July 16, 1915.

121

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN
________________________________________________________________________________

are firmer, on the basis of 158 mk. for ordinary, and up
to about 190 ink. for better qualities, ex works. The
demand for bars and girders for building purposes suffers
from the stagnation in the building trade; and no revival
in this respect is to be expected for the present. Never-
theless, on account of the increased cost of production,
the basis price has been raised to 138mk., ex Dieden-
hofen, for delivery up to October 1. Rivets, bolts,
screws, etc., are also dearer, but meet a ready sale.

____________________________

TRADE AND THE WAR.

The attention of the St. Pancras Electricity Committee
has been called to the very heavy increase in the cost of
coal of about 50 per cent., which will have to be met during
the ensuing year. This, with the general increase of prices
of raw materials, will operate in adversely affecting the
financial results of the year’s working of the undertaking.
Hence an increase of 10 per cent, is proposed in the charges
for current.

Lord Aberconway, presiding at the annual meeting of
Messrs. John Brown and Company, Sheffield, last week,
said the company were in a very difficult position as regards
the price of coal. They must not suppose that the coal
owners were trying to force prices up; they did not want
to force them up unduly. If they took the average price
of their coal contracts standing on their books on March 31,
the last day of the financial year under review, they would
find they were only 7d. per ton higher than the prices of
coal on their books 12 months before. And yet all costs
had been going up. The cost of pit wood had doubled, the
cost of stores had increased, wages were higher, and now
the recent war bonus given to the colliers had come as a
very, very serious charge on an output which, so far as
prices went, had not yet fully responded to this increased
cost. As an illustration, he said he had the previous day
the figures of a colliery before him. He found that the war
bonus to the men for the month amounted to nearly 1-3,000,
and yet the total profit of that pit for the month was less
than £200. Nobody could say the coal owner was walking
off with the bulk of the profit in that case. A general
meeting was held in Sheffield the previous day of a company
that had been established seven or eight years, with a large
capital, and had never paid a dividend; this year its profit
for the first time amounted to the gigantic sum of £400.
They saw coal owners had to take the rough with the
smooth, and all they asked was that they should get a fair
return on the capital interest. There were schemes afloat
for reducing excessive coal profits. He did not know himself
whether they were very practicable or not, but he thought
the proposal to limit the export of coal to foreign countries
would be useful in that direction. It had undoubtedly
knocked down the price of steam coal very considerably,
and quite rightly too, but he hoped, on the other hand, care
would be taken not to limit exports to countries from which
necessary supplies were imported. What they wanted was
better working on the part of their men left behind—less
absenteeism. If they would work their full time and
increase the output of coal, and if the Government would
judiciously limit export to neutral countries, he believed
coal prices would fall to a perfectly reasonable level, the
consumer would be satisfied, and the coal owner would
simply make a fair profit out of the trade.

A copy of a circular sent to Swiss users of dyestuffs in the
name of apparently all the firms engaged in the aniline dye
trade in Germany illustrates the methods which the Germans
are using to' bring pressure to bear on Swiss aniline dye
manufacturers, indirectly through the Swiss users of dye-
stuffs, with the object of stopping the export of Swiss manu-
factured colours to this country. That object has been
directly sought since the beginning of the war by the com-
plete prohibition of the export from Germany of all possible
raw materials that could be supposed to help the Swiss colour
manufacturers, and the Swiss industry, as a matter of fact,
has been kept working almost solely by British supplies of
raw materials. The signatories demand that the production
of dyes in Switzerland should be used in the first place to
cover home requirements, and they refuse to execute further
deliveries of dyes until absolute guarantees .are given against
direct or indirect export of colours from Switzerland to
Germany’s enemies. This refers also to all chemical pro-
ducts which are in any way used for the manufacture of
colours.

Reporting to the Lambeth Borough Council recently as to
the suggestion of the London County Council that public
authorities might buy coal in the summer to sell in the
winter to traders engaged in supplying small consumers, as
it is believed that this would have a salutary effect in steady-
ing prices, the General Purposes Committee stated :—“ With
regard to the suggestion contained in the letter from the
London County Council, it must not be forgotten that if the
Borough Council were to purchase coal during the summer,
to be sold during the winter, the cost of carting the coal from
its storage place to the traders’ yards would have to be added
to the price paid for it. Moreover, it does not appear certain
at the present moment as to whether the Borough Council is
legally empowered to take such a step. We think, there-
fore, that the better course at the present juncture will be
for the Borough Council to adjourn the consideration of the
County Council’s proposal until later on, when the action
of the Government shall have been determined.” This report
was adopted without comment.

It has come to the notice of the Home Secretary that some
misunderstanding prevails as to the effect of the new regu-
lations under the Defence of the Realm Acts, providing for
exemptions from the Factory and Workshops Acts. The
effect of the regulation is not wholly to exempt any factories
from the protective provisions of those Acts, but to place
the factories to which it applies in the same position as Crown
factories and factories where Crown work is being done.
That is to say, during the present emergency, exemptions,
which must be applied for in advance, may be granted in
regard to specified provisions of the Acts by order of the
Home Secretary. If the occupier of any factory can show
that his work is required in the national interest, and that by
reason of the loss of men through enlistment and their trans-
ference to Government service, and of other circumstances
arising out of the war, it cannot be carried on without some
exemption, he should apply to the district inspector of
factories.

Mr. Lloyd George, at Llandrindod Wells last week-end,
was among the guests at an impromptu concert arranged by
visitors towards providing comforts for soldiers at the front.
At the close, the Minister for Munitions proposed a vote of

thanks to the chairman (Mr. Thomas, J.P., Ynyshir), and,
alluding to his connection with coal fields, remarked that
the Army needed coal just as much as the Navy, because it
was required to provide them with arms and explosives.
Unless they had sufficient of these, they had not an equal
chance in the great struggle now proceeding. Colliers, said
Mr. Lloyd George, had shown themselves almost too
patriotic, and some of the thousands who had enlisted were
being badly missed in the coal fields. According to what
he had learned from the front, these miners had made magni-
ficent soldiers, continually displaying courage that amounted
almost to recklessness. He hoped the miners left behind
would work harder than ever, so that their comrades in the
trenches would never be short of material to fight with.

There was a large attendance of shareholders at the
statutory meeting of British Dyes Limited, held in Man-
chester on Tuesday, and both the tone of the chairman’s
speech and the demeanour of his hearers indicated renewed
confidence and determination in the great work which has
been undertaken with Government assistance. Mr. James
Falconer, M.P., presided, and stated that they had already
received in cash from paid-up capital on the ordinary shares,
and on loan from the Government, a sum of £1,018,000.
The preliminary expenses were roughly £9,000. This left
£1,009,000 cash available, and out of that they had paid, or
it was estimated they would pay, a sum of £422,000 for the
purchase of the Read Holliday undertaking, leaving a
balance cash capital of £587,000. Their uncalled up capital,
however, was £492,000, so that their total cash resources
now amounted to £1,079,000. With regard to what had
been done by the company at the Read Holliday works since
they entered into possession, he remarked that they had
already doubled the output in weight of dyes, compared with
the average last year, and there was now in course of erection
plant, which had almost entirely been delivered, which it
was hoped would further- largely increase the output and
produce a greater variety of dyes. But while this looked
like a big step forward, it was, after all, but a comparatively
small proportion of the needs of the country in normal
times. Everyone knew the extent to which the market had
been dependent on supplies from Germany, and therefore
would not be misled into believing that the increased output
at the Read Holliday works would be anything like adequate.
Touching on the question of Swiss supplies, and Germany’s
threat to withhold supplies from Switzerland if exports were
made to England, the chairman acknowledged the friendly
business relationships which had existed between the Swiss
makers and their British customers in the past, and said he
thought a threat of the kind mentioned, coming from Ger-
many, was not likely to be received with favour in Switzer-
land. With regard to the future policy of the company, he
reminded the meeting that they had two objects in view :—
(1) to deal with the existing emergency, and improve it as
far as possible; and (2) to lay the foundation for a national
supply of dyestuffs, so that in the future, permanently, they
would be independent of a German supply. As to the first
object, it was of prime importance to secure a supply of dyes
for the country. Profits were a secondary consideration. The
directors were satisfied that, besides the present extensions,
they must establish new works, and set up an organisation
capable of the best that could be done. Although there were
difficulties as regards materials and plant, they did not con-
sider those difficulties insuperable in respect of a large number
of the products. Some it might not be possible to make
until the war was over, but, as regards the bulk, according
to advice received, they would be able to manufacture them
during the course of the war, subject to possible delays in
the matter of plant and some material. As to the question
of a permanent supply, this, he admitted, was undoubtedly
one of real difficulty. The directors, however, had resolved
to.make a beginning, and they proposed to establish the best
organisation for the purpose which could be found in the
country. It was very largely a scientific question, and it
was also an important practical question. The organisation
would consist, in the first place, of a research department,
for which they had a grant from the Government, and they
had invited to become the head of that department, with the
unanimous approval of the scientific experts consulted, Prof.
Morgan, of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, who had
had experience in the actual manufacture of dyes, and had,
in Dublin, largely devoted himself to laboratory work on dye
manufacture. In addition, they proposed a technical com-
mittee of the four experts whose names had already been
announced, who combined practical experience with
theoretical knowledge. And as, in order to keep the lead, it
was necessary to have constant research and a well-trained
staff of chemists in the works, the heads of a number of
university departments had been invited to form an advisory
council. In addition to the company’s own research depart-
ment, and separate laboratories in the works, he proceeded,
it was proposed to take advantage of special arrangements in
existence at the Leeds University in connection with study
and experiment in the manufacture of dyes. On the subject
of new works, he intimated that a site would soon have to
be selected, for the directors were resolved to lose no time
in the erection of new plant.

________________________________

Sulphate of Ammonia.—As was recently foreshadowed,
there has been a substantial hardening of prices, even though
the upward tendency has been manifested for some weeks
past. In forward the position is very strong, and it remains
to be seen whether the recent advances will accelerate
American demands, since £14 17s. 6d. has been paid up to
December. Closing prompt prices are :—

Rise ( + ) or
fall(-) on
the week.

London (ordinary makes) ....	£14/17/6	...	+2/6

Beckton (25 per cent.) ......	£14/5	...	+7/6

Liverpool .................	£14/15	...	+2/6

Hull .................................... £14/12/6	...	+2/6

Middlesbrough ............	£14/7/6	...	+5/

Scotch ports .............	£15/—£15/10	...	+10/

Wales ....................	£14/7/6	...	+7/6

Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. 12/lj	... + /1|

[Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent,
discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality;
allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.']

THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE.

Products. — There has been an advance
and other grades continue firm. The weak

Tar
benzol,
to be found in crude carbolic acid, which is the turn easier,
although there has been no change in crystals. Other pro-
ducts are all steady, and prices are well maintained. Nearest
values are :—

Benzols,

90’s .....

...............

............................

90’s North	...............

50’s	,,

in 90’s
point is

______

Trade Notes.

The American market for sulphate of ammonia is just now
of considerable interest, and also the estimation of proba-
bilities of some moment. America is a big buyer, and of
late has been holding off in a very marked way. There are
various things that will partly account for this, apart from
the rumoured increasing home production. Perhaps it was
only natural to assume that the spread of recovery coking
plants would mean a corresponding yield of sulphate of
ammonia, though benzol production wTas obviously the
primary cause for these extensions. There is another aspect,
however, which must not be lost sight of, and that is the
amount of ammonia that has been diverted to the production
of nitrate, for explosives, which is calculated to cause a
decreased output of sulphate of ammonia to the extent of
some 25,000 to 30,000 tons during 1915. Provided crop
conditions keep something like normal, this should mean a
quickened demand for sulphate of ammonia from Great
Britain. If this is not reflected in our export returns before
long, it will be necessary to look more widely and more care-
fully into economic conditions. Seeing how sharply sulphate
of ammonia is rising in price, if America means to buy
British sulphate of ammonia, she should soon be in the
market.

War or no war, will Austria be wanting sulphate of
ammonia shortly or not? The gas works of Austria have
always been laggards in sulphate of ammonia production,
and now their Minister of Agriculture is urging illuminating
gas producers to instal sulphate of ammonia plant. He
points out that the capital cost is low, relatively, and does
not take long to erect and get to work. As an inducement,
he projects the idea that their agricultural societies should
contract for all the sulphate of ammonia thus produced
locally. As far as supplying their wants in sulphate of
ammonia, we are out of it for very obvious and just reasons,
but what about plant? Will that now have to be made
contraband of war?

Once or twice the state of affairs in the vitriol trade of
the Swansea district has appeared contradictory of late. Now,
to all accounts, this trade is brisk, and supplies of raw
material arriving more freely; yet in about a fortnight’s
time the modern plant for the special production of sulphuric
acid, known as the Bryn Chemical Works, Llanelly, is to
be put up to auction. What is more, it is not, apparently,
to be sold as a going concern, but piecemeal. If the Govern-
ment had better technical advice, surely this works would
even now be turning out much-needed acid. Is there any
likelihood of its coming under Government control or subsidy ?

Truly it is depressing to see such things in the face of
the plain teachings of such competent men as Sir William
Ramsay and others, and especially the very pointed remarks
of one who should be the greatest authority on such matters,
namely, H.M. Chief Inspector of Alkali (and particularly
Acid) Works. He boldly states that if we are to be equipped
for coming international competition, it is essential that pro-
duction should be worked up to the highest efficiency as
regards low cost and high quality. He unhesitatingly avers
that the importance of the properly qualified chemist, and the
requisite training of the technical chemist, is not so fully
apprehended as it ought to be in “ many quarters both inside
and outside the industry.” It is a national characteristic
for each manufacturer to pursue his own course, but we now
have an almost complete volte face in our national prospects,
and he strikes a rightly warning note when he states the
need of weighing “ with the utmost seriousness the advan-
tages and disadvantages of the pursuit of traditional
methods.” He admits it is difficult to bring into line the
existing varying and conflicting interests, but can it be so
very difficult, if we really are British subjects, with our
nation’s welfare at heart?

Surely if ever it is nowT time we took warning from the
old French proverb of letting each one look after himself
in isolation, because nowadays that ends in the cry of
sauve qui peut, and it is well known that the corollary to
that is, and the devil take the hindermost.

The Board of Agriculture seems to be just about where
they were six months ago in the matter of helping to estab-
lish sugar factories and encouraging the cultivation of sugar
beet. These perpetual don’t-know-where-’e-are answers in
Parliament are becoming monotonous.

There is cause to hope for satisfactory export returns for
sulphate of ammonia during last month, as the total exports
of manures show an increase of about £53,000.

The Altna Chemical Company, of New York, which was
the first to exploit the Rittman processes, has now blossomed
out with a company at Montreal, where the manufacture of
explosives will be the main objective.

Returns for the week are :—Pitch, 66 tons, £257, 104 casks,
5 barrels: tar, 84,376 gals., £32 . 20 drums, 31 packages;
tar oil, £377; benzol, 50 tons Dieppe; toluene, 48 drums;
and sulphate of ammonia, 2,395 tons.

Rise (+) or
fall (-) on
the week.

... 4-/01

/Hl—1/
/10|-/ll
1/3—1/4
2/4
3/5—3/6
1/4—1/6

Toluol

Carbolic

Solvent

190 degs.), as in quality and package

Solvent naphtha, north (90% at

190 degs.), as in quality and package
Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ....
Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ....
Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ...........

,,	(f.a.s. west coast) ...........

Tar (per ton ex works) ...........

[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.]

acid, crude (60 per cent.)...
crystals (40 per cent.)
naphtha, south (90% at

2/1—2/2 ...

2/1—2/2
/6-/6f
/3-/3|

22/—23/
20/—23/6
21/5—25/3

________________________________

Cardiff Coal Sales Decision. — The Cardiff Chamber of
Commerce have resolved that after January 1 next
coal sales be net cash at 14 days, or cash against invoice, less
| per cent., at the option of the seller. The present system
is net cash at 30 days or cash against invoice, less J per cent.,
at the seller's option, the bulk of the business being done on
the latter basis.