774 THE COLLIERY GUaRDIAN. Cctobeb. 9, 1914. number of the coastwise merchants are having supplies sent through by rail. There is no special feature in the retail trade in West Yorkshire, but the colder weather has increased the sale of the cheaper qualities considerably. Pit prices are : Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s. ; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. Deliveries on gas coal contracts are so heavy that there is very little coal to spare for the open market. Screened gas coal and gas nuts are chiefly in request, unscreened being neglected. One or two of the gasworks in the south of England are buyers, in order to supplement the short deliveries from Durham. The position with regard to factory fuel is fairly satisfactory, a very heavy tonnage being sent into the heavy woollen district, while the demand from Lancashire and other distant markets shows a further falling off. Some descrip- tions of slack are quotably lower, but coking smalls and the best qualities of slack are firmly held. Quotations for washed furnace coke are all round weaker, and spot lots are on offer at about 12s. per ton at the ovens, with short-term contracts to the end of the year at about the same figure. Barnsley. COAL. Although a quieter state of things has prevailed in the export trade in respect of large steam coal, the under-tone continues to be of a fairly satisfactory condition having regard to the disturbed state of affairs. Exporters continue to meet with difficulty in respect to freights and financial arrangements, circumstances which appear to have materially checked the volume of business during the past week so far as the Humber ports are concerned. A fairly active trade exists in supply of fuel for bunkering on the west coast, but, for the moment, there is no difficulty in meeting the enquiry by way of Hull. Producers of the best class of fuel are meeting with more success in the foreign market, although prices have fallen off a little, but in regard to secondary descriptions the output of four working days per week is more than enough to meet the requirements of the market. The enquiry on home account keeps up fairly well, and it is reported that occasional orders have been placed in the district on Admiralty account. There is no material change in respect to the enquiry for best steam nuts, and although less is being taken for export, the difference is being compensated for by the larger-tonnage which is being consumed in some of the larger engineering centres. In regard to secondary descriptions, however, the market is not so strong, and considerable stocks have to be negotiated. The same remarks apply practically to the business which is passing in regard to slacks, and prices of rougher sorts are again of a rather varied description, supplies being freely offered. The gas coal collieries continue to make fuller time, but there is not a great deal doing beyond contract arrangements. In respect to house coal trade, there are still complaints by merchants of the difficulty of obtaining ready deliveries of the best class of fuel, in spite of the fact, as noted last week, prices have been advanced. However, in regard to other descriptions of house coal, the advanced official quotations appear to be largely of a nominal description, as the output is considerably in excess of the requirements, and until more severe weather comes along it seems likely that clearance lots of secondary sorts will be freely met with. The situation in regard to coke has not varied a great deal during the week, the higher range of values which are being paid has encouraged the restarting of coke ovens, but the output is fairly well cleared, and prices remain substantially firm. Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstone Best Barnsley softs Secondary do Best house nuts Secondary do Steam coals:— Best hard coals Secondary do Best washed nuts Secondary do Best slack Rough do Gas coals:— Screened gas coals Unscreened do Gas nuts Furnace coke Current prices. 16/6 16/ 13/ -14/6 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 11/3 10/6-10/9 1 10/9 9/9-10/ 6/9 5/9- 6/ 10/6-11/ 10/ 10/ -10/6 12/6-13/ L’st week’s prices. 16/6 16/ 13/ -14/6 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 11/3 10/6-10/9 '10/9 9/9-10/ 6/9 5/9- 6/ 10/6-11/ 10/ 10/ -10/6 12/6-12/9 Last year’s prices. 16/ 15/3-15/6 ! 12/6-14/ 14/ -14/3 12/ -14/ 12'9-13/ 11/6-11/9 10/6-11/9 10/3-10/9 8/ - 8/3 6/6- 7/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/6 Hulk COAL. The Humber coal market continues quiet with only a moderate demand for export. Trade has been almost solely confined to neutrals, but there appears to be more enquiry from Erance and Belgium, and now that there is less difficulty in getting remittances from these countries business, especially with the former, should develop. There is plenty of steam coal on offer for prompt shipment, and with more selling pressure prices have declined. Best Yorkshire steam hards now being quoted at 13s. 6d. to 13s. 9d. Hull, Grimsby, or Immingham and Derbyshires about the same value at Grimsby or Immingham. Secondary sorts are in poor request, and prices are easier at Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. for South Yorkshires at Hull, etc. House coals continue in fair demand. Shipments at the docks are not so heavy, and many of the appliances are idle. The mining of the North Sea is having a detrimental effect on Mediterranean business, about <£2 per cent, being now the insurance premium on cargo against war risks. There has been little doing in the freight market. The Baltic has been practically unquotable for some time, most of the cargoes having been taken away in neutral vessels for these ports, but a steamer is reported taken for the Swedish Sound at 7s. 3d., and three or four have been taken up for Rouen, 8s. being paid. Mediterranean rates are somewhat easier, but no business is reported. Leicestershire. COAL. There is great activity at all the collieries in this district, and for the moment it is quite impossible to meet the demand. The new business coming to hand is of very large extent, and the advent of winter prices has had practically no effect in diminishing the inrush of orders. At all the collieries the output is up to the maximum of five and a-half days per week, but at the same time it has to be remembered that the number of miners at work is less than usual on account of the very free response to the call to join the Army. The difficulty which managers have to face is increased by the fact that there are quite a large number of old orders which have not yet been fulfilled. These date back to the beginning of August, and there is great pressure for their delivery at once. Another feature is the increase in the extent of the new orders coming to hand, and they cover heavy deliveries for a long time ahead. The facts indicate a very long period of activity under anything like normal conditions. It is very gratifying to colliery managers to be able to report a very strong and increasing demand for all classes of manufacturing fuel, as showing a more healthy state of affairs in the business of the country generally. There is a full demand for kitchen cobbles for London and the country generally, and steam coal sells well. There is an absence of shipping orders, but under the circumstances this part of the trade is not missed. There is full employment for every miner, and there are no stocks on hand, all the pit banks being clear. The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district:— Per ton at pit. 1 Current L’st week’s Best household coal ............. ; Second, hand picked ............. , Deep screened cobbles ............. Deep large nuts ................. i Bakers’ nuts................... \ Small nuts ...................... i Deep breeze ..................... j Peas ............................ : Small dust ...................... ' Deep cobbles & nuts for London bakers ; Steams, best hand picked ........ • Steams, seconds ................... Main cobbles for kitcheners ....... Main breeze........................ prices. prices. 13/6-14/6 13,6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/3—13/3 12/3-13/3 12/ -12/9 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 11/6—12/6 10/- 10/6 10/6-11/3 9/ - 9/3 i 9/6-10/ 7/9- 8/6 j 7/9- 8/3 1/6- 1/9 . 2/ - 2/3 — , 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/6 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 8/ - 8/6 i — South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. A slight improvement falls to be reported in household fuel, but the weather is yet too mild to permit of any rush. Manufacturing sorts are on the slow side. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 18/6 18/6 18/6 Do. seconds deep 16/ 16/ 16/ Do. best shallow 14/6 14/6 14/9 Do. seconds do. 13/9 14'6 13/9 14/6 14/ Best hard 15/ Forge coal 10/6 10/6 11/ Slack Warwickshire:— 7/ 7/ 7/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 16/6 16/6 16/6 cobs 14/6 14/6 14/ Best hard spires 15/ 15/ 15/ Forge (steam) 10/6 10/6 11 D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 10/ Small (do.) 8/ 8? 8/3 IRON. The quarterly meeting of South Staffordshire iron masters was exceedingly uneventful. The course of business during the last three months has been of an uneven character. The pfospect of declining trade at the beginning of the quarter was obviated by the outbreak of war, which brought with it a period of exceptional activity in several branches, and higher prices. In recent weeks there has been a decline, but although values are not so firm as a month ago, they are still much higher than at the beginning of July, and are likely to remain so during the ensuing quarter. The chief demand relates to Government orders, and in a lesser degree to that arising from French and Russian military wants. The tone of the market might be described as steady on the basis of the reduced rates which operated a week ago. No very material alterations were recorded. Reports from the pig iron producing districts indicate a quiet trade. It is obvious that the- prices were unduly rushed a month or six weeks ago, and makers are now content to take from 2s. 6d. to 4s. a ton less. Buying is limited. Northampton forge, largely used in the district, ranged from 57s. to 59s., Derby- shire 58s. to 59s., and South Staffordshire part-mine about 59s. The leading bar iron houses are well situated, going full time, without, however, any pressure. The unmarked bar houses are doing about two-thirds time. Prices are. if anything, a shade weaker, ranging from £7 10s. to £1 15s. Common iron is very little less, makers getting £1 7s. 6d. to £7 10s. a ton, and they are placed in a stronger position relatively by the stoppage of Continental competition. More- over, puddled bars are dear, varying from £5 for the com- monest kinds to £5 7s. 6d. and £5 10s. for better qualities. An improvement has taken place in galvanised sheets by the distribution of several Government orders, though there is no rush. Against this is the fact that private customers are not sending in specifications against old contracts so regularlv as makers would like, and these are kept hanging on with' a tendency to depress values. The market level is about £13 15s., with more for small quantities. There is a fairly good trade in gas strip at £7 10s., and steel strip and hoops are £8 2s. 6d. to £8 5s. The steel trade is active. Consumers of mild steel have met the sharp rise by the pur- chase of supplies from America, which are now arriving. Sheet bars and billets run from £5 7s. 6d. to £5 12s. 6d.. according to quality. Tim Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Asso- ciation re-affirmed current prices. Official notice has been given that an application has been made to the Board of Trade for a licence for the Traders’ Traffic Association to be registered with limited liability without the addition of the word “ Limited.” MINING AND OTHER NOTES. We are asked to point out that the Coppee Company (Great Britain) Limited, of King’s House, Jiingsway, London, W.C., and Evence Coppee and Company, of 103, Boulevard de Waterloo, Brussels, and 41, Pouchkinskaia, Kharkoff, Russia, are entirely Anglo-Belgian firms. The well-known Coppee regenerative and waste-heat by-product coke ovens and by-product plants and Coppee coal washeries are designed in London and Brussels, and are manufactured entirely in England or Belgium. The Umpire has decided that contributions are payable under Part II. of the National Insurance Act in respect of workmen described in decision A 1375 when engaged wholly or mainly in the maintenance and upkeep of steel works plant, but contributions are not payable in respect of workmen described in decision B 1374 when engaged wholly or mainly in the maintenance and upkeep of steel works plant (other than buildings, machinery, or vehicles). The trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation announce the inauguration of an investigation into labour and industrial relations for the well-being of mankind throughout the world. Mr. Mackenzie King, the former Minister of Labour in Canada, has been appointed to direct the investigation. The foundation endowment of 100,000,000 dollars will be at the back of the venture. With customary ceremonial Mr. William Henry Ellis, a director of Messrs. John Brown and Co., armament manu- facturers. was last week at the Court House installed Master Cutler of Sheffield for the ensuing year. In their annual report the Cutlers’ Company state there can be no doubt that the activity shown by the Sheffield Advisory Committee in dealing with unscrupulous manufacturers and merchants who do not hesitate to make use on foreign- made goods of the name “ Sheffield ” has become widely known in all the manufacturing world at home and abroad. The late Col. Albany Hawke Charlesworth, of Brockhurst, West Didsbury, Manchester, a colliery director, left estate of the gross value of <£539,250, of which £401,440 is net personalty. A message from Birmingham (Alabama), U.S.A., states that as the result of an explosion following upon the discovery of a pocket of gas, at least a dozen men were killed and several are missing at one of the mines belonging to the Woodward Iron Company. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 8. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There has not been much life exhibited in the local coa trade during the past week. Both in Denbighshire and Flintshire fairly good time is being worked, varying from three to five days in the week. The house coal trade is fairly brisk. It was anticipated that on October 1 a substantial rise would take place in this class of fuel, but so far it. does not appear to have come about. The gas companies have taken their usual weekly contract quantities, and there is little of this class of coal on the open market, with the exception of a few nuts, which always find a ready sale. It is in the steam coal that the weakest is keenest. The railway companies are taking their full quantities, and many manufacturing firms are taking a fair tonnage, With regard to the latter, all kinds of local firms, ironworkers, brickworkers, paper mills and others, are all striving to act up to the “ business as usual ” policy as far as possible. Naturally, however, at many works short time is the order of the day, and thus their consumption of fuel is very much reduced. There is not a large amount of business in shipping coal, though several cargoes have gone down to Birkenhead and Ellesmere Port. At the lattter port a disastrous fire took place last week, at the Imperial Flour Mills, on the bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, the extent of the damage being estimated at £20,000. There is also but a small demand for slack, and stocks appear to be accumulating in some of the sidings too much, so that coalowners are having to unload it in order to utilise the wagons for the despatch of larger coal. Gas coke is in a little better demand owing to winter supplies being ordered for public buildings, &c. Ruling prices may be taken as below:— Prices at pit f.o.r.: — Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Steam coal............ Gas coaj.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. . Slack ................ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale:— Best house coal .....’ Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current 'L’st quot’d Last year’ prices. I prices. 14/6-15/6 ! 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/3 12/ -12'6 12/ -12/9 11/9-12/3 11/3-11/9 6/ - 7/ 11/8-13/4 13/6-14/6 12/3-12'9 12/ -12/3 12/ -12/3 11/ -11'9 prices. 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12 6-13/ 13/ -13/9 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 6/3- 7 3 6/3- 7/6 11/8-13/4 13/4-15/ 18/4-20/ j 18/4-20/ 17/6-18/4 16/8-17/6 16/8-18/4 16/8-17/6 10/ -12/6 | 10/ -12/6 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. During the past week the steam coal market has changed its conditions but little, the general state of trade to-day being unimproved. A few of the very best collieries seem to be well placed enough to maintain their recent quota- tions, but for the most part sellers are showing readiness to compete for the small amount of new business which is now offering by giving concessions which cannot be regarded as insignificant. Much hope is encouraged by the expectation that the British mine field in the lower portion of the North Sea will divert a considerable propor- tion of tonnage from north-country ports to this district. In the meantime, stems are easy, and the supply of tonnage small, so shipments just now are below the average. The house coal trade shows a little more enquiry, but no improvement in values. Patent fuel and coke remain quiet. Pitwood supplies are in fair quantity, with buyers hampered by scarcity of wagons. Best French fir is now- obtainable at 21s. ex-ship. In the freight market rates