September 10, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 529 Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e wcastle-upon-Ty ne. COAL. During last week 92,799 tons of coal and 1,056 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 10,955 tons of coal and 372 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 58,541 tons of coal and 2,450 tons of coke, an increase of 12,198 tons of coal and a decrease of 1,530 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments totalled 51,882 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 14,994 tons. The total quantity despatched from these three places, therefore, was 206,728 tons, which was 2,263 tons less than was sent off a week earlier, and 7,001 tons more than was despatched during the corresponding week of last year. The heavy decrease in Blyth shipments is an eloquent evidence of the manner in which the Blyth coal trade is being hampered by lack of tonnage and the scanty supply of licences. At the time of writing, collier vessels are offering rather more plentifully but by no means in such volume as is required, and licences for shipments to neutral countries are still being handed out very sparingly indeed. Nevertheless, the tone of the prompt market is improving. Transactions mature slowly, but there is a better general demand. Large steams are very well main- tained on the week, but smalls are easier, and most descrip- tions of Durham fuel favour buyers. Second-hand sellers are numerous, and anxious to operate at present selling values. A large portion of the contract to supply the Paris, Lyons and Marseilles Railways with 250,000 tons of Durham coking coal in monthly quantities up to next June has now been given out, a Newcastle-Paris firm having received the order for 100,000 tons for delivery at the depot at Ville Neuve at a c.i.f. price which leaves from 18s. to 18s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b. Some 60,000 tons of Durham gas bests have been sold for shipment over next year at 20s. per ton, f.o.b.; 5,000 tons of similar coal for spot despatch have realised 20s., f.o.b., also. The War Office is inviting offers of 82,000 tons of steam coals for delivery over the ensuing six months at Woolwich, Waltham and Enfield factories. American competition with the British coalfield is still reported. It is stated that 58 steamers are on their way to Italy, laden with American coal, and that 30,000 tons of such coal have been delivered in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo during the last fortnight. So far as the latter destinations are concerned, of course, there is little repining on the local market, for the total discontinuance of the issue of licences for the shipment of British coal to Sweden has followed on a period when the issue of such permits had been whittled down almost to nothing. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow, during the week :—Blyth steam smalls are weaker ; Tynes easier; specials favouring buyers; smithies 6d. cheaper; gas bests ditto; seconds ditto; specials inclined to fall; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, a shade lower; coking coal 6d. less; smalls 6d. reduced; households weaker ; and foundry coke stronger. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/6 16/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 14/ -14/6 17/ 19/ -19/6 16/6 20/ -21/ 15/3-17/ 15/ -16/ 17/ 15/6-16/ 19/ -20/ 30/ -32/6 25/ 28/ -30/ L’st week’s 1 prices. 18/ -18/6 ! 17/ -18/ 16/6 16/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 13/ 12/6 14/6 17/ -17/6 19/6-20/ 1?/ 21/ 15/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 17/ -17/6 15/6—16/6 20/ 27/6-32/6 25/ 28/ -30/ Last year’s prices. 13/3 13/ 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/3 8/ 9/ 11/6-12/ 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -12/6 1 11/ -11/6 11/3-11/6 1 n< : 15/ -16/ ■19/ -21/ ; 18/ 12/ -12/6 Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 64,880 tons of coal and 1,020 tons of coke, as compared with 76,570 tons of coal and 1,660 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1914, being a decrease of 11,690 tons of coal and 640 tons of coke. General conditions in the coal market remain much the same, tonnage still being scarce and licences for neutral countries difficult to obtain. Business for prompt shipment has been very slow in all branches, and owing to the meagre enquiry for steams, exporters with tonnage in hand can practically dictate their own terms, and as sellers are pressing supplies on the market, prices are more or less nominal. Some of the pits are very short of trade. Best gas remains steady, and a contract has been placed for 60,000 tons, delivery over next year in monthly quantities, at 20s. f.o.b. Coking unscreened is easy. Bunkering qualities are also in very light request, and can be had at a shade under recent values. All classes of coke are steady. House coal is without change. It is understood that the order for supplying the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean railways with Durham coking coal over next year has been placed with a local firm, but details as to prices have not yet transpired. The following are nominal market quotations :— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals Ordinary do Other sorts:— Lambton screened South Hetton do Lambton unscreened ... South Hetton do Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened Do. smalls Smithies Peas and nuts Best bunkers Ordinary bunkers Coke:— Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... Gas coke Current prices. 20/6 17/6 20/ 18/ 21/ 20/ 16/6 16/6 17/6 17/ 16/ 16/6 18/6 17/ ' 15/6-15/9 28/6 25/ 27/ L’st week’s prices. 21/ 17/ 20/ 18/ 21/ 21/ 17/ 17/ 20/ 16/6 16/ 17/ 20/ 17/9-18/ 16/6 32/6 25/6 27/ -28/ Last year’s prices. The freight market is steady. Recent fixtures include ;— London, 8s. 3d.; Havre, 16s. 6d.; Rouen, 17s. 6d.; Bordeaux, 22s.; St. Nazaire, 21s.; Lisbon, 22s. 6d.; Oporto, 24s.; Genoa, 30s.; Cette, 30s.; Savona, 30s.; Oran, 26s. 3d. ; and Las Palmas, 21s. M iddlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. On the whole the fuel trade is steady, and for some descriptions improvement in demand is noticeable. Gas coal is in moderate request, and best Durhams run from 19s. to 19s. 6d., whilst second kinds are in the neighbour- hood of 17s., and best Wear sorts are quoted up to 22s. Household coal prices are well upheld. The supply of bunker coals is plentiful, and ordinary Durhams are offered rather freely at 15s. f.o.b., with bests 17s., and specials 19s. to 20s. Coking coal is fairly well taken up. Unscreened kinds are put at 16s. 6d., and smalls at 16s. The order for 90,000 tons of Durham coking coal for the Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean Railways is understood to have been placed. Local consumption of coke is rather larger, but increased output is reported likely by the starting of new ovens put down some time ago. Durham furnace coke is weak. Average qualities are obtainable at 25s. 3d. to 25s. 6d. deli- vered at Teesside works. Good enquiries are reported for foundry coke for shipment, and best kinds range from 30s. to 35s. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is scarce and dear, up to 30s. being demanded. IRON. Quietness characterises the pig iron market. Current requirements barely absorb the output of pig, and, as more furnaces have been restarted, stocks threaten to accumulate unless demand improves. The number of blast furnaces in operation in this district now stands at 68, of which 30 are running on Cleveland pig, 27 are producing haematite, and 11 are manufacturing spiegel, basic, and other special kinds of iron. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is selling by merchants at 65s. 3d., and that is regarded as the general market quotation, though more has to be paid for named brands. Makers are more inclined to meet the situation, but most of them still ask more than prices named by second hands. Foundry No. 4 Cleveland is in fairly good request, and is changing hands at round about 64s. 9d. No. 4 forge is offered for sale rather freely at 64s. 3d. About 63s. 9d. is generally named for mottled and white iron, but there is very little available for sale, the make being small owing to excellent working of furnaces, and consequent general production of the better kinds. There is little or nothing passing in No. 1 Cleveland, general consumers refusing to pay the comparatively high price of 70s. which sellers are able to demand in consequence of the continued scarcity of this quality. Values of east coast haematite are falling, notwithstanding anticipated further orders from our Allies and from home consumers, but the rates ruling are still high, compared with values of Cleveland pig. Among visitors to the Cleveland market this week have been large customers from Sheffield. No difficulty is now experienced in buying Nos. 1, 2 and 3 from second hands at 95s., and producers are sellers at from that figure to 95s. 6d. Foreign ore prices are rising almost entirely owing to advancing freights. Consumers are keen to arrange for late autumn and winter supplies, but sellers will not commit themselves to deliver more than a few weeks ahead, as they fear much difficulty in fixing steamers. Market rates are based on fully 27s. ex ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are 12s. 9d. Imports of foreign ore to the port of Middles- brough, so far this month, amount to 37,513 tons. In the manufactured iron and steel industries, producers are increasingly busily engaged on war work, and several enquiries concerning ordinary commercial orders have failed to elicit quotations, manufacturers being too fully engaged on Government contracts to guarantee delivery of anything else. Prices are very strong, and an advance of 10s. per ton in the following descriptions make the market prices :—Common iron bars, <£1110s.; best bars, <£1117s. 6d.; best best bars, £12 5s.; packing iron (tapered), £9 15s.; and iron ship angles, £11 10s.—all less the customary 2o per cent, discount. Maryport. Cumberland. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade is in a remarkably active condition, and business is so brisk in the two main branches that production is again much below requirements. In the home market there are now more enquiries for house coal, and the demand for slacks, smalls and all kinds of manu- facturing fuels is as strong as ever. The export trade to Ireland is busier than it has been for the last 12 months. There is an extraordinary demand for coal for both industrial and household purposes for the Irish market, and the prospects for this branch for the next few weeks are exceedingly bright. This week the tonnage to Ireland has been heavier than it has been for the last three years, and over 1,000 tons higher than it has been during the present year. Last week nearly 2,000 tons were shipped to Belfast alone, and the tonnage to several other ports in Ireland was considerably higher than it has been for some time. At present, Irish consumers are taking practically all the supplies they can secure, and the chances are that the demand on export account will grow stronger towards the end of the month. All the collieries in the county are well employed and outputs are fairly satisfactory, but the amount raised is not by any means equal to the require- ments of home and coastwise accounts. Prices of all sorts are firm, but unchanged. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 21s. to 21s. 3d. per ton, and seconds at 20s. lOd. per ton. Dry small is quoted at 12s. per ton, and best steam nuts 19s. per ton. Best Cumber- land coal, free on board at Maryport, is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers are in strong demand at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. Last week 25 vessels left Maryport for Irish ports, and the ship- ments amounted to 7,145 tons, an increase of 3,013 tons compared with the previous week. The shipments for August amounted to 19,152 tons, compared with 21,490 tons for July. The imports at Maryport last week con- sisted of two cargoes of timber from Waterford and one from West Port for the east coast, and a cargo of sawn timber from Dumfries for the local collieries. Trade is rather quieter at the Cumberland coke ovens, and produc- tion is more than equal to requirements. Short time is now being worked at some of the ovens. A large percentage of the make, however, is still being absorbed by local smelters. Business is very brisk at the by-product works at Maryport, Workington and Flimby. At Maryport, best house coal delivered in the district is quoted at from Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best Buckhill coal delivered is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow.-— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 19/2 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 17/1 Buckhill best coal „ 22/6 22/6 18/4 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 Oughterside best coal at Fit 22/6 22/6 18/4 Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 22/6 22/6 18/4 St. Helens best house nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 16/10 Best dry small at pit 12/ 12/ 8/6 Best steam nuts at pit ... 19/ 19/ 15/ BestCumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 15/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 13/6 Bunkers 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 12/6 Best coal for gasworks ... 20/ 20/ 15/ Best washed nuts for gas- works 19/ 19/ 14/ IRON. The Cumberland iron trade is much stronger in tone this week, production in the steel, iron ore and limestone trades is well maintained, and prices again show an upward tendency. The demand for ordinary haematite is much firmer than it has been for the last six weeks, buyers are coming into the market more freely, and it wbuld not be at all surprising if there was a further inflation of values, as practically the whole of the present make is going into immediate consumption. There is an increasing demand for low phosphorus iron for the use of high-class steel makers, and, as far as this metal is concerned, production is at present below requirements. In fact business in both ordinary and special iron is much brisker, and with the developments which are taking place in the country in connection with the manufacture of munitions of war, the demand is likely to grow stronger. Stocks in makers’ yards are very low, and the amount of pig iron in west coast storing yards at present only amounts to 1,938 tons. Bessemer mixed numbers are this week quoted at 107s. per ton, with warrants at cash kt 95s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at from 125s. to 130s. per ton. Ferro-manganese is rather quiet at £20 per ton. The number of furnaces in operation still stands at 23, 15 in Cumberland and eight in the Furness district. Barrow and Workington are making both for the steel works and outside consumption, and more than two-thirds of the furnaces are now employed exclusively on special iron, the bulk of which is being absorbed by users at Birmingham, Sheffield, Scotland and South Wales. The steel trade is fairly brisk, and Barrow are well employed on shell steel. The production at Workington includes shell steel, rails, tyres, sleepers and axles. The rail trade is rather quiet, and the amount of new business coming forward is not considerable, but makers have sufficient orders on hand to keep them busy for some time to come. All the engineering shops* in the county are briskly employed on Government account. Iron ore is in brisk demand, and all the mines in the district are regularly employed. Cumberland ore is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 37s. 6d. per ton at the mines according to grade. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is a perceptible increase in the delivery orders as between wharf and consumers’ cellar, and customers, to some extent, are taking the Board of Trade’s advice to renew their stocks before the winter sets in. With regard to shipping, matters continue on the quiet side, contract requirements being fair, with outside enquiry only poor. Prices of screened Lancashire steam coals for present ship- ment remain at 17s.' 6d. to 18s. 6d. f.o.b. according to quality. There is little, if any, easement in the coastwise and cross-Channel trade of household coals : quite as many orders are forthcoming as there are vessels to be found to fit them. Here and there small quantities of slack are left at the colliery owing to the cessation of work at first one and another of the large consuming towns, but it is of no serious moment, and the holiday season is almost at an end.