1004 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 17, 1918. export. Gas coal is difficult to buy, and house fuel still in good demand The arrivals of coals from the collieries at Hull during April are officially estimated at 201,055 tons, against 203,031 tons in April a year ago, a decrease of about 2,000 tons ; and the four months to date 859,621 tons, against 931,746 tons. Chesterfield. COAL. The condition of the market presents no new feature. All classes of coal are eagerly sought after, but are increasingly difficult to find. Orders for house coal are still considerably in arrear. The diminished output of coal makes it impossible to give prompt attention to the daily call upon collieries, and great delay is inevitable. The demand for coal for munition works and for manufacturing purposes generally is greater than ever, and consumers are pressing for supplies - incessantly. Great trouble is experi- enced in securing the necessary tonnage. Cobbles are difficult to find, and in respect of all classes of nuts there is almost a famine. Unfortunately there is not, at the moment, any prospect of improvement. There is an active demand for slack for boiler firing, but supplies are far from plentiful. The position regarding large steam coal is unchanged, the demand continuing much in excess of the supply. Railway compa ies are in great need of locomotive coal, and, as current deliveries are not by any means equal to the consumption, it is still found necessary to load up from the stock heaps at various stations. There is nothing doing in the way of shipment of Derbyshire coals, as it is not possible to obtain licences. The coke market maintains its steady character. All classes of coke are in full demand, absorbing the whole output of the ovens. Coking fuel is much wanted. IRON. All branches of the iron trade are in a state of great activity, chiefly on Government work. are able to get only a proportion of their requirements met, based on the amount of previous supplies. Preference is given to industries of urgent national importance, and it is suggested that the priority system should be greatly extended, in order that reduced supplies may be more fully adjusted according to the national urgency of work. In domestic supplies, too, merchants report that they are getting behind. Prices are at full maximum. Prices at pit. Current iL’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. i prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24 6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 21/6 ! 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow i 21/6 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 ! 20/6 Best hard 21/ i 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 I 18/6 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 13/6 i 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21,6 19/ cobs 2Q/6 ! 20,6 18/ Best hard spires 22;6 1 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18/6 ' 18,6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) • 17/ 1 17/ 14.'6 Small (do.) 17/ 17/ 146 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 16. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. There is still more enquiry than ever for all classes of coal. The pressure to get supplies before the Whitsun holiday was almost as great as in some of the pre-war periods. Tonnage arrivals have improved, and with the abnormal demand for all best classes of coal there has been an improvement in the position of secondary and lower classes. Smalls, which had been heavily stocked, are now selling out well. The output of the district is considerably affected by the large number of young men who in the past month or six weeks have flocked to the Navy and Army. Prices are for the present all at the f >rmer controlled rates. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Nottingham. COAL. In practically every branch of the trade in this county the demand is in excess of the supply, despite the fact that owners are making strenuous efforts to keep the output at as high a level as possible. Even in the domestic fuel section, which usually manifests a somewhat easier tone at this time of the year, the demand is very active, and local merchants are experiencing a difficulty to secure supplies to cover current requirements, with the result that the orders of some of their customers have to be curtailed to avoid hardship in other cases. There is increasing pressure on collieries for deliveries of all classes of steam-producing fuel. The tonnage required on Government work is consi- derable, and the remainder of the output, after preferential claims have been met, is absorbed on contract account. Nuts are particularly in brisk request. A stronger tone has developed in the slack market, most qualities being readily disposed of, while the output of coking slacks remains inadequate. Contracts exhaust the supplies ofgas coal. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 18/6-19/6 Good house coals 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ —18/6 Secondary do 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ Best hard coals 18/6-19/ 18/6-19/ 17/ —17/6 Secondary do 17/6-18/ 176-18/ 16/ -17/ Slacks (best hards) 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 12/ -13/ Do. (second) 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10 6-11/6 Do. (soft) 13/ 13/ 1 IRON. There are no signs of diminished pressure in either the crude or the finished branches. The list of controlled materials is being continually added to. Re-rolled steel has now come under the system. This is sold mostly in bars varying from five-eighths to three inches, and the basis price of £15 has been fixed as a maximum. In the finished sections generally, manufacturers are grappling with pressing orders, and only business backed by high priority certificate stands a chance of being looked at. Best bars stand firm, so far as the market is concerned, at <£16 net at makers’ works, and there is a constant demand for them for high-class work associated with the chain and cable industries and others of essential importance. Unmarked bars, which come within the control system, command the maximum of <£13 17s. 6d., also at makers’ works, and nut and bolt iron changes hands at from £>14 8s. to about <£14 1< )s., this being a slight modification. The output of sheets remains limited by the moderate supplies of bars available. Busi- ness is strictly confined to orders accompanied by first or second priority certificates, at the controlled price of £17 a ton One or two galvanising plants are operating in the district. The price for galvanised sheets is £>28 10s., which, with spelter costing from <£50 to £54, does not allow much of a margin. Since the new prices were fixed for gas strip and puddled bars, trade has been quiet. The limit of £ll'10s. for puddled bars does not seem very acceptable to those furnace owners who, not engaged directly on Govern- ment work, have to put up with deficient and inferior labour, while, with their limited output, dead charges remain the same. Some firms have been fortunate enough to get their staffs recruited by men returned from the Army. Lack of man power is also felt so far as the output of pig iron is concerned. The best foundry sorts are particularly scarce, and there is a big run on cast scrap as a substitute. The best qualities of this material fetch £6 15s. to <£6 17s. 6d. In steel there is still a big demand for small sections, though there is an easier tendency in the medium sizes. i Current L’st week’s'Last year’s Steam coals:— ! prices. prices. i prices. Best Black Vein large... 32/6 32/6 i 26/6-28/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 31/6 31/6 i 25/ —26/ Best Eastern-valleys ...' 31/6 31/6 ; 24/6-25/ Secondary do. 30/6 30/6 ' 21/ -22/6 Best small coals J 23/6 23/6 s 18/ -18/6 Secondary do ; 22/6 22 6 ! 15/6-16/6 Inferior do ; 20/6 20/6 i 7 6-12/ Screenings i 25/6 25/6 19/ -21/ Through coals 29 6 29/6 20/ -21,6 Best washed nuts 32/6 ! 32 6 ! Other sorts:— i 1 Best house coal, at pit .. 35/6 35/6 2 ')/ -26/6 Secondary do. do. ...' 33/3 33/3 ; 22'6-24/ Patent fuel : 32/6 32/6 27/6-30/ Furnace coke 47/6 47/6 i —* Foundry coke 1 47/6 47/6 ; * Leicestershire. COAL. Owing to the shortage of labour, the bulk of the coal is now being mechanically loaded into the wagons direct. The demand for all classes of fuel for steam raising purposes is still increasing, and more household has to be diverted for this purpose, making a pronounced shortage in other directions. The heavy calls for London and district continue to be most important, and they have to be prefer- entially treated in order that full reserves may be main- tained. The minimum deliveries are remarkably well kept up under the circumstances when there is still a big consumption of domestic fuel in consequence of the cold weather. There is a keen demand from the south and west of England for household, cobbles and nuts. Small fuel for automatic stokers is cleared day by day. Country coal merchants are getting very inadequate deliveries, and there are no stocks of any kind at country stations to fall back upon. The colliery sidings are crowded with empty wagons, and appeals are increasing for an augmented output by working an extra hour per day to meet the emergency. Monday and Tuesday will be observed as holidays. There are no stocks at the collieries. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. A very film tone continues to prevail in the house coal trade of this coal field. The collieries are all fully engaged, but the quantity raised falls far short of the heavy demand. Consequently every colliery is sadly in arrear with its orders. The position is not likely to improve, as there is no possibility of increasing the output under existing conditions. Orders are coming to hand very freely for all classes of steam and manufacturing fuel, and it is a difficult matter to cope with the enquiry. Prices at pithead. * Nominal. IRON. There is no change in the iron and steel market of the district. A very satisfactory import of iron ore continues to be maintained. As almost the whole of the works’ out- put is on Government account prices are nominal. There is a good enquiry for waste wasters in the tin-plate trade, the rest of the output being strictly controlled. Pitwood has arrived in fair quantities. The controlled price remains at 65s. for best French fir. Cardiff. COAL. The great difficulty at the present moment is to meet the demand for superior qualities. The recruiting effort has materially decreased production, but complaint is made that there is a great degree of avoidable absenteeism. Not only are numbers of men abstaining from work for trivial causes, but as each draft of recruits is sent to training camps a large body of men leave the pits to see their friends off. Whatever the causes may be, there is undoubtedly a big falling off in output, and many collieries have difficulty in getting the necessary quantities of coal down to the docks for shipment. Wagons are plentiful, and shipping has been arriving in satisfactory quantities, but loading operations are so slow that there is a waiting list of steamers to get into the loading berths. The approach of the Whitsuntide holidays has also increased the pressure, and it is anticipated that the present scarcity will be much accentuated during the next fortnight. The miners have decided to take two days’ holiday in Whitsun- tide week, and as is usually the case, there will be a considerable drop in the output for some days following the vacation, especially if the weather remains favourable for holiday makers. The Allocation Committee had the matter under consideration, and issued a circular intimating that all collieries are at liberty to produce full outputs for the month ending June 8. In the Welsh recruiting area, during the month of April, no fewer than 43,000 men submitted themselves to the medical boards, and it is computed that 75 per cent, passed the tests and were drafted into the Prices at pit. Current House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal — Large ............... Small................ Large ... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. ; prices. prices. 1 ( 24/ 26/ 26/ \ 23/ J 23/3 ! <21/6 15/6 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. 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. 19/ -20/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 19/ -20/6 18/ -/19 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/3-16/ 14/6 -14/9 8/6- 9 6 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/ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is no scarcity of any moment to report on the week. The tone of the market is quite good. Most makers have as much business in hand as they care about, and are adhering to the official maximum price, which now stands at about 33s. 3d.-33s. 4|d. basis, net cash, f.o.t. at works, for coke finish. Some makers are in want of prompt speci- fications, and are disposed to make concessions to obtain same—32s. 6d. to 32s. 9d. has been accepted. Wasters are in good demand, and full prices obtained. Ternes continue very slow of sale. kitcheners.............. 15/ —16/6 Steams, best hand picked 15/6-16/6 Steams, seconds .......... 14/6-16/ Main cobbles for kitcheners: 15/ —16/6 Main breeze...............| 14/9-15/6 15/ -16/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-16/ 15/ -16/6 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. COAL. The problem of adequate supplies of manufacturing fuel is becoming increasingly serious, consequent upon decreased output. Here and there a certain amount of dislocation of productive capacity has occurred by reason of the failure of deliveries. Consumption is very heavy, and consumers The London Gazette announces dissolution of the following partnerships : -O. I. Philipp and R. P. Lion, trading as Philipp and Lion, metal merchants, 2, Broad- street-place, London, E.C.; J. Grimshaw and H. Peers, trading as Grimshaw and Peers, engineers, High-street, Bolton. The Court of Appeal, Dublin, has reversed the decision of the Divisional Court and restored the judgment of Mr. Justice Gibson, who decided that Messrs. Wallace Bros., coal merchants, Dublin, were not liable for demur- rage claimed by Messrs. McKelvie and Sons, shipowners, Glasgow. The circumstances of the case have been reported. Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals 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/ 32 6 31/6 31'6 30/6 : 35/6 33/3 33/3 28/6 ! 29/6 24/6-26/ : 19/6-21/6 ! 32/6 32/6 50/ 50/ 50/ 65/ L’st week’s prices. 35/6 34/ 33/3 32/6 24/ } 23/6 ) 2^ } 22/6 j 22/ U 21/6 j 21/ } 20/6 J 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/ 30/ 29/ 32'6 31/6 31/6 30/6 35/6 33/3 33/3 28/6 29/6 24/6-26/ i 19/6-21'6 32'6 ' ! 32/6 , 50/ 50/ 50/ 65/ 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— ] Black Veins Western-valleys ] Eastern-valleys 1 Inferior do I Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit)’ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal. Last year’s prices. __* 26/6-27/6 25/ -/26 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 12/ -15/ 10/ -12/ 26/ -27/ 24/ 24/ —25/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ -25/ 27/ -27/6 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 25/6-26/6 23/6-24/6 27/ -27/6 18/ -19/ 25/ -26/ 18/ -19/ 14/ -14/6 30/ 28/ -29/ 47/6-50/ 47 6-50/ 47/6-50/ 75/