November 20, 1914 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1074 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN customers to come into the market early for next year’s supplies, and a disposition on the part of sellers not to contract for such a long period. 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/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/3- 9/6 8/6— 8/9 8/ - 8/3 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 17/ 16/ -16/9 15/3 14/6-15/ 13/ 13/ -13/6 11/6-12/ 12/ -12/9 9/3- 9/6 8/6- 8/9 8/ - 8/3 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. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. There is a little improvement in the demand for house coal, no doubt due to the colder weather. Furnace coal is steady,, and shipping coal remains on the very quiet side. Slack is rather more in request, but for special lots low quotations are in evidence. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .............. Medium............. Common............. Furnace coal......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack .......... Common slack ........ Current prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 12/ 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/ 8/ -9/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 17/3-18/ 16/ -16/9 13/3-14/ 13/3-14/ 12/ , 12/6 13/ -14/ 14/ 9/6-10/ 10/ -10/6 8/ ~ 9/ 9/ - 9/6 per ton at the ovens, and this price also applies to short- term contracts. Buyers, however, are still declining to contract forward to any extent, and the business generally is of a hand-to-mouth character. Barnsley. COAL. There was a much better attendance at the local weekly market, and the enquiry, generally, was of a stronger character. The business done was largely on home account, the enquiry for export naturally being much quieter. The collieries continue to find the volume of business satis- factory under the exceptional circumstances, and with the improved demand for house coal, a slightly improved working period has been made, and more collieries are finding it possible to work the maximum period. With respect to best hards, there has been no material alteration during the week, and prices retain their firmness for home supplies. There has been greater difficulty in dealing with the reduced output of secondary qualities of large steams, and prices have further weakened to the extent of about 3d. per ton. All kinds of manufacturing fuel have been in good request owing to the more active conditions prevailing in manufacturing centres on Government account. Best washed nuts are particularly well cleared, and cheaper grades have also made a slight improvement during rhe week. The extra activity in the cotton districts has led on a larger consumption of slacks and small nuts, but so far no appreciable effect has been made upon the stocks of rough slacks, which are still fairly freely offered. There was again a rather stronger enquiry for screened gas nuts to supplement the deliveries arranged for under contract. In regard to the house coal trade, the more severe weather has quickly had an effect, and substantial orders are now being placed at the collieries for most qualities. There has been some little difficulty in obtaining the requisite deliveries of the best qualities of fuel, and prices have become a little stiffer. With regard to secondary qualities, business is being done nearer the official quotations than for some time past. Coke continues to be in sluggish demand. Prices at pit. collieries “ No stocks of any kind ; and no special prices.” Thus it is that work can be carried on at a fair and moderate profit, although the general expenses and charges are very materially above the normal level. The following are the prices now generally current at the collieries in this district:— ___________________ Per ton at pit. 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 .................... _______________________________ Current L’st week’s prices. 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 12/ -12/9 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/3 7/9- 8/6 1/6— J/9 prices. 13/6-14/6 : 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 12/ -12/9 11/6-12/6 10/- 10/6 ‘ 9/ - 9/3 ; 7/9- 8/6 i 1/6- !/9 9/ -10/6 ! 9/ -10/6 8/6- 9/3 i 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ t 7/6- 8/ _________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Although the demand is below the average for the time of year, there is sufficient doing to tax present resources. Transport difficulties tend to increase, railway deliveries are irregular, and a fall of snow, with its inevitable spurt to trade, would cause chaos. Householders would be well advised not to run matters too fine, and manufacturers will do well to get a reserve stock, especially as at the moment manufacturing sales are quiet. Prices remain as follow:— Prices at pit. IRON. There was a moderate attendance on ’Change in Man- chester on Tuesday last. There is very little fresh to report as regards the general trade of the district; there is nothing really to test the market and pig iron remains much the same as previously reported. The forges are not so busy. The Association price of Crown bars is still <£8 5s., with second quality <£7 15s., and hoops =£9 2s. 6d. Steel works are extremely busy, and are asking =£5 17s. 6d. net for billets, and £7 12s. 6d. to £1 15s., less 2| per cent., for bars, Canadian and American are offered at under these prices. Heavy engineers and boilermakers report not much doing. Wagon builders are short of orders. ________ ________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a good attendance at the market on Tuesday, and a fair amount of enquiry, especially for house coal and the best qualities of factory fuel. Colliery representatives reported from four to five days’ work at the pits, with a considerably reduced holding of house coal. The supply of empty wagons is still very limited, but the movements of mineral traffic are reported to be easier. The demand for house coal has improved appreciably with the spell of cold weather, and a fair number of orders have come to hand from London and the district. Supplies of best coal are strictly limited, and deliveries from the collieries are said to be in arrears. The coastwise trade is very seriously limited, owing to the scarcity of suitable craft and the very high rate of freights. It is reported that sales of medium quality house coal from this district have been made at about 13s. 9d. f.o.b. Goole. In the local markets merchants report a distinct improvement in the retail trade, especially in regard to the cheaper qualities suitable for bagging. Pit prices are firm, and may be quoted as follow:—Haigh Moor selected 18s. to 19s., Silkstone best 17s. to 18s., Silkstone house 16s. to 17s., other qualities 13s. to 14s. 6d. The gas coal pits are able to dispose of their output in satisfaction of contract requirements. One or two enquiries are still circulating for prompt supplies to works in the south of England, but apart from this there is not much new business. Further sales of screened gas coal for ship- ment at Hull are reported at about 13s. 3d. f.o.b. The position with regard to factory fuel is satisfactory, except for small slacks, which are dull on the market. Best slacks and washed fuel are, if anything, a shade firmer on the week. There is no change in the position of washed furnace coke, open market sales being registered at about 10s. 6d. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 15/ 15/ 15/ -15/3 Secondary do 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/6 12/6-14/ Best house nuts 12/9-13/6 10/9-11/6 12/9-13/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 10/9-11/ Best hard coals 11/3-11/6 11/3-11/6 12/ -12/3 Secondary do 10/ 10/3 11/ —11/3 Best washed nuts 10/3-10/6 10/3-10/6 11/3-11/6 Secondary do 9/6 9/6 10/3-10/6 Best slack 6/9- 7/ 6/9 7/3- 7/6 Rough do Gas coals:— 5/6- 5/9 5/6 6/ - 6/6 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/ -12/3 Furnace coke 10/3-10/6 10/6 12/ Current L’st week’s Last year3 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 House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best Current prices. 14/6-15/ 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 17/ -17/6 15/6-16/6 13/6-14/ 12/9-13/6 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/3 9/ - 9/6 10/3-10/9 9/3- 9/9 9/ - 9/6 9/ - 9/6 6/9- 7/6 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 10/6 Do. house House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best Silkstone best Do. house Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal Gas nuts Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts Large double-screened engine nuts Small nuts Rough unscreened engine coal Best rough slacks Small do. Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 13/ -14/ 12/6-13/ 11/6-12/ 17/ -17/6 15/6-16/6 13/^-14/ 12/9-13/6 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/3 9/ - 9/6 10/3-10/9 10/6 prices. 14/6-15/ 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 14/6-15/6 14/ -14/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 10/ -10/6 10/3-11/ 9/9-10/6 9/ - 9/6 9/3- 9/9 7/ - 7/6 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 12/ -12/6 Hull. COAL. Though business remains very quiet, there seems to-day to be a somewhat better tone in the export market. The demand for steam coal is restricted, but there are one or two enquiries circulating for odd cargoes. The main difficulty is, of course, the supply of shipping tonnage, which is not plentiful, and can only be had at exorbitant rates. Since last week freights for the Mediterranean have eased a little, and we hear to-day of a 3,000-ton steamer being booked from Hull to Genoa at 16s. 9d. (Genoa- Savona charter), which is Is. lower than a week ago. French ports have also advanced, and tonnage for these has been booked at 9s. 6d. to 10s. Rouen and other ports, to which the principal shipments from Hull are now being made. There is plenty of South Yorkshire steam coal offering, and is quoted at 12s. 9d. to 13s. for prompt shipment, while secondary sorts are a little more in request at 11s. to 12s. 6d. Best Derbyshire steams are still being sought after by Sweden, and 13s. 6d. at Grimsby or Immingham represents the current value. House coal is in fair request at late rates, and gas coal is moderately well sought after. The shipment of coal from Hull continues good. The foreign export return for last week gave a total of 48,474 tons coal and 1,955 tons coke, these being exclusive of ships’ bunkers and also coal shipped to the order of the British Admiralty and of the Governments of our Allies. The major portion (28,164 tons) was sent to Rouen, the next principal customer being Sweden with 10,533 tons. The total exceeds those of any of the three preceding weeks, each of which was also over 40,000 tons. Germany, Russia and Belgium being cut off makes a big difference when comparison is made with last year. There is a good deal of coal yet to go to France, but unless Mediterranean shipments improve, the export seems likely to fall off still further. _________________ Leicestershire. COAL. The swing of the pendulum is again in favour of full activity at all the collieries in this district. One very gratifying feature in the expansion in the demand and in the business done is that the improvement is general and of a very healthy character. The advent of severe weather at an earlier period than usual has brought a very steady stream of new orders with pressure for immediate deliveries. Indeed the urgency for supplies is greater than at any time since the outbreak of the war. The best household coals command an active sale and prices are extremely firm. Coal merchants in all cases are taking the full quantities provided for, whilst in a considerable number of cases the demands show a considerable excess. The demand for cobbles is well maintained and there is an absence of fluctuations which always suggest instability. One extremely gratifying feature is the demand for all classes of manufacturing fuel. This fact gives great confidence to colliery managers, because it means a continuance of a large consumption in other qualities. All the collieries are working four and a-half to five days per week, and there is great unanimity in the reports from the IRON. The weekly meeting of the South Staffordshire iron trades brought no improvement in the position. They are still living upon the war demand, which, while substantial, is not sufficient to sustain them in a satisfactory condition. The export market is a very weak spot, and until there is a general resumption of the shipping business no material betterment can be looked for. It is anticipated that the rounding up of the “ Emden ” and “ Koenigsberg ” raiders will be a valuable aid in this direction. There has already been a renewal of enquiries on account of foreign buyers. Meanwhile pig iron continues on its downward course, and is now within a couple of shillings of the ante-bellum rates. Sales of Northamptonshire forge have been made as low as 50s., and 52s. may be accepted as the top price. Sales are fairly regular for small quantities, but a better trade is being done for foundry iron. The price of Derbyshire pigs is about 52s. 6d., and the same for Staffordshire part-mine. Buyers insist on the easiest possible terms to counteract the heavy prices they were called upon to pay in August and Septem- ber. Makers of best bars continue to report a satisfactory volume of business. For second-class bars, for which the demand is less steady, the maximum price is £7 10s., with the bulk of the business being done at <£7 5s., and <£7 7s. 6d. Nut and bolt iron is a shade cheaper at <£7 to <£7 2s. 6d. delivered Darlaston. Galvanised sheets constitute another weak spot in the market. With the overseas trade practically at a standstill, and the requirements of the Government insufficient to fill the void, prices have been declining for some weeks, and have now reached <£11 10s. to <£11 17s. 6d. Liverpool, with about 2s. 6d. extra for the home trade. A few deliveries have been made to Scandinavia, and more are expected. Black sheets are weak in sympathy, quotations being <£7 15s. to =£7 17s. 6d. for hard doubles. In a few special cases <£8 might be given. Gas strip is nominally maintained at <£7 10s. to £7 15s., but no difficulty is experienced in placing orders at 5s. to 10s. less. Copper sheets have jumped from <£72 to £74 a ton, and sellers reported a better demand. The steelworks are well employed. The district is getting its share of war orders, and apart from this the requirements for constructive work going on throughout the country are of considerably bulk. ______________________________ Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineers. — A general meeting of the members of the institute will be held at the University, St. George's-square, Sheffield, on Friday, November ‘27, 1914, at 3.30 p.m. The annual dinner will be held at the Grand Hotel, Leopold- street, at 6.45 in the evening. Tickets, 5s. each, application for which should be made to Mr. F. Oxley, The University, St. George’s-square, Sheffield. At the meeting a paper will be read by Mr. H. R. Webster on “A Firedamp Indicator,” and one by Mr. Wm. Maurice on “ The Case for the Electric Miner’s Lamp." The following paper will be open for discussion : “ Electric Miners’ Lamps Compared with the Combustion Tube Oil Lamp," by Mr. E. A. Hailwood.