906 ________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIANS May 11, 1917. exceedingly quiet. Steamers are as scarce as ever, and exports of coal are in consequence on a very small scale. The price of Derbyshire Top Hards is nominally 27s. 6d. to 28s. per ton f.o.b. Grimsby. The coke market is in a satis- factory position. A very good demand is experienced for all qualities, and the whole production of the ovens is quickly absorbed. Prices are firm. Coking fuel is in good request. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best house coals ............ prices. 17/ prices. 17/ prices. 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. Great activity prevails in every department of the iron trade, and orders, which are chiefly on Government account, are plentiful. The production of pig iron is increasing. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 22/ 22/ 22/ Do. seconds deep 20/ 20/ 20/ Do. best shallow 19/ 19/ 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 18/ 18/ Best hard • 18/6 18/6 18/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 16/ Slack W arwickshire:— 11/6 11/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 19/ 19/ 19/ cobs 18/ 18/ 18/ Best hard spires 20/ 20/ 20/ Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 14/6 14/6 14/6 Small (do.) 14/6 14/6 14/6 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 10. ___________________________________________ _________________ Nottingham. COAL. Merchants in this district have experienced a falling off in the demand by small householders for fuel, and a similar decline has been noticeable at the local landsale depots. This is undoubtedly due to the improved weather. The demand on collieries has shown little alteration, as merchants, in addition to meeting current requirements, are anxious to obtain a little stock, and consequently the output of the pits is readily disposed of. Steam coal continues in strong demand, and a feature of this branch is still the shortage of nuts, a large tonnage of which is required by firms engaged on war work. Railway companies are drawing heavily on supplies of locomotive fuel, and the demand for large steams is increased by customers who are unable to get a sufficient supply of nuts. Best and medium slacks are having a good sale, and the output of these grades is fairly plentiful. Coking slacks are, however, not in sufficient supply to fully meet the needs of the ovens. 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. 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ L’st week’s prices. 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ Last year’s prices. 18/6-19/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 17? -17?6 I 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -13/ 11/9-13/ 10/6-11/6 10/6-11/ 11/ I 11/ ________ ________ Leicestershire. COAL. Although the warm weather is exercising an influence on domestic comsumption, the position of affairs has become so serious that it will be at least a couple of months before any substantial relief is experienced. The depletion of stocks is so general that country coal merchants are under a very heavy handicap in carrying on their business. It is impossible to make deliveries in the ordinary way, and the subdivision of supplies to cover pressing requirements adds materially to the cost of transport and general administra- tion. Hand-to-mouth supplies are rigidly enforced, and there is not the slightest prospect of the usual summer prices either to small or large consumers. The lists of arrears are unprecedented. Preference has to.be given to deliveries for London and district in order to ease, if possible, the great and general shortage. High pressure is maintained at the pits, and it is hoped there will be no stoppage of output for want of wagons and locomotives, as any reduction in the quantities turned cannot be made good later. The first call on the supplies is for Govern- ment works and factories and works of public and general importance, such as water works; electricity concerns are now most anxious to increase their supplies so as to have some reserves for the coming autumn and winter. All classes of household ’are in strong demand for London and district, and the whole of the output of deep and main cobbles and nuts is taken up as fast as it reaches the pit banks. Small nuts for mechanical stokers are most eagerly sought after. There are no stocks of any kind at the pits, * Prices at pit. IRON. The works in the district continue to be occupied to their full capacity, and everything possible is utilised for war purposes. Merchants have plenty of enquiries, but the amount of business they are in a position to accept is reduced to the narrowest compass. Some of them are doing a little in American wire rods which are coming against old contracts, and in discard billets, for which they find a ready sale at <£10 12s. 6d. at works. Negotiations are also going on for further American supplies, which are not offered c.i.f., but f.a.s., New York, and the supreme difficulty is to find freights. A heavy demand exists for shipyard and marine work, such as anchors, large chains, pulley blocks, etc., and the works in Cradley district devoted to these branches are going at full pressure. The feature in the market for raw material, in the absence of any indica- tion as to the attitude of the Ministry of Munitions about prices, is the progress of the movement for increasing the output of basic iron, for which there is constant pressure. It is reported that in addition to the furnaces converted in Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, several in South Staffordshire are being pressed into the service. One effect is to keep all other grades up firmly to the maximum. The absence of a decision from the Ministry does not seriously affect sales, as customers seem to accept the protective condition as a matter of course. The scrap market does not improve. A certain amount of heavy cast scrap is available at from <£5 5s. to <£5 10s. a ton, but not much wrought scrap, which was none too plentiful even before maximum prices were fixed. It seems increasingly difficult to place orders for some classes of finished iron and steel, producers being so heavily booked that they are not open for new business for some time. Government want all the steel available, and sheet makers cannot obtain adequate supplies of bars even for important work, and many mills have been closed down in preference to keeping them going in the irregular manner which has been the rule of late. Black sheets are still on the basis of <£19 10s. Maximum prices for marked bars (.£15 10s., less 21 per cent.), unmarked bars (<£13 15s. net, at makers’ works) and joists and sections (<£11 2s. 6d.) are easily maintained, and uncontrolled prices have undergone no change. - North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. Trade generally has been satisfactory during the past week, and all the pits have worked full time. The demand for house coal is falling off, but in other departments the demand far exceeds the supply. Buyers for the railway companies and various works under Government control are pressing for deliveries, and the same remarks apply to gas companies, while the fixing of new contracts is now in full progress on the same lines as governed the expiring contracts. A fair amount has been disposed of for ship- ment at the Mersey ports. Nuts continue to be scarce, but slack is fairly plentiful. Prices are still steady, and show no signs of variance. Best large house coal is quoted at 21s. to 23s. per ton at pit, seconds quality at 20s. to 22s. per ton, while at the landsale depots the ruling prices are 27s. 6d. to 30s. for best quality and 25s. to 27s. 6d. for lower grades. Steam and gas coal is offered at 19s. to 21s. per ton at pit, while nuts are making 18s. to 20s. per ton at pit, and slack 12s. to 14s. 6d. per ton. There is still a brisk market for gas coke at 21s. 8d. to 25s. per ton. The following is a full list of the week’s quotations :— Prices at pit f.o.r. Best house coal ...... Secondary do........... Steam coal............ Gas coal.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. Slack ........__....... Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale:— Best house coal __..... Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current prices. 21/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -20/ 12/6-14/6 21/8-25/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 15/ -16/8 L’st week’s;Last year’s prices. | prices. 21/ -23/ i 22/ -23/ 20/ -22/ | 21/ -22/ 19/ -21/ | 18/ -19/6 19/ -21/ ! 17/6—19/6 19/ -21/ | 18/ -19/ 18/ -20/ | 17/6-18/6 12/ -14/6 ! 11/ -13/4 21/8-23/4 |25/ -27/6 27/6-30/ j 27/6-28/4 25/ -27/6 j 25/ -27'6 15/ -16/8 14/2-16/8 __________________ Efionmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The market has shown a slight tendency to weaken this week, though it is not much to be alarmed at. The con- ditions of the former few weeks were so buoyant that they could hardly be expected to be maintained without a break. Best descriptions of coals were still being quoted at top figures, though in some cases the market drooped below the quoted rates. House coals and patent fuel have shown no change for quite a long time. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. 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/ 15/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ T4/6-15/6 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/ 15/6-17/6 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/ 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/6-15/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ -7/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 13/ -13/6 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 12/6-13/6 ________ ________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Conditions in the coal trade remain, unchanged. There are plenty of buyers, but requisite supplies are not readily obtainable. The warmer weather has not materially affected the situation, and merchants still experience an insistent demand, while they have many arrears to wipe out. Every class of coal continues to be scarce, particularly double-screened nuts and the better grades of slacks. The pits, too, are much in arrear with deliveries on contract account, so that there is little or no coal to offer on the open market. Prices are firm all round. _________________ Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The warmer weather of the past week or two has had the effect of checking, to some little extent, the heavy inflow of orders for the household coals of this district. But, though new bookings are not so heavy, collieries are so much in arrears with deliveries, that there is no possibility of a relaxation in the pressure for supplies for some time yet. The general demand for steam and manufacturing fuel continues to be well ahead of the supplies available. All the pits are as busy as possible but the enquiry is over- whelming. Prices at pithead. Steam coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices. Best Black Vein large... 29/ -30/ ' 28/ -30/ ’ 53/ -54/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 28/ -29/ i 28/ -30/ 52/6-54/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 26/6-28/ ' 27/ -28/ 50/ -52/ Secondary do. 24/ -25/ ! 25/ -26/ 48/ —50/ Best small coals 18/ -19/ | 16/ -18/ 29/ -30/ Secondary do 15/6—16/6 14/ -16/ 26/ -27/ Inferior do 7/6-12/ 9/ -10/6 22/ -24/ Screenings 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/6 29/6-30/ Through coals 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 34/ -37/6 Best washed nuts 23/6-24/6 35/ -38/ Other sorts:—/ Best house coal, at pit... 25/ -26/6 25/ -26/6 23/ -24/ Secondary do. do. ... 22/6-24/ 22/6-24/ 22/ -23/ Patent fuel 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 50/ -52/6 Furnace coke * 50/ -52/6 Foundry coke —* 60/ -62/6 * Nominal. Current L’st week’s Last year’ 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 Steam coal:— 13/ 13/ 11/6 Large 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Small ... 16/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. _________________ Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that wholesale and retail rail supplies have been well maintained. Owing to a slight but very welcome reduction in the pressure upon collieries, the large vendors have made every possible effort to overtake the arrears in the supply of contract quantities, but thefe still remains a heavy amount of bookings to be dealt with. A few forward contracts have already been entered into, but collieries generally seem disinclined to consider forward business until they shall be able to clear off more of their contracts in arrears. There is very little house coal offering for prompt or future supply, and with regard to steam and gas coal, prices continue firm, with very little desire on the part of collieries to increase further bookings. The difficulty caused by the scarcity of wagons is regarded by wholesale firms as offering a crux to the future of the south coast coal trade until the resump- tion of supplies by sea. ____________________________ The Ministry of Munitions has issued an appeal to the public regarding the desirability of using coke and coal gas instead of coal for steam raising, heating^ and cooking purposes. Middlesbrough Town Council has decided to reduce the net price of gas from 2s. 2d. to 2s. per 1,000 ft. This is due to a scheme by which waste gases from coke ovens at the local iron works are utilised for illuminating purposes. The Coal Conciliation Board for England and North Wales has expressed its satisfaction that the acceptance of office by Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., as Parliamentary Secretary for National Service will not involve his retire- ment from the chairmanship of the workmen’s section of the Board. IRON. There is just the same great activity in the iron and steel trades as had been shown for a long time. The tin-plate trade remains practically unaltered. There is a fairly good demand, but the output is limited owing to the increasing difficulty as to raw materials. Prices continue steady, firm and purely nominal. Pitwood still continues at 75s for best fir. Cardiff. COAL. The improvement indicated a week ago has been fully maintained, and pressure for prompt shipment has been so great that even higher prices are being asked, especially by colliery salesmen who are in favourable positions. The congestion in the railway sidings has now disappeared, and, with the much increased volume of tonnage which has recently been available, the difficulty has been for the collieries to keep pace with the demand. At all the docks loading is proceeding briskly, and every effort is being made to prevent delay in obtaining loading berths. Chartering last week was again fairly satisfactory, the amount of tonnage taken up being 37,530 tons, compared with 22,860 tons in the preceding six days. The bulk of the work, however, is on steamers chartered by the Admiralty, of which no records are published, and there is now no statistical information available either as to tonnage arrivals or shipments. It may be said that all departments are busily employed, and so far as this port is concerned, no complaint can be made regarding loss of time or difficulties in despatch. Colliery salesmen continue optimistic with regard to the future, but their feelings are not shared by buyers, who suggest that, the present spurt is but a flash in the pan, and that the market will again be depressed as soon as the existing supplies of tonnage become exhausted. The New Zealand Premier and . his suite paid a visit of inspection to the various docks on Tuesday, and Mr. Massey was much impressed with the facilities which exist at Cardiff for the rapid shipment and transport of coal. Prices, although firm, are a little uncertain, for everything depends at the moment on the supply of tonnage. Should there be any sign of deficiency, quotations will undoubtedly suffer a relapse, but up to the present no such contingency has presented itself, and salesmen are making the most of their opportunities. Some of the best collieries. are out of the market, but others producing first- class seconds are asking as much as 32s. 6d., and in several instances this sum has been obtained. The ruling rate, however, is more in the neighbourhood of 30s. to 31s.