July 23, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 177 growing opinion that the maximum advances have been reached, and that with anything like normal conditions further advances will be quite out of the question. The output continues to be dominated by the supplies of empty railway-owned wagons available, and coal merchants who own rolling stock are enjoying a very substantial preference both as to deliveries and prices. The output is still restricted to five days per week in consequence of the shortage of railway-owned wagons. On some days collieries have to depend almost entirely on private-owned wagons to keep the collieries working. At a number of the pits, orders are being declined altogether except for a few wagons which may be required to meet some exceptional circum- stances. There are no stocks at the pits, while prices are now very firm. The following are the quotations, subject to. special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. in forwarding. Heavy shipments are being made, and stems are longer than for some months past. The inland merchants are placing their orders very freely. All qualities of steam coals are eagerly bought up, the demand being much in excess of the supply. Prices all round are firm. Prices at pithead. House coals.-— I Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Block I 21/6 21/6 16/6 Forest 1 20/6 20/6 15/6 Rubble ' 20/9 20/9 15/9 Nuts i 19/ 19/ 14/ Rough slack \ 15/ 15/ 6/6 Steam coal:— Large i 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 12/6-13/ Small | 16/ !6/ 8/ - 8/6 Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. is at present unknown, prices are unobtainable, and collieries are for the great majority not accepting stems. In fact, to-day’s conditions are so uncertain that there is very great hesitancy in every direction, but no doubt business in a few days will regain more or less its normal channel. Figures quoted are those last prevailing on the market, and it must not be supposed that they represent to-day’s values. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals: — Current prices. Best Black Vein large... 25/ -25/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. Best household coal ..... Second, hand picked .... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ......... Bakers’ nuts............. Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. Current prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ 12/3-13/3 5/6— 6/6 15/9-16/9 15/6—16/6 14/6-15/ 15/9-16/9 13/9-15/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ 12/3-13/3 5/6- 6/6 15/9-16/9 15/6—16/6 14/6-15/ 15/9-16/9 13/9-15/ Last year’s prices. 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/6 11/3—12/3 10/6-11/ 10/ -10/6 9/3 8/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/3 2/ - 2/3 9/ -10/ 9/ - 9/6 8/3— 8/9 9/3- 9/9 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 22. Western-valleys, ordin’y 23/ -24/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 21/6-22/ Secondary do. ..J 19/6-20/6 Best small coals .....s 17/6-18/ Secondary do.......: 16/6-17/ Inferior do.......! 15/6-16/ Screenings .......... 17/9-18/ Through coals ........; 18/ -18/6 Best washed nuts......i 19/ -19/6 Other sorts:— I Best house coal.......I 27/ -28/ Wrexham. North Wales. COAL. Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ........ 25/ -26/ 34/ -35/ 32/ -33/ 38/ -40/ 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/ 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 20/ -23/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. People are awaiting developments in connection with the Bill to restrict prices, and there seems a tendency to expect too much from it. Business all round is maintained at a high level, but merchants find it growingly difficult to get men and horses for delivery purposes. All kinds of manu- facturing fuel are in active demand and lots of reserve orders are being placed for household coal. The men are reported to be working very well at the pits. Quotations are maintained as follow :— Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... 23/ 23/ 17/6 Do. seconds deep 21/ 21/ 15/ Do. best shallow 20/ 20/ 13/6 Do. seconds do. 19/ 19/ 12/9 Best hard 19/6 19/6 14/6 10/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 11/6 Slack 11/6 7/ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 21/ 21/ 15/6 Do. hand-picked cobs 20/ 20/ 13/ Best hard spires 19/6 19/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 16/ !6/ 10/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 16/ 16 9/6 Small (do.) 15/ 15/ 8/ IRON. The attendance on ’Change was of moderate dimensions. A fair amount of business was passed through, but buyers and sellers alike operate with caution in view of the uncertainty of the future. Consumers buy what they actually want at the time, but they want a good deal, so that producers are quite able to maintain values. In the steel section, in which most makers have an accumulation of orders, less demand is experienced for American semi- products, such as blooms, billets, and sheet bars, for August and September shipment. The reason is that prices have been steadily advancing, and have now reached a stage at which they are equal to those paid for English material, and for some sorts in excess. Delivered in this district, the price of billets works out at from <£7 15s. to =£8, according to specification, while <£7 15s. is the minimum for English billets. A steady business is being done in American finished steel, though in this branch, too, prices are going up. No change was notified in marked bars, though another advance is considered inevitable. In this branch makers are accustomed to act with great caution, because of the effect of any movement on other departments. For unmarked bars <£11 5s. is the absolute minimum, and transactions cover a range up to =£1112s. 6d., which is within 7s. 6d. of the marked bar standard. For puddled bars some firms are getting <£8. There has been no awakening in the galvanised sheet industry, though in normal times the approach of the harvest would have given a spurt to the home demand. Black sheets are being largely sold for emergency buildings ; it is obvious people will not care to pay the present high price for galvanised sheeting, and are postponing permanent structures till more favourable times. The demand for gas strip is main- tained at a high level, and quotations run from about .£11 10s. to <£11 15s. Deliveries in most branches by local houses are said to be improving. Pig iron remains the weak side of the market. Smelters contend that relatively prices are 10s. a ton too cheap, yet buyers keep pressing for further concessions, though, as far as could be gathered, without success. The lowest price for Northamptonshire was 68s. 6d., and for Derbyshire 70s. 6d. at South Stafford- shire stations. Staffordshire part-mine is around 72s. 6d. Copper sheets have fallen another <£2 a ton, the basis now being =£106. Generally speaking, things have been somewhat quiet in the local coal field during the past week, due to several reasons, but, nevertheless, there does not appear to be any accumulation of stock at any of the collieries. In the case of house coal there has been a certain amount of business transacted, but buyers, having regard to the present circum- stances of the case, in respect of what may happen in the near future as regards prices, are holding back somewhat, and are only buying for immediate requirements. The enquiries for future deliveries are also scarce, and the only public local enquiry this week is the Wrexham Union, who require prices for the supply of fuel to the workhouse for the ensuing three months. The landsale depots, too, are rather badly off for orders, but this, of course, is only natural at this time of year. The position of the steam coal trade also is somewhat irregular at the time of writing, and the forward market has a somewhat uncertain tone. The orders on account of contracts for railway companies, and manufacturing concerns, come to hand with freedom, and account for a goodly portion of the tonnage raised at the local pits, and these orders enable collieries to work full time without much difficulty. There has, however, been a considerable reduction in the shipping business, owing to the inability of shippers to obtain the necessary export licences, which has made this class of trade somewhat erratic. The demand for the gas coal qualities has been fairly satisfactory, and the majority of the tonnage is now going forward on account of the new contracts, which should be some material advantage to sellers from a financial point of view; naturally, however, in some cases there are arrears yet to be made up on account of old contracts, and there are some contracts which do not yet expire, and it is a ques- tion of some interest at the present time as to what figures the latter will be renewed upon. There is also a fairly good demand for small coal of good quality, for use in the local works engaged on the making of shells and other war munitions ; nuts, as usual, are very scarce, and cannot be obtained only under settled contracts, except at somewhat high figures. With reference to the general question of prices there has been little alteration in the price of house coal for the past few weeks, but quotations are at present but few, having regard to the Bill now before Parliament, and until this matter is definitely settled there is not likely to be many enquiries. Present figures range from 19s. per ton upwards for best grade house coals, with seconds about Is. per ton less. As regards quotations for steam coal the same remarks apply ; those which have been made as a necessity for immediate business have been from 17s. 9d. to 19s. at pit. In the gas coal prices the bulk of the contracts are fixed ; but those not settled are difficult to close, and it is hard to say at what price they will be fixed, but present quotations are 18s. to 19s. per ton. It is stated that at Birkenhead the extra amount they will have to pay for gas coal on account of the advance in their contract price will amount to about <£21,000 for the year, to meet which they are advancing gas by 3d. per 1,000 cu. ft. Coal for shipping business has been quoted during the week at 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. per ton at pit, and small coal from 8s. per ton upwards. Gas coke is quoted by the local gas companies 16s. 8d. to 18s. 4d. per ton at the gas works. IRON. Business is now come to almost a complete standstill in the local iron and steel trades, pending the restart of work at the collieries, and prices are now in all cases nominal. Several local works have had to curtail outputs owing to lack of coal, and these will be unable to resume much before the end of next week. It is most unfortunate that some of the works concerned are wholly engaged on munition work, and their production will be greatly delayed. Tin-plate bars show no change in values at <£7 5s. to <£7 10s. for Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars. Steel rails continue firm at =£9 to £9 5s. for heavy sections. Welsh haematite continues strong at 105s. to 110s., with iron ore also strong at recent values. The tin-plate trade rules active and firm, last quoted rates being fully maintained. Basis prices are again 19s. 3d. for 20 x 14 and 39s. for 28 x 20, both Bessemer and Siemens. Cardiff. COAL. Since last week the position has been one of much diffi- culty. The miners stopped work in almost all cases, and, of course, there was no business doing on ’Change. There were diversified opinions as to what might have been done to prevent the deadlock. The coalfield is to be congratu- lated on the fact that a settlement has now been arrived at. From a market point of view, whatever terms have been arranged there is not much difference in prices. But the uncertainty of supply has always played a most prominent part in contracts which have been arranged. As a matter of fact, first and second Admiralty qualities are already off the market and have not been quoted for several months past. Ordinary steams, of which quite a small quantity is available, are quoted at 25s. to 26s. per ton, but now that the difficulties have been overcome and the existing stocks have been wiped out, it is probable that quite 2s. per ton more will be realised. At the time of writing 25s. to 26s. was demanded for ordinary steams, and there was not much difference between these and Mon- mouthshire coals. Best Black Veins were 25s. 3d., western- valleys 23s. 9d. to 24s. 3d., and easterns 23s. 3d. per ton, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. The contract for 360,000 metric tons for the Egyptian State Railways was due for decision on July 22. Unfortunately the unrest which has prevailed in the South Wales coalfield since the beginning of the month has played a great part in the fixing of prices, and it is believed that several firms who would otherwise have quoted, have declined to take upon themselves the neces- sary responsibilities. The result is, therefore, that in all probability the great bulk of the coal required for the Egyptian State Railways will be obtained from American sources. As a matter of fact, there is very Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The demand for the house coals of this district is still very heavy, and all the collieries are hard pressed for deliveries. It is impossible to give anything like prompt despatch, and for some qualities there is over a week’s delay Prices at pit f.o.r.:— Best house coal ...... Secondary do.......... Steam coal............ Gas coal.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. Slack ................ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale:— Best house coal ...... Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current prices. 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 17/9-19/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 8/ - 9/6 16/8-18/4 23/4-26/8 22/6-23/4 12/6-14/2 L’st week’s'Last year’s prices. I prices. 19/ -20/ i 14/6-15/ 18/6-19/ ! 13/6-14/6 18/ -19/ ; 12/ -12/6 18/6—19/6 : 12/3-12/9 17/6-18/6 : 12/ -12/3 17/6-18/ ' 11/3—12/3 8/6—10/ i 6/ - 7/6 15/ -16/8 : 11/8-13/4 23/4-26/8 > 18/4-19/2 22/6-23/4 16/8-17/6 12/6—14/2 ! 10/ —12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. While the news of the settlement of the coal strike has been received with great satisfaction, there has been as yet no opening for the transaction of business other than closing a few unimportant deals that were practically complete before. It is gratifying to note that nearly every colliery restarted with the going in ot the night shift on Wednesday evening, and although some more valuable time will be used up on clearing roads and other necessary work, there is a healthy tone indicating that miners are unanimous in acting on Mr. Lloyd George’s advice to give the best output possible as soon as that can be achieved. The attitude which the Admiralty will now take up will vitally affect the market, and as this 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. * * 25/ -26/ 20/ 19/6 15/6-16/ 14/ —15/ 26/ -27/ 23/ -24/ 27/ 26/ 25/ 24/ 18/6 25/3 23/9-24/3 23/3-23/6 22/ 30/ 27/6-29/6 25/ 23/ 21/ -22/ 20/ 18/6 16/6 35/ 32/ 42/ -45/ 38/ —41/ 33/ -38/ 25/ —26/ L’st week’s prices. # * 25/ -26/ 20/ 19/6 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 25/ —27/ 22/ -24/ 27/ 26/ 25/ 24/ 18/6 25/3 23/9-24/3 23/3 22/6 30/ 27/6-29/ 25/ 23/ 21/ -22/ 20/ 18/6 16/6 35/ -37/6 32/ -33/ 42/ -45/ 38/ —41/ 30/ -35/ 25/ -25/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/6-20/ 17/3-17/9 10/6 10/ 7/9- 8/ 7/ - 7/6 18/ -18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6 14/3-14/6 14/6 ‘ 13/3-13/6 10/6 17/3 16/6 16/ 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 15/ 12/3 12/6-13/ 10/6 8/9 21/ 19/ -20/ 26/ -29/6 21/ -25/ 16/ -19/ 20/6-20/9 * Nominal.