752 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN April 12, 1918. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, April 11. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The coal market of this district has been firmer and more buoyant this week than for a long time past. Arrivals of tonnage have distinctly improved. A considerable reduction in stocks of all but the more inferior classes of small coal is evident, and the collieries have been working more regularly. Best large steam coal has been in such demand that at times the supply has been unable to meet it. Other sorts have also held a relatively better position. Some small coals are still in large stock at the pits. The demand for house and gas coals has been strongly main- tained. Coke and patent fuel are unchanged. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week’ s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 32/6 32/6 24/ -25/ Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y 31/6 ■ 31/6 23/ —24/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 31/6 ! 31/6 i 30/6 22/ -23/ Secondary do. 30/6 21/ -22/ Best small coals 23/6 i 23/6 15/ -16/ Secondary do 22/6 I 22/6 10/ -12/6 Inferior do 20/6 20/6 8/6- 9/ . 16/ -17/ Screenings 25/6 29/6 32/6 25/6 Through coals 29/6 . 20/ -21/ Best washed nuts Other sorts:— i 32/6 — Best house coal, at pit... 1 35/6 35/6 . 24/6-25/6 Secondary do. do. ...! 33/3 33/3 1 23/ -24/ ! 27/ -30/ Patent fuel ; 32/6 32/6 Furnace coke | 47/6 47/6 ; * Foundry coke i 47/6 47/6 * * Nominal. IRON. The position of the iron and steel trades is unchanged. In all departments the highest pressure is maintained, and as the output is almost entirely on Government account prices are nominal. Pitwood arrivals have improved of late, and, coupled with the use of concrete props, the supply is now regarded as much more satisfactory. The controlled price of 65s. for best French fir still stands. Cardiff. COAL. It is estimated that standing stocks at the time of the Easter holiday were reduced by about 80 per cent., and after the holiday terminated there was a certain amount of absenteeism amongst the miners, which had the effect of decreasing production. By the end of last week some amount of pressure began to be felt with regard to shipments, especially of the better class coals, and in several instances difficulty was experienced in making up cargoes. In the meantime tonnage has been arriving in satisfactory quantities, and whilst there has not actually been a waiting list, there has been more or less of a hustle in order to keep things going. Collieries are now well situated with regard to the supply of empty wagons, and as the new allocation scheme came into operation on Monday, it is anticipated that more comfortable conditions will prevail for a week or two at least. This week most of the collieries are in full operation, and are again producing more than can immediately be dealt with. In several instances complaints are being made that the new system of allocation is acting unfairly on certain collieries, but the committee in charge of the scheme is sympathetic, and when any ease of real hardship is proved there is no doubt that remedial measures will be adopted. There appears to be a genuine desire to make it successful, and not to place any obstacle in the way. Combined with the comb-out of miners there is little doubt that allocation will be the means of keeping down stocks much below the abnormal level of the last few months. So far as market conditions are concerned, there is practically no change. There is an active demand for superior qualities, and also for bunker descriptions, which, however, are now far better Cardiff Prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated/ plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Current Steam coals:— prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 35/6 Superior seconds 34/ Seconds 1 33/3 32/6 Ordinary Steam smalls No. 1 24/ Do. 2 23/6 Do. 3 23/ Do. 4 22/6 Do. 5 22/ Do. 6 21/6 Do. 7 21/ Do. 8 20/6 Best dry coals 32/6 Ordinary drys 31/ Best washed nuts 32/6 Seconds 31/ Best washed peas 30/ Seconds 29/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 32,6 Western-valleys 31/6 31/6 Eastern-valleys Inferior do J 30/6 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 35/6 33/3 Second qualities (at pit) ; No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large : 33/3 Small ! 28/6 No. 2 Rhondda— j Large , 29 (6 24/6-26/ Thr ough-and-thr ough f Small 19/6-21/6 Best patent fuel I 32/6 Seconds 32/6 Special foundry coke 50/ Ordinary do. 50/ Furnace coke 50/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 65/ 'L’st week’s (Last year’s i prices. ■ 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/ i ______* i 24/ -25/ i 23/ -24/ j ? 14/6-15/ } I 13/ -14/ ]; 12/ -13/ ] 8/6-10/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ —21/ i 32/6 i 24/ -25/ I 31/6 ' 23/ -24/ I 31/6 < 22/ -23/ I 30/6 ’ 20/ —22/ • ! i I 35/6 j 25/6-26/6 j 33/3 i 23/6-24/6 i 33/3 24/ -25/ 28/6 19/ -20/ 29/6 24/6-26/ ! 19/6-2U6 I 32/6 ' i 32/6 I 50/, I 50/ i 50/ 65/ 20/ -21/ 16/6-17/6 12/6-13 6 28/ -30/ 27/ -28/ 62/6-65/ 50/ -55/ 45/ -47/6 75/ * Nominal. than those used in pre-war days. For the inferior grades less enquiry is made, and these move off very slowly. Chartering- last week amounted to 16,250 tons compared with 10,300 tons in the preceding six days, but there is every prospect that these figures will be considerably exceeded during the present week. The pressure for house and gas coals continues, and supplies are stated to be some- what in arrear of contractual deliveries. Patent fuel is rather quiet. The pitwood trade is unchanged. All prices are unaltered, and on the basis of the Controller’s schedule. IRON. No change has occurred in the tinplate trade, beyond the fact that the outputs last week were materially affected by the holidays. Receipts from works only totalled 19,119 boxes, whilst shipments amounted to 27,454 boxes, leaving 131,215 boxes in stock, compared with 139,550 boxes the previous week, and 203,113 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. A reduced output is expected in the near future, owing to the new man-power proposals. Steel- makers are complaining of a shortage of scrap metals, which are in limited supply, and there is a reduced output in consequence. All the works, however, are fully occupied, and, as far as the deliveries of raw materials will permit, are producing maximum outputs. Rail and bar mills are working at high pressure. There has been a further rise in the price of block tin, which has reached the abnormal figure of 4>320 for cash, with a prospect of a further advance within the next few days. The quotations for standard sizes of tin plates have not been altered, but any further increase in the rates for the raw material must necessarily affect the price of the finished article. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change. Prices in every department are nominal. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port was fairly satisfactory during the past week. Shipments of coal were favourable, but the exports of patent fuel were much reduced; the shipments together amounted to 63,981 tons. A very good attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was no material improve- ment to report in the general condition of the anthracite coal market. Large was freely offered for immediate delivery, and machine-made varieties were also easily obtainable. Rubbly culm and duff were without any demand. In steam coal there was an easy tone. Bituminous coals were strongly held. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 11. Dublin. Business continues to be active generally, cold weather keeping up the demand for house coals, and prices remain unchanged. The difficulty in getting coal across leaves stocks very low, and there is no steam coal offering. City prices: Best Orrell, 51s. per ton; best Wigan, 49s.; standard coal, 46s. 6d. per ton, delivered; coke, 49s. per ton. Irish coals at Castlecomer Collieries, County Kil- kenny, are: Best small coal, 30s. per ton; best large coal, 28s. 4d.; bottom coal, 25s.; breakage, 16s. 8d.; culm, 13s. 4d. per ton. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays from cross-channel ports was 26,181 tons, as compared with 21,393 tons the week previously. At a meeting of the North Dublin Board of Guardians last week the circular letter of the Irish Shipping Director was read, urging economy in the consumption of coal in view of the diversion of shipping. Several members advocated the use of Irish coal, if it could be procured. When the deputation appointed in connection with the coal shortage and shipping difficulties by the Corporation recently waited on the Chief Secretary, the latter stated that he would lay the situation before the proper authorities, and held out the hope that larger ships which have been taken for Government purposes will be replaced by vessels of smaller tonnage. Belfast. The reduction in tonnage for the cross-channel trade is beginning to be seriously felt in this port, and considerable quantities will be required to clear off orders on merchants’ hands which are in arrears. Stocks in the port are now very low, as supplies have been further restricted owing to recent holidays, and the large quantities requisitioned by the Government for foreign shipment. Omagh Urban Council passed a resolution urging on the Government the necessity of connecting Irish coal mines with the railway systems by means of loop lines, in order to afford greater facilities for the use of Irish coal. At a Belfast conference on coal saving it was stated that street lighting economies would save 2,000 tons of coal yearly. Coal Rationing for Yorkshire.—A system of house-coal rationing, accompanied by the registration of householders, shopkeepers, and institutions using coal, is to be set up throughout Yorkshire, as the result of an important con- ference of local authorities held in Leeds on Friday of last week. It is part of a general scheme affecting the whole country, to be established by the Coal Controller. Aid. C. H. Wilson (Leeds) presided, and Mr. Frank Pick was in attendance on behalf of the Coal Controller to explain the scheme. The scale of allowances suggested for houses, flats, or tenements, is as follows:—One or two rooms occupied, yearly allowance of 2 tons 10 cwt. of coal; three or four rooms, 3 tons 15 cwt.; five or six rooms, 5 tons 10 cwt.; seven or eight rooms, 9 tons; nine or ten rooms, 10 tons 10 cwt.; eleven or twelve rooms, 12 tons. Specially large rooms (over 4,000 cu. ft.) will be allowed to count as two, and the term “ rooms occupied ” embraces living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens actually furnished and in occupation. There is to be a special scale for shops, bakeries, etc., as well as for hotels, clubs, boarding houses, pool’ law and other institutions, and asylums. Every householder will be required to register with a coal mer- chant. It will be an offence for a consumer to obtain an excess of coal beyond the allowance due to him, as well as for the merchant to supply more than the allow- ance due. In the course of the discussion modifications were suggested with regard to the smallest houses, and it was pointed out that any customer requiring not more than 1 cwt. per week may purchase anywhere without any formality. The Coal Controller’s proposals were received by the conference in the spirit in which they were made, and at the close the chairman expressed the hope and belief that the authorities of Yorkshire would do their best to carry them out. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 11. Very little change has taken place in the position of the trade on the London Coal Exchange. Supplies are coming forward well, and the balance of unexecuted orders is now very much reduced, and stocks at all the various depots are increasing. Steady work is reported at all the coal centres, and the fairly rapid clearance of the loaded wagons has been helpful in keeping the collieries well supplied with empty wagons. On the Exchange buyers are not very keen, but they are still in the majority, as colliery representatives report that private wagons are making a heavy call on the output and that free coal is very scarce. During the holidays a vast number of private wagons accumulated at the various collieries, and as these are being dealt with now, there is very little opportunity for dealing with orders in railway and colliery wagons. The pressure for house coal has con- siderably toned down as far as the London depots are concerned, but hard steam coal is still in strong demand. There is, however, a good enquiry for house coal in the provinces, and merchants who have depots in the outlying districts are still buying freely. No change has been reported in any of the pit prices for the summer months, but factors who have summer and winter prices with their various customers are trying to arrange a slight modification in some instances. Good class slacks have recently improved in value, and there is a good demand especially for those suitable for gas purposes. Twenty-two boats arrived on the Thames for Monday’s market, and 6 for Wednesday. The districts of Balham and Tooting were plunged in darkness for two hours both on Sunday and Monday evenings on account of a breakdown in the electric supply in the sub-station. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, April 5.—The continuance of cold weather and the scarcity of supplies caused a fair enquiry for seaborne house coal. No sales were reported. Cargoes, 7. Monday, April 8.—The continuance of cold weather gave a firm tone in the seaborne house coal market, and the short supply was soon disposed of, but the prices were not mentioned. Cargoes, 22. Wednesday, April 10.—The seaborne house coal market continued firm, but no sales were reported owing to the short supply. Cargoes, 6. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—A Press report states that the cargoes of Dutch ships taken over in British ports have not been requisitioned except in the case of coal and pitch, as it has been found to be impracticable to unload and stock such cargoes. The quotation of the home product in London of late undoubtedly showed a tendency to advance, despite the apparent absence of salient trans- actions. The price at present ranges from 50s. to 55s., but it must be remembered that sales are matters of negotiation. Moreover, labour and transport difficulties are likely to be increasing factors on the market position, and it is not easy to see now business will adjust itself to the new conditions. Nevertheless, it is sate to assume that the price level will remain comparatively high for a long time. The East Coast quotation is 26s. to 28s. f.o.b., the lowest point being touched by the Liverpool figure 22s. Quotations in Manchester are about 25s. That locality appears to be rather uncertain of itself regarding pitch values. No information is available regarding shipping business, except that cargo space is at an almost prohibi- tive price, and scanty even at that. Tar is unchanged, and the current business is noticeable only on account of the sparing manner in which the output is being officially allowed to dribble into public use. Solvent naphtha is easier in the London market, as the demand appears to have slowed down. All the other by-products are practically unaltered, at the following average quotations ;—Solvent naphtha: Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. to 3s. 3d.; North, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; 90-16U per cent, naked, London, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d.; North, 3s. lOd. to 4s. Crude naphtha: Naked, 30 per cent., 8|d. to 8|d.; North, 64d. to 6|d. Refined naphthalene, .£30 to 4-32 10s.; salts, 80s. to 90s. 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 gallon, f.o.b.) ; heavy oil, 4|d. to 4|d.; liquid, 4jd. Carbolic acid ; Crude, 60 per cent., East Coast and West Coast, 3s. 4d.; crystals, 39-40, Is. 3d. Cresylic : Casks, 95 per cent., 3s.; 97-99 per cent., 3s. 3d. ex works London and f.o.b. other ports. Anthracene : 40-45 A, 4|d.; 38-50 A, 6d., B, l|d. to 2d. Aniline oil, Is. 4d., casks free; salts, Is. 4d., drums free. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Most makers are now fairly well booked up over the next few weeks, and holding out as a rule for the official maximum price, which now stands at about 31s. 10|d. to 32s. per basis box net, f.o.t. at works, for coke finish, a few transactions only being reported at a discount of 3d. to 6d. a box. Wasters continue in good demand, and for most sizes top figures have to be paid; 28 x 20 in both full weights and lights are very scarce. Ternes are very slow of sale. The German coal supply to Holland having been stopped, the granting of Dutch credits connected with these trans- actions has been rescinded. Institution of Petroleum Technologists.—A paper on the “ Relation between Viscosity and the Chemical Constitu- tion of Lubricating Oils.” by Dr. A. E. Dunstan and Dr. F. B. Thole, will be read at a meeting of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists, John-street, Adelphi, London, on April 16, commencing at 8 p.m. Gloucestershire Electric Power Bill.—At the Gloucester- shire County Council special meeting on Tuesday, Mr. F. A. Hyett referred to the company which was promoting a Bill in Parliament this session for the purposes of supply- ing electric power for the Forest of Dean collieries and Stroud Valley cloth-mills, and other manufactories. He stated that the Bill had been withdrawn. Re-labelling Coal Wagons.—Some recent instructions issued by the Railway Executive Committee relate to trucks containing coal as consigned to stations or sidings adjacent to ports or canals. Such wagons are, in future, to be unloaded at the places to which they are consigned. The practice of having the wagons re-labelled and con- signed elsewhere is now forbidden.