July 12, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 79 market quotations to neutrals are concerned, these are very largely nominal in consequence of the great scarcity of available fuel and, if supplies were available, it is pro- bable that even higher prices would be paid. On the week, the quotations show the following variations:—Blyth steam seconds are 5s. dearer; Tyne steam seconds, 7s. 6d. increase; gas bests, 5s". lower; and gas coke, firmer. Later. —Collieries locally are suffering under consider- able embarrassment resultant from the new allocation arrrangement, and just at present hardly know where to turn. It is complained that the arrangement is likely to interfere with the completion of current contracts and greatly to deprive certain pits of long-standing business. Neutral business is likely to be still further impeded. Sharp advances in quotations to neutrals have been registered in several instances. Thus, best B yth steams are now quoted at 70s., an increase of 5s. on the week; Tyne bests at 65s., a like advance ; Blyth second steams at 62s. 6d., a rise of 2s. 6d.; and gas seconds at 37s. 6d., a similar increment. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37/ -70/ 35/ -65/ 30/ - Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 36/6-65/ 34/6—60/ 29/6 Secondary, Blyths ...... 32/6-62/6 30/6-55/ 25/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 34/ -62/6 32/ -55' 27/ Unscreened 30 6-40/ 28/6-40/ 23/6-25/ Small, Blyths 27/ -40/ 25/6-35/ 25/ -40/ 20/ Do. Tynes 23/6-35/ 18 6 Do. specials 27,6-40/ 25/6-40/ 20,6 Other sorts: — Smithies 32/ -40/ 30/ -40/ • 25/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -40/ 30/ -45/ 25/ Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 30/6-37 6 28/6-35/ 23/6 Special gas coals 33,6-45/ 31/6-45/ 26/6-30/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 31 /—50/ 29/ -50/ 24/ -25/ Do. do. Northumbrians 31/ -40/ 29/ -40/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ Coking coals 31/ -40/ 29/ -40/ 29/ -40/ Do. smalls 31/ -40/ 2k>l -25/ House coals 35/6-65/ 33/6-65/ 28/6-30/ Coke, foundry 49/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 42 6 Do. blast-furnace Do. gas ! 49/6-50/ 47,6-50/ 42 6 40/ 35/ -40/ 30/ -32/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market is quietly firm. Business continues to be restricted by the shortage of supplies, the output still being affected by influenza. The official and home trade remains very heavy. The neutral enquiry is also larger, but cannot be satisfied in the absence of supplies. Prices for neutral shipment remain very firm. Prime gas coal commands 50s., and seconds 45s. Bunkers are scarce and dearer at 45s. to 50s. for most of the better class brands. The supply of coke is quite inadequate, and neutral ship- ments are at a standstill. Gas coke is firm at 38s. to 40s. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Shortage of coal is, if anything, even more pronounced than it was a week ago. The extensive enquiries on behalf of neutrals meet with very little success. Where such trade is possible very high prices are obtained, gas and coking coal ranging from 35s. to 45s., with special sorts quoted up to 50s., whilst bunkers are in heavy request at 45s. to 50s. Coke continues very scarce, but under the conditions prevailing deliveries to the blastfurnaces are on a satisfactory scale. Recent advances in the price of coal are equivalent to an increase of 8s. in coke, and it is obvious that the current rates of 33s. and 35s. 6d. at the furnaces for average blastfurnace quality and low phosphorus sorts respectively, cannot be remunerative. Announcement in regard to prices is anxiously awaited. IRON. Abatement in the demand for Cleveland foundry pig is very largely due to little or none now being taken by consumers north of the Tweed, owing to holidays in Scotland, but this quality is still fully absorbed. As a matter of fact, furnaces have recently been turning out an abnormal quantity of forge iron and less of foundry kind, with the result that forge is quite plentiful. It is rather freely offered by makers both on early and forward account. As regards export trade, shipments of Cleveland iron to France are proceeding regularly and sales are sub- stantial, but there appears to be little new business with Italy just now. For home consumption, No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s.; and No. 1 is 99s.; whilst for shipment to the Allies No. 3 and the lower qualities are 114s., and No. 1 is 119s. The heavy demand for east coast haematite is fairly satisfactorily handled. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for export. In finished iron and steel, manu- facturers are hard pressed for deliveries. ——■ Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. House coal is dull, but all the other branches are as busy as they can possibly be, and in the local and cross- Channel markets the demand is as strong as in mid-winter. There is still a shortage in all branches except landsale. At the moment little more than 1,500 tons weekly can be spared for shipping. Landsale is easier, and business at the depots is probably quieter than it has been this year. Gas and locomotive fuels are in strong request. The Brayton Knowe Colliery, near Mealsgate, and one of the smallest pits in the county, has been closed, owing to the fact that most of the seams have been worked out. The other pits are fully employed. Business on export account continues to be well maintained. Some good con- signments of Durham and Northumberland coal have been shipped .to Ireland. The shipments to Irish ports during the past six months have amounted to 110,773 tons, com- pared with 72,400 for the previous half-year, and 72,095 tons at the corresponding period of last year. Best Cumberland coal at the pit is now quoted at from 29s. to 29s. lOd. per ton, with best washed nuts at from 27s. 6d. to 28s. 2d. per ton. Best export coal is 24^. 6d. per ton, f.o.b., with best washed nuts at 22s. 6d. Bunkers for coasting vessels are 35s. per ton, and bunkers for foreign-going steamers are quoted at 38s. per ton. Best house coal delivered is quoted at Is. 9|d. per cwt., or from 34s. to 34s. lOd. per ton. Current quotations. Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 28/4 28/4 23/4 Best washed nuts at pit... 26/8 26 8 21 3 Seconds at pit 25/10 25/10 20/10 Washed nuts at pit 25/10 25/10 20/10 Do. smalls „ 21/8 21/8 ■ 16/8 15/ Do. peas „ 20/ 20/ Buckhill best coal at pit... Do. double-scrned 27/6 27/6 22/6 washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at 26/ 26/ '21/ pit Oughterside best washed 27 6 27/6 22/6 nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best 26/ 26/ 21/ coal at pit St. Helens best house nuts 27.6 27/6 22/6 at pit 26/ 26/ 21/ Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 23/ 23/ 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 21/ 21/ 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going 33.6 33 6 25/ steamers) 36/ 36/ 30/ Best works fuel 25/ 25/ 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- 25/ 25/ 20/ works 24/ 24/ 19/ IRON. Undiminished activity continues in all departments of the west coast haematite pig iron trade. Smelters are receiving fairly good deliveries of iron ore, but coke is in short supply. Consumers of pig iron are being strictly rationed. Prices remain at the official maximum, and Bessemer mixed numbers are again quoted at 127s. 6d. per ton f.o.t., with special low phosphorus iron at 140s. per ton and semi-special iron at 135s. 6d. per ton f.o.t. The price of warrants is still quoted at 115s. per ton, and therefore, from the quarterly ascertainment under the sliding scale in operation in this district, the wages of blastfurnacemen in Cumberland and North Lancashire are unchanged. The demand for ferro-manganese is very steady. The steel industry is exceedingly busy. All the iron ore mines are working, but quite a number of the men have laid off with sickness, and this has slightly affected the output during the last week or two. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The shortage in the supply of fuel for the household trade seems to become pronounced as the summer advances, which is contrary to the normal. Actual deliveries are less, but even these come forward with increasing difficulty. Whatever may be the effect of the rationing scheme, it is certain, whether there is such or no, circumstances will bring about a lessened consumption. Prices have been advanced by the Is. 6d. per ton announced in the news- papers. With regard to shipping, requirements of steam coal for bunkering and export tend to increase, owing to the greater number of steamers on Government account, and to the special demands for France and Italy. Supplies are short all round, and there is naturally a good deal of de’ay in completing the loading of steamers. Prices are, of course, on the schedule basis, with the addition of the 2s. per ton as from the 8th instant. Gas companies are viewing with some alarm the fact that the summer season is well on its way, and yet they are not able to lay hands upon the necessary quantities for the stocking which is usual with them at this time. In slacks and manufacturing fu' Is generally, the holiday stoppages here and there do not seem to affect the situation. Whatever is temporarily not needed through these stoppages is readily absorbed in other directions. 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 L’st week’s Lastyear’s prices. prices. prices. 27/6-28/6 26/ -27/ 21/ -22/ 29/ -30/ 27/6-28/6 25/6 25 6-26/6 24/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 28,6-29/ 27/ -27/6 24/6 24/6 23/ 18/ . 27/ -28/ 25/6-26/6 23/ upwds 24/6 * 23/ * 18/ 22/6 21/ 16/ 21/6 20/ 15/ 20/6 19/ 14/ * New schedule prices. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was not a very good attendance on the Coal Exchange on Tuesday last, and the main topic of discussion was the rationing scheme. Instead of this time of year bringing, as it so often does, additional supplies on the market, mostly in the form of spot lots, the market seems even shorter, and there is no branch of it that is being adequately supplied. Prices are as follow, and these include the advance of Is. 6d. put on as from the 8th inst. 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. 28 6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 22/6 upwds 21/ upwds L’st week’s prices. 27/ 24/6-25/6 23/ -23/6 22/6-23/ ______* 21/ upwds 19,6 upwds Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19,6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 16/ upwds 14/6 upwds * As per official list. IRON. There are no new features to report. All the iron and steel works are still fully engaged, and prices remain unchanged. Deliveries are hard to get, and are inclined to be somewhat retarded through many workmen being absent owing to influenza. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was only a moderate attendance on the Coal Exchange on Tuesday. None of the colliery representatives had anything to sell. The shortage of supplies is serious, and the outcry general. In this respect no distinction can be made between one description of coal and another, the shortage applying tj everything. A number of London representatives were on the market, bur experienced diffi- culty in securing supplies of house coal, which are confined to allocated quantities and contract deliveries. In the local markets the merchants are having a hard time. There is also great complaint as to the condition in which coal is marketed. The cause is unavoidable, being the depletion of the colliery screening staffs, but the impurities in the coal involve trouble and loss to the merchants. With regard to rationing, while the quantities allowed are considered to be barely sufficient in most cases, the great fear is that the coal necessary to supply these quantities will not be available. Including this week’s advance, pit prices for the West Riding are now :—Haigh Moor selected, 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; Silkstone best, 26s. to 26s. 6d.; Silkstone h mse, 25s. to 25s. 6d.; other sorts, 23s. 6d to 24s. 6d. There is still no opportunity to stock gas coal, and, in fact, deliveries are barely sufficient. The whole position as to supplies is influenced by the great demand for shipment to the Allies. Most of the collieries have received requisitions not only for large steam coal, but for smaller grades, including nuts and the like used largely by public utility works. Some of the larger electricity works in the district have no more than two or three days’ requirements in hand. So, also, with industrial concerns through a wide area, embracing Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, the Spen and Colne valleys, etc. Rough slacks are parti- cularly scarce, and the mills are kept running only with great difficulty. Instructions to collieries relating to coal for shipment, it may be noted, include the right to load any wagons, whether private or colliery, that may be available. The owner is to be advised at the time of loading, but it inevitably means loss of tonnage to him. The pressure for furnace coke is as keen as ever. In one case, which may be taken as fairly typical, deliveries in the last two months have been about 70 per cent, of contract tonnage. There are no reserves anywhere. It is considered that the advance in the price of coal would be met by a 7s. 6d. per ton addition to the price of *coke, but it is said that nothing is likely to be done for the present, and that other arrangements are being made to meet the position of coke manufacturers. The following pit prices include the advance announced this week:— 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.......... Bost rough slacks.... Small do. ........... Coking smalls ....... Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke ........ Current prices. 25/6-26/6 25/ -25,6 25/ -25 6 24/ -24 6 22 6 23 6 29/6-30/ 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 24 6-26 6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. | 24/ -25/ 23/6 -24/ 23/6-24/ 22 6 23'/ 21/ -22/ prices. 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 28/ -28 6 23/ -24/ 26/6-27 6 22/ -23/ 25 6-26/6 20/ -21/ 23/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 22/ -22,6 21/ -22/ 20/6 21.6 22/6-23,6 21,6 22/6 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 19.6- 20,6 17.6- 18/6 18/ -19/ 20 6 -21/ 19/6-20,6 19/ -20/ 21/ —22/ 20/ -2k/ 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6—16/6 15/ -16/ 17/ -18/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 12/ -13/ 12/6-13/6 32/ 25/8 32/ Barnsley. COAL. Though the output has been slightly increased in some instances, the scarcity of fuel generally remains very pronounced. It is still necessary to hale workers before the courts for serious and persistent neglect. The position in the open market is little better than nominal, owing to the shortage of coal and the continued process of controlling the distribution. There is talk of a drastic cut down of the supplies to establishments not engaged on war work of an essential character. Greater activity prevails in regard to exports for France and Italy, and until these requirements have been met diversion of supplies appears to be unavoid- able. The home demands for the munition works and war industries are of an enormous character, and the needs of the railway companies are maintained on a big scale. The desire for screened coal of all grades easily exceeds produc- tion, and few lots are available in the open market. This is notably the case in regard to gas coal. Great difficulty is still experienced in obtaining an adequate tonnage of slack for coke making. The fixing of the selling price of furnace Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstone 27/ -28 6 25/6-27/ 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 25/ -25/6 ; 23/6-24/ 18/6-19/ Secondary do 23/ -24/ 21/6-22/6 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 22/6-23/6 21/ —22/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do Steam coals:— 22/ -22/6 20/6-21/ 15/6-16/ Best hard coals 24/ -25/ 22/6-23 6 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 23/ -24/ 21/6-22/6 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 22,6-23/6 21/ -22/ 20/6-21/ 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/3 Best slack 19/ -19/9 16/ -17/6 17/6-18/3 12/6-13/ Secondary do Gas coals:— 14/6-16/ 10/6-11/ Screened gas coals 23/ -23/6 21/6—22/ 16/6-17/6 Unscreened do 22/ -22/6 22/ 20/6-21/ 15/6-16/6 Gas nuts 20/6 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8