May 11, 1917. . THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 907 „ 24/ -25/6 22/3-23/6 ;22/ -23/ 19/9-21/ (19/9-21/ 18/3-19/6 118/3-19/6 33/ -36/ 32/6-34/6 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 26/6-28/ 20/ —22/ 9/ - 9/6 5/3- 5/9 33/6-36/ 33/ -35/6 33/ -36/ 33/ -36/ 26/6-28/6 20/ —22/ 9/3- 9/9 5/3- 5/6 prices. 28/ -32/ 24/ -26/ 24/ —26/ 23/6-25/6 32/ —34/ 32/ -34/ 32/6-34/6 32/6-34/ 31/6-33/6 22/6-23/6 13/6-14/6 4/6- 5/ 23/ -24/6 18/ -21/ 8/6-11/ 17/ -19/ 25/ -26/6 18/6-21/6 9/ —12/ 18/6-20/6 38/6-44/6 32/6-38/6 18/6-20/6 25/6-29/6 THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 10. The trade is settling down to a vigorous summer cam- paign, having for its main object the building up of an adequate stock much earlier than usual at the various wharves and depots. The great mass of orders on the merchants’ books are now calling for special attention, and, as far as possible, are being dealt with day by day, so as to clear up the arrears. The brighter weather has considerably lessened the actual consumption, except for the kitchen qualities, but the pressure from the general public has not abated in any way. The shortage last winter has undoubtedly created a growing disposition in every direction to lay in a stock during the summer months, and the regulation issued by the London Coal Merchants’ Society to deliver not more than one ton at each delivery has awakened a fear that unless early sup- plies are obtained the cellars in the larger houses will be in the same position as last year, unless repeated deliveries are made. Some idea of the mass of orders received at the present time may be gauged from the report that at one depot office alone in the West End of London some 1,800 tons of coal orders were received in one day, and the bulk of the orders were for half-ton lots, which would take from two to three months to deliver. The attendance on the market has been well maintained, and in every direc- tion an active demand is noticeable. The stocks at the depots are very low, and merchants are now dealing from hand to mouth with the trucks as they arrive. The rail- way companies are dealing with the traffic with greater regularity, and the arrival of loaded wagons has consider- ably improved, but the return of empties still causes a good deal of friction. From the longer distance coal fields the reports show a great want of empties still, but in many of the, shorter distance areas the collieries are abundantly supplied. The diminution of the output is still a source of great anxiety, and colliery representatives are compelled to decline all orders except for contract coals. Merchants having contracts are pressing for better supplies, but with the output reduced from 35 to 45 per cent, since the war began, it is impossible to fulfil all contract obligations. The new clause in the Controller’s message that the same quantities should be* available to the same merchants this month as were taken by them last year at this time has also caused a good deal of correspondence. Merchants have drawn attention to this, especially in cases where very little coal is invoiced for them now, but the collieries reply that, to a very large extent, the coal has been comman- deered for munition use, and therefore absolutely unpro- curable. This is strongly in evidence with the hard steam qualities and the kitchener cobbles, and in many cases also with the house coal varieties. The heavy demand for fac- tories along the Thames side continues unabated, and all manufacturing qualities and slacks are in good demand. The seaborne market has been fairly well supplied, but the vessels arriving are principally loaded with gas coal. No free coal has been offered for some considerable time. Forty cargoes arrived in the Thames for Monday’s market, and ten for Wednesday, but all were contract cargoes. Freights are still high, and chartering is proceeding very slowlv, owing to the scarcity of vessels. From the Humber and Tyne ports to London 20s. per ton is the auoted rate. All the shipping ports report a keen demand. South York- shire hards are quoted at 28s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. f.o.b. Screened p-as coal, 26s. to 27s. Derbyshire hard steam. 28s. from the Humber. Welsh coal prices are stationary, but anthracite oualities are easier. No change has been made in the London pit prices. The Price of Coal (Limitation) Act remains in force and all coal offering is regulated by the Act. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus -and Company’s Report. Friday, May 4.—The seaborne house coal market was again steady, although there was a fair enquiry, but no sales reported. Cargoes, 5. Monday, May 7.—There was a good enquiry for sea- borne house coal, but no cargoes available. Cargoes, 40. Wednesday, May 9.—There was no alteration in the sea- coal market, but the tone was good generally. borne house Cargoes, 10. Liverpool. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. The tone of the market is very firm. Makers are not anxious to sell, and where quotations are obtainable, 30s. seems to be about the lowest figure which would be accepted to-day for Class A business. Holders of “free ” sizes are asking, and getting easily, 36s. to 37s. basis for perfects, with about Is. a box less for wasters. Makers’ quotations for Class A only may be called :—Cokes : I C 14 X 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 30s. per box and up ; I C 28 X 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 60s. and up. IC squares and odd sizes, 30s. 6d. basis and up. Charcoals rule firm, at 33s. basis and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are quoted 28s. basis for Class A restricted sizes, although sizes which could be sold without a permit would command 34s. and upwards. All f.o.b. Wales less 4 per cent. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Pitch is in request, and 35s. to 36s. f.o.b. makers’ works is firmly quoted by London sellers. Pro- vincial quotations average 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton east coast, 15s. 6d. to 16s. Manchester, and 16s. 6d. to 17s. Liverpool. Gas works coal tar ranges from 20s. 3d. to 24s. 3d. Benzol, 90 per cent., north, is offered at 10^d. to ll-^d.; 50 to 90 per cent., naked, north, Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. Toluol, naked, north, 2s. 3d. Coal tar crude naphtha, in bulk, north, 6^d. to 6id.; solvent naphtha, naked, north, Is. 8d. to Is. 9d.; heavy naphtha, north, Is. 2d. to Is. 3d., Creosote, in bulk, north, 3^d. to 3-|d. Heavy oils, in bulk, north, 3|d. to 4d, Carbolic acid, 60 per cent., east and west coasts, 3s. 4d., naked. Naphthalene salts, 80s., with bags. The London price for oil to general buyers is 4^d. to 4^d. per gal. net at works; and solvent naphtha 2s. Id. to 2s. 2d. per gal. Creosote is in good demand. Sulphate 0f Ammouia.—Not much business in sulphate is passing at fixed prices. Nitrate of soda is very firm, at 25s. 6d. per cwt. ordinary, and 26s. refined. Leeds Technical School.—A short summer course of instruction in coal mine gas testing and air measurement, in preparation for Home Office examinations, will be given by Mr. J. E. Gomersall. Intending students meet at Leeds Institute, Cookridge-street, Leeds, on Tuesday; May 22, at 6 p.m. Subsequent class meetings arranged to suit the convenience of those who attend or who send an intimation of their desire to join. The fee for the course is 5s. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF COMMONS.— May 7. • Coal Distribution in London. Mr. Fell asked whether the present arrangements for the distribution of coal in London were to continue through- out the summer; and whether any action would be taken to economise the time and labour of distributing small quantities. Mr. Roberts replied that it was not possible yet to withdraw the restriction of' quantities delivered to indivi- dual consumers in London, as the pressure of demand was still extremely heavy owing to the accumulation of orders during'the protracted severe weather, but the Controller of Coal Mines was fully alive to the necessity of employ- ing the available distribution facilities in the most advan- tageous manner, bearing in mind the necessity of facili- tating the accumulation of stocks for the winter. Reply- ing to another question, Mr. Roberts said that he had no information about coal being unloaded from railway wagons at a coal depot and then re-loaded because the Government wanted it. May 9. Coal Delivery (Scotland). Mr. Millar asked whether the attention of the Coal Con- troller had been directed to delay occurring in the trans- port of coal by rail in many districts in Scotland, and to the demurrage charges in certain cases where coal mer- chants had not been responsible for the detention of wagons; and whether he would endeavour*to expedite the deliveries of coal on the Scottish railways. Mr. G. Roberts replied that the Coal Controller was making arrangements to lessen delay in coal traffic. Demurrage charges were necessary in the national interest, but exceptional cases of hardship would receive considera- tion. Replying to another question regarding coal lost in transit, he said that the railway companies usually calcu- lated charges on .coal traffic upon the weight declared at the colliery from which the coal was conveyed, and he hardly thought that this practice could be regarded as unreasonable. May 10. Coal Transport (Scotland). In reply to Mr. Millar, Mr. Roberts said that the ques- tion whether any general pooling of private wagons was advisable was still under consideration. Coal Industry (State Control). Mr. Millar asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the financial arrangements had yet been com- pleted by the Coal Controller in connection, with the State control and management of the coal industry; and if he could now state what terms had been settled with the coal owners. Mr. Roberts replied in the negative. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 10. Dublin. A further falling-off is noticeable in the house coal trade owing to fine weather, and prices of all classes remain unaltered. The transport workers’ dispute is not yet settled, but it is expected an agreement will be come to this week, the probability being that coal prices will be advanced should the men’s demand for a 6s. increase in wages be granted. Current quotations in the city are:— Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; house coal, retail, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack of 10 st.; steam coal, from about 40s. per ton; best coke, 44s. per ton. Irish coals from the Wolf- hill Collieries, Queen’s County, “are : Malting coal, 46s. per ton; house, gas, and steam coal, 40s.; lime culm, 16s.; fine culm, 12s. per ton-—all f.o.r. Athy, the nearest rail- way connection with the mines. The coal vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 76, as com- pared with 55 the week previously, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being 29,000 tons, as against 20,000 tons in the previous week. A contract is open for a supply of 1,000 tons of house coal for Maynooth College. Attention is again being directed to the neces- sity for railway facilities for the further development of the Castlecomer coal area. It is stated that the Board Of Works is a large purchaser of the coal raised at these collieries, and a contract with the National Shell Factory at Waterford is at present being carried out, while many firms engaged in ■contracts for the Ministry of Munitions are also being supplied. Last week a mineral expert made an inspection of the coal seam recently discovered at Rox- borough, near Loughrea, and it is expected that very satisfactory results will follow the investigation. Belfast. There is no change in the local market this week, condi- tion’s being quiet, and prices the same as last quoted, viz.: Best Arley, 43s. 6d. per ton; Orrell nuts, 42s. 6d.; English house, 41s. 6d.; Scotch, 39s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 39s. 6d.; coke, from about 40s. to 48s. per ton. Irish coal at Craiga- hulliar, Portrush, co. Antrim, is 14s. per ton at the pit- head, and 30s. per ton delivered in Belfast. The total number of coal-laden vessels entering the harbour from April 15 to 28 was 131. A contract is open in connection with the Donegal District Asylum for about 1,460 tons of coal. The Monaghan County Council have decided< to request the Government mining expert at present looking after the development of Ireland’s mineral resources to visit co. Monaghan, as coal had formerly been raised at Carrickmacross. Institution of Petroleum Technologists. — A meeting of the institution will be held in the house of the Royal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, London, on May 15, com- mencing at 8 p.m. A paper on “The Estimation of Toluene in Crude Petroleum,” by Mr. C. Greenway, will be read. Coal Distribution in Spain,—In order to secure regular distribution of coal in large centres of consumption, the Spanish Government has issued an Order to the railway companies to organise direct trains between the collieries and1 the shipping ports and the large consuming. centres. The wagons must be fully loaded at the mines in six hours, and the consignments, on arrival at destination, will be placed at the immediate disposal of the consignees, who must unload them within eight hours. Telegraphic advice must be despatched to the destination when, or before, the train leaves the departure station, giving particulars of the quantities sent and the names of the consignees. Ihe companies must give preference to this direct coal traffic, and reserve a certain number of wagons if found necessary.