1194 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 23, 1916. very active. France is taking fairly large shipments of gas coal at the official prices. Manufacturing fuel of all sorts is in very keen demand, the available supply being far short of the needs of the market. Coking smalls are particularly scarce, and as the authorities are insisting upon a greater output of coke it becomes increasingly necessary to feed the ovens with crushed coal. There is talk of operations for a revision of the basis price of coke, giving makers the right to charge 26s. 6d. per ton at the ovens, but there is as yet no confirmation of this. _________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/ 19/ -20/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 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/ Rough 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/ 25/ Barnsley. I COAL. The demand for practically all descriptions of fuel continues to be of an active character, and in the aggregate still exceeds the production of the collieries. The position in regard to the arrangement of new business has not materially altered, although there was considerable enquiry in this direction in the usual local market on Wednesday. Consumers are exhibiting marked keenness in respect to securing the arranged-for contract deliveries, but the pressure upon collieries from every direction still exists, and it is impossible to satisfy the claims of all. There appears to be a good tonnage of several classes of fuel being arranged for on account of France from the district, and there is very little surplus, if any, available to offer for neutral markets, which are still prepared to pay high prices to obtain prompt supplies. The export of gas coal is fairly active, and home consumers who cannot conveniently take in heavier supplies for stocking, find that the fuel is readily disposed of in other directions. More celerity is shown in fixing up the remaining gas coal contracts, and it has been recognised as inevitable that the conditions both as to tonnage and delivery, as fixed by the coal owners, have to be accepted. Two recent contracts have been accepted by the Womb well Urban District Council for 6,500 tons best screened at 17s. 3d. per ton. In regard to large steam coal, as indicated, there is not much business passing for export, and the demand for the Admiralty and railway companies continues to be on a very extensive scale, which absorbs a large proportion of the output. The margin between pro- duction and supply of steam nuts is more acute, owing to the continued heavy consumption by munition and other Government works, and no surplus of this class of coal is heard of. Collieries continue to feel great pressure in regard to the supply of slacks, the consumption of which is still of an extensive character, chiefly by the by-product plants. The Government authorities, whilst calling for the maximum output being maintained, are also taking action with a view of obtaining the requisite supplies of coking fuel. In the house coal trade, contracts continue to be made for the twelve months, on the basis defined by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Obviously certain classes of fuel used for household purposes, cannot be put into stock to any large degree, although collieries are expecting equal deliveries being taken throughout the year. In the event of merchants not being’ able to receive the tonnage, collieries have no regrets, and readily dispose of the fuel. The demand, of course, has fallen off, although prudent consumers are taking any stocks whenever possible, and the colliery position is really unaltered, deliveries being considerably in arrear. The demand for coke from the blastfurnace districts continues to be of a very pressing description. Stocks are very low, whilst the consumption is exceptionally heavy, and the requisite supply can hardly be given. A slight increase in the price has been made to the extent of from 8d. to Is. per ton as pre-arranged for, following the recent advance in wages to miners. The question of renewing the expiring arrangement for the regulation of prices is engaging consideration, and it is expected that a mutual settlement of the matter will be effected. Prices at pit: - Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 18/6-19/ 20/ -22/ 21/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 19/ —20/ Secondary do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 17/ -18/ Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Best hard coals 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 16/6-17/ 14/6-15/6 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/ -16/ Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 13/6-14/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 12/6-13/ Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ Unscreened do 15/6-16 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 15/ -16/ Furnace coke 25/6-26/ 25/ 24/ —25/ Hull. COAL. For the present, the chief difficulty in the export trade from the Humber is the supply of shipping tonnage, the scarcity of which has been very pronounced. There is some hope that an improvement in the position at certain French ports may have its reflex here, and produce more vessels required for the trade. With regard to neutrals, the question is rather one of licences. The season for the import of timber from Scandinavia is now well under way, but there is no disposition on the part of owners to divert these vessels from their ordinary routes. France and Italy must, however, have first consideration in the matter of licences to ship coal, and as their demands are likely to be heavy, and possibly equal to the bulk of available surplus of coal, the market retains its firmness generally. The shipping difficulty has made those with coal on hand anxious to sell in view of monthly account, with the result that there is a weakness in values, sellers being willing to take 38s. to 39s. for prompt or this month’s shipment. For July shipment the market is quite firm, and quotations show no signs of easing. Nuts are prohibited export, and values are purely nominal. Gas and house fuels (screened) are without change at from 28s. to 33s., and West Yorkshire Hartleys steady at 29s. to 30s. Most of the Derbyshire output is being taken up by the Admiralty or home industries, with some enquiry for Italy, the nominal quotation being 35s. to 36s. at Grimsby or Immingham. Shipments at the docks are light, and the freight market practically dead. Chesterfield. COAL. The condition of the market shows little or no change from that which prevailed a week ago. The demand- for house coal is perhaps not quite so keen as it has been recently, although orders coming to hand from day to day are sufficient to absorb the output of this class of coal. The pressure for coal for manufacturing purposes is very great, and every quality is much needed. It is feared that it will be necessary to reduce the quantity of coal to be contracted for from July 1 next owing to the falling-off in the output which is due to the serious shortage of labour. Nuts of all kinds and cobbles suitable for gas producers are in strong demand, while the supply continues much below customers’ requirements. The call for slack for boiler- firing is urgent, and consumers experience great difficulty in obtaining all they need. Matters are made worse owing to the increasing needs of collieries for their own plants. Gas coal is in strong demand, and this applies equally to locomotive coal, of which the railway companies are in pressing need. The Humber export trade is exceedingly quiet owing to a lack of demand and scarcity of shipping tonnage. Derbyshire Top Hards are quoted at 37s. 6d. to 40s. per ton delivered at Grimsby. Owing to the practical impossibility to obtain the necessary licences, the export of nuts and slack has almost ceased. The coke market con- tinues strong, there being an active demand for all qualities at the maximum official prices. Prices at pit. Current prices. L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 17/ Secondary do 16/6 16 6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/6 Slack ; 12/6 12/6 12/9 IRON. Pig iron is in steady demand for current consumption, and orders for finished iron of all classes are plentiful. This state of thing necessitates the running at full pressure of all the works of the district, and female labour is utilised wherever practicable. Nottingham. COAL. The demand for domestic fuel has not manifested any material change during the last few days. As many people are purchasing to procure stocks for the winter months, merchants are kept fairly busy, orders absorbing practically all the supplies obtainable from the collieries. Merchants generally are anxious to get fuller supplies if possible, as in the present state of trade they are unable to put scarcely any fuel into stock. The heavy demand on the steam coal branch is maintained, and with the abnormal requirements in the . home market, exports are on a small scale. Nuts are especially in brisk request. It is almost impossible for collieries to execute all orders for slacks for certain grades of which there is a decided scarcity. In fact, every description of small fuel, particularly for steam-raising purposes, is in urgent 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. 18/6-19/6 16/6—17/6 16/ -16/6 17/ -17/6 16/ -16/6 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ L’stweek’s prices. 18/6-19/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/6 17/ -17/6 16/ -16/6 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/ Last year’s prices. 18/6-20/ 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ 18/6-21/ 16/6-18/ 12/6-14/ 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ Leicestershire. COAL. The bulk of the business done in this district is on abnormal lines, and it is noteworthy that coal merchants are now relying more on the goodwill of colliery proprietors than on formal contracts for securing adequate supplies. The difficulties at the pits are greater than ever in conse- quence of the inadequacy of the supplies. There is a particularly strong demand for the London district for deep screened cobbles and for large nuts, and the supplies have to be sub-divided in accordance with the urgency of the requirements. In country districts coal merchants are con- cerned by their inabilityto obtain anything like a reasonable increase of their reserves in their coal yards. There is a most striking improvement in the handling and clearing of privately-owned coal wagons, and they are now present in ample numbers at the colliery sidings, and the great weakness is in the volume of the output. All offers of shipping business have to be declined, there being no coal available after the vast needs of Government-controlled establishments have been covered. Growing anxiety prevails as to how the increased autumn consumption is to be met. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifica- tions, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. 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/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ L’stweek’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ Last year’s prices. 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -14/6 14/6-15/ 12/3-13/3 5/6- 6/6 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 13/ -13/6 15/9-16/9 14/ -14/6 15/6-16/6 13/ -13/6 14/6-15/ 13/6-14/ 1 15/9-16/9 12/6-13/6 13/9-15/ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The position continues to be affected by shortage of tonnage, and the outlook is not regarded with optimism. Every available ton of manufacturing fuel and slack is snapped up. Although domestic consumption is down, merchants have their books filled with orders from people who want to lay in stocks against the winter. The market therefore was quiet, many colliery representatives having nothing to sell. 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/ 17/6 Best hard 18/6 18/6 16/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 14/ Slack J. 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 IRON. Conditions have altered but little since last week. In some branches slackening is reported to some extent in the quantities required by Government apart from munitions, but in some subsidiary industries the same amount of activity is not discernible. Values all round keep very firm, and the forthcoming pronouncement of the Ministry of Muni- tions on the matter of prices after June 30 is awaited with widespread interest. In the steel trade the utmost difficulty is experienced in placing orders, and nothing outside war work is looked at. In the minor branches the stringency is the same. Wire rods, for instance, are scarcely obtainable. This was formerly a German industry, which has been diverted largely to America, but the supplies coming from the States are by no means sufficient for the requirements. Prices afford an indication of the stringency of this branch. In February 1915 sales of American wire rod were made at £7 5s. a ton delivered Liverpool; to-day the material cannot be obtained under <£20 to £22 a ton Liverpool. The plate mills and the shell sheet mills are a long way behind their orders and have to refuse others. Sheet bars are unob- tainable under about £14. In the finished branches there was not much business passing. Bar iron makers have as much work on hand as they can cope with. Similarly in the smaller branches—small rounds, squares and flats—there are enquiries on the market that cannot be entertained. The basis remains at £15 15s., and makers are none too anxious to add to their books even at that high figure. Galvanisers say they cannot sell corrugated sheets under £28, ranging up to £30. The Government take fair quan- tities, but more of black corrugated sheets, the price of which runs from £18 to £18 10s. for 18- to 24-gauge. As soon as the result of the effort to get the Ministry of Munitions to raise the pig iron maxima is made known, big business is expected. There are substantial enquiries about. A brisk shipping trade is being carried on with France and Italy, prices in this department not being subject to restriction. Copper sheets have fallen by another £4 a ton, leaving the basis at £160. Lydney. Forest of Dean. COAL Enormous pressure still exists in the house coal market of this district, and there is no immediate prospect of the situation becoming easier, as the order books are well filled with arrear commitments, and the requirements of customers, either for sale or stocking purposes, are still heavy. There are a large number of boats in dock awaiting cargoes ; a good portion of the output is consigned away to the inland districts. Slacks are in heavy request. Steam qualities are in urgent demand, but the production is much below the needs of buyers.