July 9, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 77 amount of business was put through or partly arranged, and the new quarter opens with a heavier weight of business than three months ago, so that urgent orders can only be placed at makers’ terms. Considerable activity prevails in the bar trade, and second-grade bars are again rapidly climbing towards the new marked bar standard of <£12. No merchant iron was offered under £11 5s., and 'some rollers were firm for £11 10s. At the beginning of the quarter the price was £9 7s. 6d. to £9 10s., and of marked bars £10. Makers of small rounds, squares, and flats are mostly behind with their orders, and supplies •cannot be obtained anything like so fast as wanted. Prices, based on three-eighths sizes, run from £12 5s. to £12 10s. in a few cases, delivered in the district. The general quotation for gas strip was £11 5s. to £11 10s., which represents an advance of about £2 a ton since April quarter day. This branch is busy for the time being. In recent weeks steel strip has been gradually advancing till it is now offered at £12 to £12 10s. a ton, according to size, while some American strip is available at £12. A poor business continues to be recorded for galvanised sheets, and while from £22 to £23 are mentioned as prevailing quota- tions for what little is doing, these can scarcely be accepted as firm. Spelter is not so dear as recently, and can be bought forward at easier rates than for prompt delivery, but common charges are so heavy that the small amount of business about is scarcely worth having. Sales of black sheets are made on the basis of £11 5s. to £11 10s. for hard doubles. The market for pig iron is weak by comparison with finished material. Since the beginning of the quarter it has not advanced by more than 2s. 6d. or so a ton, and sellers contend that now it ought to be 7s. a ton or so dearer to bring it into line with finished iron. In anticipation, therefore, of a buying movement they are not keen to secure orders for distant delivery, and a lot of material is going into stock. Quotations, Northamptonshire forge 69s. to 71s., Derbyshire 72s. 6d., Staffordshire partmine 72s. 6d., common 66s. 6d. Business is done in steel at 5s. to 10s. above the association rates. American billets are a shade dearer, working out at about £7 12s. 6d. delivered here. The demand for steel for shell making is enormous, and is restricting output of other kinds. The Staffordshire Tinned Sheet Association reaffirmed the following prices: Coke 30s., charcoal 33s., best charcoal 35s. per cwt. to 20s. per ton being the average pit price. Steam coal remains firm at the same figures as quoted last week, with isolated cases of a reduction of about 3d. per ton. Gas coal still maintains a strong position at an average advance of 6s. per ton and upwards on last year’s prices, which brings the price up to 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d. per ton at pit. In the case of coal for shipment at the Mersey ports, the prices ruling during the past week have ranged from 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. per ton, and these figures will also apply to what nuts have been offered on the open market. Slack has obtained from 8s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per ton at pit, according to quality, and gas coke is offered at 15s. to 16s. 8d. per ton at works. The retail prices at the landsale depots are from 23s. 4d. to 26s. 8d. per ton for the best house coal, with seconds, large, and cobbles at 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, kitchen slack being offered and purchased at, 12s. 6d. to 14s. 2d. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 15/ -16/ Secondary do 18/6-19/ 18/ -19/ 13/9-14/9 Steam coal 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 12/9-13/3 Gas coal 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/ 12/6—13/ Bunkers ’. 17/6-18/6 17/9-18/3 12/ —12/3 Nuts 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 11/6-12/ Slack 8/6-10/ 8/6- 9/6 6/ 2 7/6 Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 15/ -16/8 15/ -16/8 Best house coal 23/4-26/8 23/4-26/8 18/4-20/ Seconds 22/6-23/4 22/6-23/4 16/8-17/6 Slack 12/6-14/2 12/6-14/2 | 10/ -12/6 Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. Much activity continues to characterise the operations in the house coal trade of this district, and the collieries are all working full time. There are no stocks of any description. The shipping business especially is exhibiting a very strong tone, and at the moment there are a number of vessels awaiting attention. Two or three days’ delay in loading is inevitable. Orders from the railborne districts are becoming more plentiful, and prompt despatch of orders is impossible just now. AU steam qualities are selling well, but apart from contract business, the pressure of the past few months is not so pronounced. Prices at pithead. Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COAL. There is still great irregularity in the steam coal trade, conditions which make trading very awkward for both buyers and sellers. The difficulty experienced in obtaining licences for export still hampers business very considerably, and at present there are no indications that the authorities will relax their stringent regulations. The pending negotiations with the colliers are well in the mind of every man interested in coal, for it is by no means certain that trouble will be avoided. It is estimated by good authorities that to concede the whole of the new demands will add Is. per ton to the cost of coal at the pit head. This is a big percentage, and it is impossible to gauge the exact effect upon the trade of such an additional load. Tonnage arrivals for some days have been better, and stocks are reducing rapidly. Values are steady all round,’best qualities being quite firm, but there is a wide margin, according as collieries are well sold or otherwise. Chartering has been fairly brisk for outward boats, a fair amount of tonnage having been taken up at rates which show little difference from recent levels. Pit- wood continues a steady trade at moderate values, good wood ruling 25s. ex ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 16/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 15/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 15/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 15/ 15/ 10/ Large 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 13/6-14/ Small 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 10/ -10/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney ©r Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 8. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Trade has been moderately brisk during the past week at the local collieries. There has been a slight falling off in the demand, but not to any great extent. All the collieries apparently have been able to dispose of the whole of their output with freedom, there being no stocks noticeable in any of the sidings. The house coal trade naturally con- tinues to be dull, but there are a few enquiries on the market for spot lots and future deliveries. Most of the landsale depots are rather quiet at the present time. Liverpool Education Committee invite tenders for house coal. Things are still brisk in regard to steam coal, with buyers of all kinds. Kailway companies are pressing for a substantial tonnage on account of existing contracts, and it is stated that there are additional enquiries On the market for loco- motive coal. Then in the industrial department, the number of works employed on munitions and other Government work continues to increase, and correspondingly the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes is also increasing, and a good trade is being done in this department. With reference to shipping matters, a disastrous out- break of fire occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the Wallasey Docks, causing extensive damage. A goodly number of vessels have come up the river during the past week, many of which have been able to discharge their cargoes and re-coal with fuel from the local collieries. At the time of writing, there is a fair number of enquiries for shipment coal on the market, for delivery during the next week or so, the orders for which are most likely to come along to the North Wales coalfield. In the gas coal trade, there are a few more contracts to be completed, but not many, as the bulk came into operation on July 1, since when a goodly tonnage has gone forward on account of the new contracts and at the new contract figure. Now that they have to pay the increased price for coal, the gas companies are getting more than ever concerned, and during the past week, quite a further number of other companies have decided to increase the price of gas. The demand for small coal remains fairly steady. Nuts are particularly scarce, and slack is disposed of without any difficulty. In regard to prices in general, there has been no change in the prices of best and seconds house coal, 18s, 6d. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals .... Secondary do......... Inferior do.......... Screenings .......... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts..... Other sorts:— Best house coal....... Secondary do......... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ......... Current prices. 25/ -25/6 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 19/ —20/ 17/6-18/ 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 18/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -19/6 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 34/ -35/ 32/ -33/ 38/ -40/ IRON. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 26/ -27/ 23/ -25/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 18/ —18/6 19/ -20/ 19/ -19/6 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 34/ -35/ 33/ -34/ 38/ -40/ prices. 17/ -17/6 16/ -16/3 15/6-15/9 15/ -15/3 8/ - 8/6 7/6- 7/9 7/ - 7/6 8/3- 8/6 11/9—12/ 11/9-12/3 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 19/ —20/ 17/6-18/6 19/ -24/ As usual during the week preceding the quarterly meeting, only a small amount of new business has been put through. Speaking generally, the undertone of the market is confident, and values in all departments are well maintained. No material alterations in values are anticipated for the busi- ness held over for the'meeting. In the bar market there ■is no change to report, quotations remaining firm on the basis of £7 10s. for both Siemens and Bessemer. Steel rails are firmer, and quotations difficult to obtain. Nominally, values are on the basis of £8 5s., but in most instances makers are asking 5s. more. Despite freights being easier, and also iron ore, which is now being offered at 24s. for best rubio, Welsh haematite continues both scarce and firm. As much as 110s. has been demanded, while nothing less than 105s. is spoken about. Enquiry is strongly maintained, and the trend is towards higher values. Further strength is reported in the tin-plate trade. Enquiry continues good, and with works well placed for orders, urgent lines can only be booked at makers’ prices. Latest quotations have advanced to 19s. 6d. for Bessemer or Siemens primes, 20x14x112, with other sizes and grades according. Cardiff. COAL. Since last week the market has been very irregular. The uncertainty which prevails with regard to the labour question is exercising a detrimental effect on business, and the restrictions imposed on the trade by the Govern- ment make it very difficult to do any business at all. Although, as announced last week, the agreement which was come to, whereby the men should work on day-to- day contracts, had the effect of preventing a wholesale stoppage in the coal field, in many instances the men had made their arrangements, and were not prepared to resume operations on an eleventh hour notice. The result was that on Thursday especially, many pits were idle, and even on Friday large numbers of the colliers had not gone back to work. Complaint is made even now that very little is being done by the Government to avoid a cessation of labour on the 14th inst., although negotiations are in progress between the parties to arrive at a modus operands. The stoppages which took place at the end of last week had the effect of considerably reducing the stocks of coal in the sidings, and the market has, in consequence, been a trifle firmer, especially for prompt tonnage. Many firms will not entertain business at all for a few weeks ahead, because they do not know what is going to happen. Some people openly advocate a scheme by which the whole of the collieries should be taken over by the Government, in the same way that the railways are being controlled, and thus put an end to a position which is described as intolerable. Shipments last week amounted to 339,828 tons compared with 488,343 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 148,515 tons. From Cardiff the exports were 189,363 tons, against 330,393 tons, or a decrease of 141,030 tons. From Newport there were exported 74,482 tons, or a decrease of 65,232 tons ; from Swansea 46,856 tons, or an increase of 62,131 tons. From Port Talbot the total was 29,127 tons, or a falling off of 7,175 tons. Cbarterings during the week were rather more satisfactory, the amount of tonnage taken up being 169,580 tons, compared with 152,230 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 17,350 tons. The aggregate decrease to date is nearly four and a half million tons, but of course these figures do not include boats taken up on British Admiralty account. With regard to prices, it is difficult to give figures which afford a trustworthy indication of the state of the market, as all transactions more or less are a matter of individual bargaining. All the best and superior second Admiralties are still retained by the Government for Admiralty purposes. Ordinary qualities command 26s. to 27s., and some inferior grades are to be obtained at about Is. less. Monmouthshire coals are considerably easier, best Black Veins not realising more than 26s., western- valleys 25s., and eastern-valleys 21s. to 22s. Washed coals are dearer than ordinary steams, best nuts being sold at 27s. to 28s., and seconds 25s. to 26s. Peas are 23s. to 25s., according to quality. In the small coal market there is a firmer tendency, owing to the fact that the congestion in the French ports is not so great as it was a few days ago. Best bunkers are quoted at 19s. 6d. to 20s., ordinary qualities 19s., and cargo sorts 15?. 6d. to 16s. In bituminous coals there is a very slow demand, and prices are exceedingly irregular. No. 3 Khondda large is offering at 25s., through- and-through 24s., and small 23s., but it is stated that in some instances large coal can be obtained almost at the same price as small. No. 2 large is 19s. to 20s., through 18s. 6d., and smalls 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. Coke is also a little easier, special being 42s. 6d. to 45s., ordinary foundry 38s. to 40s., and furnace 32s. to 34s. Although patent fuel manu- facturers are well booked for some time to come, there is an easier tone, chiefly owing to the fact that small coals are obtainable at several shillings less than they were a .few weeks ago. For best qualities prices range from 33s. to 35s., and secondary grades are about 2s. less. Shipments last week amounted to about 33,000 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 7,125 tons, Newport 4,013 tons, and Swansea 12,708 tons. From Port Talbot there were shipped 1,880 tons. Pitwood has been coming forward rather more freely, and is offering at 26s. to 26s. 6d. per ton. As indi- cated above, the labour position is seriously affecting future business. Tenders for the Egyptian State Railways for 360,000 metric tons of coal have to be in by the 22nd inst., and in ordinary circumstances it is believed that a great proportion of this contract will come to South Wales and Monmouthshire. Many firms, however, are hesitating whether they should entertain the business at all, and should they decline to submit figures, it is believed that the bulk of the order will go to America. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals 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) Current prices. * * 26/ -27/ 19/6-20/ 19/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -15/ 25/ -26/ 21/ -23/ 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 25/ 23/ 18/6 26/3 25/3 21/3-22/3 19/ -20/ 30/ 27/ -29/ 25/ 24/ 23/ 19/ -20/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 33/ -35/ 31/ -33/ 42/6-45/ 1 38/ —40/ 32/ -34/ 26/ -26/6 L’st week’s prices. * * 25/ -26/ 19/6-20/ 18/6-19/ 15/ —16/ 14/ -15/ 26/ -27/ 21/ -23/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 22/6-23/6 21/ -22/ 19/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 21/ -23/ 19/ -20/ 30/ 27/ -29/ 28/ 25/ 21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 16/ -16/6 35/ 33/ 40/ -42/6 35/ -38/ 30/ -33/ 27/ -27/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/6 20/6-20/9 18/ 10/9 10/3-10/6 8/ - 8/6 7/ - 7/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 13/9-14/ 10/6—11/ 17/3 16/6 16/ 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/6-15/ 12/ 12/9-13/ 11/ 9/ - 9/3 21/ 19/ -20/ 27/ -29/ 22/ —25/ 17/ -19/ 18/6-19/ * Nominal. IRON. There is very little change in the position of the tinplate trade, and the shipments last week showed a marked falling off as compared with the average of the last two months. The exports only amounted to 58,256 boxes, compared with 90,419 boxes received from works, leaving 273,540 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans. The shortage of labour is much felt in certain districts, and large numbers of men are now being drawn upon foi the manufacture of munitions. Prices are steady. Bessemer standard cokes are 19s. 3d., and oil sizes, 18| x 14, 19s. 6d., and 20 x 10, 27s. 6d. per box. Steel bars are without alteration, and Siemens and Bessemer qualities are offering at £7 10s. per ton. In the galvanised sheet trade a fair amount of business is being done, chiefly on Government account, but enquiries from abroad are distinctly disappointing. Spelter has not fluctuated during the week, and .is still quoted at