1230 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December II, 1914. 14s. 6d., with other grades in proportion. Coke is rather firmer, special foundry being 28s. to 31s., ordinary 23s. to 27s., and furnace 19s. to 20s. Pitwood is dearer, at 23s. to 24s. In patent fuel there were no shipments last week, but the increased cost of small coal has had the effect of advancing quotations, which are now 17s. to 17s. 6d. for best qualities. Other grades are 16s. to 16s. 6d. IRON. There was an improvement in the tinplate trade last week, but prices generally show little alteration. Shipments amounted to 49,448 boxes, against 64,848 boxes received from works. This compares with 119,292 boxes and 110,851 boxes respectively last year, and stocks in the docks ware- houses and vans now remain at 286,687 boxes. At the corresponding week last year stocks were 198,377 boxes. Prices for Bessemer standard cokes are 12s. 7|d. to 12s. 9d., and oil sizes 12s. 9d. to 13s. and 18s. to 18s. 3d. respectively. For the latter, however, there is little demand, and business is slow. In the steel trade generally there is a better out- look, and makers are anticipating better times. Welsh steel bars are still quoted at £4 15s. both for Siemens and Bessemer qualities, but a rise is expected at an early date. Welsh pig iron has advanced to 70s. to 71s. f.o.t. In the galvanised sheet trade there is great depression, and works are lacking orders; 24 gauge corrugateds are quoted at Til 10s. to Til 15s., but in some cases even less is being accepted in order to keep works going. In the rail trade the mills are fairly well occupied. Scrap metals are firm. Steel scrap is 54s., heavy wrought 52s. 6d., light 35s., double- headed steel rails 60s., iron ditto 65s., mixed sections 55s., cast scrap 54s., and new steel crop ends 60s. to 61s. Swansea. COAL. During the past week the trade of the port was very dull, owing to the extremely severe weather and consequent delay in arrival of tonnage. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 47,702 tons. There was a good attend- ance on ’Change, and the anthracite coal market continued to exhibit a firm tone. Swansea Valley large moved off satisfactorily, whilst Bed Vein large maintained its strong position. There was an excellent demand for machine-made nuts and cobbles, and these were difficult to obtain even at the high prices ruling. Beans were in better request, but peas were easy. There was no improvement in rubbly culm and duff. In the steam coal market large was steady, whilst smalls continued to improve. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... Secondary do. Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) Red Vein large do. ... Machine - made cobbles (net) Paris nuts (net) French do. do German do. do Beans (net) Machine - made large peas (net) Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm(less 2| p.c.) Duff (net) Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) Small (less 2| p.c.) ... Patent fuel do Current prices. 22/6-24/6 20/6-22/6 19/6-22/ 15/6-17/ 24/6-26/6 26/6-27/6 25/6-27/ 18/6-19/ 12/6-13/6 3/9- 4/6 2/9- 3/6 18/9-21/6 15/9-16/6 10/3-11/ 5/6- 8/6 17/6-18/6 10/ -10/9 15/6—16/6 L’st week’s prices. 22/6-24/6 20/6-22/6 19/6-22/' 15/6-17/ 24/6-26/6 26/6-27/6 25/6-27/ 18/6—19/ 12/6-13/6 3/9- 4/6 2/9- 3/6 18/6-21/6 15/9-16/6 10/3-11/ 5/6— 8/6 17/6-18/6 10/ -10/9 15/6-16/6 Last year’s prices. 21/6-24/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 15/ -16/ 21/6-24/ 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/ 23/ -25/6 16/9-18/9 13/3-14/ 5/3- 5/6 3/ - 3/6 19/6-21/6 14/9-15/9 11/3-12/6 7/ - 8/ 17/ -18/ 13/6-14/6 10/3-11/3 17/ -18/ IRON. There was a good demand for pig iron last week, and the blastfurnaces were steadily engaged. The tin-plate trade was a little busier, but several mills were still idle at various works. Bar rolling mills and tinning sets were doing well, but things remain very slack at the sheet mills. There was a good supply of steel ingots, and the average production of steel bars was shown. There was great activity in all departments of the weldless tube trade, and iron foundries and engineering works were busily engaged. The ship- ments of tin-plates were 49,448 boxes, receipts from works 64,848 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 286,687 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. There has been no material change in the coal market during the past week. The demand for nearly all coals continues to be good, but the difficulty in securing tonnage is rather upsetting the position. Collieries have all the orders they require, but the. scarcity of boats is causing pits to be idle several days weekly. For some of the qualities Prices f.o.b. . Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff ................ Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 23/ —24/ 21/ -22/6 19/ -21/ 15/ -17/ 24/ -25/6 24/6-27/ 24/6-27/ 24/6-27/ 19/ -21/ 13/ -13/6 4/ - 4/6 2/9- 3/6 18/ -20/ 10/9-11/3 8/ - 9/ 9/ -10/ L’st week’s prices. 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/6 19/ -21/ 15/ -17/ 24/ -25/6 24/6-27/ 24/6-27/ 24/6-27/ 19/ -21/ 13/ -13/6 4/ - 4/6 2/9— 3/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 19/ -20/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 18/ —22/ 12/6-13/6 5/ - 5/6 4/ - 5/ 18/ -20/ 10'9-11/3 8/ - 9/ 9/ -10/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 9/ -10? 10/ -11/ the demand is better than it has been for a very long time, and prices higher. Nuts, for instance, are most difficult to obtain, and orders cannot be accepted except on the under- standing that there will be two or three weeks’ delay in delivery. The reduction in the outputs caused by the scarcity of men has also considerably affected the position. Large coals, too, are all going well, and the pits raising the horti- cultural qualities are very busy. Beans and peas for gas purposes are not in great demand, and prices show no additional firmness. Culm and duff are difficult to dispose of. There is no change in steam and bituminous qualities; large continues to be in excellent demand at good prices, whilst through and smalls are going moderately well. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is firm all round, and prices are mostly inclined to harden. Toluol quotations are for the moment nominal owing to contraband restrictions. Pitch is quiet. Carbolics firmer, while 50/90’s benzol are reported at Is. 4d. naked. Nearest values are : — Benzols............................................. /10| Do. North........................................ /8|to /9 Toluol ............................................ 2/6 to 2/8 Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ............... 3/1 to 3/2 Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ................ 1/2 to 1/3 Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... I Si to /9 Crude ditto (in bulk) .................................. /5f Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ..................... /3y% Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ........................... 26/ Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ............................. — Tar (liquids in 1 ton) ........................... 16/6 to 18/ [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market shows more stability and prices are stiffening at most ports. The statistical position is satisfactory and makers will apparently be well advised to hold firmly for future delivery and carefully scrutinise any cut quotations in regard to source of origin and also the extent of the alleged sales. In the north .Til 7s. 6d. is asked. Closing prompt prices are:— London (ordinary makes) ........... <£10/5 Beckton ................................. £10/2/6 Liverpool ................................. Til Hull................................... £10/17/6 Middlesbrough..................... T10/16/3 to T10/17/6 Scotch ports ............................. £11/5 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 9/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less per cent, dis- count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] Trade Notes. All those interested in the sale of tar and associated pro- ducts can obtain particulars of the Regulations referred to last week on application to the Joint Committee of the Institution of Gas Engineers. The rules arranged by this institution apply to the United Kingdom only. The provi- sions apply to sliding scale contracts, price-fixed contracts, and also provide for the stating of a fixed price for the sale of pitch. Moreover, the distillers, gas authorities, or their valuers appointed to represent the whole body of producers in Great Britain will meet once a month to determine the values of the rest of the by-products other than pitch. It is advisable to watch the progress of the negotiations that are being carried out between the U.S.A, and German producers of coal tar products. The Society for the Protec- tion of German Chemical Industries is most obdurate in their declared purpose of preventing America obtaining intermediary products. The Americans argue that Germany needs American cotton more than the U.S.A, needs these tar products, and so they should be glad to receive American cotton and send back the intermediary products in the American bottoms. The Commercial Attache of the American Embassy in Berlin is prosecuting a special mission with a view to inducing the German Protection Society to withdraw from the position they have assumed. Up to now the results seem to be indecisive, though pressure is being put upon the Germans by showing that American chemical manufacturers are already taking active steps to produce for themselves what the Germans at present persist in with- holding. However, as Germany has given way to America in the matter of exporting potash salts solely suited for fertilising, possibly they may eventually give way in the case of the intermediary coal tar products. We do a good trade with the States, so it behoves those interested to keep a sharp eye on the development of these negotiations. It is noteworthy that by the end of November all exports of benzol ceased, and this week the returns are absolutely nil. It is difficult to say what will happen to toluol under the new Governmental Regulations, but it is improbable that prices will go any higher, if they manage to keep stationary. Some very interesting work upon the distillation of coal in a vacuum has been carried out by Messrs. Jones and Wheeler, with the object of gaining a more perfect know- ledge of the liquid products obtainable and their percentages when the distillation is made at 350 degs. Cent. It appears that the products obtained are practically the identical with those yielded at 430 degs. Cent. Up to now the experi- ments show that at 350 degs. Cent, about 1J per cent, on the? weight of coal used is extracted as tar and oils. The gravity of the tar is 0'964, and contains a little catechol. The gravity of the oils is 0’8358. The mixture of tar and oils contains 17 per cent, of phenols, and when treated in the usual way lost 44 per cent, in volume owing to the extraction of the olefines. The refined oil consists mainly of naphthines, as proved by the formation of the picrate when tested with picric acid. Last week the exports of sulphate of ammonia amounted to about 3.350 tons. Of pitch, 12,200 tons and £113 worth. Of tar, 3,520 galls, and £142 worth. The main plant of Thos. Edison at West Orange, New Jersey, valued at £1.000,000, has been destroyed by fire. Up to the time of going to press no reliable news can be gained as to whether the new carbolic acid plant has also been destroyed. though this is a current rumour. Possiblv it is true, because it was to be produced synthetically. Any way, it will add to the doubts expressed a few weeks back. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, December 10. The London coal trade for the past week has been very brisk. Both factors and merchants have bought freely, but the main difficulty has been the getting of the loaded wagons into the depots in readiness for working. Hundreds of coal-laden trucks are scattered about on the various railways, and yet the yards have been absolutely denuded of coal. Merchants who have heavy stocks on the ground are reaping a splendid harvest, but others have openly confessed that they have used up every ton of coal they have had. The weather has fortunately not been so cold as the previous week, but the wet weather and the scarcity of coal at the wharves and depots have made the wholesale demand unusually strong. The tendency of the pit prices has been towards a much higher level. The old current price lists are withdrawn, and prices arranged from day to day in accordance with what the colliery representatives may have for disposal. Derbyshire brights have had a specially good run, and from 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. have been easily obtained, whilst the best qualities of blackshale have ranged from 13s. 6d. to 14s. Delays on the railway for trucks in transit have amounted to a fortnight or even more, and empties have also been seriously detained on the way back to the collieries, so that a great scarcity of wagons seems imminent. The public, however, are not at present ordering very freely, but the merchants are all eager to get in a sufficient stock in anticipation of the coming Christmas orders. No change has yet taken place in the advertised public prices, although the question has been each market day seriously discussed. On Monday last it was decided to advance the dealers’ price Is. 3d. per ton, aad the trolley prices Id. per cwt., and it was reported also that one large firm had advanced their public prices also. It was, however, felt that the firm in question had been quoting at a somewhat less figure than the bulk of the merchants, and unless they are prepared to move up a further 6d. or Is. per ton, the trade generally were not prepared to advance beyond the present figure. In the seaborne market 18 contract cargoes entered the Port of London for Monday’s market, and 11 for Wednesday’s ; all, however, were sold beforehand, so that no actual figures were quoted. The Yorkshire quotations were all withdrawn. Steam coals have not been so brisk, but a strong demand has set in for small nuts, and also of slacks of all kinds. York- shire hards are quoted at 12s. 9d. to 13s., and the best qualities are 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d. f.o.b. at the Humber ports. In the Tyne district, freights continue very high, and the collieries are still working short time. Steams are quoted at 13s. to 13s. 3d. f.o.b., and gas coals at 12s. 6d. best and Ils. to 11s. 6d. seconds, f.o.b. Admiralty hard steam are still quoting at 20s. to 21s. 6d. f.o.b. at Cardiff, seconds 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d., and best anthracite 22s. to 23s. Some heavy enquiries for contracts are in the market at the present time. The War Office is asking for tenders for 46,000 tons of hard steam coal for Woolwich Arsenal, over the next three months, beside a number of enquiries for house and steam coal for a variety of commands over England. The North-Eastern Railway Company are also in the market for the next year’s steam coal supplies, and the Swedish State Railways are also wanting tenders for 130,000 tons of hard steam coal. The Christiania Gasworks are also asking for tenders of 5,000 to 10,000 tons of gas coal over the next two months. Some of the Humber ports report a more active condition of trade, and shipments are steadily improving, although the tonnage is considerably down as compared with last year. Bakers’ nuts and kitchener cobbles are selling freely, and the pressure to get the trucks into position for unloading is becoming more acute. Some of the Warwickshire collieries have with- drawn all quotations, and decline to quote on the open market for the simple reason that contracts absorb the whole of their output. One large colliery is said to be on fire in the district, and fears are entertained that certain Yorkshire collieries may be stopped over a dispute as to steel props and bars. The usual November and December fogs have had something to do with the rapid advance in the price of small nuts and nutty slacks, and although the heavy London fogs have not been so prevalent of recent years, yet the increase in the lighting both of the streets, and in the shops and residences over the metropolis, have considerably increased the consumption of gas and electric lighting, and an unusual demand has sprung up for smalls of all kinds. A new Admiralty order has been issued during the week with reference to the pilotage in the Channel, but it has very little reference to the navigation of the River Thames, except that the pilots can only hold a licence for 14 days at a time, and must be under the control of Trinity House. Prices are too irregular to quote. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, December 4.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, which continued quiet, with no sales reported. Sharlston W.E. York, 22s. 6d.; Sharlston Main, 21s. Cargoes 11. Monday, December 7.—The seaborne house coal market was somewhat depressed to-day, and enquiry very limited; no sales reported, and quotations for Yorkshire withdrawn. Cargoes 18. Wednesday, December 9.—The seaborne house coal market was again without alteration, the scarcity of supplies, however, did not cause any inconvenience. Cargoes 11. Institution of Petroleum Technologists.—At a meeting of the institution on Thursday evening. December 17, at the House of the Royal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, W.C.. the following paper will be read : “ Notes on the Development of the Trinidad Oilfields," by Prof. John Cadman. D.Sc.. M.Inst.C.E. The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.—The second general meeting of the 24th session of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy will be held, by courtesy of the council, at the Rooms of the Geographical Society. Bur- lington House, Piccadilly. London. W.. on Thursday, December 17. at 8 p.m. The following paper will be dis- cussed : “ Persistence of Ore in Depth," by Mr. T. A. Rickard.