182 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN January 25, 1918. mining methods ; but obviously considerable importance must be attached to the market value of the product. Thus both the “ torbanite ” of Scotland and the “ albertite ” of New Brunswick can be profitably extracted from seams no thicker than 4 in., and although these are special cases of minerals pos- sessing considerably more commercial value than coal, there is no reason why, under certain circumstances, some coal seams, such as cannel, should not pay for extraction from seams less than a foot in thickness. Strictly speaking, there is no definite limit of workable thickness. It is purely a question of cost of mining as compared with the value of the coal. The cost of mining is a very uncertain factor, depending not only upon the method adopted, but also upon the character of the roof and floor of the seam. It depends also upon certain extraneous circumstances such as capital charges, economy of management and other things. Then again, locality has some influence upon the question, since it to some extent influences the market value of the product. One of the first questions that strike the investi- gator in this field of enquiry is the prevailing ignorance of the nature of neglected coal seams. This was well illustrated some twenty years ago by the condition prevailing in the Lanarkshire coalfield, where the exhaustion of the thick “Ell” and “Splint” seams lead to an active interest in the thinner seams which had been previously ignored. Old boring records were then eagerly scrutinised, and valuable seams, hitherto forgotten, led to a prolonga- tion of the life of a coalfield which was at the time threatened with extinction. This fact alone seems to point to the need for a careful inventory of all our coal seams, and accentuates the importance of that chemical survey of British coals which is understood to constitute a part of the programme of the Fuel Research Committee. In the Canadian report referred to above the author laments that a similar lack of information prevails in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but a summary of available knowledge is given, and a con- sideration is given to the factors which influence success in mining the thinner seams. Mr. Brown discusses the methods of mining which are best calculated to overcome the difficulties presented by the rock factor, the removal and the disposal of the coal. In brief he concludes that machine work is essential to success, and this term includes not only machine .mining, but the application of power to the whole operation of winning the coal from the under- cutting stage to the loading up into the mine cars. As to the method of extraction no absolute rule can be laid down, since everything depends upon the conditions under which the seams occur. There is also to be borne in mind that these thin seams are especially liable to destruction, and in fact are continually being lost as mining proceeds. These losses are caused by the disturbance of strata arising from the working of thicker seams adjacent to them. Pillar robbing has been responsible for much mischief of this kind. Some years ago Mr. T. Wright, in a communication to the Institution of Civil Engineers * described a case occurring in a seam beneath New- stead Abbey in Nottinghamshire, where a 3 feet seam was mined at a depth of 1,120 feet from the surface, and the whole of the Abbey subsided, during seven years, to a depth of 23 inches, without injury to the building. Such disturbances, however, may, and probably do, spoil many chances of mining economically thin coals lying above the workings. Loss may also occur by taking out a thick coal lying above a thin seam, in cases where an insufficient depth of cover is left between. In many cases nothing whatever is known of seams underlying the lowest coal worked in a mine. Often when two seams lie close together the thin coal is left untouched, and is generally quite unworkable after the thinner seam has been extracted. Even when these neglected seams are not irremediably destroyed their subsequent extraction often becomes difficult and costly. Conditions in Eastern Canada may, of course, be very different from those in Great Britain, and Mr. Brown’s conclusions may not unreservedly apply on this side of the Atlantic; but he has raised a question which has lately assumed a far greater importance than it appeared to possess when the last Royal Commission on Coal Supplies enquired into it. Questions of fuel economy are not, perhaps, more urgent now than they were then, but the urgency is more widely recognised. * Vol. cxxxv. p. 145, 1898. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, January 24. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Business in the Scotch coal trade has been brisker throughout the past week, and the change has been welcome. No doubt the extremely cold weather influenced the situation as regards household fuel, but it is reported, on the other hand, that the sales of industrial and Admiralty qualities have been considerably larger. It is not anticipated that this spurt will last long, however. In the west of Scotland collieries are fairly well placed for orders for all classes of fuel. Shipments for the week amounted to 93,717 tons, against 109,826 in the preceding week and 95,626 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.. Ell ........ Splint...... Treble nuts Double do. Single do. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 27/6 27/6 18/ -24/ 26/6-28/ 26/6-28/ 28/ -30/ 19/ -23/ 28/ -30/ 22/ -31/ 23/ 23/ 24/ 22/ 22/ 22/ 21/ 21/ 20/ IRON. All departments of the iron trade in Scotland are again in a state of the highest activity. Conditions are unchanged, the Hulk of the output being on war account. Pig iron makers experience a constant demand for material, chiefly steel-making qualities, and practically nothing can be tackled outside of class “A” work. With ordinary home consumers finding difficulty in securing supplies it is natural that exports have dwindled to the irreducible minimum, and even those confined to Allied requirements. Home prices are still unaltered, while export values, despite the absence of business, are firmly maintained and still tend upwards. Approximate prices are as follow:— Monkland and Carnbroe, f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 140s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Govan, No. 1, 135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 150s., Nos. 3,145s.; Glengarnock,' at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3, 135s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. Malleable iron makers are also fully engaged on war work. There was some talk of increasing the distribution of private supplies, but all idea of doing this has been abandoned in the meantime. Similar conditions govern the output of black sheets, and makers find great difficulty in making any impression on arrears. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Conditions in the Lothians have improved somewhat, and outputs are moving off fairly well, though exports are still meagre. Shipments for the week were 15,450 tons, against 16,623 in the preceding week and 18,189 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened steam coal... prices. 26/6 prices. 26/6 prices 26/ Secondary qualities 25/6 25/6 24/6 Treble nuts 23/ 23/ 25/ 22/6 Double do 22/ 22/ Single do 21/ 21/ 20/ In Fifeshire all classes of fuel are easily disposed of in the meantime. Clearances amounted to 28,344 tons, against 28,639 in the preceding week and 36,024 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 29/ -31/ 29/ -31/ 30/ -33/ Unscreened do 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 24/6-26/6 First-class steam coal 28/ 28/ 28/ Third-class do 24/ 24/ 20/ Treble nuts 23/ 23/ 24/ Double do 22/ 22/ 22/ Single do 21/ 21/ 19/ The prices quoted only apply to French and Italian business ; for other orders 2s. 6d. per ton must be added. The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 137,511 tons, compared with 155,088 in the preceding week and 149,839 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. NewMstle-on-Tyne. COAL. The position of the export coal trade has been very unsatisfactory during the week under review. Neutral tonnage is still short, and the volume of official requisi- tioning has not been as great as in some recent weeks. Consequently, while some collieries have been sufficiently supplied with steamers to ensure regularity of employment, others have been “ starved” for want of transport, and production has had to be suspended altogether or greatly curtailed. Hopes were entertained that there would be a greater arrival of vessels over the week end, but no improvement in colliery positions has been manifested up to the time of writing, compared with those of a week ago. All descriptions of steams and gas coals are excessively offered for early loading. Bunkers continue inactive, Durham specials at from 30s. to 32s. 6d. being the only quality which is in any demand worth noting. The home enquiry for such coals as smithies, coking sorts and house- holds has been very well maintained, and the bulk of the output of these is being readily absorbed. Special smithies are in particularly good request for inland con- sumption and no difficulty is experienced in maintaining the top quotation of 33s. 6d. The coke market is still very active, with the output in arrear of the request and prices are very firmly maintained. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. | Current jL’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices, i prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ..., 30/ -32/6 30/ -32/6 29/ -30/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 29/6-32/ , 29/6-32/ 28/ -30/ Secondary, Blyths ....' oc/c oo/ !oer/* oo/ oo/ -OA/ Do. Tynes (Hastings' or West Hartleys) ...! Unscreened ..........i Small, Blyths .........j Do. Tynes..........! Do. specials......... Other sorts:— Smithies............... Best gas coals (New r ’■ - ’ ” Secondary gas coals' J 25/6-28/ ; 25/6-28/ . 22/ -24/ .! 27/ -29/6 27/ -29 6 22/6-25/ J 23/6-27/6 23/6-27/6 20/ -22/6 ,! 20/ -22/6 ' 20/ -22/6 ■ 18/ -19/ / 18/6-21/ '! 18/6-21/ ' 17/ -18/ 20/6-23/ ■ 20/6-23/ 20/ 25/ -33/6 ! 25/ -33/6 i 20/ -22/ utjau gas cuais ^cw' j , Pelton or Holmside); 25/ -27/6 ! 25/ -27/6; 26/ -28/ "____l—j coals! I (Pelaw Main or similar) . 23/6-26/ i 23/6-26/ ! 20/ -22/ Special gas coals .....| 26/6-29/ ; 26/6-29/ 31/ —33/ Unscreened bunkers, ; ; > | 26/6-29/ i 26/6-29/ 31/ -33/ Do. do. Coking coals...... Do. smalls House coals ...... Coke, foundry ...... Do. blast-furnace ... Do. gas ........... Durhams 26/6-32/6 ; 26/6-32/6 * 20/ -22/ Northumbrians 26/6-27/6 ! 26/6-27/6 ’ 19/ -21/ , 24/ -27/6 ! 24/ -27/6 . 24/ -27/6 i 24/ -27/6 ,! 28/6-32/6 ! 28/6-32/6 J 42/6-45/ i 42/6-45/ 42/6-45/ i 42/6-45/ . -r . 35/ -40/ j 35/ -40/ ( 32/ -33/ • 20/ -22/ ; 18/ -20/ 27/6-30/ ; 42/6-45/ , 41/ -42/6 Sunderland. COAL. The coal position, unfortunately, is no better. Only a small arrival of shipping is reported over the week-end, and many of the pits in Durham are suffering from idle time. Official requisitions of steam coal are small, and neutral shipments are almost at vanishing point. On the other hand the home demand continues to absorb a large propor- tion of the output, particularly of smithy, coking and household grades. Bunkers are weak. Coke is firm on the keen pressure from France. Values of both coals and coke are quite nominal and unchanged at the customary rates. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Gas coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 29/ -32/6 29/ -32/6 1 30/ Secondary do. 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 22/ House coals:— Best house coals 32/6 32/6 30/ Ordinary do 30/6 30/6 24/ Other sorts:— Lambton screened 31/ -32/6 31/ -32/6 30/ South Hetton do 31/ -32/6 31/ -32/6 30/ Lambton unscreened ... 26/6 26/6 26/6 30/ South Hetton do. 26/6 21/ Do. treble nuts 22/6 22/6 26/ Coking coals unscreened 27/6 27/6 22/ Do. smalls 27/6 27/6 20/6 ' Smithies 27/6 27/6 23/6 Peas and nuts 27/ -28/6 27/ -28/6 26/ Best bunkers P 27 ,'6 27/6 22/ Ordinary bunkers 26/6 26/6 20/ Coke:— Foundry coke 42/6-45/ 42/6-45/ 42/6 Blast-furnace coke (did. Teesside furnaces) ... 42/6-45/ 42/6-45/ 28/ Gas coke 1 35/ -37/6 35/ -37/6 31/ Mlddlesbrough-on-Tm. COAL. The fuel market shows little alteration. Collieries continue to lose time to a considerable extent, and there appears little prospect of change for the better in this respect. Home demand for fuel keeps heavy, especially so far as manufacturing sorts are concerned, but outside enquiry is only small. Values are unchanged. Best Durham gas coal is selling fairly well at 27s. 6d., second quality at 26s. and Wear special at 29s. Bunker coal shows no improvement. Trade in this branch drags considerably. Unscreened Durham bunker coal was from 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d. Best steam coal is in moderately good request and is selling at 32s. 6d., but small steam is weak at 21s. to 23s. Coking coal continues to be pretty well taken up at round about 27s. 6d. There is a good general demand for coke, and though there is no actual scarcity, supply is none too plentiful. For home consumption foundry quality is 38s. the average blastfurnace kinds 33s. and low phosphorus descriptions 35s. 6d. Shipments are only slow. For export to neutrals both beehive and patent oven coke stand at 45s. f.o.b. and gashouse product is quoted 38s. to 40s. IRON. Very little new is ascertainable concerning the various branches of the iron and steel industries. Generally a very firm bone prevails. So far as Cleveland pig is concerned home transactions are now very few and small,, but renewal of activity is confidently anticipated with the commencement of the issue of February allocations towards the end of this month. Negotiations are understood to be proceeding for substantial sales to the Continent. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry and No. 4 forge all stand Eft 95s. and No. 1 is 99s., and for shipment to France and Italy No. 3 and the lower qualities are all quoted 114s., and No. 1 is 119s. Conditions continue stringent in the East Coast haematite department. Recent increase of production of steel-making iron manufactured from native ore has not relieved the situation to any appreciable extent, but as such output is likely to be futher enlarged in the near future, there is reason to hope that the position will be considerably improved before long. Continued careful distribution under strict official supervision assures regular and adequate supplies of haematite to home customers, but the quantity left over for disposal among buyers abroad is small. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. As finished iron and steel manufacturers are kept very fully employed on production of Government orders and material for the ship yards, little opportunity is afforded for the transaction of business in other directions. Prices are stiff. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The Cumberland coal industry continues very brisk, and all branches, landsale, manufacturing and export, are doing well. The demand for all sorts is well maintained. All the colleries, are now more regularly employed and working