January 25, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 183 a fuller output. The position throughout the coalfields is probably more satisfactory than it has been since November. The home market is very firm and there is a strong enquiry for fuel for export. The pressure on landsale account is undiminished. The demand for best nuts and best house coal is very strong. Slacks, smalls and all varieties of fuel for industrial purposes are in very keen demand. The cross-channel trade is brisk. Cumberland coal for shipping is still very scarce, and at present it is impossible to deal with more than one half of the business that is being offered on Irish account. Current prices are appended :— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit 25/10 25/10 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 24/2 24/2 21/8 Seconds at pit 23/4 23/4 20/10 Washed nuts at pit 23/4 23/4 20/10 Do. smalls „ 19/2 19/2 16/8 Do. peas „ 17/6 17/6 15/ Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scrned 25/ 25/ 22/6 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 23/6 23/6 21/ pit Oughterside best washed 25/ 25/ 22/6 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 23/6 23/6 21/ coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 25/ 25/ 22/6 at pit 23/6 23/6 21/ BestCumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 22/ 22/ 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 20/ 20/ 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going 31/ 31/ 25/ steamers) 31/ 31/ 30/ Best works fuel 22/6 22/6 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 22/6 22/6 20/ works 21/6 21/6 19/ on Tuesday was very full and representative, there being a very fair contingent from a distance. Little if any new business was transacted. The collieries continue regularly to work full time, but the recent severe and rough weather in many districts had an appreciable effect on the output. As to the wagon supply there is no difficuliy in regard to short distances, but delays are complained of on long journeys. While, generally speaking, requirements of house coal are fairly well met, there is nothing to spare. The demand for London, apart from contracts and deliveries under official instructions, is strong and active. London factors and merchants are ready buyers of any prompt parcels available. Coastwise business is restricted by high freights and scarcity of tonnage. West Riding merchants are able to procure adequate supplies for the needs of the moment, but this satisfactory position is largely attri- butable to the regulation of distribution. Greater pressure for house coal generally is expected to arise before long. New business in gas coal is virtually an impossibility, as the output barely covers contract deliveries, and is insuffi- cient to keep the gas works going without drawing upon stocks, which in some cases are perilously low. All sorts of manufacturing fuel are still very scarce, and enquiry for supplies is unusually keen. Consumption by the munition and engineering works and in the woollen textile districts, which are largely engaged on Government requirements, is on a heavy scale, and nowhere does there seem to be any margin of supplies. There is no development of any kind in regard to furnace coke. The demand is steadily main- tained at a level which at once absorbs the output of coke and yet remains unsatisfied. The following pit prices must be regarded as more or less nominal:— Current pit prices. matter to secure full requirements for export. A good deal of large steam coal is being absorbed by the Admiralty, and neutrals who seek this class of fuel are required to pay 35s. for best South Yorkshire hards, when they can get licences and freight room. France is still principally a buyer of West Yorkshires. Industrial fuels are readily disposed of, and small coal is in good demand for coke- making. All quotations are unchanged. Shipments have been rather less than usual, but may improve in conse- quence of the milder weather. Chesterfield. COAL. An active demand is experienced for house coal, the supply of which continues much below market require- ments. There is a shortage of railway wagons, and this difficulty is adding to the delay in dealing with the numerous orders that arrive daily at the collieries. Coal for manufacturing purposes is urgently called for, and con- sumers are unable to secure their full tonnage of cobbles and nuts. Slack is readily disposed of. Gas companies are pressing for supplies of gas coal, and railway companies’ re- quirements of locomotive coal are equally pressing. The export trade remains in the quiet condition which has been its feature during the past few months. It is still impossible to obtain licences for Derbyshire coal for shipment. Fair supplies are going forward for the Admiralty. The coke trade is in a satisfactory position, all the production of the ovens of the district going steadily into consumption. There is a good enquiry for coking fuel. IRON. There is an active demand for pig iron, and finished iron orders are plentiful. All branches of the trade are actively employed. IRON. The heematite pig iron trade on the west coast remains in a very firm condition. Most of the plants are still as busy as they can possibly be. There has been no improve- ment, so far as production is concerned. Smelters are still unable to fulfil all requirements, and even approved users engaged on important work are scarcely receiving sufficient to keep them going from day to day. Prices are firmly maintained at the maximum. The steel trade is fairly active. The iron mines are all fully employed, and pro- duction is increasing. There is a heavy demand for all grades of native ore, and prices of all sorts are firm at the maximum. South-West Lancashire. COAL. Not more than an average quantity is passing through the inland household trade, and the weather being favour- able to transport, the trade at the moment is easy compared to the experience of twelve months ago. Increasing demands are made upon the producers for forge and steam fuel of all sorts, particularly in some of the newer works for nuts of stated size, and the household trade is deprived of a portion of its supplies of fuel of this character. With regard to shipping, the increased demand for steam coal for ordinary bunkering is maintained, and export if anything is rather better. Supplies are not too plentiful, and prices, of course, are according to schedule rates. It becomes more difficult to find the necessary tonnage of slack and small fuel required by users, and the demand seems to be growing. What little stocks were upon the floor have been thinned out as far as can be safely done. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 21/6-22/6 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 21/6-22/6 20/ -21/ Wallsend & London best 21/ -21/6 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 21/ -21 6 19/ -20/ Do. house 20/ -20/6 20/ -20/6 17/ -18/ House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 • 16/ -17/ Haigh Moor best 25/6-26/ 25/6-26/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ | 22/ -23/ Do. house 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ j 20/ -21/ Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit: 20^'6-22/6 20.6-22 6 19/ -20/ Screened gas coal 18/ -18,6 18/ -18,6 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal .... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Washed nuts Large double-screened 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ engine nuts 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/ -17/ Small nuts Rough unscreened 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ engine coal 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/ -16/ Best rough slacks 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 ' 14/ -15/ Small do. 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 j 12/ -13/ Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens 14/ -15/ | 12/6-13/6 Furnace coke 32/ 32/ j 25/8 Nottingham. COAL. Market conditions have not undergone any marked change. An active tone pervades all branches. The recent severe weather has increased the demand on local merchants for household fuel, and though they are receiving a fair share of supplies from the collieries, they have to limit some orders to ensure equal distribution. Since the holidays there has been more pressure on most of the pits for deliveries, and contract supplies have in many cases fallen into arrear, as there are no stocks at the collieries. The output of steam-producing fuel is well maintained, but it is not sufficient to equal demand. Small manufacturing fuel is in very keen request. With the additional uses to which gas coal is being put, there is now a heavier demand for nuts, and what surplus there is after satisfying contracts, finds a ready market. Slacks generally are in good demand. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 18/6-20/ Good house coals 20/ -21/ 20/ —21/ 18/ —18/6 Secondary do 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ Best hard coals 18/3-19/ 18/3-19/ 17/ -18/ Secondary do 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ Slacks (best hards) 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 12/ -13/ Do. (second) 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10/6-11/6 Do. (soft) 13/ 13/ 11/ House coal:— Best ................. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium ............... Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Com. (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 Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 21/ -22/ 25/ -26/ 26/ 25/6 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 24/6-25/ 25/ 24/6 20/6 20/6 18/ 23/ -24/ 24/ 23/ upwds 20/6 20/6 18/ 30/ 30/6 22/6-23/6 18/6 18/6 16/ 17/6 17/6 15/ 16/6 16/6 14/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. There continues to be the same keen demand for all classes of house and manufacturing fuel. In response to the call for coal for shipment, very little is offered on open sale. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.......’...... Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/ -20/6 ______* IL’st week’s prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/-20/6 _______* 18/6 upwds 18/6upwds 17/ upwds 17/ upwds Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds Barnsley. COAL. Considering all the difficulties, the situation in regard to supplies must be regarded as fairly satisfactory. It is inevitable that reduced deliveries must still operate, but the distribution gradually becomes of a more equal character, and there are few cases which now involve great anxiety. The attendance at the local market continues to be of a meagre description, and indicates the almost entire absence of surplus fuel of any kind. The demand apart from contract arrangements is such that the output, although well sustained, is very readily dealt with. In regard to the export trade, although the demand is not of a very pressing character, a fair bulk of hards is being sent to Hull, whilst of course the needs of the Admiralty still call for a good portion of the production. This does not prevent a satisfactory supply being available for home purposes, and the consumption continues to be of a heavy description. The scarcity of steam nuts still exists, apart from specific deliveries, and all descriptions of small steam fuel continue to be in exceedingly good demand. A larger output of slacks suitable for coke making would be much desired; but there seems little possibility of this being accomplished, although the restriction of supplies to industries not engaged in war production is gradually increasing. The output of coke, although very large, could be augmented if larger supplies of stocks could be regularly obtained. The present output is quickly disposed of, and as in other respects there are no stocks on hand. Reports regarding the supplies of gas coal are of a more favourable character, although in most cases the anxiety involved owing to reduced and irregular deliveries has not passed away. In respect to house coal, despite the fact that London supplies have to be regularly maintained and there has been a spurt in the enquiry for inland purposes, the situation appears to be dealt with in a fairly satis- factory manner. Prices at pit. Leicestershire. COAL. Great relief has been experienced in country districts by the improvement in the weather. The resources of country merchants are taxed to their utmost limits. The evil effects of the shortage of supplies have been reduced as far as possible, with the result that absolute dearth of coal for domestic purposes in great industrial centres has been practically avoided. The real difficulty is in the absence of reserves at country sidings and coal yards, and this is a constant source of anxiety when speedy deliveries are so urgently required in so many directions. The aggregate output at the collieries continues to manifest a steady decline, as more men are called up. This throws an additional strain on administration. There is not the slightest abatement in the demand for London and district, and the deliveries have to be kept up to the maximum. All classes of household coal, including main and deep cobbles and nuts, command a very keen sale, while bakers’ nuts and small nuts for mechanical stokers are cleared off day by day. There are abundant supplies of privately owned wagons on colliery sidings waiting for whatever becomes available. No stocks of any kind exist at the collieries. Prices at pit. * As per official list. IRON. There was a fair attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday, but no alteration whatever to report in the price of pig iron, steel bars, and scrap in this district. The position remains unchanged. All the production from the works for finished and other material is allocated by the Government for war purposes. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. Conditions in the West Yorkshire coal trade show practi- cally no change on the week. The pressure for supplies, especially of steam, manufacturing and gas fuels, is quite as heavy as the pits can cope with. Indeed, the demand for many sorts is limited only by recognition of the fact that supplies are not available. The attendance at the market Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 18/6-19/ Secondary do 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/ -17/ Secondary do 18/ —18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 20/ -21/ 20/ -21' 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 18/ -18/9 18/ -18/9 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 15/ -15/9 12/6—13/ Secondary do 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10/6-11/ Gas coals ••— Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 18/9 18/9 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 Hull. COAL. Supplies now are coming along moderately well, but are so fully taken up on official and contract account that there is little left for dealings in the prompt market. The demands were never greater, and it is by no means an easy 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 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 Last year’s 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/ -II 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The trade has not recovered from the severe snowstorm of last week. Output was interrupted at the pits, and distribution dislocated. Merchants were unable to do anything for a couple of days, and it will be at least another week before they are able to make up the leeway. Wherever possible, manufacturers took the precaution to lay in reserves of fuel, but the margin of safety has been sadly reduced. Breeze and slack have been offering from South Wales, but the difficulty is to get trucks to move them. Fortunately, the high class slacks are scarce, there