1308 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 28, 1918. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, June 27. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. There has been severe pressure to obtain supplies of best large steam coal this week. Inferior sorts and smalls have not been quite so scarce. Owing to stormy weather the arrival of tonnage early in the week showed a slight falling off. There is still a very strong enquiry for gas coal, and a good demand for house coal, especially for inland consumption. Generally speaking, the new schedule of prices is approved in view of the increased cost of production, but it has been objected that a flat rate of increase for all descriptions is less equitable than a graduated scale for the varying values of coal. IRON. There is little change to report in the iron and steel trades. An increased output is constantly taking place from enlarged and improved plants. As the bulk of the trade is on Government account, prices are nominal. The tin-plate industry has to face a further advance in the price of block tin, which, however, has not materially affected the trade of this district. Pit wood arrivals have been restricted of late. The schedule price prevails. Cardiff. COAL. The most important item this week is the Order issued by the Board of Trade, increasing the price of all grades of coal by 2s. 6d. per ton. Although the notice given was very short, the announcement has been received with general satisfaction. In the case of shipments to France and Italy, the price has been increased by 5s. per ton, so that there is once again a general flat rate so far as consumers in the Allied countries and British Possessions are concerned. The difference made in the rate last October was always considered to be more or less of a hardship to South Wales, as the bulk of the exports for a long period have been to France and Italy, and it was felt that the trade of this district was placed at a disadvantage as compared with other localities. Market conditions are not quite so satis- factory. The recent stormy weather interfered somewhat with arrivals, and although tonnage came forward on a moderate scale during the week-end, shipping facilities are barely up to requirements. For best descriptions of coal there is a strong demand, and supplies are about equal on balance. Most of the collieries producing Admiralty qualities are well stemmed for the next few days, but concerns producing lower grades especially in the Mon- mouthshire valleys—are not so well situated, and stocks are slowly but steadily accumulating. This applies more particularly to inferior smalls, for which there is little outlet, and an attempt is being made to regulate the clear- ance by an order to certain exporters to ship 25 per cent, of small. This system, however, is not general, and, until it is applied on a more extensive scale, there is not much prospect of the weekly output of small coal being dealt with automatically. For best bunker qualities there is a strong and steady demand, and the same applies to washed coals. No official announcement has yet been made with regard to the compromise on the brokerage question, but it is generally accepted that the terms will be on the basis set forth in the last issue. Coke continues to be scarce, and there is a heavy call for patent fuel, makers of which are still, and likely to be, extremely busy. The pitwood market is unchanged, and supplies continue satisfactory on the basis of 65s. per ton ex ship. IRON. There is a firm tone in the tin-plate market, and most makers are well placed with regard to future business. During the last few days large orders have been received from France, aggregating as much as 125,000 boxes, and there have also been urgent enquiries from Australia and Portugal, which will keep makers busy for some time to come. Quotations for block tin are slightly higher, latest rates being <£331 to .£332 for cash and three months, or .£3 per ton more than last week. Bessemer standard cokes are 32s. 6d. to 33s. per box, and other sizes in proportion. Receipts from works last week amounted to 25,881 boxes, whilst shipments totalled 28,121 boxes, leaving 136,430 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans, compared with 138,670 boxes the previous week, and 74,277 boxes a year ago. Iron ore supplies continue satisfactory, and blast furnaces and steel works are producing maximum outputs, all of which are strictly controlled. There is no improvement in the galvanised sheet trade, and all the mills operating are almost exclusively engaged in the manufacture of black plate and painted sheets for Govern- ment purposes. Scrap metals are without change, and suitable descriptions coming on to the market are readily absorbed at maximum prices. Swansea. COAL. During the past week the coal and patent fuel shipments were more active, the aggregate being 55,597 tons. A good attendance assembled on ’Change on Wednesday morning, but there was little alteration to report in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite market. Large, cobbles and nuts were freely offered for prompt shipment. Beans and peas, however, continued scarce, whilst there was little enquiry for rubbly culm and duff. In steam coals there was a very strong tone for all the best classes, but inferior brands were rather more easily obtainable. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the local market is not quite so active, and, owing to the easier tonnage position, stocks of various qualities are accumulating. Anthracite qualities in par- ticular are easier, and it is with difficulty that collieries are kept going, the number of wagons available being inadequate. Large kinds are not moving freely, and the better qualities are easily secured for prompt business. The lower grades are also slow, with good quantities under load. Cobbles and nuts are much easier, but beans and peas continue to maintain their strong position, and “ free ” parcels of any reasonable quantities are difficult to secure. Culm and duff are both slow. Steam coals are not so brisk, and even the higher grades of large are available for prompt business. Through coals are also in easier demand, and smalls in particular are feeling the lack of tonnage. There is a steady inland demand for both anthracite and steam qualities. By the order of the Controller prices have advanced 2s. 6d. per ton from Monday, 24th inst., and 5s. per ton on all shipments to France and Italy. This advance applies to both the anthracite and steam sections of the market. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Supplies of home grown mining timber during the past two or three weeks have been upon a much more satis- factory scale notwithstanding the shortage of labour in the forests and woods. There are a number of small sales of standing timber due shortly, and estate owners are much less chary of disposing of their woods than was the case some nine or ten months ago. The exploitation of woods in the South Wales and Monmouthshire area (No. 6) continues heavy. The home grown wood is supplemented by regular deliveries of French timber which sells at the maximum price of 65s. ex ship The imports of foreign mining timber during the week ending the 21st inst. amounted to 11,178 loads, half of which was taken by the Admiralty Pitwood Committee. The quantities received by consignees were as follow :— Cardiff (including Barry and Penarth): — Date. Consignee. Loads. June 14 Lysberg Limited ............ 1,640 „ 15 E. Marcesche and Co........ 48 „ 15 E. Marcesche and Co......... 54 „ 15 Morgan and Cadogan ......... 72 „ 17 E. Marcesche and Co....... 100 „ 18 Vyvyan Kelly and Co..... 2,160 „ 18 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,620 „ 18 Lysberg Limited ......... 1,200 „ 18 E. Marcesche and Co........ 204 „ 18 Morgan and Cadogan ........ 300 „ 21 Lysberg Limited ......... 2,280 „ 21 H. D. Evans and Rogers..... 900 Newport:— June 19 Morgan and Cadogan......... 600 Imports of Irish pitwood were poor on private account but a good supply, it is reported, has been received through the authorities. Supplies of Cornish timber come to hand in fairly good supplies. When the country was divided into zones, arrangements were made by which home grown wood was not to be transported to counties outside the defined areas, except under existing contracts. These con- tracts have n<>w expired and their renewal is prohibited. Needless railway transport is thus avoided and the area secures a good supply of home grown wood. South Wales and Monmouthshire, however, receive more foreign mining timber than any other coaling district. Last month 79,624 loads (equal to 66,354 tons) were imported, of which about 50,000 tons (all from France) were for South Wales. The sharp decline in the imports of foreign mining timber of late, owing to Government restrictions, is shown in the returns for the first five months of this year. During that period 360,924 loads were imported, as com- pared with 474,583 loads in the corresponding period of last year. This is equal to a decline of 227,320 tons per annum. Of the 360,294 loads imported South Wales received over a quarter of a million. No further news is yet to hand regarding the rumours that the authorities intend to put further restrictions on imports of foreign mining timber, but in all probability the north-east and midland districts will receive no foreign wood, being able to rely entirely upon home grown timber. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. London, June 27. The position on the London Coal Exchange has altered but little during the past week. The demand is still overwhelming, and the supplies inadequate. The London From Total cargo. Total bunker. - i 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. Bristol Channel ports North-western ports North-eastern ports Humber ports Other ports on east coast Other English ports Tons. 105,833 170,459 618,785 41,970 1,640 3,926 Tons. 105,714 130,143 248,011 24,707 14,425 10,090 Tons. 8,770 36,423 28,224 3,585 5,501 1,729 Tons. 9,209 32,100 14,485 3,335 1,756 1,278 Total from England and Wales ! 942,613 533,090 84,232 62,163 Ports on east coast of Scotland Ports on west coast of Scotland 56,258 143,103 46,367 167,658 ' 7,358 20,276 5,573 15,467 Total from Scotland 199,361 214,025 27,634 21,040 Irish ports — — 2,115 1,469 Total from United Kingdom | 1,141,974 747,115 113,981 84,672 stations have received a good proportion of the supplies of house coal available for distribution, but the vast accu- mulation of orders from the general public has entirely precluded any possibility of putting any coal into stock, and some of the merchants report that they are entirely without supplies. The reduction of the output from the lessened number of miners and the growing demand for munition works and other large companies have quickly absorbed every available ton of coal brought forward. The only redeeming feature of the present pressure for coal is that householders are so keenly alive to the absolute necessity of securing a large proportion of their yearly stock during the summer months that all the depots are working under great pressure to put coal in the cellars in anticipation of the days when cartage will be more difficult and the fuel supplies will be more urgently needed. Steam coals and cobbles and small nuts for factory purposes are unusually scarce, but while inland manufac- tories and railway companies are absorbing such heavy tonnages there is little hope of anything like an adequate quantity coming forward for the riverside factories and in the neighbourhood of the London stations. At this season of the year the wharves and depots are usually very quiet, but as the demand is exceedingly strong just now, they are all working at full pressure wherever supplies are in any sense available. The exports of coal for May were 3,050,735 tons, as compared with 3,664,823 tons for May of last year, and the exports for the five months of the present year were 13,995,214 tons, as compared with 15,795,303 tons for the first five months of last year, or a diminution of 614,088 tons for the one month, May. The average value, how- ever, of the coal per ton was <£1 8s. Hd. per ton in May this year, as against <£1 6s. 9^d. for May 1917. The urgent demand for gas coal from all the railborne centres is still strong, although a fair quantity is coming forward by sea. The whole of the loaded vessels coming into the Port of London are disposed of previous to arrival, so that none of the seaborne coal is offered on the open market. On Monday’s market 22 vessels were reported, and on Wednesday’s market 9. The great absorbing topic of conversation was the recent Order made by the Board of Trade advancing all prices 2s. 6d. per ton from Monday last, and providing that all sub- sidiary contracts shall also be increased by the same amount. The increase, therefore, will entail a correspond- ing advance in all retail prices. Some few traders profess alarm at the suddenness of the notice, but most of the principal merchants have been anticipating the issue of the Order. The new Order under the Defence of the Realm Act reducing the rations for fuel and light has been formally approved, and the trade generally are expecting the regulations will be issued before the week closes. The great feature is the outstanding necessity for strict economy in every household for both coal and light. Local fuel committees are to be set up to secure equitable allo- cations. The Norwegian State Railways are in the market again for 16,000 tons of steam coal for delivery in August and September next. The Port of London are adopting a large extension scheme at the London Docks to provide further accommodation for the Canadian traffic after the war. The Surrey Commercial Docks will be enlarged from the present 6 acres of water area to 16^ acres. Quay space is to be provided which will enlarge the sheds from 4,929 ft. to 195,300 sq. ft. of single storey sheds. Mr. Thomas Frederick Usher has given notice that from July 1 next he is the sole proprietor of the old and established business of Albert Usher and Company, the executorship of the estate having now ceased. The business of the market was very largely given up on Monday last to allow Sir Arthur Pearson to make an appeal on behalf of the work amongst the blinded soldiers at St. Dunstan’s, and immediately following his address, Mr. George Graves sold by auction a large number of articles given by various donors for. the same purpose. Mr. Lloyd George’s walking-stick fetched <£100; Mr. Bonar Law’s favourite pipe fetched <£55; Sir Edward Carson’s walking-stick <£68 5s. ; Mr. Balfour’s golf brassie, <£30 ; and a £5 note signed by Mr. Asquith <£47 5s. A number of prominent actresses also took part in securing subscriptions for the same object. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company's Report. Friday, June 21.—Although there was a fair supply of seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, no cargoes were disposed of beyond those already arranged for. Cargoes, 18. Monday, June 24.—Although there was a fair supply of seaborne coal at to-day’s market, there were no house coal cargoes on offer, but the enquiry was good, with no sales reported. Arrivals, 22. Wednesday, June 26.—The seaborne house coal market was very quiet to-day, there being no cargoes on offer. Arrivals, 9. COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN MAY. According to the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise, tbe following quantities of coal were shipped from the United Kingdom during May:— May 1917. May 1918. Tons. Tons. 791,265 ... 398,266 24,284 ... 21,512 326.425 ... 327.337 The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— To ports in England and Wales........ Scotland................. Ireland ................. A new reinforced concrete coaling station on the Lehigh Valley Railway at Manchester, N.Y., is notable for the volume of storage space and capacity of the receiving and discharge facilities, and also for the number of innova- tions, including duplicate receiving and hoisting facili- ties, an arrangement for mixing the various kinds of coal, and unusual compactness and convenience. The storage bin is 70 ft, by 52 ft., and is elevated on concrete columns so as to serve locomotives standing on six sets of lines. The elevating towers are 39 ft. away from the bin struc- ture, the coal being transferred by means of two bridges forming a part of the superstructure of the bin. The elevating equipment is in duplicate. Each elevating tower receives coal from a separate track hopper 20 ft. long, from which it is fed automatically into the elevating bucket by means of a 2^ ton measuring coal feeder, being actuated by the movement of the elevaitng bucket, which in turn is raised and lowered by an independent electric hoist (capacity of 75 tons per hour). With the two elevators 150 tons of coal can be received from cars and distributed in the bins per hour. The plant may be served by either of the hoists alone should the other be out of service.