450 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 30, 1918. IRON. The iron industries continue to be surrounded with many difficulties. In most quarters demand exceeds supply. Since last week cast scrap has been brought under control, thereby bringing it into line with wrought iron and steel scrap. Roughly speaking, the maximum prices, which allow 2| per cent, for merchants’ commission and a 10s. carriage rate, are very little different from those recently prevailing; but the new regulations should put an end to undesirable dealing in this class of material. Broken engine scrap is wanted in large quantities, and users are willing to pay the full price for it—the more readily as they cannot get full supplies of pig iron. Derbyshire pig iron houses report that they cannot bargain for more than about 100- ton lots, and many consumers have to be content with half that quantity at a time. Sales in puddled iron are also confined to small lots to regular customers. Many furnaces are partially idle, and instances have come to light of customers furnishing coal from their own scant stocks, in order to expedite supplies. All business is done on the basis of £11 10s., and there seems no immediate prospect of a revision. Makers of finished iron and steel are booked some months ahead, mainly for national requirements, and, similarly with semi-finished steel, there is little doing outside the demand to meet national needs. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. No change has occurred in the position as regards house coal since last writing. The merchants are becoming anxious as to the autumn deliveries, but the collieries are almost helpless in the matter of increased supplies. Full time is worked, but the requirements of buyers are largely in excess of the output. Both steam and manufacturing fuel are strong and scarce. Prices at pithead. House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack Steam coal.— Large ... Large . ........... Small ... ......... Current prices. 30/ 21/ 26/6-27/6 23/ L’st week’s prices. 30/ 21/ 26/6-27/6 22/ -23/ Last year’s prices. <24/ J 23/ j 23/3 (.21/6 13 6 20/ -21/ 16/ -16,6 Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 29. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There is no doubt that every possible effort will be made by coal owners and men to meet the present national emergency. Miners point out that if they are to do the maximum amount of work, they must have an adequate allowance of good food. The question of absenteeism seems to have been tackled in this locality, and there are not many complaints heard at the present time. There will be one welcome addition to the output of North Wales, by the recovery of the main coal at Coed Talon Colliery, Mold, which seam is 14 ft. in thickness. The steam coal trade is steady, and the required quota for railway and industrial purposes has been duly met. A certain amount has also been sent down to Mersey ports for bunkering. The gas coal trade is little altered, and all the works to which North Wales coal is allotted are getting their quota. Gas companies have a ready sale of all avail- able gas coke. Slack is in about the same condition as ruled last week, and all available output is quickly dis- posed of. Prices are practically the same as last quoted. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Railborne:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 21/ -23/ Secondary do 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 20/ -22/ Steam coal 27/ -30/ 27/ -30/ 19/ -22/ Gas coal 25/ -30/ — 19/ -21/ Bunkers 27/6-30/ — 19/ -22/ Nuts 20/ -22/6 20/ -22 6 18/ -20/ Slack 17/6-19/6 17/6-19/6 12/ -14/6 Gas coke (at works)...... Landsale:— 26/8-28/4 25/ -26/8 21/8-23/4 Best house coal 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 27/6-30/ Seconds 30/ -32/6 30/ -32/6 25/ -27/6 Kitchen coal — 26/8-31/8 — Slack 22/6-25/ 22/6-25/ 15/ -16/8 Monmouthshire. South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. There is now an improvement in the coal position. More steam qualities have been sent to port during the past week than was the case in the immediate past, and there seems a prospect of the increased output being maintained and perhaps augmented. There has been a good arrival of tonnage of late, and delays have not been so great as in Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. i Current L’st week’s' Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large../ 37/ 37/ 30/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 36/ 36/ 29/ Best Eastern-valleys ...‘ 36/ 36/ 29/ Secondary do. 35/ 35/ 28/ Best small coals ! 28/ 28/ 21/6 Secondary do 27/ 27/ 20/ Inferior do 25/ 25/ 18/ Screenings • 30/ 30/ 23/ Through coals 1 / 34/ 34/ 27/ Best washed nuts ! 37/ 37/ 30/ Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. 40/ 40/ 33/ Secondary do. do. ... 38/ 38/ 30/9 Patent fuel 37/ 37/ 32/6 Furnace coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 * Nominal. former weeks. But the supply of coal is still considerably short of the demand. All the best steam qualities are officially commandeered. Through coals are in strong request at considerable premiums. Smalls have been selling well for the manufacture of patent fuel. There has been a stronger demand for house coal of late. Gas coal requirements are difficult to satisfy. All prices are on the new schedule. IRON. There is a steady output from all the iron and steel works of the district on official account. Prices are nominal. A very satisfactory import of iron ore has been maintained. The tin-plate trade, in spite of fluctuations in the price of block tin, is fairly steady—makers having a sufficient number of official orders to keep them going for a considerable time. Pitwood has arrived in sufficient quantities to meet, with local supplies, the demands of the trade. Cardiff. COAL. A week ago there was a shortage of coal and plenty of tonnage. Everybody was crying out for coal. To-day the position is different. Arrivals over the week-end were comparatively few, and whilst there are sufficient vessels in dock to supply current needs, prospects for the future are anything but rosy. Outputs have been greatly accelerated, but on the other hand labour troubles—such as the tippers’ strike—have given the port a bad name, and where ship- owners have had a free hand, their tonnage has been diverted to other ports. The result is obvious. Whereas there was, a few days ago, a scarcity of coal, there is now a scarcity of ships. The docks are soon congested, and there is now ample opportunity for the local committee to prove equal to the occasion. Official business continues to be done on the basis of the Controller’s fixed schedule, but the few lots of coal for neutral destinations which have been cleared commanded as much as 10s. per ton in advance of the official rates. It is only in consequence of the lull in shipping facilities for French and Italian ports that any coal for neutral destinations has been released at all. Some comment has been made respecting the announcement that Admiralty prices were to be raised Is. 6d. per ton. No official intimation has been received on the market; but this figure is regarded as much too low, and is, in fact, from 5s. to 7s. 6d. per ton below the scheduled rates of the Controller. Some colliery companies, whose coal is com- mandeered, state that they would rather be off the Admiralty list altogether, and rely on their own efforts to obtain the market price for their coal. Judging from the comments already made there is a great deal of discontent; but there is no desire to harass the Government as to supplies, and therefore every effort will be made to produce the maximum quantity. Small coals are not in such strong request, and the inroads made into banked coals which were resorted to a fortnight ago, have been discontinued. There is still a great demand for smalls for coking purposes, and also for household coals, and the supplies are much below requirements. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 28/ 27/6 27/ 26/6 26/ ' 25/6 25/ 37/ 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 1 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26/ ! 37' 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L’st week’s prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 ) 28/ ; 27/6 1 27/ J 26/6 ) 26/ J 25/6 7 25/ j 37/ 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26' 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ Last year’s prices. 33/ • 31/6 30 9 30/ 23/ 21,6 ! 20/ 18/ 30/ 28/6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30/9 30,9 26/ 27/ 25/ 20/ 32/6 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 59/ -61/ 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)> Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... v Small No. 2 Rhondda- Large Thr ough-and-thr ough i Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke ............... Pitwood (ex-ship) IRON. There is practically no change in the iron and steel trades, and outputs are being maintained at a high level, especially from the rail and bar mills, which are hard pressed for deliveries for war purposes. In the tinplate trade manufacturers report full order books, and buyers experience a difficulty in placing their specifications. There has been a further decline in the price of block tin, which is now quoted at £367 per ton for cash and three months. The violent fluctuations of the last few weeks have caused much inconvenience, and makers are agreed that the price should be controlled by the Government. Shipments last week only amounted to 3,933 boxes, owing to the strike of railway men at the Swansea docks, and receipts from works were also lower for the same reason, only amounting to 9,186 boxes. Stocks on hand therefore amounted to 100,733 boxes, compared with 95,480 boxes a week ago and 4 t,161 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Standard sizes, 14 x 20, are 33s. 6d. per box, with other grades in proportion. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, but spelter works are working irregularly owing to deficiency in the supplies of ore. Scrap metals are scarce, and command maximum prices. Swansea. COAL. The anthracite and steam coal markets are firm and unchanged. Some difficulty is experienced owing to the holding up of shipments last week, but the general demand is good. Anthracite is more readily obtainable than was the case a short while ago. Both steam and bituminous are scarce. Llanelly. COAL. There is a strong demand to report, for practically all qualities and supplies are on the short side. Sellers could easily do with heavier outputs from the collieries. Inland consumers find it difficult to get their full requirements, and in many cases stocks which they had accumulated are by now very low. Collieries are practically all working full time, and the only hindrance to full work is the question of adequate supplies of empty wagons. Orders are very plentiful, and many buyers have difficulty in securing their full quantities. Anthracite coals are firm, with large kinds of all grades moving satisfactorily. All the machine-made qualities are also very firm, and supplies of several grades are hard to secure. Culm and duff are the only easy qualities, and as stocks on hand are still heavy there is no difficulty in giving prompt attention to any orders offering. Steam coals are very strong, and any supplies of large, through or small are easily disposed of. Manufacturing coals and gas coals are well booked up, and spare lots are hard to secure. Prices f.o.b.:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite;— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 36/ 36/ 29/ Thirds 34/6 34/6 27/6 Red Vein large 32/6 32/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 ' Seconds 48/ •48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 49/6 49.6 42/6 Seconds 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 43/ - 43/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 42/ 4,21 35/ Seconds 41/ 4,1 j 34/ Thirds 40/ 40/ 33/ Red Vein beans 38/ 38/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) ...... 27/ 27/ 20/ Rubbly culm 20/ 20/ 13/ Red Vein culm .... 18/ 18/ 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ 8/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through 23/6 Seconds — 22/ Bunker through 30/6 30/6 23/6 Smalls 26/ 26/ 19/ Second smalls 17/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls 31/ 31/ 24' Gas through 23,6 Gas smalls - - 21' (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54'6 . THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Another advance in pitch quotations this week indicates the strength of the market. The price at London works is now 57s. 6d. to 62s. 6d., and on the east coast 35s. to 37s. 6d. f.o.b. is asked. The Liverpool and west coast figure is 32s. 6d. f.a.s. Some of the recent provincial business—for instance, shipments from Cumberland works—must be described as substantial. Transactions in smaller lots are reported, and the price basis appears to be well in favour of sellers. Forward business is not likely to weaken. Even in Scotland and the north of England, where pitch has been at a com- paratively low level, the higher tendency is well in evidence this week. Tar is practically unchanged, and the position scarcely calls for fresh comment. Crude in London is 32s. 6d. to 35; Midlands, 27s. to 29s., and North, 28s. to 30 ex works. Benzole is unchanged. Solvent naphtha is dull at the following average: Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d.; North, 2s. lid. to 3s.; 90-160, naked, 3s. 10|d.; North, 3s. Id. to 3s. 2d. Crude naphtha is in good demand, the price ranging from 8|d. to 8^d., naked, 30 per cent. London, and 6^d to 6^d. north. Refined naphthalene is quoted at £28 to £32 10s., and salts £6 to £7 (best sorts about double that figure). Not much news is current regarding the other by-products, and the most that one can say is that they are steady. Sulphate of Ammonia.—The demand continues, and for- ward business is freely booked at the official rate. Pooling of Coal Supplies.—The following statement was issued on Monday by the Coal Control Office : The position of gas and electricity undertakings is so serious as regards coal supplies that the Coal Control Department has been obliged to make special arrangements in cases where rela- tively large stocks are in hand. These are now being drawn upon to make good deficiencies of other under- takings not so well off for coal. The attitude of the dis- tribution and supplies branch is that all public under- takings must be kept going so long as coal is available, and in the national interest those that have must be pre- pared to assist those that have not until such time as the general position improves. Managers of public utility undertakings have real cause for anxiety, particularly gas works, which are more restricted than electric stations in their choice of coal and its source of origin. . The stocks of both are far below what they were at this time last year; and the position is an anxious one. The London position particularly is a most difficult one, as some months ago 50 per cent, of the boats engaged in the Durham and London coal business had to be diverted elsewhere. The coal that ordinarily would have come to London had to. be promptly shipped to meet the urgent needs of France when the German push interfered with output from the French coal fields. Therefore, in addition to the shortage of Durham coal, the control officials were faced with the almost insuperable problem of transport. They were obliged to attempt to make up the missing London supplies by bringing coal from Durham to London by rail. The main trunk lines on which the coal is carried are congested, and that is why the stocks on which London will this winter depend for its light and much of its warmth are still very short. If more coal—much more coal—is got from the mines quickly, and if there is the most rigorous all-round economy — these are absolutely essential con- ditions—we may in the course of the next nine weeks be able to better the position.