October 22, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 833 Outward freights are firm, with only a moderate amount of tonnage offering. Recent fixtures include:—London, 10s.; Caen, 17s. 6d.; Havre, 16s. 9d.; Rouen, 19s.; Calais, 18s. 6d.; Treport, 18s. 6d.; Dunkirk, 19s.; Lisbon, 27s.; Bordeaux, 27s. 6d.; St. Nazaire, 25s.; Bayonne, 30s.; Genoa, 44s. 6d.; Algiers, 33s.; Oran, 33s. 6d.; Port Vendres, 45s.; Cette, 41s. 6d.; Barcelona, 38s.; Porto Ferraio, 43s.; Port Said, 46s. 3d.; Marseilles, 41s. 6d.; St. Vincent, 35s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 31s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. The fuel trade is steady with quotations moving up- ward. There is marked improvement in values of Durham best gas coal, which now range from 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d. Second qualities of gas coal are a little stronger in sympathy with the better kinds, and are quoted 16s. to 17s. Up to 21s. is asked for Wear gas coal. Household coal is firm and in good demand. Bunker coal is stiff and in large request. The opinion prevails that rules laid down by the Exports Committee in regard to bunkers sold to neutral owners are likely to facilitate business. It is anticipated that there will be little trouble in securing bunkers if the rules are followed. Ordinary Durhams are 15s. 9d. to 16s., f. o.b., best bunkers 16s. 9d. to 17s., and specials 19s. to 20s. Coking coal continues to be well taken up. Unscreened kinds are 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d., and coking smalls are in the neighbourhood of 16s. Coke tends upward. There are fairly good enquiries in the market for local consumption, and demand for shipment is very good. Durham blast- furnace coke of average quality is round about 25s. delivered at Teesside works. Best foundry coke for shipment is 35s. to 37s. 6d. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is in the neighbourhood of 30s. IRON. Better accounts are given of all branches of the pig iron trade. Output is fully taken up as it comes on the market, and stocks are being reduced. The number of blastfurnaces in operation on the North-East coast is 67, of which 29 are producing Cleveland pig, 26 are making hsematite, and 12 are manufacturing special kinds of iron. Sales of No. 3 g. m.b. Cleveland pig have this week been recorded at from 66s. to 66s. 6d., and the ruling quality now stands firm at the latter quotation. Owing to its continued scarceness, high rates continue to be demanded for No. 1 Cleveland, as much as 71s. being named. Local consumers consider such a figure exorbitant, and rather than pay it are buying and using No. 3 in place of No. 1. Other qualities of Cleveland iron are firm. No. 4 foundry is 66s., No. 4 forge 65s. 6d., and mottled and white iron each 65s. Very satisfactory accounts are given of east coast haematite pig. Enquiries from Sheffield and other home consuming districts, as well as from the Continent, are heavy, and as supply threatens to be inadequate, it is not surprising to hear rumours of contemplated increase of the output by putting idle furnaces into blast. The minimum quotation for mixed numbers is 110s., and several producers are inclined to hold out for 115s. A sale to France was reported early in the week at Ills. 6d. f.o.b. Middlesbrough. Foreign ore is very strong. For early delivery market rates are based on 33s. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. There are sellers to the end of the year on the basis of 34s. 6d. for best rubio, but consumers, though anxious to arrange for adequate supplies over the next few months, will not buy on such terms. Freights Bilbao-Middlesbrough are 17s. 3d., and that figure seems to be drawing tonnage. Imports of foreign ore to the port of Middlesbrough to date this month amount to 77,347 tons. In finished iron and steel, munition work continues to be firm and very busy. Iron bars, iron angles, and rivets have each been advanced 10s., making common iron bars and iron ship angles each <£12, best bars £12 7s. 6d., double best bars £12 15s., treble best £13 2s. 6d., and iron ship rivets £13 10s.—all less the customary 2| per cent. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. There has been a marked improvement in the Cumber- land coal trade since last week, business is much steadier in all branches, and there is every indication of a fuller demand, more especially on export account. The whole of the collieries in the county are employed fully six days a week, and outputs, which are on the increase, are fairly satisfactory, and practically the whole of the production is being absorbed by either home or coastwise requirements. The cold weather of the past few days has given a fillip to the house coal trade, and business is brisker than usual at some of the depots. In this branch home merchants have probably as much on hand at present as they can cope with, and it is evident that some householders are putting in stocks for the winter. All sorts of manufacturing fuels are in very strong request, and while the present activity con- tinues in the iron and allied trades, the demand is likely to grow stronger. Gas coal, however, is only quiet, and there is very little chance of any improvement in this section during the coming winter. The cross-Channel trade is much firmer in tone this week, and there is a better demand for all sorts for the Irish market. Both house coal and fuel for industrial purposes are now in very keen request for the Irish market, and home merchants are finding some difficulty in satisfying the needs of Irish consumers. The tonnage to Irish ports is fairly heavy for the autumn, but there is no doubt that it would be much heavier but for the number of coasting vessels that have been chartered by the Govern- ment. Prices of all sorts are firm but unaltered. 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, with seconds at 20s. lOd. per ton. Steam nuts are quoted at 19s. per ton, and best dry small at 12s. per ton. Best Cumberland coal free on board at Maryport is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers are a steady trade at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. Last week 21 coasting vessels left Maryport for Irish ports, and the shipments amounted to 5,320 tons, an increase of 2,710 tons compared with the previous week. Coke is in steady demand, and the majority of the ovens in the county are fairly well employed. The bulk of the make is being absorbed by local smelters. Business is very brisk in the by-products trade, and the works at Maryport, Flimby and Workington are all working full time. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton; with best washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton, and seconds 24s. 2d. per ton. At Workington, best house 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. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 19/2 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 17/1 Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned 22/6 22/6 18/4 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 21/ 21/ 16/10 Fit Oughterside best washed 22/6 22/6 18/4 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 21/ 21/ 16/10 coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 22/6 22/6 18/4 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 ... Best washed nuts for gas- 20/ 20/ 15/ works 19/ 19/ 14/ IRON. Great activity continues to characterise operations in the Cumberland haematite iron trade ; makers are still very busy, particularly on special iron, and the chances are that the production of both iron and steel will probably be greater towards the end of the year. Values are firm, Bessemer mixed numbers being quoted this week at from 107s. to 108s. per ton free on board at the usual ports. Special iron is quoted at from 125s. to 137s. 6d. per ton, while ferro-manganese is steady at £20 per con. Cumber- land haematite warrants have again increased 2s. 6d. per ton and now stand at 100s. per ton, compared with 97s. 6d. a week ago and 66s. at the corresponding period of last year. Ordinary haematite iron is now moving more freely ; requirements of low phosphorus iron are also on the increase, and the bulk of the make is going into immediate consumption. The amount of pig iron in stock in west coast storing yards is unchanged, and still stands at 2,120 tons. There are 22 furnaces in blast, 14 in Cumberland and 8 in the Furness district, compared with 23 a month ago. More than half of the furnaces are employed in making special iron, two are on ferro-manganese, and the remainder are on ordinary haematites. The steel trade is brisk and there is a great amount of activity on Govern- ment work. There is, however, very little improvement in the rail trade, and at Barrow the rail mill is only working single shift while the plate mill is at present idle. Workington is smartly employed on shell steel and railway material. Engineers are very busy, mostly on Government account. In the iron ore industry business is still very brisk, there is a growing demand for high grade ores, and the present output of this metal is scarcely equal to requirements. The mines are all well employed, and efforts are being made to increase the production at the Hodbarrow Mine, Millom, by working an extra number of shifts. Best high grade ores are quoted at about 37s. 6d. per ton, with average qualities at from 23s. 6d. to 30s. 6d. per ton. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Supply is still in arrear with regard to orders for the inland household trade, and it is not easy to find tonnage awaiting the purchaser. As regards shipping, there is little or no change. Outside enquiry, if anything, is quieter than it was, and contract deliveries continue on a moderate scale, the all-round scarcity of tonnage being evident. The increasing inland demand has perhaps tended to restrict supplies, but except in special cases here and there, this does not appear to have caused much incon- venience so far. Prices of Lancashire steam coals still range from 17s. to 17s. 6d. f.o.b. Coastwise continues very brisk, and enquiries are more numerous than can be promptly entertained. Small fuels of all descriptions continue in good demand for manufacturing purposes, and there is no difficulty is clearing the fuel as produced. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L'st week's Last year's House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 20/9 20/9 17/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 16/6-16/9 Medium 19/ 19/ 15/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 20/ 20/ 14/6-15/ Kitchen 16/9-17/ 16/9-17/ 13/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 18/ —18/6 18/ -18/6 13/3-13/9 Screened forge coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 11/6-12/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 12/ -12/9 Best slack 14/ 14/ 9/9 Secondary slack 12/6 12/6 9/ Common do 10/ 10/ 8/ - 8/6 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was very well attended on Tuesday. The trade in house coal continues strong, with little offering. Furnace coal is very steady, and there is good enquiry for shipping coal, but chiefly on contract account. Slack is brisk, and supplies are readily swallowed up. Prices generally are as below :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .............. Medium............. Common............. Furnace coal......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack .......... Common slack ........ Current prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 14/ 11/ -12/ 16/ —16/9 13/3-14/ 12/6 14/ 9/6-10/ 8/6- 9/ jL'stweek'slLast year's i prices. I prices. • 21/ -22/ ! 17/3-18/ 19/ -20/3 ! 1fi/ -1* *'0 ' 17/ -17/3 | ' 16/ -17/ 1 19/ -21/ 14/ | 11/ -12/ IRON. There was a fair attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday last, but very little business doing on account of the uncertain state of affairs. There is no change to report in the price of pig iron. Crown bars are quoted nominally £11 10s., but makers are asking considerably over this for early deliveries. Prices of steel remain unaltered ; in fact, the position all round remains unchanged. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The main features of the Yorkshire coal trade which have been in evidence during the past few weeks continue unchanged, namely, a keen demand for all qualities and the scarcity of most. Colliery representatives report full work at the pits, except where the shortage of empty trucks has been a difficulty. There is a ready sale for all the output, but a comparatively high percentage of absenteeism among the miners, said to average from 15 to 20 per cent., prevents the output from approaching even approximately the maximum capacity of the collieries. As to the London house coal trade, there is a very active call for all descrip- tions, and a marked scarcity of such qualities as Haigh Moor selected and Silkstone best. The full prices allowed by the Limitation Act are readily obtained. Supplies are mainly in buyers' trucks, railway trucks being almost unobtainable. The activity of the coastwise trade con- tinues. It is reported that many merchants on the south coast are very short of supplies, but great difficulty is experienced in the securing of small craft, both steamboats and sailing vessels. Freights are still high, Ils. Goole to London being quoted this week. Several cargoes of second- class Silkstone house coal are reported to have changed hands at about 18s. 9d. per ton f.o.b. Goole. In the local markets merchants are much busier in coping with the public demand, and they find it difficult to obtain adequate deliveries from the collieries. Best qualities, which are mostly reserved for contracts, are scarce. Pit prices remain unchanged at about the following level:—Haigh Moor selected, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone best, 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d.; Silkstone house, 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d.; secondary sorts, 17s. to 18s. The gas coal pits are very busy, and in many cases are in arrears with contract deliveries, while the keen demand for France affords a ready outlet for any surplus. A big tonnage is being shipped to this destination, best sorts realising up to 19s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull. There is a growing shortage of manufacturing fuel. This is especially so in regard to washed fuel and best slacks, but all qualities are in keen request. The consumption in Bradford and the heavy woollen district, where there is a good deal of over- time at the factories, tends to increase. The demand for washed furnace coke shows a marked improvement, as considerable quantities are now going into consumption at Frodingham and in the Leeds district. This has tended to both a reduction in stocks and an increase in the output of the ovens. Average quality coke is firm at 16s. per ton at the ovens. Current pit prices. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best....... Silkstone best ....... Do. house .......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal..... Gas nuts.............. Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit : Washed nuts........... Large double-screened engine nuts .......... Small nuts............ Rough unscreened engine coal........... Best rough slacks..... Small do.............. Coking smalls ........ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ......... Current prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 16/6—17/6 16/ -17/ 'L'st week's Last year's i prices. prices. ' 20/ -21/ 14/ -15/ ! 19/ -20/ 13/6-14/6 19/ -20/ i 13/6-14/ : 16/6-17/6 ; 12/6-13/ 16/ -17/ ! 11/6-12/ 21/6-22/6 I 21/6-22/6 16/9-17/6 20/6-21/6 1 20/6-21/6 15/6-16/6 18/6-19/6 ■ 18/6-19/6 14/ -14/6 18/ -19/ | 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/6 15/ -16/ i 15/ -16/ 10/6-11/ 15/ -15/6 i 15/ -15/6 \ 9/6-10/3 13/6-14/6 113/6-14/6 9/3- 9/6 16/ -16/6 ! 16/ -16/6 10/6-11/ i 14/6-15/6 i 14/6-15/6 i 9/3- 9/9 13/6-14/6 i 13/6-14/6 i 9/ - 9/6 13/6-14/6 i 13/6-14/6 i 9/ - 9/6 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/ i 7/3- 8/ 10/ -11/ 10/ -10/6 , 6/ - 7/ 10/ -10/6 10/ -10/6 | 6/3- 7/3 15/6-16/6 ! 15/6-16/6 ! 11/6-12/ Barnsley. COAL. There was a good attendance and a strong enquiry for most classes of fuel at the usual local market on Wednesday. The position of the collieries, however, was practically unchanged from last week, and it was a difficult matter to arrange business which involved anything like prompt delivery. Many firms are so heavily booked up with orders that at the present time it is impossible for them to consider new business, having regard to the difficulties in the reduced production and transit of fuel. The heavy fog during the early part of the week has added considerably to the Arrears, whilst complaints were general of the continued high percentage of absenteeism which continues amongst the miners. Although several prosecutions have taken place of late and very frank warnings have been given, the management at the collieries are finding no tangible improvement, and question of further action in the matter is receiving very serious consideration. It is pointed out that there are many contracts which are of vital importance in the interests of the country which it is impossible to fully supply, whilst another matter of very great importance is that of the supplies of slacks to the various by-product plants which are now working at full pressure in order to supply the maximum amount of residuals which are requested for the manufacture of munitions. Apparently everything has been done in the shape of appeal to the men to attend to their work regularly, and it is felt now, when matters have become so serious, that the men must be made, if possible, to realise their responsibility at the present moment. During the week further railway con- tracts have been amicably fixed up in accordance with the