August 6, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 281 Prices at pithead.. House coals:— Block ................ Forest ............. Rubble ............. Nuts ............... Rough slack ........ Steam coal:— Large............... Small .............. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 21/6 21/6 16/6 20/6 20/6 15/6 20/9 20/9 15/9 19/ 19/ 14/ 13/ 15/ 6/6 — 21/ -22/ 12/6-13/ — 16/ 8/ - 8/6 Prices 2s. Od. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 5. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There is really little new to report this week in regard to the coal trade of this locality. All the collieries are fully employed, and with the exception of Monday last (Bank holiday) full time has been worked. There were some absentees the day after Bank holiday, but not a sufficient number to necessitate a play day. The trade in the house coal department has been limited, but any surplus fuel has been readily disposed of in other markets. The demand for steam coal and gas coal is good, and the prices quoted have been practically on the same basis as reported last week, and during the past week there has been little done in regard to fixing up further new contracts for any class of coal. 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. 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 17/9-18/9 18/ -19/ 17/3-18/3 17/ -18/ 8/ - 9/6 16/8-18/4 L’st week’s prices. 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 17/9-18/9 18/ -19/ 17/3-18/3 17/ -18/ 8/ - 9/6 16/8-18/4 23/4-26/8 23/4-26/8 22/6-23/4 22/6-23/4 12/6-14/2 12/6-14/2 Last year’s prices. 14/4-15/3 13/4-14/ 12/ -12/6 12/ —12/6 11/6-12/3 11/ —11/9 6/9- 7/9 11/8-13/4 18/4-19/2 16/8-18/4 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COAL. The coal market as yet is far from having regained its normal condition since the strike, and it is at present extremely difficult to indicate accurately what are the pre- vailing values, as collieries are quoting altogether according to how they are placed for disposal of their outputs. Fortunately, the number of men who restarted work on Tuesday was probably quite 75 to 80 per cent., the most pleasing feature labour has shown for some time. The new Order issued on Tuesday night regarding the export of coal is a matter of grave concern to coal owners, and its effect upon the trade will be too important to ignore. It is to be hoped that the issue of licences will not be unduly delayed, neither hampered by arbitrary restrictions. At a large meeting of South Wales coalowners yesterday it was decided to circularise the trade to the effect that the committee appointed to consider the position brought about by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act recommended that all colliery owners should, so far as their coal is not required by the Admiralty, supply their customers under the provisions of the Act. Attention was also drawn to the recent statement to a deputation by the chairman of the Coal Export Committee to the effect that, provided steps were taken to ensure that local consumers should get an adequate supply of coal, there would be no desire to interfere with exports. The figures quoted to-day are largely nominal, and it must again be repeated that at no time has it been more difficult to accurately indicate proper market values. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals: —- Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices,* Best Black Vein large... 30“/ -33/ 29/ -30/ — Western-valleys, ordin’y 29/ -30/ 27/6-28/ — Best Eastern-valleys ... 27/6-28/ 26/6-27/ — Secondary do. 24/ —26/ 24/ -25/ — Best small coals 21/6-22/6 21/ -22/ — Secondary do 20/ -21/ 20/ -20/6 — Inferior do 19/ —19/6 18/6-19/ — Screenings 22/ -22/6 21/6-22/ — Through coals 22/ -23/ 21/ —21/6 Best washed nuts 21/6-22/ 21/6-22/ — Other sorts:— Best house coal 27/ -28/ Secondary do 25/ -26/ — — Patent fuel 34/ -35/ 34/ -35/ — Furnace coke 32/ -34/ 32/ -34/ • Foundry coke 38/ -40/ 38/ -40/ — * Outbreak of war. IRON. A fair amount of fresh business is passing in the iron and steel trades of the district, with a good enquiry for the latter part of the year. Many works kept going over the holidays, with no great reduction of output. At bar mills matters are very much as last reported, order books are well filled for the next few months, work full, and values firm at <£7 5s. to £7 10s. for both Bessemer and Siemens qualities. Steel rails are again a good market, upon the basis of <£9 to <£9 5s. for heavy sections, with a trend towards still higher values. There is no change to report in the pig iron department, where work continues satisfactory, while prices are fully main- tained at 105s. to 107s. /6d. for Welsh haematite delivered locally. The tin-plate trade shows little alteration. Works continue to quote firmly 19s. for 20 + 14’s and 38s. 6d. to 39s. for 28 x 20’s, either Bessemer or Siemens primes. Stock lots, owing to export difficulties, may at the moment be obtained at a shade easier values. Cardiff. COAL. The coal market this week is in a very unsettled state, and it is difficult to obtain any figures which would accurately represent the present position of affairs. Following the termination of the strike there was a decided upward tendency, and it was generally believed that if the men adhered to their promises and put their backs into it, work would be continued on a satisfactory basis—at any rate until the end of the war, and that trade would be prosperous. Unfortunately the prospect has changed, and this time not through any fault of the miners. They agreed to take only one day’s holiday instead of the usual three, which has been frequently extended throughout the week, and, true to their undertaking, they turned up in large numbers on Tuesday morning. In some instances there was a degree of absenteeism amounting to about 25 per cent., but in most districts from 85 to 90 per cent, of the men resumed operations the day after Bank holiday. The exceedingly wet weather on Monday may have been a deterrent to holiday making, but the fact remains that every pit in the coal field was at work on Tuesday. The cause of the present unsettled state of the market is the action of the Government in prohibiting the export of coal to neutral countries and restricting the shipments to British Possessions and Protectorates. For some past the trade has been greatly hampered owing to the great difficulty in obtaining licences, and although it is believed that licences will still be granted in certain cases the added restrictions will make it almost impossible for some firms to do any business at all. Of course, all the best and most of the second Admiralties are being retained by the Government for naval purposes, but there are other descriptions which have been more or less uncontrolled by the authorites, and it is feared, under the new Order, that these qualities will accumulate to such an extent that unless a free outlet is provided, some collieries will be brought to a standstill through shortage of wagons. The position at present, however, is speculative, because it is almost inconceivable that the Government will run the risk of reducing the output of coal by restrictive conditions. As it is, much business has been and will be diverted to other channels, and may never be regained even after the war is over. An instance of this is the Egyptian State Railways contract. Tenders were invited for 360,000 metric tons of steam coals, and, so far as can be ascertained, only a portion of the busi- ness has come to South Wales, whereas in former years, the great bulk of the contract was placed in this district. Messrs. Watts, Watts and Co. have secured part of the order—how much and at what figure they decline to disclose—and the remainder of the contract is reported to have been placed in America. The same thing happened with the Italian State Railways’ business a little while ago, and it is not improbable that the Americans, once having secured a footing, will retain much of the custom in future years. As already indicated, prices are irregular. As in previous weeks best steams are not quoted, but ordinary qualities range from 30s. to 32s., with a slackening tendency for deals after mid-August. The same remarks apply to Monmouthshires. For prompt shipment there is a good demand and a difficulty in obtaining supplies, but business ahead has been checked owing to the uncertainty of the position. Black Veins are quoted at 30s. to 31s., western-valleys 29s. to 30s., and easterns 28s. to 29s. The small coal market has been firm, but is now lower, best bunkers being offered at 22s. to 23s., ordinaries at 21s. to 21s. 6d., and cargo qualities at 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d. In bituminous coals there is very little alteration, and the demand is anything but brisk. No. 3 Rhondda large is 28s. to 29s., through 24s. to 25s., small 23s. No. 2 large 26s. to 27s., through 22s. 6d. to 24s., and small 19s. Patent fuel shipments showed a slight falling-off owing to the stoppage of certain works through lack of coal, but the Crown Company despatched 15,899 tons. Prices are on the basis of 35s. for best brands, with a reduction of 2s. to 2s. 6d. for second qualities. There is an enquiry on the market for about 6,000 tons for one of the French railways in the vicinity of Rouen, but it is not anticipated that local makers will quote, as their order books are well filled for some time to come. Shipments of coal last week amounted to 184,992 tons, compared with 581,252 tons in the corre- Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices, f Best Admiralty steam coals * * Superior seconds * 27/ -29/ — Ordinary do 30/ -32/ 26/ — Best bunker smalls 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ — Best ordinaries 21/ 21/ Cargo qualities 18/6-19/ 19/ -20/ — Inferior smalls 17/6-18/ 18/ —18/6 Best dry coals 31/ —32/ 26/ -27/ — Ordinary drys 28/ -30/ 23/ -24/ — Best washed nuts 30/ 30/ — Seconds 28/ 28/ Best washed peas 28/ 28/ — Seconds 26/ 26/ Dock screenings ^1 21/ 21/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 30/ -31/ 28/ -31/ Western-valleys 29/ -30/ 30/ — Eastern-valleys 28/ -29/ 25/ -26/ — Inferior do 26/ —28/ 23/ -25/ — Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 30/ 30/ — Second qualities (at pit) 27/6-29/6 27/6-29/ — No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ — Through-and-through 24/ -25/ 25/ -26/ — Small 23/ 25/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 26/ -27/ 25/ — Through-and-through 22/6-24/ 22/ -23/ — Small 19/ 20/ -21/ — Best patent fuel 35/ 35/ Seconds 32/ -32/6 •32/ -33/ Special foundry coke 43/ -47/ 43/ -47/ — Ordinary do. 40/ -43/ 40/ -43/ — Furnace coke 31/ -33/ 25/ 31/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 24/ —25/ — * Nominal. t Outbreak of war. sponding week of last year, or a decrease of 396,260 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 95,374 tons against 399,365 tons, or a decrease of 303,991 tons ; from Newport 34,112 tons, or a falling-off of 63,993 tons; from Swansea 28,687 tons, or a decrease of 32,813 tons; and from Port Talbot 26,819 tons, or a decline of 4,537 tons. The following table shows the exports to foreign countrie and British Possessions during June, compared with the figures in the corresponding month of last year :— June 1915. June 1914. Tons. Tons. Russia — 90,697 Sweden . 14,044 21,664 Norway . 6,819 8,702 Germany . — 28,607 Netherlands . 1,698 12,290 Java . 6,550 — Belgium — 32,708 France . 760,945 541,455 Algeria . 37,115 31,237 Madagascar — 5,711 Portugal . 61,703 61,233 Spain . 75,297 113,369 Canary Islands . 14,454 45,693 Italy . 194,171 337,054 Austria-Hungary — 20,143 Greece . 10,979 41,726 Bulgaria — 9.235 Roumania — 21,933 Turkey (European) — 14,274 ,, (Asiatic) — 35,406 Tunis . 17,967 18,112 Chili . 13,225 27,022 Brazil . 27,880 128,313 Uruguay . 13,772 51,576 Argentine Republic . 68,409 202,463 Channel Islands . 2,837 6,541 Gibraltar . 15,039 6,589 Malta and Gozo . 23,543 34,126 Egypt . 32,062 153,635 Aden and Dependencies . 28,777 5,708 British India — 12,301 Ceylon and Dependencies.. — 26,096 West Africa (French) . 19,027 6,557 „ (Portuguese)... . 6,307 5,645 Chartering was on rather a better scale, the amount taken up being 100,020 tons compared with 81,100 tons on the preceding six days, or an increase of 19,820 tons. The total charterings for the year are now 5,970,505 tons compared with 10,861,841 tons in the corresponding period of last year, but it must, of course, be remembered that Admiralty fixtures are not disclosed in any case. The pitwood market remains steady, current quotations being on the basis of 25s. per ton. IRON. Although many of the tinplate works in the district are engaged in the manufacture of munitions, the men decided to take a week’s holiday as usual, and all the mills closed down on Friday night for a week. Fortunately there are large stocks in the dock warehouses and vans, and. it is not anticipated that there will be any shortage. As a matter of fact shipments have been less than production for some time past, and a week ago there were no fewer than 324,000 boxes, against 72,748 received from works, and stocks had been reduced to 288,924 boxes. Prices generally are steady, Bessemer standard cokes are quoted at 19s., but it is reported that some makers had been willing to accept slightly lower terms for prompt shipment. Oil sizes are 19s. 6d. and 27s. 3d. respectively. The galvanised sheet trade is unchanged. Spelter has receded another £2 per ton, and although every effort is being made to stimulate production, there will have to be a very substantial decrease in price before the quotations for sheets are materially affected. At present 24-gauge corrugateds realise <£20 to £20 10s. per ton. Welsh steel bars are £7 5s. to £7 10s. per ton, the same as last week, and pig iron is also unaltered at 105s. to 107s. 6d. per ton delivered at works. In the iron ore trade there is a tendency to easiness, and it is feared that the disastrous fire at the Ebbw Vale generating station will have the effect of making quota- tions still lower. The greater part of the electrical plant has been destroyed, and 4,000 men were thrown out of employment. It has since been ascertained, however, that a restart can be made almost immediately in some depart- ments, and it is hoped that the blastfurnaces will be included, especially as the weekly consumption of ore amounts to about 16,000 tons. Best rubio is 23s. 6d., seconds 21s. to 21s. 6d., and Almeria 20s. to 21s. per ton. Scrap metals are unchanged. Llanelly. COAL. Very little alteration has taken place in the market and the position is similar to that of last week. The holidays have interfered largely with outputs and there is a shortage for most qualities. Work was resumed at the pits on Tuesday, but a number of the men did not put in an appearance and outputs were not very satisfactory. The anthracite market continues to exhibit a very strong tone and most kinds are doing well. Machine-made kinds are in big request at prices which are highly satisfactory. Steam and bituminous sorts are also in good enquiry both for works and shipment, and prices are higher than they were. This weeks’ quotations approximately are: — Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 24/ -26/ 24/ -26/ 21/ -21/6 Secondary do. . 23/ -25/ 22/ -25/ 18/ -19/ Big Vein large . 25/ -28/ 21/6-23/6 16/ -17/ Red Vein do 18/ -20/ 18/ —20/ 12/9-13/6 Machine-made cobbles... . 31/6-34/ 31/6-34/ 21/ -22/ German nuts 35/ -37/ 33/ -33/6 21/6-23/ French do 37/ -39/ 34/ -37 6 21/ -23 6 Paris do 35/ -37/ 33/ -36/ 21/ -23/ Machine-made beans ... . 25/ -28/ 24/6-25/6 16/ -18/ Do. peas . 18/ -19/6 18' -19/6 12/6-13/6 Culm . 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/ 5/9- 6/3 Duff . 6/6— 6/9 6/6- 6/9 3/6— 5/3 Other sorts:— Large steam coal . 24/ -26/ 24/ -26/ 16/ -17/ Through-and-through.. . 20/ -23/ 20/ -23/ 10/9-11/3 Small . 14/ -16/ 14/ -16/ 8/6- 9/6 Bituminous small coal... . 19/ -21/ 20/ -23/ 10/6—11/