372 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 25, 1916. The following table shows the principal experts to foreign countries and British Possessions compared with January 1915 Jan. 1916. Jan. 1915. Tons. Tons. Russia . 7,024 19,409 Norway 4,375 5,099 Denmark . 6,739 — France . 762,016 ... 729,230 Algeria . 38,512 ... 71,173 French West Africa . 12,634 ... 11,935 „ Somaliland . 6,241 1,765 Portugal . 76,548 ... 40,786 Madeira 7,037 2,529 Portuguese West Africa .. . 8,275 — Spain . 75,642 ... 60,651 Canary Islands . 20,907 ... 10,920 Italy . 181,214 ... 280,358 Greece — 19,032 Tunis 2,136 10,642 Chili 5,152 Brazil . 28,348 52,220 Uruguay . 24,020 ... 37,734 Argentine Republic . 145,537 ... 153,357 Gibraltar . 27,976 ... 24,800 Malta and Gozo 5,027 ... 11,316 Egypt . 60,366 98,816 Sierra Leone — 6,943 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan — 5,008 Aden and Dependencies — 10,254 British India . 7,886 6,589 Ceylon and Dependencies... . 5,750 6,017 IRON. Although there is a big demand for tin-plates from many- quarters, shipments are restricted, and it is not improbable in the near future that a further embargo will be put upon exports. There is a growing scarcity of raw material. Bars are difficult to obtain at any price, and acid is also in short supply, owing to the increasing requirements of the Government. Shipments, last week, were 86,081 boxes, against 7 5,163 boxes received from works, thus leaving 256,526 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans. Bessemer standard cokes are slightly higher, being now quoted at 26s. 6d., and oil sizes 27s. 3d. and 37s. 9d. respec- tively, a rise in each case of 6d. Welsh steel bars have been advanced to £1? 10s. and upwards, and even at these prices it is almost impossible to obtain supplies. The galvanised sheet trade is unchanged, and there is practi- cally nothing doing outside Government requirements. Bor 24-gauge corrugateds <£28 per ton is being asked, and Welsh pig iron is nominally quoted at £7 2s. 6d. to £7 5s. delivered. The iron ore market is dull. Best rubio commands 35s. to 37s., and seconds about 2s. to 3s. less. Almeria ore at present is not offering. Scrap metals are firm without change. Swansea COAL. There was not much change in the trade of the port last week; the coal trade continued quiet, but there was a fair export of patent fuel. The. shipments together amounted to 73,709 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was no improvement to report in the conditions prevailing in the anthracite coal trade. There was a poor demand for Swansea Valley large, with prices very low, whilst Red Vein large barely maintained its position. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were easier, but beans and peas are exceptionally firm and difficult to obtain even at the present high prices. Both rubbly culm and duff were steadily hardening. In steam coals there was a very firm tone in evidence, and all prices were fully maintained. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 22/6-24/6 Secondary do. 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/6 20/6-21/6 Big Vein large 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 16/6-18/6 Red Vein large 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 17/9-18/6 Machine - made cobbles 31/ -34/ 31/ -34/ 26/6-30/6 Paris nuts French do 32/6-34/ j 32/6-34/ 31/ -34/ *Stove do. 31/6-33/6 j 31/6-33/6 31/ —33/6 Beans 32/6-34/ 32/6-34/ 19/6-21/6 Machine - made large peas 21/ -22/ | 21/ -22/ 12/9-13/3 Do. fine peas — i — — Rubbly culm '8/ - 8/6 ' 8/ - 8/6 3/9- 4/ Duff 3/ - 3/6 3/ -3/6 2/9- 3/6 Steam coals:— Best large 31/6-35/ i 31/6-35/ 19/9-21/6 Seconds 28/ -31/ 28/ -31/ 17/ -18/6 Bunkers 23/6-25/6 i 22/ -25/ 15/6-17/6 Small 13/6-16/ 13/6-16/ 9/6-15/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 31/ -35/ 31/ -35/ 20/6-22/ Thro’-and-thro’ — — Small 19/ -22/ ; 19/ -22/ 12/6-15/ Patent fuel 32/ -34/6 ! 30/ -32/6 17/ -19/6 * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts. IRON. During the past week the blastfurnaces were more active than for some time past, and there was further evidence of prosperity at the steelworks. The tin-plate works were also well engaged, and several sheet mills were kept going. There was a large shipment of tin-plates, viz., 86,081 boxes, the receipts from works were 75,163 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 256,526 boxes. An active week was reported at the tube works, and there was no change at the iron foundries and engineering and fitting shops. Llanelly. COAL. No change of any kind has taken place in the coal market of the district during the past week, and some parts of the trade are very busy, whilst the other coals are very difficult to dispose of. It has been noticeable for some time that when the demand for anthracite has been very heavy, steam coals, on the other hand, have been in poor demand. Some months ago anthracite could hardly be procurable at any price, and collieries had to refuse orders. Steam coals at that time were selling at prices almost equal to those ruling previous to the war, but to-day the latter kinds have a very big enquiry whilst the former have decreased in prices for some classes from 15s. to £1 per ton. Anthra- cite large kinds have fallen away very considerably in demand, and substantial concessions in prices are available for prompt shipments to have wagons released. Cobbles and nuts, too, have little enquiry, whilst beans and peas continue to be much sought after, and the high prices are being maintained. Culm and duff are also in better request. Steam and bituminous qualities are all quickly bought up, especially large. Cargo throughs and bunkers are both difficult to secure, and there is a big scarcity. This week’s quotations approximately are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do......... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 22/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 32/ -34/ 31/6-32/6 32/ -34/ 20/ -22/ 8/6- 9/ 3/6- 4/ 32/ -34/ 23/ -25/ 14/ —16/ 20/ -22/ L’st weeks Last year’s I prices. prices. 1 24/ -25/ l 22/ -23/ 21/ -23/ | 19/6-21/ j 18/ —20/ | 17/ —18/6 18/ -20/ ; 17/ -18/ 1 32/ -34/ | 26/ -29/ ! 30/ -32/ | 29/ —31/ 1 32/ -34/ j 30/ -33/ 1 31/6-32/6 , 30/ -32/ : 32/ -34/ ! 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ J 12/6-13/6 i 8/ - 8/6 3/6— 4/ I 3/6- 4/ | 3/ - 3/6 32/ -34/ , 20/ -22/ 23/ -25/ i 16/ -18/ 14/ -16/ i 10/ -12/ 20/ -22/ ! 13/ -16/ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar. Products.—The situation is practically unaltered, though in some quarters pitch is reported easier. Benzols and toluol are firm and unchanged. Nearest values are Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s l/0|-l/l ... — ,, 90’s North /11H/ ... — ,, 50’s ,, 1/4 ... Toluol 2/3 . ... — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/5 — ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 1/4 ... — degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 2/3—2/4 ... — degs.), as in quality and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) 2/3—2/4 ... — /6J—/7 ... — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /2f—/2^ ... — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 15/6—16/6 ... 15/—16/ ... ,, (f.a.s. west coast) Tar (per ton ex works) — 18/6—22/6 ... — [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.—Apart from exports on early contracts, there is very little doing. The home demand is feeble, it being rumoured in some localities that farmers are holding off in the hopes of lower prices. Surely m forlorn hope with export price in the North £18 5s. alongside only, not even f.a.s., while in times past sulphate of ammonia has found a market at £21. Closing prompt prices for home consumers are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. London (ordinary makes) £17/10 ... — Beckton (25 per cent.) £16/12/6 ... — Liverpool £17/7/6 ... — Hull £17/5 ... — Middlesbrough £17/5 ... __ Scotch ports £16/15 ... — Wales £17/12/6 ... -2/6 Nitarte of Soda (ord.) per cwt. 16/9 ... — [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2J per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.'] THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Prices are firmer all round. The enquiry during the week has been very fair, but transactions were largely confined to second-hand parcels, works not being desirous of booking ahead to any extent. 14 x 20 cokes were done at 25s. 9d. to 26s. for prompt delivery, although makers’ quotations range as follows,.for shipment over next two to three months : Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.),- 26s. to 26s. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 52s. to 53s.; IC 14 X 18^ (124 sh. 1101b.), 27s. to 27s. 3d.; IC 14 x 19| (120 sh. 1101b.), 27s. to 27s. 3d.; IC 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 37s. 6d. to 38s. IC squares and odd sizes, 27s. to 27s. 6d. basis for approved specifications. Terne-plates are nominally 47s. 6d. per box for I C 28 x 20; while charcoal tins rule firm at 29s. basis and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are in good demand, and prices firm, as follow : CW 14 x 20, 24s. 6d. to 24s. 9d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 49s. 3d. to 49s. 6d. ; C W 14 x 18% 24s. 3cl. to 24s. 9d.; CW 20 x 10, 34s. 3d. to 34s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Stone Dusting and Mine Explosions.—The Northumberland Miners’ Association is gathering information as to coal dust- ing at pits in the county, and to this end has sent the following questions to the secretaries of the branches of the union, at the same time asking for an early reply :—(1) Have you any system of stone dusting in operation at your colliery ? (2) State what kind of substance is used, whether pulverised shale, flue dust, or other substance. (3) What is the par- ticular method of stone dusting adopted? (4) If stone dust- ing is done, how long has it been in operation? (5) Can you give any medical opinion as to the effect of stone dusting on the health of underground workmen during the period it has been in operation? (6) Kindly send us a small sample of the stone dust used at your colliery. (7) Do your men travel on the intake in and out of the mine? MINING AND OTHER NOTES. Mr. S. Bannister Clapham, iron founder, Keighley, has left estate valued at £14,674 (£14,599 net personalty). The late Mr. Charles Thomas, manager of the Construc- tional Works of Messrs. John Lysaght Limited, has left estate valued at £16,802, of which £12,385 is net personalty. A meeting of the Association of Mining Electrical Engi- neers (Notts and Derbyshire branch) will be held on Saturday, February 26, at the University College, Nottingham, at 3.30 p.m. prompt, when a paper on “ Static Transformers,” by Mr. Chris. Jones, will be discussed. In 1914 Italy produced 778,308 tons of lignite (valued at 10-02 lire per ton), 1,440 tons of anthracite, and 1,540 tons of bituminous shale, the number of mines in operation being 46. ' ' ■ At the Liverpool County Court on Friday last, his Honour Judge Shand gave a considered judgment in an action by Messrs. James Hanlon and Sons, leather merchants, Liver- pool, against the London and North-Western Railway Com- pany, in respect of goods in transit to Woolwich Arsenal. The case raised a point in connection with the Government con- trol of railways, and numerous actions of a similar nature were stated to be .pending. Some of the plaintiffs’ goods carried by the railway were damaged during transit, and the question w