June 15, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1133 been a trifle lower. In the small coal market considerable irregularity prevails. The general tendency is easy, but here again collieries fortunately situated have been able to secure top prices, whilst others not in such a favourable position, in order to release wagons have made material concessions for prompt shipment. Nominally, best bunkers are 15s. to 16s., but in some cases quite Is. more has been realised. In the lower grades quotations exhibit a sagging tendency, even less than 12s. having been accepted for ordinary cargo descriptions. A feature of the market is the demand for washed coals, and producers are firmly declining business under limitation rates. Thus, washed nuts are commanding as high a price as second Admiralties, and beans and peas are very little below. The bituminous section continues steady. Not much is done for export purposes, but home consumption induces a steady enquiry, the only difficulty being the means of trans- port, and the availability of wagons. For No. 3 Rhondda large 27s. 6d. to 28s. 6d. is being obtained, and for No. 2 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d,, with through-and-through coals and smalls in proportion. Patent fuel is steady, best makes realising 30s., and secondary qualities 28s. to 29s. Coke is unchanged. Pitwood arrivals have been rather more satis- factory, but the position has become so serious that a deputation wanted upon the Deputy Timber Controller on Wednesday in order to place the facts before him. Mean- time, the quotation rules firm at about 75s. per ton ex ship. IRON. All the local works continue in full operation, and maximum outputs of pig iron and finished steel are pro- duced. Rail mills are busy, especially in the manufacture of light sections, and only orders of extreme urgency can be entertained. Considerable irregularity prevails in the supply of bars to the tin-plate works, with the result that many mills are working short time. This is owing to the heavy demands on munitions account, and makers are chary of entering into further obligations until the situation becomes easier. The demand at the moment is greatly in excess of the supply, and generally speaking only Class A work can be accepted. Those possessing Class B certificates had to wait, and there is little prospect of their orders being executed until the supply of raw material is on a more liberal scale. For certificated work, as much as 35s. to 36s. per box is now being readily obtained for standard sheets 14 x 20, and even wasters are making nearly as much money.. For “free” parcels, which are weekly becoming more scarce, 40s. per box is freely paid, with other sizes in proportion. Shipments last week amounted to 21,911 boxes, against 20,235 received from works, leaving 116,978 boxes in stock, compared with 118,654 boxes the preceding week, and 227,245 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no animation, and makers are chiefly engaged in the production of black plate, the demand for which is decreasing. All quotations are nominal, and the same remark applies to pig iron and bars. The iron ore market continues satisfactory. All prices are controlled, but arrivals are up to the average, and the various works are kept well supplied. Scrap metals are firm at maximum rates, supplies being on the short side. Swansea. COAL. The returns of the trade showed some improvement last week. Coal displayed some increase, and the exports of patent fuel were again substantia]. The shipments together amounted to 76,577 tons. There was very little business doing on 'Change. Anthracite large and duff continued in poor demand. Culm and machine-made sizes were active. Steam coals were inclined to be easier, but bunkers were very busy. Llanelly. COAL. The market is unchanged, and as tonnage arrivals are still unsatisfactory, there is no immediate prospect of any improvement. Anthracite large kinds are very easy and plentiful, and sellers experience difficulty in maintaining prices in face of the poor enquiry ruling. Machine-made qualities are all active. Beans are in good request. Cobbles aro also steady, and culm has a good tone, but duff continues very weak. Throughs are strong, and prices firm, but large kinds are a little irregular. Concessions in values are obtainable for prompt business. Smalls are slow, and the enquiry not strong. 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 prices. 24/ -25/6 21/6-23/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 32/6-35/6 32/6-35/ 34/ -36/ 34/ -36/ 28/6-30/ 20/6-22/ 10/6-11/6 5/3- 5/6 25/6-26/6 20/9-22/3 9/6-13/ 17/6-19/ L'st week's prices. 24/ -25/6 21/6-23/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/6 32/6-35/6 28/9-29/9 20/6-22/ 10/6-11/6 5/3- 5/6 Last year’s prices. 33/ -36/ 31/ -32/6 32/6-34/6 27/ -29/ 34/ -36/ 36/ -40/ 36/ -40/ 36/ -40/ 33/6-36/6 24/ —26/ 14/ -15/ 5/ - 5/3 25/6-26/6 18/6-21/6 9/6-13/ 17/6-19/ 48/ -50/ 37/ -39/ 21/ -30/ 30/6-35/6 Mr. A. de Lande Long, of Northallerton, co-founder with Mr. A. Dorman of the firm of Messrs. Dorman, Long and Company Limited, iron masters, Middlesbrough, who died on February 23 last, left estate valued at £94,693. A Sv/orn Boycott of German Goods.—The proprietors of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph have issued a form of oath for general circulation as a means of effecting a legitimate reprisal on Germany. The printed form which is being distributed (adorned with the flags of the Allies) contains the following wording : “ A solemn oath. To mark our horror and disgust of the methods of Germany since July 1914, we swear that we will not (a) knowingly purchase anything made in Germany, (&) transact business with or through a German for 10 years after peace is declared. So help us God.” (Signature to be appended.) Another document points out that in 1913 our exports to Germany were only half the value of our imports of German goods, and attention is drawn to the effects of undercutting by German interests. TOE LO1O0I COAL TRADE, Thursday, June 14. The market has been unusually busy this week, chiefly with orders for stock coal. Unfortunately the supply continues very meagre, but the monthly contract quantities are coming forward with greater regularity, and buying and selling have been brisk for all stocking purposes. The attendance on the market has been well maintained, but few of the colliery representatives have any free coal to offer, and the bulk of the buying and selling has been from factors and contractors who may have a little surplus to spare. All the larger merchants are buying freely for winter stocks, and the general public are ordering very freely for the same purpose. This means that the wharves and depots are kept very bare, and loaded wagons are quickly cleared immediately on their arrival in London. The quantities coming forward to London have not increased much, and the actual supplies in the hands of the merchants are very small. Some talk has been devoted to the prospect of certain of the North and East London stations having fair sidings for coal traffic being closed in the near future for Government purposes in order to provide stacking accommodation for winter supplies. The seaborne market has been fairly well supplied. Thirty- nine vessels were entered for Monday's market as arriving in the River Thames, and 14 for Wednesday. These, how- ever, were all contract cargoes, and principally for gas purposes. None were offered on the open market, and, as a matter of fact, the seaborne house coal market is very scantily provided for. Depots in the south of London complain of an unusual shortage of coal. The shipping trade is steady, but the difficulty of obtaining a sufficiency of vessels is very acute, especially at the Humber ports. Freights are very firm. The Tyne ports report very little business, but from the Humber to London boats have been fixed at 19s. 6d. to 20s. per ton freights. All f.o.b. prices remain stationary, and there is very little alteration in any of the ordinary pit prices. Colliery quotations are largely nominal, as so little coal is offered. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, June 8.—The seaborne house coal market was again unaltered, with no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 33. Monday, June 11.—The seaborne house coal market remained about the same as on Friday, no sales being reported, supplies being limited. Cargoes, 39. Wednesday, June 13.—The seaborne house coal market was somewhat quiet, a fair enquiry was noticeable, but no transactions reported. Cargoes, 14. SOUTH WALES MIHIHG TIMBER TRADE. There is reason for the belief that the Government authorities are now aware that it is hopeless to expect that home-grown timber will entirely displace foreign supplies. The primary idea of restricting foreign supplies was to save shipping space, but it has been conclusively proved that no shipping space will be conserved by stopping the imports of pitwood from the near French and Bay ports. The bulk of South Wales pitwood supplies are taken from these ports by coasting vessels, which, in the absence of a pitwood cargo, would come back in ballast. The lack of co-ordination between the various Government departments causes endless difficulty to collieries and pit- wood merchants. Several collieries are running on short stocks while home-grown stocks are insufficient. The present is the wrong time for cutting wood for collieries. From October onwards is regarded as the best time, but with foreign supplies coming to hand slowly, collieries are anxious as to the position. During the week ended June 9 the imports of foreign mining timber were as follow :— Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) :— Date. To— Loads. June 2 G. H. Mitchell ................... 100 „ 2 Lysberg Limited .......... 1,200 „ 4 E. Marcesche.............. 960 „ 5 Lysberg Limited (2 cargoes) ... 6,720 „ 5 Morgan and Cadogan (2 cargoes) 1,468 „ 7 Lysberg Limited ............ 840 „ 8 Vyvyan Kelly ................... 1,330 Total......12,618 Newport:— June 2 The Pitwood Growers Limited... 1,980 „ 4 E. Marcesche........................... 960 „ 6 T.P. Thomas...................... 960 Total..... 3,900 Swansea:—■ June 6 Grant Hayward............... 168 . Port Talbot:— June 8 Lysberg Limited ........... 750 Market quotations were nominal at 75s. ex ship Cardiff; but there is a consensus of opinion that unless ameliorative measures are quickly introduced the price of foreign timber will be driven to 80s. The Bristol Channel Pitwood Importers' Association received a letter from the Controller of Import Restrictions requesting that a deputation of members representative of the trade should be formed to meet him at a date to be convened. Messrs. W. H. Williams, Max Widemann, H. N. Vyvyan, A. Nicholas, T. A. Blane and T. P. Cook were appointed as representing the French, Spanish and Portuguese trades, to wait upon the Controller. The request of the Controller has given a considerable measure of satisfaction to pitwood merchants. The South Wales merchants are chafing at the exceptional delay with respect to licences, and their businesses in general are suffering to a great extent. No pitwood has been received from Spain for some time, the whole situation depending on shipping tonnage. The British Consular authorities in Spain are urging merchants to take supplies, while merchants here cannot obtain the necessary licences to import, and in many cases the necessary vessels. It is stated that large supplies of timber are awaiting shipment, and that the wood conse- quently is rapidly deteriorating. Landowners in many cases are dissatisfied with the prices offered for their woodland tracts, and much business is consequently being held up. The South Wales and Monmouthshire Coalowners' Asso- ciation Limited have made great efforts to increase deliveries of home-grown wood to their members. Through the Government they have secured the necessary labour, and the transport difficulty has been met by the employment of motor lorries. The weekly deliveries are increasing, but much larger quantities are shortly anticipated. Arrivals of wood from Weston, Minehead and Cornwall to South Wales ports continue good. Messrs. F. R. Howe and Company, foreign pitwood importers, of Cardiff and Newport, is the fourth firm of importers to turn attention to the home-grown trade. Large plantations have recently been purchased, and work upon these is to commence as soon as arrangements as to labour have been completed. In this respect the Govern- ment authorities will help to provide the labour. Light railways are to be constructed for the quick carriage of the wood to the main lines, and supplies will be shipped from Bridgwater and Highbridge across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh ports. The wood is fir and larch, and some thousands of tons of timber suitable for mining require- ments are expected to be secured. THE IRISH GOAL TRADE, Thursday, June 14. Dublin. Trade continues quiet, prices remaining unchanged at the rates ruling for some time past, but steamer freights from Scotland have advanced Is. 6d. per ton within the past fortnight owing to shortage of tonnage and longer prescribed routes. Quotations in the city are:—Best Orrell, 44s. per ton; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s. ; best slack, 36s.; steam coal, from about 40s. per ton ; house coal, retail, from 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack of 10 stone. Pithead prices of Irish coals at the Castlecomer Collieries, Co. Kilkenny, are as follow:—Best small coal, 28s. 4d. per ton ; best large coal, 26s. 8d. ; second quality coal, 25s. ; bottom coal, 23s. 4d. There are extensive demands for these coals from all parts of the country, but the supply is necessarily hampered by restricted transport facilities. The cost of cartage from the mines to Kilkenny is 10s. per ton. Prices of coals from the Wolfhill 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 railway connection with the mines. At the end of last week a further strike of coal labourers occurred at the Dublin docks on the North Wall side of the port. Some 60 or 70 tons of coal remained undischarged from a steamer, and the men demanded an extra 5s. each to finish the task. This was not conceded, and they accordingly struck work. The coal vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted to 48, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being 20,000 tons. Belfast. Winter supplies are, in many instances, being laid in by inland consumers, but locally matters are very quiet in the coal trade. Current quotations for household coals are as follow:—Best Arley, 43s. 6d. per ton ; Orrell nuts, 42s. 6d.; English house, 41s. 6d.; Scotch, 39s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 39s. 6d. The price of coke is, approximately, from 40s. to 48s. per ton. Irish coal at Craigahulliar, Portrush, Co. Antrim, is 14s. per ton at the pithead, and 30s. per ton delivered in Belfast. Freights are now firmer. From May 13 to June 2 the total number of coal-laden vessels entering Belfast Harbour was 192. THE TIH-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Makers are so fully booked up that it is almost impos- sible to obtain a quotation for tin-plates for delivery under three to four months, and few works will name a price, owing to the great uncertainty of obtaining steel bars. The shortage in steel is becoming very serious. 35s. to 36s. basis has been accepted for cokes during the last few days, but Is. to 2s. a box more money is being asked to-day. In regard to wasters, restricted sizes are very scarce and difficult to obtain, even at 33s. to 34s. basis. Free sizes are picked up at once, and prices paid range from 35s. to 40s. basis. All f.o.b. Wales. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Business in the London market is still dull, and reported transactions are comparatively few. Some pitch cargoes were notified lately, but the advanced season is against any substantial development in that direction. Tar is in request by the local authori- ties for road use. In the provinces the various pro- ducts are practically unchanged in value. The basis of provincial prices is as follows:—Tar (gas works), 20s. 6d. to 24s. 6d. Pitch, east coast, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton; ditto, Manchester, 15s. 6d. to 16s.; ditto, Liver- pool, 16s. 6d. to 17s.; ditto, Clyde, 17s. to 18s. Benzol, 90 per cent., north, lO^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, 3Jd. to 4^d. Carbolic acid, 60 per cent., east and west coasts, 3s. 4d., naked. Sulphate of Ammonia. — An official announcement has been made regarding fixed prices. Not much business is passing on home account, and none at all for shipment, as the restriction in that direction is still enforced. Nitrate of Soda.—A slight change has occurred in conse- quence of larger supplies. Quotations are 25s. 6d. per cwt. for ordinary quality, and 26s. refined. Imports of Pit Props.—In May, 98,981 loads of pit props, of the value of £430,015, were imported into the United Kingdom. The imports in May last year were 172,292 loads, value £562,617, and in May of the preceding year 252,798 loads, value £421,712. The total imports during the five completed months of the year were 474,583 loads, value £1,699,973, compared with 867,689 loads, value £2,613,J08 a year ago. Denmark’s Fuel Shortage.—A Danish Mission is visiting various belligerent countries to negotiate questions of importance to Denmark. The questions to be discussed with Great Britain relate chiefly to coal and grain sup- plies. In a recent speech, M. Rode, Minister of the Interior, stated that Denmark required 300,000 tons of coal a month, besides coke and other fuel. Eighty ships were required to cross the North Sea regularly in order to bring this fuel, but these ships were no longer available, and the number decreased daily. In the months February to May, Denmark needed 1,200,000 tons, but received only a little over 400,000 tons. Negotiations were being made with the belligerent Powers to allow American oil tank ships to sail under Danish colours.