November 13, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1023 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 12. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The coal market in the west of Scotland continues firm in tone, and values, on the whole, are tending higher. Best splints are well booked, but there are signs that the collieries are becoming anxious owing to the scarcity of tonnage for Mediterranean destinations, to which markets splint is shipped in large quantities, and unless tonnage is forthcoming in greater volume prices are apt to recede. The position is much the same with regard to the best brands of ell coal. Navigations are in fair demand, but steams are very slow to improve. Washed produce is plentiful, and although orders are fairly numerous, prices remain easy. Shipments from the district are very satis- factory, and amount to 123,416 tons, compared with 116,246 in the preceding week and 107,129 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 10/9-12/ 12/ -^2/3 11/9-14/3 11/6-11/9 10/3-10/6 10/ -10/3 L'st week's Last year's prices. prices. 10/9-12/9 13/ -14/6 11/9-12/ 13/ -13/6 11/9-14/3 ■ 131 -15/6 11/6 ' 13/3-13/6 10/3-10/6 i 12/ -12/6 10/ -10/3 | 10/6-11/ IRON. Conditions in the Scotch pig iron trade have not improved during the week, and the slackness in demand is reflected in the easier tendency of prices and the continued increase of stocks in makers’ hands. The export business is not, by any means, satisfactory, and consumers at home are only buying in sufficient quantities to meet their immediate requirements. There are 70 furnaces in blast in Scotland at present, compared with 66 in the preceding week, and 80 in the same period of 1913. The import of pig-iron into Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district amounted to 4,505 tons for the week. The prices of makers’ iron have been further reduced, and are as follow:— Monkland f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 62s. 6d., No. 3, 61s.; Govan, No. 1, 62s., No. 3, 61s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 66s. 6d., No. 3,62s.; Clyde, No. 1,67s. 6d., No. 3, 62s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 68s., Nos. 3, 63s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 69s. 6d., No. 3, 64s. 6d. ; 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, 68s., No. 3, 63s.; Carron at Grangemouth, No. 1, 68s. 6d., No. 3, 63s. 6d. per ton. The Glasgow pig iron warrant market was extremely quiet throughout the week, and only at two sessions was there any business done, and the total turnover did not exceed 3,500 tons of Cleveland iron. Prices have not moved to any extent, and the closing price of 49s. 0|d. per ton compares with 49s. Id. in the preceding week. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians is much quieter again, and in almost every grade of coal the supply is considerably in excess of the demand. Shipments amounted to 52,601 tons against 63,061 in the previous week, and 99,758 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L'st week's Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 11/3 11/3 13/6-13/9 Secondary qualities 10/ -10/3 10/ -10/3 12/ -12/6 Treble nuts 11/6 11/6 13/9-14/ Double do 10/ 10/ 12/3-12/9 Single do 10/3 10/ -10/3 10/9-11/3 Collieries in the Fifeshire district have booked a good deal of business, and with heavy arrivals at Methil and Burntisland steady work is assured for some time to come. Loading operations are somewhat hampered by the work at the docks being limited to the hours between sunrise and sundown, and demurrage, it is feared, is not infrequent. Navigations are doing a large business, and prices keep round about 15s. 6d. per ton. First and third class steams are quiet, but smalls are moving off in fairly satisfactory quantities. Shipments during the past week amounted to 69,172 tons compared with 65,869 in the preceding week, and 115,473 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current L'st week's Lasty ear’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened navigation coal 15/6-15/9 15/6-15/9 16/9 Unscreened do 13/6 13/3 14/9 First-class steam coal 11/9 11/9 13/6-14/ Third-class do 10/ 10/ 11/ -11/6 Treble nuts 11/9-12/3 11/9-12/3 13/3-13/9 Double do 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 12/ -12/6 Single do 10/ -10/3 10/ 11/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week reached the total of 245,189 tons compared with 245,176 in the previous week, and 322,360 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 80,322 tons of coal and 748 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 70,189 tons of coal and 1,660 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 56,298 tons of coal and 965 tons of coke, a decrease of 6,318 tons of coal and 851 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments totalled 50,166 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 39,410 tons. Thus the ship- ments from the three places aggregated 188,499 tons, a decrease of 7,177 tons when compared with the shipments for the previous week. A few enquiries from Norway and Sweden, chiefly for steam smalls and smithies, to be carried in neutral bottoms, are reported. It is stated—but unconfirmed as yet—that the Egyptian State Railways have contracted for a considerable quantity of Virginian (American) steam coal in preference to the Lambton steams, supplies of which were tendered. A doubt is expressed as to any portion of the French State Railways’ requirements of 90,000 tons of coal coming to this district. It appears that Welsh steam smalls, option Durham coking sorts, were asked for, and it is thought that, with north- east coast freights so relatively high at present, the former stand a much better chance of being chosen. The contract for the Chilian State Railways' steam coal supplies is stated to have been placed in the United States. There is no truth in a report which emanated from Cardiff, that Newcastle merchants are considering the advisability of cancelling orders in view of the North Sea having been declared a military area. Shipments from this district are very much hampered at present, but the situation is not so desperate as the report would represent. The Newcastle Quayside Advisory Committee has obtained from the collector of Customs a concession of some importance in relation to coal cargoes. Under the recent Order in Council merchants have been severely handicapped by the fact that a stamped bill of lading, giving the name of the actual consignee of the cargo, and the destination of same, must be handed to the Customs authorities before a vessel may leave. The collector, however, has permitted that, whilst these bills of lading must still be stamped and certified to be exact copies of the negotiable bills of lading to be issued on ascertainment of the exact quantity shipped, an approximate quantity will be allowed to be stated. These bills of lading, however, being for the Customs only, are not negotiable, and must be so stamped. Under no consideration must merchants issue bills of lading “To order.” The bills must contain the names of the consignees, otherwise the cargo of coal is liable to confisca- tion. With other north French ports so congested with tonnage and so hampered by reason of inadequate railway transport facilities under the military regime, the French State Railway authorities suggest that shippers should make as many deliveries as possible to Trouville, where the lines are less hampered. This matter of congestion at French ports is very serious. Tenders of the French Railways’ supplies are now due, but as these have to include delivery into trucks many merchants have been afraid to make offers, as they can get no guarantee from the other side to cover the demurrage on steamers dis- charging into trucks. The need for fuel in Italy is so great that receivers on c.i.f. contracts there are stated to be willing to arrange with shippers to pay extra cost of transport of coal, as compared with freights which ruled when the contracts were entered into, in order to make sure of supplies. The offer is not dictated by pure benevolence, inasmuch as shippers are entitled to withhold shipments under continued war clauses, although, no doubt, in the interests of the industry it is undesirable that this course should be adopted. Owing to the appalling strength of the freight market little business has been possible of transactions in coal trade circles. With Port Said, for example, at 20s., it is manifest that coals would need to be very cheap to enable merchants to offer supplies at prices likely to be acceptable to consumers at that port. Sellers, however, are holding resolutely to late rates, and f.o.b. quotations have varied very little on the week. The only changes are the following:—Smithies are 3d. cheaper; Northumbrian unscreened bunkers, 3d. reduced; coking coal, 6d. lower ; and smalls, similarly lessened. Prices f.o.b.' for prompt shipment. Current L'st week's Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 13/ 13/ 14/6-14/9 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 12/6 12/6 14/9-15/ Secondary, Blyths 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 12/6-12/9 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 11/ -11/3 11/ -11/3 12/9-13/ Unscreened 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/ 11/6-12/6 Small, Blyths 8/3- 8/6 8/3- 8/6 7/6 Do. Tynes 7/6 7/6 6/6 Do. specials 9/6 9/6 8/6- 8/9 Other sorts:— Smithies 10/6 10/6-10/9 13/6-14/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 12/6 12/6 15/3-15/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 11/ -11/3 11/- 11/3 13/6 Special gas oals 13/ 13/ 15/6 Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 10/6-12/ 10/6-12/ 13/ -13/9 Do. do. N orthumbrians 10/6-11/ 10/9-11/3 ll/6-rl2/6 Coking coaJs 10/ -10/6 i 10/6-11/ 13/6-13/9 Do. smalls 9/6-10/ 1 10/ -10/6 13/ -13/3 House coals 15/ -16/ ; 15/ -16/ 15/6 Coke, foundry 19/ -20/ 1 19/ -20/ 20/ -23/ Do. blast-furnace 18/ ! 18/ 17/6-18/6 Do. gas 11/6-12/6 j 11/6-12/6 16/6-17/9 Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The depression which has characterised the coal market for some weeks past is gradually subsiding and freights are easier. There is a slackness in the demand, but owing to the reduction in the output, the quotations are well maintained. Merchants in some instances do business at rates which are below the actual market quotations, but such transactions do not show the real state of the market. The rates at which business is generally done is:—Best gas coals 12s. 6d., best steams 13s. 6d., second Durham gas coals 10s. 6d. to Ils.; for coking (unscreened) the quotation is 10s. 9d. to Ils., whilst coking smalls are offered at 9s. 6d. to 10s. per ton ; for foundry coke (best) sellers ask 20s. to 21s.; gas house coke is 12s. to 12s. 3d. There is a fairly good demand for coke for local consumption, but users consider current rates much too high. On the other hand sellers still take a firm stand and ask up to 17s. 3d. for Durham beehive average blastfurnace qualities delivered at Teesside works. IRON. A better feeling prevails so far as Cleveland pig iron is concerned, and during the past week or so, makers' stocks have been considerably drawn upon, both for home con- sumption and for shipment. Certainly most of the business passing is confined to sales of parcels for early delivery, but it is gratifying to hear of some forward transactions and to learn that purchasers are prepared to pay a little more on forward account than for prompt delivery. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 49s. 9d. f.o.b., No. 1 is 52s., No. 4 foundry 49s. 3d., No. 4 forge 48s. 9d., mottled 48s. 3d., and white 48s.—all for early delivery, 6d. above the rates quoted being generally asked for delivery over periods next year. Both makers and merchants are very keen sellers of east coast haematite pig. Mixed numbers are offered rather freely at 61s. 6d. for either early or forward delivery. Foreign ore values are improving. Dearer freights, due to scarcity of vessels, have strengthened prices, and nothing now is quoted under a basis of 17s. 6d. ex-ship Tees for best rubio, delivered this year; whilst forward business is not negotiable under a basis of 19s. Producers of nearly all descriptions of manufactured iron and steel are well off for work, and report a fair number of enquiries. Quotations all round are fully maintained. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. There has been a slight improvement in the coal trade since last week, but business is not by any means up to the average of what it was at the corresponding period of last year. Landsale is dull, and manufacturing requirements, which have no doubt been affected by the sudden change in the iron trade, are decreasing, but the export demand is much healthier than it has been for some weeks past. There are more enquiries for best steam coal for the Irish market, and the shipments at both Maryport and Workington show considerable increases. With one or two exceptions, where a holiday was taken on Monday, the whole of the collieries are in full employment, but at present the output is more than equal to the demand. Prices, however, are firm, best house coal being quoted at Is. 2|d. per cwt. delivered, best Cumberland coal 23s. 4d. per ton delivered in cartloads, with washed nuts at 21s. 8d. per ton. Business is still brisk in the coke trade, and smelters are absorbing all the local supplies they can secure. The export tonnage from Mary- port last week amounted to 6,980 tons, compared with 5,380 tons for the previous week. The cargoes were mainly for Londonderry, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Larne, Bangor and Redbay. The shipments from the various collieries were as follow:—St. Helens 3,620 tons, Brayton Domain 1,880 tons, Flimby 875 tons, and Allerdale 605 tons. The exports from Maryport also included 400 tons of pitch for Port Talbot from the West Cumberland By-product Works, and a cargo of benzol for France from the new works at the head of the Senhouse Dock. 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 Old St. Helens best coal „ 19/2 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 Bunkers „ 13/6 13/6 Coal for gasworks 14/6 14/6 IRON. A marked change has come over the Cumberland haematite iron trade during the past three weeks, and prices have fallen considerably. For a month at the very least things have been in a depressed state, and there has been little buying, and any business that has been done has practically been of a hand-to-mouth character, simply to cover require- ments. About a fortnight after the outbreak of war, prices of Bessemer mixed numbers advanced quickly froiq to 75s. per ton f.o.b., and two additional furnaces were put into blast. For a few weeks business was fairly good, and although the Continental trade was stopped, there was a period of sharp buying for home consumption. The brisk trade, however, was only of short duration. The first weakness manifested itself about a month ago, when two furnaces were put out of blast and prices of Bessemer mixed numbers suddenly fell from 75s. to 72s. per ton f.o.b. This sudden change of tone was quite unexpected, but at the time caused little uneasiness, as it was fully anticipated that it was only temporary. Indeed, it was fully believed that trade had only slackened to gather strength for another forward movement. Instead of this, however, quite the opposite has happened. Within the last eight days there has been another depreciation of values, and the price of Bessemer mixed numbers has dropped from 71s. per ton to 65s. per ton, while warrants at cash have fallen from 66s. to 62s. per ton. During the past three weeks, the volume of business has shrunk considerably, and it is stated that the make at present is much in excess of the demand. Stocks in the yards are increasing quickly, and unless there is a sudden spurt a further diminution of output must necessarily follow. The number of furnaces at present in blast on the coast is 21, 13 in Cumberland, and eight in North Lancashire. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have eight in operation, three each at Moss Bay and Derwent, while two furnaces at Oldside are employed in the manufacture of ferro-manganese. Cleator Moor and Millom have two each on draught. At Barrow there are five, North Lonsdale two, and Carnforth one in blast. There is not much life in the steel rail market, and unless trade improves considerably there is little prospect of anything like full time at either Workington or Barrow. The iron ore industry at Cleator Moor and Egremont is fairly busy, but things are not quite as brisk as they were a month ago.