582 September 17, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN ________________________________________________________________________________ generally is feeling the effects of keen American competi- tion. Receipts of tin-plates from works last week amounted to 68,875 boxes, against 79,644 boxes exported to various destinations. The stocks on hand in the docks ware- houses and vans at the time of writing amounted to 307,472 boxes. Prices are inclined to be a trifle easier, Bessemer standard cokes realising 17s. 10|d. to 18s., and oil sizes 18s. 6d. and 26s. 6d. respectively. In pig iron there is little doing, and prices have again dropped Is., the current quotation being 102s. 6d. delivered. Welsh bars remain the same as last week, but there is practically nothing doing. Bessemer bars are £7 to =£7 2s. 6d., and Siemens qualities are quoted at the latter figure. In the galvanised sheet trade there is still no improvement, although spelter has receded from <£74 to <£72 per ton. Practically no new business is coming on to the market, and for what little there is <£17 10s. is being paid for 24-gauge corrugateds. Scrap metals are easy and dull, steel scrap being 74s., heavy wrought 72s. 6d., cast 57s. 6d., light wrought 40s., double-headed steel rails 80s., iron ditto 80s., and mixed sections 70s. anticipated they would be. Many of the sorts are sold at 8s. to 10s. per ton less than they were two or three months back, and collieries have not nearly enough orders on hand to keep going. It is, however, felt that the position will improve later on, as if pits are unable to work owing to shipments being stopped, it is thought that the Govern- ment will grant licences a little more freely. This week’s quotations approximately are :— THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — There is very little change in the market generally. There has, however, been some movement in naphthas, which are the turn dearer for solvent. Pitch is variable, and inclined to be easier. Benzols and tar unchanged. Nearest values are :— Swansea. COAL. A considerable improvement was experienced in the trade of the port last week. The coal trade was brisk, although restrictions on exports increased, but dulness continued a feature of the patent fuel trade. There was an excellent attendance on ’Change, and anthracite coals were devoid of any noteworthy change, the undertone continuing strong. All classes of large were extremely firm, and for these commodities there was an active demand. Machine-made descriptions were also keenly sought after, but sellers had little available. Bubbly culm and duff were still on the easy side, and in steam coals there was an all round easiness with the exception of dry large, which was strongly quoted. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year's prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 30/ -32/9 30/ -32/9 20/ -22/ Secondary do. 29/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 17/ -18/ Big Vein large 30/ -33/ 30/ -33/ 16/6-17/6 Red Vein large 24/ -26/ 24/ -26/ 12/6-13/6 Machine - made cobbles 40/ -42/ 40/ -42/ 19/3-21/3 Paris nuts — — French do 42/ -45/ 42/ -45/ 21/ -23/ Stove do 40/ -43/ 40/ -43/ 21/ -23/ Beans 30/ -32/6 30/ -32/6 18/6-19/6 Machine - made large peas 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 12/6-13/6 Do. fine peas — — — Rubbly culm 10/9-11/6 10/9-11/6 4/6- 5/ Duff 5/3- 5/9 5/3- 5/9 3/ - 3/6 Steam coals:— Best large 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 18/ -20/ Seconds 22/ -25/ 22/ -25/ 13/6-15/6 Bunkers 16/6—18/6 16/6-18/6 10/3-11/ Small 11/6-14/ 11/6-14/ 7/6- 9/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 23/ -26/ 23/ -26/ 17/ -18/ Thro’-and-thro’ — — — Small 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 10/3-10/9 Patent fuel 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 16/6-17/9 IRON. Another prosperous week was experienced at the blast- furnaces, and consistently good outputs were shown. All steel works were going very well, and there were consign- ments of steel bars for which there was a good demand. The tin-plate trade continued to exhibit a fairly satisfactory condition, and this month promises to be a better one for the production of tin-plates. The shipments of tin-plates were 76,644 boxes, and receipts from works 68,875 boxes; stocks in the dock warehouses and vans, 307,472 boxes. Business continued active at the Mannesmann Tube Works, where there was a big increase in the production of material and the metal extraction works were gaining daily in strength. There was ample work to do at the engineering and fitting shops. Llanelly. COAL. The general condition of the local coal market shows no improvement on that of the previous week. There is no lack of enquiries for most of the qualities raised, but the difficulties experienced in disposing of the coal seem to be more numerous. If the colliery people could have all the tonnage they require, the market would be very firm, but what with the difficulties in securing tonnage, and the Government restrictions, the position is not an easy one. The anthracite collieries are doing very well, and those sellers who have not sold very much of their output and have a quantity of free coal to spare should be making money. The demand for all the large kinds and the machine-made qualities is very heavy, and several of the pits have more orders booked than they can execute for weeks to come. The steam coal market, on the other hand, is in a worse position than it has been for many months, and prices are certainly lower than anyone _________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 16. ____________________________________________________ The London coal trade for the past week has been fairly well maintained, but there has been a quieter demand for railborne coal. Derby Brights are still the prominent feature of the market, and the enquiry has been as firm as ever. There is, however, only a limited quantity available and the scarcity has kept the market unusually firm. The attendance on the Exchange has not been so good, but as so many of the merchants and factors are away on holiday this is not to be wondered at. The bulk of the colliery representatives have very little to offer, and it is well known that many of the collieries can barely fulfil contract engage- ments. The rush of orders from the general public as the result of the advice given by the Board of Trade authorities has slackened down. The retail trade has improved, but the orders taken during this week are much less than the previous week. Hard steam coals have had a good run, and enquiries are still coming forward somewhat plentifully. Slacks, however, are very slow, and unless at a low figure, are very difficult to sell. Ordinary house nuts and bakers’ nuts are moving freely, and kitchener cobbles and stove coals are steady. There is very little change in any of the pit prices for this week, but as the market is so sparsely supplied, the quotations are for the most part nominal. One of the greatest difficulties during the current week has been the congestion of loaded wagons at the various barging stations, and the difficulty of getting barges to fetch the coal away, together with the shortage of labour in handling the coal when barged. Small nuts and slacks have suffered most in this respect, as they are all required for large works, and the labour question touches them on all sides. The factors who have a fairly large quantity bought under contract are practically ruling the market, as they are the only ones who have the coal to offer. Some of the Yorkshire best hards are quoting at 16s. to 16s. 6d. per ton at pit, and seconds at 15s. to 15s. 6d.; furnace coke is slightly down, and quotations have been given at 16s. to 16s. 6d. at the ovens. The best qualities of Haigh Moor and best Silkstone range from 19s. to 20s. per ton at pit. Gas coals are steady at 17s. per ton screened, and 14s. to 15s. unscreened. In the Humber ports, Hartleys are quoted at 18s. to 18s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., and South Yorkshire hards at 19s. to 19s. 6d. f.o.b. The London Coal Merchants’ Society have taken steps to ascertain their legal position in connection with the new Act, but at present no distinct declaration has been made. The business doing in the market is gradually assuming larger dimensions, and merchants have undoubtedly large stocks down, but the heavy consumption has not yet begun. Many of the collieries announce that they have nothing to offer apart from contract coals, but others are endeavouring to adjust their prices to the require- ments of the new Act. The shipments from the Humber ports show a considerable expansion during last month, and for the first time for a long period Hull returns a large increase as compared with the tonnage of the corresponding period of last year. France has been the largest customer, and the figures given show 198,597 tons during August 1915, as compared with only 6,280 tons during August 1914, or for the year, 1,069,871 tons from January 1 to August 31, 1915, and 248,781 tons for the same period in 1914. Denmark, Egypt, and Sweden also show a marked increase. The War Office are again in the market for over 80,000 tons of steam coal for the various munition works at Woolwich, Enfield Lock, and Waltham Cross. The number of vessels reported on Monday as arriving in the River Thames with contract cargoes was 31, and 11 for Wednesday’s market. In the South Wales market the greatest anxiety still prevails in connection with the various labour questions. Contract business has been at a standstill, and the difficulty of obtaining export licences has frequently prevented any great expansion of business. The best Admiralty qualities are still monopolised for Naval purposes, but seconds are offering as a rule a trifle easier, 23s. to 24s. per ton f.o.b. is quoted, and bunker coals at 18s. to 18s. 6d. per ton f.o.b.. The freight market returns show that 8s. has been paid from Hull to London. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, September 10.—The seaborne house coal market was rather quiet to-day, with no cargoes on offer. Cargoes 26. Monday, September 13.—There was a slight improvement in the seaborne house coal market to-day, but no cargoes available. Cargoes, 31. Wednesday, September 15.—The seaborne house coal market was somewhat quiet to-day, no sales reported. Cargoes, 11. Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................ „ 50’s „ ................ Toluol ............................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 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) .............. 1/01—1/1 /m 1/4 Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do.......... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff:................ Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L'st week's' Last year’s prices. ! prices. 30/ ""' ! 29/ 28/ 24/ 40/ 40/ 42/ 40/ 30/ 18/ 11 -32/ : -30/ -32/ ; -26/ -42/ -42/ -42/6 -32/ -19/6 -11/6 5/3- 6/9 I prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -18/ 13/6-14/ 20/ -22/ 21/ -23/ 21/ —23/ ! 21/ -23/ > 20/ -22/ i 13/6-14/6 12/ -12/6 ! 6/ - 6/3 3/9- 5/6 27/ -29/ 26/ -28/ 28/ -32/ 23/ -25/ 35/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 39/ -41/ 38/ -40/ 26/ -29/ 18/ -19/6 5/6- 6/6 2/2—2/4 3/6 1/4—1/6 2/1—2/2 2/1—2/2 /6—/6J /3A 21/—22/ 20/—21/6 21/6—25/6 -1/ -2/ [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.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—There is a good foreign enquiry, and the forward market is promising. The sharp advance in the price of nitrate is remarkable, in the face of a reported easier sulphate market, but to all accounts there has been very little easement in deferred delivery values of sulphate of ammonia, while nitrate is weakening. Clasing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes) .... Beckton (25 per cent.) ...... Liverpool ................. Hull ..................... Middlesbrough ............ Scotch ports ................ Wales .................... Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. Rise (+) or fall(-) on the week" £14/17/6 ... +1/3 £14 ... +2/6 £14/15 ... +2/6 £14/10 ... +2/6 £14/12/6 — £15 — £14/12/6 ... +2/6 13/7j ... -/1J [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refractiori, nothing for excess.] ______ Trade Notes. The returns of the trade in sulphate of ammonia for the past month are on the whole satisfactory, because even when contending with all the difficulties of contraband and export licences, nevertheless there is only a shrinkage of about 1,250 tons on the month, compared with last year; while the actual value of the sulphate of ammonia exported shows the substantial increase of something like £36,700. It is noticeable that the most marked falling off is »till with Japan and the United States, the former dropping from £91,000 to less than £4,000. The United States drop is not quite so bad, being about £3,600. Once more it is the Dutch East Indies and other countries that make up these losses, the value of the former having doubled, and of the latter nearly trebled. This growth of other country tonnage is in some ways hopeful. As regards the diminution of the American demand, it must be remembered that not only have the United States farmers been exceptionally active in utilising their home- produced mixed nitrogenous and potash fertilisers and natural manures, but the official returns reveal that in the first half of this year the cotton growing States reduced their consumption of fertilisers by nearly half, as compared with the corresponding period of 1914. It is only natural, therefore, to find this reflected in the quantity of sulphate of ammonia they have draw from us, although the chief decline was in potassic preparations. Prof. W. A. Bone makes an excellent suggestion in asking the Government to fix a time limit for the conversion of beehive into recovery coke ovens. His proposal to memorialise the Government for the official supervision of fuel consumption and economical use of coal also has an excellent precedent in the Alkali Works Inspection Act. At the outset this Act was pronounced an unwarrantable interference with private enterprise, and the curse of the alkali trade, yet it has turned out a most redoubtable blessing. Seeing that the Government preach economy and again aver, we must economise, they should give more than mere investigation to such authoritative suggestions. The returns for the week are :—Pitch, 232 tons, 6,000 gals., 70 barrels, and £96. Tar, 29,000 gals., 890 barrels, 181 drums, 2 tons, and £50. Toluol, Genoa, £3,936. Sulphate of ammonia, 3,980 tons. 26/ -28/ ig'I -18/ 12/ -14/ 18/ -20/ : 26/ -28/ 17/ -18/ 12/ -14/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -18/ 11/ -11/6 8/6- 9/6 11/ -11/6 ___________________________ In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr. Hogge asked the President of the Board of Trade how far he had made arrangements with coal merchants in different areas for regulating retail prices of coal. Mr. Runciman replied : “ As I stated in the course of the debates on the Price of Coal (Limitation) Bill, the question of making arrangements with coal merchants in other districts similar to that effected in the London area appears to be one which can best be dealt with by the local authorities, and the Board of Trade recently issued a circular calling their attention to the subject.” He did not know whether the local authorities would think it necessary to communicate with the Board of Trade as to what action they had taken, but he would communicate with them. Grimsby Coal Exports. — Returns for the week ended September 10 show that the coal exported from Grimsby was as follow:—Foreign: To Aarhus, 322 tons; Copenhagen, 2,868; Dieppe, 2,423; Esbjerg, 248; Fecamp, 511; Gefle, 1,852; Gothenburg, 933; Gudhjem, 220; Stockholm, 2,255; and Treport, 618 tons. Coastwise : To Dagenham, 1,700 tons; Gravesend, 400; and Great Yarmouth, 575 tons; making a total of 12,250 tons foreign, and 2,675 tons coast- wise, against 18,933 tons foreign during the corresponding period of last year. __________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business is very quiet just now, and a flat dull tone pre- vails all round. Spot lotfc are being sold at low figures, but most makers are standing pretty well to their quotations for plates to make. Unless matters improve, however, several works will be running short of orders soon. Following are about to-day’s quotations for coke tin-plates :—IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 17s. 10|d. to 18s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 36s. to 36s. 3d. per box; IC 14 x 18f (124 sh. 1101b.), 18s. l|d. to 18s. 3d. per box; I C 14 x 19J (120sh. 1101b.), 18s. l|d. to 18s. 3d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 1561b.), 26s. to 26s. 3d. per box. IC squares and odd sizes, 18s. l|d. to 18s. 3d. basis for approved specifica- tions. Charcoals rule easy, at 20s. basis and upwards, according to finish. Ternes are in quiet request, and are quoted round 34s. to 34s. 6d. per box of IC 28 x 20. Coke wasters are in but moderate demand. Quotations :—C W 14 X 20, 17s. to 17s. l|d. per box; C W 28 X 20, 34s. 3d. to 34s. 6d.; CW 14 x 18|, 17s. 9d. per box; CW 20 X 10, 24s. 3d. per box; all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ______________________________ Messrs. Yeadon, Son and Company, Leeds, have received an order from one of the leading iron and coal companies in Russia to supply them with one of their briquette plants to convert carbonised lignite into ovoid briquettes suit- able for heating and smelting purposes.