August 14, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 367 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 13. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The coal trade in the West of Scotland continues fairly active. There is still a fair industrial demand, and as exports from the district are mostly for home ports the present state of international affairs has not so far affected the trade to any great extent. It is reported, however, that some collieries have closed down owing to the restricted demand, while others are working a limited number of days per week. Shipments from the district during thp week amounted to 81,610 tons, compared with 61,904 in the preceding week and 104,505 tons in the corresponding week of last year. The prices quoted, so far as can be ascertained, do not differ to any extent from the preceding week. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 11/9-13/3 11/9-12/3 12/ -15/ 12/ 11/6-11/9 11/ -11/3 L’st week’s (Last year's prices. | prices. 11/9-13/3 ! 12/6-14/6 11/9-12/ )12/3-12/9 12/ -15/ i 12/9-15/ 12/ I 12/9-13/3 11/6-11/9 1 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/3 11/ -11/3 IRON. In view of the fact that the banks were closed owing to the European war, the Glasgow pig iron warrant market also remained closed practically the whole week, and was not reopened until Friday. There was very little business done and only one lot changed hands at 51s. 8|d. per ton cash, showing an advance of about 9d. per ton over the previous week. It is rather soon yet to form an opinion as to the effect of the war on trade, but in the meantime the stoppage of Continental competition, and the probable interruption in production, have induced a considerable amount of buying. Makers, however, are not inclined to commit themselves to any extent until the position is clearer, and this applies particularly to haematite iron. While the usual prices are given below, these are, of course, purely nominal. Monkland is quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 61s. 6d.; Govan, No. 1, 62s. 6d., No. 3, 61s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 67s., No. 3, 62s. 6d.; Clyde, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 69s., Nos. 3, 64s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 61s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 61s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 69s., No. 3, 64s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d. per ton. There are 56 furnaces in blast in Scotland, compared with 52 in the preceding week and 86 in the corresponding week of last year. Holidays at the iron and steel works have been of longer duration than usual, but employment is now general. Iron prices have been advanced by 10s. per ton, making the quotation for Glasgow delivery J87 2s. 6d. per ton less 5 per cent. Export prices are now <£6 12s. 6d. to <£6 15s. per ton net f.o.b. Glasgow. Similar prices are being quoted for steel as for irop. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians is largely curtailed owing to the European war, and collieries are only working against contract. The export business is practically at a standstill, which may be seen from the total shipments from the district during the past week, which amounted to only 39,423 tons, compared with 44,361 in the preceding week and 69,659 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 11/6-11/9 11/6-11/9 12/9-13/ Secondary qualities 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 11/9-12/ Treble nuts 1 11/9-12/ 11/9-12/ 13/ Double do 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/. 12/ -12/6 Single do 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 11/3-11/6 Conditions in the Fifeshire coal trade are very similar to those in the Lothians, but here the shipping business has dwindled away to practically nothing. The clearances from the ports only amounted to 25,639 tons, compared with 63,306 in the preceding week and 115,643 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Lastyear’s prices. Best screened navigation coal 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 16/6-17/ 14/6-15/ Unscreened do 14/6 14/6 ' First-class steam coal 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 14/3-14/6 Third-class do 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 11/6-12/6 Treble nuts 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 13/ -13/6 Double do 11/ -11/9 11/ -11/9 10/6-10/9 12/ -12/6 Single do 10/6-10/9 11/3-11/6 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports amounted to 126,672 tons, compared with 169,571 in the preceding week and 289,827 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. During last week, 42,560 tons of coal and 465 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 51,372 tons of coal and an increase of 465 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding period of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 13,065 tons of coal and 85 tons of coke, a decrease of 38,071 tons of coal and 2,821 tons of coke. The coal and coke clearances at Blytli totalled 9,519 tons, a decrease of 67,643 tons. Local coal production is in a thoroughly chaotic condition at the present time. Some few collieries are working full time, some are working intermittently, and others are laid idle altogether. The Netherton Colliery, having a large contract with the North- Eastern Kailway Company, is fully employed. Some seams at the Ashington collieries are being worked. The Yard seam at the North pit, Bly th, is still being’ worked, but the Isabella and Crofton pits are idle. The management of the Seaton Burn and Dinnington collieries regrets the impossi- bility of working the pits regularly at present. The Backworth Coal Company has closed several of its pits for an indefinite period. The owners of the Delaval collieries have intimated that they will find employment for as many men as possible, but that the pits will be worked only one day per week. The Dudley, Hartford and Seghill collieries are working, at all events some portion of the time. As far as the Durham collieries are concerned, the pits at Washington have been idle since Wednesday of last week. Most of the Lambton and Hetton collieries will work only one shift per week for the present. Pelton Fell collieries are working short time. The Birtley Iron Company’s pits are being steadily employed. The Wear mouth Colliery Company is confining its operations at the Wearmouth and Hylton pits to one full day’s work per week. The Horden Collieries Limited are making every effort to keep the miners at both Shotton and Horden employed. At Shotton, the Main coal and the Harvey seams are to be worked regularly, as well as the drifts, bargain work and coke ovens, and as much stone work as possible is to be done. The New Seaham and Dawdon collieries have been idle this week, up to the time of writing. The Murton Colliery is working intermittently. The South Moor Colliery is to be kept going [as long as possible, at least two days per week. The Beamish pits are working intermittently. It is gratifying to note that, in every instance of which we have heard, the owners of those collieries which are laid idle indefinitely are allowing the men to retain all their privileges in the way of free houses, house rent and free coals. The action of the Northumberland coalowners in deferring for a time their demand for a reduction in the wages of deputies, enginemen, and colliery mechanics, is much appreciated by the men, and is generally applauded. There is exceedingly little doing in the local coal market this week. Quantities of bunkers are in request and have been sold in fairly large lots for bunkering transport steamers in the Tyne, as well as for ordinary merchant vessels. The prices realised are about 11s. 9d. per ton f.o.b. for ordinary Tyne brands, and 12s. for bests. A few cargoes of gas and coking coal are stated to have been sold for shipment for French and Spanish ports. The news that the embargo on the export of steam coals has been extended to cover all descriptions of steams which have any proportion of large in them renders it certain that steam coal business is at an end for the present, as far as overseas shipments are concerned. No good purpose would be served by endeavouring to give a list of quotations this week, as prices mentioned are of the most nominal character and in few instances represent real business. Later.—The following telegram from the Secretary of the Board of Customs, London, to the Collector of Customs, Newcastle, has been received and gives much satisfaction:— “ Notwithstanding restrictions on exportation of large steam coal in proclamation of 5th inst., you may allow shipment and exportation to neutral countries of all coal except best Welsh steam coal. Bond must be given as provided for.” If this be as good as it looks, it means that the embargo on the export of all large steams, save Welsh, has been removed, and that, moreover, our Navy has succeeded in making the North Sea safe for merchant shipping. The coal shipping community assumes, of course, that the bond referred to in the message is the modified bond promised by the Customs authorities. Otherwise, the concession would have little value. If, however, the instruction prove to be what it appears to be, there should be an early resumption of coal business and coal shipments on a large scale. Sunderland. COAL. The exports from , Sunderland last week amounted to 18,820 tons of coal and no coke, as compared with 78,310 tons of coal and 535 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1913, being a decrease of 59,490 tons of coal and 535 tons of coke, the decrease of shipments being, of course, entirely due to the war. There is still little or nothing doing in the coal trade, but the outlook is a little better owing to the permission, under restrictions, to ship coals to Norway and Italy ; a few cargoes of gas and coking coals are said to have been sold for shipment to French and Spanish ports, and a small business continues to be done in bunker coals. Coke, both for export and blast- furnace purposes, is scarcer and dearer owing to the stoppage of so many of the Durham collieries. There is a fair demand for house, railway, and industrial fuel, which helps to provide a certain amount of employment for some of the collieries, and thus keeps the market from absolute stagnation. It is hoped that some modification regarding the bond for export coal will be arranged, in which case there would be more prospect of shippers fulfilling orders, provided clients are able to pay cash against documents, as any other form of payment just now is too risky to be entertained. Quotations are purely nominal. Apart from Admiralty business, there is very little chartering reported. It is understood that boats have been fixed for Barcelona at 13s. 6d., St. Nazaire 10s., and Bordeaux at 9s. l|d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade is lifeless so far as export business is concerned, due to big insurance premiums, and the doubt of payment. A few small sales by northern shippers are reported to have been made to France, Spain, and Norway. In the present unsettled state of affairs coal quotations can hardly be fixed. For the time being coke is anything but plentiful owing to the closing of several collieries. Values are moving upward, but buyers hesitate to follow the advance, believing that, with export demand cut off, the supply will shortly be ample to meet home requirements. Sellers intimate that they are not prepared to contract ahead to any extent, and they quote round about 17s. 6d. for average blastfurnace qualities of Durham coke delivered at Tees side works. IRON. From home customers there are numerous enquiries for nearly all descriptions of iron and steel, but oversea business is at a standstill. A good deal of business in pig iron is being put through, the transactions being confined to sales for early delivery. Hsematite is in very good demand, but supply threatens to be considerably curtailed by insufficient imports of foreign ore. One or two haematite furnaces are already being damped down, and three furnaces running on Cleveland pig are being put out of operation. The number of furnaces now in blast on the north-east coast is 67. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is steady and firm at 53s.; whilst No. 1 is 55s. 6d.; and No. 4 foundry 52s. 9d. No. 4 forge is very scarce, and is fully 52s. 6d. Mottled iron is 52s., and white iron 51s. 9d., Nos. 1, 2, and 3 east coast haematite pig' quite 65s., and in fact a transaction has occurred at 66s., but the conditions of sale were exceptional. Sellers of foreign ore base market rates on 21s. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality, with the proviso, however, that freights can be arranged. Orders are coming in for manufactured iron and steel, the one quiet branch being rails. Demand is good for shipbuilding material and joists. Values are very firm. Principal market quotations stand : Common iron bars, <£7 10s.; best bars, <£7 17s. 6d.; iron ship plates, <£7 5s.; iron ship rivets, <£8 10s.; iron ship angles, £7 10s.; iron girder plates, <£7 15s.; steel bars, <£6 15s.; steel ship plates, £7; steel ship angles, £6 15s. ; steel boiler plates, <£8 ; steel joists, <£6 12s. 6d.; heavy steel rails, <£6; steel railway sleepers, £7; galvanised corrugated sheets, 24 gauge, in bundles, <£11 10s. f.o.b.—sheets less 4 per cent., railway material net at works, and all other descriptions less 24- per cent, discount. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The coal trade shows signs of improvement. Landsale and manufacturing fuel are unchanged, but shipping promises to be brisk. Last week the whole of the Cumber- land collieries were idle, on the occasion of their annual holiday, but, judging from the opinion expressed in some quarters, it is an experiment that is hardly likely to be repeated. It not only caused great inconvenience to merchants and shippers, but the kindred industries were seriously affected; the by-product ovens had to be sealed through a scarcity of coal, and at one pit the by-product works had also to take holiday owing to the shortage of tar. With the exception of Bertha Colliery, the whole of the pits have now resumed work and there is every prospect of full employment for some weeks to come. Up to the present the Cumberland coal trade has not been affected in any way by the European crisis. Last week the shipments were only light, but practically all the available coal was shipped, and in some quarters a scarcity was reported. The ship- ments of coal last week from Maryport dock amounted to 1,680 tons, from Workington 1,012 tons, and 940 tons from Whitehaven. No increase in prices is anticipated. Present quotations are: Best Cumberland coal, 21s. to 22s. per ton ; washed nuts, 19s. per ton; best Cumberland coal, f.o.b. from 14s. 6d. to 15s. 6d.; bunkers, 13s. 6d. to 14s. The price of east coast coke on old contracts was from <£1 Is. 6d. to <£1 3s. 6d. per ton, but the coke is now obtainable at 19s. per ton. IRON. Cumberland iron trade is still exceedingly quiet. The situation in Europe, through the outbreak of war, has completely paralysed trade, for the present at any rate, and the only question which excites any interest is the effect events will have upon the industries in West Cumberland. With the resumption of work at the pits, it is not expected that there will be any cessation in the iron trade. It is also hoped that the iron ore industry will keep working and that the steel trade will not have to be shut down entirely. Prices are now purely nominal, and Bessemer mixed numbers are still quoted at from 64s. to 65s. per ton, and warrants at cash at 61s. per ton. The demand for haematite pig iron is, of course, diminished to the extent represented by the tonnage sent each week to Continental ports, and there will be no Continental outlet for the iron trade until the war is over. Two furnaces at Distington have been damped down. There only special iron is made, and as the tonnage sent to Continental ports was consider- able, it is not surprising that a suspension of operations has become necessary. At Cleator Moor there is still one furnace blowing, and it is not probable that this will be put out of blast, for the present at any rate. It is not anticipated that the question of coke supplies will be a governing factor in the maintenance of production in the iron trade. Local supplies may have been short owing to the ovens being idle this week, but east coast makers have large stocks on hand, the war having closed some of their usual outlets for their trade. About 3,500 tons of east coast coke are used weekly in West Cumberland and 12,500 tons per week in the Furness district. The remainder, of course, is supplied for the local collieries’ coke ovens. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The household trade continues well above the normal for the time of the year, as buying has taken place over and above immediate requirements. In many towns the stocks that had been put down for winter have been depleted. In screened coals for manufacturing purposes there is no change to report, and pretty much the same condition of things appertains as has been the case for months back. At the ports steam coal for ordinary business is quite restricted, the war having almost entirely stopped ship- ment. There is a good deal of coaling vessels for transport service, but so far there has not been any difficulty in supply of fuel required. The usual excursion traffic, which at this season of the year should be very busy, is now being curtailed, and, in consequence, quantity required is being reduced. Prices of Lancashire screened steam coal, for what little shipment is being made, range from 12s. 6d. f.o.b. for the commoner descriptions up to 13s. 6d. for the best qualities. All tips at Liverpool are now working, the Dock Board men having resumed on Monday. The call for household coal for the coastwise and cross-Channel trade is, like the inland trade, very much in excess of what is usual at this season. No doubt those dependent upon transit by sea want to see some visible stock. In slacks the situation is curious. Notwithstanding the holidays at some of the manufacturing towns and the short time that is threatened at the mills, so far as can be seen there is no greater surplus than has been the case for some little time. It is