October 23, 1914. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ S?4 ittfe COLLIERY guardian. contract account. Slack has a very poor appearance, owing ________________ to the extreme short time at the cotton mills. * Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 17/3-18/ 17/3-18/ 17/3-18/ Medium 16/ -16/9 16/ -16/9 16/ —16/9 Common 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ Furnace coal 12/6 12/6 12/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 14/ 14/ 14/ Best slack 9/6-10/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 Common slack 8/6- 9/ 8/6- 9/ 9/ - 9/6 IRON. There is no change to report in the markets here, pig iron continues weak and without enquiry. The foundries are very slack and are not making ends meet, orders having to be taken at extremely low prices, and there is a consider- able amount of undercutting going on to obtain these. The forges are fairly busy on bars and hoops at Association prices, viz., crown bars <£8 5s., second quality £7 15s., hoops <£9 2s. 6d., and sheets <£8 15s. Steelworks are very busy, and are quoting <£7 15s. for bars, and <£5 17s. 6d. for billets ; there is a certain amount in transit from America and Canada at prices ruling lower than these. Some of the wagon works are only working from hand to mouth, others are busy on old orders. Heavy engineers are not busy, and their order books are getting weaker; those doing any kind of work for the Government are on full time. Makers of textile machinery are very slack indeed. _________ Prices at pit._________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a fairly good attendance of traders at the Coal Exchange on Tuesday, and business on the whole was satisfactory. The principal enquiries circulating were for supplies of best qualities of house coal and spot parcels of gas coal. It was reported that four days’ work had been put in again this week, but that the difficulties caused by the scarcity of trucks had increased. Traffic generally has been moved very slowly, and there has been a marked scarcity in the supply of trucks owned by the railway companies. The position with regard to mining timber and pit props has been eased to some extent, a fair number of cargoes having come to hand during the past 10 days. The output continues on the light side owing to the very large percentage of miners who have joined the Colours. The demand for house coal from the London district has fallen off slightly during the week, although deliveries of best qualities are still in arrear. Pit prices, on the whole, are firmly held. A distinct improvement is to be noted with regard to coastwise shipments, owners of suitable craft having regained confidence. Quite a number of parcels of the leading qualities of house coal have been shipped both from Goole and Hull. In the local house coal trade merchants report a further slight improvement, but this applies mainly to the cheaper qualities. Current pit prices :—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s.; Silkstone best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone house, 16s. to 17s.; other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. The full output of the gas coal pits is being absorbed mainly by contract deliveries, but there is also a fair amount of trade passing on the open market for screened gas coal and gas nuts. Manufacturing fuel sells fairly readily, although the supply of slacks is more than sufficient to meet the needs of the market. Washed nuts are in better demand in the Bradford and heavy woollen districts. There has been a further ease in the price of furnace coke during the past week, short term contracts having been entered into at about Ils. 6d. per ton at the ovens. The iron and steel trades continue very quiet, and buyers are declining to contract at present prices, preferring to risk the open market. House coal:— Current L’st week’s'Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/ 15/ -16/ Wallsend & London best 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -14/6 Silkstone best 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 14/ -14/6 Do. house 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/6 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/ 11/ -12/9 Haigh Moor best 16/9-17/6 16/9-17/6 17/6-18/6 Silkstone best 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 16/6-17/6 Do. house 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 15/ -16/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/6-15/ Screened gas coal 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/ -12/9 Gas nuts 9/6-10/3 9/6-10/3 11/ -12/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 9/3- 9/6 9/3- 9/9 10/ -10/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/6 engine nuts 9/3- 9/9 9/3- 9/9 9/9-10/6 9/3— 9/9 Small nuts Rough unscreened 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 engine coal 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 9/9-10/3 Best rough slacks 7/3- 8/ 7/3- 8/3 7/9- 8/6 Small do. 6/ - 7/ 6/3— 7/3 6/ - 7/3 6/ - 7/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 6/3- 7/6 6/6- 7/ Furnace coke 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/6 12/ Barnsley. COAL. The stoppage of exports to the Belgian ports does not appear to have materially affected business from this part of the district. During the past month only 2,380 tons were sent from Hull, a quantity which will, of course, only make a slight impression, so far as the bulk of the trade is concerned. Compared with recent weeks, the demand on export account continues to be fairly well sustained, a fair amount of business being done with Sweden and several of the French ports. The bulk of the trade so far as Hull and the west coast are concerned is still for bunker purposes, and, with the home demand keeping up well, the pits on the whole have been enabled to make another satisfactory week ; in many instances, full time worked. Although the value of large steams fluctuates considerably, generally the position of a week ago has been maintained, especially so in the case of the best grades, of which the output is still reduced. In regard to secondary kinds, the less output continues to meet the demand of the market, and the position of coal owners is not so strong as was the case formerly. The greater activities in the heavier-trade districts continue to require a larger quantity of nuts and slacks, and buyers are showing more keenness to procure adequate deliveries of the best class of this kind of fuel. The position, however, in respect to secondary descriptions is much about the same, and with surplus tonnage being offered on the market, prices fail to gather strength. This is particularly the case with regard to rough slack, for, although the consumption in the manufacture of coke has increased considerably, the stocks at the collieries are yet of a considerable character. The majority of the gas-coal collieries are now working at full pressure, almost entirely on contract account, but there is a fair amount of this class of coal offered on the market. Gas companies who are seeking to supplement contract deliveries are not inclined to pay the rather increased prices which have been asked. The position of the house coal trade continues to be of a fairly active character. Collieries find no difficulty in disposing of the best class of coal, and, with regard to some descriptions, contract deliveries are somewhat in arrear. The demand for secondary descriptions, however, is still short of the output, and there is no uniformity on the part of coalowners in enforcing Is. per ton winter advance. The demand for coke continues to be of a fairly active character, and values are about the same as last quoted. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 16/6 16/6 16/ Best Barnsley softs 16/ 16/ 15/3-15/6 Secondary do. 13/ -14/6 13/ -14/6 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/ 12/9-13/ 13/ -13/3 11/ -12/ Secondary do 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 11/3 11/3 12/6-12/9 Secondary do 10/6-10/9 10/6-10/9 11/6-11/9 Best washed nuts 10/9 10/9 11/6-11/9 Secondary do 9/9-10/ 9/9-10/ 10/3-10/9 Best slack 6/9 6/9 7/9- 8/ Rough do 5/9- 6/ 5/9- 6/ 6/6- 7/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/6-13/ Unscreened do 10/ 10/ 11/ -12/ Gas nuts 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 12/ -12/6 Furnace coke 12/6 12/3-12/6 12/ -12/6 Hull. COAL. The weakness in the Humber coal market, which has been prevalent for some days with slight variations, seems more marked, and business is appreciably less. This may be accounted for by the fact that the difficulties of naviga- tion are considerable, especially south of the Humber, leading to further restrict the market. One hears of very little new business in progress, which would rather indicate that business is being diverted in other directions. Ship- ments, however, continue to be fairly good under all the circumstances, and a continued feature is the large quantity that is being taken not only from Hull but more particularly from Grimsby and Immingham. Several cargoes have also been sent from the Humber to Rouen and smaller lots to Russia via Archangel, where the navigation is expected to remain open until the middle of December by the aid of ice-breakers. Prices, under the unfavourable influences now obtaining, have sagged considerably, and its approxi- mate value of best Yorkshire steam coal at Hull is from 13s. 3d. to 13s, 9d., with a still easier tendency. Secondary sorts are in poor request, and Yorkshire doubles are worth about Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d., and singles Ils. 6d. to 12s., with small coal offering at 8s. to 9s. Best Derbyshire steams are not plentiful, and prices are maintained in the region of 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d. Gas coal appears in fair, though not in usual request for the time of year, best Silkstone screened being quoted at 13s. 6d. House coal is in slightly improved demand with best Hartleys quoted at 12s. to 12s. 6d. An additional hindrance to business has been in raising of freight rates. To-day 8s. 3d. has been paid for a 2,000 ton steamer Hull to Rouen, while 10s. 3d. is reported for the Mediterranean. Coastwise rates are on the basis of 4s. London. Nothing is doing for Baltic or Scandinavian destinations the business being for the most part in the hands of foreign owners. _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. There is very full activity at all the collieries in this coalfield, and the chief difficulty on the part of managers is to meet the urgent orders within a fairly reasonable period. There is no falling-off of the amount or extent of the new business coming to hand, and the outlook for the future appears to be sound and healthy. There is great and general satisfaction that so far the exceptional situation has been so well met with ample employment for the miners. There is, it is true, an increase in the establishment charges on the percentage of the output, but it is by no means so serious or so great as had been anticipated. The demand for the best classes of household coals is being maintained at a very high level, and the whole of the output is absorbed as fast as it reaches the pit banks. There is a very sound and healthy demand for cobbles for London and the country generally, and it is difficult to keep pace with the require- ments of merchants. The consumption, too, of manufac- turing fuel is greater than estimated, and this may to some extent be due to the enormous business doing in this district for the British Army and Navy, as well as for the forces of the French and Russian Governments. This is the greatest centre in the world for knitted fabrics, and machinery is not only running night and day, but in some cases on Sundays as well. This is an important factor in maintaining the consumption of manufacturing fuel and coal for steam-raising purposes. Altogether there is a very full turnover, and a general and complete absence of stocks. Prices are very firm indeed. The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district;— Per ton at pit. | Current L’st week’s 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 12/ -12/9 11/6—12/6 11/6-12/6 1 10/ -10/6 10/- 10/6 i 9/ - 9/3 j 9/ - 9/3 : 7/9- 8/6 ; 7/9- 8/3 ; 1/6- 1/9 1/6- 1/9 9/6-10/6 ' 9/6-10/6 — i 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 i 8/ - 8/6 ; 8/ - 8/6 Best household coal . Second, hand picked . Deep screened cobbles ............ Deep large nuts .... Bakers’ nuts......... Small nuts ......... Deep breeze......... Peas ............... Small dust ......... Deep cobbles & nuts for London bakers Steams, best hand picked ... Steams, seconds .......... .................................. Main cobbles for kitcheners ........ Main breeze ....................... ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There seems to be a little more selling of household coal at the pits for winter use. The retail trade has not developed greatly. Slacks and screen stuff are plentiful enough, and what changes there are in cokes are in the direction of slight concessions to buyers. The week’s quotations are :— 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 13/9 14/ Best hard 14/6 14/6 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 market brought no relief to the condition of partial stagnation which has overtaken the iron industry of the district. Nothing short of the news of a decisive victory for our forces, it seems, will do any good. In some cases the demand is still heavy on account of the exceptional wants of manufacturers who are favoured with military orders, but in other respects there is no expansion. Con- sumers of pig iron are buying in lots of 25, 50, or 100 tons instead of 500 tons and upwards. The market is still fall- ing. Northamptonshire forge qualities are now obtainable at 56s. to 57s.; Derbyshire forge at 57s. to 58s.; Stafford- shire common, 55s. to 56s.; part mine, 58s. to 59s. In the finished branches marked bar makers continue to receive fresh orders, and the basis is maintained at £9 a ton. For unmarked qualities £7 10s. is the top price, with only moderate demand. Common qualities have receded slightly, current quotations being from £7 5s. to £7 7s. 6d. The mills manage to keep going, but there is not much activity. Small rounds, squares, and flats, though in fair demand, are also cheaper, ranging from £7 12s. 6d. to £7 15s. Steel rounds are on the same basis, but in this department some fairly good orders have gone to America at about 12s. 6d. a ton under British rates. Despite Government require- ments, very few of the galvanised sheet mills of the district are able to keep running full time. The export trade shows little revival, despite cheaper prices. This week they are £13 to £13 5s. f.o.b. Liverpool, and for the home trade £13 10s. to £13 15s. Black sheets are in fair request by galvanisers who have War Office contracts, but in the main this branch is sluggish. Business in strip is fairly good, and enables rollers to maintain the quotation of £7 10s. to £7 15s., according to order. There is not a great deal to complain of in the steel trade. Despite the war a good deal of constructive work is going on up and down the land, and the steel foundry trade might be described as busy, as there has been a considerable accession of Government work to that required for ordinary purposes. Sheet bars and billets are quoted £5 5s. to £5 7s. 6d. Bessemer qualities, and 2s. 6d. to 5s. extra for Siemens. _____________________________ The Law of Support.—In the Court of Appeal on Wednes- day, the Master of the Rolls and Lords Justices Kennedy and Swinfen Eady commenced the hearing of plaintiffs' appeal in the case of Beard and others v. Moira Colliery Company Limited from a judgment of Mr. Justice Eve in the Chancery Division. Mr. Hughes, for appellants, said plaintiffs brought the action against the colliery company in respect of subsidence at the Home Farm, Castle Gresley, which they allege was due to defendants’ workings. There were also cottages on the main road between Burton-upon- Trent and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, which had been let down, and plaintiffs claimed an injunction and damages. Mr. Justice Eve, went on Mr. Hughes, took the view that plain- tiffs were not entitled to a declaration of right to support for their surface or to an injunction, on the ground that the terms of defendants' lease entitled them to let down the surface. Having decided that, however, Mr. Justice Eve said that it would probably be convenient to give an alterna- tive judgment on the assumption that he was wrong jn law in his decision. Assuming that, his lordship held that £93 8s. 4d. would be due to plaintiffs, and as £165 had been paid into court by defendants with a denial of liability, plaintiffs would have got less than the amount paid into court had he been of a different opinion with regard to the legal rights. In that event, Mr. Justice Eve said he would only have made a declaration of right with liberty to the plaintiffs to apply subsequently for an injunction if neces- sary. Counsel said the plaintiffs’ appeal now was against the judgment on the question of right.