28 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 7, 1916. the market was the demand for manufacturing fuel. Many of the big works in Bradford and the heavy woollen district are dependent on day-to-day supplies, and con- sumers are offering much higher prices than present contract rates, but with little success, as the bulk of the output is absorbed by contract requirements. It is reported that there is a general understanding that 24s. at the ovens should be regarded as a maximum price for washed furnace coke. The scarcity of furnace coke is very great, and the output of the ovens, though maintained at the fullest capacity, is not sufficient to cope with the demand. A fair amount of export business in washed furnace coke is being done, and in this branch as much as 30s. f.o.b. Hui] is offered. All pit prices must be regarded as more or less nominal. Barnsley. COAL. Although the collieries generally resumed work on Monday, there are many instances reported where the percentage of absentees reached a very high rate. There was a good attendance at the usual local market, but the position in regard to the scarcity of fuel was practically unchanged. The lessened output precluded the possibility of placing any orders which involved early delivery. Almost . in every respect the collieries are heavily booked up with orders, whilst the new contracts, although generally decreased in bulk, nearly approach the total output. The railway companies during the holidays have been able to deal with a considerable accumulation of traffic, but have not as yet succeeded in obviating the inconvenience which is arising from delayed transit. In regard to foreign business there is practically very little being done, and for the moment the home needs are being supplied practically to the fullest extent of the pits. The fact remains, however, that the demands for gas coal, small steam fuel for electricity plants, nuts for munition works, and slacks for coke plants, are at their maximum, and generally speaking in the experience of most collieries, the requirements are in excess of their output. In every respect values remain very firm, and, as already stated, are not materially tested. The demand for large steams for the railway companies’ and other contract supplies is of a very brisk character, and the larger tonnage of secondary descriptions is readily disposed of equally with the best brands. A larger tonnage of steam nuts could be dealt with but is not available, and the production for a considerable time ahead is already arranged for. Gas coal deliveries are still keenly pressed for on home account, although it is understood that the export to France is not so active as has been the case of late, but enquiries show that there is very little on the market. Collieries still find it difficult to satisfy the require- ments in regard to slacks and coking fuel. House coal collieries are still receiving substantial orders, and are yet unable to give anything like prompt deliveries. The enquiry for coke continues to be of a very active character, and more business could be done if the output permitted it, although prices continue to rule at the present maximum rate of 24s. per ton at the ovens. Prices at pit. much sought after. Prices are strong at the limits imposed by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Railway companies are taking all the steam coal that they can possibly secure for locomotive use. The export trade is quieter than ever. Considerable difficulty continues to be experienced in obtaining licences, and matters are made worse by the scarcity of steamers, together with the high rates of freight that are demanded for such shipping tonnage as is procur- able. Washed nuts are in great request, prices of which are moving upwards. The coke market is strong all round, a steady demand being experienced for all qualities. Prices at pit. Current L'st week’s Last year’s Best house coals prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 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. Pig iron buying is on a larger scale than has been the case for some time, while orders for finished iron are very plentiful. Nottingham. COAL. The opening of the new year has been marked by con- tinued activity in every branch of the Nottinghamshire coal trade. After the Christmas holiday the collieries settled down to maintaining as high an output as possible under the circumstances, and although the pressure has not been quite so great during the past week as prior to the holiday, still there is a fairly heavy demand. Local mer- chants have experienced a quieter time, for the mild weather has tended to reduce the number of orders from the public, and this remark applies also to the business done at the landsale depots. Notwithstanding, the demand from merchants, whose stocks generally are on the small side, is such that collieries are fully occupied to keep pace with it. There is little, if any, change in the position of the steam coal branch, in which the tone is strong. Orders from firms engaged on Government work are being given preference, with the result that in some cases merchants'’ contract supplies are in arrear. Slacks of all grades are in very good request, and supplies are rather scarce. As a consequence, values are firm, and for best and second qualities some merchants are willing to give slightly higher rates to obtain early deliveries. IRON. The year opened with unabated activity and with prices generally at an abnormally high level—higher, indeed, than at any time since the Franco-Prussian war. In view of the quarterly meeting next Thursday, business on ’Change took largely the form of enquiry. The position of the pig iron market in relation to the regulation of prices by the Government was the subject of keen discussion. A com- mittee of South Staffordshire blast-furnace proprietors visited the Ministry of Munitions on Wednesday, and negotiations are still in progress, and on Thursday a deputation representing Northamptonshire and Derbyshire makers visited London on a similar errand. The results will be known in the course of the next day or two, and meantime pending a settlement, business is largely suspended. What quotations were going were, for Northamptonshire grey forge, 76s. upwards ; Derbyshire, 80s.net at stations ; South Staffordshire part-mine, 77s. 6d. to 80s.; special all-mine, 140s. ; and cold-blast, 160s.—the last-mentioned figure representing an advance of 10s. a ton over the price a fortnight ago. In the finished branches business was also quiet, with prices firm. With unmarked bars at <£13 5s. delivered Birmingham and North Staffordshire Crown bars at <£13 15s., an advance in marked bars may be looked for any day, although now makers are getting substantial premiums on the <£13 10s. basis. For puddled bars nobody will sell under <£9 10s., and even iron. billets command <£11. Another movement is the reduction of discount for tubes—gas, water, and steam tubes to the extent of 2£ per cent, gross, and galvanised, galvanised water, and galvanised steam qualities to the extent of 5 per cent, gross. A small enquiry for galvanised sheets is met with, quotations ranging from <£25 to <£27, according to specifica- tion, while black corrugated sheets, 24-gauge, fetch <£16. In the steel trade material is woefully short, and all sorts of fancy prices were mentioned. South Wales people are said to be getting as much as <£14 for billets, and will not, therefore, trouble about sheet bars. Open-hearth billets were mentioned at .£13 5s., mild steel bars at £15 17s. 6d., and high carbon bars at £16 10s. Copper sheets have reached the high figure of £125 per ton, the latest rise being one of £4. ——— ————— Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. Prices at pithead. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 15/6-16/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 18/6 15/ Secondary do. ...... 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 13/ -14/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/9-13/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/9-11/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals....... 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 11/6-11/9 Secondary do. 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 10/9-11/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 10/9-11/3 Secondary do. 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 10/ -10/6 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 7/6- 8/ Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ ■ 6/6—6/9 Gas coals ••— . . Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 11/6-12/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 10/ -io/e Gas nuts . 16/6 16/6 10/ -10/9 Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 11/ -11/3 Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............ Best hard coals......... Secondary do............. Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ 11/ L’stweek’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ 11/ Last year's prices. 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 12/6-13/ 10/6-11/ 9/6-10/ 7/ - 8/ 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 All the house coal collieries continue to be hard pressed for deliveries of orders that have been on the books for some time. Outputs are quite unequal to the demand in force for all descriptions of fuel. Good loads are leaving the collieries daily for the inland merchants. The weather is bad for shipping, but all boats that arrive are given fair despatch. Slack coals are in good request, and the steam coal collieries are all as busy as they can possibly be. Prices at pithead. Hull. GOAL. The Humber coal market, so far as the export depart- ment is concerned, is passing through a very quiet period. Owing to the enormous inland demand for all kinds of steam coal and manufacturing fuel, and the fact that the Admiralty have been considerable buyers in this market of late, there is practically no surplus left for foreign exports. Moreover, there is increasing difficulty in obtaining secondary sorts even for local use. Odd accommodation lots have, however, changed hands, this week at enhanced prices. Everything is likely to be of a hand-to-mouth character, forward business being considered out of the question in view of the unsettled position. Quotations are, again very largely nominal, the following being the approximate values f.o.b. for prompt shipment:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 22s. to 23s.; ditto prime brands, 23s. to 25s ; washed nuts (doubles and trebles), 21s.; ditto singles, 20s. to 20s. 6d.; washed small coal, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. ; rough slack, 15s. 6d.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 19s. to 19s. 6d.; gas and house coal (screened), 19s. 6d. to 20s. 6d. Derbyshire steams are again nominal, nothing offering for export, and the value 21s. to 22s. at Grimsby or Imming- ham. Shipments at the docks are very light and there are few enquiries for steamers, freight rates being quoted about 22s. for Rouen and 65s. for Genoa, without, however, actual business being transacted. Chesterfield. COAL. The whole of the pits of the district are again at work, and all the coal that is raised is promptly disposed of. Unfortunately the output is far from sufficient to meet the requirements of the market, and buyers are calling loudly and persistently for more of every class of fuel. House coal orders continue to come to hand freely, but it is impossible to avoid delay in the execution of these. Fuel for manu- facturing purposes is in strong demand, and considerable pressure is put upon collieries to keep up adequate deli- veries to the large steel works of Sheffield and district. The demand is very active for cobbles and nuts for gas producers, the supply of which is very scarce. The same remark applies to Slack for steam-raising purposes, which continues to be Leicestershire. COAL. The conditions have become more and more strenuous, and it is exceedingly difficult to meet all the urgent demands. The outstanding feature is the expansion in the demand for manufacturing fuel. In one or two urgent cases the best household coal had to be diverted from its ordinary channel into manufacturing fuel. For several months cobbles and large nuts have been taken for fuel purposes in factories, but it is quite a new departure to take the best household to meet emergencies. The demand for household coal for the London district, and also for country stations, is much in excess of the output. Full time is being worked at all the collieries, but there are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quo- tations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 18/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 17/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 17/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 16/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 11/6 11/6 7/6 Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Small 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 8/ ~ 9/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. 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/ 12/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/—13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 L’stweek’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/ 13/9-14/9 14/ —15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 Last year's prices. 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 11/ -11/6 10/ —10/6 8/9- 9/6 1/9- 2/3 12/3-12/9 11/6-12/6 10/ -11/6 12/3-12/9 9/6-10/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There was no new development at Thursday's market. The mild weather has saved the situation, for while demand for house qualities have been quiet, yet supplies have been coming through very slowly since the holidays, and stocks at the wharves are at a low ebb. Many firms have had an anxious time, but no case of actual stoppage has been reported. The January price lists have not all been issued, but it is expected these will show a slight advance, as two years ago there was an advance of about sixpence a ton at this time. The new Act has certainly done a lot to steady the market, and to prevent big advances. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 6. Dublin. Business is opening up briskly after the holiday inter- ruption, and the demand generally is very good, prices of all qualities remaining unchanged at the following :—Best Orrell, 37s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 36s.; best Wigan, 35s.; best Whitehaven, 35s.; best kitchen, 33s.; Orrell slack, 29s. ; all less Is. per ton discount for cash. House coal, retail, 2s. 4d. per sack. Welsh steam coal, from 36s. per ton; Scotch, 31s.; best coke, 36s. 6d. per ton delivered. Pit mouth prices of Irish coals at Wolf hill Collieries, Queen’s County, are :—Best large coal, 30s. per ton; best household, 28s. 4d. ; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton upwards. The coal vessels have been greatly delayed owing to the recent stormy weather. The total number arriving during the past week amounted to 33. There were 13,153 tons of coal discharged upon the quays, as compared with 15,975 tons the week previously. A contract is open in connection with the Port and Docks Board for a 12 months’ supply of coals. Belfast. The coal trade is once more active, and the recent high prices of house coals are maintained. The chief features are scarcity of tonnage, high rates of freight, and shortage of supplies, and as regards the latter, it is stated that the position is daily becoming more serious for the merchants, who are now finding it extremely difficult to make full deliveries. Current quotations for house coals are as follow : Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. Steam .coals are subject to alteration from day to day. Gas coke commands approximately 35s. per ton, and foundry coke 42s. to 45s. Freights still tend upwards, owing to bad weather and consequent "delay to steamers. Recent returns show that the imports of coal to this port for 1915 amounted to 1,211,936 tons, as compared with 1,146,915 tons for the year 1914. The exports were 12,756 tons, as against 17,659 tons the year previously. It appears that the supply of railway wagons for the past year compares favourably with some former years in that respect. An ordinary meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers will be held on Tuesday, January 11, at 5.30 p.m., when a paper on “ The Electric Locomotive ” will be submitted by Frederick William Carter, M.A., Assoc.M.Inst.C.E. One of the directors of Gwauncaegurwen Colliery was the late Aid. G. Senior, who was Lord Mayor of Sheffield in 1901, and Master Cutler in 1910. He died in July last, at the age of 77, and his will has now been proved at £76,433 gross, of which £68,012 is net personalty.