May 17, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1003 market for 16,000 tons of Northumberland and or Durham best steams for delivery to stipulated ports over July and August. An unusual amount of interest is being taken in this order, because of the manner in which prices have recently bounded up, and also because of the fact that the previous contract was the first in recent days in respect of which an advance on the scheduled minimum prices was conceded. In the price-list which follows, the lower price in each quotation refers to business for France, Italy, British protectorates and possessions and to coaling stations therein, and the higher price to business for neutrals. The prices for home consumers are “ in between ” --in most cases, 2s. 6d. above the lower price given, and as follow in the remaining instances : - Best Blyth steams, 32s 6d.; Tynes, 32s.; gas bests, 27s. 6d.; seconds, 26s.; specials, 29s ; and foundry and blastfurnace coke, 45s. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths ; Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coais (Pelaw Main or similar); Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams! Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals ; Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas i Current prices. 30/ -50/ 29/6-40/ 25/6-30/6 27/ -32/ 23 6-30/ i 20/ -25/ i18/6-23/6 20/6-25/6 25/ -33/6 25/ -35/ 23/6-30/ | 26/6-35 6 26/6-35/ 26/6-30/ 24/ -30/ 24/ —30/ 28/6-35/ 42/6-50/ 42/6-50/ 35/ -40/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices, j prices. 30/ -45/ : 30/ 29/6-34/6 ’ 28/ -30/ 25/6-30/6 ; 22/ -23/ 27/ -32' 22/6-23/ 23/6-30/ 18/ -20/ 20/ -25/ 18' | 18/6-23/6 16/ -17/ 20/6-25/6 19/ -20/ 25/ -33/6 21/ 25/ -30/ | 26/ ' 23/6-28'6■17/6-19/ 26/6-31/6 ! 30/ -31/ 26.6- 35/ ! 17/ -20/ 26/6-30/ ; 18/ -20/ 24/ -30/ ' 18/ -20/ 24/ -30/ 1 17/ -18/ 28 6-35/ : 27,6-30/ 1 42/6-50/ 40/ -42 6 42.6- 50/ , 40/ I 35/ -40/ : 30/ -32/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market is very firm, but without any material change, except there is a growing indisposition on the part of colliery fitters to commit themselves in spite of the large enquiry from neutral consumers. Admiralty requirements are very heavy and absorb the bulk of the output of steam coal. Gas, coking and • manufacturing fuels for shipment have undergone an advance of 5s., and it may soon be more, for the home demand for these coals is insistent. Good bunkers command 30s. Coke supplies are short of the demand, and after the home trade is fulfilled little remains for export. For beehive and patent oven coke for shipment abroad 50s. is quoted, and for gas coke 38s. to 40s. Other quotations as per fixed schedule. M i d d I esbrough-on-Tees. COAL. There is scarcity of coal, and prices are very strong. General demand is heavy for steam, gas and coking coal. Orders for the first-mmed cannot be accepted, except for weeks ahead. The forward market is very firm, and most producers will not quote. Those who can be induced to name a price quote from 40s upward. Gas coal and coking coal continue in good request on home account at unaltered prices, and for neutrals they range from 32s. 6d. to 35s. Official absorption of coal is as heavy as ever, and enquiry from neutrals is increasing. Best bunkers are fairly active, but inferior sorts are very quiet. Coke continues stiff. As yet the large demand is adequately dealt with, but some apprehension is felt as regards the future. Average blastfurnace quality is 33s. at the ovens • low phosphorus kind 35s. 6d. at the ovens, and foundry description 38s. for home use. For shipment to neutrals, nothing below 50s. is named for both furnace and foundry coke. IRON. As was to be expected, home business in Cleveland foundry iron has quietened down, purchases having been completed under the original allocations for this month, but supplementary allotments are confidently anticipated, as iron is plentiful, and the truck supply continues to steadily improve. Home sales of forge iron, which do not come under the allocation system, are on a substantial sc-de both for early and forward supply. Thus, May dis- tribution of Cleveland iron among home consumers promises to be heavy. Export transactions are on only a limited scale. Shipments to France continue heavy, but exports to Italy are very small. For home consumption, No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are quoted at 95s.; and for export to the Allies these qualities are put at 114s. No. 1 is 99s. for home use, and 119s. for shipment to France and Italy. The large and increasing use of basic iron, and scrap for the manufacture of steel, and the limited exports of hsematite enable producers of the last named commodity to meet all home needs for east coast haematite, mixed numbers of which are 122s. 6d. for home use. For shipment to France and Italy mixed numbers of haematite stand at 147s. 6d. Demand for manu- factured iron and steel continues pressing, and practically the whole of the huge output is absorbed by national needs Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. Business in the Cumberland coal trade is exceedingly brisk. Owing to the big drop in output, however, through the withdrawal of so many young men from the industry, the position is one of increasing difficulty. Some of the collieries have been very hardly hit by the comb-out. The home market is firmer, the clamour for fuel for local con- sumption is growing keener, and demand is more than ever in excess of the supply. Local manufacturing needs are at present very heavy. Bunkers are in steady demand, and gas and engine fuels for home use are in very firm request. Landsale has been very much busier during the last few days. The cross-channel trade is in a remarkably active condition. The tonnage from Cumberland ports to Ireland is still very much above the average. The shipments this week have amounted to 5,660 tons, compared with 3,440 tons at the corresponding period of last year. Pitch is very firm, and one or two good consignments have recently been shipped from Cumberland ports. During April, 2,000 tons of creosote oil and 3,000 tons of pitch, were shipped from Maryport, both to Continental ports. Prices of all sorts are firm, but unchanged. Current quotations. Current- L’st week’s Last year's prices. prices. prices. BestCumberl’nd coal at pit 25/10 25/10 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 24/2 24/2 21 3 Seconds at pit 23/4 23/4 20/10 Washed nuts at pit 23/4 23/4 20/10 De. smalls ,, 19/2 19/2 16/8 Do. peas „ 17/6 17'6 15/ Buckhill best coal at pit... 25/ 25/ 22/6 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit 23/6 23 6 21/ Oughterside best coal at pit 25/ 25/ 22/6 Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 23/6 23 6 21/ x St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 25/ 25/ 22/6 St. Helens best house nuts at pit 23/6 23/6 21/ Pest Cumber 1'nd coal, f.o.b. 22/ 22/ 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 20/ 20/ 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) 31/ 31/ 25/ Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 31/ 31/ 30/ Best works fuel 22/6 22'6 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... 22'6 22 6 20/ Best washed nuts for gas- works 2l 6 21'6 19/ South-West Lancashire. coal. Inland household orders continue in excess of supplies, which are reported as meagre all round, and there is no doubt the county is beginning to feel now the lessening of output caused by the recent comb-out. As many essential industries have to be kept up to their full output and even an increasing one, the thinning of the household supply is inevitable. .Requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export tend if anythin z to become heavier, especially for Admiralty purposes. Supplies are short, and as in the inland trade, things are steadily getting more difficult. Gas companies are betraying anxiety to secure adequate supplies over the coming year, and in some cases are asking outside the usual channels on the remote chance of finding some small tonnage In slacks and small graded fuel generally the same brisk demand that has been noted for some time continues, and application for extra tonnage to put a little into stock, which are fairly numerous, meet with no success. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). 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 prices. 23/6-24'6 25/ -26/ 21/6-22/6 24/6-25/ 20/6 23/ -24/ 20/6 30/ 18/6 17/6 16/6 L'st week's Lastyear’s prices. prices. 23/6-24/6 21/ -22/ 25/ —26/ 25/6 21/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 24'6-25/ 24/6 20/6 18/ 23/ -24/ 23/ upwds 20/6 18/ 30/ 24/6-25/6 18/6 16/ 17/6 15/ 16/6 14/ South Lancashire and Cheshire. IRON. The Manchester Coal Exchange was fairly attended on Tuesday. The business done in household coal was practically nil, supplies being still difficult to obtain. Steam and manufacturing fuel, while being anything but abundant, is moving a little more freely. There is a strong enquiry for shipping coal. The collieries will mostly play for two days at Whitsuntide. Prices generally are as below: — 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 ______* 18/6 upwds 17/' upwds L'st week's prices. 24 6 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 20/-20/6 ______* 18/6upwds 17/ upwds Last year's prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 25/ -26/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds * As per official list. IRON. There was a fair attendance on 'Change on Tuesday, but the state of affairs still remains the same. Prices and deliveries are still controlled by the Ministry. All works are fully occupied. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There are no indications of relief in the position, which is dominated by the reduced output of coal and great scarcity in every department. The pits continue to work full time, except where the disputes, which have been a feature of the last few weeks, cause stoppages. Almost invariably the tonnage raised per week shows a marked shrinkage, estimated at 10 per cent. When it is considered that supplies in this district were barely sufficient before this shrinkage of production took place, it is evident that the present shortage must be acutely felt. The collieries are under great pressure for supplies, but cannot do more than meet the most urgent needs and share the output as fairly as may be, subject to the official instructions. Full tonnage of house coal is still being required to be sent to London and the south, and both house coal and gas coal are being requisitioned for gas making purposes in the Metropolitan area. Over and above this there is a fairly brisk demand for house coal for London and the south, but very little obtainable. Local centres are all on short supply, and in some cases the needs are urgent, as depots are quite without coal and day-to-day deliveries are reduced and much below current requirements This is usually the beginning of the quietest period of the year, but conditions are quite abnormal and a good deal of apprehension is felt as to the future, which promises a still further reduction in available supplies. Rationing of a severe kind seems to be the only solution. These considerations apply more or less also to gas coal and manufacturing fuel. Deliveries of gas coal are necessarily reduced, winter stocking is making no progress, and there exists a keen demand for prompt parcels, which are rarely on offer. All grades of manufacturing fuel are very scarce, especially nuts and good quality rough slacks. Munition and similar works having first call, other consumers have difficulty in keeping their works even adequately supplied, and are turning more to inferior grades, which are consequently quickly cleared up. The production of furnace coke is being affected by the growing shortage of suitable slacks, and on this account there is difficulty in satisfying the demand for coke, which is well maintained. Pit prices are nominally as follow:— Current pit prices. 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 I L’st weeVsBast year's prices. I prices. ' prices. 21/ -22/6 I 21 6-22 6 20/ -21/ 21/ -21,6 ; 21/ -21/6 ! 19/ -20/ 21/ -21 6 I 21/ -21 6 ! 19/ -20/ 20/ -20 6 20/ -20/6 ( 17/ -18/ 18 6-19,6 18/6-19,6 ■ 16/ -17/ 25 6-26/ 25,6 -26/ 23/ -24/ 24/ -25/ ! 24/ -25/ j 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ ; 20/ -21/ 20 6 22 6 20'6 22 6 19/ -20/ 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/ 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 s 15/ -16/ 16/6-17/6 ! 15/ -16/ 15/6-16,6 13 6-14 6 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12 6-13 6 32/ 25/8 Barnsley. COAL. The difficulty increases. The reduced output is severely felt in nearly all respects, but collieries are absolutely unable to alter the position in spite of all pressure upon them. Deliveries continue to be subject to the official directions, and practically speaking there is an absence of business on the open market. Difficulties are numerous and formidable, with delays most pronounced in respect to deliveries in certain directions. On the whole, however, nearer area traffic is being expeditiously dealt with, and the effect cf centralisation is apparently bearing fruit. The bulk of the collieries are still engaged, in a larger degree, with the supply of steam coal for the more essential needs of the country. A large percentage still goes for the purposes of the Admiralty, munition works and the railway companies. These supplies continue to be demanded at , the maximum rate, irrespective of the shortage which must ensue in other directions, whilst the tonnage of nuts taken for engineering purposes is of a very extensive character. The scarcity of this class of fuel for ordinary purposes is very marked. The export of large steams continues to be very variable, but on the.whole the shipments are not heavy. All descriptions of small steam coal are in active request, and the supply is inadequate to the demand. The position in regard to gas coal supplies does not improve, and the indication is that works will have to continue to accept reduced supplies on contract account with a very small allowance of nuts. Even so, the deliveries are hardly adequate to meet the present needs, whilst attention is being directed to the greater utilisation of gas works coke for certain classes of industrial use. The pressure of slacks suitable for the making of coke is in no way relaxed. The crushing of nuts continues, but, with this included, it is hardly possible to keep the by-product plants in full operation. The deliveries are of a heavy description, but appear to be insufficient to supply the ever- growing need. Deliveries of house coal have fallen off in a considerable degree, whilst merchants find the public rushing in with orders which cannot be supplied. Deli- veries are only of a partial character, and delay also ensues in giving these. Values remain of a very nominal character. Prices at pit. Current iL’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. I prices. prices. Best Silkstono 23/ -24/6 / 23/ -24/6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 21/ -21/6 : 21/ -21,'6 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/ Secondary do 19/ -20/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 18/6-19/6 18/6-19'6 16/ -17/ . Secondary do Steam coals:— 18/ -18'6 18/ -18/6 1 15/6-16/ Best hard coals 20/ -21/ | 20/ -21' 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/6 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 18/6-19/6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 18/ -18'6 15/ -15/9 18/ -18/6 | 15/6-16/3 Best slack 15/ -15/9 12/6-13/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 12/ -13/6 12/ -13/6 10/6-11/ Screened gas coals 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 18/ -18/6 18/9 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/6 Gas nuts 18,6 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 Hull. COAL. The position has undergone very little change. Supplies do not expand in volume as one could wish, and the greatest pressure is being exercised to obtain sufficient to meet commitments. The big official demands for large steams precludes all but a very small quantity being allowed for neutral trade, 5s. and more premium being asked for accommodation lots of best South Yorkshire hards West Yorkshire screened sorts are barely sufficient to meet Allied requirements. Derbyshire steams and nuts are prohibited