October 23, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIA^. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 22. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. A steady business is being done in the West of Scotland coal trade. It is reported, however, with respect to round coal, that only the best qualities are in favour while seconds are practically neglected altogether. The bulk of the trade passing is confined to best ells and splints, and these sorts are well booked up. Navigations and steams are slack and busy in turn, and prices are mostly in buyers’ favour. Smalls of all sizes are active, but quotations are not affected. There has been a slight falling off in the industrial demand, while the household demand continues quiet owing to the mild weather, but shipments are satisfactory. The clearances from the ports amounted to 121,562 tons compared with 112,041 in the preceding week, and 103,365 tons in the same week last year. . Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 10/6-12/6 11/3-11/6 11/3-14/ 11/6—11/9 10/ -10/3 10/ —10/3 L’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices. 10/6-12/6 13/ -14/6 11/3 | 13/ 11/3-14/ j 13/ -15/ 11/ I 13/9 10/ -10/6 | 12/3-12/6 101 -10/3 | 11/ -11/6 IRON. The Scotch pig iron trade has been distinctly quiet throughout the past week. With a view to inducing consumers to cover their requirements in larger quantities makers reduced their prices, but this has not produced the desired effect in the meantime. Few enquiries are to hand either for home or export business, and while deliveries against contract are fairly good, stocks in makers’ yards are. still showing a tendency to accumulate. There are 67 furnaces in blast in Scotland at present, the same number as last week, and 17 fewer than in the corresponding week last year. The import of pig iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 10,466 tons. Prices of makers’ iron are unchanged since last week, and are as follow :—Monkland f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 63s. 6d., No. 3, 62s.; Govan, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 62s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 67s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Clyde, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee and Calder, Nos. 1, 69s., Nos. 3,64s.; Langloan, No. 1, 72s., No. 3, 67s. ; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 70s., No. 3, 65s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 63s., No. 3, 62s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 64s., No. 3, 62s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 69s., No. 3, 64s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d. per ton. Values in the Glasgow pig iron warrant market touched a lower level during the past week than has been reached for nearly three years. This has been due to an almost complete absence of support in the earlier part of the week caused by the fall of Antwerp, and the belief that the war was going to prove a much longer business than was at first anticipated, and also influenced by discouraging trade reports from America. Prices declined until cash buyers were quoted at 48s. 3d. per ton, but thereafter a reaction took place, and Cleveland iron closed at 48s. ll|d. per ton cash buyers, showing a loss of Is. 0|d. per ton on the week. The total turnover did not exceed 5,000 tons. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians continues on quiet lines. Best steams are in fair demand, and treble and single nuts are receiving a moderate amount of business, but doubles are still plentiful in spite of concessions granted by the collieries. Shipments amounted to 67,358 tons, against 70,212 in the preceding week, and 102,772 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened steam coal... prices. 11/3 prices. 11/3 prices. 13/ -14/ Secondary qualities 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 11/9-12/3 Treble nuts 11/6-11/9 11/9 13/9-14/ Double do 10/ -10/3 10/ 12/6-12/9 Single do 10/ -10/3 10/3-10/6 11/ —11/3 The large proportion of the trade passing in the Fifeshire district is for screened navigation and washed produce. First and third class are quiet, with no immediate prospect of an early improvement. Shipments from the district reached the total of 75,268 tons, compared with 81,425 in the preceding week, and 123,935 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Lastyear’s prices. Best screened navigation coal 15/6-15/9 15/6-15/9 17/ Unscreened do 13/ 13/6 15/ First-class steam coal 12/ 12/6 13/9-14/3 Third-class do 10/ 10/ 11/3-12/ Treble nuts 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 13/9-14/3 Double do. 10/3-10/6 10/ -10/3 10/3-10/6 12/3-12/9 Single do. 10/ -10/6 11/ -11/3 The aggregate clearances from Scottish ports during the week amounted to 264,188 tons, compared with 263,678 in the preceding week, and 330,072 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. The local coal market has been deadly dull during the past week. It is not that there is not a good demand— especially for gas and steam coals—from many quarters of the Continent. The principal factor in impeding business is the shortage of collier tonnage, a scarcity largely induced by the objection of shipowners to send their vessels into the mined area of the North Sea. At the moment of writing, however, arrivals are improving, and the prospects of the market are correspondingly better. It is, of course, quite obvious that the mining of the Scheldt by the Gelmans and that of portions of the Baltic by the Russians will still further decrease our dealings with Holland and with Baltic ports. Hopes are entertained, however, that should tonnage arrive in sufficient volume, the falling-off just mentioned may be compensated for by greater activity in shipments to France and Italy* both of which countries are requiring fuel supplies very urgently. The Swedish State Railways have invited tenders—which have been duly sent in—of 20,000 tons of steam coals for shipment next month ; 15,000 tons of this quantity are to be shipped to Sundsvaal and 5,000 tons to Ornskjoldsvik. These supplies are necessary in substitution of those cancelled by Scottish contracting exporters at the outbreak of the war, owing to the risks of Baltic delivery. The Gothenburg Gasworks have received tenders of 4,000 tons of gas coal for shipment next month. Tenders of 60,000 tons of Lambton steam coals for the requirements of Egyptian State Rail- ways have been sent in. During last week, 82,928 tons of coal and 729 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 60,417 tons of coal and 3,173 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corre- sponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 38,885 tons of coal and 1,594 tons of coke, a decrease of 22,695 tons of coal and an increase of 1,441 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments totalled 52,221 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 45,681 tons. From the three shipping places mentioned, 176,357 tons of coal and coke were sent off last week, a decrease of about 35,000 tons when compared with the previous week’s shipments. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied this week only to the extent of gas bests and specials being rather firmer. Later.—The Amsterdam Gasworks are stated to have contracted with a local firm for the supply of 4,000 tons of Durham gas bests per m'onth up to the end of the year. The Chilian Government is enquiring for 300,000 tons of steams, but it is expected that this order will be placed in America, as was the case last year. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coal's :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas • coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals . Do. emails House coak . Coke, foundry . Do. blast-furnauo Do. gas Current prices. 13/ -13/3 12/6 11/ 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/3 7/6 9/6 11/ -11/6 12/6 11/- 11/3 13/ 10/6-12/ 10/9-11/3 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 11/6-12/6 L’st week’s prices. 13/ -13/3 1 12/6 1 11/ 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/3 7/6 9/6 11/ -11/6 12/3-12/6 11/ -11/3 12/6-13/ 10/6-12/ 10/9-11/3 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 15/ -16/ 19/ -20/ 18/ 11/6-12/6 Last year’s prices. 14/9-15/ 15/ —15/3 12/6—13/ 12/9-13/3 12/ -13/ 7/9- 8/ 6/6- 6/9 9/ - 9/3 14/ 15/3 13/6-14/ 15/6 12/9-13/9 12/ -13/ 13/3-13/6 13/ 15/6 19/ -21/ 17/6 17/ -18/ Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The various branches of the fuel trade show little alteration. As is usual at this season of the year, deliveries of gas coal - are large and growing. There is a steady demand for best kinds, and fairly large quantities are going forward to London, Italy, Spain, and France. Best Durham gas coal is in the neighbourhood of 12s. 6d. Second-class gas qualities are rather easy and irregular at prices ranging from 9s. 9d. to Ils. Up to 13s. and 13s. 3d. are named for special Wear gas coal. Bunker fuel is in fairly good request, and ordinary Durhams are 10s. 7H- to 10s. 9d. f.o.b., best sorts Ils. 9d., and specials 12s. 6d. to 13s. Coking coal is pretty well taken up. Smalls are 9s. 9d. to 10s. 3d., and coking unscreened 10s. 3d. to Ils. Demand for coke both for home use and for shipment is fairly good. Local consumers continue to complain considerably of the high rates asked, but their efforts to induce sellers to reduce quotations meet with little success. With blast- furnaces not blowing at their fullest, local needs have lessened, but to a great extent supply is regulated to demand, and 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. still rules for Durham beehive furnace coke of average quality delivered at Teesside works. Foundry coke of best quality for shipment ranges from 20s. to 21s. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is round about 12s. 3d. IRON. Returns issued by the Middlesbrough Chamber of Commerce this week show that at the end of September, of the 77 blastfurnaces within the port of Middlesbrough 47 were blowing as compared with 55 in operation a year ago. During the third quarter of the year the total output of the furnaces amounted to 572,000 tons of pig iron, as compared with 595,000 tons for the previous three months and 667,000 tons for the third quarter of last year. Imports of iron ore to Middlesbrough last quarter are given at 484,371 tons, as compared with 490,768 tons for the previous quarter and 549,211 tons for the third quarter of 1913. There is little business passing in pig iron. A slight upward movement has occurred in prices of Cleveland pig, but values of haematite iron show a marked downward tendency. Quotations for the latter, however, are still relatively high, for whereas the recognised difference between No. 3 Cleveland and mixed numbers of haematite was at one time 8s. to 10s., at present haematite is 13s. 6d. above Cleveland. Makers complain that Cleveland pig quotations are unprofitable, but they intend keeping furnaces blowing through the winter unless the position becomes worse than it is at present. Rather good enquiries for pig iron for Italy do not promise to lead to much business, as South American firms are competing for the orders and are quoting below this market. There are some enquiries on Scandinavian account for pig. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 50s. f.o.b. That is recognised as the general market quotation, though possibly odd lots can be bought at l|d. less. No. 1 is 52s. 3d., No. 4 foundry 49s. 6d., No. 4 forge 49s. 3d., and mottled and white iron each 49s. All the foregoing quotations are for early delivery. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast haematite pig are offered freely by both makers and merchants at 63s. 6d. for either early or forward delivery. Foreign ore is lifeless. Sellers still quote nominally on the basis of 17s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for best rubio, but there is reason to believe that they would enter into contracts at 6d. less. There are no new features of moment in manufactured iron and steel. Billet makers are very busy owing to cutting off of German and Belgian supplies. Quotations all round are unaltered. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal trade is still in a satisfactory condition, shipping, local manufacturing requirements and landsale all being steady, in showing a tendency to expansion. With the exception of one pit, which was idle on Monday owing to a scarcity of empties, the whole of the collieries are fully employed, and likely to be for some time to come. A slight increase of output is reported, but there is still some diffi- culty, owing to shortage of labour, in meeting the require- ments of the cross-channel trade. The shipments at the local ports were not quite so heavy this week, but it was mainly due to the low tides. From Maryport 22 coasting steamers left during the week with cargoes of coal for the Irish market, the shipments amounting to 5,690 tons. The shipments from the various collieries were as follow:— Brayton Domain, 2,140 tons; St. Helens, 1,590 tons; Allendale, 1,210 tons ; and Flimby, 750 tons. One colliery has practically ceased shipping for the present, owing to to the increased consumption at the coke ovens. The exports from Workington, last week, to the Irish ports amounted to slightly over 2,000 tons. The whole of the coke ovens are in full employment, and coke is in brisk demand, the local smelters absorbing all the supplies they can obtain. Trade is also brisk in the various by-product works in the country. The price of best house coal, delivered in bags, is Is. 2|d. per cwt., or 23s. 4d. per ton, with washed nuts 21s. 8d. per ton, delivered in cartloads. Other current quotations are as follow :— Current L’st week’s Best Cumberland coal, at pit prices. 20/6-21/ prices. 20/6-21/ Flimby best coal „ 20/ 20/ Washed nuts „ 19/2 19/2 19/2 Old St. Helens best coal „ 19/2 Best house nuts „ 17/1 17/1 Oughterside best coal 20/ 20/ Washed nuts 18/4 18/4 Best Cumberland coal, f.o.b. 14/6 14/6 13/6 Bunkers „ 13/6 Coal for gasworks 14/6 14/6 South-West Lancashire. COAL. Open weather, and a manifest determination to economise by the small consumer, keep the household coal trade in a quiet condition for the time of the year. In screened coals for forge and manufacturing purposes there is about an average trade in progress. There is little fresh to report with regard to steam coal, the market being quiet with ample supplies. Contract quantities are still meagre, owing to the continued curtailment of sailings. Outside enquiry is limited in extent, and for the few shipments low prices are being taken for spot shipment. Nominally the prices of screened Lancashire steam coal may be said to be 12s. for the lower qualities up to 12s. 9d. for best descriptions, although, as indicated, in some instances these prices are being shaded. The coastwise and cross-Channel trade for household coals is a fairly satisfactory one, and particularly in the better qualities. Short time continues at many of the cotton mills, and this leaves slack, which has been sold on contract, and which cannot be taken for consumption, on the producer’s hands, and this continues to be stocked in the vicinity of the pits. Enquiries, however, for contract for the full period of 12 months are rather looked askance upon, shorter terms being preferred on the part of the sailer. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen............... Common (f.o.b. Grstn.,net) Screened forge coal..... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current prices. 17/ 16/6-16/9 15/3 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/3-13/9 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/9 9/ 8/ - 8/6 L’st week’s prices. 17/ - 16/6-16/9 15/3 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/3-13/9 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/9 9/ 8/ - 8/6 Lastyear’s prices. 17/ 16/9-17/3 15/3 15/ -15/6 13/ 13/9-14/6 12/6-13/ 13/ -14/ 10/3 9/6 9/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. There is not much change in the demand for house coal—if anything, it is a little improved. The call for furnace coal is only moderate; and with regard to shipping, what is moving away is, as last week, chiefly on