988 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN November 12, 1915. for the open market. For prompt delivery average qualities of washed furnace coke readily realise 23s. at the ovens, and as high as 28s. f.o.b. Hull has been paid for export. Barnsley. COAL. The difficulty of placing new business has been more intensified during the present week, and there was a large attendance of buyers at the usual local market on Wednes- day. Collieries are in no better position for giving more adequate supplies, and there are still instances of an excep- tionally high rate of absenteeism amongst the miners. On every hand collieries are being pressed for more adequate deliveries of fuel than they can possibly supply under the present circumstances, and consumers are receiving support from headquarters in endeavouring to obtain arrears of contract deliveries. So far as engineering firms and works engaged in connection with munitions are concerned, collieries are making a strenuous effort to get away the required supplies of fuel, but this is attended with great difficulty, and^there seems little hope for the present of any added tonnage being available. The pressure from the railway companies is also of a very keen description, and under such circumstances buyers who have not contracted for supplies are experiencing a good deal of anxiety in obtaining their requirements, even though they are offering considerably higher prices than are being paid for contract deliveries. The demand for hards on home account continues to be of a very heavy character, and although enquiries for shipment are fairly well sustained, sellers are finding it to be more to their advantage to give principal attention to the home markets. Best hards are now reported to have been sold at about 18s. per ton, and any spot lots of secondary sorts which may be available will realise about 17s. per ton. For practically every descrip- tion of steam fuel there is an exceptional demand, and prices hardly enter into the question, though it is a rare instance of adequate supplies being obtainable on current account. Steam nuts are exceptionally scarce, and as expected, nut slacks and ordinary slacks are also short of the needs of the market. The position in regard to gas coal is also becoming more serious for consumers. The reduced tonnage which was accepted under contract has been found inadequate for present requirements, with something like full pressure being felt, and the securing of surplus lots is a very difficult problem. Gas companies are having to work with reduced stocks, and the slightest delay in delivery is making the position very difficult. Enquiries at collieries are more numerous, not only for home purposes but also for export, and, practically speaking, these cannot be entertained. Collieries are also finding it difficult to give the required supplies of house coal. Orders are still coming freely to hand, and there has been no improvement in the delay, which has been unavoid- able, in giving supplies, and whilst there is no desire to create any panic, circumstances suggest that in the event of more severe weather the position will become exceedingly difficult. The upward tendency in the prices of coke continues to be realised, and a good deal of business for export is circulating on the market. Business is now done at about 21s. per ton, whilst makers are receiving offers for six months’ contracts on the basis of these prices. However, comparatively speaking, these tempting offers do not find ready acceptance on the part of makers. Prices at pit. House coals:— Current prices. L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 16/6 Best Barnsley softs 18/6 16/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 13/ -14/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/9-11/ Best hard coals i 17/6-18/ 17/6 11/3-11/6 Secondary do 16/ -17/ 16/6 10/3 Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/ 16/3-16/6 10/3-10/6 Secondary do 15/9-16/ 9/6 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 6/9 Secondary do Gas coals -— 10/6 10/6 5/6 Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ 10/6-11/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/ Gas nuts 16/6 16/ -16/6 10/ -10/6 Furnace coke 21/ 19/ -20/ 10/6 Hull. GOAL. A little more business and an improved tone, with firmer values, are manifest in the Humber coal market. The restrictions in the matter of export imposed by the War Department Committee have, however, a very marked effect, and no doubt prevent, as they are intended to do, any serious competition for the amount of coal that is available for foreign use. Licences for neutral countries are granted very sparingly, though there seems little doubt that there is a good latent demand in Northern Europe which, if it were in any way satisfied, would cause prices to rise with a bound. The effect of the new arrangement reported for an expansion of shipments to Holland, which of late have been very small, from the Humber, will be watched with interest, but it is pretty well understood that the War Department Committee will not allow increased exports thence, if the result is to inflate prices at home. Collieries are offering little or nothing on prompt shipment, but have several enquiries in hand for deliveries a fort- night and a month ahead. Current values for prompt shipment f.o.b. are approximately as follow:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 19s. 6d. to 20s.; ditto prime brands, 20s. to 21s. 6d.; washed doubles, 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d.; washed singles, 18s. 6d. to 19s.; washed small, 13s. to 14s.; West Riding Hartleys, 18s. 6d. to 19s.; gas and house coal (screened), 19s. to 20s. 6d.; rough slack, 13s. 6d. to 14s. No . Derbyshire steam coal is offering for export, supplies being fully taken up by a brisk home demand. Shipments at the docks continue good, but are hampered by rising freights, which are now on the basis of 21s. to Rouen and 49s. to 50s. Genoa, with but few charterings to be recorded. The returns of exports from the Humber ports during October are not so good as last year or in the two preceding months of this year, the details being: Hull 258,722 tons, as against 167,572 tons in October 1914, Grimsby 32,315 (78,135), Immingham 1,619 (81,437), Goole 56,134 (54,493), the total being 348,790 (381,637). Chesterfield. COAL. The market is exceedingly strong, and every class of coal continues in active demand, prices remaining steady. House coal orders are very plentiful, but prompt execution of these is impossible. Manufacturing fuel is in great request, and the large steel works of Sheffield are taking heavy deli- veries. Cobbles and nuts are urgently wanted for gas producers. Renewal of contracts is proceeding on the basis of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Slack for steam- raising purposes is in brisk demand, but supplies continue far short of the requirements of the market. Locomotive coal for railway use is urgently wanted, and great pressure is put upon collieries to maintain deliveries up to contract quantities as a minimum. There is no change in the export trade, which is in a lifeless condition. Prices, however, are firmer for steam coal. Such business as is being done from the Humber ports is chiefly for allied countries. The coke market is much better. There is also an improved demand for home consumption. Coking fuel is in good demand. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 — Cobbles 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ , - . Slack 12/6 12/6 — IRON. Conditions are unchanged. Pig iron is in poor demand. Finished iron, however, is much wanted, and orders are plentiful. All local establishments are working at full pressure. Nottingham. COAL. Activity continues to characterise the coal trade in Nottinghamshire. With the collieries working full time, the output is almost daily cleared. The demand in the domestic fuel section is much the same as a week ago, all classes of coal being in good request. With the weather moderate in character, local coal merchants are experiencing a fairly active business, though there is nothing in the shape of a rush of orders from the public. No particular difficulty exists in getting supplies from the collieries so far as the immediate district is concerned, and prices are firm all round. Steam-producing fuel is in strong demand. Good orders are being received from firms engaged on Government work, and, in fact, the home market presents a brisk tone, while the trade on export account remains satisfactory under the circumstances. The slack market is retaining its more active tone, and what reserve supplies collieries had a few weeks ago are being rapidly reduced. For some better class qualities the supply is not sufficient in some cases to meet the immediate demand. Gas coal is in good request. Coke is in an improving position, and prices are firmer. Prices at pithead. * Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ — Good house coals 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6—16/ — Best hard coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 — Secondary do 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Slacks (best hards) 11/6-12/6 11/9-12/6 — Do. (second) 10/6-11/ 10/9-11/ — Do. (soft) 11/ 11/ — Leicestershire. COAL. Under the stimulating influence of cold damp weather there is a very large enquiry for household coals for speedy delivery. The fall in prices has had a very beneficial effect all round, and it has created more c.onfidence that fairly full supplies will be available during the coming winter for all essential requirements. The fact, of course, still remains that there are no stocks of any kind at the pits, and the reserves in the hands of coal merchants in London and at country stations is generally very small, and far below the normal level for the period of the year. Colliery proprietors have more orders for manufacturing fuel than they can deal with, and the total output is divided according to the necessities and importance of the consumers. There is still a tendency, on the part of firms to whom price is of much less consequence than supplies, to order large quantities of cobbles and nuts to be used for fuel purposes, and this largely diminishes the quantities of these grades available for ordinary domestic purposes. The aggregate output is well maintained. Generally, full time of five and three-quarter days is being worked, but in some cases the shortage in the supply of railway-owned wagons stops working, although persistent efforts are being made by the railway authorities to remedy this defect. Those coal merchants who own their own rolling stock have never been so favourably placed. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifica- tions, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— 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. 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ —13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 L’stweek’s prices. 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 12/ -12/9 11/6—12/6 10/ -10/6 9/ - 9/3 7/9- 8/6 1/6- 1/9 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/6-13 6 13/9-14/9 12,6-13/6 9/ -10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 7/6- 8/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Conditions in the coal trade do not improve either in the matter of supply or transport. In this latter connection an instance was quoted on ’Change in which some truck loads took nine days to come 25 miles. There are many other cases of delay, unavoidable many of them, but highly inconvenient. In the matter of prices it is scarcely possible to get a quotation. They are ruled to some extent by contracts, but even on these extras are charged for excess. The recruiting of surface labour has added to the already great difficulties in connection with sorting the coal, and the public may soon expect to be compelled to take coal which has not been selected. The demand for industrial fuels is very brisk. Furnace cokes are still advancing, the increase charged to Midland smelters being something like 5s. on the month. IRON. The position of the iron and steel trades, as revealed by the market, remains exceedingly strong, and the heavy demand, coupled with the difficulty of obtaining supplies, has forced up values in all branches above those prevailing a week ago. The enormous call for steel by the Govern- ment and on behalf of the Allies gives the market a sure and solid foundation, and it is backed by almost equally large requirements of all classes of iron for war material, to say nothing of a fairly extensive home and export trade. Prices, therefore, have little or no relation to the official quotations, and in some departments, notably steel, no quotations are to be had. Sheet bars and billets are wanted far beyond the facilities of output, and values have soared to the unprecedented height of anything ranging fr?m <£9 15s. to <£10 5s. delivered in the district. People wanting finished steel find great difficulty in placing orders. Marked bars remain nominally at <£12 10s., but no makers do business at the figure, the premium ranging from 10s. to <£1 a ton. Good second-class bars are not obtainable under <£11 15s. to <£12, the bulk of the business being done at an intermediary figure, while nut and bolt iron has jumped up to <£1112s. 6d., and in some instances <£11 15s. The basis for North Staffordshire bars is <£12 ; some makers are content with a 5s. premium, if the order is sufficiently attractive, but others refuse to take orders under <£12 10s. Three- eighths iron rounds are dearer, being quoted <£12 10s. to .£12 12s. 6d., and makers will not have contracts, only specific orders. Galvanised sheets are now quoted £21 a ton. The exports for October amounted to 18,642 tons, of the value of £383,565, compared with 29,897 tons, of the value of £435,104 tons in October last year. A large portion of the trade is with our own Colonies and the Scandinavian market. Black corrugated sheets have reached the neigh- bourhood of £14, and a further £1 if they are wanted painted. Plain sheets are about the same. The pig iron market has gathered more strength. Makers are selling cautiously, being afraid of being overtaken by fuel troubles. They are not allowing contracts to overlap. For North- amptonshire iron 67s. to 68s. 6d. are the quotations. Derbyshire 70s. to 71s. net, Staffordshire part-mine 69s. to 70s. Lydney. Forest of Dean. COAL. The house coal trade of this district is still in a remark- ably brisk condition. All the collieries are fully employed, but it is impossible to satisfy the demand. There has been a good business done in shipments during the week, but the rougher weather has hung up a few coasting vessels ; this has enabled the collieries to clear a good number of railborne orders, which have long been in arrears. Slack coals are only in quiet demand. Steam coal orders are coming in well, and the pits are managing full work. There is nothing in the way of pressure in the enquiry. 1 Current E’st week’s East vear’s House coals:— prices. ! prices. prices. Block 21/6 ■ 21/6 — Forest 20/6 ! 20/6 — Rubble 20/9 ’ 20/9 — Nuts 19/ 19/ — Rough slack Steam coal:— 11/6 11/6 i — I Large : 18/ -19/ : 18/ -19/ i — Small ! 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ i ~ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Vapour and Compressed Air.—When compressed air is used to drive drills, coal cutters, haulage engines, or, in fact, any reciprocating mechanism, moisture in the air must be avoided at all cost. Every means should be taken to prevent it entering the compressing plant and accumulating in the pipe system. The trouble due to the presence of moisture is brought about by this moisture condensing while expansion is taking place in the air-operated tools. The drop in tem- perature which takes place during the expansion causes the water formed to freeze, clogging up the passages of the mechanism, or even, if actual freezing does not occur, the water formed washes out the lubricant, causing the tools to wear out rapidly, wffiich is the chief source of annoyance in the use of air-operated tools. Not only is this moisture detrimental to the working of the tools, but its presence affects the useful work done by the compressor. As it has to be compressed along with the air, and afterwards deposited in an intercooler, it represents lost work. The compressor, "whether it be on the surface, pit bottom, or in-bye, should be fed w’ith air at as low a temperature as is possible, thereby reducing the amount of moisture contained. If the com- pressor is placed in-bye, where the air may probably be warm, it is advisable to feed it with the coldest air avail- able, viz., that from the intake. Compressors situated at the pit bottom or surface have a better chance in this respect. Air from a warm engine room entering a compressor at, say, 100 degs. Fahr., and heavily laden with moisture, gives a loss of about 6 per cent, in w’ork done. When the situation and conditions are such that the feed air cannot be treated, then it must be dealt with in the pipe line, or, rather, when the air has been compressed.