March 23, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. S8S not inclined to purchase extensively, but they are still placing a few orders for forward delivery. Demand for Scotland is fairly good, and there are buyers in the market for delivery to the north of the Tweed * up to the end of June. Some improvement in foreign trade is reported, but the tonnage situation still interferes with Continental business. Large quantities of Cleveland pig are steadily going to France, and deliveries to Italy promise to improve. For home consumption, No. 3 Cleveland 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. and upward; and 97s. 6d. is also generally named for foundry and forge iron, though buyers, as a rule, endeavour to purchase at rather less; and No. 1 102s. 6d.; whilst for shipment to neutral countries the minimum quotations are 105s. for No. 3, and 110s. for No. 1. East coast hsematite iron is in good demand on home and Continental account. Notwith- standing the inconvenience due to the continued truck shortage, home consumers are receiving adequate supplies. Demand on behalf of our Allies keeps heavy. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use, 137s. 6d. for shipment to France, and 142s. 6d. for export to Italy. As regards finished iron and steel, works are going at heavy pressure, and the already huge production is still being increased, a gratifying marked growth in the output of mercantile shipbuilding material being reported. Quotations all round are strong. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade continues exceedingly brisk in all the main branches, and there is a very strong enquiry for fuel for shipment. The demand for fuel on home account is, if anything, keener than it was last week, but the collieries are now finding less difficulty in satisfying the wants of their customers, and from the point of view of the consumer the situation is now more satisfactory than it has been for some months. It is not yet possible to meet the needs of all users to the full, but consumers on all hands are receiving bigger and more regular supplies, and some progress is also being made with the arrears which accumulated rather too quickly at the beginning of the year. Eequirements on both home and export account are still on a very heavy scale, but with increased outputs, stocks of all sorts are more plentiful, and consumers who are engaged on work of national importance are now practically able to secure almost as much coal as they require. The collieries are not yet in a position to deal with much outside business, but at the moment home needs are being fairly well satisfied. Irish merchants are still on short commons, but even in this branch the position is not so stringent as it was. One of the larger pits was idle on Monday, owing to a dispute with the winding enginemen, but the remainder are all working on an average of six days a week. Production is still increasing, but it would soon be very much bigger if some of the men could be prevailed upon to attend more regularly during the first two days of the week. The demand on landsale account is reported to be a shade easier. Some of the depots are still fairly busy, and they probably have enough on hand to keep them going for a week or two, but orders are not now coming in quite so freely, and business in this branch is not by any means as brisk as it was. Gas coal is a very steady trade, and locomotive fuels for home use are in very strong request. Supplies of all sorts are not now quite so scarce, and where it is possible consumers are already putting in stocks for the holidays. There is a strong and growing demand for slacks, smalls and all kinds of fuel for industrial purposes, and with the increased activity in the local iron trade, requirements are bigger than ever this week. Practically the whole of the output of industrial fuel is now required for local consumption. All important users are now receiving much better supplies, but upwards of 2,000 tons of works fuel is still being imported from outside districts for the iron and steel and other works in West Cumberland. With the exception of shipping, and some small consignments which are going over the border for landsale and other purposes, very little fuel of any description is now going out of the county. The shipping trade at the Elizabeth dock has been busier than usual this week. There is still a clamorous demand for both house and works fuel for the Irish market. One or two of the collieries have had more coal to spare for the docks, and the tonnage from Maryport to Irish ports this week is higher than it has been since September of last year. It is not yet possible to cope with the demand from Ireland, but the prospects are now much brighter, and it is expected that when local landsale is quieter a considerable amount of coal will shortly be released for the Irish market. During the week 16 vessels have sailed with 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 „ Best Cumberl’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 coals from Maryport to Irish ports, and the shipments have amounted to 4,346 tons, compared with 4,495 tons at the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 2,220 tons compared with last week. The largest cargoes were for Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Carrickfergus, Larne and Portaferry. The coke industry is exceedingly busy, and all the by-product coke ovens in the county are in full operation. All the output is being absorbed at the iron- works in the district. The production of local coke has never been so large as it is at present, but it is still inadequate for all requirements. There is continued activity in the local by-products trade, and all the plants from Workington to Maryport are working at top pressure. Prices of all sorts are firm, but unchanged. Best Cumber- land coal at the pit is quoted at from 22s. 6d. to 23s 4d. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 20s. lOd. to 21s. 3d. per ton. Best shipping coal is 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. at Maryport, with best washed nuts at 17s. 6d. per ton. Works fuel is 20s. per ton, and best gas coal is 20s. per ton delivered in the district. Bunkers are in firm demand, at 21s. 6d. to 25s. per ton for coasting vessels, and from 25s. to 30s. per ton for foreign-going steamers. At Maryport, best house coal delivered is obtainable at from at Is. 5|d. to Is. 6d. per cwt., or from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 4d. per ton. At Workington, best house coal delivered in the district is quoted at Is. 4d. per cwt., or 25s. lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at Is. 3d. per cwt., or 24s. 2d. per ton. IRON. Very considerable activity continues to prevail in the haematite pig iron trade in West Cumberland and the Furness district. All the plants in connection with the iron and steel trade in the district along the coast from Solway to Carnforth are working at top pressure, and each of the industries is exerting unparalleled efforts to secure a produc- tion that is equal to the ever-increasing needs of consumers. Production is steadily increasing, and the position has improved considerably since last week, but it is still rather short of what it was in January. Barrow has put an additional furnace into blast, and it is expected that two more furnaces —one in West Cumberland and, the other in the Furness area—will be put into operation before the middle of next month. Smelters are doing their utmost to expand production, and although there is a shortage of labour and material, hopes are entertained that the output of both iron and steel will very shortly be larger than it has ever been since the outbreak of war. The clamour for metal, both ordinary and special iron, is keener than ever, and requirements of all users are still on the increase. The demand for iron is still far in excess of the supply, and it is doubtful whether it will be possible to overtake it while the war lasts, even if a substantial stride is taken shortly in increasing the output of iron. Makers are inundated with orders, but as so much is now required for the Government they have little to sell, and at the moment only a small proportion of the business now offering can be accepted. Smelters have already booked sufficient to keep them exceedingly busy for the next few months. With such a heavy demand for iron, 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., with special iron at 140s. per ton, and semi-special at 135s. per ton f.o.t., while warrants are unchanged at 115s. per ton. The market for ferro-manganese is quiet, but prices are very firm. The number of furnaces in operation in the district is 28—19 of which are in Cumberland and the remaining nine are in the Furness area. All the furnaces, except two at Oldside, are engaged on Bessemer and special brands of iron, and the whole of the output is going int immediate consumption. Nearly all the output of ordinary iron is now being absorbed at the steel works at Barrow and Workington, and the entire make of special low phosphorus iron is going to important consumers on Government work in Scotland and the Midlands, while a substantial tonnage is also consigned to approved users in other parts of the country. Consumers are, of course, not yet receiving as much as they need, but it is expected that supplies will be larger in the course of the next few weeks. The steel industry is busier than ever, and all the plants at Workington and Barrow are working at their fullest capacity. No rails are being rolled, but both places are maintaining a big output of special work for the Government. The demand for ordinary commercial sorts is rather quiet. Steel rails, heavy sections, are from .£10 17s. 6d. to £11 10s. per ton, with light sections at from £14 to £14 10s. per ton, heavy tram rails are quoted at £14 per ton, boiler plates at £12 10s. per ton, and ship plates are £11 10s. per ton. Billets are in brisk request at £12 per ton. Engineering is brisk, and all the shops in the district are fully employed. The Cum- berland iron ore industry continues in a very prosperous condition. There is a keen demand for all grades of native ore, and all the mines in the district are working full time. Production is gradually increasing, but is still below requirements. Prices of all grades are unchanged. Best sorts are 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. South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is an improvement to be noted in railway transit, and wagons have been available for the whole of the out- turn. This has improved matters to a certain extent, but orders are far in arrear and customers are urgent for domestic supplies. Gas companies are beginning to approach the subject of another year’s purchases although Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal..... Bes£ scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do............... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. j prices. 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ I 20/9 25/6 upwds 25/6 ' 23/ -24/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ 24/6 24/6 21/ -22/ 18/ 18/ 17/ 23/6 23/ upwds.; 20/6 18/ 18/ 17/6-18/ 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 : 22/ -22/6 16/ 16/ 15/6-16/ 15/ 15/ 14/6 14/ 14/ 14/ the present contracts have more than three months to run. Coastwise and cross-channel shipments are brisk and the buyer finds difficulty in getting fixings and coal to correspond to his needs. Eequirements for ordinary bunkering and export purposes continue moderate. Partly on account of heavy Government requisitions, partly the very large active inland demand and partly the delays in transit, supplies are not over plentiful, and prices are steady, quotations for Lancashire steam coals ruling from 23s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. f.o.b. Slacks and small fuel of every description is in keen request and the demand is generally rather above the tonnage available. ——------------- South Lancashire and Cheshire. GOAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday, but very little actual business was done. The demand for all qualities of house and manufac- turing fuel continues very keen, and practically there is nothing offering outside contracts. Shipments are well maintained, chiefly on contract account. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... L’st week’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds Current prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6upwds 14/6upwds Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/3 17/ -17/3 16/ -17/ 19/ -21/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds IRON. There was a fair attendance on ’Change on Tuesday, but nothing new whatever to report in the condition of affairs in this district. All works are busily occupied on war material, prices and deliveries being entirely controlled by the Ministry of Munitions. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday disclosed very little change in the conditions ruling in the coal trade in Yorkshire. The attendance was very large. With the exception of, perhaps, a little more freedom in steam slacks, very little coal was offered. All qualities are very scarce. An appreciable improvement is reported in the position in regard to empty wagons. Private wagons are reaching the collieries in greater numbers, and the difficulty is consequently less acute, though in many cases far from removed. There was considerable conversation and speculation on the market with respect to the future distribution of Yorkshire coal. There was a rumour to the effect that the authorities intend to regulate distribution so that coal from this district will not be permitted to be sent further south than Derby. If this be true, it will obviously have a disturbing effect on both Yorkshire collieries, which supply a tremen- dous quantity of coal to London and southern counties. The current demand for household for London is strongly maintained. Practically nothing is doing in the coastwise branch. With regard to shipment of coal to France, it is expected that there will be an important development in the next few months, and that considerably more coal will be shipped from the Humber ports than has been the case since the war commenced. This applies also to Italy, and in the opinion of competent judges coal is bound to be scarce in Yorkshire for a considerable time to come, notwithstanding the rumoured restrictions on distribu-. tion. Since the request of the Coal Controller that contracts should not be entered into for a longer period than three months, which is being generally observed,, contracting especially for gas coals has received a check. The prices in the attached list are all more or less nominal:— 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 15/6-16/6 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/ -16/ Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Bough unscreened engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -14/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 11 1-12/ Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 11/6-12/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 24/ Barnsley. COAL. The demand for all classes of fuel continues to be of an active character, and hardly in any sense has the pressure for supplies been relieved. The difficulties of transit are still experienced, which largely causes the rush for fuel. The problem of giving an adequate tonnage of house coal does not appear to have been solved, and collieries are still receiving a large number of enquiries which cannot be