598 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 22, 1918. At country stations all the supplies are cleared off day by day, and although, there are plenty of private wagons the smaller businesses are suffering very acutely. Prices at pit. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, March 21. Current 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! 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 kitcheners.......16/ -17/6 Steams, best hand picked) 16/6-17/6 Steams,* seconds ...........■15/6-17/ Main cobbles for kitcheners. 16/ -17/6 Main breeze...............| 14/9-15/6 1/st week's prices. 20/ -21/6 19/ -20/ 118/6-19/6 ! 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 15/6-171 16/ -17/6 14/9-15/6 Last year’s prices. 17/ -19/ 15/6-17/6 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 Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COAL. The coal market of this district has shown no marked change. There has been a moderate arrival of tonnage, and shipments were a little heavier than on the average. Colliery workings were more regular than a month ago, but there have still been very heavy stocks of some classes of inferior coals, especially smalls. These are causing anxiety in some of the districts, and, unless means are devised to make the stocks more marketable, th^re may be considerable losses. The outlook is believed to be improved by the operation of the three days holiday at Easter, and the effect which the Army comb-out will have upon output. Large steam coal still keeps a prominent place in the market, and so also do house and gas coals. Cokes and patent fuel are unchanged. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. __________________ South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The position in the coal trade shows few changes of note during the week. The collieries find it a continuous struggle to produce sufficient fuel to supply manufacturers’ requirements, and business is dominated to a large extent by transport. The area distribution scheme has been an enormous saving in this direction, and on the whole it has worked fairly satisfactorily in this district, though it has not been without its inconveniences. For instance, the district produces no equivalent of the Welsh steam coal, a supply of which is necessary in Birmingham and neigh- bourhood, for a certain class of motor lorries. Substitutes have been tried, with scant success, yet permits cannot be obtained to bring supplies from Wales. The “"rationing” scheme, under which householders are limited to a ton at a time, except those living in the country, has also helped to save the situation during the winter months. As a summer measure, of course, it would be of little service. The cold weather during March sent up consumption, and merchants have a considerable strain upon them to keep customers going. All descriptions of industrial fuel are tight. Prices at pit. Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ...... Secondary do........ Inferior do........ Screenings .......... Through coals __....... Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel .......... Furnace coke.......... Foundry coke ........ Current |L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 32/6 32/6 ; 24/ -25/ 31/6 / 31/6 23/ -24/ 31/6 1 31/6 22/ -23/ 30/6 30/6 21/ -22/ 23/6 23/6 15/ -16/ 22/6 22/6 12/6-14/ 20/6 20/6 9 6-11/ 25/6 25/6 16/6-17/6 29/6 29/6 20/ -21,6 32/6 32,6 — 35/6 35 6 24/6-25/6 33/3 33/3 22/ -24/ 32 6 32/6 27/ -30/ 47/6 47/6 * 47/6 • 47/6 * Staffordshire (including | Current L’st week’s Last year’s Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24 6 22/ Do. seconds deepi 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 i 21/6 19/ Do. . seconds do. 20/6 20/6 18' Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 16/ Forge coal 18/6 13/6 i 18/6 Slack Warwickshire:— ! 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21/6 19/ ' cobs : 20/6 20,6 22/6 18/ Best hard spires ! 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18/6 18,6 17/ * 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 14/6 . Small (do.) 17/ 17/ 1 14/6 IRON. Pressure in all branches of the market continues unabated, pioducers being urged to undertake engagements much in excess of their uncommitted capacity. Prices, too, for uncontrolled material continue to move upwards. Puddled iron, not long ago at =£12 15s., later at <£13, is now <£13 2s. 6d. and <£13 5s., and the last mentioned will probably be the market level; for three-eighths rounds £17 12s. 6d. is now the recognised basis; and for nut and bolt iron nothing can be heard of at less than <£14 10s., and in some cases =£14 15s., delivered in the district. An interesting rumour is that the control of gas strip is impending. Recently there has been a dearth of supplies on the market, and for emergency lots as much as =£16 10s. has been asked. The bulk of the strip produced, however, is sold under contract at a lower figure, and it may be assumed that the controlled price, should such be fixed, will be considerably lower than that. Demands on the bar mills are as heavy as ever, and the merchant qualities are now =£13 17s. 6d., but makers do not find this price a temptation to push trade. Official requirements are on a large scale. Pig iron houses find themselves unable to cope with the business offering. Demand runs largely on high grade qualities, and sellers are compelled to divide their output into small lots, down to in many instances 25 tons, and even less. There are no stocks to draw upon, and cast scrap is used wherever it can be obtained. Some pig makers complain that output is suffering from inferiority of coal and labour difficulties. In the sheet branch only a small quantity is available for the general trade. Plate shearings, which are used to supplement the small quantity of sheet bars available, cannot be had to more than a limited extent. * Nominal. IRON. The output of nearly all the works in the district con- tinues to be on Government account, and prices are purely nominal. A larger production is being issued each week. New plant has been installed at the works of the Messrs. Whitehead at Tredegar. The recent purchase of an iron ore mine in the Forest of Dean by a London and South Wales firm shows that the revival of iron mining, discussed a little while ago by the South Wales engineers, is being taken up seriously. Cardiff. COAL. The principal topic on ’Change this week is the further restrictions imposed on the trade by the Coal Controller, by which the last shred of discretionary power seems to have been taken from the owners and is now vested in the Controller himself. It is feared that the Order may also have a detrimental effect on the development of colliery working. The market has undergone practically no change. Tonnage arrivals have been more numerous, and the fixtures reported last week were the best for a long time past, amounting to no less than 31,150 tons. Many of the Admiralty collieries are well stemmed, and few stoppages are reported. Most firms are now engaged in completing their arrangements for shipments which are required before the holidays, after which it is anticipated that conditions may be more favourable. The heavy stocks standing in the various sidings will be materially reduced, and with the commencement of the allocation scheme on April 1 it is expected that the output will be more under control. A meeting of exporters was held on Tuesday to discuss doubtful points in the scheme, and the returns are now being tabulated, so that the requisite machinery may be put into force after the end of this month. There is still a strong demand for house and gas coals, and also for bituminous smalls for coking purposes, but in other grades there are ample supplies, and little demand beyond what is required for the fulfilment of contractual obligations. All prices are on the basis of the Controller’s schedule. The patent fuel trade is moderately active, and prices are stationary. An association of makers is on the point of being established for the purpose of watching the interests of the industry. Imports of pit- wood are only on a moderate scale, but home supplies are reported to be satisfactory, and the allocation scheme is working well. Prices are unchanged. IRON. There is no falling off in the demand for iron and steel, and outputs generally are well maintained. The same remark applies to blast furnaces, but there is difficulty in meeting the requirements in the matter of haematite qualities. Supplies of iron ore continue to be satisfactory. In the tin-plate trade makers are well booked for orders, and the general tone is firm. Block tin is now quoted at =£320 for cash and £319 for three months, with the result that a further advance has taken place under the sliding scale arrangement, and Bessemer standard cokes are quoted at 32s. per box, with other sizes in proportion. Receipts from works last week were in excess of shipments, and amounted to 26,987 boxes against 23,567 boxes exported, leaving 152,519 boxes in stock in docks warehouses and vans, compared with 215,522 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. In the galvanised sheet trade there is little in the way of galvanising taking place, but all the mills are busy in the production of black plate and painted sheets. Exports during February only amounted to 595 tons. Spelter works are well occupied, but there is a general shortage of ore to meet requirements. Quotations remain on the basis of £54 per ton. Scrap metals are unaltered. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port during the past week was again quiet. Shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 46,377 tons. There was an excellent attendance on ’Change, but the amount of business transacted was limited to a few prompt orders for boats actually in dock. Tonnage supplies continued very small, and stocks of both anthracite and steam coals were excessive. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the local coal market is unchanged, and the amount of business transacted is not heavy. The tonnage position is still unsatisfactory, collieries being unable to give clearance to the heavy stocks on hand. The pits are still working irregularly, owing to the scarcity of empty wagons, and from present appearances there is not likely to be any improvement. In the anthracite section of the market there is not much activity, and for prompt business buyers can obtain supplies of all qualities. Large kinds are inactive and stocks of all kinds increasing. The machine- made qualities are also sbw, with supplies of cobbles, nuts and peas offering freely. Beans are much easier, and buyers have no difficulty in securing their quantities. Culm and duff are moving very slowly, and no clearance made of the excessive stocks on hand. The steam coal market is also lacking support and little business doing. The lower grades in particular are very sluggish, and large quantities offering for prompt clearance of wagons. Large kinds are not in strong demand, and both cargo and bunker qualities of through coal are available. Manufacturing coals are fairly steady, but house coals are inclined to be easier. Prices f.o.b. Lydney. _______________ Forest of Dean. COAL. All the collieries producing house coal are still heavily pressed for supplies The pits are working the full six days every week, but the coal brought to bank is not sufficient to satisfy the enquiry. Orders from the rail- borne districts are very numerous and do not get less with the advent of the milder season. Shipments are about an average. Stocks are practically non-existent. A good brisk business is being done in all steam qualities ; the pits are all working at full pressure, but there is some delay in despatching orders. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal:— Large . Small_____ Large ... Current L’st week’s Last year ' prices. prices. prices. ( 24/ 26/ 26/ >23/ ) 23/3 (.21/6 15/6 j [ 15/6 13/ 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. Cardiff Prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated), plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ............... Superior seconds .... Seconds ______........... Ordinary ............ Steam smalls No. 1 ... Do. 2 .... Do. 3 .... Do. 4 .... Do 5 .... Do. 6 .... Do. 7 .... Do. 8 .... Best dry coals ...... Ordinary drys ....... Best washed nuts .... Seconds ............. Best washed peas..... Seconds ............. Monmouthshire— Current prices. 35/6 34/ 33/3 . 32/6 24/ 23/6 23/ 22/6 22/ 21/6 21/ 20/6 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/ 30/ 29/ L’st week’s iLast year’s prices. | prices. 35/6 34/ 33/3 32/6 24/ 23/6 2'/ 22/6 22/ 21/6 21/ 20/6 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/ 30/ 29/ ; __* __* 24/ -25/ ; 23/ -24/ j ! 15/ -16/ j ! 14/ -15/ } i 12/ -13/ } 7/ -10/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22 6 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Current L’st week’s| Last year's prices. | prices. ! i prices. Best malting anthracite... 30/ i 30/ ; i 25/ -27 6 Seconds 29/ 29' 22/ -25-' Thirds 27 6 27/6 Red Vein large 25/6 25/6 19/6-20.6 Machine-made cobbles ! 42/6 42/6 33/ -35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ — Thirds 39/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 36/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 42; 6 42/6 Seconds 41/ 41/ Thirds 39/ 39/ Red. Vein nuts 36/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 35/ 35/ 26/ -27/6 Seconds 34/ 34/ Thirds 33/ 33/ Red Vein beans 31/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 20/ 20/ 20/ -22/ Rubbly culm 13/ 13/ 8/6-9/ Red Vein culm 111 11/ Breakers duff 8/ 8/ — Billy duff 6/6 6/6 6/ - 6/6 Steam:— Best large steam 30/ 30/ 23/ -24/ Seconds 27/ 27/ Cargo through 23/6 23/6 18/ -20/ Seconds 22/ 22/ Bunkers through 23/6 23/6 Smalls ...... 19/ 19/ 8/6—11/6 Second smalls 17/ n/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 27/ 27/ — Smalls...... 24/ 24/ 16/6-18/6 Gas through 23/6 23'6 Gas smalls 21/ 21/ — Black Veins 32,6 32 6 I 24/ -25/ Western-valleys 31/6 31/6 ! 23/ -24/ Eastern-valleys 31 6 31/6 ! 22/ -23/ Inferior do 30,6 30/6 21/ -22/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 35/6 35/6 ! 25/6-26/6 Second qualities (at pit) 33/3 : 33/3 23 6-24/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large ; 33/3 1 33/3 24/ -25/ 18/ -20/ Small 1 28/6 28/6 No. 2 Rhondda— ■ 29/6 29/6 21/ -22/ Through-and-through j 24-'6-26/ i 1 24/6-26/ 16/6-18/6 13/ -14/ Small 19/6-21/6 ' ! 19/6-21/6 Best patent fuel 32/6 ! ! 32/6 ' 28/ —30/ Seconds 32/6 1 32/6 27/ -28/ Special foundry coke 50/ 50/ 62/6-65/ Ordinary do. 50/ 1 50/ 50/ -55/ Furnace coke 50/ ; . 50/ 45/ -47/6 Pitwood (ex-ship) 65/ 65/ 75/ -76/ * Nominal. ______________________ GOVERNMENT AND MINERS’ BALLOT. At an interview yesterday (Thursday) the Prime Minister informed the executive of the Miners’ Federa- tion of Great Britain that the men required for military service under the scheme of the National Service Depart- ment would be recruited. Following the interview the executive of the Miners’ Federation held a protracted sitting at the Grafton Hotel. The situation with which they had to deal was one of the greatest difficulty. The executive decided to advise the conference to take no action upon the ballot. The matter was still under consideration when we went to press. ____________________________ A report is published to the effect that a new seam of 6,000,000 tons of coal has been struck in the Rhondda Valley. Mr. J. McGurk, Lancashire miners’ agent, the vice- chairman of the Labour Party executive, has been selected as Labour Candidate for the Rossendale division of Lancashire at the next general election.