January 21, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 127 smalls are steady ; bunker coals are in good request, and foundry coke lias hardened. No actual business appears to have yet been closed for the supply of this yearns gas coal to the South Metropolitan Gasworks. The Swedish Rail- ways are again in the market for prompt and forward shipment; it is said that guarantees will be given to the effect that the coal is purely for railway purposes. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Special Wear gas coals Secondary do. House coals:— Best house coals Ordinary do Other sorts:— Lambton screened South Hetton do Lambton unscreened ... South Hetton do Do. treble nuts Coking coals unscreened Do. smalls Smithies Peas and nuts Best bunkers Ordinary bunkers Coke:— Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... Gas coke Current prices. 23/ 21/6 26/ 23/ 26/ 26/ 21/6 21/6 22/ 21/6 20/6 21/ 22/6 22/6 20/6 40/ 35/ 28/ L’st week’s prices. 22/6 21/6 25/ -26/ 22/ -23/ 25/ 25/ 22/ 22/ 22/6 21/6 20/ 21/6 23/ 22/6 20/6 40/ 35/ 28/ Last year’s prices. 13/ 11/6 16/6 15/6 14/3 14/ 10/9 10/9 13/6 10/3 10/ 12/6-13/ 13/6 12/ 10/6 20/ 19/ 12/6 Coal freights still move upwards, and the few available boats are readily snapped up. Recent fixings include : — London, 15s. ; Havre, 29s.; Rouen, 32s. 6d.; Caen, 30s.; Dunkirk, 32s. 6d. ; Gothenburg, 22s. ; St. Nazaire or Bordeaux, 45s.; Genoa, 86s.; Porto Ferrajo, 80s.; Algiers, 45s.; Oran, 46s. 9d.; Cette, 79s.; Marseilles, 67s. 6d. ; River Plate, 39s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Fuel continues scarce for prompt delivery, but a fair amount of business over next month is being put through. Shipments of gas and manufacturing coal on contracts made some little time ago do not quite fudy meet demands of customers. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 22s. to 22s. 6d., second kinds 19s. 6d. to 21s., and Wear specials 23s. to 24s. Ordinary Durham bunkers run from 20s. to 21s., best sorts 21s. 9d. to 22s., and specials up to 24s. Coking coal keeps firm. Smalls are put at 21s., and unscreened kinds at 22s. The situation so far as coke is concerned is peculiar. Business is passing at the fixed maximum of 28s. at the ovens for Durham blast-furnace average qualities, but rates of carriage show a marked upward tendency. The price is put at 32s., and in some cases more for delivery, whereas the rate of conveyance from, the ovens to Teesside furnaces used to be no more than 2s. 6d. The maximum for foundry coke is 30s. 6d. at the ovens, but up to 37s. f.o.b. is named. There is little or no gas coke on the market. IRON. Not since 1874 has so high a price been paid for No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig iron as has been realised this week. In that year the ruling quality reached 87s. 6d., and since then until this week the highest price touched was 80s. in 1900. In 1873 No. 3 sold at 120s., the top figure recorded in the history of the trade. This week some business has been put through at 81s., but the position has now eased, and the ruling quality is obtainable at 80s. 6d. Sellers, however, are not pressing iron on the market, as they are confident that before long the fixed maximum of 82s. 6d. will be the market quotation for No. 3. No. 1 Cleveland is 83s. to 83s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 80s., No. 4 forge 79s. 6d., and mottled and white iron each 79s. All the foregoing quotations are for early delivery. Any enquiries on forward account elicit higher quotations, but little inclination is shown to do business ahead to any extent. East coast haematite pig is steady and firm. There is none at all on offer for delivery before the second quarter of the year, and there is not much purchasable for supply before July, many makers having already sold all they can turn out up to the end of June. Mixed numbers are fully 135s. deli- vered April next and onward. Foreign ore maintains its value on the basis of 38s. ex ship Tees for best rubio, but there is not much business passing. Consumers are receiving such excellent supplies that they are laying in stocks. So far this month imports of foreign ore to the Tees amount to no less than 131,886 tons. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel .are too busily employed on Government work to entertain ordinary commercial business. The following are among the principal market quotations:—Common iron bars, <£13 10s.; iron ship plates, <£11 ; iron ship angles, £13 10s.; steel ship plates, <£11 10s.; steel ship angles, <£11 2s. 6d.; steel joists, <£11 2s 6d.; heavy steel rails, .£11; and steel railway sleepers <£12—railway material net f.o.b.; steel ship plates, steel ship angles, and steel joists net at works ; and other descriptions less 2| per cent, discount. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal industry continues in a remarkably brisk condition; business is well maintained in all the branches, and the whole of the production is meeting with a ready market. In the home market landsale is satis- factory ; best steam coal and engine fuels are in steady request, and the demand for gas coal is now stronger than it has been for the last 12 months. Manufacturing require- ments are larger than ever, and local manufacturers are taking all the supplies they can secure. The bulk of the works fuel is going to the iron ore mines and the local blastfurnaces, while a substantial tonnage is going to Carlisle and Silloth. The shipping trade is healthy, and there is at present an abnormal demand for all varieties from the Irish market. In fact, the demand is now so keen that it is almost impossible, with the present restricted output, to cope with the requirements of Irish consumers. Since the weather improved, vessels have been arriving and sailing more regularly, and the tonnage this week is, there- fore, much higher than usual. Prices of all varieties are firm but unaltered. Best coal at the pit is quoted at 23s. 4d. per ton, with washed nuts at 21s. 3d. per ton. Best Cumberland coal, free on board at Maryport, is quoted at 19s. 6d. per ton, and bunkers are in steady demand at from 17s. to 17s. 6d. per ton. During the week 16 coasting vessels left Maryport, mostly for Irish ports, and the ship- ments amounted to 4,860 tons, an increase of 630 tons compared with the previous week. All the coke ovens in the county are working at full pressure, and the whole of the make is being absorbed by West Cumberland smelters. Business is also very brisk in the by-products trade. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. old. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 25s. 10d.-per ton, and seconds at 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 quotations. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts at pit ... Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Bunkers Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6 17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 Last year’s prices. 19/2 17/1 .. 18/4 16/10 18/4 16/10 18/4 16/10 8/6 15/ 15/6 13/6 12/6-13/ 15/ 14/ IRON. The Cumberland haematite iron trade continues to increase in strength, and throughout the iron-producing district, from Workington to Carnforth, makers are exceedingly busy in every branch of the industry. For some weeks the position has been one of uncertainty, pending the fixing of prices by the Government, but an agreement has at length been reached and the maximum prices of both iron and raw materials have been definitely fixed. Under the agreement Bessemer mixed numbers have been fixed at the maximum of 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with special iron at 140s. per ton. The price of Cumberland haematite warrants will remain at the present figure of 115s. per ton. The maximum prices of haematite iron ores have been fixed on the October-November quotations, and in future the selling price of Cumberland coke will be determined by a sliding-scale based on the selling price of Bessemer mixed numbers. These prices will no doubt remain in operation while the present heavy demand continues, and probably till the end of the war. There is a very keen demand for metal, and requirements of both ordinary and special iron are much larger than can be met. The bulk of the make of ordinary iron is going into immediate consumption in the district, and practically the whole of the special iron is going to users in the Midlands, South Wales and Scotland. The output is still being drawn from 25 furnaces. Steelmakers are very busy, the output consisting mainly of munitions of war. The engi- neering shops are all very busy. The iron ore industry is very brisk, and the demand for metal is as keen as ever. All the mines in the district are working full time, but production is still below requirements. Good average qualities at the Cumberland mines are obtainable at from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and best sorts are quoted at 38s. per ton. South-West Lancashire. COAL. So far as actual tonnage is concerned the winter con- sumption is .only a very average one, but even this is distinctly more than the collieries can cope with promptly. Screened round coal for forges and manufacturers generally is at the maximum demand. There is little or no change with regard to shipping. The scarcity of steamers is keeping requirements for bunkering and export purposes at a minimum, but supplies on the whole are on the short side, and prices are firmly held, Lancashire steam coals ruling about 22s. f.o.b., or more in special cases. The coastwise position does not change much. Merchants across the water are willing to receive all that can be sent, but the tonnages shipped are not excessive, partly owing to diffi- culties at the collieries, and also to the scarcity of freights. In slacks the position continues much as previously reported. The demand is distinctly in excess of supplies, and larger grades of fuel have to be taken to secure the necessary quantities. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen i Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack* Secondary slack Common do. Current prices. 20/9 j 23/ -24/ 19/ 21/ -22/ 17/ 20/6 17/ -17/6 22/ 15/ 14/ 13/ L’st week’s prices. 20/9 23/ -24/ i 19/ | 21/ -22/ . 17/ 20/6 17/ I 22/ 15/ 14/ 13/ Last year’s prices. 17/ 17/6-18/ 15/3 15/9-16/6 13/ 14/9-15/6 12/ 15/ -16/ 10/3 9/6 8/9 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. There is no alteration in the way of better supplies of fuel, and there are still more buyers than sellers. This applies to all classes of fuel, especially industrial. There is a brisk enquiry for shipping coal. Prices generally are as below:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/3-18/ Medium 19/ -20/3 19/ -20/3 16/ -16/9 Common 17/ —17/3 17/ -17/3 13/3-14/ Furnace coal .* 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/ Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 13/ -14/ Best slack 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 9/6-10/ Common slack 12/ upwds. 12/ upwds. i 1 8/ - 9/ IRON. At the present prices of pig iron, which vary from 93s. asked for Lincolnshire to 89s. Middlesbrough, and about the same figure for Staffordshire and Derbyshire, there is very little being bought, and the foundry trade is not good. The forges are busy and deliveries of American billets for rolling down, bought and invoiced so far back as November, have not yet turned up, so that the forges who are relying on rolling down American material have a difficult task in front of them. The associated makers are still keeping their price at <£13 for Crown iron bars, sheets <£17, hoops <£17 2s. 6d. The steel works are controlled and are very busy. Wagon works are still fairly busy on repairs, very few wagons being ordered at to-day’s price. Heavy engineers are full of work. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The business done at Tuesday’s market was far from being commensurate with the attendance, for while the gathering was representative of all sections of traders, the collieries, speaking generally, had very little coal to offer, and transactions were both comparatively few and on a light scale. The demand for all descriptions of fuel was very strong indeed, but for the most part went unsatisfied. Full time work at the pits was reported by colliery repre- sentatives, and an output probably larger than in any recent week. The position in regard to the wagon supply has improved also, but there are, complaints of transit difficulties concerning the distant markets, many stations in the London district being blocked. The London demand for house coal is on a heavy scale, but little could be secured at the market, as contract deliveries absorb prac- tically all the supply. The coastwise trade is further affected adversely by another rise in freights and the diffi- culty of securing suitable tonnage, shipments being almost entirely restricted to purchasers’ own boats. Some descrip- tions of house coal are being shipped across to France for gas and steam purposes. In the West Riding merchants owning trucks are able to get supplies in fair quantities, but otherwise deliveries are insufficient, notwithstanding that the mild weather has reduced the public demand. The call for best qualities on the part of classes of the population hitherto content with secondary grades is still a feature of the market. Pit prices may be averaged as follow Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s. ; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities, 17s. to 18s. The collieries are being pressed for supplies of gas coal, but have practically nothing to sell in the open market, except small parcels, which are mainly sold for shipment to France, this business realising much higher prices than are obtainable for home consumption. Screened gas coal has realised 22s. f.o.b. Hull for shipment to France. In view of the position of gas works at home, licences for shipment of Yorkshire gas coal are difficult to secure. Practically all supplies of manufacturing coal that are available are required for firms busy with Government work, and other manufacturers, unable to augment their supplies of fuel by open market purchases, are in a position of increasing difficulty. From many quarters—Bradford, Huddersfield, the heavy woollen district, the Spen and Colne valleys— complaints of supplies insufficient to keep the works going are more or less general. There is an exceptionally strong demand from Frodingham for washed furnace coke, and all the output, which is on a heavy scale, goes quickly into consumption. The maximum price of 24s. at the ovens is generally realised for coke, and sales of large parcels for shipment are reported at 29s. to 30s. f.o.b. Hull. Coking smalls are more and more difficult to secure in sufficient quantities. The prices in the attached list are more or less nominal. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 16/6-17/6 Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 15/6-16/6 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 15/ -16/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 14/6-15/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/6-14/6 Haigh Moor b6st 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 18/6-19/6 Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/6-18/6 Do. house 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 15/6-16/6 Screened gas coal.. 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 11/6-12/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 11/ -11/6 Washed nuts Large double-screened 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 11/6-12/6 engine nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 10/9-11/6 Small nuts Rough unscreened 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 10/3-10/9 engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ i 10/6-11/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 8/ -9/ Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ ' 7/ - 8/ Coking smalls ..... Coker- Price at ovens: 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ I 6/6- 7/6 Furnace coke 24/ 24/ ' | 11/6-12/6