1246 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN December 17, 1915. fuel generally is very pronounced. Coking slacks are also becoming scarce. Pressure is maintained on makers of furnace coke to keep their ovens in full work, in view of the importance of the residuals. The market for washed furnace coke, for both prompt and forward supply is very firm. Average qualities realise 23s. at the ovens without difficulty, and as high as 24s., and even 25s., has been paid for spot parcels of the better qualities. All the pit prices mentioned in the subjoined list must be regarded as being more or less nominal. Barnsley. COAL. The remarkable scarcity for classes of fuel are again demonstrated at the usual local market. Colliery represen- tatives still report extreme difficulty in being able to comply with contract deliveries, particularly in regard to small steam fuel, nuts, and gas coal. At this period of the year the consumption of most classes of coal is at the highest, and consumers have usually provided for this by laying in stocks. The shortage in deliveries, however, is no doubt abnormal, and with the continued resort to reserves, there is a great deal of anxiety prevailing for fear there should be interruption, even in the present days of delayed deliveries. Coalowners, however, say that it is impossible for them under the present circumstances to do more than they are doing, although they are being subjected to severe pressure from the authorities, to give larger deliveries than is at present the case. It is also a usual feature towards the end of the year that, owing to the bad weather, deliveries are delayed on railways, but of course in that connection the trouble may be rather more extensive, owing to the shortage of labour. Generally speaking, the business passing was of a meagre character, for collieries are still in the same position of having their output practically absorbed by contract arrangements and are not seeking new business, at all events for the present year. The export demand shows very little alteration, and, of course, business is confined to such a degree as is permissible by the control of the' licences for shipment. At the present ^ime there appears to be very little tonnage being sent to the port, apart from the usual tonnage arranged for under contract. No doubt much increased prices could be realised for export if coal was available, and, so far as the home market is concerned, values are practically nominal in the absence of any available tonnage. Consumers are having to some extent to adapt themselves to the use of other classes of fuel for various purposes, and some enquiries were reported by buyers of house coal who were seeking secondary qualities of steam coal_ to help them in the present difficulty. The consump- tion of nuts for the many engineering firms continues to be on a very heavy scale, and the demand is still unapproached by the output. Smaller steam fuel such as slacks are in exceedingly active demand, no doubt the greater activity in the manufacture of coke, being a very potent factor. Con- sumers of gas coal continue to complain of their inability to obtain adequate supplies, and so far as the house coal trade is concerned the position is somewhat similar. Best qualities are exceedingly difficult to procure in the open market, and no doubt much higher prices than those which are allowed by legislation would be obtainable if any surplus was in circulation. Secondary descriptions of house fuel are also fully absorbed, and there is a considerable rush of orders being offered to the collieries, who, however, find themselves heavily booked up forward. A remarkably improved demand for coke continues to be experienced, and the position remains of a very firm character, although there is hardly so much business being put through on forward account. Some few weeks ago we referred to the fact that it was probable that some attempt would be made between makers and consumers with the object of avoiding the heavy fluctuations in values which have occurred of late, and it is understood that something is being done in this direction, but what agreement has been arrived at is not at the present time officially obtainable. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s'Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 16/6-17/6 18/6 16/6-17/6 15/ Secondary do 13/ -14/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/6 Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/9-11/6 Best hard coals..... 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 11/6 Secondary do 16/ -17/ 16/3-16/6 15/9-16/3 16/ -17/ 10/6-11/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 10/6 Secondary do 15/9-16/ 9/9 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 7/3 Secondary do Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 6/ Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 10/6-11/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/ Gas nuts 16/6 16/6 10/ -10/6 Furnace coke 23/ -24/ 23/ -23/6 11/ -11/3 Hull. COAL. There continues to be very little Yorkshire coal available for export, and though prices here have had an upward tendency for three or four weeks past, they have been kept from reaching abnormally high levels by the drastic hand- ling of applications for licences for export, by the War Department Committee. Licences to ship in any direction, France included, are increasingly difficult to get, and only mere driblets are now being permitted to go through. What little coal there is to be had on spot is quickly taken up, prices again ruling somewhat higher than in the previous week, both for large steam coal and nuts, which are very scarce and are in big request both for local use and for shipment abroad. Less coal is being dealt with at the docks, and shipping tonnage not being in such urgent demand, freights for near ports have eased off, although the quotation for the Mediterranean is still soaring upwards, and is well over 60s. Current approximate quotations for prompt shipment f.o.b. are as follow .-—Best South Yorkshire hards, 21s. to 21s. 6d.; ditto prime brands, 21s. 6d. to 23s.; washed trebles, 20s. to 20s. 6d.; washed doubles and singles, 19s. 9d. to 20s. ; washed small coal, 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d.; rough slack, 14s.; West Riding Hartleys, 18s. 6d. to 19s. 6d,; gas and house coal (screened), 19s. 6d. to 21s.; Derbyshire steam hards, Os. to 21s., for shipment at Grimsby or Immingham. Chesterfield. COAL. There is an ever-increasing demand for all classes of coal, with a corresponding difficulty in satisfying customers’ requirements. Consumers are anxious to provide a supply of fuel to carry them safely over the Christmas stoppage of work at the collieries. While the suspension of operations will, no doubt, be shorter than usual, the loss of a single day's output of coal at present is a serious matter, and is immediately felt in every direction. Users of coal are now working from hand to mouth, seeing that they are denuded of stocks, and are entirely dependent upon what supplies come forward from day to day. The large steel works of Sheffield are badly in want of fuel, and the demand in this direction has increased very considerably owing to the recent extension of their plant which has been necessary, in order to deal with the enormous amount of Government work. Great pressure is brought to bear upon the collieries of this district to supply such coal as is needed, and every effort is made to meet the requirements of these huge establishments, where the consumption of fuel at present is on a stupendous scale. Every grade of coal is in urgent request from the large steam coal down to the finest smudge. Domestic fuel is in strong demand, and delay in the execution of orders is inevitable. The supply of wagons is a source of difficulty owing to the bad working of railway traffic. The export trade is very quiet owing to the con- tinued difficulty in obtaining licences. There is a strong demand for washed nuts, of which there is a great scarcity. Slack for the home trade is wanted, but supplies are much below the needs of the market. The coke market maintains its strong position. The demand is very con- siderable for all qualities. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year's prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 13/6 Secondary do 16 6 16/6 12/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 11/6 Nuts 15/ 15/ 10/6 Slack 12/6 12/6 7/6 IRON. The enquiry for pig iron is better than it has been for some time, and buyers are less disinclined to place their orders. Bar iron is in active demand, and orders on hand are sufficient to keep the works of the district fully employed for some time to come. Nottingham. COAL. As the season advances, pressure on collieries gradually increases, with the result that the output of every kind of fuel is readily cleared. Merchants in the county and in the country districts are taking in full supplies of domestic fuel as they can obtain from the collieries, as their stocks are mostly on a limited scale. The public demand has been augmented by the recent wintry weather, and business at local landsale depots is very active. In some cases merchants are unable to secure adequate supplies of best households, and secondary and common sorts are being heavily drawn upon. Prices under the circumstances are very firm, and several qualities are making upwards of 20s. per ton at the pits. Steam coals of every description are in great request, and notwithstanding that the pits are making full time and every effort is being made to keep the output as high as possible, owners are unable to execute orders with anything like promptitude. Steam nuts and cobbles are a feature of the market. Slacks of nearly all classes are eagerly sought after, and owners have now practically no reserve stocks to draw upon. Gas coal is being cleared away as it is produced mostly on contract account, and very little of this class of fuel is to be obtained in the open market. Prices at pithead. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 14/ -14'6 Good house coals 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 12/6-13/3 Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 11/6-12/ Best hard coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 10/3-10/9 Secondary do 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 9/6-10/ Slacks (best hards) 11/9-12/6 11/9-12/6 6/6- 7/3 Do. (second) 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 5/9- 6/3 Do. (soft) 11/ 11/ 5/9- 6/3 Leicestershire. COAL. There is an enormous increase in the demand for manu- facturing fuel which has now become far in excess of the quantities available. There is an excellent demand for household coal for London and for country stations, and there are no stocks of any kind at the pits. Full time of five and three-quarter days is being worked, and it is expected that the stoppage at Christmas will be restricted to two days, namely, Saturday the 25th, and Monday the 27th. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally current at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. 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. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ —13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ L’st week’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 13/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ Last year's pricesj 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 13/9-14/9 14/ —15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6—13/6 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -11/ 7/6- 8/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There is no slackening in demand for all classes of fuel, and serious shortage continues to be experienced all round. Collieries are unable to give larger deliveries under contract, and in many cases, in order to keep their works going, manufacturers are compelled to use hard deep coal for furnaces. No free coal was on offer on Thursday’s market; “if there were fifty wagons,” said a large merchant, “ there would be a hundred people after them.” Smaller dealers feel the pinch severely in the matter of supplies. It is hoped that the break at Christmas will be a short one. Only two days are spoken of—Christmas Day and Boxing Day. IRON. The market was more free from price movements than for some weeks. Prices have ascended to such a high level that consumers welcome a rest, and though it is not antici- pated that the limit has yet been reached, further changes of importance are not anticipated during the remaining weeks of this year. The new year, however, promises to open with a volume of business on hand to carry producers through the first quarter. As a matter of fact, both in iron and steel, contracts are for the time being refused, and orders are being handled as opportunity offers. Lots, how- ever, have to be turned down. The finished iron branches furnished little change from last week. Considerable activity exists in the bar iron industry, and with depleted staffs and difficulty in getting supplies of material it is not always possible to take full advantage of the machinery at command. Marked qualities are firm at <£13 10s. a ton, unmarked bars are in the neighbourhood of <£13 ; nut and bolt iron, which is in rather heavy demand, is up to .£12 10s. ; puddled bars are quoted, where quotations are obtainable, as high as <£9, and people in urgent need of three-eighths rounds have to pay as high as <£16, though that can scarcely be regarded as the regular price. Many makers are not quoting. Galvanised sheets are no dearer on the week, quotations being heard at £224 10s. ranging to <£26. A few enquiries are passing through all the time, but business is on a limited scale. For black corrugated sheets there is a wide range, as low as <£15 being mentioned and as high as <£16. Pig-iron prices are higher than for a long period, and short contracts only are accepted. Foundry iron is in special request for Admiralty work. Makers have not been able to book large contracts for coke over a reasonable period, a circumstance which makes them operate with caution. Northamptonshire forge is generally about 75s. with 2s. extra for special qualities; Derbyshire is 77s. 6d. to 80s., and Staffordshire part-mine 77s. 6d. to 80s. New business in finished steel is practically impossible, and sheet bars and billets are as scarce as ever. Producers are committed for months ahead and little, if any, material can escape beyond the requirements of war work. No trustworthy quotations are obtainable. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The position of the house coal trade in this coal field is one of increasing activity, and, although the. pits are working at full pressure, the reduced output, owing to the shortage of labour, renders it impossible to keep pace with the orders. Delay in despatching coal is causing incon- venience to all concerned. Orders from the rail borne districts are very numerous ; shipping orders are good, but the weather is delaying tonnage very considerably. The demand for all steam qualities continues very brisk, and the collieries are hard pressed to satisfy buyers. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Current prices. L'st week's Last year's prices. prices. Block 21/6 : 21/6 17/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 16/6 Rubble 20/9 ’ 20/9 16/9 Nuts 19/ : 19/ 15/ Rough slack ; Steam coal:— j 11/6 11/6 6/6 Large 1 18/ -19/ ' 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/ Small 13/ -14/ 14/ -15/ 7/9- 8/3 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney on Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Wessrs. W. Wade and Son report an average wholesale demand for house and steam coal in the south-western counties, and most of this is being supplied by rail. The gas companies are also being largely supplied in this way. Steam and sailing tonnage continues to be very scarce at all the coal ports, and the few vessels that offer are asking prohibitive freights. This, coupled with the congestion on the railways, offers anything but a bright prospect for maintaining full supplies during the next few weeks. Messrs. Henry Faija and Company, whose Portland cement and testing works and chemical laboratories were previously at 41, Old Queen-street, Westminster, have removed to 6, Earl-street, Westminster, S.W, In the House of Commons on the 9th inst., Mr. Dundas White asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the royalty now obtained for haematite ore in the Barrow district; whether in many cases it exceeded 8s. and approximated 10s. per ton; how many tons of ore were required to make a ton of pig iron; what was the approxi- mate cost of a ton of pig iron: how much of that cost was absorbed by the royalty; and how much of these royalties went to the public Exchequer, and how much to the land owners.—Mr. McKenna replied that the information asked for was not available, and it could not be obtained without an expenditure of time and labour, which in present circum- stances would not be justified.—Sir A. Markham stated that there was not the slightest difficulty in getting this informa- tion, which was practically confined to three land owners.