June 29, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1223 Stocks of the former coals are very plentiful, especially of large and cobbles; the machine-made kinds, however, are in excellent demand, and customers are experiencing much delay in having their orders attended to. There is an excellent demand for large steam coals, and the prices for these are being well maintained. Smalls are in poor demand, and prices are not at all firm. House coals are very scarce, and merchants are looking forward to the winter with much anxiety. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 28. ‘ The London coal trade is gradually overtaking the large influx of orders from the general public, and supplies by rail and sea are coming forward with increasing regularity. Very few depots are short of coal now, but the labour difficulty in cartage and delivering is still very pronounced. Steam coal and small nuts are exceedingly short, as so much of the coal is required for Government and munition use. The factories along the Thames side are falling back upon unscreened coal and the best qualities of nutty slacks. Kitchener cobbles and bakers’ nuts are more plentiful from the Leicestershire and Warwickshire districts, and altogether the outlook is much more satisfactory than last year. In the seaborne market 41 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames for Monday’s market, and 14 for Wednes- day. Freights are still ruling high. There is a constant shortage of wagons, and many of the collieries in the Yorkshire district and further north are feeling it very keenly, but in the Nottingham and Derby district an unusual number of private wagons are on hand. The Controller is aiming at lessening the transport arrangements with the railway companies, and the long distance collieries are suffering just now from shortage of wagons far more than are the comparatively nearer districts. The depots in London are fairly well supplied with coal, but the scarcity of labour causes a growing difficulty in handling the arrivals for delivery; and those who are left to do.the loading up and delivery are not the strong, vigorous men that were formerly at work at the depots. Women are to be employed in weighing up the smaller parcels of coals in many of the poorer districts The returns show that a bigger tonnage is being delivered this month than during the corresponding month of last year. Orders are being dealt with in rotation, and customers are assured that they may depend upon their supplies before wintry weather sets in. The Controller is considering a general scheme for securing a fair distribution of house coal in London and the surrounding districts during the winter. Coal clubs and co-operative societies, who can buy in bulk and under- take the fair distribution to their members, are distinctly encouraged. A special order with reference to the distri- bution of coal in London for the winter is likely to be issued early in July (so the trade are informed), which will define the measures to be taken in the urban districts to secure a sufficient supply of coal, and to arrange for a satisfactory distribution during the autumn and coming winter. Extra coals are to be diverted to London, and large reserves are likely to be built up and stored in certain depots, especially in the Metropolitan area, so as to minimise the costand difficulty of delivery. Special arrange- ments have been made which will divert a large tonnage of North Staffordshire and Lancashire coal from crossing ©ver to Ireland, and will bring the coal down south, a largely increased quantity of Scotch coal being sent to Ireland by way of compensation. Contracts are all renewed at last year’s prices, but in many cases the monthly tonnage has been reduced. All pit prices remained unchanged. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, June 22.—Seaborne house coal was in fair demand, but no cargoes were available Cargoes, 34. Monday, June 25.— Seaborne house coal was in good demand to-day, but the supply being limited no alteration took place. Cargoes, 41. Wednesday, June 27.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, the enquiry continuing good, but nothing on offer. Cargoes, 14. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market remains unchanged, both in London and the provinces. London pitch for early delivery is quoted at 37s. 6d. to 38s. net per ton f.o.b. makers’ works. The official prices rule for benzene, toluene, and carbolic acid, and ordinary London creosote is 4^d. to 4|d. net per gal. ex works. 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. 6d.; 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 3Jd. Heavy oils, in bulk, north, 3fd. to 4^d. Carbolic acid, 60 per cent., east and west coasts, 3s. 4d., naked. Sulphate of Ammonia. — The possibility of a partial release of this article for export has been foreshadowed. In the home market, prompt business is nil, though there are numerous enquiries for the coming season at official rates. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There are a fair number of enquiries, but few makers care to take on any new business, owing to the great diffi- culty in obtaining supplies of raw materials. Delivery before October is practically impossible now, all works being fully booked. 34s. 6d.*has been paid for I C 14 X 20, and 68s. 6d. for I C 28 X 20 cokes, and these are about the figures ruling to-day for delivery, say, October to December. Tn regard to squares and odd sizes, it is most difficult to find a maker who will tackle these at all, but where quotations are obtainable, 36s. to 37s. 6d. basis is asked for approved specifications in coke finish/ Class A only, f.o.b. Wales. Free sizes are scarce, and realise easily 40s. and upwards for either perfects or wasters. Restricted sizes in wasters are quoted at about 33s. for C W 14 x 20, and 65s. 6d. to 66s. for C W 28 x 20. Char- coals rule firm, at 40s. basis and upwards. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. SOUTH WALES MIRING TIMBER TRADE. Allocation of General Monthly Licence. An Allocation Committee has been formed for the pur- pose of allotting supplies to the several importers of foreign mining timber in the Bristol Channel district in accordance with the quantity prescribed by the Controller of Import Restrictions. This committee will meet every day for the purposes of allocation and adjustment, and will represent about 20 mining timber importers. The division will be made among those who have proved they were importers of French and Portuguese timber in 1914 and 1915, and allotments will be granted in proportion to the imports received by each firm in 1914 and 1915. The total quan- tity allowed by the Controller to be imported during June amounts to 80,000 tons, of which five-eighths, or 50,000 tons, will be received by the agents supplying the collieries on the Admiralty list, the balance of 30,000 tons to be allocated by the committee amongst the various importers. Difficulties have arisen at the Allocation Committee’s meetings owing to the fact that the Controller granted licences to several importers and consumers before the scheme was mooted. The committee has decided that these promises will be respected, and the quantities deducted from their general licence, assurance being sent to the Controller that this would be done. An arithmetical apportionment is not possible this month owing to the fulfilment of these promises, whilst arrears are not to be carried from one month to another. Next month, • how- ever, it is hoped that a satisfactory apportionment will be possible. Those importers who received supplies of Spanish wood during 1914 and 1915 are not to come into the scheme with respect to their takings of Spanish wood. This hits one or two firms very hard; but, on the other hand, to include these firms, and allow them to import French and Portuguese timber in the same proportion as their imports of Spanish timber in 1914 and 1915, would adversely influence the other importers whose sole trade was with French and Portuguese wood. The Position of Colliery Importers. One or two collieries, who, for self-preservation, imported direct in 1916, are anxious to continue so importing, but find that under the scheme they are not entitled to do so, owing to their not having imported wood in 1914 and 1915. The committee, however, intend to respect the licences granted to these concerns prior to the creation of the scheme, and suggest that afterwards the quantities required should be procured from the Admiralty agents out of the five-eighths of the total imports reserved for them. The committee have a hard task, especially as the total quantity allowed to be imported falls each month until only 15,000 tons will be allowed per month for October onwards. The clerical work will be heavy, and render a levy towards expenses necessary, but the scheme will prove far better than the possibility of further restric- tive measures by the authorities. During the week ending June 23, the actual quantity of mining timber imported into the Bristol Channel dis- trict amounted to 24,573 loads — 13,780 loads for the Admiralty agents and 10,793 loads for other importers. The actual imports to consignees were as follow:— Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) :— Date. To— Loads. June 16—Lysberg Limited ........... 2,000 ,, 18—Morgan and Cadogan .......... 180 ■ ,, 18—Guthrie Heywood ............ 156 ,, 20—Lysberg Limited ........... 3,450 ,, 20—Lysberg Limited ........... 2,760 ,, 20—Guthrie Heywood ........... 108 ,, 20—Guthrie Heywood ............. 180 . ,, 20—Budd and Company ............. 66 ,, 21—Pyman Watson ................ 730 ,, 21—Morgan and Cadogan ......... 192 ,, 21—Morgan and Cadogan ........ 168 ,, 21—Morgan and Cadogan ......... 168 ,, 21—Morgan and Cadogan ......... 156 ,, 21—Morgan and Cadogan ....... 1,092 ,, 22—Franklyn Thomas ............. 625 ,, 22—Lysberg Limited ........... 1,800 ,, 22—Lysberg Limited ........... 1,200 ,, 22—Lysberg Limited ........•.. 2,400 ,, 22—James and Emanuel ......... 3,000 Total ........ 20,431 Newport :— June 20—Evans and Reid ................ 660 ,, 22—Franklyn Thomas ............ 3,000 Total ........ 3,660 Swansea :— June 19—Lysberg Limited ............. 170 ,, 19—-W. Davies .............. 112 ,, 20—Morgan and Cadogan .......... 100 Total .......... 382 Port Talbot :— June 18—E. W. Cook and Company ......... 100 Quotations were nominal, at 75s. per ton ex ship Cardiff or Newport. Home-Grown Supplies. Each month, under the Controller’s scheme, will witness a reduction in the quantity of French and Portuguese timber allowed to be imported of 10,000 tons until October is reached. In that month and after only 40,000 tons, or one-half the present imports, will be allowed. Of this quantity, 25,000 tons will be reserved for the agents supplying the Admiralty collieries, and the balance— 15,000 tons—for allocation amongst about 20 other importers. There is a presumption that by this period (October) the deliveries of home-grown mining timber will have so increased as to neutralise the sharp curtailment of foreign imports. The question is being asked whether this is possible. The deliveries of the Coal Owners’ Pit- wood Association, the largest body handling home-grown mining timber in the South Wales district, have increased of late, but from now onwards much heavier quantities will have to be obtained and assembled if collieries are to secure adequate supplies. During October, and each month onwards, deliveries of home-grown wood will have to be at least 40,000 tons per month greater than obtains at the present time; .otherwise the Controller’s sanction must be secured for a larger quantity of foreign wood to be imported. A further list of additions (No. 29) to the Statutory List of firms of enemy nationality or enemy association with whom persons in the United Kingdom are forbidden to trade, has been issued by the Foreign Trade Department. Copies can be obtained from the Superintendent of Publi- cations, H.M. Stationery Office, Imperial House, Kings- way, W.C. COAL OWNERS AS FARMERS. In the Colliery Guardian for January 19, page 134, there appeared an account of the manner in which the Priestman Collieries Limited utilise the waste heat from coke making and of the electro-chemical pro- cesses undertaken by them at Rowland’s Gill. The account showed that the elimination of waste and the transformation of waste into valuable products of considerable national importance at such times as the present had been attained. It should now be supple- mented by some account of the manner in which that progressive colliery company has overcome difficulties incidental on damage by subsidences, the feeding of its ponies, etc. The company’s success was demonstrated to a party of members of the Armstrong College Agricultural Students’ Association who visited the colliery com- pany’s farms at Pawston Birks, Greenwell House, and Stephen’s Hill, all situated within a few miles of Blaydon, last week. A few years ago the company decided, in view of the extensive nature of its under- ground operations, and the fact that the land over the workings was of such a nature that subsidences were frequent, and damage claims numerous, to acquire the land, and this was done in 1913. About 2,000 acres, some of which is described as being the worst land in the county of Durham, “ almost a fox cover that would not carry a peewit,” were taken over. Large tracts of the land were covered by whin bushes and bracken at the time of purchase, and altogether the venture did not seem to outsiders to be particularly profitable from a business point of view. It was stated, in fact, that the farms brought poverty and ruin to those who tenanted them. However, the whins were stubbed out, and a good dressing of basic slag was applied, after which the land was ploughed up. Much money was spent in divers ways in order to convert the barren and unprofitable soil into material for the good grow- ing of crops. Superphosphates, sulphate, slag, dis- solved bones, and ground lime have all been added to the soil, and the visitors last week were given a most cheering account of the success of the enterprise. At Pawston Birks, a 250-acre farm, of which 80 acres are arable, oats, wheat, potatoes, turnips, mangolds, and seed and meadow hay are grown, and the farm carries an exceptionally large stock, nearly 300 sheep being winter-fed on turnips. At Greenwell House and Stephen’s Hill—354 acres, of which 230 acres are arable—a five-course rotation is worked: seed hay, corn, potatoes, turnips, and (again) corn. From 600 to 700 sheep winter here, and a large quantity of live stock is carried all the year round, the scientific manuring resulting in nutritious grass. In spite of the very considerable cost of bringing these farms into “ ship shape,” a very handsome return has been the reward of the company. The whole of the pit ponies from the company’s collieries are fed on oats grown bn the farms, grazing costs are practically nil, claims for damage from subsidence have been ruled out, colliery extensions can more conveniently be made, and work- men’s dwellings may be erected without hindrance. Many of the miners from the collieries work on the land in times of stress and at harvest periods. Men disabled in the pit are frequently put to healthy and congenial employment on small-holdings. In fact, the venture has proved to be an all-round success. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 28. Dublin. Locally there has been a slight falling-off in demand during the week, but the country trade is active, as a disposition is shown to secure stocks for autumn and winter requirements. Prices have been advanced Is. per ton since last report, and are as follow:—Best Orrell, 45s. per ton; Yorkshire brights, 44s.; best Wigan, 43s.; best slack, 37s. The Coal Controller requires 150,000 tons of coal for London at once, and has cut off the supply of Yorkshire coal to Ireland for the present. Supplies of Orrell, Wigan, and Whitehaven coal are still available. Irish coals at the Castlecomer Collieries, Co. Kilkenny, are: Best small coal, 28s. 4d. per ton; best large coal, 26s. 8d.; second quality coal, 25s.; bottom coal, 23s. 4d.—■ all at the pithead. Coals from the Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County are as follow : Malting coal, 46s. per ton; house, gas, and steam coal, 40s.; lime culm, 16s.; fine culm, 12s. per ton—all f.o.r. Athy, on the Great Southern and Western line. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays during the past week was 30,000 tons, as compared with 29,000 tons the week previously. An important statement is awaited in connection with the railway service to the Leinster coal fields. It is now pro- posed to link up the Kilkenny Collieries, which will be done by a slight variation of the Wolf hill line, and, as a result, engineering difficulties, which were a deterrent to the realisation of what was known as the larger scheme, will be obviated. Athy wall now be the terminus of the colliery railway system. The new line to Wolf hill is under construction, and the road is being levelled and founda- tions are being prepared for the bridges which will cross the River Barrow and other rivers on the way to the collieries. Belfast. There is practically no new feature in the coal trade at this port, and prices are all unchanged at late rates, 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 quality of this coal is improving, and so far there has been no difficulty in disposing of the whole of the output in the territory lying between Ballymena and Londonderry included. Some of the coal has been tested by the Midland Railway at Belfast, with a viewr to using it over that line. Mr. J. C. B. Hendy, mining engineer, of Etherley, co. Durham, has been elected a director of the Bishop Auck- land District Gas and By-products Company, in the place of the late Mr. J. Coward, of Durham,