June 29, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1221 Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The coal trade in this locality is very much easier this week, and the supply of all sorts is now almost in excess of requirements. There has, so far, been no diminution on local manufacturing account, and the home market is still fairly steady, but landsale is very quiet, and during the last two or three weeks more coal has been sent to the docks than it has been possible to deal with. The export demand is still very firm, and there is a fair enquiry for coal for outside districts, but in some of the home branches business is quieter than it has been for months. All con- sumers are, therefore, receiving as much as they need, and at the moment some users are already laying in stocks for the winter. Gas coal is firm, and engine fuels for the home railways are in strong request. Industrial fuel is fairly steady, and local needs are still very large, but the demand for even this class of fuel is not quite so firm as it was. All the pits in the county are working on an average of six days a week. Some of the collieries have sufficient orders on hand to keep them well employed, but at present new business is not coming in quite so freely. The house coal trade is lifeless, and no improvement may be looked for in this branch while the present fine weather continues. Business is well maintained in the coastwise trade, but the scarcity of tonnage is preventing the Irish market from receiving anything like the amount of coal that is now available for shipment. There is a strong demand for gas and works fuel for Ireland, but house coal is only quiet. The shipments this week have amounted to 1,840 tons, compared with 4,860 tons last week and 5,025 tons at the corresponding period of last year. No coal has been consigned to Belfast or Dublin, but some good cargoes have been sent to Larne, Bangor, Carrickfergus and Porta- ferry. Coke makers are busier than ever, and the whole of the output for the Cumberland by-product ovens is being absorbed at the iron works in the district. Prices of all sorts are unchanged. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is quoted at 23s. 4d. per ton, with best shipping coal at 19s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. Best bunkers are in brisk demand at 30s. per ton, and best gas coal delivered is quoted at 20s. per ton. Other current quotations are as follow:— BestCumberl’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. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts at pit Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts „ BestCumberl’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. Greater activity than ever prevails in the haematite pig iron trade and allied industries in West Cumberland and North Lancashire. The demand for metal is unprecedented, and the output of both special and ordinary iron is still inadequate to meet it. The number of furnaces blowing in the^whole district is 30, and the entire output is going into immediate consumption. The needed increase in production cannot be secured until there is a substantial increase in the ouput of native iron ore. 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., with warrants at cash at 115s. per ton. Special iron is 140s. per ton, and semi-special iron is quoted at 135s. per ton f.o.t. The amount of iron in stock in West Cumberland store yards still stands at 430 tons. Steel makers are very busy, and all the plants in the district are working at top pressure. There is a very keen demand for billets, but at the moment very little business is being transacted. Native iron ore is in brisk request, and all the iron ore mines in the district are again working full time. Owing to the dispute in the Millom district, production has been rather lower than usual during the past fortnight. Prices of all sorts are at the maximum. The imports of foreign iron ore^at Maryport this week have amounted to 11,000 tons. ■ LanMSlilre. COAL. The domestic trade continues to be as brisk as is usual in winter, and the demand from the consumer exceeds what can be dealt with promptly with the present supplies and the diminished carting powers. Shipping conditions on the whole remain much as they were. The scarcity of steamers keeps requirements for general bunkering and export to a moderate level, but at the same time there is practically no surplus of coal. Consequently, prices of Lancashire steam coal are fairly steady, and rule from 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. f.o.b., though spot lots may be obtained at slightly lower rates. In the coastwise trade much the same conditions of affairs prevail as in the inland household trade. There are Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal .— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal.... Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common do. ............. 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 24/6-25/6 16/ 16/ 15/ 15/ 14/ 14/ Last year’s prices. 21/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 24/ upwds 18/ 25/6-26/6 16/ 15/6 14/6 upwds orders for all the coal that can be supplied, but it is difficult to find suitable tonnage. Slacks and small fuel on the whole are rather easier, but any small surplus available readily changes hands, if not for immediate use, for stocking purposes. ----------------- South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was a good attendance on the Manchester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. The scarcity of house fuel still continues, and this also applies to "manufacturing fuel, but slack is offered more freely, and prices are not quite so firm. Shipping coal is steady, going almost entirely on contract account. There is nothing yet to report about the distribu- tion of coal under control arrangements. Prices generally are as below. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal prices. prices. prices. Best 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ Medium 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ 19/ -20/3 Common 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ Furnace coal 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ ■ 17/ -18/ Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ abt. 22/ Best slack 16/ upwds 16/ upwds 15/6 upwds Common slack 14/6 upwds 14/6 upwds 14/ upwds IRON. There is nothing new to report during the present week. Works are all fully occupied and are extremely busy. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The market on Tuesday was both well attended and animated ; all sections of the industry were well represented among those present, especially London and local merchants and Hull shippers, and there was exceptionally strong pressure for prompt supplies of all qualities of coal. There was no increase in the amount offering, however, and transactions were limited. There was considerable discus- sion on the market relative to State control, certain principles of distribution which are said to be a feature of the forthcoming scheme being the subject of interested conversation, and on the whole were favourably commented upon. It is inevitable that considerable rearrangements of supply will be involved by the scheme, but the tone of the discussion indicated that all classes of traders, without exception, are prepared to carry out the wishes of the authorities. Tne pits are still working full time, with an adequate wagon supply, and the output is fully up to recent average. The volume of house coal trade with London shows no falling off, and it is reported from the depots that some little progress is being made with ground stocks. The latter are so far almost entirely secondary qualities, as best Haigh Moors and Silkstones are in such limited supply that there does not seem to be much prospect of getting any into reserve. A fair average tonnage is being sent coastwise to the Thames and the south coast, mostly from Goole. There has been a noticeable drop in freights, and it is possible now to secure an occasional boat from Goole to London at 19s. 6d., with Hull, 19s. The house coal trade in the West Riding proceeds on the customary lines. Although supplies have been difficult to secure, it is probable that in the bulk they will be nearly equal to the same period of last year. Current quotations, more or less nominal, are:—Haigh Moor selected, 21s. to 22s.; Silkstone best, 20s. to 21s.; Silkstone house, 18s. to 19s.; other qualities 17s. to 18s. The output of gas coal is satisfactorily maintained, and stocks at the works still increase. Contracting is now in full swing, and generally there is little difficulty in arranging renewals, but in every case these are subjected to the usual safe- guards. It is quite expected that in the altered distribu- tion very little Yorkshire gas coal will be allowed to go to Lancashire, but there will be no interference with London. There is no noticeable change in regard to manufacturing fuel. Supplies are about equal to the needs of consumers, but not more than this. Best rough slacks are in keen demand, and supplies of washed nuts are still reserved for Government requirements. Washed furnace coke is very active, and there are Lno stocks on the benches or in trucks. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s tast 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 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull 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 25/6-26/ Barnsley. COAL. So far as the open market is concerned there is practically no fuel on offer, the well maintained output being required to satisfy contract deliveries, which, in some instances, are considerably in arrear. A large amount of fuel is also being taken for national purposes, with the result that reduced supplies have to be accepted elsewhere. The prospect of any alteration in the position is also rather remote * at_ present. Much interest is being shown in the prospective detailed scheme of controlling the supply, and collieries are keeping as free from further obligations as possible in view of this. The supply of large steam fuel keeps up well, though the demand is especially heavy, particularly for home needs and for Admiralty purposes. The enquiry on export account is fairly strong, but there is little surplus in the hands of exporters, and the scarcity of tonnage still checks business. Enquiries with regard to steam nuts are few, consumers recog- nising the futility of obtaining this grade of fuel with the heavy demand there is for the munition works and other engineering concerns. The experience with regard to gas coal is variable, but, generally speaking, the deliveries under contract are not on the scale expected, and do not permit of much addition to stocks. Excepting ordinary slacks, which are still in quieter demand, there continues to be a good enquiry for all classes of small fuel, with an increasing difficulty in procuring an adequate supply of slacks suitable for coke manufacture. There is also a growing pressure for larger deliveries of furnace coke, and supplies in some respects have become inadequate for present needs. The urgent pressure for larger deliveries of house coal for London and the south is unabated, and merchants in other districts are unable to procure such deliveries as will permit of any material laying in of stocks. Values all round remain of a firm description. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ Secondary do 17/ -17/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 Best house nuts 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ Best washed nuts 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 15/6-16/3 15/6-16/3 15/9-16/3 Best slack 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ 12/6-13/ Secondary do 10/6—11/ 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 15/6-16/ 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 16/ 16/ 16/ Furnace coke 25/8 25/8 25/6-26/ Hull. COAL. Supplies are coming along from the collieries somewhat better. From all directions there are heavy calls upon the Yorkshire and Derbyshire output, and collieries are being very hardly pressed to meet contracts and official commit- ments. France is taking the bulk of the shipments from the Humber; some is also going to Italy, and a few cargoes have recently been sent to neutral destinations. But speaking generally there is little or no surplus or “free” coal for export, and buyers with less urgent demands are frequently requested to turn their attention to other sources where the pressure is not so great. Large steam coal is being absorbed in considerable quantities by the Admiralty and for official purposes. Manufacturing fuels are scarce and eagerly sought after for home purposes, and a steady demand for gas and house fuels is developing. Though the prompt market is on the whole quiet, it has a steady tone, and late quotations are firmly held. Approximate values for prompt and next week’s shipment are:—Best South Yorkshire hards, 30s.; washed nuts, 24s. to 25s. ; washed small coal, 20s.; Parkgates, 27s. 6d.; rough slack, 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d.; screened gas, 26s.; West Yorkshire Hartleys, 27s. 6d. (Goole), 28s. 3d. (Hull). Derbyshire steams are not available for export, and are nominally 28s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. (at Grimsby or Immingham). In the freight market the supply of tonnage is only moderate, and frequently below requirements, exorbitant rates still being quoted by foreign owners for northern neutral ports, with little or no business resulting on this side. Chesterfield. COAL. The condition of the coal trade remains unchanged, the predominant feature being the very active demand for all classes of fuel. The warm weather does not appear to have caused much, if any, falling off in the number of orders from merchants for house coal, this being probably wanted for stocking purposes. Supplies, however, are still below market requirements. Fuel for munition works continues in urgent request, and there is an increased demand for hard coal for blastfurnaces, where it is used in conjunction with coke. More of this class of coal is now available for inland purposes, owing to the total prohibi- tion of the export of Derbyshire steam coal. Cobbles and nuts for gas producers in connection with the Sheffield steel works are in brisk demand, but there is a continued shortage of this class of coal. Slack for steam-raising is in steady request, and good deliveries are going forward to the Lancashire cotton mills. Locomotive coal is still in great demand, and gas coal is in equally good request. The condition of the coke trade is unchanged. The demand is of a steady character, and readily absorbs the whole production of the ovens. Prices remain firm at scheduled rates. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s. prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ 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. The demand for all classes of iron is on a large scale, and the works of the district continue to run at full pressure. -- -------------— ' Nottingham. COAL. A strong tone pervades all branches of the coal trade in this county. There is still a good deal of pressure on collieries from merchants and dealers for supplies of domestic fuel. Many householders are ordering freely in order to obtain stocks for the winter, but with the limited supplies obtainable by merchants, full deliveries to customers cannot in many cases be executed, the shortage of labour with regard to carting adding to the difficulties n other directions. The Government scheme in respect to