Junk 9, 1916/ 1099 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ___________________________________________________________________________ merchants are in a very tight corner for lack of. supplies. The demand for manufacturing fuel is still extending, with the result that more and more household has to be diverted to steam-raising purposes. Shipping business is entirely suspended) and all offers have to be declined on account of the shortness of supplies. The railway-owned wagons coming to hand are much below what is required, and colliery managers have to adopt a hand-to-mouth method of distribution so aS tb avoid hardships or the stoppage of important works, There are no stocks ot any kin I at the pits. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that supplies by rail are coming forward rather more freely■, and there are more offers in the market for prompt and forward deliveries. In all cases prices are very firm, and there is much less dealing in large quantities than usually at this time of the year, but some contracts have been made. _________________ South Staffordshire, Horth Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Mirminghanb COAL. _____________________________________ THE WELSH COAL AKD IROR TRADES. Thursday, June 8. Thursday's coal market was quiet with buyers but few ’sellers*. Merchants reported that they were getting from the pits only sufficient to keep them going-. Nothing is going into stock. Every ton of works fuel is eagerly taken up. With regard to price?) there are absolutely no conces- sions) and if anything the tendency is in the direction of hardening. New contracts are not being completed as in ordinary times. There are so many reservations to be provided for both in the matter of price and supply that it is not considered worth while to contract at all in many cases) and buyer and seller will have to pull along as harmoniously as possible, meeting circumstances as they arise. The following quotations stand :— _________________________________________________ Horth Wales. Wrexham i COAL. There is considerable agitation in this locality at the present time with regard to the h mr for commencing and finishing work at the collieries, now that the new Summer Time Act is in force. The majority of the miners consider that the-Act is no saving of daylight to them, as commencing work at 6, o’clock means rising between 4 and 5 a.m. (which now . means between 3 and 4 a.m. under the old regime). They state, therefore, that they are compelled to burn artificial light in the mornings, while they gain no more daylight in the evenings. Some propose to alter the Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) :— 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 16/6 Best hard 18/6 Forge coal 16/ 11/6 16/ 14/' Slack .........x 11/6 10/ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 19/ 19/ 19/6 Do. hand-picked Cobs 18/ 18/ 17/6 Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 18/ 13/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 14/6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 ■ 14 6 Small (do.) 14 6 14.6 11/6 IRON. There was a fairly good attendance on ’Change, but the market was uneventful, with comparatively little business passing. Supplies fall far short of the demand, and with more and more of the output going into controlled estab- lishments, the tendency is for the market to become stereotyped in the principal departments. Smelters are awaiting with some anxiety the decision of the Ministry of Munitions on the matter of the readjustment of pig iron prices after June 30, when the present arrangement expires. They claim a higher maxima on the ground that cost of production has increased by something like 7s. a ton since those now in operation were fixed. Sellers meantime could dispose of more material than they seem willing to do. The calls for foundry iron are particularly pesistent. Current selling prices are:—Staffordshire part-mine, 92s. 6d.; Northamptonshire forge, 88s. 6d ; Derbyshire, 91s., delivered in the district; forge qualities, 2s. 6d. extra. The sheet trade occupies an anomalous position. Spelter has dropped to a reasonable figure, and galvanisers, if they could only get sheet bars, would be able to turn out orders which are badly wanted. The minimum quotation for galvanised corrugated sheets is <£28. Plain black sheets and corrugated are maintained at recent high levels, and output here, too, is restricted. Bar makers continue to find a ready market for all they can produce at maximum rates •—marked qualities <£15, and unmarked <£13 15s. f.o.t. net. Nut and bolt iron also commands <£13 15s. This department is not'under official restriction. Three-eighths rounds are dearer, ranging up to <£15 15s. a ton, with very heavy extras for smaller sizes. Some makers will not trouble with the very small sizes at all. For three-eighths sizes good export orders could be booked, but home requirements are met first. Transactions in steel were few. Makers of finished steel are not looking for work, they have as much as they can cope with. Orders are always on the market, the difficulty being to place them. American semi, in the shape of ingots, billets, and wire rods, are certainly offered more freely, and sales of billets have been recorded at <£14 c.i.f. Liverpool, a big price. The market, however, can digest all the stuff available. A fair amount of heavy steel scrap hours to commence at 7 o’clock until 3 p.m., while others want to commence at 8 a.m. and work until 4 p.m. It is probable that, if any alteration is made, the former suggestion will be adopted, as there is considerable opposition to the latter suggestion on the grounds that surface workers have to continue long after the miner has. finished, and this would mean their working until about. 6.30 in the evening. At one colliery, the day shift now begins at 7 a.m. instead of 6. There is also considerable doubt (at.the time of writing) as to whether local collieries will be worked on Whit Monday or not. A large number of men expressed themselves unwilling to give up Monday as a holiday. With reference to the demand for coal, there is not much being done in the house coal trade, nor are many contracts for this class of fuel being made owing to the high prices ruling for coal disposed of in other markets. The positiop. as regards gas sorts is pretty much the same as existed last week. Gas companies press for completion of old contracts, and, so far as is possible, collieries are doing so, and several new contracts have be n fixed up. Steam coal is in as great a demand as ever—far greater than the available supply. Buyers are crying out for supplies on all hands—railway companies, Government contractors, and shipping companies. Everything possible is being done to maintain the output to the utmost in view of the present abnormal demand, but this, notwithstanding the output, is not by any means up to the normal tonnage. Tenders are required by the Wrexham Board of Guardians and the-Croesnewydd Military Hospital Committee for tenders for supplies of fuel over the coming six months. Nuts are very scarce at the present time, and are almost unprocurable in the open market, and only a very small tonnage is being arranged for under new contracts. Slack is readily disposed of at good prices, but the tonnage available is very limited. Prices for all classes of coal are good. House coal keeps up its figures at 20s. to 23s. per ton at the pit, while in the retail trade the figures vary from 25s. up to 30s. per ton. Gas coal is offered at J8s. to 20s. per ton, and the same prices rule for steam coal for industrial and shipping purposes. Nuts are listed at 18s. to 19s., while all available slack is sold at prices from 11s. to 13s. 6d. per ton at the pit. The following is the full list of prices for the week 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. 22/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 11/ -13/6 23/4—26/8 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 14/2-16/8 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 1 prices. 22/ -24/ ’ 20/ -22/6 20/ -22/ , 19/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 18/6-20/ 18/ —20/ 18/6-20/ 18/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-19/ 17/ -18/ 11/ -13/6 , 10/ -12/6 21/8-2'5/ , 13/4-18,4 25/. -27/6 26/8-30/ 22/6-25/ ' 22/6-26/8 13/4-16/8 13/4—14/2 are more plentiful, and shippers, anticipating, a very shortened holidaythink that stocks Will increase suffi- ciently to bring Values down considerably below their present level. The extension of the maximum price from France to all our Allies, which is now understood to be in serious consideration, is another factor of great importance^ and inclines to relax the views of colliery salesmen as to prices. Large coals are quoted to-day fully 2s. Cd. loWer than last week for best qualities, inferior sorts showing double that decline. Smalls also show variations of a similar character. PitWood continues in good request, all supplies being qtiickly taken up at the easier prices ruling, best French fir now being quoted 46s. to 47s. ex-ship. IRON. Tire condition of the local iron and steel trades remains very firm, with an inclination in all departments towards still higher values—business, therefore, being increasingly difficult to place. At all bar mills work continues very brisk, and values of Welsh bars have increased on the week to <£14 10s. for either Bessemer or Siemens qualities, while even at these prices it is hard to get works to accept orders. Steel rails show very few free parcels offering, to meet a good enquiry, and values continue to-day as officially quoted last week. Welsh haematite remains nominal. All furnaces in blast are being pressed to full outputs, the demand continuing to exceed the available supply. Iron ore supplies are arriving here in better quantities, one' cargo alone exceeding 6,000 tons of Spanish ore. Quota- tions remain very firm. Tin-plates continue to meet an active demand and show, if anything, firmer values. Latest ruling basis, 37s. 3d. to 37s. 6d. for I C 20 x 14: 74s. 6d. to 74s. 9d. for I C 28 x 20. Cardiff. COAL. There is little change in the position of the Cardiff coal market. Tonnage is plentiful, but there is a falling off in supplies which tends to make the market very tight. Many colliery companies are refusing to quote for forward business, because their order books are full for several months ahead. Only oddments are for sale, and these command almost any prices, so that the prices paid are not any indication of real market values. Shipments last week amounted to 325,317 tons, as compared with 394,762 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 69,445 tons. From Cardiff the expoits were 108,168 tons against 209,198 tons, or a decrease of 101,030 tons. From Newport there were exported 76,659 tons, or a decrease of 5,039 tons ; from Swansea 63,716 tons, or a decline of 6,599 tons ; and from Port Talbot 29,124 tons, or a decrease of 4,427 tons. Patent fuel shipments have been very low, and the decrease compared with last year amounts to over 16,000 tons. Chartering during the past week has been fairly steady, the amount taken up being 99,340 tons, against 109,180 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 9,810 tons. Business naturally has been very quiet owing to the Government regulations with regard to French supplies. Coal owners generally have accepted the position without demur, and as a matter of fact there is very little overplus for other countries. It is reported that a similar scheme of control is likely to become operative with regard to Italian business, but nothing definite is known. Only very small parcels are coming into the open market, and for these almost any prices are being paid according to the requirements of shippers. Generally speaking, ordinary second Admiralties are 50s. to 55s., with ordinaries 48s. to 50s. In Monmouth- shire coals there has been a slight decline, Black Veins being 51s. to 52s., ordinary western valleys 50s. to 52s., and the best of the easterns 47s. to 49s. There has been no relaxation in the small coal market, and prices are not materi- ally altered. Best bunkers realise 30s. to 32s., ordinaries 27s. to 29s., and cargo qualities 20s. to 22s. 6d. per ton. For bituminous coal there is still a great demand, owing to the requirements of Government work for military purposes, but the price is scarcely so firm as it was a week ago. For No. 3 Rhondda large, 50s. to 55s. is still quoted, but it is reported that slight concessions have been made on these figures. Through-and-through is 40s. to 44s., and smalls _________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). goes from this district into South Wales. Copper sheets have undergone another drop, this time by <£4 a ton. The basis is now £164. ' ' _________________ _______________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The house coal trade continues to be exceedingly brisk and the difficulty of dealing with a demand far beyond the supply is as great as ever. There is a pronounced scarcity for all descriptions, and the collieries have a large number of arrear orders on the books. Sales are about equally divided between the railborne and seaborne trades, but there are a large number of vessels awaiting their cargoes, there being about two weeks’ delay in loading. In the steam coal department firms engaged on munitions and other Government work are clamouring for supplies. In view of these abnormal requirements it is found practically impossible to meet all the demands of the ordinary trade as well. Prices at pithead :— An easier tone now prevails in the steam coal trade, mainly developed by a decreasing supply of tonnage, which is not now sufficient to replace the steamers loaded and sailing. Chartering, too, has been easier, with freights hardening a little, as tonnage is very’short. Genoa has been done more than once at 80s., but for French ports there is scarcely any enquiry. Colliery outputs just now are more regular than for some time, so available supplies _________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current 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 Steam coal:— 11/6 : . 11/6 16/ : Large 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 21/ -22/ Small 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 16/ -17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary . do________I Inferior do........■ Screenings __.......... Through coals ........I Best washed nuts......I Other sorts:— | Best house coal........I ’ Secondary do......... Patent fuel .......__ Furnace coke.......... prices. 51/ -53/ 50/ -51/ 48/ —49/ 46/ -48/ 27/ —29/ 24/ -26/ 21/ -23/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -32/ 30/ —35/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 50/ —55/ 50/ -52/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. ' prices. 54/ 53/ 53/ 51/ 31/ 29/ 25/ 32/ 35/ 37/ | prices. -55/ : 34/ -34/6 —55/ 33/ -33/6 -53/6 ! 30/ -31/ -53/ ■ 29/ -30/ -32/6 ! 19/ -20/ -30/ i 18/ -19/ -27/ -32/6 -37/ -39/ 17/6-18/ 19,6-20/ 21/ -22/ 22/ -23/ Foundry coke __..... 61/ -62/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 50/ -55/ 50/ -52/6 60/ -62/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 33/6-35/ 33/ -34/ 37/ -39/ Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ................ Superior seconds ..... Seconds .............. Ordinary do: ......... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries....... Cargo qualities....... Inferior smalls ...... Best dry coals .....i Ordinary drys ........ Best washed nuts ..... Seconds .............. Best washed peas...... Seconds .................. Dock screenings ...... Monmouthshire— Black Veins .;...... Western-valleys ... Eastern-valleys .... Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... Through-and-through Small .............. No. 2 Rhondda— Large............... Through-and-through'. Small .............__ Best patent fuel ....... Seconds ................ Special foundry coke ... Ordinary do. ........... Furnace coke ........... Pitwood (ex-ship) ...... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices, i prices. __* * 50/ -55/ 48/ -50/ 30/ -32/ 27/ -29/ 20/ -22/6 19/ -20/ 47/ -48/6 45/ -47/ 42/ —45/ ■40/ -42/6 39/ -41/ 37/ -39/ 51/ -52/ 50/ -52/ 47/ -49/ 45/ -47/ ■ ■_* ; - _* ’ J '■ /__ 54/ -55/ r — 52/ -53/ ' 34/ —35/ 32/ -33/ ; 22/ -22/6 30/ -32/ , 21/ —21/6 25/ -28/ : 19/ -20/ 22/ -25/ ! 18/ -18'6 48/ -50/ 1 34/ -36/ 43/ -45/ l 32/ -33/ 42/6-45/ ' 29/ 40/ -42/6 1 27/ 39/ -41/ ; 26/ 37/ -39/ \ 24/ — 20/6—21/ 54/ -55/ ! 33 3-33/9 54/ -54/6 ; 32/9 50/ -52,6 ; 31/ -31/6 50/ -52/ : 29/ -30/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ ! 30/ 22/ -23/6 22/ -23/ [ 27/6-29/ 50/ -55/ 40/ -44/ 36/ -40/ 46/ -48/ 34/ -37/ 29/ -31/ 50/ -55/ 48/ —50/ 62/6-65/ 60/ -62/6 50/ -55/ 47/ -49/ 57,6-60/ 47/ -50/ 36/ -40/ 46/ -48/ 38/ -40/ 29/ -31/ 52/ -55/ 50/ -52/ 62/ -67/6 601 -62/6 52/ -57/6 48/ -50/ 29/ -30/ 26,6-27/ ’ 24/ 1 27/ -27/6 ! 22/6-23/ ;19/6-20/ 37/6 I 35/ ! 43/ -47/ ! 38/ -42/6 ; 32/ -35/ 31/ -32/ * Nominal.