May 25, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 997 and supplies are coming along more freely than for many months past. There are also more offers of coal and coke for two or three months ahead, but autumn and winter contract quotations are still being withheld, in consequence of which the Government invitations for tenders for twelve months have little likelihood of being accepted. The local demand for steam fuel is not pressing, and small coal is in very little demand. THE WELSH COAL AHD IROT TRADES. Thursday, May 24. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The output of fuel has been well maintained. The demand for house coal has assumed the summer aspect, and there is not much doing in the merchants" trade for domestic purposes or at the local landsale depots. With reference to the gas coal department, matters are still steady both as regards supplies and prices for the new contracts, now being settled quickly op the terms which ruled the expiring contracts. Gas coke is still in good demand, and there is little stock at the local works. Steam coal continues to be in greater demand than there is available supply. Nuts appear to be scarce, but there is a fair tonnage of slack available in the open market. The prices have not altered much during the week. Large house coal is still offered at 21s. to 23s. per ton, and seconds at 20s. to 22s.; while at landsale depots retail prices are 27s. 6d. to 30s., and 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton respectively. Household slack is now quoted at 15s. to 16s. retail prices. Steam coal generally is offered at 19s. to 21s. per ton at pit, the average prices for large gas coal being about the same figure. Nuts are 18s. to 20s. at pit, slack 12s. to 14s. 6d. per ton, and gas coke at 21s. 8d. to 23s. 4d. per ton. It is expected that work at the collieries will be resumed on Tuesday. The following is a detailed list of the week’s prices :— Current L'stweek’sjLast year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 21/ -23/ 22/ -23/ : i 22/6-24/ Secondary do 20/ -22/ 21/ -22/ ( | 20/ -22/6 Steam coal 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ i 1 18/ —19/6 Gas coal 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ ! ! 18/6-20/ Bunkers 19/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 1 18/ -19/ Nuts 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ i 1 18/ -19/ Slack 12/ -14/6 12/ -14/6 11/ -13/6 Gas coke (at works) 21/8-23/4 21/8-23/4 22/6-25/ Prices landsale:— Best house coal 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 Seconds 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ Slack 15/ -16/ 15/ —16/8 13/4-16/8 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The coal market in this district at the beginning of the week was very irregular, and prices were not in all cases maintained. There was not a large arrival of tonnage over the week-end, and stocks have again accumulated. But the end of the month seems to indicate a harder state of the market^ The diminished output, owing to the Whitsun holidays and the heavier arrivals of tonnage later on, appeared to give considerable buoyancy to the outlook. There is no change in house coal and patent fuel. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. I Current prices. 27/27/6 J OZ? I 0^7 I i 24/ -25/ j 21/ -22/6 18/ -18/6 14/ -16/ 6/6-11/6 18/6-20/ 20/ -21/ Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large. ( Western-valleys, ordin’y 26/ -27/ Best Eastern-valleys ~ ' Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do. ......... Screenings ........... Through coals ........ Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke • ....... L’st week's prices. 26/6-28/ 25/ -26/ 24/6-25/ 21/ -22/6 18/ -18/6 15/ -16/6 7/6-12/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -21/6 Last year's prices. 54/ -55/ 53/ -55/ 53/ —53/6 52/ -53/ 31/ -32/6 29/ -30/ 25/ -27/ 31/6-32/6 35/ -37/ 37/ -39/ 25/ -26/6 22/6-24/ 27/6-30/ __# 23z -24/ 22/ -23/ 50/ -55/ 50/ -52/6 60/ -62/6 25/ -26/ 22/ -23/6 27/6-30/ __ * Nominal. IRON. Very little movement has taken place during the week in the iron and steel quotations. There is still a very satisfactory output, but in the case of a great many departments the prices are purely nominal, as they are to Government order, and the whole output is commandeered. The tin-plate trade shows some slight signs of improve- ment. If a sufficient quantity of raw material were on offer there would be a busy time. Cardiff. COAL. There are no fresh developments in this market, and the general tone is irregular and weak, especially for prompt loading. The quantity of tonnage arriving over the week end has not been up to expectations, although the average of the last few weeks has been maintained, but there is little more than sufficient to satisfy Government require- ments, with the result that new business is practically at a standstill. Orders are plentiful, and enquiries numerous, but the position is so uncertain that little can be done. For immediate loading buyers are able to obtain substantial concessions, but for later shipment sellers are holding their hand, and quotations are firmer. A shortage of coal is not probable, but the holiday reduction of output will be sufficient to stiffen the market. Another factor which may have some weight in the near future is the combing out of miners. It is expected that this step will release several thousand men from the South Wales coalfield, and naturally the output will be diminished in proportion. There was a big improvement in chartering last week, the amount of tonnage taken up being 43,210 tons, compared with 12,700 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 30,510 tons. The bulk of this shipping is likely to be available at the end of this or the beginning of next month, so that future prospects are in favour of sellers. In the Monmouthshire coal field several temporary stoppages have been reported owing to shortage of wagons, but it is hoped that this difficulty will be overcome during the holiday. There is no lessening of the demands for Admiralty purposes, and practically all the best descriptions are reserved, the quotations being nominal. Ordinary seconds are obtainable at 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d., and ordinary steams at 25s. to 26s. For the reason indicated above, Monmouthshires are not so steady and western valleys were done on Tuesday at 25s. Black Veins are 26s. to 27s. and the best of the easterns 24s. to 25s. The small coal market is dull, with a tendency to lower prices. Best bunkers are not more than 16s. to 17s., ordinaries about Is. less, and cargo descriptions range from anything between 10s. and 14s., with inferior sorts even less. In bituminous coals there is little movement except for gas-making purposes, and these are firm at 27s. to 27s. 6d. No. 2 Rhondda large is 24s. to 25s., with other grades in proportion. Patent fuel is 28s. to 30s. according to quality. The great scarcity of pitwood is causing much concern, and representations are being made to the Government to withdraw the restrictions of imports. A concession has been made in this respect, that soft woods under licence may be imported from Sweden in neutral vessels, so long as the latter are not required for the transport of foodstuffs and munitions, but it is argued that much more might be done in this respect from France, Portugal and Spain, where large quantities of timber are available if tonnage can be obtained. Home supplies are not yet sufficient to meet the demand, and the requirements of South Wales alone are estimated at over 30,000 tons per week. Current quotations are still 75s. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ................ Superior seconds ..... Seconds .............. Ordinary steams ...... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries....... Cargo qualities....... Inferior smalls ...... Best dry coals ....... ' Ordinary drys ........ Best washed nuts ..... Seconds .............. Best washed peas...... Seconds .............. Dock screenings ...... Monmouthshire— Black Veins ........ Western-valleys •... Eastern-valleys .... Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... Through-and-through Small ............. No. 2 Rhondda— Large............... Through-and-through Small .............. Best patent fuel ....... Seconds ................ Special foundry coke ... Ordinary do. ........... Furnace coke ........... Pitwood (ex-ship) . | Current prices. __ [L’st week’s Last year’s j prices. prices. i ___* ____________* __* 26/6-27/6 25/ -26/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 12/ -14/ 9/ -12/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ ___* 26/6-27/6 25/ -26/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -15/ / 10/ -12/ 26/ -27/ I 24/ -25/ '24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ >_# I 54/ -55/ ' 52/ -53/ 32/ -33/ 30/ -32/ 25/ -28/ 23/ -25/ 52/6-55/ 47/6-52/6 42/6-45/ 40/ -42/6 39/ -41/ 37/ -39/ __ 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 27/ -27/6 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 25/6-26/6 I 25/6-26/6 23/6-24/6 ( 23/6-24/6 27/ -27/6 23/ -24/ "18/ -19/ 54/ -55/ 54/ -55/ 52/ -55/ 50/ -52/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 57/6-60/ 45/ -50/ 33/ -35/ 27/ -27/6 23/ -24/6 18/ -19/ 24/ -25/ 18/' -19/ 13/ -14/ 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 75/ ■25/ -26/ 18/ -19/ 14/ AL4/6 30/ 28/ -29/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ w 47/ -49/ 38/ -40/ 27/ -28/ 50/ —55/ . 48/ -50/ 62/6-65/ 60/ -62/6 ( 50/ -52,6 48/6-50/ * Nominal. IRON. All the various steel works of the district are actively engaged and maximum outputs are being returned, although imports of iron ore show a decrease of over 20,000 tons as compared with the first four months of 1916. All prices are nominal, and production is strictly controlled. In the tin-plate trade there is considerable animation, and order books are well filled for several months ahead. Makers find a difficulty in obtaining the necessary supplies of tin-plate bars, with the result that short time is being worked at many of the mills. 'The shortage of labour and the high cost of materials are also affecting the market, and it is with difficulty that manufacturers can be induced to quote far ahead. For Class A work, Bessemer standard sizes are firm at 31s. to 32s.‘ per box, but “ free ” parcels command as much as 38s., with only a couple of shillings less for wasters. The high price of tin, and the recent advance in wages, are also affecting the market, and it is not improbable that there will be a further advance in the near future. Shipments last week amounted to 20,614 boxes, whilst receipts from works only amounted to 3,927 boxes, leaving stocks in the docks warehouses and vans at 139,449 boxes, as compared with 156,136 boxes in the preceding week and 217,249 boxes at the corresponding period of last year. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no alteration, and prices are nominal. Most of the works are engaged in the manufacture of blackplate for the British and Allied Governments, but there has been a considerable falling off even in this department, the exports showing a decrease of over 64,000 tons as compared with the first four months of last year. Steel bars and Welsh pig iron are nominal, with no change. Spelter is unaltered at .£54 per ton. There is an active enquiry for scrap metals, and maximum prices are obtained without difficulty. There is no change in the iron ore market. Swansea. COAL. Last week the coal trade generally was very quiet, being confined chiefly to exports to France. Shipments of coal totalled 45,673 tons, and of patent fuel 21,350 tons. The anthracite and steam coal markets continue slow, tonnage supplies being scarce. Few enquiries are made except for machine-made sizes. These are in good demand. Llanelly. COAL. Business is slow in practically all qualities, and pits are not working full time through lack of empties. Collieries have ample orders on hand to keep pits on full time for months ahead, but owing to the shortage of tonnage it is impossible to give clearance to orders. Anthracite large kinds are very easy, and stocks are heavy. Cobbles are also a little irregular, and some of the machine- made kinds lack firmness. Culm is unchanged, but duff is very weak. All qualities of steam coals are irregular, and throughs and smalls are obtainable at more favourable figures for prompt shipment. Large kinds are not so active, and better supplies on offer. Manufacturing coals are brisk, with local works taking heavy supplies. Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do......... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L'st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. ; prices. 24/ -25/6 24/ -25/6 33/ -36/ 21/6-23/ ' 21/6-23/ ; 31/ -32/6 19/6-21/ I 19/6-21/ 32/6-34/6 18/3-19/ ; 18/3-19/ ' 26/ -30/ 33/ -35/ | 34/ -36/ ’ 34/ -36/ 33/ -35/6 S 33/ -35/6 : 34/ -36/ 33/ -35/ | 33/ -36/ ! 34/6-36/6 33/ -35/ ’ 33/ -36/ i 34/ -36/ 27/ -28/6 ’ 27/ -28/6 ! 35/6-37/6 20/ -22/ i 20/6-22/ | 24/ -26/ 10/3-11/8/10/3-11/3 14/ -15/ K Io k ta ! K Io X /a Ala k / 23/ -25/ ! 23/ -24/6 18/ -21/ i 18/ -21/ 9/ -12/6 I 9/ -12/6 19/ -20/ ; 19/ -20/ 45/6-48,6 34/6-38/6 22/ -26/ 30/6-35/6 THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 24. Dublin. Demand for house coal for immediate requirements is quiet, owing to warm weather, and there is no change in prices. With the recent settlement of the dockers’ strike, it is expected that supplies will assume the normal in a week or two, when orders in arrear and contracts will be carried out as soon as possible. Quotations in the. city stand as follow :—Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; steam coal, from about 40s. per ton. At the works, 6d. per ton more is being asked for gas coke. Irish coal from the Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County : 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 railway connection with the mines. The coal vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 75, as com- pared with 47 the week previously, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being 28,208 tons, as against 15,180 tons in the previous week. An extensive contract is open in connection with the Corporation for coal for electricity and main drainage works, to cover from one to three years’ periods. At a recent meeting of the Council of Agriculture, a resolution was carried to urge the Government to construct a railway to connect the Castlecomer Collieries with the Great Southern and Western Railway, inasmuch as the line now in course of construction from Wolfhill Collieries to Athy would not benefit these mines. It is stated that four pits are now working at Castlecomer, with a daily output of 250 tons, and it is estimated that four times the quantity could be raised if the mines were brought into touch with the main line. Belfast. The trade locally is rather quiet, fine weather being accountable for a considerable falling-off in demand for house coals. Inland business has improved somewhat, as many of the country consumers are now laying in the usual yearly supplies. Best English coal is still difficult to obtain, but there is a fair supply of inferior qualities. Freights remain firm, and prices are unchanged, 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 pithead, and 30s. per ton delivered in Belfast. A large contract is open for supplies for the Belfast Union. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The tar market has hardly changed since the last report. Pitch for shipment is sought after in London at firm quotations, averaging 37s. per ton net at makers’ works. Creosote and other products remain at their previous level in London transactions. Provincial prices are unchanged, on the following basis :—Tar (gas works), 20s. 3d. to 24s. 3d. Pitch, east coast, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton; ditto, Manchester, 15s. 6d. to 16s.; ditto, Liverpool, 16s. 6d. to 17s.; ditto, Clyde, 17s. to 18s. Benzol. 90 per cent., north, 10|d. to ll^d. ; 50-90 per cent., naked, north, Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. Toluol, naked, north. 2s. 3d. Coal tar crude naphtha, in bulk, north, 6^d. to 6|d. 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. Sulphate of Ammouiao—In consequence of export licences being still withheld by the Government, the market pre- sents no new feature. The official price remains at £16 direct to farmers, and £15 10s. to mixers and distributors. Nitrate of Soda.—Spot quotations are higher in conse- quence of scarcity. The current price is 25s. 9d. per cwt. ordinary, and 26s. 3d. refined. The office of Sir George Askwith, Chief Industrial Com- missioner, has been transferred from Old Palace Yard, and the new address will be Ministry of Labour, Montagu House, Whitehall, S.W. 1. ' . ' The Home Secretary has made an Order under section 33 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, entitled “ The Safety Lamps Order of May 14, 1917.” The effect of the Order is to approve two makes of glass for use in flame safety lamps of approved type. The following appointments as certifying surgeons under the Factory and Workshop Acts have been made :—Dr. R. F. Jones, Tamworth district; Dr. S. James, Brynamman district; Dr. L. O’Clery, Clonakilty district; and Dr. P. A. S. Dyson, Grosmont district. Vacancies exist in Totnes and Cavan. Two Blyth coal trimmers, who have been released by the North-Eastern Railway Company for military service, com- plained to the appeal tribunal sitting at Tynemouth that they had not been fairly treated by the railway company, and so intended to appeal to the railway tribunal. The chairman remarked that, obviously, it was a case for the railway tribunal. It was a point with which the appeal tribunal could not deal.