September 13, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 555 enqu’ry from neutrals for coals for early and forward ship- ment, but very little such business is found capable of transaction. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. i prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37' -70/ 37/ -70/ 36/6-70/ i 30/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 36/6-70/ 29/6 Secondary, Blyths 32/6-65/ 32/6-65/ , 25/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 34/ -65/ 34/ -65' 27/ Unscreened 30 '6-40/ 30/6-40/ 23/6-25/ 201 Small, Blyths 27/ -45/ 25/6-40/ 27/ -45/ Do. Tynes 25/6-40/ 18 6 Do. specials 27/6-45/ 27/6-45/ 20 6 Other sorts:— . Smithies 32/ -40/ 32/ -40/ 25/ -30/6 Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -50/ 32/ -50/ 25/ Secondary gas coals (Pela w Main or similar) 30/6-45/ 30/6-45/ 23/6 Special gas coals 33/6-55/ 33/6-55/ 26/6-30/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 31 1-501 31/ -47/6 24/ -25/ Do. do. Northumbrians 31/ -45/ 31/ -45/ 24/ -25/ Coking coals 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ i 24/ -25/ Do. smalls 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ f 24/ -25/ House coals 35/6-70/ 35/6-70/ ■ 28/6-30/ Coke, foundry 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ : 42.6 Do. blast-furnace 49/6-65/ / 49/6-65/ ■’ 42,6 Do. gas 47/6 | 47(6 | 29/ -30/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market opens with good prospects for this week. The collieries are well stemmed, and have vessels on hand sufficient to ensure activity all the week. The enquiry continues good alike on requisition account for house consumption, and for neutral shipment, but official require- ments absorb the bulk of the output, and there is not much coal available for export to neutral countries. In the circumstances, open market prices are firmly held, but show no further change. Best steams are 70s. and other kinds 60s. to 65s. Steam smalls are 40s. to 45s. Nut coals are in request, and the collieries with this fuel at command are busy in that department. Gas coals and manufacturing coals are in strong demand. Anything for outside trade is 48s. to 55s. for bests, and 45s. to 47s. 6d. for seconds. Bunkers are unchanged. Ordinaries are quoted at 44s. 6d. to 46s. 6d. and superiors 47s. 6d. to 55s. Coke remains very scarce, with a heavy demand. For foundry quality neutral shipment, 65s. to 67s. 6d. continues on offer. Gashouse makes strong at 45s. to 47s. 6d. f.o.b. M iddlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. All descriptions of fuel are firm. Some improvement at the collieries is reported, and the position regarding tonnage is better. Official requirements on home and Allied accounts are still such that a good deal of other business has to stand aside. Enquiry on behalf of neutrals is as insistent as ever, but very few transactions are possible. Forward quotations for neutrals are firm. Gas coal, bunkers, and coking coal are well taken up. Demand for coke continues heavy, and supply so scarce that many expedients have to be resorted to so as to satisfy essential needs. Average blastfurnace quality is 33s. at the ovens; and low phosphorus sort 35s. 6d. at the ovens. Buyers offer 65s. to 67s. 6d. f.o.b. for foundry coke for neutrals; and gashouse product is quoted 45s. to 47s. 6d. f.o.b. for export. IRON. Much firmness, and a fair amount of activity characterise the pig iron market. Practically all September allocations of Cleveland foundry quality for home consumption have been placed, but there is no guarantee that contracts made under them will be fulfilled Forge iron continues quite plentiful, and is offered for sale freely for both early and forward delivery. With ample supply of trucks now available, the arrangement made for conveyance of pig iron to Scotland by steamer is not being taken advantage of to any extent, although the Government pays excess freights as compared with railway rates. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s., and No. 1 is 99s., and for shipment to France and Italy, No. 3 and the lower qualities are 119s., and No. 1 is 124s. Demand for east coast haematite is unabated. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. Manu- factured iron and steel works present a very busy appearance. Cumberland. Mary port. COAL. The coal industry in this district continues to exhibit great briskness, and the pressure of demand on local and export accounts is growing keener. The demand for coal Current quotations. Current L’st week's Last year’s prices. prices. prices. BestCumberl’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 Dg. smalls ,, 21/8 21/8 16/8 Do. peas „ 20/ 20/ 15/ Buckhill best coal at pit... 27/6 27,6 22/6 Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit 26/ 26/ 21/ Oughterfcide best coal at pit 27,6 27/6 x 22/6 XT Oughterside best washed nuts at pit 26/ 26/ 21/ St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 27/6 27/6 22/6 St. Helens best house nuts at pit 26/ 26/ 21/ BestCumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. 23/ 23/ 19/6 Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 21/ 21/ 17/6 Best bunkers (coastwise) 33/6 33,6 28 6 Do. (for foreign-going steamers) 36/ 36/ 28 6 Best works fuel 25/ 25/ 20/ Best coal for gasworks ... 25/ 25/ 20/ Best washed nuts for gas- works 24/ 24/ W/ and coke is unchanged. The output is rather better than it was, but there is still room for considerable improvement, more especially in the western portion of the coalfield. Business on landsale account is very much brisker. There is continued firmness in the home market. Locomotive, gas and best steam coals are in firm demand. Irish require- ments of coal for steam, household and other purposes are very large, but they have to some extent to give way to satisfy the local manufacturing and landsale demand. Owing to the shortage of small coal, the output of local coke is not quite so large as it was some time ago. South-West Lancashire. COAL. With the approach of the colder season the demand for all descriptions of household fuel has naturally an upward tendency, but the trend of deliveries is if anything in an opposite direction, and much pressure is being put upon the colliery. There is little fresh to report with respect to steam coal. The arrival of liners is somewhat irregular, and in consequence this at times leaves a little free coal available for outside steamers for cargo and bunkering account, and there is no difficulty as to disposal of any spare coal which may be on the market. At the moment matters are somewhat complicated at Liverpool and Birken- head owing to the coal heavers’ strike. There is a con- tinuance of the pressure exercised by Irish merchants to get supplies, and the quantity forthcoming does not give them a sufficiency. The efforts of the gas works managers to secure stocks are still maintained. In slacks the pro- duction does not suffice to meet present demands, and there is urgent call for these generally. 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 prices. 27/6-28/6 29/ -30/ 25/6-26/6 28/6-29/ 24/6 27/ -28/ 24/6 _____* 22/6 21'6 20/6 L’st week’s prices. 27/6-28/6 29/ -30/ 25'6-26/6 28/6-29/ 24/6 27/ -28/ 24/ ______* 22/6 21/6 20/6 Last year’s prices. 21/ -22/ 25/6 19/ -20/ 24/6 18/ 23/ upwds 18/ —t 16/ 15/ .14/ * New schedule, f As per official list. South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. There was only a moderate attendance on the Man- chester Coal Exchange on Tuesday. There is nothing particularly fresh to report about the coal trade. All classes of fuel are in acute demand, and the shortage of supplies renders the position one of difficulty in various directions. Offers of engine fuel are practically non- existent. There is still a heavy call for coal for shipment. 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. 28 6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 Last year’s prices. 22/ -23/ 19/6-21/ 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 22/6upwds 16/ upwds 21/ upwds 14/6 upwds * As per official list. IRON. There was a fair attendance on ’Change in Manchester on Tuesday, but no alteration to report in the state of affairs in this district. Prices are entirely controlled by the Ministry of Munitions. All works are fully occupied on war material. Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. There was only a moderate attendance at the market on Tuesday, and practically nothing doing in the way of new business. Collieries are not in a position to accept orders for hardly anything. The question of supplies continues to dominate the whole situation. The demand for coal, though considerably in excess of the output, tends to increase, and there is no improvement in output. It is the general opinion that August was the worst month Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 20/ -211' Wallsend & London best 25/ -25/6 25/ -25/6 25/ -25/6 19/ -20/ Silkstone best 25/ -25/6 19/ -20/ Do. house 24/ -24/6 24/ -24'6 17/ -18/ House nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 16/ -17/ Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 29/6-30/ 29/6-30/ 23/ -24/ Silkstone best 28/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 28/ -29/ 22/ -23/ Do. house 27/ -28/ 20/ -21/ Other qualities 24/6-26/6 24/6-26/6 19/ -20/ Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 16/ -17/ Gas nuts 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 15/6-16/6 Unscreened gas coal ... 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 15/ -16/ Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 17/ -18/ Large double-screened engine nuts 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 16/ -17/ Small nuts 20/6-21/6 20,6-21/6 15/ -16/ Bough unscreened engine coal 20/6-21/6 20,6-21/6 15/ -16/ Bost rough slacks 19/6-20/6 19/6-20/6 14/ -15/ Small do. 17/6-18/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 12/ -13/ Coking smalls 18/ -19/ 12/6-13/6 Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke ... 32/ 32/ 25/8 experienced at the pits this year—outputs being down considerably almost without exception. Colliery sidings in most cases are full of empty wagons awaiting loading, and some collieries are refusing to taue more. The shortage is naturally felt most acutely by the merchants and con- sumers engaged in the less essential industries—these having to suffer, as nearly all the output is officially allo- cated. There is a good deal of dissatisfaction on the part of collieries, in consequence of supplies being allocated in entirely new directions at the expense of regular customers. The house coal shortage is very acute, and it is felt that the control officials fail to appreciate the seriousness of the position in the West Biding. In practically all the larger towns merchants are several weeks behind with their orders, and in some instances are rationing the supplies. There is no opportunity here for the public to act on official advice—that they should buy in stocks As to gas coal, little or no progress has been made in accumulating stocks at works, and the outlook is full of anxiety. For manufac- turing fuel there is keen enquiry. So much of the supply is earmarked, that the rest are hard put to it to keep going, being dependent on what can be picked up as opportunity arises. The demand for furnace coke continues on a heavy scale; but the make is difficult to maintain, especially where repairs are necessary and labour is short, as it generally is. Prices are nominal. Barnsley. COAL. Following the outcry, the production has apparently increased in some cases, but the effect is hardly felt. The market is barren of surplus lots. Enquiries are general for additional supplies, but it is realised more than ever that the tonnage allocated must suffice. Particular anxiety prevails regarding the supply of gas coal. A good deal of diversion of tonnage is taking place at the collieries to ensure, as far as possible, a p isition of equality amongst concerns. Collieries find themselves with comparatively a small margin of the outp it left after sending their quota for the needs of the Allies and the Admiralty. These continue to be on a heavy scale, whilst the munition works still require a big tonnage to keep them fully engaged. The demand for screened coal is particularly brisk, and for ordinary purposes little is obtainable. Deliveries of manu- facturing fuel are cut down generally, and particularly so in the case of industries which are not considered to be of prime necessity for war purposes. Substituted fuel continues to be sent in some cases. All classes of coal almost are being taken to supplement the supply of slack suitable for the making of coke The importance of keeping the plants in full operation is recognised in an increasing degree, though this is hardly possible, and the greater supply of coke cannot be given. Under the present favourable weather conditions, quantities of house coal are being transferred for other purposes, and meanwhile the partial delivery of orders, even of a reduced character, will have to suffice. Values continue to be of an almost nominal character. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s House coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Silkstono 27/ -28'6 27/ -28'6 20/ -22/ Best Barnsley softs 25/ -25/6 25/ -25 9 18/6-19/ Secondary do 23/ -24/ j 23/ -24/ 17/ -17/6 Best house nuts 22/6-23/6 j 22 '6 -23’6 16/ -17/ Secondary do 22/ -22/6 i22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ Steam coals:— Best hard coals 24/ -25/ 24/ -25' 17/6-18/6 Secondary do 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-23’6 16/3-16/6 Secondary do 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/6 15/6-16/3 Best slack 19/ -19/9 19/ -19/9 12/6-13/ ■ Secondary do 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/6 10/6-11/ Gas coals:— Screened gas coals 23/ -23/6 23/ -23/6 16/6-17/ Unscreened do 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 15/6-16/ Gas nuts 22/ 22/ 16/ Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 25/8 The dislocation in the Yorkshire coal area, due to the call to the Army, a shortlived strike, holidays, etc., is reflected in the quantity of coal sent to the ports. The official figures show that during August the arrivals at Hull amounted to only 232,556 tons, a falling off of 14,900 tons when compared with August last year, and as much as 70,000 tons when put alongside the satisfactory figures of the preceding month of July this year. It might have been much worse but for the action of the Coal Controller in diverting railway companies’ supplies in order to minimise the serious delays caused to shipping. Even so, vessels have been more plentiful than cargoes. Coal is now coming along pretty freely, and arrears have been for the most part worked off. Nevertheless much greater deliveries are necessary to meet the urgent official and Allied demands and to supply local requirements. Neutral business beyond a very restricted limit is practically out of th© question at the moment. No stocks are available here, and everybody is dependent upon the much or little sent by rail from the collieries. Conditions of business and prices remain without change. Chesterfield. COAL. The condition of the coal trade of North Derbyshire is unchanged. The demand for all qualities is very strong, and great pressure is put upon collieries to expedite deliveries. House coal orders continue to come to hand very freely, but the restricted output renders an early execution of these impossible, and they can only be dealt with in rotation. Coal for manufacturing purposes is urgently called for, and here again considerable delay takes place in making deliveries. The shortage of cobbles and nuts is most pronounced, and as these classes of coal are those chiefly needed in connection with steel production, the trouble in obtaining adequate supplies is serious. No stocks are available anywhere. Gas coal is in great request for current consumption, and there is little or no prospect of building up reserves. The position is the same with regard to coal for railway companies’ requirements. Their stock of coal is being rapidly depleted. There is no change regarding the export trade of this district, which is lifeless. Good deliveries of steam coal continue to be made on Admiralty account. The coke market remains very firm, with an active demand for all classes of coke. Coking fuel is in short supply. IRON. There is a continued state of activity in every branch of the iron trade, principally on Government account.