1104 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 31, 1918. keep up the minimum deliveries, in order that sufficient reserves may be created to cover emergencies. Cobbles, large and small nuts, and bakers’ nuts, are all in greater demand than can be met. There is also a large and continuous demand for the South and West of England, and only a portion of it can be dealt with. For all these and other big centres the demand for steam-raising fuel has never been so great, and household is being very freely diverted to cover the emergency. Small fuel for automatic stokers is intensely active. Country merchants are heavily booked up with orders to lay in stocks for winter, but at present there is no surplus available for this purpose. Country sidings are quite bare of stocks, and there are no reserves of any kind at the collieries. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 30. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. There was very little work done last week until Thurs- day, and the position since has been very tight. Merchants have been receiving supplies in quantities quite inadequate to their requirements, and deliveries have had to be reduced in order to make the smaller output go round to meet urgent needs. Stocks are very low, alike at the pits and the wharves, there is no “free” coal on the market, and in many cases contracts are in arrear. Much of the shortage at the works is being made up at the expense of the domestic consumer, whose wants, however, are for the time being not so clamant by reason of the fine weather. Even in this department merchants are behind with deliveries. Maximum prices are upheld. Prices at pit. i Most classes of coal have been very scarce during the week on this market There has been a good arrival of tonnage, and a strong demand, but the output has been interfered with to a considerable extent by the unfortunate labour withdrawal in the western portions of Monmouth- shire which originated some weeks ago in connection with the Tredegar Company’s mines and those associated with that company. There has been scarcely any free coal about. Gas coal continues in strong demand, and orders have been booked for several months ahead. House coal is a little easier. Though a large amount of patent fuel has been made, there is a brisk trade. Coke is also strongly in demand. Small coals have been selling freely. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24 6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 21/6 19/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 20/6 18/ Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 18/6 16/ Slack Warwickshire:— 13/6 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21/6 19/ cobs 20/6 20,6 18/ Best hard spires 22,6 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 1816 18,6 ■ 17/ 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 17/ 17/ 14/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 32/6 32/6 26/6-27/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 31/6 31/6 26/ -26/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 31/6 31/6 ; 24/ -24/6 Secondary do. 30/6 30/6 20/ -21/6 Best small coals 23/6 23/6 . 17/ -18/ Secondary do 22/6 22/6 ; 13/ —15/ Inferior do 20/6 20/6 6 9- 8/6 Screenings 25/6 25/6 , 17/ -18/6 Through coals 29/6 29/6 , 20/ -21/ Best washed nuts ! 32/6 32/6 ; — Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. 35/6 35/6 25/ -26/ Secondary do. do. ... 33/3 33/3 22/ -23/6 Patent fuel 326 32/6 i 27/6-30/ Furnace coke ! I 47/6 47/6 —* Foundry coke ! 47/6 47/6 i —* IRON. Fundamental conditions remain unchanged. Large reserves of war material have been built up, thereby relieving the strain on productive capacity, and certain sections of steel can be more readily procured. There is an outlet for it all, as for a long time past some departments have had to go short. The new basis of =£15 at makers’ works for re-rolled steel seems to be operating satisfac- torily. What complaint there is seems to come from mills whose equipment is, perhaps, not quite so modern as in others, and where these are engaged on essential work it is suggested some consideration may be given. It is also noticeable that the congestion in the boiler plate trade is being relieved, and merchants are even getting some supplies for customers who cannot command the highest priority certificates. The iron trade is not so well off. All the bar mills are heavily engaged, and there is a constant stream of new orders to take the place of those that are worked off. The standard bar works are, in the main, under Government requisition for products subject to the price limitation of =£16 net, and a large proportion of the unmarked bars come under the same category—the price in this instance being =£13 17s. 6d. Puddled bars are called for in larger quantities than producers can comply with. Output was considerably reduced during the holi- days, and the heat wave also made for slackness. War demand for black sheets continues very heavy. Transac- tions for pig iron are on a small scale, owing to the inability of furnace owners to accept all the orders offering in forge and foundry departments alike, and the urgent call for scrap to supplement pigs is tending to harden values for those descriptions which are not restricted. Best engine scrap is quoted =£6 17s. 6d., and heavy cast scrap =£6 7s. 6d. to =£6 10s. * Nominal. IRON. The operations of the iron and steel works of the district have to some extent been interfered with by an unfortunate stoppage which began on Monday last at the Ebbw Vale Company’s works. Fortunately other supplies of steel and pig iron were available, and there was only a small diminu- tion of the output. As all the works are executing Govern- ment orders, prices are nominal. The tin-plate trade is somewhat depressed, though there is a fair enquiry for waste wasters. Pit wood arrivals have been moderate. The price remains at 60s. Cardiff. COAL. The market has been seriously affected by the strike of miners at Tredegar, and unfortunately the dispute has extended throughout many districts in the coal field. In the eastern and western valleys of Monmouthshire, the stoppages have been very numerous, and it is estimated that the output from that district has been affected to the extent of 60 to 70 per cent. It was hoped that as a result of the conference between the Federation committee and the owners on Friday last that a settlement would be effected, and the responsible heads of the Federation not only advised a return to work, but stated that the men had obtained practically all they asked for in the concession made by the employers. The strikers, however, flouted the suggestion, defied their own leaders, and refused to listen to the appeal of the Coal Controller to return to work pending an investigation of their grievances. In this attitude they were supported by neighbouring collieries, and on Monday there were 28,000 men idle. This number increased on Tuesday, and whilst on Wednesday some of the men who came out in sympathy, returned to work, others supported the Tredegar men, and it is estimated that no fewer than 41,000 men were idle on that day. On ’Change there was considerable apprehension as to the view which would be taken by the men in the Rhondda and Aberdare valleys. From reports to hand at the time of writing all the pits were at work in the Aberdare Valley, and only small stoppages had occurred in the Rhondda. A number of pits were stopped in the Rhymney area, and there was also a considerable degree of absenteeism. A settlement to-day (Friday) is said to be probable. From a national standpoint the strike has been deplorable, if not disastrous. For several weeks past there has been a shortage of coal, and the tonnage position has been more favourable than for some months past. The result has been that the vessels which arrived in port before the Whitsun- tide holidays have not been able to obtain cargoes, and are still in dock awaiting supplies. This condition of affairs is more pronounced at Newport than at Cardiff, and at the former port the authorities have diverted the tonnage to other loading centres. Stocks of certain descriptions of coal which were accumulating have been depleted, and there is now likely to be a shortage, which will extend throughout the month of June. On Wednesday the Tredegar strike representatives of the Federation and delegates from the employers met the Coal Controller in London, and a certain course of procedure has been decided upon. All shipments are on Government account, and no coal has been released for neutral destinations. The moral effect is bad for the trade, and almost invariably results in loss of markets and connections which have taken years to develop. Fears have been expressed that the supplies for steelworks would be affected, but it is stated that such a contingency has been provided for. Generally speaking the market is idle for the simple reason that the coal is not obtainable, and there are no means of supplying the demands. Patent fuel makers are busy, and well stemmed for some time ahead. Pit wood continues to arrive in satisfactory quantities. There are no alterations in coal prices. IRON. The chief feature in the iron and steel trades has been a strike of locomotive men at the Ebbw Vale works, which resulted in the cessation of operations and the stoppage of 5,000 men. Efforts are being made to effect a settlement, and it is probable that these will be successful in the course of a couple of days. With regard to the remainder of the district, everything is proceeding satisfactorily and maxi- mum outputs are being obtained, both from the blast- furnaces and the steel works. Iron ore supplies are well maintained. In the tin-plate trade there was a decreased production last week, but that was due to the Whitsuntide holidays. Receipts from works only totalled 11,815 boxes, against 16,854 boxes in the previous week, and shipments also showed a considerable decline, amounting to only 6,837 boxes, against 14,152 boxes the week before. Stocks in the docks warehouses and vans now amount to 82,344 boxes, against 77,366 boxes the previous week, and 120,987 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. There has been an easier tendency in block tin, and quotations are now <£355 per ton, compared with <£380 per ton a fortnight ago. The market for plates continues firm, and Bessemer standard cokes are now on the basis of 33s. per box, with other sizes in proportion. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change. Scrap metals are in short supply, and maximum prices are being obtained. In all other departments quotations are nominal. Swansea. COAL. There was a fairly good quantity of tonnage, but supplies of coal were restricted, and consequently the exports were reduced. Shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted to 76,477 tons. A good attendance assembled on ’Change, and the general conditions of the anthracite coal market were not quite so strong as during last week. Parcels of nearly all classes were obtainable. Steam coal conditions continued strong, and sellers generally were well stemmed. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated),, plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. There is nothing of a special character to note in con- nection with the house coal trade of this district since our last issue. The demand continues exceedingly strong, especially considering the season of the year, and supplies are difficult to obtain. Numerous orders are held by the collieries, all of which are working at full pressure, endeavouring to cope with the extraordinary enquiry. The production of steam and manufacturing fuel is still much below the requirements of consumers, and there is delay in despatching orders. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ......... Steam coal:— Large ............... Small ... . ........ Current prices. L’st week’s prices. 26/ 26/ 15/6 15/6 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Last year’s prices. ( 24/ J 23/ 1 23/3 (.21/6 13/ 20/ -21/ 16/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. In order to start an industrial “Safety First” cam- paign throughout the United Kingdom, the London “ Safety First ” Council has convened a conference, under the patronage of the Lord Mayor, in the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion House on Wednesday, June 12, at 4 p.m. Applications for invitations should be addressed to the Hon. Secretaries, London “ Safety First ” Council, 31, Westminster Broadway, S.W. 1. 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— Black Veins ........ Western-valleys .... Eastern-valleys .... Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit)1 Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... Small .............. No. 2 Rhondda— Large............... Thr ough-and-thr ough; Small .............. Best patent fuel ....... Seconds ................ Special foundry coke ... Ordinary do. ........... Furnace coke ........... Pitwood (ex-ship) ...... 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/ * Nominal. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 35/6 34/ 33/6 32/6 24/ 23'6 23/ 22/6 22/ 21/6 21/ 20/6 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/6 30/ 29/ 326 31/6 31/6 30/6 35/6 33/3 33/3 28/6 29/6 24/6-26/ 1 19/6-21/( j 32/6 ' I 32/6 50/ 50/ 50/ 65/ __* __* 26 '6-27 6 25/6-26/6 j 16/6-17/6 ] 15/ -16/ ] i 13/ -15/ j 8,6-12/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ —23/ 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 25/6-26/6 23/6—24/6 27/ -27,6 18/ -19/ 24/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/ ' 30/ | 28/ -29/ ! 47/6—50/ 147/6-50/ i47/6-50/ j. 75/ Llanelly. COAL. There is a distinct improvement in the tone of the local market, and most of the collieries are working better time. The holiday reduction in output made the steam coal market very firm, and all supplies of large and through qualities are well booked up for some time ahead. The inland demand for these qualities is being somewhat neglected at the moment, owing to the difficulty in proving the necessary cargoes and bunkers for the tonnage in the docks and also due. Smalls are not so active as the other grades, and the dry sorts are still on the slow side. The anthracite section of the market is also busier, and large kinds are moving freely. The machine-made qualities are also in good demand, and beans and peas in particular are difficult to secure. Culm and duff are both unchanged, and offering freely. There are good stocks of these quali- ties available for any prompt business, but the enquiry is disappointing. Bituminous coals are very firm, with a strong enquiry ruling. Prices f.o.b. Best malting anthracite... Seconds Current prices. 30/ 29/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 30/ 29/ prices. 24'6-25/6 21 /6-2R/ 41/V X/O / Thirds 27/6 27/6 Red Vein large 25/6 25/6 18/3-19/ 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 “7v 41/ 41/ Thirds -lz 39/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 36/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 35/ 35/ 27! -28/fl Seconds 34/ 34/ faj I 1 &O[\j Thirds 33/ 33/ Red Vein beans 31/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 20/ 20/ 20/ -22/ Rubbly culm 13/ 13/ 10/ -11/6 Red Vein culm 11/ 11/ Breakers duff 8/ 8/ Billy duff '-7 6/6 6/6 5/3- 5/6 Steam:— Best large steam 30/ 30/ 23/ -25/ Seconds 27/ 27/ Cargo through 23/6 23/6 18/ -21/ Seconds 22/ 22/ — Bunkers through 23/6 23/6 — Smalls 19/ 19/ 10/ -12/6 Second smalls 17/ 17/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 27/ 27/ Smalls 24/ 24/ 18/6-20/ Gas through 23/6 23/6 — Gas smalls 21/ 21/ —