322 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 18, 1916. scarcity of fuel still exists in respect to small steam coal required for manufacturing purposes, owing to the extra- ordinary increased requirements at the present time, and firms are still having to obtain any class of fuel which is at all suitable for their requirements. Large steams continue to be heavily taken by railway companies and other large concerns, whilst steam nuts are also exceedingly scarce, and heavily required by munition firms. The consumption of slacks and other coking fuel by the by-product plants has reached enormous dimensions, and there is the greatest difficulty in providing anything like the regular and adequate supply. In regard to gas coal, although the consumption naturally is not so large as formerly, there appears to be little offering on the market for occasional sales, although it is reported that there is a more active demand for this class of coal on behalf of France. The demand for house coal continues to be of a stronger character, but collieries are so heavily booked up with orders that they are not entertaining any requests from new clients, and are endeavouring to minimise any inconvenience which still exists from short deliveries to their old customers. The output of furnace coke continues to be fully disposed of, and there is no difficulty in obtaining the maximum prices, which, of course, in the event of any increased wages being granted, will advance another Is. per ton. Prices at pit. this buying is very keen. There are a goodly number of enquiries regarding exports, but the trade in this branch is on a limited scale. There is practically no change in reference to slacks ; the demand is in excess of the output, and owners have no difficulty in disposing of any odd lots. Gas coal is going out of hand very satisfactorily on contract account, while coke is in a strong position. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 19/ -20/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 18/6 18/ -19/ Secondary do 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 15/6-16/ Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 14/9-15/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 14/6-15/ Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 13/6-14/ Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 10/ -10/6 Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 9/ - 9/6 Gas coals :•— Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -15/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 15/ Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 14/ -14/6 Leicestershire. COAL. The return of severe cold weather has intensified the difficulties in meeting the demands of coal merchants, who are very anxious to secure additional deliveries in order to satisfy urgent requirements for domestic purposes. The demand for household for London and also for country districts is far in excess of the supplies. In the case of the very extensive bag coal business done when consumers have to rely on frequent deliveries, coal merchants are having an anxious time on account of the reserves of supplies being practically absorbed. There has been no opportunity to lay in stocks, and there seems every prospect of a strict hand-to-mouth business till the warm weather arrives. A very large part of the household coal is now being regularly diverted for manufacturing fuel purposes. The demand for manufacturing fuel is exces- sively keen. There is a strong demand for small nuts for mechanical stokers, and each day the sidings are cleared without a single wagon remaining under load. Five and three-quarter days are being worked, and there are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district. Prices at pit. meantime. One sale at 90s.net delivered at Staffordshire stations was recorded, which is very little below the maximum, as carriage works out at 6s. a ton, and during the week other sales have been made at 87s. 6d., delivered. The quotations for Northamptonshire were from 84s. to 85s. Quotations for galvanised sheets are still unobtainable. Spelter, sheet bars, and sulphuric acid are alike scarce, and makers are turning their machinery to more profitable use than turning out sheets. The last sales were made at £27 a ton, makers with stocks now ask £30, and for painted black sheets as much as £20. The situation in the steel trade was reported slightly easier, but only odd lots are available for general consumers. One customer offered £13 for early delivery of sheet bars, and the general quotation is in the neighbourhood of £12 10s. Finished steel bars run from £16 5s. to £17, according to specification. The copper market continues to advance, and sheets now stand at £143 a ton—an advance of £3 on the week. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is nothing new to report in connection with the house coal trade of this neighbourhood—the steady pressure for every description continues unabated, and the collieries are all working full time. There are no stocks. The inland demand is taking the bigger portion of the output just now; vessels are not over plentiful, and ship- ments show a decrease at the moment. With the increasing demand for manufacturing fuel for the growing number of works under Government control, the conditions are very strenuous at all the steam coal pits, the whole of the output being absorbed day by day, Prices at pithead. Chesterfield. COAL. Coal is in stronger demand than ever, and consumers all round are beseeching collieries to keep up supplies to the present level, even if it be found impossible to increase them. House coal orders are again numerous, and the cold weather has caused considerable pressure to be brought to bear upon merchants as well as the collieries. However, it is not possible to do more than to distribute each day’s output fairly among one’s customers. All classes of fuel for manufacturing purposes continue to be in active demand, especially cobbles and nuts, that are at all suitable for gas-producers. Slack for boiler firing is also much wanted, but adequate supplies are difficult to find. The export trade is exceedingly quiet, and such business as is being done is chiefly in hards, and as the supply of this class of coal is scarce, prices are strong at 25s. per ton delivered at Grimsby. There is very little doing in respect of nuts, owing to the greater difficulty in securing licences. From the fact that these are steadily being reduced in number, it is inferred that the war trade optimists’ object is to divert this class of fuel inland for our home industries, in which the need for the smaller kinds of fuel is now serious. It is not improbable that the export of nuts will before long be entirely prohibited. There is great firmness in the coke market, and the demand is such as to absorb readily all the production of the ovens of the district. Prices remain fixed at 24s. per ton. Coking fuel is scarce. 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/ 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 18/ Secondary do 16/6 16/6 17/ Cobbles 16 16/ 16/6 Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/ IRON. There is an active condition of things all round, work being plentiful in all departments. Pig iron prices are strong, and orders for finished iron are very plentiful. Nottingham. COAL. I In every branch of the coal trade in Nottinghamshire activity is the prevailing tone, and while the collieries are making full time and maintaining a substantial output under the abnormal circumstances, it is not sufficient to meet all requirements ; but owners are doing their best to execute orders in accordance with their urgency. With the prevalence of colder weather, the business done by local merchants and at the landsale depots has increased during the past week, and there is a little more pressure on owners for delivery of this class of fuel than of late. Best house- holds are in very good request, and second-rate qualities are quickly disposed of. Values are keeping very firm. There is no diminution in the demand for steam coal, all qualities being eagerly sought for, and in many cases supplies on contract account cannot be fully met. Compara- tively little fuel is available in the open market, and for Prices at pithead. 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’st week’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. 18/ -19/ 17/ -17/6 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 9/ -10/ 8/6- 8/9 8/9- 9/ 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 prices. 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/6 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 12/ -12/6 11/6-12/6 9/3-10/3 3/ - 3/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 21/6 21/6 21/6 Forest 20/6 20/6 20/6 Rubble 20/9 20/9 20/9 Nuts 19/ 19/ 19/ Rough slack 11/6 11/6 10/6 Steam coal:— Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ Small 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 10/6-11/6 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 12/9-13/3 12/ -13/ 11/ -12/ 12/9-13/3 11/ -12/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The market was strong, with prices firmly upheld. Those responsible for the transit of canal-borne coal are faced with the problem of a diminishing supply of boatmen owing to enlistments, the difficulty being most accentuated in the case of long-distance voyages. The demand for house fuel is beginning to move, and between now and Easter will grow weekly. The mild winter has saved the situation, and all serious danger of famine may now be regarded as over. The call for works fuel continues unabated, and there are no accumulations at the pits. Slacks are very scarce, and so dear that many users consume the commoner sorts of house coal as a make-weight. Quotations :— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 20/ . Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 19/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ . 18/6 Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ 17/6 Best hard 18/6 18/6 16/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 14/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 10/ House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 19/6 cobs 18/ 18/ 17/6 Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 18/ Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 13/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 14/6 Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 11/6 IRON. All reports indicated that the iron and steel trades were well maintaining recent strength. Output is normal, and the trend of prices is still upwrard. Discounts on all kinds of tubes and fittings have been further reduced - black and galvanised gas tubes to the extent of II per cent.; water and galvanised water tubes, 2% per cent.; steam tubes, 3^ per cent.; galvanised steam tubes, 2^ per cent.; fittings (except flanges), all qualities, 21 per cent.; flanges, all qualities, 7i per cent., gross in each case. No material alteration was reported in the bar trade. Work at the mills continues full, and outside Government contracts makers of branded qualities have little material to offer. For what there is the price is generally <£14 10s., representing a premium of <£1 a ton on the standard basis For unmarked bars the minimum is £13 10s., but <£13 15s. is generally quoted, while nut and bolt iron ranges from £13 5s. to £13 10s. Gas strip continues in good demand at from £13 15s. to £14, and steel strip, of which small lots only are available for general customers, is quoted £17 10s. A definite statement with regard to maximum prices for finished iron and South Staffordshire pig iron is expected next week, and it is awaited with considerable interest. South Staffordshire part-mine iron is meanwhile quoted 87s. 6d. to 90s., but sales are restricted. Derbyshire smelters seem to have decided upon strong action, inasmuch as they are asking full maximum rates, namely, 85s. and 87s. 6d. respectively for forge and foundry sorts respectively at furnaces. It was explained that this was a protective measure to meet any possible changes in the coke market, and these values are not likely to be insisted on Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report only an average demand for house and steam coal, as buyers are keeping themselves supplied regularly in small quantities. The railways are now delivering much more freely in consequence of there being no extra seasonal demand for house fuel. Prices in some districts are a little easier, and cheap qualities are offering more freely, but on the other hand the higher qualities are more firmly held than ever. Steam and sailing freights continue to be extremely high, and tonnage scarce. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February iy. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. For the past few weeks the coal trade of this district has remained in a steady state, consequently there has been little new to report. All the pits are working full time except at a Ruabon colliery, where every other Monday is observed as Play Monday, and here eleven days per fort- night are worked. Of late a goodly number of single men who were employed in various ways at the collieries have been called up to the Colours. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain the output even at its present reduced tonnage. The trade in house coal has been well maintained, both in regard to the railborne and landsale trade. In tbe case of gas coal, buyers are pressing for supplies on account of contracts, and the colliery companies are supplying as large a proportion as they possibly can having regard to the reduction in tonnage now available for disposal. A good trade is being done by gas companies in regard to the sale of their coke. As usual, the busiest part of the coal trade is in steam coal. Railway companies are sending in large numbers of wagons, and it is quite impossible to give them all they ask for under the existing circumstances. There is a further increased demand for fuel for Govern- ment work, and as these orders have precedence, ordinary buyers experience some difficulty in getting their require- ments met. The shipping coal trade at the Mersey ports has for some months past only been moderate owing to the fact that fewer vessels now come into the Liverpool and Birkenhead ports. In the case of Saltney and Connah’s Quay on the Dee, a certain amount of trade is done in Flintshire coal, but the tonnage is not large. Users of slack find it most difficult to get supplies, and it would appear that the quantity available is being reduced weekly. Prices have not changed greatly for some little time past. Best house coal is being sold at 21s. to 22s. per ton at pit, and seconds at Is. per ton less, while at the landsale depots the best coal fetches 27s. 6d. per ton, and seconds about Prices at pit.. 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. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 10/ -11/ 21/8-23/4 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 15/ -16/8 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 20/ -22/ 17/ -19/ 19/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 18/6-19/6 13/6-14/6 18/6-19/6 I 13/ -14/ 18/ -18/6 [ 13/ -14/ 17/9-18/3 j 12/ -13/ 9/ -11/ / 6/ - 7/6 21/8-25/ 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 23/4-26/8 22/6-25/ 20/ -22/6 15/ —16/8 10/ -13/4