November 19, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1039 Most of the collieries have a large number of arrear orders on their books, and there is serious delay in executing orders. The shipping business has been handicapped this week by the boisterous weather conditions, and only a few boats have been dealt with. The enquiry from the inland districts is a heavy one. All classes of steam coal are experiencing a good enquiry, and outputs are readily absorbed. There are no stocks. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report an average demand for house and steam coal, and supplies by rail have been received fairly plentifully. Complaints are being raised as to the large number of wagons that have been delayed on the way from the collieries for some weeks. This appears to be due in many cases to haphazard shunting at certain sidings, and it is hoped that greater order will soon be introduced in dealing with trains to the south of England. A few steamer and sailing cargoes of coal are arriving at the south coast ports. THE WELSH COAL AMD IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 18. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. All the collieries in North Wales area have been kept fully employed during the past week, though, in common with other colliery districts, a shortage of empty wagons has been experienced which has made it somewhat difficult to meet the demand for supplies in all cases. Considering the number of men who have left the district to join the Colours, the output appears to be fairly well maintained throughout the locality. As regards coal for household purposes, orders are coming freely to hand, and a good business in this class of coal is being done, and during the next month or so a still greater demand is likely to be experienced. It appears to be a hand-to-mouth sort of business, however, as it does not transpire that many large contracts have been made with merchants for their supplies of house coal as in former years. The demand for steam coal is all that can be desired, and if the output could only be increased, the volume of trade done in this department would be very much greater. The shipping business at Liverpool and other Mersey ports is fair, but the recent labour troubles at Dublin docks have somewhat interfered with this trade. A large quantity of slack is about to be purchased by the committee of the County Asylum of Lancashire. Gas coal supplies are well maintained against contracts, and things appear to have been worked fairly smoothly as regards the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, as between the gas companies and the coal salesmen. In the case of gas coke, there is a brisk demand, and all the local gas companies appear to dispose of their accumulation with readiness. Small coal is in good demand. Nuts are par- ticularly scarce, and the tonnage of slack has been very much reduced of late owing to the general reduction in output. On the whole, prices are still unaltered. The best and second house coal sold at the landsale realises 25s. to 2?s. 6d. and 22s. 6d. to 25s. per ton respectively. Summarised, the prices are as below :— 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. 19/6-21/ 18/6-20/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 8/6- 9/6 18/4-20/ 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 14/2—15/ L’stweek’s'Last year’s prices. 19/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 8/6- 9/6 18/4-20/ prices. 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/3 12/ -12/6 12/ -12/9 11/3-11/9 11/3-11/9 5/ - 6/6 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 i 18/4-20/ 22/6-25/ I 17/6-18/4 14/2-15/ | 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The steam coal trade does not yet manifest any signs of improvement; on the contrary, the acute scarcity of tonnage, which is the worst feature of a very unsatisfactory position, is aggravated by the question of Greek steamers, whether it is politic to engage these or not. Outward freights, as may be expected, are rather firmer, and, with the market feeling stronger all round, there is no saying where the upward movement will carry to. Up to the present, quotations for December coals have been maintained firmly, but opinions are now freely expressed doubting that the present steadiness for forward business can be sustained. Quotations nominally show no change from last week’s figures, but it may be taken that sellers are very willing to make abatements in order to secure shipments being made. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. | Current Steam coals:— prices. Best Black Vein large..., 18/ -18/6 Western-valleys, ordin’y 17/ -17/6 Best Eastern-valleys ...i 16/ -16/6 Secondary do. ...' 15/6-16/ Best small coals ..... 11/ -11/6 Secondary do. ....... 9/ -10/ Inferior do........ 6/6— 7/6 Screenings ........... — Through coals ........ 14/ -15/ Best washed nuts...... 15/6—16/ Other sorts:— Best house coal....... 22/ -24/ Secondary do.......... 21/ -23/ Patent fuel ..........[ 24/ -24/6 Furnace coke.......... 30/ -32/ Foundry coke ......... 36/ -38/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. I prices. 18/ -18/6 | 16/6-17/ 17/ -17/6 j 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 ; 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ ! 15/ -15/6 11/ -11/6 ' 9/ -10/ 6/6- 7/6 14/ -15/ 15/6-16/ j 13/ -13/6 i ; 22/ -24/ ; 18/ -19/ 21/ -22/ , 16/6-17/6 24/ -24/6 I 17/6-18/ 30/ -32/ j 18/ -19/ 36/ -38/ 1 21/ -23/ 6/9- 7/ 6/ - 6/9 5/6— 6/ 7/ 11/3-11/6 The pitwood supply is greatly below the requirements of collieries, who are paying up to 50s. for suitable wood. This enormous price is naturally stimulating the cutting of local timber in all directions, but the supply of .this, too, is but a very small portion of the amount usually imported. The use of iron substitutes, tried with satisfaction in some collieries, is now rendered almost impossible owing to the position of ironmasters, who cannot supply. The use of concrete as a support in suitable positions is being tried with advantage. IRON. Strong conditions again prevail locally in the iron and steel trades, all changes to report being of an upward character. Bar mills continue full of work, with prices nominal at =£8 5s. to <£8 10s. for either Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars. Steel rails show no fresh feature, enquiry continuing good, with outputs well up to recent averages, while prices remain firm on last-quoted basis. New business in Welsh haematite is very difficult to arrange, makers being well booked and disinclined to offer any quotations. Nominally, values of local blastfurnaces have advanced to 125s. to 130s. delivered to works within the district. Iron ore continues a difficult market, supplies being scarce and dear. Tin-plates are moving out of stock rather better, with enquiry good and improving, while manufacturers here, too, are displaying a lack of willingness to book any further orders. Officially, values are strong on the basis of 20s. 6d. for either Bessemer or Siemens primes 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. COAL. Instead of the anticipated improvement which was hinted at last week, the position seems to be getting worse. Bad weather at sea has delayed arrivals of tonnage, and the shortage is more pronounced than ever. Charterings last week only amounted to 145,850 tons, compared with 183,300 tons in the preceding six days, making a decrease of 37,450 tons. As a matter of fact, with the Government demand falling away, there ought to be about 250,000 tons available in order to meet ordinary requirements, and as this is not forthcoming, there is an accumulation of stocks in the sidings. It was reported that on Monday over a dozen collieries were idle owing to lack of wagons, and upwards of 10,000 colliers were unemployed. There is now no difficulty in obtaining permission to ship best Admiralty coal, but the tonnage question is a serious drawback to any substantial business being done. The action of the Coal Exports Committee and the exorbitant rates demanded for freight have practically killed the foreign trade, especially in the case of middlemen who were in the habit of making c.i.f. contracts. At the present time the rates may vary shillings in a week, with the result that exporters are unable to fix a price at which they can do business. This state of affairs has been of material advantage to the Americans, who are at present shipping large quantities of coal, not only to the Mediterranean, but to South American and other depots which were formerly considered a monopoly of the Welsh coal trade. This is looked upon as a very serious prospect, and many salesmen consider that there will be extreme difficulty in recapturing these markets when the war is over. The Americans do not appear to have the slightest trouble in the supply of coal, whereas for a long time past, even when orders have been placed on this market, complications have arisen in executing them. So far as best coals are concerned, shippers are few, and, as almost all the collieries are famishing for tonnage—com- paratively speaking, low prices would be entertained. It cannot be said that there is any market quotation at present, as each transaction stands by itself. The small coal trade is slightly better, and this arises in a great measure through decreased outputs.in consequence of the numerous stoppages, owing to lack of tonnage, and also the congestion of boats in the French ports. As in this country, there appears to be a great shortage of wagons due to the fact that so many have been commandeered by the military authorities for transport purposes. Several new enquiries have come on to the market within the last few days. The Midi Railway of France business has not yet been placed, but results are anticipated in the course of a few days. The Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Railway are in the market for 20,000 tons of patent fuel, for delivery Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. * * 17/6-19/ 11/ -12/ 10/ -10/6 7/6 6/ - 7/ 23/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 25/ -27/ 22/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 10/ -12/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 21/6-22/6 19/6-20/6 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ 10/ -11/ 25! -2fi/ L’st week’s prices. * * 17/6-19/ 10/ -11/ 9/ -10/ 6/ - 8/ 5/ - 6/ 23/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 25/ —27/ 22/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 16/6-18/ 10/ -12/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 10/ -11/ 27/ Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -20/6 17/6-18/ 8/ - 8/6 7/6- 7/9 5/6- 6/3 4/6- 5/ 19,6-20/ 1 17/- 18/ 17/6 15/ 14'6 13/6 9/ 1 17/ -17/3 ' 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/ 15/ -15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/6 11/6 14/ 11/6 7/6 16/ -16/6 15/6 27/ -30/ 22/ -26/ 19/ -20/ 21/6 Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds 93 / i 2K / Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke 40/ -42/ ! 36/ -38/ 1 30/ -32/ 1 47/6-49/ | 38/ -42/ 35/ -37/ 28/ -32/ 1 46 1-41/ j Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal. over next year, and there is a further order for between 30,000 and 40,000 tons for France for delivery between now and February next. Whence this invitation for tenders emanates has not been disclosed, the only information being that it is for France. Shipments last week amounted to 332,283 tons, compared with 384,429 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 52,146 tons. From Cardiff alone there were exported 205,282 tons, against 246,118 tons, or a decrease of 40,836 tons. From Newport the quantity was 56,187 tons, or an increase of 8,605 tons ; from Swansea 70,814tons, or an increase of 21,705 tons; and from Port Talbot nil, compared with 41,620 tons in the corresponding week. The application by the coal owners for a reduction in the percentage of 5 per cent, has been granted, but the fact has had no effect on the market, as this result was antici- pated. The statistical returns, published by the London Custom House, have just been issued, from which it appears that during the month of October there were exported from the Bristol Channel 1,482,104 tons, compared with 1,711,982 tons in the corresponding month of 1914, or a decrease of 229,878 tons. From Cardiff there were shipped 706,630 tons against 1,076,781 tons, from Newport 169,185 tons against 339,127 tons, from Swansea 451,572 tons compared with 196,138 tons, and from Port Talbot 144,966 tons against 87,662 tons in the corresponding month of last year. The following table shows the quantity of coal exported to foreign countries and British possessions from the Bristol Channel during the month of October, compared with the quantity shipped in October 1914:— Sweden Oct. 1915. Tons. 1,318 Oct. 1914. Tons. .. 23,510 Norway 3,797 . 5,635 Denmark 1,722 ., 4,437 Netherlands Dutch Possessions in the 908 ., 6,421 Indian Seas — 4,801 Belgium — ,. 16,532 France 808,781 .. ,. 569,479 Algeria 15,916 .. 1,807 Reunion — 5,149 Portugal 56,123 ., .. 38,606 Azores — 5,420 Spain 72,288 .. .. 94,267 Canary Islands ..., 19,117 .. .. 23,780 Italy 301,991 .. .. 396,739 Italian East Africa — 5,338 Greece 12,703 ., 6,307 Turkey (Asiatic) Tunis 6,677 .. 8,115 10,179 China 4,997 7,482 Chili 207 .. Brazil 16,106 .. .. 49,166 Uruguay 15,030 ., .. 42,195 Argentine Republic • 26,608 .. .. 153,618 Malta and Gozo 15,452 .. 12,874 Cyprus 9,463 .. 3,794 Aden and Dependencies 1,476 .. .. 16,967 British India — 9,964 Ceylon and Dependencies... — ,. 16,834 Falkland Islands 23,630 .. — West Africa—British 3,771 .. 6,415 „ French 2,142 .. 5,003 „ Portuguese... 6,114 .. 4,166 With regard to prices there is little to say, except that they are almost entirely nominal. As already stated, although permission to ship is more readily given, owing to the lack of transport facilities, very little business is being done, and there is really no market quotation which would be of any value. Ordinary steams range between 17s. 6d. and 19s., and these figures are fairly well maintained. Dry coals are firm, and rates continue steady, and the same remark applies to washed coals. In Monmouthshires there is little change, except that the tonnage position seems to be slightly improving. Best Black Veins are 18s. to 19s., western valleys 17s. 6d. to 18s., and easterns 17s. to 17s. 6d. Best bunkers are Ils. to 12s., ordinaries 10s. to 10s. 6d., and cargo qualities about 7s. 6d., although a lower price is being accepted in certain instances in order to release wagons. Bituminous coals are steady with a harder tendency, caused probably by the frosty weather, which is now being experienced. No. 3 Rhondda large commands 23s. to 24s., through 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., and small 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d. No. 2 large is 15s. to 16s., with other grades in proportion. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to between 12,000 tons and 13,000 tons, of which 9,343 tons was despatched by the Crown Company. Quotations are rather easier, best qualities being obtainable at 25s. to 26s., and second grades about 23s. Pitwood is still scarce and dear at 47s. 6d. to 49s. per ton. Coke is unaltered. IRON. A further advance has taken place in tin-plates chiefly owing to the advance in the price of raw material. Ship- ments were not quite so satisfactory, and only amounted to 48,238 boxes, compared with 73,536 boxes received from works, thus leaving in stock in the docks warehouses and vans 375,656 boxes. Bessemer standard cokes are now quoted at 20s. 6d., and oil sizes at 21s. and 29s. 3d. to 29s. 6d. respectively. Welsh steel bars are nominal, but business is being done at about <£7 10s. to <£7 15s. per ton. Welsh pig iron is also nominal, but makers are accepting £6 2s. 6d. delivered at works. The galvanised sheet trade continues in a depressed condition, and very little new business is obtainable. A further substantial advance has been recorded in spelter, which is now quoted at <£90 per ton, and 24-gauge corrugateds are being held for <£19 10s. per ton. There is rather more activity in scrap metals, and prices are firm without material alteration. The high rates demanded by shipowners is exercising a detrimental effect on the iron ore market, and business is dull. Best rubio is offering at 31s., second grades at 28s. 6d., and Almeria ores at 28s. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week showed a decrease com- pared with the preceding week, as there was still a limited supply of tonnage. The coal and patent fuel trades were more active, the shipments together amounting to 81.4C9 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change. The anthracite coals continued very strong, in the Swansea Valley, and Red Vein large quotations were fully held. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were in request and