January 5, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. Producers of finished iron and steel have very heavy order books. The very large amount of shipbuilding tonnage that has been put in hand is responsible for much new development. Output of material for mercantile ship- building has been steadily growing of late, and it promises to be much increased in the near future. Quotations all round are stationary. Cumberland. Maryport. GOAL. During the past 12 months the coal exported from Maryport docks to Irish ports amounted to 195,202 tons, against 229,257 tons during 1915, a decrease of 34,055 tons on the year. The tonnage for the first half of the year was 101,787 tons, compared with 116,780 tons for the first six months of 1915, a decrease of 14,993 tons; and during the second period of the year, from June to December, the shipments were 93,415 tons, compared with 112,477 tons during the second half of 1915, or a decrease of 19,062 tons on the half year. The diminution in the shipping trade has not been owing to lack of business, but to the scarcity of coal. Throughout the year there has been a very strong demand for fuel for export, and there is no doubt that, if sufficient coal had been available, the tonnage to Ireland would have been considerably higher than in normal times. The situation in the Cumberland coal industry is still one of increasing difficulty. The market has not yet recovered from the effects of the holidays, and there is no reason to think that the dislocation has been much less than in former years. Most of the collieries were idle on New Year's Day, and a good many of the men returned to work on Tuesday, but it will be some days before the pits are in full swing again. Production, therefore, at most of the pits has been rather uneven for the past fortnight. The shortage is probably not quite so marked as it was during Christmas week, but the clamour for fuel is still keen on all accounts, and but for the importation of large quantities from outside districts, it would be almost impossible to cope with a good deal of the home trade. There is a strong enquiry for all classes of fuel in both the home and coastwise markets, but at the moment the collieries have little to offer, and they are as busy as they can possibly be in dealing with the needs of local users. Supplies for the Irish market are lower than ever this week, and if the needs of local consumers increase to any great extent, it will soon become impossible to send any stocks of manufacturing fuel out of the county, either by rail or for shipment. Up to quite recently two of the larger pits could easily send between 2,000 and 3,000 tons each to the docks, but under present circumstances they are scarcely able to spare more than between 400 and 500 tons weekly for shipment to the Irish market. There is continued liveliness in the house coal trade. Orders for house coal are coming in freely; and most of the depots have already booked sufficient business to keep them busy till the end of the month. Locomotive fuels are firm, but stocks are scarce, and some users are getting increased supplies from Scotland and Northumberland. The demand for gas coal for home consumption is steady, and at the moment little is being sent away, either by rail or boat. All local consumers, however, are able to secure fairly good supplies. There is a keen demand for all varieties of works fuel in all parts of the county. All home users are practically taking as much manu- facturing fuel as they can get, and with the lighting of the new coke ovens at Whitehaven, and an additional furnace in blast at Workington, the requirements of local consumers are greater than ever. The collieries are overwhelmed with orders, and one or two of the pits are so heavily booked on home account that they will be unable to deal with any outside business for some time. There is no new feature of interest in connection with the Irish shipping trade. The demand for fuel from Irish ports is well maintained, and business is as brisk as it can be under the circumstances. Supplies of all sorts for shipment are very scarce, and as there is not enough to go round, Irish consumers are still unable to secure more than 40 per cent, of their requirements. The prospect of Irish consumers receiving better supplies is at present not very bright, but it is just possible that the collieries may have more coal available for shipment when local landsale becomes rather easier. During the week eight vessels have sailed from Maryport with coalSi all for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 1,990 tons, compared with 2,395 tons at the corresponding period of last year, or 265 tons lower than last week. The largest cargoes were for Belfast, Donagh- adee, Larne and Carrickfergus. The shipments for December were 12,370 tons, compared with 10,880 tons for November and 14,265 tons for this time last year. Coke makers are busy, and all the by-product coke ovens, from O ugh ter- Current quotations. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts „ BestCumberl'nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b.... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) Do. (foreign) Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works Current prices. . 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 ■ 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ L’st week’s prices. 23/4 21/3 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6. ■ 25/ 20/ 19/ Last year’s prices. . 23/4 21/3 22/6 31/ 22/6 21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19 6 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 side to Whitehaven, are in full blast. With the lighting of the new battery of 60 ovens at Whitehaven there are now 390 by-product coke ovens in operation throughout the county. The whole of the production is going to the blastfurnaces in the district. Business is still very brisk in the by-products trade, and all the works are busily engaged. Prices of all sorts are very firm, and with the exception of bunkers and gas coal there has been no change in either home or export prices during the year. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d., with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. Best export coal is 19s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best gas coal is quoted 20s. per ton delivered in the district. All varieties of bunkers are in strong demand. Best sorts for foreign-going steamers are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton; and for coastwise vessels best sorts are 25s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. 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. At Workington, best house coal delivered is Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. IRON. The Cumberland and North Lancashire hsematite iron trade remains very firm and brisk. There is ceaseless activity in both the iron and steel departments, and unparalleled efforts are being made in the several industries to secure as large an output as possible in order to cope with the ever growing demand for iron and steel. There is the same heavy call for metal, requirements are still expanding, and makers are unable to cope with a good deal of the business which is now being offered. Since last week the Workington Iron and Steel Company have put a second furnace into blast at their Lowther Works at Workington, and this brings the number in operation throughout the entire district up to 30. The output is still inadequate to meet the needs of all customers, and this is likely to be the case so long as the war lasts Strenuous efforts are still made, not only in West Cumberland, but in other parts of the district, to secure a larger output of iron. Several furnaces are now ready for lighting, and will be put in blast shortly, and it is anticipated that the number in operation will be increased from 30 to 34 or 35 before the early spring. Prices are unchanged at the maximum fixed by the Government, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with special iron at 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron at 135s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. Warrants at cash are again quoted at 115s. per ton, and by the quarterly ascertainment under the sliding scale in operation in Cumberland and the Furness district, the wages of blastfurnacemen still stand at 93^ per cent, above the standard. With the lighting of an additional furnace at Workington, the number in operation has been increased to 30, 21 of which are in Cumberland and nine in the Fur- ness area. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 13 furnaces blowing in West Cumberland—viz., four at the Derwent Works, three at Moss Bay, two each at the Lowther and Oldside Works, and two at the Solway Iron- works, at Maryport. Millom has four furnaces in blast; Distington and Cleator Moor have two each in operation; and in the Furness district Barrow has five, while Carnforth and North Lonsdale have both two furnaces in blast. The average number of furnaces in operation during the year was 27, compared with 23 for the previous year. All the furnaces, with the exception of two at the Oldside Works, at Workington, are. on Bessemer, special and semi-special iron, and the entire output is going into immediate con- sumption. Nearly all the make of ordinary iron is retained for use locally at the steelworks at Barrow and Workington, but a small proportion is now going away to users outside of the district. All the production. of special and semi- special iron is being distributed to consumers engaged exclusively on work for the Government, not only in Scotland and the Midlands, but in other parts of the country. The steel trade is tremendously brisk, and all the plants are working at high pressure. No rails or plates are being rolled, but the mills at Barrow and Workington are feverishly busy on work for the Government. Important developments are still in progress in the steel trade, and the various plants in this locality were never so well, equipped as they are at present. Steel rails, light sections,, are quoted at from <£12 to <£12 10s. per ton; heavy sections are from <£10 17s. 6d. to <£11 10s. per ton; with billets at <£12 per ton. Engineers are as busy as. ever, and a good many of the shops in this neighbourhood are working overtime on Government account. The iron ore industry continues in a prosperous condition, and there is an exceedingly heavy demand for all grades of native ore. Contracts with users outside of the district have ceased,, and the iron ore mines are at present engaged in dealing exclusively with the requirements of smelters in West Cumberland and North-east Lancashire. Production is gradually increasing, and sufficient high-grade ores are being mined for the furnaces on special iron, but the output of ordinary grades is still very much below requirements. Prices of all sorts are unchanged. Best Hodbarrow ore is; 38s. per ton, good ordinary grades.are from 21s. to 30s. per ton, and better sorts are from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines, Large quantities of foreign iron ore are still being imported at the Cumberland ports, and during the last three months trade at the Senhouse dock at Maryport has been busier than it has been for years. The imports of iron at Maryport from June to December amounted to1 93,475 tons. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Work was generally resumed in this district on Wednesday morning, and in the meantime empty wagons had been worked into the various sidings, so that a good start was ensured. In the household trade a fair average demand keeps up, and, of course, there are a good many arrears owing to the holiday stoppages. Shipments of steam coal for ordinary bunkering purposes are only on a moderate scale, and mainly on contract account. There is little open sale enquiry, and what business is doing consists for the most part of purchases by shippers, whose coal has not arrived from those who happen to have coal on hand through non-arrival of steamers. In these cases slightly better prices are obtained than those reported last week,, but where immediate shipment is not required quotations are about as before. The demand for slack and small fuel of all descriptions is equal to taking all the output. Indeed, floor stocks have had to be resorted to to some extent during the stoppage to provide the tonnage necessary for the various manufacturers. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L'st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best 21/ 21/ 20/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 25/6 25/6 23/ Medium 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 24/6 24/6 21/ Kitchen 18/ 18/ 17/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 23/ upwds. 24/ upwds. 19/ -20/6 Screened forge coal 18/ 18/ 17/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 21/ -22/ Best slack 16/ 16/ 14/6-15/ Secondary slack 15/ 15/6 13/6 Common do 14/ 14/6 12/6-13/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday, but the holidays had not spent themselves, and there was very little business done. There were practically no sellers. All qualities are in good demand, except perhaps shipping coal. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current L’st week's prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/upwds 14/6upwds prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds. 14/6upwds Last year's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/6 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/ 12/ upwds Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There is no change in the general situation to record, except so far as it is affected by the loss of output last week. Reports from colliery agents at the market on Tuesday indicated that the coal raised last week would probably equal two and a-half days. Every sort of coal is scarce, while the keen enquiry after washed furnace coke was, perhaps, the feature of the market. The attendance was a good average one, buyers predominating. The wagon supply was reported to have improved, somewhat, the holidays having given an opportunity for a clearance on the railways. Forward business in all descriptions of coal is more or less checked pending a more explicit announcement of the intentions of the Government with regard to the future control of the collieries. The demand for house coal for London is well maintained, but the collieries are generally unable to accept fresh orders, except in cases where buyers send their own trucks. There was some criticism about the decision of London merchants to alter the time of the London market, which is to be from two to half-past three, as it will be difficult for trader?’ from Yorkshire to get there in time, owing to the redut railway facilities. In the coastwise trade there is gr< \t difficulty in getting boats, and practically none are bei. .g loaded except those belonging to contractors. An offer of 16s. Goole to London for a 1,000 ton boat has been refused this week. Locally the house coal trade is very busy, mainly' in the retail department, the larger residences being well supplied with stocks as a rule. Pit prices are firmly held. Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s. ; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities, 17s. to 18s. As the collieries have little or no gas coal to offer, there is hardly any open market business. All the coal that can be spared from local needs is being shipped to France and Italy, but boats are difficult to secure. Manufacturing fuel presents no special feature, and the position is generally satisfactory, except in regard to coking smalls. The big works have managed over the holidays better than was expected, but stocks are exhausted all round, and very strong pressure is being brought to bear on the collieries for prompt supplies. Coking smalls seem to get scarcer week by week, and for this reason the output of coke is being limited. The demand for coke from the Frodingham district is particularly keen 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/ 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Do. house 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ House nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull Haigh Moor best......... 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Do. house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ Other qualities 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/ —16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/’-17/6 Large double-screened engine nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/6 Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Rough unscreened 15/ -16/ engine coal. 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11/-12/ Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 11/ -12/ Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 24/