30

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 4, 1918.

THE COAL TRADE OF 1917.

(Continued from page 23.J

LONDON.

Taken as a whole, the past year has been full of busy
activity, and at no period has there been anything like
a dull trade, unless possibly the shortage of labour at
all the wharves and depots in the Metropolis necessi-
tated a limitation in the actual delivery, or the non-
arrival of the quantities expected caused a waiting
time. Order books have been over-full during the
whole of the year, and strenuous efforts and serious
pressure to fulfil all obligations resulted. New
elements of danger, and in some cases unusual acci-
dents at the- depots and to rolling stocks, have been
notified during the year. Delivery conditions have at
times been abnormal, and even adventurous.

The floor of the London Coal Exchange has under-
gone a remarkable change in its personnel, for all the
younger members of the trade, \ which at one time
formed so large a proportion of the regular habitues,
have joined up, and now the regular attenders are
either middle-aged or elderly people, with a sprinkling
of members wearing the uniform of the National
Guard.

During the year very stringent measures have been
taken by the Controller to prevent the bringing for-
ward by railway transport of coal coming from the
long distance collieries, and to render this possible
England has been divided into areas, and the supply
from Durham and Lancashire to London and the
South cut off; but in a multitude of cases substituted
coal from the nearer coal fields has been allocated to
London, so that, as a whole, the supplies have been
well maintained. The Coal Transport Reorganisation
Scheme came into effect on September 8. The con-
glomeration of untried coal naturally led to some con-
fusion at first, but as the merchants showed a keen
and strong desire to work with the Controller, and
better supplies were continually brought forward, diffi-
culties were soon overcome, and a considerable amount
of satisfaction evinced.

Allocation of Supplies.

Various meetings have been held during the year
with the Controller and the London Coal Merchants’
Committee, and every help has been given in obtain-
ing the services of supervisors representing the trade,
and also to assist in carrying out the London Coal
Distribution Scheme. Two of the main points were
that every consumer should have a sufficient supply
for the winter months, and that each merchant should
put on the ground a full six weeks’ supply of coal. To
this end, in August last 20,000 tons per week were
allocated for. London, in addition to what had been
usually sent there. Local authorities also took up the
question of providing for the smaller consumers, and
hundreds of tons have been stored in readiness for the
winter.	'

Collieries have been working full time throughout the
year, and very few colliery representatives have had
any free coal for sale; the entire output being
absorbed by contractors, and even then the shortage
has been most noticeable.

In September last the new regulations as to loading
and commandeering private owners’ wagons for muni-
tions and public institutions was felt very keenly by
owners of wagons, especially where the owners are out-
side the range of the new regulations as to the allo-
cated districts. It has since, however, been found
practicable and possible to confine the empties to the
nearer coal fields, and merchants have thus been able
to control to a very large extent the working of their
own rolling stock.

During the months of May, June, and July the quan-
tity of coal brought from the pit’s mouth to London
exceeded by a quarter of a million tons any recorded
supply during the same period of the year. Reserves
were steadily built up in the Metropolitan area, and
at the end of July an existing reserve of 70,000 tons
was reported, and arrangements were made for an
increase of at least 200,000 tons by the end of
September. The suggestion from the Coal Controller
that all the large houses should lay in a sufficient stock
of coal for the winter requirements had a very ready
response, and undoubtedly proved a great boon to the
London trade generally; and long before the advent
of cold weather it was seen that the Metropolis was
better prepared for its winter supply than ever has
been known before.

Prices and Transport.

As and from February 23, the Coal Controller took
over the direction of all the mines, but the prices had
been already settled by the Price of Coal (Limitation)
Act, 1915. In May last a strong move was made in
the direction of bringing colliery prices into line with
the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. The miners were
awarded Is. 6d. per day extra pay in September, and
collieries were empowered to charge 2s. 6d. per ton
extra from September 17 for all manufacturing coal,
and the same amount per ton for all domestic or house-
hold fuel from October 15. Considerable discussion
arose at the time with reference to bakers’ nuts and
cobbles and large institutions as to the date of this
advance, but finally a settlement was arrived at bring-
ing each of these into the category of manufacturing
fuel. The original advance of 4s. per ton on all pre-
war contracts was then advanced to 6s. 6d. per ton.

The Coal Transport Reorganisation Scheme came
into operation on September 10. This considerably
curtailed all long distance collieries from sending coal
to London, and the necessary changes practically can-
celled all contracts for the time being, but 11 per-
mitted ” coals were brought forward in larger quan-
tities to the Metropolis, and the monthly tonnage has
been well maintained. A new scheme for limiting
factors and wholesale merchants’ profits was also insti-
tuted in October last, and no sales could be made which
would carry larger profits for the factor than those
allowed by the Board of Trade Order, viz.:—Railway
companies, for consumption on locomotives, 3d. per

ton; coal purchased for other purposes by railway
companies. 6d. per ton; national factories. 6d. per ton;
gas and electric works, 9d. per ton; coal sent to retail
merchants, Is. per ton; all other coal, Is. 3d. per ton;
coal sold to consumers (less than 30 tons) who have
no depot and who do their own cartage, etc., 2s. per
ton ; and where coal is dealt with by more than one
factor or merchant, the above profit must be divisible
between them so as to guarantee that the maximum
profit shall not be exceeded.

On or near July 1 all the yearly contracts were
renewed, and in every case at last year’s prices, with,
unfortunately, a decreased monthly quantity; but in
September last all contract prices advanced 2s. 6d.
per ton on account of the additional wage granted to
the miners.

The Household Coal Distribution Order (No. 1),
1917, was in the hands of all the Metropolitan borough
councils and the coal merchants generally early in
J uly, and steps were at once taken to have every house-
hold registered, and the exact quantity allocated in
accordance with the number of rooms in each house.
In the meantime, the earnest suggestion of the Con-
troller to fill up every cellar and outhouse with a
good supply of coal during the summer months was
pushed forward, with very gratifying results. Some
even stored in gardens, but the Coal Distribution Order
did not come into effect until October 1. The ration-
ing system was very simple, and the allowance for each
house was considered fairly ample. The circular from
the Board of Trade pressed all householders to lay in
their stock on or before July 31. Borough councils
were very busy during the summer months in making
arrangements for a fairly good stock of coal, not only
for their own use as a council, but to get in a large
stock in anticipation of the winter for distribution in
the poorer neighbourhoods.

From October 1 to March 31 the allowance to all
consumers was as follows: Four rooms were allowed

2	cwt. per week; five or six rooms, 3 cwt. per week;
seven rooms, 1 ton per month; eight rooms, 1 ton

3	cwt.; nine or 10 rooms, 1 ton 7 cwt.; 11 or 12 rooms,
1 ton 10 cwt. ; 13, 14, and 15 rooms, 2 tons; more than
15 rooms, 2 tons 10 cwt. From April 1 to September 30
the allowance to be halved.

The port of Goole, which at one time shipped a large
quantity of coal for London and the coasting trade,
has been very hardly hit by the war, as the Govern-
ment have requisitioned practically all the local ships
and traded them to other ports. Goole’s foreign trade
was almost entirely to Belgium, Germany, and Holland
—and this has, of course, been stopped. Endeavours
are being made to.bring about an improvement in the
coal shipment to London and the South.

Results of Scarcity.

Hard steam coals have been exceedingly scarce
throughout the whole of the year. The enormous
increase in the manufacture of all classes of war
materials, and the unusual demand for this class of
coal for munition centres, prevented any of it reach-
ing London. The demand for shipment also, with the
higher prices ruling, has absorbed all the output.
Double-screened nuts have practically ceased to be
offered. The strong demand from electricity works
and power stations has cleared the market of this kind
of fuel.

Slacks have varied somewhat in demand. At certain
seasons there was a plentiful supply, *but at others
the consumption has been far beyond the actual
tonnage available. A large quantity has been used
for coke making, and prices have been firmly held all
through the year.

The best qualities of Welsh Admiralty coal have
been reserved for Government use practically the whole
of the year.

Trolleys have been entirely withdrawn from the
streets of London, as the merchants have found every
vehicle and every carman needed for the ordinary
delivery trade.

Extraordinary scenes were witnessed early in the
year at some of the coal depots in the poorer districts
of London owing to the scarcity of trolleymen. Coal
wharves were invaded with all kinds of receptacles,
perambulators, mailcarts, laundry baskets, sacks, tin
boxes, and even zinc baths to carry off the coal so
urgently needed. The depots had the coal, but the
failure of the distributive system was the main cause
of the coal queues.

The basis of the Coal Transport Reorganisation
Scheme, which was inaugurated in September last, was
that (1) the consumption of coal should take place as
near as possible to the producing point; (2) that in
view of the superior facilities afforded by main trunk
lines, all traffic should follow these routes wherever
possible; (3) that the movement of coal should be as
far as possible in well-defined directions; (4) that any
area producing less than its own needs require should
not be called upon to send outside, but any area pro-
ducing more than its own needs require should dis-
tribute the balance to adjacent districts. Seaborne
coal was not affected.

London Quotations.

Prices have practically remained unaltered through-
out the year. The Price of Coal. (Limitation) Act,
both for colliery pit prices as w’ell as the London retail
delivery prices have been closely watched and care-
fully safeguarded. Early in the year one colliery gave
notice of a 2s. advance, but the Board of Trade tele-
phoned that no advance was to be paid until further
advice was issued by the officials of the Board.

The London Coal Merchants’ Society settled the
maximum summer delivery prices from April 2 at
36s. 6d. for best Wallsend, 34s. for best Silkstone, 33s.
for Derby brights, 32s. for-kitchen coal, and 30s. for
stove coal.

The winter delivery prices were settled by the Con-
troller, acting in conjunction with the Metropolitan
Coal Distribution Committee, and came into force on
October 1. Dealers’ prices were fixed at 4s. 6d. per
ton less than the delivery price. Central London prices
were: Best selected, 37s. 6d. per ton; Silkstone or

screened house coal, 35s. ; Derby brights, 34s. ; kitchen
cobbles and best nuts, 33s. ; hard cobbles and kitchen
nuts, 32s.; stove coal, 31s. per ton. Trolley prices:
North of the Thames, Is. lOd. per cwt. ; south of the
Thames, Is. lid. per cwt. Coal shop prices: Is. lid.
per cwt. North London, and 2s. per cwt. South
London.

The freight market has ruled exceedingly high, and
although the general figure to the River Thames was
from 15s. 6d. to 16s. at the beginning of the year, the
quotation for vessels both from the Humber and the
Tyne rose to 20s. and 21s. per ton towards its close.
The lowest figure during the year was 6s. per ton.

London gas prices have fluctuated very considerably
during the year Some companies advanced prices to
consumers owing to extra cost, whilst others have
reduced owing to economies in working. Wands-
worth, Wimbledon and Epsom gas advanced from the
Michaelmas quarter: Wandsworth, from 2s. 6d. to
2s. JOd. per 1,000 cu. ft.; Wimbledon, from 3s. Id. to
3s. 5d. per 1,000 cu. ft.; and Epsom, from 3s. 6d. to
3s. lOd. per 1,000 cu. ft. On the other hand, the North
Middlesex Gas Company lowered their price from
3s. 7d. to 3s. 6d. per 1,000 cu. ft. on October 1, and the
Hornsey Gas Company from 3s. Id. to 2s. lid.

Coal Trade and the War.

Gas coke has been fairly plentiful all the year
through, and measures have been adopted for obtaining
gas from many of the coke ovens. Coke fuel is to be
applied to ’buses.

During the year many patriotic meetings have been
held on the floor of the London Coal Exchange for
gaining subscriptions to various funds, and in the
majority of cases a generous response has been made,
viz.: The National War Loan; the Wounded Allies’
Fund,headed by Lady Markham ; the French Red Cross
Society; the new ambulance motor-car presented to the
Red Cross Society; the Royal Society of Army Veteri-
nary Fund; the Y.W.C.A. Army Work; besides the
innumerable “flag” days.

During the year the London Coal Exchange has
suffered the loss by death of some of its most prominent
members, amongst which may be mentioned: Mr.
Fred W. Harris, Mr. Gilbert Alder, Mr. Geo. J. Wood,
Mr. F. W. Gentry, Mr. Albert Usher, Mr. J. C.
Hamilton Greig (director of W. Cory and Son, and
chairman Rickett, Smith and Company) and Mr. John
Edward Shaw (Rickett, Smith and Company,
Croydon).

Before the war there were 10,000 carmen and loaders
working at the London depots ; 3,500 voluntarily joined
the Colours before the end of 1914. The Derby scheme
called up 500 more, and over 1,500 have since been sent
into the Army by the tribunals and conscription, so
that by the close of 1917 barely 4,500 were left to deal,
with the delivery orders, and as the bulk of those who
have joined are strong, active men, it will be seen at
once how difficult it has been to get the coal away
from the wharves and depots.

Sir Francis Lloyd, commanding the London District,
placed 50 Army drivers at the disposal of the Lord
Mayor in the early months of last year, and the send-
ing, of troops by the War Office proved an invaluable
boon, especially in the poorer localities. A mysterious
hoard of about 3,000 tons of coal was found at Shep-
herd’s Bush coal wharf, and a similar quantity on the
Customs House quay, belonging' apparently to the
Government, but had been unknown or forgotten until
some special light was thrown upon the subject.

Mr. Edward Smallwood, L.C.C., a well-known
member of the London Coal Market, was returned in
October last as M.P. for East Islington.

Considerable attention has been given during the
later months of the year to the waterways and canals
for bringing coal to London. Mr. Calthrop is working
in conjunction with the Canal Commission. Two
barges loaded with Cannock coals were brought forward
to King’s Cross in May last, and the journey of 160
miles was accomplished without a stop except at the
locks; but nothing has matured since. Upwards of
500 locomotives have been sent abroad for the purposes
of the war, and, according to the last returns, over
160,000 men have been released by the railway com-
panies for military service.

The Coal Trade Benevolent Association, at its annual
meeting in March last, elected Mr. Joseph Shaw, K.C.,
as its chairman, and Mr. H. Ceci] Rickett vice-chair-
man and also trustee, in the place of the late Mr. John
Lea Smith. Bequests of £1,000 from the late Mr. F.
D. Lambert, £500 from the late Mr. F. W. Harris, and
£500 from the late Mr. Gilbert Alder were announced.
The annual dinner was abandoned, but a special list of
subscriptions, headed by Lord St. Oswald, was pre-
pared, and the full amount was more than realised.

Coal Trade Benevolent Association. — At the ordinary
general meeting of the board of directors on January 2, a
presentation was made to the secretary (Mr. W. J. Collins)
of £105, subscribed by the directors and a few friends, in
recognition of his 25 years’ faithful service to the associa-
tion. The presentation was made by Mr. Joseph Shaw,
K.C., chairman of the association.

Middlesbrough Iron and Steel Shipments. — The official
returns of shipments of iron and steel from the port of
Middlesbrough show the loadings for December to be the
lowest since the commencement of the war. Pig iron
cleared amounted to 27,270 tons, manufactured iron to
1,547 tons, and steel to 8,133 tons, making a total of
36,950 tons, which, as compared with the preceding month,
represents a drop of 2,996 tons, and as compared with
October, a fall of 23,827 tons.

Tap Cinder.—A notification intimates that an alteration
must be made in the schedule of December 17 relating to
tap cinder, mill cinder, flue cinder, and scale. The maxi-
mum prices should read as follow : Tap cinder, mill cinder,
flue cinder, scale (produced during the manufacture or
mechanical treatment of iron or steel), £1 10s. per ton f.o.t.
or f.o.b. at producers’ works. This price includes any
agent’s commission or merchants’ or dealers’ profit. In the
notice issued on Dec. 17 it was erroneously stated that the
maximum price of £1 10s. per ton referred to delivery at
purchaser’s works.