466 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 10, 1916. culties in the way of getting fuel from the collieries to the customers. There continues to be a brisk enquiry for shipping coal. Prices generally are as below :— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best .............. Medium ............ Common............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ lo/eupwds^jvc^n^. 14*1 upwds.|14/ upwds.| 9/6-10/ Last year's prices. 18/ -19/ 16/9-17/3 14/ -14/9 14/ -15/ L'st week'si prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ i 18/6-19/6 15/6upwdsj 11/ -12/ IRON. There is a very meagre attendance on 'Change nowadays, but prices remain firm. The latest move of the Govern- ment restricting the sales of various metals under certain conditions has necessitated a meeting of the iron and steel merchants at Carlisle this week. Good foundry iron is offered at 92s. 6d. to 95s. The ordinary foundry trade is very weak; it is the heavy engineers’ foundries that are doing the work. Forges and steel works are full up of Government work. Wagon works are busily engaged on repairs, but one does not hear of many new wagons being built at present price. There are large quantities of work going through the heavy engineering makers’ shops, and a deal of enquiry. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was a big muster at the market on Tuesday, particu- larly of traders from London, Hull, Huddersfield, Bradford and other local districts, among whom there was much anxiety to secure supplies. For spot lots of slack and nuts the demand was exceedingly keen. In this connection it is hoped that the increased restrictions on the export of Yorkshire coal will afford some relief, as it is understood that not only are licences more difficult to obtain, but quite a large number have been cancelled. Colliery representa- tives continue to report full time at the pits, with, under the circumstances, a fairly satisfactory output, but scarcity of empty wagons and transit delays are still features of the situation. The wintry wreather conditions have in a marked degree increased the demand from London for supplies of house coal, but the collieries, booked up for weeks ahead, are generally unable to accept the orders which are being offered. Reports from the depots in London point to a grave scarcity of supplies, while merchants have increasing difficulties, owing to the shortage of carmen and loaders, in getting what coal they have at depots into the hands of the consumers. There is no best coal on offer for the London district, and other qualities are very firm at the full Limitation Act prices. Coastwise shipping grows less and less in volume, and the places normally served by waterborne coal are increasingly dependent on supplies by rail. At some points on the south coast supplies at the depots are practically non- existent, merchants being dependent upon what happens to come to hand day by day. Freights are still very high, and boats difficult to get, although as much as 15s. 6d. per ton, Goole to London, has been offered. West Riding merchants are in many cases trying to cope for the time being with an increased demand from the public by sending out small loads, such as half ton lots, the supplies obtainable from the collieries being quite inadequate. Nominally, pit prices are as follow:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; secondary sorts, 17s. to 18s. Many enquiries of a tentative character are circulating with regard to gas coal prices for the twelve months from July 1. It is reported that one or two sales have been made at Limitation Act maximum prices, with a special condition that prices should be correspondingly adjusted in the event of the maximum being raised. In the open market there is less buying, but the pressure for full contract deliveries is very strong. As to manufacturing fuel, the position at some of the larger works in the Bradford and Huddersfield districts is very precarious. The matter has been brought to the notice of the authorities, but so long as the munition works require full supplies, and their requirements still tend to increase, there is not much hope of amelioration. Coking slacks are very scarce. It is only with difficulty that the full output of the coke ovens in maintained, and in a number of cases it has been necessary to crush large coal in order to keep the ovens supplied ; 24s. at the ovens continues to be the price of washed furnace coke. 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/ 20/ -21/ Wallsend & 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 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ Haigh Moor best ......... 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ Silkstone best 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 14/ -15/ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 12/6-14/ Washed nuts Large double-screened 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 13/ -15/ engine nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/6 Small nuts Rough unscreened 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ j 12/ -13/ engine coal 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ i 12/ -13/ Best rough slacks 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 10/ -11/ Small do. 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 8/ - 9/6 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens: 11/6-12/6 11/6-12/6 8/6- 9/6 Furnace coke 24/ 24/ j 15/ -16/ Barnsley. COAL. The severe weather conditions which have prevailed of late have had considerable effect on the output during the past week. It is unavoidable that there should be a larger degree of sickness prevailing amongst the miners and a less willingness on the part of those who have to walk a considerable distance to and from work to make full attendance under the present conditions. The position arising arising from the reduced output, which was already of a serious character, has thus become aggravated, and in a more decisive manner rendered it impossible for business of a new description to be arranged. The attendance at the usual local market was only of moderate dimensions, the position of affairs referred to evidently having been recog- nised. Generally speaking, there is no material change in the position of affairs since a week ago. The demands for various concerns engaged on orders for the Government continues to be of an exceptionally heavy description, and despite all efforts made it is impossible to give such a tonnage as will enable any material stocks to accumulate at the works. The position of the smaller industries whose claims to supplies are now subservient to the more impor- tant industries continues to be of a very serious character, and plants at these works have to be adapted so that practically any class of fuel which they may be fortunate to obtain may be utilised. A large tonnage of house coal which has been used of late for industrial purposes is now not so readily available owing to the fact that the public are seeking larger supplies, and, of course, consideration has to be paid to these requirements. The fact that the application for an advance of wages has not yet been finally decided still proves a barrier to any attempt to renew contracts, particularly in respect to supplies of gas coal, and it seems to be firmly agreed that until this matter has been disposed of and an attempt made to convince the Legislature that a review of the maximum prices is justifiable, nothing will be done in the matter. There appears to be very little doing in this district in regard to foreign trade, although, of course, it is nothing but the restricted issue of licences which is preventing the development of business in this direction. Collieries continue to experience a good deal of pressure to give adequate supplies of slacks and other coking fuel for the by-product plants which are producing residuals required for the manufacture of explosives, and although the output of coke has consequently been greatly increased, there are practically no stocks at the ovens. An'exceptional amount is being disposed of and prices are easily maintained at the maximum figure. There has been a much heavier rush of orders for house coal, but collieries find it to be impossible to deal with this extra business, and supplies are only given to old customers, and even so a considerable delay in delivery is inevitable. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s 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/ 18/ -18/6 Secondary do. 16/6-17/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -17/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/6-17/6 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/ -lo/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/ Hull. COAL. The difficulty of obtaining licences for export continues to be the dominating factor in the Humber coal trade, far more so than the question of tonnage. Except for France, very little indeed is being allowed out of the country, and only fractional quantities to Scandi- navia. As far as Italy is concerned, the high and unparalleled freights make business practically impos- sible. The short supplies of nearly all kinds, and the big inland demand especially for manufacturing fuels, serve to maintain prices at recent levels. The approximate values for prompt or nearly prompt shipments are :—Best South Yorkshire hards, 27s. to 27s. 6d.; washed doubles, 22s. 6d. to 23s.; washed singles, 22s. to 22s. 6d.; small coal, 17s. to 18s.; rough slack, 17s. 6d. West Yorkshire Hartleys, 24s. to 24s. 6d.; gas and house fuels, 24s. 6d. to 26s. Nothing is doing in Derbyshire steam hards which are practically all taken up for home use, the nominal value for export being 26s. to 27s. at Grimsby or Irmningham. Shipments at the docks are on the light side, and very little is passing in the freight market, present rates to France being based on 32s. 6d. to 33s. Hull to Rouen. Chesterfield. COAL. Coal is becoming more and more difficult to obtain in anything like reasonable quantities, while the demand, already heavy, is steadily gaining in strength. There is a great rush of orders for house coal, but it is impossible to execute these with any degree of promptitude, and the delay in making delivery is a serious matter to house- holders at present. There is an equally strong demand for all kinds of coal for manufacturing purposes, and the pressure upon the collieries is very considerable, especially for nuts and cobbles, which are urgently wanted for the .large steel works of Sheffield. There is a great shortage of slack for boiler firing, and consumers do not know which way to turn to find supplies which are so badly needed. Railway companies are still pressing for deliveries of locomotive fuel, and a single day's stoppage of supplies is now a serious matter to them. There is no improvement in the export trade, which becomes quieter week by week. It is now a most difficult matter to obtain a licence for a neutral country for any class of coal. Collieries, however, suffer no inconvenience, as the production of coal is readily absorbed’by our home industries. The coke market con- tinues strong, and the price of 24s. per ton at the ovens is firmly maintained. The demand for all qualities of coke is very brisk, and the output of the ovens is easily disposed of. Coking is generally scarce. Prices at pit. ____________________ Current L'st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 18/ Secondary do a. | 1 16 6 16/6 17/ Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/6 Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 12/6 12/ IRON. Great activity prevails in all branches of the trade. A good business is going on in pig iron, and orders for finished iron are plentiful. ——— Nottingham. COAL. With the continued severe wintry weather, the pressure on the collieries in Nottinghamshire is rather heavy, and with the output limited by shortage of men, some owners are unable to cope fully with the demand. In the domestic fuel branch, most of the local merchants have more orders in hand than they can complete, and sales at the landsale depots have been heavier, although owners have in some cases to limit the supplies to dealers. There is a brisk demand from merchants in the metropolis and country districts, but in many cases full contract supplies cannot be complied with. Prices keep firm. The output of steam coal is still insufficient to meet the demand, and with owners giving preference to orders from firms engaged in Govern- ment work, there is a comparatively small amount of fuel available in the open market. The export trade is fairly quiet, apart from shipments for Admiralty purposes or for the use of our Allies. The pressure on this section is such that some merchants are willing to take supplies of any quality. Slacks remain in very keen request, all kinds being quickly disposed of, there being no reserve supplies at any of the collieries. Gas coal and coke are in good demand. 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/ 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. 19/6-21/6 17/6-18/6 16/ -17/ 17/6-19/6 16/6-17/ 11/ -12/ 9/6-10/6 9/ -10/ Leicestershire. COAL. The continuance of the severe weather is greatly restricting the aggregate output. There is a heavy call for all classes of household coal both for London district and country stations, and it is quite impossible to do more than make hand-to-mouth deliveries to meet the most urgent cases. The whole of the reserves of stocks in the hands of coal merchants have been cleared out, and the position increases in gravity every day. The demand for manufacturing fuel is of great volume, and this absorbs an ever-increasing proportion of the total output. There are no stocks of any kind at the collieries, and the output generally is much below the average. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district.-— 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/ L'st week’s Last year'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/ 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 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 15/9-16/9 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/9-16/9 13/ -14/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Conditions have improved very little during the week, work being again retarded by a renewal of the snowstorm. Supplies have been coming from the pits with fair 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/ J9/ 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