February 2, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. - 235 tone is firm. The tone is also firm for forward delivery, for which large enquiries are being circulated, but operators are waiting tonnage prospects. With regard to coke, the output of all qualities is much below requirements, and, influenced by a sustained demand, values are very firm. The increase in limitation rates has not affected chartering as yet, merchants having withheld from operating pending the definite settlement of all details, while tonnage is still in short supply. Loading turns are readily obtainable for prompt shipment, and quick despatch is assured. Recent fixtures include .-—Gibraltar, 50s.; Buenos Ayres, 72s. 6d.; Gothenburg, 55 kr.; London, 16s. 6d.; Port Said, 80s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. GOAL. Though the increased freight scale for neutral steamers under the French and Italian coal schemes has not as yet resulted in any appreciable loading facilities, it has strengthened the situation, and larger shipments in the near future are confidently anticipated. The value of steam coals is well upheld, and some collieries report more business passing at rather higher figures. Best Durham gas coals are in fairly good request, and are quoted 26s. to 28s., but some of the second-class gas collieries are seeking prompt tonnage, and though the price asked for seconds is 20s., purchases are possible at 19s., and even that figure might be shaded. Bunkers are in moderate demand. Ordinary Durhams are 19s. 6d. to 20s., and best sorts are in the neighbourhood of 21s. Coking coals are well taken up. Prices vary from 19s. to 20s. There is continued heavy demand for coke for local consumption, with the result that sellers experience no difficulty in obtaining for blast- furnace purposes the fixed maximum prices that have ruled for some time past. Thus, average furnace kinds are 28s. at the ovens, and qualities low in phosphorus 30s. 6d. at the ovens. Best foundry coke runs from 42s. 6d. to ,47s. 6d., patent ranges from 41s. to 42s. 6d., and gas coke is round about 32s. IRON. The number of blastfurnaces in operation in this district is 75, of which 31 are making Cleveland pig, 32 are turning out hsematite, and 12 are producing special kinds of iron. Hope is expressed that output of pig will be increased in the near future by the blowing in of additional furnaces. Business in pig iron is fairly active. So far as Cleveland kinds are concerned, home consumers are well placed, and are not necessitated to buy for early delivery, but they are making rather substantial enquiries for supplies ahead, and producers favour forward business, as it promises to obviate making numerous small contracts. Customers north of the Tweed are rather keen buyers, and the somewhat freer granting of export licences is bringing in more Continental business. For home consumption No. 3 Cleve- land pig, No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge all stand at 87s. 6d., and No. 1 is 91s. 6d.; for despatch to our Allies No. 3 is 97s. 6d. to 98s.; No. 4 foundry 96s. 6d., No. 4 forge 95s. 6d., and No. 1 102s. 6d.; and for export to neutral countries No. 3 is 105s. and upward, and No. 1 fully 110s. The haematite position shows little change. Allocations are strictly controlled, but all legitimate home require- ments are adequately dealt with, and moderate parcels are available for shipment. Rather heavy despatches have recently been made to our Allies, and permits are now . being granted for more new business. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for shipment to Italy. Imports of foreign ore to the port of Middlesbrough during the month of January are officially given at 197,865. Production of manufactured iron and steel is very heavy, and still steadily increasing. Quotations are stationary. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. Briskness continues to characterise operations in the Cumberland coal, coke and chemical industries. All branches are as busy as they can possibly be, the clamour for fuel on all accounts is growing keener, and the pressure in the home market is greater than ever this week. The demand for coal for local consumption is unprecedented. Requirements in all departments are heavier than they were at Christmas, and the present output is altogether inadequate to satisfy the wants of all consumers to the full. The very severe weather which has been experienced in this district during the last fortnight has no doubt caused a greater consumption of fuel for domestic purposes, but quite apart from this local needs are sufficient to absorb the entire production, and without the importation of large quantities not only of coking coal, but best round coal, it would be impossible to satisfy the needs of all users. Requirements are now so much in excess of the supply that there is a shortage, not only for shipping, but also for landsale purposes, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the collieries to give even important local consumers as much steam and Coking coal as they require. There is an abnormal demand for works fuel and best house coal in West Cumberland, and the pits are at present so well booked locally that they are not likely to have much to spare either for export or other outside districts for some weeks to come. All the collieries in the country are working at high pressure, and production is steadily increasing, but if local requirements continue to grow much larger it is probable that in the very near future the entire output will be needed for home consumption. More men will shortly be taken from the Cumberland pits for the Army, but it is expected that they will be replaced by older men, both on the surface and underground. Landsale has been brisker than ever this week, and while the frost con- tinues the demand for house coal is likely to become much keener. All the depots have been exceedingly busy since the beginning of the year, and most of them have booked more business than they will be able to overtake before the end of February. At present merchants are finding it rather difficult to get sufficient best coal to supply their customers. Coal for gas making is in steady request, but supplies are very scarce, and the only consignments being sent ;away are on contract to users in the district. Engine fuels for the local railways are firm, but consumers are still unable to procure all the coal they require, and a large proportion of this class of fuel is still being imported from Scotland and other outside districts. Slacks, smalls and all varieties of fuel for industrial purposes are in very keen demand, not only in West Cumberland, but in other parts of the country. The entire production of small coal is now going to the Cumberland by-product coke ovens, and the whole of the manufacturing fuel is being absorbed at the iron and steel and other works in the locality. With the exception of shipping, very little of either works or house coal is now going out of the country. There is no new feature to report in connection with Irish shipping trade. There is a strong enquiry for both works and house coal for the Irish market, but the collieries are still too busily engaged on home account to send very much coal to the docks. The tonnage to Irish ports has, therefore, been lower than ever this week. Very little manufacturing fuel has been shipped, and smalls for export are still unobtain- able. During the week nine vessels have sailed from the Elizabeth dock, Maryport, with coals all for Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 1,800 tons, compared with 4,315 tons, this time last year, or a decrease of 885 tons compared with last week. The largest cargoes have been for Londonderry, Carrickfergus, Coleraine and Porta- ferry. No coal has been shipped this week to either Belfast or Dublin. The coke industry is phenomenally busy, and there is a very strong demand for local coke. All the by-product coke ovens from Oughterside to White- haven are in full blast, and the whole of the output is being absorbed at the blastfurnaces at Millom and West Cumber- land. Production is rather below actual requirements, and local smelters are still using between 5,000 and 6,000 tons of north-east coast coke weekly. Business continues very brisk in the local by-products trade, and all the works in this neighbourhood are very busily engaged. There has been no alteration in either home or coastwise quotations. Best sorts at the pit are quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best coal for export is 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Best gas coal is 20s. per ton delivered in the district. There is a very keen demand for all varieties of bunkers. Best bunkers for foreign going steamers are 30s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 25s. per ton ; best bunkers for coaling vessels are 25s. per ton, with mixed sorts at 21s. 6d. per ton. Best house coal delivered in the Maryport district 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. 10s. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— 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 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 21/ 22/6 .21/ 22/6 21/ 12/ 19/ 19/6- 17/6 19/ 19/ 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 19/3 18/3 IRON. The Cumberland and North Lancashire haematite iron trade remains firm and brisk. In the iron smelting district along the coast from Maryport to Carnforth, there is intense activity in all branches of the iron and steel industry. There is a phenomenal demand for metal, not only for local but for outside users, and the number of furnaces in blast, cannot possibly produce all the iron that is at present needed. Requirements of both ordinary and special iron are very much in excess of the supply, and even when more furnaces are lighted there will still be a scarcity of iron. Makers are pressed with orders, but they have, already booked sufficient to keep them exceedingly busy for the next few months. Preparations are still being made for increasing the output all over the district, and the lighting of one or two furnaces in West Cumberland cannot now be long delayed. The pig iron in West Coast storing yards still stands at 450 tons. Prices are well maintained at the maximum fixed by the Government, 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 low phosphorus iron is 140s. per ton. and semi- iron is quoted at 135s. per ton f.o.t. With regard to ferro- manganese the export trade is a shade firmer, and some foreign business is being arranged for the second half of the year at from <£33 to .£35 per ton. There are 29 furnaces in blast in the district and one lighted, 20 of which are in Cumberland and nine in the Furness area. The Workington Iron and Steel Company have 10 furnaces in operation at Workington, and two at the Solway at Maryport. Millom have four furnaces in blast, Cleator Moor and Distington have two each in operation, and in the Furness district Barrow have five furnaces blowing, and Carnforth and North Lonsdale have each two furnaces in blast. With the exception of two at Workington, the whole of the furnaces are engaged on Bessemer, special and semi-special iron, and the entire output is going into immediate use. Nearly all the make of Bessemer iron is being absorbed locally at the steelworks at Barrow and Workington, but a small proportion is now going to users outside the district. High-class steel makers in Scotland and the Mid- lands are still taking the bulk of the production of the special brands of iron, but a substantial tonnage is also being con- signed to controlled firms engaged on important work for the Government, in other parts of the country. The steel trade is in a remarkably brisk condition, and the mills at both Barrow and Workington are all working at high pressure. No rails are being rolled, but both places are still main- taining a very large output of material for the Government s The bulk of the new rail business coming into, the /market is still going to the mills in the United States. Since last week the prices of steel rails have been increased; Heavy steel rails are unchanged at from £10 17s. 6d. to £11 10s. per ton, but light sections of steel rails, which were formerly quoted at from £12 to £12 10s. per ton, have been increased to from £14 to £14 10s. per ton ; and heavy tram rails, formerly quoted at £12 5s. per ton, have increased to £14 per ton. Billets are unchanged at £12 per ton, boiler plates are £12 10s. per ton and ship plates are £11 10s. per ton. The engineering trade is very brisk, and all the shops in this neighbourhood are very heavily engaged. The iron ore industry in the Cleator Moor, Egremont and Millom districts is in a very prosperous condition. All the iron ore mines are regularly employed, and there is a very keen demand for all grades of native ore. Every effort is being made to keep production as high as possible, but the amount raised, more particularly of the ordinary grades of ore, is still very much below require- ments. There has been no alteration in prices. Best Hodbarrow ore is quoted at 38s. per ton; ordinary grades are from 21s. to 30s. per ton ; and better sorts are quoted at from 31s. to 36s. 6d. per ton net at the mines. The imports of foreign ore at the Maryport dock last week amounted to 3,500 tons. South-West Lancashire. COAL. In the household trade the demand from the householder is much in excess of the supply, and transport difficulties tend to increase. Many of the pits are in daily trouble for wagons, and fuel is having to be stocked, or the output lessened for want of them, and at the same time the merchants are waiting for wagons which are overdue, and to add to the difficulty the frost impeded canal traffic. Requirements of steam coal for general bunkering and export purposes are much as they have been recently, contract shipments being on a moderate scale, and open sale business quiet. Owing to restricted output and increasing Government requirements, as well as to greater inland demand for all purposes, there is little spare fuel about, and prices of Lancashire steam coals are steady at from 22s. 6d. to 23s. 6d. f.o.b. With regard to coastwise and cross channel trade in household coals the strong east winds have much impeded vessels and there is no doubt the merchants across the water are using up stocks. Slack and small fuel for manufacturing purposes continue to be much enquired for, and it is with difficulty the day to day demand is met. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’ House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best ... 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/9 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 25/6 25/6 23/ -24/ Medium 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 24/6 24/6 21/ -22/ Kitchen 18/ 18/ 17/ . Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) 23/ upwds. 23/ upwds. 20/6 Screened forge coal 18/ 18/ 17/ -17/6 Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 21/6-22/6 Best slack 16/ 16/ ■' 15/ Secondary slack 15/ 15/ 14/ Common do 14/ 14/ 13/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The demand for all classes of house and manufacturing fuel continues very keen. Practically there were no sellers on the market. Shipping coal is on the quiet side. There is a moderate demand for engine fuel 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 14/6 upwds Last year's prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ —17/ 19/ -21/ 14/,.-15/ 12/ upwdB IRON. There was a fair attendance on 'Change in Manchester on Tuesday last., but the position of affairs remains the same. All prices and deliveries are fixed by the Ministry of Munitions. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The general conditions in the West Yorkshire coal market were reflected by the size of the attendance at Tuesday’s meeting of the Coal Exchange, when there was a large and representative gathering. Fuel of all classes seems to become more scarce, and there is so little available after contract requirements are met that much of the open market demand goes unsatisfied. The full time working of the pits is still rendered difficult by an unsatisfactory wagon supply, and complaints of delays to trucks on the railways, short and long distance traffic alike, are frequent. There was strong pressure for supplies of house coal for London and the south, and a fairly large number of representatives of this branch of the trade were present on the market, endeavouring to augment deliveries. It was reported that many London depots are practically cleared out of coal, and with the severe weather keeping up the public demand the position is becoming serious. Scarcely any boats are offering for the coastwise trade, and freights keep high, being from 16s. to 16s. 6d. Hull to London. There are few shipments, except in buyers’ boats. West Riding merchants are busily employed, and are unable to secure sufficient coal from the collieries to meet the current demand. Any spot parcels of gas coal which come into the open market find a ready outlet for shipment and for distant works that are in need ; but full deliveries under contract practically absorbs the