418 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 3, 1916. where supplies are obtainable. In the coastwise trade any number of enquiries are circulating, but there is practi- cally nothing offering. Freights are very high, an example being 15s. Goole to London for boats of about 500 tonnage. As an indication of values, the sale of a cargo of Silkstone best house coal for the south coast, at 21s. 6d. f.o.b. Hull, may be cited. In the West Biding, merchants, who have used up all their ground stocks, are finding the supplies obtainable from the collieries quite inadequate to meet the public demand, which is very heavy. Pit prices are maintained. The position with regard to manufacturing fuel is increasingly serious, the shortage being even more pro- nounced than hitherto. Large consumers in many districts, such as Bradford, Huddersfield, the Colne and Spen valleys, and the Leeds and heavy woollen districts, are unable to maintain the regular working of factories and munition works except with great difficulty. There is no falling-off in the pressure for full contract deliveries of gas coal, notwithstanding that the winter is nearly over. There is practically nothing doing in regard to new contracts. The position of washed furnace coke is unchanged. The full output is needed, and fails to relieve the scarcity of coke, while the maximum price agreed upon of 24s. at the ovens is obtained readily. Current pit prices. their arrangements for the forthcoming year, there has yet been nothing done. It is understood that the matter has been under the consideration of the colliery representatives, but apparently they have no desire to enter into the question until a more clear idea has been obtained as to the future position. In the meantime there is a fairly active demand for gas coal for France, and no doubt much higher prices for shipment than have been paid in the home market are obtainable. In respect to house coal the public are finding it no easy matter to obtain ready supplies, and with the continuation of the severe weather, coal merchants are not a little alarmed as to how serious the position may become. The supply of slacks and other coking fuel required by the by- product plants appears to be of a growing description rather than otherwise, and although the output of coke has obviously been increased in a substantial degree, the pro- duction is hardly sufficient to satisfy the demand, and prices remain very firm at maximum rates. Prices at pit. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 20/ -22/ Wall send & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 18/ -19/ House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/6-20/6 Do. house 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Other qualities 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ Unscreened gas coal ... 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 12/ -13/ Other sorts :—, Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 13/ -15/ Large double-screened engine nuts 15/ -16/ i 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/6 Small nuts... 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ Bough unscreened engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 10/ -11/ Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 8/ - 9/6 Coking smalls 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 8/ - 9/6 Coke:— Price at ovens : Furnace coke 24/ 24/ 15/ -16/ s Current L’st week’s It x Last year s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6 18/6 19/ -20/ Secondary do. 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/6 16/ -18/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/3 Secondary do 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/ -15/6 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 11/ -12/6 Secondary do 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 9/ -10/6 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 -16/ Furnace coke 24/ ■ 24/ 15/ Leicestershire. COAL. The severe weather, together with an exceptionally heavy fall of snow, has greatly interfered with the output generally, and in some cases pits had to be closed for a whole day, the miners being unable to reach the pits in consequence of the roads being completely blocked with heavy snowdrifts. In other cases several half days were lost from the same cause. Coal merchants were also unable to deliver for several days. The diminished output has added to the difficulties of meeting the heavy and very urgent calls for manufacturing fuel. For several days practically the whole of the output had to be devoted to this purpose so as to keep factories and works under Government control in full running. There has also been a very large influx of orders for household purposes, both for London and country stations, but only the most urgent claims can be dealt with, there being no reserves of stocks to meet such emergencies. The reservation of supplies for Government purposes becomes stricter week by week, and nothing can go to outsiders until these requirements have been satisfied. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. fjest household coal ... Second, hand picked ...... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ........ Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London 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/ 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/ Hull. COAL. The position in this market is dominated by the big inland demand for manufacturing fuel and the satisfaction of extensive requirements of the Admiralty. Large steam coal left over for export is not so plentiful, and with a fairly active demand for March loading prices have advanced Is. on the week, while screened gas and house coals have also shown an upward tendency. The best nuts, owing to the difficulty in getting licences to export, are still inclined easier, but doubles are steady and singles practically unobtainable. Generally speaking, therefore, the market is firm, but business for abroad very restricted, due of course, to the shortage of coal in the first instance, to say nothing of the high values and the still advancing freight rates which confront the foreign buyer or his agent. France is taking fair quantities, but shipping tonnage is difficult to obtain, and freights now up to 32s. to 33s. for Bouen. Nothing seems to be developing in the Mediterranean trade, shippers expecting to have to pay 80s. to 85s. for suitable tonnage to west coast of Italy. Shipments at the docks are still light and about half of what they were a year ago. Approximate values for prompt and March shipment f.o.b. are Best South Yorkshire hards 27s. to 27s. 6d.; washed doubles, 22s. 6d_. to 23s.; washed singles, 22s. to 22s. 6d. (nominal); washed small, 17s. to 18s.; rough slack, 17s. 6d. to 18s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 24s. 6d. to 25s.; screened house and gas fuels, 24s. to 26s. Next to no Derbyshire steam coal is offering for export, the nominal value being about 26s. for shipment at Grimsby or Immingham. Barnsley. COAL. Business at the usual local market was again of a listless description, the shortage of supplies preventing practically any attempt to arrange new business. The decision is also influenced from the standpoint of the coal owners, in con- sequence of the fact that no decision has yet been reached in regard to the application for an advance of wages, and the subsequent possibility of maximum prices being increased. The tonnage, which is ear-marked owing to the instructions of the Government, either for munition works, engineering concerns, and railway companies, &c., is of such dimensions that there is practically no surplus, apart from the fact that the arrears under contract for various kinds of fuel must have now become very substantial. The scarcity of small steam fuel continues to be a very prominent feature in these days of difficulty, and whilst munition consumers are willingly accepting deliveries of practically any class of coal, they are finding it necessary, in order to utilise certain qualities of house coal, to discontinue the use of mechanical stokers. In fact, the position in almost every sense, is becoming more acute in respect to the regular and adequate deliveries of fuel, and not a little apprehension exists in view of the fact that probably the surface hands at the collieries who are engaged in the despatch of coal may be further depleted, as a result of the operations of the tribunals which are now considering the claims for exemption from military service. Although there is very little activity in regard to foreign business, as already- stated, there is no improvement in regard to the amount of surplus tonnage which is offering in the home market, showing- a greatly increased consumption of all classes of fuel for home purposes. Although there has been an .attempt on the part of some buyers of gas coal to make Chesterfield. COAL. The demand for coal is stronger than ever, and all classes are in equally keen request. The call for slack for boiler firing is most persistent, from which it is to be inferred that supplies are now almost unavailable outside contract commitments. In quoting prices for new contracts it is impossible to offer the same quantity of any kind of coal as was sold under expiring contracts owing to shortage of labour, which is causing a shrinkage of the output. There is an active demand for house coal, and consumers are experiencing much difficulty in obtaining anything like adequate supplies. Munition works are in constantly pressing need of coal, and everything possible is being done by the collieries to satisfy these demands. Washed nuts are in particularly brisk request for steel gas furnaces. Steam coal for locomotive purposes is much wanted by all the railway companies, who are in this respect working from hand to mouth anxiously awaiting each day’s delivery from the collieries. The export trade at the Humber ports is exceedingly quiet, and the difficulty in obtaining licences is restricting business to a serious extent. For such business as comes along, prices are firm, best Derbyshire brands of Top Hards being quoted at 25s. to 25s. 6d. per ton delivered at Grimsby. The coke trade maintains a strong tone. There is an active demand for all qualities, but considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining supplies. Coking fuel is scarce on the market, as the collieries themselves require all the production for their coke ovens and by-product works. Prices at pit. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 18/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 xo/ 17/ Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/6 Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/ IRON. Pig iron is in active demand, prices remaining firm. Finished iron orders continue to come to hand freely. The whole of the works of the district are in a state of great activity. COAL. Increased activity has developed in the coal trade of Nottinghamshire since the advent of wintry weather, and in practically every branch the demand exceeds the supply. The change in the atmospheric conditions has caused something of a rush in the domestic fuel depart- ment, local merchants having received quite a lot of orders, which cannot be executed without delay. Owners have also had an increased demand from merchants in the metropolis and country districts, and the strain on the output is such that in most cases full supplies cannot be given, and many orders have to be held over. No reserve stocks are to be found at the collieries or the local depots, and supplies are dependent on the daily output. A similar state of affairs exists in the steam coal branch, in which the pressure has, if anything, increased in the past week. A heavier tonnage is being required from firms engaged on Government work, and railway' companies are taking weighty supplies. In the present abnormal circumstances collieries are compelled to use much discretion as to the execution of orders, in view of urgent demands for war work. Slacks of all qualities are in very great request, and prices are exceedingly firm at recently-quoted figures. 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. 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-17/ 17/ -18/ 15/ -16/6 10/ -10/6 8/ - 9/ 8/6- 9/ kitcheners............. Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 Last year’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 14/ -14/6 13/6-14/6 11/9-12/9 3/ - 3/6 15/9-16/a 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Not within living memory has the coal trade been so paralysed as it has been for the last 10 days. The tremendous snow storm which began on the 23rd ult., and continued almost intermittently until last Monday, played havoc everywhere in the coal-producing districts. Work at the pits was partially, in some cases wholly, sus- pended and it is safe to say that the average output for 10 days has been reduced by 50 per cent. Orders at the pits and in the hands of merchants have been thrown out of gear, and business is not expected to recover its normal condition this side of Easter. By Saturday stocks at the wharves were all but exhausted. Manufacturers were clamouring for supplies which they could not obtain, and industries were sorely handicapped ; hundreds of householders had to depend upon neighbours who previously had shown more foresight. The cost of delivery in the district ran up to as much as 7s. a ton owing to the state of the roads. During the last few days deliveries from the pits have been resumed, but on quite a small and inadequate scale to meet the demand. Early in the week the tram service in the city was restricted owing to fuel shortage. Cases have been heard of small dealers charging customers exorbitant prices. The basis prices at the pits remain unaltered as follow :— 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/ 18/6 18/ 17/6 Best hard 18/6 16/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 14/ Slack Warwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 10/ House coal, best Byder.. 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. The Government Order restricting the sale of metals, with a view of preventing speculative buying, provided the sensation of Thursday’s market. The merchant trade was seriously affected, some producers as a precautionary measure taking the strong line of refusing to deal with merchants unless the latter produced the names of customers. Other makers regarded this as too narrow an interpretation of the Order and sold as usual, but, all the same, it came as a bombshell on the market, and a deputa- tion from Birmingham and other markets is to wait on the Minister of Munitions to get a clear understanding. The primary object, of course, is to stop speculative buying and the undue inflation of prices, and in that sense the Order will have less effect on Birmingham than London and Glasgow markets, inasmuch as this is mainly a consumers’ market. Another feature of the market was the announce- ment of an advance of 30s.. a ton on marked bars, raising the basis to <£15, a figure which has not been reached since the early seventies, though at one period during the Franco-German war it stood at <£16. The increase is largely nominal, because for weeks past no marked bars have been sold under <£14 10s., and in some cases at <£14 15s. Unmarked bars moved up slightly in sympathy, the minimum quotation heard being <£13 15s. Small