January 5, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

17

38s. 6d. to 40s.: quantities best beehive, shipment to
France over early months of 1917, at from 40s. to
42s. 6d.

Coal and Coke Shipments.

Writing just as the year closes, it is not yet possible
to give the totals of coal and coke shipments for the full
12 months. Those for the 11 months ended. November,
as compared with the corresponding periods of 1915 and
1913 (the last full pre-war year);, are sufficient to show
the extent to which war has eaten into industry. Thus,
during the last 11 months, 10,750,551 tons of coal as
cargo were despatched from the Tyne, a decrease of
600,710 tons when compared with the corresponding
period of 1915, and a decrease of 5,506,741 tons when
compared with that of 1913. Coal as bunkers was taken
to the tune of 1,230,805 tons, a decrease of 85,694 tons
and of 795,254 tons respectively. The coke shipments
amounted to 793,879 tons, actually an increase of
443,519 tens when compared with those up to November
1915, and an increase of 512,140 tons when compared
with those for the corresponding period of 1913. On
the whole, the volume of shipments has been gratifyingly
large, all obstacles and perils of the sea taken into con-
sideration ; whilst the steady growth of the coke trade is
truly a matter for much congratulation. A comparison
of the figures just given with those for the first half of
the year, by the way, reveals the fact that the rate of
decrease of coal as cargo shipment declined from 8-35
per cent, to 5-29 peir cent., comparing 1916 figures with
those of 1915, as the year wore on; the rate of decrease
as to bunkers fell from 14-55 per cent, to 6*51 per cent.;
but the percentage of increase in coke shipments receded
from 193*45 per cent, to 126-59 per cent. Up-river
traffic, to Dunston and Derwenthaugh, was very much
lessened during the year, and the above-bridges coal and
coke shipments fell off to an even greater extent than
those between Newcastle and the sea.

Prospects for 1917.

As to the prospects for the new year, these may be
dismissed in a very few words. Granted no extension
of Government interference, land that the war puisnes
what we have nowadays become reconciled to regard-
ing as its normal course, trade in 1917 should be pretty
much on a par with that of 1916. Should peace be
declared in the course of the year, that would constitute
a revolution which would wholly alter the course of
events, and concerning which no sane man would be
justified in attempting to say more than that the mining
industry should be very busily employed in assisting to
repair the ravages caused by, and to make up for the
industrial leeway lost through, war. Should the new
Government carry out its declared intention of taking
control of all British coal mines, that, again, will con-
stitute a factor concerning the results of which it would
be impossible to prophesy, it is all in the lap of the
gods. In any event, a period of full employment appears
to be assured; whether that full employment will be pro-
fitable to the. present owners of the mines and to the
workers therein depends upon such a variety of circum-
stances that we can but “ wait -and see.” .

Coal Freights.

We content ourselves with a bare statement of the
rates to which coal freights rose during the year under
review, without commenting, on the causes, the
figures being sufficiently striking without any stress-
ing. In this statement we are enabled to make use of
ship owners’ own figures, thanks to the circumstances
that Messrs. Cairns, Noble and Company Limited, steam-
ship owners and brokers, of Akeniside House, Newcastle,
publish annually a very comprehensive list showing the
“ estimated average rates of freight paid for steamers in
the open market from Tyne, Blyth, Wear, Seaham, and
West Hartlepool, also homewards from principal ports.”
From that list we give the following extracts :—-The
average rate to the River Plate during 1916 was
47s. 3|d., as compared with 3O.s. 6|d. in 1915, 15s. 9d.
in 1914, and 18s.. 6|d. in 1913; Port Said, 84s. 8|d., las
against 32s. 3d., Ils. IJd., and 9s. 5|d. respectively;
Alexandria, 84s. 3d., 36s. 10d., 8s. 3|d., and 9s. 6|d.
respectively; Malta, 75s. 9d., 33s. 9Jd., 8s. 5|d., and
8s. 0|d. respectively; Porto Ferrajo (62s 6d.)—the
figures in parentheses in this and subsequent cases repre-
sent the restricted maximum rates which came into
operation during the year, and the .average rates given
for 1916 were calculated up to the period -of the coming
into operation of the limitation schemes—83s. 5d. in
1916, as against 38s. 3d., 9s. 8Jd., and 9s. 3|d. respec-
tively; • Palermo (67s. 6d.), 79 s. 6d., 38s. 10^d.,
10s. 7|d., and 10s. 3d. respectively; Naples (62s. 6d.),
82s. 4d., 37s. 7Jd., 8s. lid., and 9s. 3|d. respectively;
Leghorn (64s. 6d.), 83s. 9d., 37s. Id., 8s. lljd., and
9s.&6|d. respectively; Genoa/Savona (64s. 6d.), 83s. 6d.,
37s. 8d., 9s. 10d,, and 9s. 3|d. respectively (it is worthy
of note, in passing, that, prior to the restriction scheme,
Genoa rose to 101s. 6d. in May last); Marseilles
(63s. 6d.), 80s. 6|d., 33s. 8|d., 9s. 5|d., and 8s. lOJd.
respectively; Barcelona, 63s. 8Jd., 32s. ll|d., 10s. 0|d.,
and 9s. 7d. respectively; Gibraltar, 43s. 8|d., 24s. 7|d.,
8s. Old., and 7s. 9|d. respectively; Algiers (53s. 6d.),
56s. 10d., 27s. 2|d., 8s. 4W-, and 8s. l|d. respectively;
Cadiz, 63s. 2d., 26s. 8d., 9s. 2Jd., and 9s. OJd. respec-
tively; Lisbon, 44s. 2|d., 24s. l|d., 7s. 7d., and 7s. 3d.
respectively; Canary Islands, 40s. 8|d., .24s. 9d.,
8s. 7|d., and 9s. Ojd. respectively; St. Nazaire (35s.),
50s 2|d., 23s. Id., 6s. 9|d., and 5s. 9d. respectively;
Bordeaux (40s.), 51s. 8fd., 24s. 2Jd., 7s. 2|d., and
5s. 8d. respectively; Bayonne (42s. 6d.), 53s. 7|d.,
24s. 7|d., 6s. 9d., and 6s. 3Jd. respectively; London,
13s.. 8#d., 10s., 3s. 10|d., and 3s. 5d. respectively;
Boulogne (26s. 6d.L 35s. ll*d., 17s. 11-^d., 4s. 5^d.,
and 4s. 7fd. respectively; Dieppe (26s.), 36s. 8d.,
17s 8|d 5s. 7d., and 5s. respectively: Havre (25s. 6d.),
34s’. 101d., 17 s. lljd.. 5s. lljd., and 4s. 8|d. respec-
tively/, Rouen (27s. 6d.), 35s. 7|d., 18s. 9d., 6s. 8d.,
and 5s. 3^d. respectively;-and Caen (26s. 6d.), 36s. 2fd.,

17s. 5|d., 7s. 5d., and 5s. 9Jd. respectively. No-Baltic
rates are given, as practically all charters for Scandi-
navian ports in 1916 and 1915 were arranged abroad. As
for homeward rates, the fact that the ship owners did
not suffer either out or home is illustrated by the follow-,
ing typical examples :—The rate from Calcutta to
United Kingdom or Continent in 1916 averaged
174s. 11-Jd., as against 67<s. 10|d., 22s., and 24s. 6|d.
respectively in the three previous years; River Plate
(lower ports) to United Kingdom or Continent,
141s. 4|d., as against 66s. 0|d., 16s. 3|d., and 16s. 2jd.
respectivelv: San Lorenzo to United Kingdom or Conti-
nent, 142s/ 2|d., 69s. 2|d., 18s. 4|d., and 18s. 4d.
respectively; and Bilbao to Middlesbrough, 20s. 4|d.,
13s. llfd., 4s. 9|d., land 5s. 3d. respectively. It will
be observed, so far as the outward rates are concerned,
that even the restricted rates of 1916 were far in excess
of the average unrestricted rates of 1915 —. a circum-
stance which has been one of the most potent factors
in handicapping the coal trade.

DURHAM.

The past year was a period of stress and strain for
the coal trade. In common with other coal fields, but
perhaps more than most others, Durham has suffered
from the severe conditions imposed by the war. These
conditions have been of the kind to unsettle the market,
restrict business, and raise prices. Thus, on the labour
side, withdrawal of miners to swell the ranks of the
Army has, in the first instance, greatly reduced the
output, while costs of production have been enormously
increased by high wages and dear materials, both having
reached figures which exceed all previous records, so that
a greatly reduced quantity of coal has been brought to
bank at a much increased working cost. Then, of the
output itself, a considerably smaller percentage than
usual has been available for export, for there have been
heavy calls to meet the home consumption, particularly
for munition making, at prices regulated by the Price of
Coal (Limitation) Act. Further, of a quantity put on
board ship, an unduly large proportion has been shipped
to France, and latterly to Italy, at scheduled prices fixed
under the limitation schemes. Besides this artificial
apportionment of the output, rendered necessary by war
conditions, the severe restriction of licences, and the
serious shortage of shipping, have operated to reduce
exports, alike to allied and neutral countries, to a
minimum.

The coal trade, in short, has been regulated to an
extent never before known, and there has hardly been a
free market all the year. Merchants have been obliged
Ao operate very cautiously, chiefly from hard to- mouth,
and speculation has been almost ^impossible, with the
result that the oversea shipments from the north-east
coast ports have fallen off by well over a million tons
even compared with last year’s poor figures, while, of
this reduced quantity, the major portion went to France
under the limitation scheme, so that the balance remain-
ing for neutral countries at open market prices was
unusually small. Indeed, north-country coal has lost a
good deal of its grip on the European market, which it
will have to recover when the war is over.

Prices opened last January at what may now be called
fairly reasonable figures, z.e., 27s. for best steams, but
they rose steadily from January to June, by which time
the" highest figures of the year were attained, viz.,
52s. 6d. for best steams, 37s. 6d. for special Wear gas,
and 35s. for ordinary bunkers. House coals followed
the same course, rising from 27s. 6d. to 50s. in June.
Steam smalls nearly* doubled their value in the six
months—from 20s. to 33s. 6d. From June onwards,
owing to tonnage scarcity and licence restrictions, prices
steadily dropped, until they closed the year at much the
same figure as they started it.

As to prospects for 1917, everything depends upon the
supply of tonnage. Such forward business as has so far
been concluded has been closed either at limitation
prices for shipment to France and Italy, or at scheduled
prices for the home market. The Admiralty, however,
hats conceded an advance of 2s. 6d. a ton on the late
prices for requisitioned coal, and the collieries are trying
to secure an advance on limitation figures for foreign
business, but with no great success as yet. The North-
Eastern Railway and other large home consumers have
contracted for this year’s supplies under the Price of
Goal (Limitation) Act, or, in other words, at the same
figure as a year ago. Patent coke has been sold for
export in 1917 rather freely at 40s. a ton f.o.b., and
best beehive foundry coke at 40s. to 42s. 6d., while blast
furnace coke has been bought ahead for iron masters’
use at the price fixed by the Government. Most for-
ward business, however, is only of a scrappy and tenta-
tive character, both buyers and sellers realising that the
values for 1917 will be governed chiefly by the duration
of the war.

It is estimated that the coal shipments from Sunder-
land for 1916 amounted to 3,130,000 tons, as compared
with 3,505,382 tons for 1915, being a decrease of 375,382
tons.

LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.

In many respects the year under review has features
like the preceding year. The output shows how great
is the difference between the present and pre-war times,
although all sorts of efforts have been made on the part
of the management even fractionally to increase the
tonnage. The pits have been open for the full six days
to the week throughout the year, and, in addition,
strenuous efforts have been made to curtail to some
extent the various holiday periods.

Finishing with a winter of more than-usual severity,
frost and fog, and insufficient locomotive power have
added to the existing abnormal troubles of transit, and
made it more and more difficult to find rolling stock for
even the moderate output, at • the - pits. • Contrary to

usual custom, trade was such throughout the summer
that there was little opportunity to put down screened
round coal at the pit mouth to help the winter’s day-to-
day get; and, indeed, had the opportunity been there,
the scarcity of labour, as the year closed, would have
made it impassible to transfer it from floor to wagons.

In house coals no advance in retail prices has been
sanctioned by the Sales Association as from the colliery.
In many towns an advance of lOd. or thereabouts has
been made to the consumer by the merchant in conse-
quence of the enormous increase of, ail expenses in con-
nection with the keep of horses, the upkeep of vehicles,
and advances in wages paid to carters and to labour
employed at the wharves in the retail trade. A certain
amount of levelling up has also taken place between the
collieries and those merchants who, from various causes,
in previous years had been able to contract at unusually
low prices. Throughout the year the trade has been
much steadier than is customary in this branch, as
although . it quieted down to some extent in mid-
summer, provision was made in August and September
by householders of the better class in order to ensure
their supplies during the winter. This is of undoubted
benefit to the trade, and also to the poorer classes who,
from lack of accommodation, have to depend upon small
regular supplies.

With the close of the year, the shortage of carting
strength both in town and country has raised a problem
of which an immediate solution iis not easy.

Prices at the pit ruled on or near 21s. for best coal,
19s. to 20s. good medium sorts, and 18s. commoner
qualities. Round screened coal for forge and manufac-
turing purposes can be dismissed in a sentence. Maxi-
mum quantities have been going into consumption the
whole year through, with prices in the neighbourhood of
18s. at the pit for ordinary qualities.

Export does not figure largely in ordinary times as
regards Lancashire coal, but the tonnage has been
lessened in 1916 by the difficulty of getting even the
comparatively few licences that were applied for.

So far as regards bunkering, the year commenced
with a keen demand, which increased as the months
went on, and by March little free coal was available.
Prices, which commenced at about 21s. to 22s. for best
screened steam coal f.o.b. Garston, had risen a full Is.
by March, and in April a further hardening set in,
which brought prices steadily up until, about the middle
of June, they touched their highest, at from 26s. to 27s.
per ton. From that time, however, an easier tone set
in, owing to a variety of circumstances; vessels con-
stantly being transferred to Government, delays at the
discharging ports, and submarine activity, brought down
demand and prices month by month until, with the close
of the year, 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. might be said to> be
representative prices of best Lancashire screened
. bunkering.

There has been a fair tonnage leaving for the coast-
wise trade throughout the year, notwithstanding that
suitable craft has been so difficult to procure. This
difficulty has temporarily transferred household 'fuel
from the counties adjacent to Lancashire to the south-
west coast, from sea to rail, but Ireland, during practi-
cally the whole of that time has been an anxious buyer.
In the first three months of the year freights were
scarce, and boisterous weather added to the troubles.
Well into the summer coal was not easy to obtain, and
most merchants who had exhausted their stocks were
anxious buyers. In consequence of this, throughout
the whole of the summer there was quite as much call
for house coal as could be spared for this branch of the
trade. Prices for the best qualities ruled at about
25s. 6d. net f.o.b., with commoner qualities at up. to
24s. Freights had in many cases ruled three times pre-
war prices, 10s. 6d. being no uncommon figure for so
short a trip as Dublin.

As regards slacks and small nuts for steam purposes,
for the first three months of the year there was a positive
shortage, and almost any grade was acceptable to- the
consumer. Many consumers, especially those with
hand-fired boilers, turned on to larger fuel's in the shape
of burgie and unscreened coal, in order to ensure an
adequacy. During the summer and the holiday period
common slacks began to exceed the demand, but not to
any serious extent, and advantage was taken to renew
the stocks at the pit mouth that had been entirely
depleted in the previous winter. By November, how-
ever, the steady growth of consumption had balanced
matters, and with the close of the year the tonnage
obtainable was not more than sufficient for immediate
needs.

The Price of Coal (Limitation) Act has had the effect
of keeping prices practically uniform, except in the case
of long contracts which had been booked before this
came into operation. A certain amount of equalising
was done, so as to bring prices (where geography had
operated adversely) up to those situated in more favour-
able districts, and with the close of the year 16s. for
rough slack of the best grades, with other grades down
to about 14s. 6d. at the pit mouth, represented full
values obtained.

So early as February and March gas companies were
in the market anxious to renew, and by the early
summer the busin ess was almost -concluded. Here
again, exceptionally low prices were brought nearer to
others that had been more favourable, and generally
tenders sent out were for lessened quantities. It was
only after keen struggles that some of the gas com-
panies were enabled to secure as much fuel as, in their
anticipations, would see them safely through the darker
months. Tenders in almost all cases were for equal
monthly deliveries.

Locomotive coals were renewed at from 16s. 6d. to
17s. for ordinary qualities.

Sinkings and new work are going on in various parts
of the county, but not at the speed usual, labour being
unobtainable in strength.