February 15, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 335 request for home use, but no stocks are being sent out of the district. Enquiries for all varieties of fuel for the Irish market are plentiful, but stocks are scarce, and the collieries are still too busy locally to deal with much export business. The shipments for the week amounted to 3,110 tons compared with 5,150 tons for the previous week and 2,545 tons this time last year. There has been no altera- tion in either local or coastwise quotations. Current prices are as follow :— Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Current prices. L’st week's prices. Last year’s prices. 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/ Best Cumberl’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/ sure is not eased sufficiently to make any appreciable differ- ence to the collieries, whose full output is still needed for the orders in hand. The pits are working full time, but the tonnage produced in many cases shows a tendency to decline. A number of London representatives were on the market anxious to secure supplies of steam coal and manu- facturing fuels and some qualities of house coal. The demand for house coal for the London area is felt chiefly in the best qualities, the inferior descriptions being some- what easier. In the southern districts there is apparently still a great scarcity, and the position is made difficult by the delays which are occurring to wagons. The coastwise trade keeps within very narrow limits, the few boats loaded at the Humber ports being mainly owned by buyers. Locally, the quieter retail demand reflects the continuance of mild weather, but merchants, while not pressed, are kept fairly busy, and supplies are coming to hand from the collieries in satisfactory quantities. There is active enquiry for prompt parcels of gas coal, but very little indeed offer- ing. Practically all gasworks have drawn heavily on their stocks in the last two months and reserves are getting very low. Manufacturing fuels are firmer and scarcer than ever. Deliveries, especially of washed nuts, are generally in arrears, and attempts to secure prompt parcels in the open market find little scope for success, there being no free coal available. Washed furnace coke is also in short supply, and there is strong pressure from the Leeds and Froding- ham districts and the Midlands alike. The efforts of makers to keep up the output of coke are hampered a great deal by the inadequate supply of suitable slacks. of the Allied scale of prices for the Allies plus 2s. 6d. per ton. Freight rates for Sweden are steady at the recent lower level, and firm at late quotations for Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean. Chesterfield. COAL. Every class of coal continues in great demand. While the call for house coal is not quite so persistent, orders are coming to hand in goodly numbers. The mild weather, however, brings some measure of relief to the collieries, enabling them to work off some of the older orders on their books. Fuel for manufacturing purposes is in strong, demand, cobbles and nuts for steel making being very urgently wanted. These classes of coal continue in short supply. There is a steady demand for slack for boiler firing, the Lancashire mills taking a fair quantity from this district. Locomotive coal is in active demand, and gas coal is in equally pressing request. So far as this district is concerned, the export trade remains at a standstill, licences for shipment of Derbyshire coal being unobtain- able. The coke market continues in a satisfactory position. The demand for every quality of coke is strong and the production of the whole of the ovens of the district con- tinues to be readily absorbed. IRON. The plant of the district is working up to its full capacity in the several branches of the iron trade. IRON. The situation continues to improve, but no further increase is expected until makers are assured that adequate stocks of imported iron ore are likely to be maintained. At the moment the outlook is more promising. Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with special iron at 140s. per ton f.o.t. The stocks of iron in Cumberland storing yards now only amounts to 430 tons. The steel industry is tremendously brisk, and all the plants are very busily employed. The imports of foreign iron ore for January have amounted to 16,280 tons, compared with 13,100 tons at the corresponding period of last year. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The tonnage of household fuel being delivered to the customers’ residence is less than the average February, and the trade is feeling the benefit of the heavier summer purchases for stocking purposes. Notwithstanding this, it is difficult to get from the collieries full supplies, and promptly. With regard to bunkering, the actual demand naturally varies a good deal under present conditions, depending on the arrival of steamers, but on the whole it is well maintained, especially as in many cases larger quantities than usual are being taken for their coalings on this side. There is but little spare fuel, and prices, of course, are on the schedule basis. There is nothing new to report regarding the coastwise and cross-channel trade. In slacks and small fuel generally much pressure is being exerted in order that the consumer may have his daily requisite quantity. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend & London best Silkstone best ...... Do. house .......... House nuts ........... Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best....... .Silkstone best ...... Do. house .......... Other qualities....... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal..... Gas nuts..........'.. Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts........... Large double-screened engine nuts .......... Small nuts............ Rough unscreened engine coal........... Best rough slacks..... Small do............ Coking smalls ........ Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke ......... Current prices. 21/6-22/6 21/ -21/6 21/ -21/6 20/ -20/6 18/6-19/6 25/6-26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 206-22/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/6 18/6-19/6 17/6—18/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/6 13/6-14/6 14/ -15/ 32/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 21/6-22/6 20/ -21/ 21/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 21/ -21/6 ! 19/ -20/ 20/ -20/6 ! 17/ -18/ 18/6-19/6 ; 16/ -17/ 25/6-26/ ; 23/ -24/ 24/ —25/ \ 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ ; 20/ -21/ 20/6-22/6 j 19/ -20/ 18/ -18/6 , 16/ -17/ 17/ -18/ ! 15/6-16/6 16/6-17/6 ! 15/ —16/ 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/6 ( 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/6 j 15/ -16/ 16/6-17/6 ; 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 ■ 14/ -15/ 13/6-14/6 , 12/ —13/ 14/ -15/ ! 12/6-13/6 32/ { 25/8 Nottingham. COAL. Within the past week local merchants have experienced a falling off of orders for domestic fuel, and the demand by the public generally is lacking that activity usually associated with February. So far as the collieries are concerned, the recent active demand is maintained, merchants in the various areas supplied by this district being only too ready to receive what supplies they can secure in the hope of getting a little stock in hand. The difficulty of obtaining an ample supply of empty wagons is not now being felt so much, the absence of foggy weather having materially assisted the railways in this matter. In the steam coal branch there is still a very strong tone. The pits are doing all they can in face of difficult circum- stances to maintain the output at as high a level as possible, but even then they can scarcely raise a tonnage sufficient to meet all requirements. Manufacturing fuel is in particularly keen request. There is a fair supply of most grades of slacks with the exception of those used in the manufacture of coke. In view of the additional uses to which gas is put, there is a brisk demand for gas coal. Prices at pithead. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coal:— prices. prices. prices. Best ; ! 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 21/ -2%l Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/ 25/6 Medium 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 | 19/ -20/ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 24/6-25/ 24/6-25/ 24/6 Kitchen 20/6 20/6 18/ Com. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ upwds Screened forge coal 20/6 20/6 18/ Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. 30/ 30/ 24/ -25/ Best slack 18/6 18/6 16/ Secondary slack 17/6 17/6 15/ Common do 16/6 16/6 14/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The Manchester Coal Exchange was well attended on Tuesday. The milder weather has had its due effect, and eased the demand for house coal to some extent. Manu- facturing fuel is also easier. There is still a good enquiry for shipping fuel on contract account. Prices, generally, are as below. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Barnsley. COAL. The strict control of the distribution continues to be very apparent, and the markets are practically devoid of any surplus fuel, which causes the position to be again of a nominal character. Few complaints are heard with regard to the working of the collieries, and although the output is well maintained, the demand is such that there is practi- cally no stock at the collieries. Restriction appears to continue regarding the export of large steams, but, as formerly, there is no difficulty in placing the production, owing to the heavy demand of the home industries. The requirements of the Admiralty, as well as the railway com- panies, continue to absorb a good proportion of the output, and a quantity of large steams is still going for use in place of steam nuts for ordinary industries. The output of the latter class of fuel is largely required for the munition factories, and all descriptions of manufacturing fuel are well taken. The improvement in supplies of gas coal has been well maintained, and may be regarded as fairly satis- factory. The difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies for coke making is real, in spite of the limited deliveries in other directions, whilst the pressure for furnace coke continues to be very keen, the output of the ovens being readily cleared. The more favourable position in regard to house coal supplies continues, and in the near districts there seems to be no difficulty experienced. Values continue to be of a nominal character, about as follow:— _____________________Prices at pit.____________ 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/ -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 11/ Leicestershire. COAL. The demand for all classes of household as well as of steams for London and district is sustained at a very high level, and the deficiency in deliveries is being made good. Both main and deep cobbles and nuts as well as bakers’ nuts and small nuts for mechanical stokers are cleared off day by day. Country coal merchants are only getting hand to mouth deliveries, and there are no stocks of any kind at country stations. Prices at pit. House coal:— Best ............... Medium.............. Common.............. Furnace coal.......... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ........... Common slack ......... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 24/6 24/6 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/6—21/ 20/ -20/6 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 14/6upwds * As per official list. IRON. There was a moderate attendance on ’Change on Tuesday The prices for steel remain without change. As regards crown iron bars, the Ministry advanced the price 2s. 6d. per ton, making the present price <£13 17s. 6d. per ton net f.o.t. makers’ works. There is no other alteration to report. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 23/ -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 18/ -18/9 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 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 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 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. Merchants report that better supplies have been coming forward recently. The mild weather has been in their favour, and the situation is a shade easier. Labour is the chief difficulty at the moment, the shortage applying to Prices at pit. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The general position of affairs remains very much the same as in recent weeks, the demand being very steady and active all round. The feature of the market on Tuesday was the keen enquiry for steam and manufacturing fuels and gas coal. Requirements of house coal, largely owing to the continuance of abnormally mild weather, appear to be met fairly well at ithe present time, although the pres- Hull. COAL. Conditions in the Humber export trade remains about unchanged. Fine weather is having an advantageous effect upon shipment, which has been seriously hampered by irregular arrivals of vessels and frequent delays. The tonnage employed in the trade with France is no more than equal to bare requirements, and any dislocation, however slight, is immediately felt. After the big demands upon Admiralty and Allied account have been met, practically no surplus exists, and neutrals do not by any means find it an easy task to get even their modest requirements satisfied. The arrivals of coal at Hull from the collieries during January are returned at 218,667 tons or nearly 45,000 tons less than a year ago, and somewhat below recent average. All quotations to neutral buyers are now made in the terms of the currency of the foreign countries according to the rates of exchange fixed by the Board of Trade, and on the basis Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24/6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 21/6 19/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 20/6 18/ 18/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ Forge coal 18/6 18/6 16/ Slack 13/6 13/6 11/6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 21/6 21/6 19/ Do. hand-picked cobs i 20/6 ' 20/6 18/ Best hard spires 22/6 ' 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18/6 i 18/6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 17/ i 17/ 14/6