates. As regards contracts for next year’s business they have been practically com- pleted, as far as household qualities are concerned, at a general reduction of from 6d. to 9d. per ton on the rates of last season. As far as this district is concerned it may be taken that all contracts for these qualities are renewed. The shipping trade is still in a very depressed and most unsatisfactory position, and there are no signs of any early revival. During the week the stocks at the pits have been reduced considerably, and in consequence it is satisfactory to announce that the period of working has been raised to an average of about four days per week. The time worked, however, is still variable, some pits working1 only three and a-half days, and others as much as five days per week. The best steam coal is still a very slow dragging business, and quite unsatisfactory, and it is reported that some parcels have been put on the market at a very low rate. The figure quoted, it is said, for one lot at 6s. 9d. per ton, suggests something abnormal either in rates or quality. The following are the prices now generally quoted at the collieries in this district:—Best household coal 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. per ton at the pits ; second-hand (picked), 11s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton ; deep screened cobbles, Ils. 3d. to 12s. 3d. per ton ; deep large nuts, 10s. 6d. to Ils. per ton; bakers’ nuts, 10s. to 10s. 6d. per ton; small nuts, 9s. 3d. per ton; deep breeze, 8s. 6d. to 9s. per ton; peas, 7s. 9d. to 8s. 3d. per ton; small dust. 2s. to 2s. 3d. per ton; deep cobbles and nuts for London bakers, 9s. to 10s. per ton; steams, best hand-picked, 9s. to 9s. 6d. per ton; steams, seconds, 8s. 3d. to 8s. 9d. per ton; cobbles for kitcheners, 9s. 3d. to 9s. 9d. per ton. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. There has been no falling of since last report in the coal trade of the Cannock Chase district, and although business is somewhat quiet, it is on the whole satisfactory for this time of the year. There is no change of consequence to report in prices. The collieries are still working irregularly —some doing little more than half-time and others about five days a week, The warm weather is keeping the demand for house coal very quiet, but for manufacturing sorts the enquiry is keeping up fairly well. Business is quiet at the landsale depots. Birmingham. COAL. Trade in every department is quiet, and practically the only negotiations relate to next season’s supplies. The pits are doing three to four days. The stagnation in the iron industries of the district keeps the demand for works fuel quiet. There is no giving way in price. Quotations stand thus:— Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... Do. seconds deep Do. best shallow Do. seconds do. Best hard Forge coal Slack Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked cobs Best hard spires Forge (steam) D.S. nuts (steam) Small (do.) Current prices. 17/6 15/ 13/6 12/9 14/6 10/6 7/ 15/6 13/ 14/6 10/6 9/6 8/ L’st week’s prices. 17/6 15/ 13/6 12/9 14/6 10/6 7/ 15/6 13/ 14/6 10/6 9/6 8/ Last year’s prices. 18/ 16/6 14/6 13/ 14/ 11/ 8/6 16/ 13/9 14/6' 10/ 9/6 8/6 IRON. No new feature has been developed since the quarterly meeting last week, and no orders of any magnitude are being placed. Consumers are buying only in small lots against the immediate necessities of their business, and manufacturers on their part are not agreed to force material on to the market at the present prices, preferring to curtail output. The summer temperature is interfering with production in some of the branches of the iron trade, and, apart from this, the margin of unemployment, owing to slackened activities, is increasing. The pig iron department is devoid of animation, but smelters adhere to prices which, in many instances, are barely remunerative. Common qualities of South Stafford- shire forge iron are quoted at 48s. to 49s. 6d. Part- mine realises about 50s., best all-mine forge 85s. to 90s., and foundry 92s. 6d. The market for Northamptonshire brands is characterised by more regularity. Values range from 48s. to 50s. Derbyshire agents quote about 52s. Best bars remain unaltered at the <£8 10s. basis. Good second-class bars make £6 7s. 6d. to =£6 10s. delivered in the district, and nut and bolt qualities <£5 2s. 6d. to <£5 5s. The gas strip trade is flat. Lots of 25 tons and upwards are sold at £6 2s. 6d. to £6 5s. delivered in the district. Hoop iron and steel is in quiet request at £6 5s. for 10 io 14 gauges, and £6 15s. for 15 to 18 gauges, higher gauges being £7. A reduced output from the galvanised sheet mills, coupled with the fairly substantial business lately negotiated, gives steadiness to that branch of the market, and leading firms quote £1017s. 6d. to £11 for 24-gauge corrugated sheets f.o.b. Liverpool. There is slow enquiry for black sheets at £7 5s. to £7 10s. Targets and billets sell on the basis of £4 12s. 6d. to £4 15s. Continental rivals continue to obtain a con- siderable share of the trade, as they are able to offer delivery in the district at 5s. to 6s. 3d. a ton less than the home prices. Outside competition keeps the finished steel market weak. There is very little forward buying, and the outlook is doubtful. Steel plates have been reduced 2s. 6d., making the price £6 2s. 6d. to £6 5s., according to size of order. This brings them within 2s. 6d. of the basis on the north-east coast. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The position throughout the coal trade of this district remains practically without any material charge calling for special notice. The warm weather, of course, keeps the demand for house coals down to a low point, but many of the collieries are putting in four days’ work in the week, and outputs are disposed of without increasing stocks to any extent; this is satisfactory for the season of the year. Some of the steam coal pits are pressed tor deliveries ; all are making full time, with stocks practically nil. Prices at pithead. * House coals:— Block Current prices. 16/6 L’st week’s prices. 16/6 Last year’s prices. 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 15/6 Bubble 15/9 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ 14/ 14/ Rough slack 6/6 6/6 10/ Steam coal:— 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 no greater inertness could be experienced than the present state of the whole- sale and retail coal trade on the south coast. Current prices of coal and rates of freight are entirely in buyers’ favour, and such public contracts as have been taken have been the subject of keener competition than has been known for many years. Forward quotations for the higher classes of fuel are firmly maintained. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 16. Dublin. There is no new feature in the coal trade, the household branch being extremely quiet, as is usual at this time of year, and prices of all qualities remaining unaltered. The import trade is very satisfactory, and merchants’ stocks are assuming substantial proportions for autumn and winter requirements. It is improbable that any further change in prices will take place until about September. Quotations stand as follow:—Best Orrell, 26s. to 27s. per ton; Abram, 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 Wolfhill, Queen’s County, are :—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.— all at the pit mouth. Pit mouth prices at Arigna, County Leitrim, are :—Best coal, from 15s. lOd. to 18s. 4d. per ton; nuts, 13s. 4d.; culm, 10s. The collier vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 56, as compared with 46 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Gars ton, Preston, Workington, Liverpool, Ardrossan, Swansea, Partington, Saundersfoot, Maryport, West Bank, Newport, Llanelly, Glasgow, Ellesmere Port, and Briton Ferry. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 26,000 tons. Belfast. Locally, demand for house coal is very small at present owing to the continuance of fine weather, but in other departments business is fairly good, and inland consumers are purchasing their winter stocks now that prices are at their lowest. Scotch coals have a tendency to harden owing to the position with the miners at that side, and supplies are somewhat difficult to obtain. Prices of all qualities in this port are unchanged, as follow :—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, 11s. 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 Garston, Glasgow, Ayr, Irvine, Silloth, Preston, Point of Aire, Troon, Ardrossan, Workington, Partington, Maryport, Whitehaven, Manchester, West Bank, Neath Abbey, and Cardiff. From June 14 to July 4, the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 151. The contract in connection with the Harbour Commissioners for 12 months’ supply is now open, representing over 7,000 tons. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 16. The London coal trade for the past week has been unusually slow. The bulk of the trade has been confined to the best coals, and the prices for this quality have kept very firm, especially as the seaborne market has absorbed an increasing daily turnover. The depot trade, however, is reported as very weak. The bulk of the merchants have received a fair number of orders from the general public in response to the issue of the lowest summer price circulars, but the majority of their orders are for delayed delivery. Colliery prices are very irregular. The current price lists are seldom to be relied on, and special “ spot lot ” prices are the ruling feature of the market. The ’Change was well attended during the week, and far more interest taken in buying and selling than in the previous week, and in some classes of coal a fairly active business was done. The extra sale of Yorkshire coal at the Humber ports has kept the supply comparatively short for London. Derby brights are still over plentiful, and prices are weak. Contract renewals are steadily progressing, but apart from the few contracts for best coal, and for hard steam coals which have been renewed at last year’s prices, all the present contracts are renewed at from 6d. to 9d. per ton less than last year. In one or two instances even a wider difference has been reported. In the seaborne market prices are still nominally the same. Twenty-seven cargoes have arrived in the Thames for Monday’s market, and eight for Wednesday. The freight market is said to be improving, and chartering is still brisk at very firm rates. Some of the Cardiff owners are holding out for better rates, especially for the Mediterranean. Russia seems likely to be a heavy buyer before very long, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have some huge projects in hand for port con- struction and enlargements, also some 11 millions is proposed to be spent for railways. The London County Council at their meeting on Tuesday discussed the problem of purchasing coal direct from the collieries ; about 9,520 tons appears to have been purchased direct during the past year, and it was proposed to increase the quantity to 12,420 tons. The outlook for the home market is not altogether promising at the present moment, as the pit prices are so very uncertain and irregular, and the dispute in Scotland on the question of the four-day week is causing a good deal of uneasiness. The trade also in the textile districts makes the slack market very slow. The low prices quoted for the cheaper household qualities are only available for a few to take advantage of, as so many of the merchants are full up with stock. Nothing like the usual tonnage for contract renewals has been entered into this season up to the present, and a large number of the smaller merchants have definitely decided not to bind themselves to any fixed quantity for this year, but to take the open market instead. Gas coals are showing a better enquiry, but the average selling price is much below last year’s rates. In the steam coal market (especially for the best Yorkshire qualities) the tone is very firm. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, July 10.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day; no Durham cargoes on offer, and Yorkshire were not pressing for sale. Cargoes 19. Monday, July 13.—The very warm weather and no cargoes being on offer caused a very quiet market to-day. Cargoes 27. Wednesday, July 15.—The enquiry for seaborne house coal to-day was very limited, no Durham was on offer, but a part cargo of Sharlston Main was disposed of, but not quoted. Cargoes 10. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Business is fairly good and prices well maintained and in some cases improved, but the feature of the week is the drop in the price of benzols in the north. Naphthas are steady, and carbolics hold to the advance, while creosote shows an actual advance. Nearest values are:— Benzols, 90’s ............................. /10| to /II Do. 50’s ..................................... /10 Do. 90’s North .......................... /81 to /9 Do. 50’s North .............................. /9| Toluol .......................................... /10J Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ........ 1/1 to 1/2 Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ......... /3| Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... /9| Crude ditto (in bulk) ..................... /4f Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ......... /3f Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) .................31 /6 to 32/ Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ....................30/6 to 31/6 Tar (ex-works, London) .....................24/3 to 28/3 [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's ivorks or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.} Sulphate of Ammonia.—The improvement in the price of sulphate continues, but it is slow work recovering the ground artificially lost, and naturally buyers fight against it step by step on every possible pretext. All the same the demand is decidedly better, and production is about at its lowest, so things are favourable for effecting a recovery in price if the organisation existed. Closing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes) ............ £10/10/ Beckton (certain terms)............. £10/7/6 Liverpool .......................... £10 17/6 Hull................................ £10/15/ Middlesbrough....................... £10/13/9 Scotch ports ......................... £10/17 6 to £11 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 9/10j [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2j per cent, dis- count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.}