28 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 5, 1917. Barnsley. COAL. Reports generally agree that the railway companies have succeeded in relieving the exceptionally heavy congest of traffic which had accumulated. The fact that the pits were idle contributed to their task, though it was no uncommon experience to have had tonnage locked up in the colliery sidings for at least 10 days. The extent of coal thus liberated is very large, and consumers will have been able to receive quite a big bulk of fuel, which will have removed the serious anxiety which has prevailed of late. The after effect, however, may prove to be material, and in this connection it is unfortunate that a large percentage of men failed to attend the pits for work on New Year’s Day, rendering it impossible for the collieries to work during the full day. The loss of this output will be material in regard to several grades of fuel which have long been scarce. The position in regard to large steams is not so acute. The railway companies had been able to lay in substantial stock, and with the further restrictions the daily requirements, will be of a materially reduced character, so that no great inconvenience would arise in that respect. Then, again, the demand for bunkers and supplies for export is still of a quiet character owing to the shortage of shipping tonnage, so that no real pressure would be felt with regard to that class of business. The position is, however, different with respect to the supply of nuts, so heavily consumed by the munition and other concerns. The holiday respite relieved the situation, but no stocks of material extent are held at the works. Another industry which has not escaped the grave anxiety is that of coke manufacture, owing to the inadequate supply of slacks suitable for that purpose. It was hardly possible to keep the plants fully going during the holidays, and a very great effort was needed to preserve anything like a sufficient supply of raw fuel. There is little complaint in regard to the supply of gas coal. The home concerns have been enabled to lay in stocks of considerable bulk, and with the shipping necessarily quiet the needs of the home concerns have been fairly well met, and there is little enquiry for supplementary lots. The demand for house coal is still of a very active character, though the position of merchants has been momentarily relieved by the receipt of substantial tonnage and the milder weather reducing the extent of the public demands. A big effort is still being put forth to augment the supply of furnace coke keenly pressed for by the pig iron districts, but it appears to be impossible to accomplish this, owing to the heavy character of the consumption. The following quotations are still largely of a nominal description:— Prices at pit. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 17/ Secondary do. 16/6 16/6 16/6 Cobbles 16/ 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ 15/ Slack 12/6 ' 12/6 12/6 IRON. Work has been resumed at all the local establishments after a very short stoppage for the holidays, and there is great activity all round. ________ _______ ------------------ Nottingham. COAL. Following on the Christmas holidays, the tone of the trade in this district is scarcely as buoyant as previously. Nevertheless, there is an active demand in all branches, and most collieries are unable to complete orders fully. Some of the pits have been at a disadvantage in conse- quence of the shortage of railway wagons, and, in order to keep the men in full work, tipping on the banks has been resorted to. The requirements of the public since the holiday have fallen off somewhat, and local merchants are experiencing a quieter time. Merchants in the Metropolis and country districts are, however, pressing owners for larger deliveries, but supplies are dependent upon the daily output. There is no marked change in the steam coal branch, most pits having more orders in hand than they can comfortably deal with. Cobbles and nuts continue in heavy demand, a considerable tonnage of which is being sent to munition works. Railway companies are taking as full supplies as possible of locomotive fuel. Very few odd lots of steams can be secured in the open market. There is a good demand for nearly all kinds of slacks. • 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. 18/6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/' 10/6-11/6 U/ L’st week’s prices. 18/6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ Last year’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/6 . 15/ -16/ 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/ I 11/ through fairly well, and the milder weather eased the acute demand. Delay, however, is inevitable in unloading, owing to labour shortage, and for a similar reason deliveries are hampered to the public. Manufacturing fuel is in strong demand, with, in many instances, a limited supply. The.best qualities of slacks are scarce. IRON. The opening of the year finds the iron and steel industries in a state of continued activity. Producers are booked in most instances for the first quarter, and the substantial enquiries, many of which will probably materialise on br before quarter day next Thursday, indicates that the necessity for pushing operations on as large a scale as possible in the new year is fully realised. By a new Order issued during the week, the Government assume control of copper and steel scrap, and practically every branch of the iron and steel industries is now under Government regula- tion. In the circumstances, it is not surprising that only a small proportion of present output is allowed to be used for mercantile purposes, but probably some encourage- ment will be given to the agricultural implement industry in the near future. The strength of demand for pig iron, coupled with the fact that foundry sorts are not over plentiful, enables smelters to realise full maximum rates, with one or two trifling exceptions in the case of Northamptonshire forge. Consumers, while satisfied for some little time ahead, are willing to place further orders, but sellers are not inclined to commit themselves very far, forward. No essential change falls to be reported in the finished trade. Marked bars and merchant bars continue in active request at the maximum rates of <£15 10s. (less 2^ per cent.) and £13 15s. net, respectively. No quotation for puddled bars is ascertainable, there being none on offer. There are still a few uncontrolled prices, namely: —Gas strip, £15 and upwards; hoops (iron and steel), £17 10s. to £19 ; black sheets, £19 10s.; galvanised sheets, £28 10s. A tremendous tonnage of steel is required, and there is no prospect of a relaxation of pressure. Imports from the United States have diminished to a very low ebb. The official quotation for joists and sections stands at £11 2s. 6d. - Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/6 Secondary do. 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 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 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/ Secondary do. 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 15/9-16/3 Best slack 12/6-13/ .12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 16/ ’ 16/ 16/6 Furnace coke 25/8 . 25/8 24/ Hull. COAL. The market has been on very quiet lines this week, and recovered only slowly from the effects of the holiday. Arrears of output had to be caught up to supply big inland requirements, and this has had a restrictive effect on sup- plies on rail for the ports. Moreover, the shipping question, for which there seems a slightly brighter outlook at the moment, is still a serious factor, and new business greatly retarded because of the difficulty in arranging steamers. Consequently exporters are going on “hand-to-mouth” lines and are unable to advance matters much ahead. Quotations are more or less nominal under the circumstances, though the undertone is firm, and the potential demand good, especially for France and Italy. Approximate values for prompt and early January shipment are as follow:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 29s. to 29s. 6d.; washed nuts, 24s. to 24s. 6d.; washed small coal, 18s.; rough slack, 16s. to 16s. 6d. ; screened gas and house fuels, 26s. to 28s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. 6d.; Parkgates, 26s. to 26s. 6d.; Derbyshire steam hards (at Grimsby or Immingham), 28s. to 29s. Shipments at the docks are light and the freight market almost totally inactive. __________________ '.Leicestershire. COAL. The loss of output consequent on the holidays has been about the average on the whole, and the defaulters, while much too numerous at some pits, are balanced by greatly improved records at others. The normal has again been reached, but the milder weather setting in will have its effect on domestic requirements. The most striking increase has been in the case of the thousands of smaller consumers at the great centres of population. There is heavy and growing demand for peas for mechanical stokers, which are of greater importance now in consequence of the scarcity of labour. The demand for main and deep cobbles and nuts for London and district is now up to the maximum, but many country orders for the same class of fuel have to be declined. Manufacturing fuel for Government factories and works is still increasing in demand, and the conditions attending the execution of these orders are very strenuous. Railway-owned wagons are very scarce, and many collieries are practically dependent on privately-owned vehicles to clear the output day by day. There are no stocks at country coal yards, and there are no reserves of any kind at the pits. Prices at pit:— _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. An abnormal demand is still in existence for the house coals of this district. Merchants are pressing for deliveries in all directions, but orders on hand—the accumulation of many weeks—are of too substantial a nature to permit of anything like reasonable despatch. Shipments are rather below the average for the winter season, owing to the scarcity of tonnage, and the greater portion of the output is being consigned along the line at the moment. It is difficult to give satisfaction as to quantity or despatch to any buyer. Slacks are well placed. All steam qualities are in very active demand, and every available ton of the production is being absorbed in the futile endeavour to meet the enquiry. Prices at pithead:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Block 24/ 24/ 21/6 Forest 23/ 23/ 20/6 Rubble 23/3 23/3 20/9 Nuts 21/6 21/6 19/ . Rough slack 13/ ' 13/ 11/6 Steam coal — Large 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ Small ... 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 13/ -14/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. 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. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/-7/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ —15/ 12/6-13/6 L’st week’s prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ Last year’s prices. 16/6-18/ 15/6-16/6 14/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-14/ 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/6 11/ -12/ 5/ - 6/ __________________________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market generally is steady, and • prices are well maintained, while creosote is actually the turn firmer. Pitch and tar are both strong in price and 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/9-14/9 14/ —15/ 12/ -13/ 13/9-14/9 12/6-13/6 Chesterfield. COAL. The market is in an active condition, and all classes of coal are in brisk demand. Owing to the short stoppage of work at the collieries for the Christmas holidays, supplies have been difficult to obtain during the week, and con- sumers have suffered much inconvenience in consequence. Even one day’s suspension of colliery operations in these times is a serious matter, seeing that many industries are practically dependent upon the supply of coal that comes forward from day to day. There is now an actual shortage of nuts, the demand for which has grown enormously during the last few months. Cobbles are also in strong request for gas producers. Slack for boiler firing is again in better demand, and supplies are scarce. Steam coal for locomotive use is in great request, notwithstanding the serious curtail- ment of the passenger train service. It is believed that the consumption of coal will not be reduced, as the increased goods train service will need more coal than hitherto, and in this way matters will balance themselves. There is no change in the export trade, as, owing to the continued scarcity of ships, business is well nigh impossible. There are a fair number of orders in exporters’ hands, and licences are obtainable, but, because of the lack of shipping tonnage, negotiations are useless. Prices are firm at 29s. 6d. per ton delivered Grimsby. The coke market is active, and orders are plentiful for all qualities. ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. GOAL. The fundamental conditions of the coal trade have under- gone no essential change. Supplies have been coming Prices at pit. position. Nearest prices are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s ...................... 1/OJ ... — 90’s North ................ /10|—/111 ... — ,, 50’s North ...‘.................... 1/3—1/4 ... — Toluol _________________......................... 2/3 Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/4 ... — ,, crystals (40 per cent.) 1/3 ... — Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 160 ' degs.), as in quality and package... 2/3 ... — Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/10—1/11 ... — Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) .... /6J—/6| ... — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .... /3|—/3f ... + /0J Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............. 16/—17/ ... — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............. 17/—18/ ... — Tar (per ton ex works) ............. 21/—23/ ... — [BenzoZs, toluol creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at makers' works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch, f.o.b. net.']: . Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market is firm, and there seems to be a brisker enquiry at most ports, both for home as well as export requirements. Shipments from Middles- brough have been fairly heavy, to the extent of 3,670 tons, Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chasp) :— House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ - ~ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ — . Do. seconds do. 18/ ■ 18/ — Best hard 18/6 18/6 — Forge coal 16/ . 16/ — Slack 11/6 11/6 — Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 19/ 19/ — Do. hand-picked cobs 18/ 18/ — Best hard spires 20/ 20/ — Forge (steam) 16/ - 16/ ______________________________ — D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 —. Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 — Northumberland miners have subscribed £4,500 up to date for the provision of mo.tor ambulance convoys at the front. chiefly to France and Japan. Closing prices are ; Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. London ordinary makes) ... £18/10 ... +2/6 Beckton (25 per cent.) £17/12/6 ’ ... +2/6 Liverpool £18/16/3 — Hull £18/5 ... +2/6 Middlesbrough £18/5 ... +3/9 Scotch ports ................... £18/12/6—£19 Wales £18/10 ... +2/6 Nitrate of soda (ord) per cwt 19/9 ... +/3 [Sulphate of ammonia, J.o.b. in bags, less 2J per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.]