June 15, 1917. ________________________ losing time for want of ready teems. Large steam coals are scarce for this week’s loading, but in good supply for forward shipment. Smalls - excepting specials, which are in limited supply and more than maintain their price—are excessively offered and are weak, Blyths, for example, having shed an advance of 2s. which they attained towards last week-end. All Durham coals are plentiful for spot shipment, the tonnage supply being disappointing. The bunker market is quiet but unaltered. Coke of all makes is in good demand, and prices are upheld without difficulty. Bly th steam seconds are Is. advanced on the week, special steam smalls are from Is. 6d. to 2s. dearer, and gas specials are Is. increased. All other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. The Danish State Railways are inviting immediate tenders of 30,000 tons of best steams for shipment to named ports over the ensuing three months. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam, coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ 30/ 52/6-60/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 60/ Secondary, Blyths 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 50/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 22/6-23/ 22/6-23/ 50/ -55/ Unscreened 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 40/ -50/ Small, Blyths 18/ 18/ 35/ Do. Tynes .. 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 28/ -30/ Do. specials 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/ 35/ Other sorts:— Smithies 21/ 21/ 37/6 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ 37/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 17/6-19/ 17/6-19/ 29/ -30/ 36/ Special gas coals 30/ -31/ 37/6 Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 16/6-19/ 16/6-19/ 35/ -38/ Do. do. Northumbrians 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ , 38/ -40/ Coking coals , 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 37/6 Do. smalls 16/ -18/ 16/ -18/ ; 35/ -36/ House coals 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ ! 40/ -42/6 ! 40/ j 55/ -60/ Coke, foundry 40/ -42/6 45/ -47/6 Do. blast-furnace ’ 40/ 42/6-45/ Do. gas 1 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ j 28/ -30/ Sunderland. COAL. With a fairly good arrival of shipping over the week-end? the collieries are in a slightly better position, and have the prospect of somewhat more regular work for a few days. Neutral business is slow, and confined to a few Scandinavian orders, for which boats fixed on the other side are usually named. Generally speaking, there is no change in the situation, and values remain nominal at late figures, which are fairly firm for best brands, but weak for unscreened and smalls. Steam smalls continue to accumulate on the hands of the collieries, and the amount in stock is now said to be unusually large. Best gas coals are steady, but second class fuel is easy. There is no alteration in smithy coal, or in coking and manufacturing kinds, and bunkers continue dull and quiet at unimproved figures. There is a strong request for coke of all kinds. Approximately quotations are as follow:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 30/ 28/ -29/ 40/ Secondary do. House coals:— 18/ 18/ -18/6 35/ Best house coals 30/ 30/ 55/ Ordinary do Other sorts:— 22/ 22/6 45/ Lambton screened 28/6 29/ 55/ South Hetton do 28/6 17/6-18/ 29/ 55/ Lambton unscreened ... 18/ 36/ South Hetton do. 17/6-18/ 18/ 36/ Do. treble nuts 20/ 20/ 38/6 Coking coals unscreened 18/6 18/6 17/ -17/6 36/ Do. smalls 17/6 35/ Smithies 21/ 21/ 37/6 Peas and nuts 22/ 22/ 40/ Best bunkers 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/ 40/ Ordinary bunkers Coke 16/ 15/6-16/6 35/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 41/6 41/ 47/ Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 28/ Gas coke 31/ 31/ 28/ -30/ Outward chartering is practically suspended owing to lack of free tonnage. fViiddlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Most branches of the fuel market are quiet, without any alterations of moment. Recent arrival of a moderate number of steamers put a number of collieries in a fairly good position, but there is still room for improvement. Deliveries against running contracts are heavy. Durham steam coals remain at 29s. to 30s. Gas coals show no change. Best Durhams are 24s. to 26s., and seconds 16s. 6d. to 18s.; whilst special Wears are largely nominal, though a little business has been put through at the regulation figure of 30s. Bunkers continue dull and quiet at unimproved figures. Ordinary unscreened Durhams are 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., good ordinaries 17s. to 17s. 6d., and special qualities 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d. Smithies still range from 20s. to 23s. Household coals are rather quieter, but prices of best sorts remain at 20s. to 21s. for home use, and 30s. for export. Unscreened coking coals are still selling at 18s. to 19s. 6d., and continue to be fairly well taken up. Coke keeps in strong enquiry, and, though supply is very ample, values are well maintained. Best foundry is 42s. 6d., patent oven 37s. 6d. to 40s., and gas house 30s. to 31s.; whilst blastfurnace descriptions stand at 28s. at the ovens for average kinds, and 30s. 6d. at the ovens for qualities low in phosphorus. IRON. Firmness continues to characterise the iron trade. A fair amount of business is still passing in Cleveland pig, and deliveries under the very liberal allocations are proceeding smoothly, there being a plentiful supply of iron. Export trade shows improvement. Producers have still rather considerable stocks of forge iron, and some of them are prepared to sell that quality at a trifle below the quoted price. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted 92s. 6d., and THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________ _______________________ No. 1 is put at 96s. 6d.; whilst for shipment to France and to Italy No. 3 is 102s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 101s. 6d., No. 4 forge 100s. 6d., and No. 1, 107s. 6d. There is greater stringency in the east coast haematite branch, but even in that department it is stated that there is sufficient iron to leave a small surplus for shipment to our Allies. Some little improvement in shipments is reported, but what sales are passing are almost entirely confined to home business, sellers still showing marked disinclination to accept foreign orders on the terms named. 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 to manufactured iron and steel, quotations all round are very stiff, and such is the demand on Government account, and on behalf of the ship yards, that producers are kept working at full pressure, and it is practically impossible to place private orders. ________ =- Cumbgrlandc Mary port. COAL. The Cumberland coal trade is much quieter this week, and for the first time for many months the supply has almost been equal to requirements. The demand on both home and export account is fairly strong, but production all over the county is now more satisfactory, with the result that the collieries have more to offer, both to local and Irish customers. Nearly all home consumers are now receiving as much as they need, and more coal has been sent to the docks this week than it has been possible to ship. New business is not coming forward quite so freely, but most of the pits have still enough on hand to keep them very fully employed. The house coal trade is lifeless, and as far as this branch is concerned the low water mark has almost been reached. The export trade is brisk, and the outlook is brighter than it has been for some months. House coal is rather dull, but industrial, gas and engine fuels for Ireland are in very keen request. The imports for this week have included a good cargo of pit timber from Dumfries for the local collieries. Coke is in firm demand. 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 Pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Flelens (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/ 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ 30/ 21/6 25/ 20/ 19/ IRON. The west coast haematite pig iron trade remains very firm and brisk. Prices are unchanged 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 iron is 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron is quoted at 135s. per ton, f.o.t. The market for ferro-manganese is firm, but both home and export quotations are unchanged. There is a keen demand for billets, which are quoted at »£12 per ton. ________ --------- ________ South-West Lancashire. COAL. There is little if any easement in the demand for house- hold coal, and it is manifest some portion of the deliveries are going into stock either with the merchants and retailers, or at the residence of the ultimate consumer. With regard to shipping, requirements of steam coal, both for contract and open sale account, continue on the restricted scale in view of the reduced number of steamers ; the great bulk being, as usual, on contract account. After Government requirements are satisfied, there does not seem much spare coal about, and prices are fairly steady, Lancashire steam coals ruling, say, from 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. f.o.b., though spot lots may be had at lower rates where coal has been left on hand through a steamer being delayed or diverted. In the coastwise trade, the demand keeps up for household coal of all descriptions, this simply being limited by the ability of the colliery to send and a suitable vessel being available. In slacks there is naturally a little easement, with a full production still upon the market and a summer use at the mills, but it is of such small account that it readily finds other places for consumption. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 25/6 25/6 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 24/6 24/6 18/ 18/ 23/ upwds. 23/ upwds. 18/ 18/ 24/6-25/6 24/ -25/ 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ 14/ 14/ House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium __.............. Do. (f.o.b. Gvrston, net) Kitchen............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston,net) Screened forge coal... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ...__...__ Secondary slack __.....__ Common do.............__ Last year’s prices. 20/9 24/6-25/6 19/ —20/ 23/6-24/ 17/ -18/ 23/ upwds 18/ 26/ -27/ 16/ 15/6 14/6 upwds _______ _______ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The demand for house coal is still in excess of the supplies, more especially in regard to better qualities. The same remark applies to manufacturing fuel. There 1131 __________________________ ___________________________ is a steady shipment of coal on contract account. Prices generally are as below:— Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ................. Medium........__..... Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack .........__ Common slack ...__ Current prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds L’st week’s 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 17/6-18/ 17/ -18/ abt. 22/ 15/6 upwds 14/ upwds IRON. There was a good attendance on ’Change in Manchester, but no alteration whatever to report in the state of business. Prices remain as last quoted, and are entirely controlled by the Ministry, as also are deliveries. ________ ______ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market still experiences the utmost pressure for every description of coal. The pits continue to work full time, with a good supply of empty wagons, and there are still a fair number of railway trucks available. Reports from London do not indicate any falling off in the demand for house coal from the public, and most merchants have overcrowded order books. At the depots there are no ground stocks, and merchants fear that if they have to supply the public demand it will be quite impossible to accumulate big reserves. Coastwise, a fair amount of coal is being sent from Goole, chiefly medium quality Silk- stone house coal, although an occasional parcel of best coal is shipped for the south coast. Freights continue high, based on 20s. per ton Hull-London and up to 21s. Goole- London. Locally, despite the warmer weather, merchants have a fair number of orders on hand, although the retail trade is considerably quieter. Pit prices, which are more or less nominal, remain on the following level: Haigh Moor selected' 21s. to 22s., Silkstone best 20s. to 21s., Silk- stone house 18s. to 19s., other qualities 17s. to 18s. Gas authorities have been able to materially increase their stocks at the works, and for this purpose are open to purchase in the open market, when supplies are available, but generally speaking it takes all the collieries can do to keep pace with their contract commitments. A few additional new contracts are reported, always with the safeguards asked for by the Coal Controller. A fair number of cargoes of screened gas coal have been shipped at limitation prices ex Hull for France. There is no fresh feature to report in regard to manufacturing fuel. Supplies are shared out as fairly as possible, and while here and there consumers get nearly denuded of stocks, there has been no suspension of work through shortage of coal. Washed coking slacks are in exceedingly keen demand, and at some collieries owning coking plants the crushing of large coal has had to be resorted to this week. With the regular working of the iron and steel works the recent freedom in the offering of washed furnace coke has disappeared, and now all the coke is being consumed as made. All quotations are 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 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Haigh Moor best ......... 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ ‘ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Do, house 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ Other qualities 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ Large double-screened engine nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Small nuts 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Rough unscreened engine coal 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ Best rough slacks 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ Small do. 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 12 /-13/ Coking smalls 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke . 25/8 25/8 i 25/6-26/ Barnsley. GOAL. The demand continues to be of an active character, and little difficulty occurs in placing the output. The effect of the distribution regulations are felt in certain areas, particularly the nearer districts, but the collieries are unable to alter the position, and business continues largely on ordinary lines. Exports continue to be of small dimen- sions, and little is heard of surplus lots in the open market. The consumption by the railway companies is again on a heavy scale, and there is little chance to lay in stocks, which are on a low grade. In respect to other steam fuels there is no material change, the scarcity in supplies still being felt. The continued large export of gas coal to France checks the average deliveries to home concerns, which hold light stocks. In several cases efforts to obtain the full contract deliveries and larger supplies are unavailing, and spot lots are keenly looked for, but with little result. There is hardly so keen a pressure for ordinary slacks, the decreased consumption of which may be attributed to the non-necessity for fuel for heating purposes. Slacks required for coke-making continue to be in strong request, and again the full requirements can hardly be obtained. There is no change in the position regarding house coal, which is in such heavy request for London and the southern counties. Pressure is still felt for bigger deliveries to the Metropolis for stocking purposes, and merchants report the receipt of such a bulk of orders as to far exceed their capacity to supply. Mean- while, merchants in nearer markets find it impossible to procure anything like a tonnage to satisfy their current