June 16, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1145 shipments are retarded, throwing prompt coal on the market for sale. There is a little more gas coal on offer, but there is practically no alteration in prices, which are about 40s. for best sorts and 35s. for seconds. Coking coals are scarce for destinations outside France, and prices remain steady. Steams are round about 55s. Household coals of all kinds are difficult to secure for export, and up to 55s. is quoted by producers. Bunkers are quiet, at from 34s. to 35s. for ordinary brands, and 39s. to to 40s. for bests. There is an increasing demand for foundry coke at from 46s. to 47s., and gas coke is stronger. Outward chartering is quiet owing to the scarcity of tonnage. Limitation rates continues to rule for France, while for the Mediterranean the recent advance is well maintained, 95s. having been paid for Genoa. Other fixtures are.- — Oran, 60s.; Algiers, 60s. ; Barcelona, 70s.; Marseilles, 90s.; Lisbon, 50s.; Drammen, 34 kr.; Gefle, 36 kr. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. There is little new to report concerning the fuel trade. Shortage of tonnage is interfering with deliveries to some extent. Collieries generally are well sold, and it is grati- fying to learn that the miners worked on Whit Monday. There is rather more gas coal on offer, but prices are well - maintained. Best Durham gas coal runs from 35s. to 36s., and second qualities are in the neighbourhood of 32s. 6d., while special Wears are quoted up to 37s. 6d. Durham steam coals command 50s. to 52s. 6d. Bunker is rather quiet, but up to 37s. 6d. is asked for ordinary Durhams, and up to 39s. for best sorts. Coking coal is well taken up at 33s. to 35s. There is a large and increasing demand for all descriptions of coke, and supply falls short of meeting current needs. Enlargement of output is essential, but there are considerable obstacles in the way of adding to the make. Gashouse coke is very scarce, and readily realises 30s. to 32s. Foundry coke ranges from 45s. to 50s. Local consumers are pressing for deliveries. The fixed maximums for blast-furnace coke are very firmly maintained at 28s. at the ovens for average kinds, and 30s. 6d. at the ovens for qualities low in phosphorus. IRON. The iron and steel industries present few new features. Home deliveries of pig iron, as arranged by the committee appointed to apportion supplies, are now fairly satisfactory, but many consumers are anxious for heavier deliveries. The promise of enlargement of output of pig iron by the starting of additional furnaces has not yet been fulfilled, but preparations to that end are well advanced, and hope is expressed that before the end of the month more furnaces will be in blast. But for the difficulty in obtaining sufficient supplies of coke, furnaces lying idle would have been in operation. The price of No. 3 Cleveland pig for prompt delivery remains at 82s. 6d., but it is a nominal figure as no iron is purchasable for June, and the quotation for supplies beyond this month is 87s. 6d. A fair amount of business is understood to have been arranged at the latter figure for delivery over the third quarter of the year. The foregoing quotations are for home consumption. No effort is made to do business with neutral countries, but a few transactions with our Allies are reported, and the export quotation of No. 3 is 100s. The lower qualities of Cleveland pig are round about the same prices as those mentioned for No. 3, and No. 1 is put at 4s. to 5s. higher. The east coast haematite branch of the staple industry is characterised by inactivity so far as new business is concerned, due to the fact that there are absolutely no stocks, and producers have sold what they can make for some little time to come. Quotations remain at 122s. 6d. for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 for home use, and 140s. for export. There is little foreign ore selling, but large quantities are being steadily delivered on running contracts and con- sumers have now considerable stocks. Unloadings at the port of Middlesbrough so far this month amount to 98,721 tons. In the open market the freight Bilbao-Middlesbrough is 19s., at which figure quite a number of steamers have been fixed, but the official freight to meet controlled consumers is 17s., and on that basis sellers are prepared to accept 36s. ex-ship Tees for rubio of 50 per cent, quality. So busy are manufacturers of finished iron and steel on Government work that they have little time to attend to ordinary enquiries in the market. Quotations all round are strong. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The condition of the Cumberland coal trade has under- gone very little change since last week. In the most important branches, business is as brisk as ever, and most of the collieries are still well supplied with orders which will keep them busy for some weeks to come. Owing to the holidays, supplies have again been rather short, more particularly for the Irish market. Most of the pits were idle on Monday for the Whitsuntide holiday, and production is therefore much lower than usual this week. There is very little moving in house coal, but all the other accounts are doing well, and the output at the collieries is still very far short of actual requirements. Industrial fuel is in firm request for local use, but requirements on this account are scarcely as large as they were some time ago. Practically the whole of the small coal is now required for the local by-products ovens and the bulk of the manufac- turing fuel is going to consumers in the district. Locomo- tive fuels for the local railways are a steady trade, and gas coal, either for home or outside consumers, is in very strong and growing demand. The cross-channel trade is in a strong and healthy condition. The demand for all sorts for Ireland is undiminished, but it is still impossible to cope with requirements. More vessels are now free for the Irish trade, but all varieties are so scarce that even merchants with their own vessels, are finding it difficult to get supplies. The collieries, however, are doing their utmost to meet the needs of Irish customers. The outlook as regards supplies for export users is more hopeful than it has been for some time. Local needs are not now quite so heavy, and with the diminution on landsale account it is fully anticipated that there will be consider- ably more coal available for the export trade before the end of this month. During the week 18 vessels have sailed from Maryport, all for Irish ports, and the shipments have am ounted to 3,550 tons, compared with 4,770 tons this time las t year, and an increase of 130 tons compared with the previous week. The coke trade is busier than ever this week, and with better supplies of small coal, makers are doing their utmost to keep all the 230 coke ovens working at full pressure. Local smelters are taking the whole of the output, and in addition they are now using about 5,000 tons of east coast coke at the Cumberland blast furnaces. Business is exceptionally brisk at the local by-product works, and all the plants in the district are working at the full capacity. With the exception of gas coal, which has been advanced 9d. per ton, prices of all varieties are very firm, but unaltered. Best gas coal is now quoted at 20s. per ton delivered in the district, against 19s. 3d. a week ago, or compared with 20s. per ton when the last gas contracts were made twelve months ago. Best washed nuts for gasworks have also been advanced from 18s. 3d. to 19s. per ton, but while the present activity continues in the coke trade, supplies of this class of fuel are likely to be very scarce. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best Cumberland coal, free on board at Maryport, is obtainable at 19s. 6d. per ton, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Bunkers, for both coast- wise and foreign-going vessels, are in brisk request. Best coastwise bunkers are quoted at 25s. per ton, and mixed bunkers at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best bunkers for foreign-going steamers are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is quoted at from Is. 5^d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton, with washed nuts at 25s. lOd. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered is Is. 4d. per cwt. or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best double-screened washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 23/4 23/4 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 21/3 21/3 21/3 Buckhill best coal „ 22/6 22/6 22/6 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ Oughterside best coal at Pit 22/6 22/6 22/6 Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 22/6 22/6 22/6 St. Helens best house nuts at pit 21/ 21/ 21/ Best dry small at pit 12/6 12/6 12/ Best steam nuts „ 19/ 19/ 19/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 19/6 19/6 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 17/6 17/6 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) 25/ 25/ 19/ Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 30/ 30/ 19/ Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) 21/6 21/6 17/ -17/6 Do. (foreign) 25/ 25/ 17/ -17/6 Best coal for gasworks ... 20/ 19/3 — Best washed nuts for gas- works 19/ 18/3 — IRON. Intense activity prevails in the Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade. Throughout the iron smelting district, from Maryport to Carnforth, makers are tremendously busy in both the iron and steel departments, and every effort is being made to secure as large an output as possible. There was no stoppage at Whitsuntide, and the steelworks at both Workington and Barrow were there- fore working at the . fullest capacity. The phenomenal demand for metal continues, and production, whether it be iron, steel, or iron ore, is barely keeping pace with require- ments. Smelters are overwhelmed with orders, and the needs of both local and outside users are still far greater than can be met. No further expansion of output has yet taken place, but busy preparations are being made for the lighting of additional furnaces at Maryport, Workington and other parts of the district. Provided sufficient labour and raw materials are forthcoming, smelters expect to have seven or eight more furnaces blowing before the end of the summer. The whole output is being absorbed by firms employed exclusively on Government work, and iron for any other purpose is now almost unobtainable. All the make of ordinary metal is being consumed locally, and practically all the special and semi-special iron is sent to users in the Midlands, Scotland and South Wales. With such a strong demand ruling, prices are easily maintained at the Government maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton. f.o.t., while warrants at cash are idle at 115s. per ton. Special iron is quoted at 140s. per ton. and ferro-manganese is in strong demand at £25 per ton. The present output is being drawn from 26 furnaces, 17 in Cumberland and nine in the Furnace district. Two of the furnaces are employed in making ferro- manganese, and the remainder are on special, semi-special and ordinary iron. The steel trade is in a very active condition, and both Barrow and Workington are tremen- dously busy on war work. Bails, heavy sections, are quoted at from .£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 5s. per ton, and light rails at from <£12 to £12 10s. per ton, with billets at <£12 per ton. Engineers are very busy, and nearly all the shops in the district are well employed on Government account. Native iron ore is in very keen demand, and is all being absorbed by smelters in Cumberland and the Furness district. All the iron ore mines are briskly engaged, but production has again fallen slightly below requirements. Prices are unchanged, and best sorts are still quoted at 38s. per ton, with good average qualities at from 21s. to 30s. per ton net at the mines. Foreign ores are quoted at about 38s. per ton delivered. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The inland household trade continues without variation, the demand being distinctly above the average summer level. The low temperature for this time of the year is to some extent responsible for this. The consumption of steam coal for forge and manufacturing purposes also continues without change, and at a high level. With regard to shipping, the pressure for steam coal for general bunkering and export is, if anything, rather less at the moment than it has been recently, supplies being rather better. Quota- tions may be slightly reduced in special cases, or to clear wagons where a steamer is not ready to time, but supplies on the whole are still short, and prices of Lancashire steam coal generally are about 26s. to 27s. f.o.b. With regard to the coastwise and cross-channel trade, the quantity desired by the merchant to be shipped is only limited by his inability to obtain tonnage, and that of the colliery to pro- vide fuel. Slacks are unchanged. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best i Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack Secondary slack Common do Current prices. 20/9 24/6-25/6 19/ -20/ 23/6-24/ 17/ -18/ 23/ upwds 18/ 26/ -27/ 16/ 15/6 14/6 upwds L’st week’s prices. 20/9 24/6-25/6 19/ -20/ 23/6-24/ 17/ -18/ 23/upwds 18/ 26/ -27/ 16/ 15/6 14/6upwds Last year’s prices. 20/9 I 22/ 19/ 20/ 16/9-17/ 19/ 16/ -17/ 19/6-20/6 13/ -14/ 11/6-12/6 10/ -10/6 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange, on Tuesday, had a holiday appearance in point of numbers. The demand for all classes of fuel continues brisk, the cold weather stimu- lating the use of house fire coal. In steam fuel the call is very acute. 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 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ about 22/ 15/6upwds 14/ upwds. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ about 22/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds. prices. 21/ -22/ 19/9-20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 12/6-14/ 10/6—12/ IRON. Buyers of pig iron appear to be awaiting probable Govern- ment attention on June 30. Little private work is being enquired for, as makers cannot give any promise of deliveries without consent, but plenty of enquiry for heavy engineering amongst controlled works, blowing engines, gas engines, and rolling mills engines. Wagon works are fully employed on repairs to main line wagons and private owners’ coal wagons. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The week’s output is estimated at about four full days’ work. Consumers are growing anxious with regard to contracts. With the present high cost of wages, the operation of the Limitation Act and the chance of securing much higher prices for export to France, collieries are less ready to renew contracts, particularly for gas coal, and in nearly all renewals special conditions are attached. In some cases a clause is inserted for an advanced price should wages increase further. A great scarcity of house coal is reported from the London depots, and the supplies at hand are deficient. In the coastwise trade very little is passing, practically the only shipments being contract tonnage. Ground stocking at the depots makes little progress. Pit prices for the West Biding may be averaged as follow :— Haigh Moor selected 21s. to 22s., Silkstone best 20s. to 21s., Silkstone house 18s. to 19s., house nuts 17s. to 18s. In regard to manufacturing fuel consumers are better supplied, although the demand is very heavy. A feature of the market for gas coal is the big demand for spot parcels from the London district. The supply of washed furnace coke falls far short of market needs, and the maximum price is being freely paid. There is very little forward business. In view of a possible further alteration of the basis price of coke, makers are indisposed to sell far in advance. The appended pit prices should be taken as all more or less nominal. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’: Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ —20/ 18/ -19/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/ House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Do. house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 19/6-21/ Other qualities 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit : Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ Unscreened gas coal ... 15/ -16/ 15/. -16/ 14/ -15/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ Large double-screened engine nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ Bough unscreened engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/6 Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 25/6-26/ | 25/6-26/ 23/ -25/ s