80 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 11, 1918. required to find sufficient raw fuel to keep the by-product plants something like fully employed. Ordinary slacks are also in more active request, owing to the colder weather. House coal supplies continue to be fairly satis- factory, owing to the fact that fair stocks are held by householders and less special tonnage is called for on behalf of London and the south. Although merchants have no considerable stocks on hand, the regulated supplies to householders keeps the position fairly satisfactory. Prices at pit. merchants are getting small but frequent deliveries to keep them going, but they have again been greatly hampered in transport from country stations by ice-bound roads. There are no stocks at the collieries, and very little at country sidings. Prices at pit. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 21/ -21/6 i 21/ -21/6 18/6-19/ Secondary do 19/ -20/ ■ 19/ -20/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 18/6-19/6 i 18/6-19/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 18/ -18/6 | 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Best hard coals — 20/ -21/ 1 20/ -21' 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 19/ -20/ :19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 18/6-19/6 i 18/6-19/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 18/ -18/9 i 18/ -18/9 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 13/ -13/6 | 13/ -13/6 10/6-11/ Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 i 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 ■ 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts ,.... 18/9 I 18/9 16/ Furnace coke 32/ | 32/ 25/8 Best household coal .... Second, hand picked .... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ........ Bakers’ nuts............ Small nuts.............. Deep breeze ............ Peas ................... Small dust ............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............. Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. Current prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 18/6—19/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12 3 6/ - 7/ 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large .. ... Small ... Large ... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 26/6 15/6 | prices. ( 26/6 \ 25/6 j 25/9 C 24/ i 15/6 prices. 24/ 23/ 23/3 21/6 13/ 22/6-23/6 i 22/6-23/6 18/ -19/ j 18/ -19/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, January 10. Hull. COAL. Conditions are gradually being restored to the recent normal, and supplies now coming forward in larger volume, shipments show an improving tendency. There is also more enquiry, but on the whole, business is not at all con- siderable, and is more than ever governed by the supply of freight room. The neutral demand is small, and chiefly for steam coal. France is, however, the principal buyer for export. The Admiralty continues to make big requests for large steam coal, and local industrial and gas works are always ready buyers of anything that is offering. Prices are firm and unchanged. The complete figures for 1917, now available, show that the total quantity brought to the port of Hull from the collieries during the year was 2,812,356 tons, against 3,290,281 tons in 1916, a decline of 477,952 tons, equal to 14 5 per cent. Figures of foreign exports and coastwise shipments are withheld. Chesterfield. COAL. Work has been resumed at all the collieries, and business is progressing smoothly. The demand for house coal has gained increased strength with the advent of cold wintry weather and the pressure for supplies is considerable. It is impossible to deal with the numerous orders with anything like promptitude. Coal for manufacturing purposes is in urgent request, and consumers who are entirely dependent upon daily deliveries from the pits experience much difficulty in keeping their plant at full pressure. There is a persistent call for cobbles and nuts for gas-producers for the steel works of Sheffield and district. Railway companies are in pressing need of steam coal for locomotive use, and have been compelled to draw upon their reserve stocks. Gas companies are also badly in want of gas coal. Boiler firing slacks are in good request. The export trade presents no new feature, the shipment of Derbyshire coal being still prohibited. Coke continues in steady demand. IRON. All the works of the district are again in full operation and great activity is apparent in every department. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The coal trade is recovering slowly from the holiday, and well into the present week merchants were short of supplies owing to the congestion of wagons at the collieries. Empties there were in abundance, but no coal with which to fill them. Since Tuesday things have improved, but even now there is difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies. The weather, too, is being watched with some anxiety. Railway transport is working fairly well; but the trade is on a very narrow margin, and any interference with free movement will be quickly felt. Some domestic fuel is still being diverted to London. The quality of the coal sold in the city has been engaging the attention of the local justices. A suggestion was made that the authorities should fix a standard for the qualities of the various grades, but finally it was decided that the local Retail Coal Trades Committee should confer with the General Purposes Committee of the Justices to formulate some means by which the coal could be satisfactorily tested. Slacks and nuts have a good market, but are difficult to get. Prices at pit. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The coal market has been very stagnant this week. Tonnage arrivals during the week-end and early days of the current week were smaller than had been expected. Congestion occurred again on the railways, due to the holding up of wagons, and colliery working was conse- quently intermittent. Nor was the outlook for the following week very bright. Forward sales were, therefore, much restricted. Stocks of coal are again increasing. The supply of house coal for inland consumption has not been equal to the demand. Gas coals have been scarce, and buyers have found difficulty in getting sufficient to maintain their stocks. There was also a great demand for cbke, but patent fuel was plentiful. All prices remain for the present on the control basis, but there are indications that there will be some changes in the quotable rates in the near future. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... Do. seconds deep Do. best shallow Do. seconds do. Best hard ............ Forge coal............. Slack ................ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked cobs ............... Best hard spires ...... Forge (steam) ......... D.S. nuts (steam) .... Small (do.) .... Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. 24/6 24/6 22/ 22/6 22/6 20/ 21/6 21/6 19/ 20 6 20/6 18/ 21/ 21/ 18/6 18/6 18/6 16/ 13/6 13/6 11/6 21/6 21/6 19/ 20/6 20/6 18/ 22/6 22/6 20/ 18/6 18/6 16/ 17/ 17/ 14/6 17/ 17/ 14/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 32/6 32/6 30/ -31/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 31/6 31/6 29/ —30/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 31/6 ! 31/6 28/ -29/ Secondary do. 30/6 30/6 26/6-27/6 Best small coals 23/6 23/6 , 18/ -19/ Secondary do 22/6 22/6 i 12/ -17/ Inferior do 20/6 20/6 ' 8/ - 9/ Screenings , 25/6 25/6 19/6-20/6 Through coals 29/6 29/6 , 27/ Best washed nuts 32/6 32/6 - Other sorts:— • Best house coal, at pit... 35/6 35/6 ; 35/ -36/ Secondary do. do. ... 33/3 33/3 ; 30/ -31/ Patent fuel 32/6 32/6 • 35/ -37/ Furnace coke 47/6 47/6 1 1, : 47/6-52/ Foundry coke 47/6 47/6 57/6-60/ Nottingham. COAL. With the prevalence of .colder weather a stronger tone has manifested itself in the coal trade of this county. This has been, perhaps, most noticeable in the domestic fuel branch, local merchants having received increased orders from small householders, while the demand at landsale depots has also had an upward tendency. In view of the increasing pressure on the collieries, merchants are receiving fair supplies. Steam coal is in large request and though the hard coal pits are working at high pressure to maintain the output, owners readily dispose of available supplies after requirements for war work have been satisfied. Gas coal is in fair supply, but it is absorbed principally on contract account. There is a steady enquiry for slacks generally, but the supply of steam nuts and coking slacks is inadequate to the demand. Prices at pithead. Hand-picked brights ..... Good house coals......... Secondary do............. Best hard coals.......... Secondary do ............ Slacks (best hards)...... Do. (second) .......... Do. (soft)............. Current prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/3-19/ 17/ -18/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/3-19/ 17/ -18/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 Last year’s prices. 18/6-20/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10'6-11/6 Leicestershire. COAL. The exceptionally severe weather is maintaining a constant and very keen demand for all classes of fuel to meet the heavy domestic consumption. Special measures are being taken to avoid shortage in any given district by very strict subdivision of the available supplies, supple- mented by frequent deliveries in order to prevent any serious cases of hardship. The output is maintained at the maximum. The demand for steam coal is extremely large, and the very extensive consumption keeps the reserve stocks at a very low level, which necessitates extreme regularity in effecting deliveries. There are plenty of privately owned wagons available, many sidings being filled with wagons waiting for any class of coal. The transport arrangements are working most effectively, and ensure the clearing off of all the coal from the pits day by day. Delays are being practically wiped out. The demand for London and district is maintained at the maximum for all households, including main and deep cobbles and nuts. Bakers’ nuts are very active, and small nuts for mechanical stokers are cleared as fast as they are available. Country IRON. The first quarterly meeting of the year was held this week, and while the attendance fell considerably below the normal, it was still large, and included a fair representation from a distance. It is recognised, however, with the arrangements which the State has made for safeguarding supplies of material to manufacturers engaged on essential work, the market has sunk into a subsidiary place as a medium for negotiating business. Practically the whole of the productive capacity of the district is concentrated on Government work. The settlement of the pig iron difficulty in respect to prices has eased the situation very materially. Market quotations will not be effected, the authorities having adopted another method ro reimburse smelters for their extra outlay brought about by the increase in coal and coke in September last. Business is now being done on a fairly generous scale. One Northampton- shire house reported booking orders of from 500 to 1,000 tons, giving delivery as expeditiously as possible. Derby- shire houses were less inclined to sell in large quantities, but keep supplying old customers. Business generally is still made subject to variations in the maxima, and in the case of one Derbyshire firm at least a clause has been introduced providing for cancellation of the order in the event of the present arrangement with the Government being altered or discontinued. The terms arranged are retrospective to September 17. Little movement is dis- cernible in the finished market. The bar mills are assured of full occupation for months ahead, though they close their order books. Millowners show a disposition to act with extreme caution as the position is somewhat vague in the matter of prices. Marked bars remain at .£15 10s. maximum, less 2| per cent.; merchant bars realise the limit of £13 15s., net; nut and bolt iron, still uncontrolled, commands <£14 10s., net, delivered in the district; small, rounds, squares and flats are quoted as high as <£17 10s. for non-Government work. There is only a small output of black sheets at £17 a ton, and none of galvanised sheets. An active enquiry exists for plate shearings for re-rolling at the fixed price of £10 7s. 6d., the same as sheet bars. The new Order relating to certain classes of steel scrap reduces the maximum for steel planings, turnings, and borings from £5 5s. to £4 15s., and wrought iron scrap from £5 5s. to £4 15s. IRON. All the iron and steel works of the district are still employed to their utmost capacity, chiefly on Government work. The question of man-power has been a good deal discussed by the men at many of the works during the present week in relation to a possible system of combing out which may take place in the near future. Heads of departments will be asked to confer how best to carry on the works to the fullest extent and also to spare men for the militant forces. The reduction in the price of block tin tends to some extent to ease the tin-plate trade. Arrivals of ’pitwood have been moderate, and the new rate of 65s. for best French fir still obtains. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The pressure experienced in the house coal trade of this coal field during the past few months continues. Merchants are entitled to certain specified quantities only, and these are being supplied as near as possible month by month. Rather better despatch has been given to vessels recently, as stems are not so long. Consumers of steam and manu- facturing fuel are experiencing some difficulty in procuring full supplies, and there is delay in executing orders. Cardiff. COAL. The tonnage position is still the dominating feature of the local market, and the present conditon of affairs is far from satisfactory. For some days past vessels have been arriving in meagre numbers, and ’in some instances even collieries producing superior grades of coal have had difficulty in arranging stems. Sufficient tonnage has been available so far to meet all Admiralty requirements, but no margin was left for ordinary commercial purposes, and some exporters have been hard pressed to clear their ordinary contractual obligations. In the meantime stocks have steadily accumulated, and there is a great amount of congestion both on the colliery and railway sidings, with the result that more or less prolonged stoppages of pits have taken place through inability to clear wagons. Where accommodation is available, large quantities of smalls are being banked, but it is doubtful whether this method of relief can be relied upon much longer. At some collieries, especially in the Monmouth- shire valleys, banking facilities have been practically exhausted, and unless some means can be devised for easing the situation it is only a question of time before prolonged periods of idleness will become the rule. In the meantime the Special Commission appointed by the Coal Controller to enquire into the causes of stoppages and suggest remedial measures, has again been sitting. Evidence was given by representatives of colliery companies who had given notice to certain of their workmen to terminate contracts, owing to short time being worked at the pits. The Commission will meet again on Saturday, when they will probably make some recommendations, and present their report to the Controller of Mines. With regard to the constitution of the committee appointed to deal with arrears of contracts, it has been announced to a meeting of exporters that the difficulty has been overcome without the appointment of a chairman. As originally suggested, the committee will consist of three exporters and three owners, but in case of dispute the matter will be referred to arbitration. There continues to be a good demand for Admiralty coals, but other grades are in abundant supply, and there is little movement of interest. Chartering last week amounted to over 18,000 tons, but here again there has been a marked falling off this week, due to some extent to unavoidable causes, and fixtures are small. For house coals the demand has become more pressing, and there is a growing shortage of gas producing qualities. Coke is also scarce, and not up to consumers’ requirements. Patent fuel, on the other hand, is in ample supply, but difficult to dispose of on account of the lack of transport facilities. Pitwood has come forward in moderate quantities, at the price fixed by the Controller, namely 65s. per ton ex-ship.