130 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 21, 1916. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE LOUDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 20. The market for the past week continues moving very firmly .and the demand is strong. The attendance on the Exchange has been very good, .and on Monday’s market an unusual number of sellers from the Midlands and Yorkshire were noticeable, but the offerings amounted to very little, and the business done was disappointingly small. The main consideration appeared to be for a better supply of ■empties in order to keep the pits turning regularly. The strong demand at the Tyne and Humber ports for shipment has lessened the quantity available for the railborne trade, and no great disposition is -shown towards booking further orders whilst the books are so fully loaded as at present. ____________________________ The reports from the depots, however, point to a distinct falling off in public orders, and if the labour question was more satisfactory and carmen obtainable for the ordinary deliveries, the supply would very quickly overtake the demand. Fortunately, the weather remains mild, .and this has tended to reduce the orders from the general public. The best qualities of house coal have felt the swing of the pendulum first, .and are neglected. The strong demand is for the Derbyshire Brights qualities, and all kinds of kitchen coal. Bakers’ nuts are also in good demand. Manu- facturing coals, including large steam coal and the small nuts continue scarce, and a good deal of pressure is brought to bear upon collieries producing these qualities in order to ensure a fair quantity from day to day. Contractors have found their tonnage somewhat increasing now that the pits are able to work more evenly and regularly, and in many cases they have turned into sellers on the open market. Factors have also shown a greater disposition to sell more freely, especially during the continued mild weather. No official quotations are given in the seaborne market, but Sharlston Wallsend has been quoted at 20s. per ton at pit; 36 contract cargoes have arrived in the Thames for Monday’s market, and 11 for Wednesday, but nearly the whole of these were from the Tyne district. The Govern- ment are still heavy buyers, particularly for hard steam coals, so that the quantities of railborne coal available for the open market remains very feeble, and colliery representatives openly confess their inability to deal with any further orders for this month. The railway companies are dealing with the wagon question in a much better manner, and both loaded and empty wagons are running with greater regularity and promptness. In some cases where the pit prices have been abnormally high the selling price during the week has been slightly easier. Two large contracts are in ______ the market. The Russian Marine are, it is understood, negotiating for steam coal through the British Government, .and the Swedish State Railways are also enquiring for hard steam coal, but there is considerable doubt as to whether shippers would care to supply under present circumstances. The Admiralty are taking large quantities from the Tyne district, both of steam and bunker coals, and as a better supply of steamers has been received since the recent gales, the scarcity of coal for prompt shipment has been more pronounced. Prices continue to rule high, and the pressure for supply is firm. Most of the collieries are said to be refusing further orders until February. Tyne gas coals are quoted 22s. 6d., and seconds at 21s.; bunkers at 22s. for best, and 20s. 6d. for seconds; specials at 24s.; prime steams are 25s. 6d., seconds, 22s. 6d. Coal freights are still rising; 15s. was fixed during the week from Newcastle to London. The Welsh coal prices are for second steams, 32s.; ordinaries, 80s. 6d.; Black Veins, 32s.; Western Valley, 31s. 6d.; Eastern Valley, 30s.; best bunkers, 18s. 6d. to 19s., and seconds, 17s. Patent fuel is quoted at 34s., and seconds, 28s. to 30s*. The Humber prices are 23s. 6d. for best hards f.o.b., and best Yorkshire screened gas coal, 22s. f.o.b. Both qualities are difficult to obtain. ______________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, January 14.—Owing to the colder weather, there was a better demand for seaborne house coal to-day, supplies still being very restricted. Cargoes, 14. Monday, January 17.—The demand for seaborne house coal continued good to-day, but the supply was again short, and no sales reported. Cargoes, 36. Wednesday., January 19.—There was again a good demand for seaborne house coal, but no supplies appear to be coming forward beyond that already arranged for. Cargoes, 11. ______________________________________ The first of a series of lectures on “ Coal ” was delivered by Dr. Marie Stopes, D.Sc., Ph.D., on January 18 at University College, Gower-street, London, W.C. The lecturer showed from historical references to coal how much it was disliked for its “ stinck ” and dirty properties, and said, had it not been for the steam engine, coal would probably have been only an object of scientific interest. As it was to-day, coal was of immense national importance, and far too little was known of it scientifically.- The lecturer mentioned the six leading grades of coal-fuel recognised by the American Geological Survey, and, though objecting to the name “ bituminous ” coal as being misleading, used it because it was already so widespread. The study of the actual struc- ture of coal was begun by considering that of a typical bitu- minous house coal. The importance of spores in the forma- tion of coal was considered. The immense size of the macrospores, which are such conspicuous objects in coal sec- tions, led earlier workers to look on them as sporangia. Details of the micro- and macro-spores of fossil lycopodineae were given, and the extremely inflammable properties of the spores of living lycopods were illustrated by a small experiment. A series of palaeozoic macrospores were illustrated by lantern slides from the excellent coal sections cut by Mr. James Lomax. Tasmanite was then dealt with. This interesting granular shale forms a bed from 4 to 7 ft. thick over a large- area, and consists entirely of macrospores mingled with small granules of detrital matter. It is not, as has been stated, a “ coal in the process of formation,” for it differs funda- mentally from any coal known, but is of great interest in comparison with coals, and well illustrates the immense potentialities of . accumulated spores. The presence of lumps of resin.in tertiary and mesozoic coals was next considered, and their apparent absence in palaeozoic coals. Where, as in America, mesozoic coals are of high grade, these resin lumps are also apparently absent. The explanation of this, and the consideration of resin in coals in general, will be dealt with in the next lecture, which will be held on Tuesday, January 25, at 5 o’clock. (Note.—This course of lectures is open free to those interested in mining, etc.) THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — The market is quiet, with very little doing, prices for the most part remaining unchanged. Local variations are practically unquotable. Benzol values are more or less nominal, seeing supplies are commandeered for munition needs. Nearest values are :— 1/Oi-l/l /11F-1/ 1/4 2/3 ■ 3/5 1/4 2/3—2/4 2/3—2/4 /6J-/7 /2f-/2| 15/6—16/6 15/—16/ 18/6—22/6 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................ ,, 50’s ,, ................ Toluol ............................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) .... .... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) . Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............. ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............ Tar (per ton ex works) .............. [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net..'] Sulphate of Ammonia.—The recent full values are sus- tained at all the chief ports. There is a fairly good forward enquiry, but actual business is restricted. In the North 5818 5s. is reported to have been paid. Nitrate of soda continues to increase in price. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or fall ( —) on the week. London (ordinary makes) £11/15 — Beckton (25 per cent.) £11/5 — Liverpool £18 — Hull £17/15 — Middlesbrough £17/15 — Scotch ports £18—£18/5 — Wales £17/15 ... +2/6 Nitrate: of soda (ord.) per cwt. 16/6 ... +/7J [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2} per cent. discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey alloivance for refraction, nothing for excess.] quality; Trade Notes. What is the normal price for sulphate of ammonia? To the average-minded individual the answer would be the market value determined by supply, demand, and the cost of manufacture; but to some of those who are continually peti- tioning Parliament to stop the export of all artificial manures, so that the home farmer may benefit, it appears that the normal price of sulphate of ammonia is 10 guineas per ton, and they complain of £14 10s. to home consumers when foreign buyers are paying £18 5s. Why should the sulphate of ammonia manufacturer be asked to sell at £4 below the average price of six months back, when his cost of production has increased £3 per ton ? Parliamentary questioners appear to be as ignorant of the facts as the Farmers’ Union, which last week regretted officially the failure of the Government to secure supplies of fertilisers, and asked for the immediate supply of sulphate of ammonia at a fair price, and the prevention of its export. When will those who tutor the British farmer realise that only surplus sulphate is exported, and that at present only a very small percentage of the special reserves of sulphate have been taken up by farmers, even when offered at £4 below the current price charged for exported sulphate? The Manchester Corporation are to give bacterised peat a trial on their vast Chat Moss Estate, in which there are 2,500 acres of peat land and 1,300 allotment holders wanting some such manure. The returns for the past year’s exports of by-products show a good increase in benzol and toluol, but there is nothing very startling about other tar products, while pitch exports have declined heavily in quantity and price. On the year sulphate of ammonia does well by showing a decrease of only 20,000 tons, while as regards values, there is an increase of a little over £200,000, the total for the year being £3,971,613. The supplies to “ Other countries ” were nearly doubled. The biggest individual increase was in the shipments to the Dutch East Indies and to France. The returns for the past- week have been small for pitch, with 1,784 tons and £166; but good for tar, with 26,017 gals., 159 tons, and £92. Tar oil, £540. Benzol, £7,588 to Rouen. Sulphate of ammonia, 8,448 tons, of which about 1,500 was for the United States. ________________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 20. _____________________ Dublin. There is no change in any direction this week, but the demand is much quieter, owing to the unusually mild weather prevailing, prices of all qualities remaining as last quoted, viz. :—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 prices for Kilkenny (Castlecomer) coal, out- side of contract prices, are as follow :—Best small coal, 23s. 4d. per ton; best large, 21s. 8d.;' second quality, 20s.; bottom coal, 16s. 8d. ; breakage, 11s. 8d.; culm, 5s. to 8s. 6d. : Freights are still very high, and no large stocks are held by the merchants. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 45, as compared with 36 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Partington, Liverpool, Ayr, Newport, Swansea, Whitehaven, Glasgow, Cardiff, Point of Aire, Neath Abbey, Preston, Irvine, and Troon. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 18,250 tons, as against 16,265 tons the previous week. Belfast. The position in this port remains unchanged, except that Scotch coal is somewhat more plentiful, which will relieve the situation slightly in the matter of supplies. Stocks of most qualities are now very low, and orders greatly in arrears. Freights are very firm, at-recently advanced rates. Current prices of household coal 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 remain subject to alteration from day to day. The price of gas coke is about 35s. per ton, and foundry coke 42s. to 45s. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Preston, Ayr, Troon, Maryport, Whitehaven, ‘Glasgow, Garston, Partington, Birkenhead, Lydney, Newport, Ardrossan, Swansea, Silloth, and Ellesmere Port. The new electric cranes for discharging coal installed by the Harbour Commissioners at Queen’s Quay are now almost ready to be put into operation. The return of imports and exports through the harbour for the last three months of 1915 shows that, notwithstanding the inflated prices, the imports of coal are more than 17,000 tons greater than in the same quarter of 1914. TRADE AKD THE WAR. Henceforth the address of the Home-Grown Timber Com- mittee will be No. 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster, S.W. A Bill taxing freight rates has been introduced by the Danish Government. Gross freights are to be taxed 20 per cent., with a certain abatement in respect of vessels engaged in home traffic. At the unanimous request of the exhibitors at the first British Industries Fair, held in May of last year, the Board of Trade have consented to organise a second fair early this year. The fair Mull be held in part of the buildings of the Victoria and Albert Museum from February 21 to March 3. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce have recently established a Commercial and Industrial Commission, whose object is the collection of statistics and the develop- ment of trade in China; and this Commission desires to receive copies of catalogues issued by United Kingdom manufacturers. It is understood that an important report from the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade is in the press, and might be expected shortly, and it- is stated that Govern- ment subsidies for certain industries are advocated, and pro- tection by tariff also approved by overwhelming majorities. The Committee has dealt with copyright, trade marks, and patents, and made important recommendations. They have devoted a section to the -great need for scientific training and research. The Committee of Bilbao Ship Owners, which had come to Madrid to protest against the new Decree prohibiting the sale of Spanish ships to foreigners, have put their Biscay fleet at the disposal of the Government, offering to import coal at the rate of 25 pesetas per ton, whereby consumers would benefit, instead of the middlemen. The Government has accepted the offer in principle, but it will first fix the maximum price of coal. One of the most urgent problems with which the Ministry of Munitions has been faced has been to ensure the constant supply of those chemical products which are necessary to the manufacture of high explosives. Among those products are toluol and benzole, which are extracted by a simple process from coal gas. It is stated that the supply has lately been very considerably increased by the loyal co-operation of the gas companies throughout the kingdom. It has, however, been insufficiently realised that every consumer of coal and gas has been directly concerned in. the output, and is in a position, to facilitate this highly important branch of muni- tions manufacture. Toluol and benzole are extracted from gas by a process, in the course of which a very slight deteriora- tion takes place. This results in lessening the illuminating power of the gas, but has practically no effect on its heating power. Though the direct inconvenience to the public has been small, complaints have been made freely, and a certain suspicion seems to be entertained that the gas companies are extracting these products from the gas to their own profit, and to the' detriment of the consumer. The gas companies have, in nearly every instance, had to arrange for the instal- lation of new plant, and their engineers have had to devote considerable time and energy to teaching the process. There is not a house in.the country in which either coal or gas is not burnt, and there is no consumer who cannot directly assist in the production of high explosives by burning more gas and less coal. Toluol and benzole cannot be extracted until the gas has been removed from the coal. An appeal has been addressed by the Minister of Munitions to public authorities not to test too searchingly the quality of their -gas ■supply. He has also expressed the hope that equal support may be forthcoming from the private consumer. A tolerance of small inconveniences, and the substitution as far as pos- sible of gas heating for coal heating, would do .a great deal to facilitate the production of those vital chemicals. The public has always been ready to give its loyal support to any proposal which may assist in the successful prosecution of the war. In this case the demand is not- very exacting. At the meeting of the council of the London Chamber of Commerce last week, the report of a special committee on the subject of “ Trade During .and After the War ” was presented and adopted. The recommendations include the following :—That any measures which may be considered in connection with trade during and after the war should provide -for preferential reciprocal trading relations between all parts of the British Empire, for reciprocal trading rela- tions between the British Empire and the Allied countries, for the favourable treatment of neutral countries, and for regulating by tariffs and otherwise trade relations with all enemy countries so as to render impossible a return to pre-war conditions, and for stimulating the development of home manufactures and the consequent increased employ- ment of native labour; that steps be taken to prevent the dumping and under-valuation of enemy goods into British markets after the war; that discriminatory taxes be levied on the tonnage of all enemy ships using the ports of the British Empire; that the Government be urged to encourage the production and utilisation of raw materials -and manufac- tured goods within the Empire under such legislative condi- tions as will prevent their being controlled by or on behalf of subjects of enemy countries; that further legislation, especially, in regard to enemy holdings in British companies or firms, is necessary to safeguard British subjects from the consequences of the policy of the German Government in organising its subjects residing in any part of the British Empire for commercial, industrial, financial, and economic purposes in time of peace with a view to military aggression in time of war; that his Majesty’s Government be urged to guarantee for a period of years the continuance by subsidy or otherwise of new or “ key ” industries established prior Io ■and since the commencement of the war; appointment of a Minister of Commerce of Cabinet rank to whom certain ■of the functions of the Board of Trade and other Depart- ments should be relegated. .