November 20, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1079 Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 17/6-18/ 8/ - 8/6 7/6- 7/9 5/6- 6/3 4/6- 5/ 19/6-20/ 17/ -18/ 17/6 15/ 14/6 13/6 9/ 17/ -17/3 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/ 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/6 11/6 14/ 11/6 7/6 16/ -16/6 15/6 27/ -30/ 22/ -26/ 19/ -20/ 21/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ —22/ . 20/ 18/6 7/6- 7/9 *7/ 5/6- 6/ 4/6- 5/ 20/ -20/6 17/9-18/ 17/6 15/ 15/ 14/ 9/ 17/3 16/9 16/3 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/ -17/6 14/6 11/ -11/6 14/ 11/6 7/ - 7/6 16/6 15/ -15/6 26/ -30/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 22/ -22/6 Last year’s prices. 20/6-21/ 19/9-20/3 19/ -19/3 10/9-11/ 10/6 7/6- 7/9 6/6- 7/ 19/ -19/6 17/ -17/6 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6- 14/3-14/6 13/ -13/3 12/6-13/ 18/ -18/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -16/3 15/3-15/6 20/6 17/6-18/ 17/3-17/6 14/6-15/ 12/ -12/6 13/6-13/9 11/6 8/ - 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/6 27/ -28/ 23/ -25/ 19/ -21/ 24/ -24/6 Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary dryS Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals :— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) to its allocation. Bituminous coals show practically no alteration, although business is dull. The patent fuel trade is suffering from depression, and unless an improve- ment sets in in the near future it is probable that several works will close down. As it is, one or two important firms are only producing quarter output. Prices are low, best brands offering at 16s. to 16s. 6d., and second grades at 15s. 6d. It is hoped that the contracts for the Algerian State Railways for 102,000 tons, the French State Railways for 50,000 tons, and the North of France Railways for 10,000 to 20,000 tons will soon be settled, and that they will be secured by this district. The orders are urgently needed to keep works going. The scarcity of wagons is affecting the pitwood trade, and current prices are not more than 21s. 6d. per ton. The statistical returns published by the London Custom House show a great falling off in the exports of coal from the Bristol Channel during the month of October. The total quantity was only 1,711,982 tons compared with 2,616,148 tons in the corresponding month of last year. From Cardiff the shipments were 1,076,781 tons compared with 1,715,356 tons, from Newport 339,127 tons against 368,669 tons, from Swansea 196,138 tons against 323,595 tons, and from Port Talbot 87,662 tons compared with 179,281 tons last October. The following table shows the quantities consigned to the principal foreign countries and British possessions compared with the tonnage despatched in the corresponding month of 1913 :— October October 1914. 1913. Tons, Tons. Russia .................. Sweden .................. 23,510 Norway...................... 5,635 Germany ...................... — Netherlands................. 6,421 Belgium ................. 16,532 France.................. 569,479 Algeria................... 1,807 French Somaliland............. — Reunion .................... 5,149 Portugal ................ 38,606 Azores ................... 5,420 Spain ................... 94,267 Canary Islands .......... 23,780 Italy .................. 396,739 Italian East Africa...... 5,338 Austria-Hungary .............. — Greece ................... 6,307 Bulgaria ..................... — Roumania...................... — Turkey (European) .... — „ (Asiatic)............. 8,115 Egypt .................. 128,247 Tunis ................... 10,179 Chili .................... 7,482 Brazil .................. 49,166 Uruguay ................. 42,195 Argentine Republic ... 153,618 Channel Islands .......... 4,323 Gibraltar ............... 12,874 Malta and Gozo ........... 3,794 Cape of Good Hope ..'..... 203 Aden and Dependencies.... 16,967 British India ............ 9,964 Ceylon and Dependencies... 16,834 Hong Kong..................... — 48,515 20,791 13,242 25,297 9,423 42,116 600,534 61,386 5,861 2,597 56,249 2,593 135,954 38,354 587,049 29,392 49,315 9,073 33,288 22,785 20,192 165,332 13,268 20,522 128,129 32,609 261,358 6,646 18,834 36,731 5,351 20,881 13,198 23,764 12,064 IRON. During the last week prospects have been rather brighter in the tinplate trade, and there has been a better enquiry. The decision of the Government, however, to prohibit exports to Holland, Denmark, and Sweden has, however, hit some makers rather badly, and it is anticipated that some 40 mills will be closed down in consequence. This action has been taken as the result of certain abnormal enquiries which have come from neutral countries, and after investigation it was discovered that the German Government were in the market for 80 million cans for the carriage of petrol and food. The South Wales manu- facturers were on the alert, and at once decided to take no action which was likely to give facilities to an enemy country, and their attitude has been supported and confirmed by the Government prohibition. Shipments last week amounted to 51,558 boxes against 183,826 boxes in the corresponding week of last year. Receipts from works were 62,059 boxes compared with 71,646 boxes the previous week, and 118,546 boxes last year, leaving stocks in docks warehouses and vans 235,159 boxes, compared with 224,658 boxes the previous week, and 262,790 boxes in the corre- sponding week of 1913. So far as prices are concerned there is a little firmer tone, Bessemer standard cokes being 12s. 7|d. to 12s. 9d., 18| x 14 sizes 13s. to 13s. 3d., and 20 x 10 sheets 18s. to 18s. 3d. In the galvanised sheet trade several substantial orders have been placed by the Government, but so far as can be ascertained at the time of writing only one parcel has been received in South Wales, the other portions having gone to Midland manufacturers. For 24-gauge corrugateds .£12 per ton is asked, but this quotation is being slightly shaded for prompt specifications. In the iron and steel industry there is rather more activity, and makers hold optimistic views as to the future. It is considered that there will be large demands for constructional steel and iron, and already pre- parations are being made to cope with a largely increased trade. Welsh tin bars are officially quoted at £4 15s. for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities. Welsh pig iron is 68s. to 69s. f.o.t. There has been a firmer enquiry for iron ore, although up to the present not much business has resulted. Best rubio is 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., second grade 14s. 6d. to 15s. 6d., Almeria 17s. to 19s., and an excellent grade of South Spanish ore at 16s. 6d. to 16s. 9d. In scrap metals there is a better tone, and prices are firm. Heavy wrought is 50s., steel scraps 53s., doubleheaded iron rails 65s., steel ditto 60s., mixed sections 57s. 6d., and cast scrap 54s. per ton. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market locally is still fairly good, but the big scarcity of tonnage, it is feared, will go a long way towards upsetting the position. By far the greater quantity of coal is shipped to the Continent, but as boats are more difficult to secure, stocks are accumulating. Prices have been remarkably good - better, in fact, than they have been for a long while—but they may now get easier. There is a good enquiry for anthracite large, and for nuts for stove purposes there is a good demand. Beans and peas are also going well. There is an excellent enquiry for large steam, and collieries have more orders than they can do with. Prices, too, are very firm. Through and small sorts are also going better. Prices this week approximately are :— Prices f.o.b. Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large 23/ -24/ Secondary do. 20/ -21/ Big Vein large 19/ -21/ Red Vein do 14/ -15/6 Machine-made cobbles... 22/ -23/ German nuts 22/ -23/6 French do 23/ -24/6 Paris do 23/ -24/6 Machine-made beans ... 19/ -22/ Do. peas 13/ -13/6 Culm 4/ - 4/6 Duff 3/6— 4/ Other sorts:— Large steam coal 18/ -20/ Through-and-through... 10/9-11/3 Small 8/ - 9/ Bituminous small coal... 9/ -10/ L’st week's Last year’s prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/6 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/6 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 19/ -22/ 13/ -13/6 4/ - 4/6 3/6- 4/ 18/ -20/ 10/9-11/3 8/ - 9/ 9/ —10/ prices. 21/ -22/6 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 20/ -21/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 18/ -20/ 12/ -13/ 4/9- 5/3 4/ -5/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 9/ -10/ 10/ -11/ Swansea. COAL. During the past week the trade of the port experienced considerable depression. The bad weather and shortage of tonnage, in addition to the prevailing war conditions, adversely affected the coal and patent fuel trades. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 51,975 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change this morning, and the anthracite coal market was easier, owing to the shortage of ready tonnage. Sellers were prepared, for spot lots, to accept less than current quotations. Red Vein large, however, maintained its strong position, but machine- made nuts and cobbles were easier. Rubbly culm and duff were both weak. In the steam coal market large was not quite so firm, whilst smalls were without improvement. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/6-24/6 21/6-24/ Secondary do. 20/6-22/6 20/6-22/6 19/6-21/6 Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 19/6-22/ 19/6-21/6 17/6-18/6 Red Vein large do. ... 15/6-17/ 13/6-15/6 14/6-16/ Machine-made cobbles (net) 22/6-26/6 21/ -23/6 21/6-24/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/6—26/ French do. do 23/6-26/6 23/ -25/6 23^6-26/ German do. do 23/6-25/6 23/ -24/6 23/6-26/ Beans (net) 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/6-18/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/ 13/3-13/9 Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm(less 2| p.c.) 3/9- 4/6 3/9- 4/6 4/6- 5/6 Duff (net) 2/9- 3/6 2/9- 3/6 3/ -4/ Steam coals:— Best large (less 2|p.c.) 18/9-22/6 18/9-22/6 19/ -20/ Seconds ‘ do. 15/9-16/6 15/9-16/6 14/6-15/6 Bunkers do. 10/3-11/ 10/3-11/ 10/6-11/6 Small do. 5/6- 8/6 5/6- 8/6 7/ - 7/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 13/6-14/6 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 10/ -10/9 10/ -10/9 10/ -11/ Patent fuel do 15/6-16/6 16/ -16/6 17/6-18/ IRON. The trade of the district showed some slight improve- ment during last week. The pig iron plant at Landore was in full operation, and a good yield was registered. The tin-plate trade was again a little busier, but stoppages still prevailed at the sheet mills. The position at the Landore Steelworks was unchanged, considerable alterations of plant taking place. The bar-rolling mills were doing well. The Mannesmann Tube Works were actively engaged. Shipments of tin-plates last week were 51,558 boxes, receipts from works 62,059 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 235,159 boxes. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, November 19. The London coal trade for the past week has shown a considerable amount of activity as compared with the few weeks previous, and buying has been much more pro- nounced. The colder weather has undoubtedly had a good deal to do with this improvement in the trade, particularly as the returns from the colliery districts show the weather to have been more severe than in the Metropolis, accom- panied by a heavy fall of snow, and generally indicating the commencement of a somewhat severe winter season. The bulk of the merchants, however, report a paucity of orders from the general public, but all agree that the trolley trade and the dealers’ trade has consider- ably improved. During the few weeks immediately preceding the present one, the factors held aloof from buying, and stocks were beginning to accumulate very rapidly at many of the collieries and at the London stations, so that merchants began to fear a reduction, and were only buying from hand to mouth. Now, however, that the demand has so far improved there is a marked increase in the number of orders, and the tone of the market is steady and firm. No great alteration has been made in the prices yet, but the principal collieries have sought to withdraw all special quotations, and to level up their quotations to the full current list. Soft coals are still offering very cheap, and comparatively few orders are obtainable. In the seaborne market no Durham quotations are published. Sharlston Wallsend (Yorkshire) is the only quoted price—viz., 21s. 6d. per ton in the Thames. Fifteen contract cargoes of Durham coal were entered for Monday’s market, and three for Wednesday, making only 18 cargoes since Friday last, but all sold previous to arrival. Bakers’ nuts and the best qualities of Silkstone coal have maintained a steady trade all through, but all other qualities, until the cold weather set in, were difficult to sell. Even now the heavy stocks on hand at nearly all the depots and at the usual junctions are keeping the market for these qualities somewhat slow. The attendance on ’Change has been much better during the week, and colliery representatives have declined to book further at the low prices prevailing last week. Many of the contract buyers who found them- selves handicapped by the heavy tonnages coming forward have arranged for the deliveries being spread over a longer period than originally fixed. Yorkshire coals are still selling at comparatively low rates, and Leicestershire qualities have also been quoted very low. Slacks and small nuts seemed to have reached their lowest, and during the week prices have slightly advanced, but the margin is still very wide as compared with the prices current before the commencement of the war. Yorkshire best hards are still quoting at 12s. 6d. to 13s. f.o.b. the Humber ports, and Derbyshire hard steam at 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d. f.o.b. Gas coals are slowly improving in demand; altogether a more cheerful tone is everywhere noticeable on the market, and it is certain that the railway tonnages are increasing. The scarcity of tonnage in the seaborne market is keeping the export trade very quiet, and freights are ruling high. France and Italy are reported to be buying more freely, but owing to the recent heavy losses on c.i.f. shipments, merchants are only prepared now to deal with f.o.b. busi- ness. Best Blyth steams are quoted at 13s. 3d. f.o.b., smalls from 8s. to 8s. 3d., Tyne best steams 12s. 6d., and seconds from 10s. 9d. to 11s. 3d., Durham gas coal, best 12s. 6d., and seconds 10s. 9d. to Ils. f.o.b., and Cardiff Admiralty qualities are quoting 20s. to 22s. f.o.b. The London Metal Exchange is still closed, but the reports show a slight improvement in the business doing. On the Mersey side the tonnage is much better, but the shipments at all the Humber ports are very limited. Notice is given that an Order was made on November 13, 1914, restoring the Letters Patent granted to Louis Alfred de Mayo for an invention for “ Improvements in apparatus for coaling vessels,” numbered 18509 of 1904, and bearing date August 26, 1904. The King has approved of the following award this year by the president and council of the Royal SocietyA Royal Medal to Prof. William J. Sollas for his researches in palaeontology, especially in the development of new methods. The following awards have been made by the president and council:—The Copley Medal to Sir Joseph Thomson for his discoveries in physical science. The Davy Medal to Prof. William Jackson Pope for his researches on stereochemistry aiid on the relations between crystalline form and chemical constitution. The Hughes Medal to Prof. John S. Townsend for his researches on electric behaviour of gases. The Highways Committee of the London County Council has lately had under consideration the question of the facilities available for the storage of reserve supplies of coal for the Greenwich generating station, and now reports that the reserve should be increased by a further 10,000 tons. The committee also mentions that it has been in communication with Messrs. Wm. Cory and Sons Limited, the present contractors for the supply of coal for the generating station, who are prepared to supply 10,0C0 additional tons of coal at the price included in their contract, with an addition of Is. a ton to cover war risks. The company will unload the coal from steamers at its Purfleet wharf, stock it, store for a period not exceeding 12 months, reload the coal into barges, and deliver to the generating station as required by the Council upon pay- ment of an additional sum of 4s. a ton, making a total additional charge of 5s. a ton above contract price. It is also proposed that the Council shall have the option during the next 12 months of extending the arrangement for a further period of six years, and if such an extension is made the payment to be made to the company will be at such lower rate than the 4s. a ton above mentioned as shall be agreed. The total expenditure involved by the scheme is estimated at .£9,500.