663 April 7, 1916. ____________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ______________________________________________________________ Cardiff. COAL. The firmness noticeable last week has been more than maintained, notwithstanding the disorganisation of the traffic caused by the blizzard. The damage done is more extensive and more serious than was anticipated, and much inconvenience has been caused to collieries and shipping. Instead of a telephonic communication, special messengers have had to be employed between the collieries and the docks offices. Coal has been despatched to wrong sidings, and the marshalling of consignments has been attended with much difficulty. Since the abatement of the storm tonnage has been arriving more freely and at the beginning of the week there were upwards of 260 vessels in the port of Cardiff awaiting cargoes, and it is computed that there is sufficient tonnage now available to last well over Easter. Whilst, on the one hand, freights are inclined to be a trifle easier, colliery salesmen decline to make concessions during the present month. The outlook is promising, and it is probable that the market will remain in a strong position until well into next month. Charterings last week amounted to 124,150 tons, compared with 196,330 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 72,180 tons, but the prospects are considered promising. According to the official return issued by the Statistical Office of the London Custom House, the quantity of coal shipped coast- wise from the Bristol Channel ports during the month of February amounted to 66,844 tons, compared with 111,663 tons in the corresponding month of last year. From Cardiff alone there were despatched 31,862 tons, of which Bristol took 12,782 tons and London 11,930 tons. There were shipped from Newport 41,304 tons, of which 11,070 tons went to Dublin, 8,060 tons to Cork, 8,590 tons to Bristol and Avonmouth, and 3,170 tons to Waterford. Out of 13,702 tons exported from Swansea, Dagenham took 6,300 tons, Briton Ferry was responsible for 5,335 tons, and Llanelly 1,250 tons. The following table shows the average declared price of the various descriptions of coal exported during the month of February from the four principal ports of the Bristol Channel:— very |high, and very little is available for general export. Special foundry is as high as 57s. 6d. to 62s. 6d., with a 5s. variation between other descriptions. Pitwood is rather easier, and is now quoted at 44s. 6d. to 45s. 6d. per ton. IRON. The present output of tin-plates is considerably less than the norma], but the exports on the other hand are lower also, and for some time the balance has been slightly in favour of production. Shipments last week were 56,672 boxes, against 59,569 boxes received from works, leaving in stock in the docks warehouses and vans 320,870 boxes. Prices are still on the upward grade, and with the in- creasing scarcity of Welsh tin bars it is considered probable that many mills will soon have to close down. Bessemer standard cokes are 32s. to 32s. 6d., oil sizes 32s. 6d. to 33s. and 45s. 6d. to 46s. respectively. Spelter continues steady in the neighbourhood of <£80 to <£82 per ton, but if anything quotations for 24-gauge corrugateds are slightly higher, the present rate being from .£28 to <£29 per ton. Siemens bars are <£13 10s. per ton, and the same price is asked for Bessemer qualities. Welsh pig iron is nominally quoted at 150s. per ton. The arrangement by which South Wales works are to supply 4,000 tons of steel per week to France came into operation this week. Scrap metals are firm without material alteration. Heavy wrought is 95s. per ton, cast 70s. to 72s. 6d., light wrought 65s., double- headed iron rails £5, steel ditto <£6, mixed sections <£5 5s., punchings and shearings <£4 7s. 6d. per ton. The iron ore market is anything but brisk, and quotations for best rubio are on the basis of 39s. to 40s. per ton, with about 2s. to 2s. 6d. less for second grades. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 6, _______________ ___________________________ Cardiff. s. d. Newport. Port Talbot. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. Large steam 24 0 . .. 23 7 .. . 23 7 ... 24 10 Through-and-through 20 3 . .. 19 0 .. . 18 5 . ... 16 8 Small steam 15 3 . .. 18 6 .. . 15 0 . ... 13 11 Large anthracite 24 0 . . 25 7 . ... 26 0 Household 28 0 . .. 34 0 .. . 20 11 . Swansea. COAL. The returns of the trade of the port last week were extremly low. There was very little doing in the coal and patent fuel trades. The shipments together only amounted to 53,332 tons. No improvement is reported in the general conditions of the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large continued easy for prompt delivery, whilst machine- made nuts and cobbles were barely steady. Beans and peas were strong, and rubbly culm and duff continued in demand. In steam coals a good tone was in evidence, and last prices were fuTy maintained. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Dublin. The situation remains much the same, coal now being very scarce, and Scotch coal almost unobtainable. Prices all remain unchanged :—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 37s.; best Wigan, 36s.; best Whitehaven, 36s.; best kitchen, 34s.; Orrell slack, 30s. ; all less Is. per ton discount. Welsh steam coal, 40s. per ton; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, are :—■ Best large, 30s. per ton; best household, 28s. 4d.; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton upwards, all at the pit mouth; f.o.r. Athy, 5s. per ton extra. The Arigna coal (Leitrim) is 33s. per ton delivered in Dublin, less Is. per ton discount.. At the last meeting of the Dublin Industrial Development Association, the secretary was instructed to write to the Castlecomer Collieries (Kilkenny), with the object of induc- ing the proprietors to establish a coal agency in Dublin. Vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 58, as compared with 52 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Newport, Glasgow, Whitehaven, Ellesmere Port, Part- ington, Liverpool, Preston, Maryport, Ardrossan, Campbel- town and Swansea. The total quantity discharged upon the quays was 25,000 tons, as against 20,000 tons the previous -week. A cargo of 1,100 tons for the General Steamship Company was held up undischarged at the end of last week, owing to a dispute of dock labourers. Belfast. There is no change .at this port, but the carrying out of the coal traffic daily becomes more difficult, merchants’ stocks being almost run out. Prices of steam coals continue to be very high. House coals 'are unaltered, as follow :— Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were from Ayr, Glasgow, Garston, Ardrossan, Birkenhead, Manchester, Whitehaven, Troon, Partington, Ellesmere Port, Maryport and Irvine. __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Shipments from the Channel last week amounted to 307,714 tons, compared with 437,170 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 129,456 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 162,614 tons, against 255,258 tons, or a decrease of 92,644 tons. Newport despatched 81,230 tons, or a falling off of 10,229 tons; Swansea 36,005 tons, or a decline of 30,967 tons ; and Port Talbot 27,865 tons, or an increase of 4,384 tons. Shipments of patent fuel amounted to about 17,000 tons, of which nearly 13,000 tons were exported by Cardiff firms. With regard to prices, the market is firmer than ever. All the best Admiralty coals are still retained by the Government, as well as large quan- tities of other descriptions. Ordinary seconds are strongly held for 39s. to 40s., and ordinary steams are only about Is. less. The position in Monmouthshire is equally firm, and there is little quotable alteration in any of the various qualities. The main object appears to be to secure the coal without much regard to the rate which has to be paid for it. Best Black Veins are 39s. 6d. to 40s., with very little variation between western and eastern valleys. The heavy demand for small coals has had the effect of keeping up the figures, and the prices to-day are obtained without difficulty. Best bunkers are 21s. to 22s., ordinary qualities 19s. to 20s., whilst cargo sorts have rather a wide range between 15s. and 18s. per ton. The bituminous coal market keeps very strong, especially for the better qualities, which are now being largely used for coking purposes. No. 3 Rhondda large commands from 36s. to 38s., No. 2 32s. to 33s., and other grades in proportion. With the advance in small coal, patent fuel is again higher, best grades being unobtainable under 40s., whilst second qualities have gone up to 35s. and 36s. per ton. All descriptions of coke are _______________________________________________________ Current L'st week’s 'Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. I prices. . Best malting large (hand picked) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 1 22/6-24/ Secondary do. 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ i 19/ -21/ Big Vein large 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 1 17/ -18/ Red Vein large 16/6-17/6 17/6-19/ i 17/6-18/6 Machine-made cobbles 27/ -28,6 27/ —28/6 , 24/6-26/6 Paris nuts 1 -- French do 27/ -28/ 28/ -30/ i 25/ -27/ *Stove do 25/ -26/ 27/ -28/ : 24/ -26/ Beans 28/6-31/ 28/6-31/ ! 23/6—25/ Machine - made large j 14/ -16/ peas 21/6-22/6 21/ -22/ Do. fine peas — — i — Rubbly culm 9/3- 9/6 8/9- 9/6 , 10/6-11/6 Duff..... 4/ - 4/6 i 1 4/ - 4/6 > 5/ — 5/6 Steam coals:— Best large 32/6-35/6 31/6-35/ ! 28/ -30/ Seconds 25/6-27/6 26/6-28/ j 23/6—27/6 Bunkers 22/ -25/6 21/6-25/6 ' 24/6-27/6 Small 13/6-16/ 13/6-16/ ' 16/ -20/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 31/ -35/ 31/ -35/ : 28/ -31/ Thro'-and-thro’ - Small 19/ -22/ 19/6-22/ 19/6-21/6 Patent fuel 32/ -34/6 32/ -34/6 27/ -30/ Tar Products.—There is very little movement in the majority of products, and prices are virtually unchanged, though there may be local variations. Benzols are quiet, and tar easy. Nearest values are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ................... 1/0J—1/1 ... — ......................... ,, 90’s North ................... /IQi— /11| ... — ,, 50’s North ................. 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) ............. 1/3—1/4 ... - 2/3 ... — ■ 3/4 ... - 1/4 ... - 2/3—2/4 ... — 2/3—2/4 M— /7 /2i—2f- 15/—16/ ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............ 14/—15/ Tar (per ton ex works) ______..........__ 16/—20/ [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. —Although a continuance of the special price of £16 15s. has been promised till the end of May, business is not very encouraging,. It will be instruc- tive to note whether the demand reaches the total normally attained for home consumption. Closing prompt prices are :— Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). f Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— 1 prices. prices. J 1 prices. Best Admiralty steam coals ; i —* * Superior seconds [ * —K Seconds 39/ -40/ 36/ -38/ i — Ordinary do. 38/ -39/ 35/ -36/ i 34/ -35/ Best bunker smalls 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ ; ;21/6-22/ Best ordinaries. ' 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 1 21/ —21/6 Cargo qualities ’ 15/ -18/ 14/ -16/ j 20/ Inferior smalls 12/ -14/ 11/ -13/ ! 17/ -19/ Best dry coals i 39/ -40/ 36/ -38/ ; 34/ -35/ Ordinary drys 38/ -39/ 34/ -35/ 32/ -33/ Best washed nuts 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 24/ Seconds 25/ -27/ 25/ -27/ . 22/ Best washed peas 27/ —28/ 27/ -28/ 23/ Seconds 24/6-25/6 24/6-25/6 21/ -21/6 Dock screenings 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ ' 19/ -20/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 39/6-40/ 36/ -37/ 35/ -36/ Western-valleys 39/ —39/6 35/ -36/ I 35/ Eastern-valleys 37/ -38/ 33/ -34/ 35/ Inferior do 36/ -37/ 32/ -33/ 33/ -34/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 30/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/ —22/6 22/ -22/6 29/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 36/ -38/ 34/ -35/ 33/ -34/ Through-and-through 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ ; 30/ -31/ Small 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ ' 26/ -27/ No. 2 Rhondda— ) Large 32/ -33/ 31/ -32/ 29/ Through-and-through .26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 23/ Small 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 19/ -20/ Best patent fuel 37/6-40/ 35/ -40/ 40/* Seconds 35/ -36/ 33/ -35/ 32/6 Special foundry coke 57/6-62/6 60/ -65/ 43/ -45/ Ordinary do. 52/6-57/6 55/ -60/ 38/ -40/ Furnace coke 42/6-47/6 42fh-47/6 30/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 44/6-45/6 46/ -47/ 37/6-38/6 * Nominal, * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts. IRON. During the past week the blast furnaces produced a heavy output, and the steel trade was very brisk. A new furnace will be lighted shortly at Pontardawe. Sheet mill operations were restricted, while most of the tin-plate mills still operating, were kept going the whole week. The shipments of tin-plates were 56,672 boxes, receipts from works 59,569 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 320,870 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market of this district shows no alteration. Whereas most of the anthracite qualities are almost unsale- able and pits are working very bad time, the demand for the bituminous qualities is greater than the supply. The former coals have never been going so badly, nor possibly have collieries suffered so many idle days. It is not at all unusual for the pits to be idle for the whole of the week owing to their wagons being under load with stocks, or being held up for a long time inland. The only kinds which have been in anything like good demand are beans, peas, culm and duff, but the former two sorts are in a hopeless position, and colliery order-books are so full that in several instances it will take months before customers will receive their coal. For large, cobbles and nuts the enquiry is poor and low prices can be received to have wagons released. Large steam is in excellent demand and prices are very firm. Smalls are also doing well, with every prospect of the heavy demand continuing for some time to come. This week's quotations approximately are; — London (ordinary makes) .... £16/17/6 ...... Beckton (25 per cent.) .............. £16 Liverpool .................. £16/15 Hull ____........................... £16/12/6 Middlesbrough ............ £16/17/6 .............. Scotch ports ...................... £16/15 Wales ....................................... £16/12/6 Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. 17/3 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. — 2/6 [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2J discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] per cent. quality; Current Anthracite; prices. Best malting large ... 22,6-23/6 ... Secondary do.......18/ -20/ Big Vein large.......__ 15/6-16/ Red Vein do.........; 16/6-17/ Machine-made cobbles...! 26/6-27/6 German nuts......... 26/ -27/6 French do..........; 27/6-28/6 Paris do..........J 26/6-27/6 Machine-made beans ... 28/ -30/ Do. peas... ' 20/ -22/ Culm ............__ 9/ - 9/6 Duff................s 4/ - 4/6 Other sorts :— 1 Large steam coal..... 32/ -34/ Through-and-through... 23/6-25/6 Small ..............I 14/ —16/ Bituminous small coal... 20/ -22/ L'st week's prices. 21/ -24/ 18/ -20/ 15/6-16/6 16/6-18/ 26/6-27/6 26/6-27/6 27/6-28/6 26/6-27/6 28/ -30/ 20/ -22/ 9/ -9/6 4/ - 4/6 32/ -34/ 22/6-24/6 14/ -16/ 20/ -22/6 ! Last year’s i prices. ' 21/6-23/ 18/ -19/6 17/ -18/6 17/6-18,6 26/ -29/6 28/6-30/ 28/ -30/ . 28/ -30/ ■ 22/ -25/ ■ 14/ -15/ : 10/6-11/6 ; 4/ - 5/ 26/ -28/ 23/ -25/ 14/ -18/ 19/ -21/ ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Prices are still going up, and it is hard to see where and when the advance will stop, unless the Government fixes a limit. Makers are all proceeding very cautiously, in view of further restrictions in raw materials, and increased shortage in labour. Plates for quick delivery are now realising 31s. 3cl. to 31s. 6d. per basis box. Wasters of all kinds are in big demand; there is a shortage in the principal sizes, and holders are obtaining their own figures. Following are about to-day’s rates for coke tins :—I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 31s. 6d. to 32s. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 63s. to 63s. 6d. ; I C 14 x 18f (124 sh. 1101b.), 32s. to 32s. 3d.; IC 14 x 19-1 (120 sh. 1101b.), 32s. to 32s. 3d.; IC 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 45s. 6d. to 46s. I C squares and odd sizes, 32s. to 32s. 6d. basis. Charcoals rule firm, at 33s. 6d. per box and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are very firm, as follows:—GW 14 x 20, 29s. 6d. to 29s. 9d. per box; CW 14 x 18f, 29s. 6d. to 29s. 9d.; CW 28 X 20, 59s. 9d. to 60s.; CW 20 x 10, 44s. to 44s. 6d. Ternes are nominally 58s. to 59s. per box of I C 28 x 20. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ________________________________ Coal Dust Explosions in Mines.—On Wednesday a depu- tation from the executive committee of the Miners’ Federa- tion of Great Britain attended at the Altofts Colliery, Normanton, for the purpose of witnessing practical, experi- ments in the sand dusting of underground workings, of collieries as a preventive of explosions from accumulations of coal dust. The visit of the miners’ representatives to the colliery had been arranged by Air. William Brace, Under- secretary of the Home Department, and Sir Richard Redmay’ne, H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines.