442 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 1, 1918. adequate supply. In regard to house coal, although there are complaints from certain areas of delayed or insufficient supplies, on the whole the tonnage available is of sufficient bulk to permit the execution of orders without any marked delay. The production of furnace coke continues to be some- thing like the maximum rate, but it is insufficient to meet the exceedingly heavy consumption in the North Lincoln- shire and Midland areas. Hull. COAL. Conditions of the export trade from the Humber do not show any very appreciable change. The demand for all kinds of fuel continues very brisk, and, fortunately, supplies are well maintained. Only occasionally is there any unusual difficulty in obtaining lots to complete cargoes. Large steams are very firm, although after the Admiralty and Allied requirements have been satisfied comparatively little is left for neutrals, who are called upon to pay 35s. Practically no Derbyshire steams are available for export, so great is the home demand. West Yorkshires are in keen request for France. Industrial fuels generally find a ready home market, rough slacks and small coal for coking moving off freely. Whether the Humber is likely to share in the Danish shipments is extremely problematical. Chesterfield. COAL. While the demand for house coal continues good, the position with regard to supplies is somewhat easier. Orders come to hand steadily from day to day, and are in sufficient number to take up readily the whole production. Manu- facturing coal is in increasing demand. Cobbles and nuts for gas producers are in particularly strong request, but supplies in adequate tonnage are unobtainable. There is an active demand for slack for boiler firing, the best kinds of which are very scarce. Railway companies find much difficulty in securing their full requirement of locomotive coal, and gas companies are in pretty much the same difficult position with regard to gas coal. There is no change in the condition of the Derbyshire export trade, which remains at a standstill. The coke market is satisfactory. Nottingham. COAL. While the tone of the trade in this district is much the same as a week ago, an easier tendency is manifesting itself in domestic fuel. The consumption by the public is diminishing, and consequently the business being done by local merchants is less active. The supplies from the collieries are in most cases sufficient to satisfy current requirements, and some merchants are able to place a little into reserve. At the same time, there is scarcely as much pressure on collieries by merchants generally, and although the output of households is readily disposed of, the distribution is being carried on in a more satisfactory manner. A strong demand continues for all classes of steam coal, a considerable tonnage being required by munition and Allied works and railways on contract account. The control of distribution leaves little fuel on the open market. Nearly all grades of slacks are going out of hand readily. There is still a big demand for coking sorts. All qualities of coke are in good request. The output of gas coal is substantially absorbed by contracts, and what surplus there is is eagerly purchased. 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/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 13/ L’stweek’s prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/6-19/6 18/3-19/ 17/ -18/ 14/ -15/ 13/ -13/6 13/ Last year’s prices. 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -13/ 10/6-11/6 11/ Leicestershire. COAL. All classes of steam fuel are in very great demand, and the consumption still shows a very marked tendency to increase. Ordinary supplies are inadequate, and large quantities of household, including deep screened cobbles are diverted to steam raising purposes. Deliveries are maintained with a large measure of regularity, and so far there have been very few cases of real shortage. At a number of collieries excessive numbers of privately owned wagons are coming to hand with the view of obtaining additional deliveries, but this is impossible and steps are being taken to prevent the overcrowding of sidings. There is an extremely keen demand for all classes of household for London and the South of England, and this business has to be given preferential treatment in order that there may be ample reserves on hand. Large nuts, broken nuts, and small nuts for mechanical stokers command a very free sale, and all the supplies are cleared day by day. At the large provincial centres small reserves are being accumu- lated, the domestic consumption having declined in con- sequence of milder weather. Country merchants as a rule can only get hand to mouth deliveries, and sidings are quite clear of stocks. There are no reserves at the collieries. Prices at pit. 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’stweek’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 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/ - 7/ 16/ -17/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-17/ 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. t COAL. The market conditions are unchanged. Only a small tonnage is offered on the open market, and to secure this competition is active. Both output and demand are well maintained. Merchants still complain of short supplies and inadequate labour. The scheme for supplying emer- gency coal to poorer people has not been much called upon. The mild weather has restricted the necessity, and the fact that the coal is dearer, by reason of being brought a greater distance—the bulk comes from Yorkshire and Derbyshire— has also been against it. Maximum prices are firm all round. Prices at pit. Current L’stweek’s Last year’: Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... I 24/6 I 24'6 22/ Do. seconds deep ! 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 ; 21/6 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 ; 20/6 ; 21/ Best hard 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 ; 18/6 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 13/6 i 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked cobs 1 21/6 ; 2i/6 19/ 20/6 ! 20,6 18/ Best hard spires 22 6 ; 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) i 18/6 1 18/6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ . 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 1 17/ 17/ 14/6 s IRON. There seems to be still some uncertainty over prices, in relation to the subsidy to be given to bar makers. It is stated that the subsidy applies only to crown bars, as an offset against the 12| per cent, advance in wages, and detailed accounts will have to be kept showing the propor- tions—a prospect at which millowners are by no means pleased at the present time. As regards work, the mills are in an exceedingly strong position, their output being earmarked in some instances until mid-summer. In other branches of the finished trades similar activity prevails. Nut and bolt bars command £14 10s. minimum; Lancashire bars go mostly for export at <£15 10s. to .£16 a ton; and puddled bars range from <£12 15s. to .£13. Only a small quantity of plates are reaching the district from Scotland and the north-eastern district. There seems less difficulty in getting angles, a system having been introduced in one or two cases of ascertaining from the works what particular rolls will be in operation in the following week, and con- centrating orders on that particular size. The programme is thus shaped so as to satisfy the needs of a particular lot of customers one week and of others requiring a different size the next week. Tube strip runs from <£L6 5s. to £>16 10s., and demand is active, delivery really being of more import- ance than price. There is a continuous and heavy call for small iron, and the reduced output at the sheet mills is rapidly taken up at the maximum price of <£17 a ton for black doubles in two-ton lots and upwards. The pig iron market shows little change. A variety of causes make for a reduced tonnage from the furnaces, supplies of ironstone, fuel and other necessaries being cramped. The bulk of the iron available is taken up under current contracts, little being left for disposal on the open market. A certain amount of relief has been given in foundry sorts by the curtailment of the pipe trade, pipe makers being now for- bidden to manufacture for stock. There has been no price movement, everything being at the maximum. Off-iron is eagerly bought at the same price as basic iron, namely 97s. 6d. The shortage of high-class scrap is felt in many works, what is known as best-best iron being scarcely obtainable. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is practically no change to report in the condition of business. The heavy pressure for the house coal of the district shows no sign of lessening, the general tone of the trade being exceedingly firm. Buyers are very numerous, and their demands most insistent. In regard to steam coal there is a scarcity for all qualities ; the collieries are fully extended but it is impossible to satisfy the needs of buyers. Prices at pithead. Large .. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal:— Large ... Small ... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 26/ 26/ 15/6 ! 15/6 22/6-23/6 i 22/6-23/6 18/ -19/ | 18/ -19/ Last year’s prices. ( 24/ \ 23/ I 23/3 (.21/6 13/ 20/ -21/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. Wade and Son report that the milder weather has caused a reduction in the retail demand, which, coupled with the large amount stocked in the autumn by consumers, has caused far less strain on the stocks of the merchants, as well as on the demand for rail supplies. More than a sufficient quantity of Welsh coal is being forwarded, but free burning qualities are by no means abundant. Measures are being taken to appeal to the Controller as to the unlicensed retailing of wagon loads of coal to house- holders in this area by wholesale coal firms, who thus injure the retail merchant by underselling the locally controlled price, and sometimes by supplying all free burning coal, while the local merchant is compelled to receive and supply one-third of slow burning coal. This is considered also to be a direct breach of the new Order against opening new retail business, because a serious injustice is enacted against the retail merchants’ trade in each parish in which the wagons are being sold directly to consumers. To that extent a new retail trade is opened. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, February 28. The market shows a considerable improvement in the tonnage available, and an active amount of business is everywhere manifest. Many of the North London depots are full of coal, particularly the best household qualities, but there is a decided run upon the Derby brights quali- ties and ordinary kitchen coals. Nearly all the merchants have been able to secure better supplies of the qualities needed, and the pressure has diminished a good deal, but other neighbourhoods are still pressing for better supplies, and collieries are unwilling to accept orders. Sales are very restricted, but the interchange between the factors and the smaller merchants has been unusually. active. The Controller also has taken the matter in hand in many of the outlying districts, and has ordered forward certain numbers of trucks, which he is distributing at cost price to merchants and dealers who have complained of the shortage. Hard steam coals are very short, and this particular quality is difficult to obtain, owing to the heavy demands for inland factories and munition centres. All manufacturing coals are in strong demand. Shipping prices remain firm, but from all the shipping centres—Tyne, Humber, and South Wales—reports show that vessels are very scarce. Coals are waiting for the most part for vessels to arrive. At the Humber ports, South Yorkshire hards have fallen to 32s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. Last week the unusual number of 71 vessels were recorded as arriving in the Thames—all contract cargoes. On Monday last 22 were reported, and five on Wednesday. Gas coals are still in active demand. At many of the large London gas works the stocks on hand are less than usual, owing to the largely increased use of gas for household and indus- trial purposes. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, February 22.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market, which continued firm. Cargoes, 13. Monday, February 25. — Seaborne house coal was in good demand, and the small quantity on offer was readily disposed of. No quotation available. Cargoes, 22. Wednesday, February 27. — The seaborne house coal market was quiet, with a short supply. No cargoes reported sold. Cargoes, 5. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Market changes this week appear to be fairly well distributed, inasmuch as some are in favour of sellers and some against. Not unexpectedly, crude tar has developed a stronger tone in the provinces, the quota- tion in the Midlands having risen from 26s.-28s. to 28s.- 29s., and the North showing a stronger tone in the current price of 28s.-30s., all at gas works. Practically the pitch quotations * are unchanged. Solvent naphtha is rather easier in the North this week, as transactions have been possible on the basis of 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.—a price which averages 3d. under that of last week. The northern quotation for 90-160 per cent, naked is also rather lower, the price averaging 4s., compared with 4s. to 4s. 3d. last week. Refined naphthalene shares in the lower tendency, as the quotation has declined to £30 to £32 10s. Move- ments in the other by-products are of ordinary character. Full quotations are appended :—Crude tar : London, 32s. 6d. to 35s.; Midlands, 28s. to 29s.; North, 28s. to 30s. per ton ex gas works. Pitch: London, 50s.; East Coast, 27s. 6d. to 30s. f.o.b.; Liverpool, 22s.; West Coast, 23s. to 24s. f.a.s. Solvent naphtha : Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. to 3s. 3d.; North, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; 90-160 per cent, naked, London, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d.; North, 4s. Crude naphtha: Naked, 30 per cent., 8|d. to 8jd.; North, 7Jd. to 8^d. Refined naphthalene, £30 to £32 10s. Toluol: Naked, London, 2s. 4d.; North, 2s. 3d. Creosote: Naked, London, 4^d.; North, 4d. to 4^d. (Government price, 75s. per ton, equal to 4^d. per gal. f.o.r.). Heavy oil, 4^d. Liquid, 4^d. Grease oil, 18 degs. naked, £6 f.o.r. Carbolic acid : Crude, 60 per cent., East Coast and West Coast, 3s. 4d.; crystals, 39-40, Is. 3d. Cresylic : Casks, 95 per cent., 2s. 10d.; 97-99 per cent., 3s., ex works London and f.o.b. other ports. Anthracene, 48-50 A, 6d.; B, 2d. to 2^d. Aniline oil, Is. 4d., casks free; salts, Is. 4d., drums free. Sulphate of Ammonia. — Business is proceeding on the official basis of £16 7s. 6d., February-May delivered, net cash, or 10s. less at works—all for home trade, of course. Mr. C. S. Owston has joined the board of the Chemical Engineering and Wilton’s Patent Furnace Company Limited, Hendon. Mr. C. S. Owston is a director of Messrs. Thos. Green and Son Limited, Smithfield Iron Works, Leeds. The Iron and Steel Kindred Trade Central Advisory Committees (Employers and Operatives), which advise and assist the Ministry of Labour on questions arising in the administration of the Employment Exchanges, recently passed a resolution to the effect that the Govern- ment should be urged to lose no time in submitting pro- posals for dealing with demobilisation. Coal in South China.—The coal situation in South China is dealt with in a recent American consular report, which points out that, owing to the rising cost of coal, timber is being used instead of coal. The amount of wood available, however, is limited, and the complete deforestation of large districts will soon be an accomplished fact. The report adds that an unfortunate feature of the situation is that, most of the country where this timber is being destroyed is underlaid with good coal, some of it very fine coal. In a good many localities outcrops of coal are being worked by natives, and some districts are coming to be fairly well supplied with coal, but the native mines are mere pocket workings, and offer little relief from the coal shortage, either because of the small output of untrained coolie labour, or because of a lack of adequate transportation. Concessions in some of the best coal fields are held under old grants by foreign interests that would be glad to work them if the mining laws of China made it practicable. There are coal fields of magnificent extent and richness near water transportation, and others so located that short railways could easily reach and serve them under normal conditions, but they are not being developed now by foreigners because of legal restrictions, nor by the Chinese because of inability to obtain railway materials.