816 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 18, 1918. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 17. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. Though there was at the beginning of the week a smaller arrival of tonnage than had been expected, it increased later. A substantial improvement is reported in the output of most classes of coal, and the market is regarded as much more satisfactory than for a long time past. Best descriptions of Admiralty steam coal are still extensively commandeered for official use. Supplies of free lower grades, smalls, and house and gas coals have been larger than usual. The demand for all these descriptions con- tinues good. Patent fuel outputs have increased, and meet with a ready sale. Prices f.o.b. Cash 30 days. Current L’st week's Last year's Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 37/ 37/ — Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y 36/ 36/ 32/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 36/ 36/ 31/6 Secondary do. 35/ 35/ 31/6 Best small coals 28/ 28/ 30/6 Secondary do 27/ 27/ 24/ Inferior do. 25/ 25/ 22/6 Screenings ! 30/ 30/ ; / 25/6 Through coals 34/ ; 34/ 29/6 Best washed nuts 37/ j 37/ ‘ 32/6 Other sorts:— < Best house coal, at pit ..; 40/ 40/ 35/6 Secondary do. do. ..J 38/ 38/ 33/3 Patent fuel ! 37/ 37/ 35/ Furnace coke | 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke 52/ 52/ i 47/6 IRON. An excellent output of many classes of iron and steel goods on Government account has been maintained in this district. Prices are nominal. The import of iron ore has been well maintained, and home supplies are constantly increasing. There are numerous orders for tin-plates for pressing official delivery. The arrival of pitwood has been rather below the average, but home supplies have been increased. Cardiff. COAL. Although there are now signs of improvement, the position has been anything but satisfactory since last week. As was anticipated, tonnage arrivals did not come up to expectations, and temporary stoppages occurred in various parts of the coalfield, particularly in the western and Monmouthshire districts, with the result that on Saturday alone there was a loss of production estimated to amount to about 20,000 tons. This is a serious item, but until there is a more regular supply of tonnage and a steadier flow of empty wagons to the pits, the difficulty cannot be obviated. During the week end vessels came along more freely, and a good start was made on Monday. Transport facilities even now are none too plentiful, and with the heavy pressure that exists for shipment, especially on Government and Allies account, the margin available for other destinations is very small. Admiralty collieries are well stemmed, and the same remark applies generally to those concerns producing superior qualities, but other collieries are not so favourably situated, and are dependent on day-to-day conditions. Outputs are well maintained throughout the coalfield, but as has been the case for some months past, all the best descriptions are reserved for official needs. Best bunker smalls are in good demand, but cargo sorts move off slowly, and stocks are steadily accumulating, although efforts are being made by the Allocation and Supplies Committee to remedy this defect. There is a heavy request for bitu- minous coals, especially for gas making and household pur- poses, and deliveries are considerably in arrear. Washed coals are more active, and coke isj firm. Patent fuel makers continue busy, and are well supplied with orders for several months ahead. There is an ample supply of pitwood, especially of home-grown timber, but foreign imports have been somewhat meagre. All prices are on the basis of the Controller’s maximum schedule. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated). 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— 1 Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys ; Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit)1 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Current prices, j 40/ i 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 ’ 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 ! 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 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 i 24/ -26' 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ Last year’s prices. ! 33/ 31/6 30/9 ! 30/ i 21/6 21/ i 20/6 20/ 19/6 19/ 18/6 18/ 30/ 28,6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30/9 30,9 26/ I 27/ : 22/ -23/6 17/ -19/ 30/ 30/ 47/6 47/6 | 47/6 | 75/ IRON. In the tin-plate trade there are more orders on the market than manufacturers can undertake. This is due to the shortage of labour, and as only about 50 per cent, of the mills are at work, representations are being made for the release of men from less essential industries, where they are, in many cases, employed as unskilled hands or labourers. It is pointed out that, unless some action of this kind is taken, there is a possibility of South Wales perma- nently losing important markets. Shipments last week amounted to 17,492 boxes, against 26,479 boxes the previous week, whilst receipts from works totalled 42,076 boxes, against 31,748 in the preceding week—leaving 151,161 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans, compared with 126,577 boxes the previous week and 58,249 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. There has been a further slight decline in the price of block tin, which is now .£334 for cash and three months. Bessemer standard cokes command 32s. 4|d per box f.o.r., with corresponding increases for other sizes. All the iron and steel works are operating at high pressure, and iron ore deliveries are well maintained. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, and makers are chiefly occupied in the production of painted sheets and black plate for Government purposes. All prices are nominal. Scrap metals are in short supply, and maximum rates are readily obtainable for anything offering. Spelter works are busy. Swansea. COAL. Last week the trade of the port showed no improvement. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 57,412 tons. No material alteration is reported in the general conditions of the anthracite coal market. There was still a fair demand for best large and machine-made varieties, whilst second classes were easily obtainable for prompt shipment. In steam coals there was a brisk call for best large and throughs, but in other classes very little was doing. Llanelly. COAL. There is little change to report as to the state of the local market. Tonnage is still below the market’s require- ments, and collieries are therefore unable to report full time, as empty wagons are scarce. Anthracite coals, outside the lower grades, are fairly active, and there is a steady demand for the better grades of large. Red Vein qualities are also enjoying a strong inland demand. Cobbles are fairly firm, and beans and nuts are in demand. P^as are very firm, with few parcels offering. Culm and duff are very easy. Steam coals are irregular, with a steady demand for best large sorts. Throughs and smalls are not active, and there are fair stocks of the former coals avail- able for prompt business. Smalls are at present difficult to dispose of, with heavy quantities offering. Manfacturing coals are well enquired for, but few spare lots are available. 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 34/6 34/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/6 48/6 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/ 42/ 35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ 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 24/ 24/ 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 OBITUARY. On Thursday, October 10, 2nd Lieut. Percy Walter Wilks, aged 41, well known on the London Coal Ex- change, was drowned with his wife when crossing from Dublin to Holyhead in the ss. “ Leinster,” which was tor- pedoed. Mr. P. W. Wilks was the junior partner in the firm of James Butler, Wilks and Company, 29, Coal Exchange, London ,E.C. Imports and Exports of Mining Machinery—The value of.imports and exports of mining machinery during August is given below :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. £ £ £ £ Imports ................. 4,219 ... 19,293 ...136,828 ...115,304 Exports .. 46,075 ... 48,448 ...529,092 ...373,568 These figures are not inclusive of prime movers or elec- trical machinery. The following shows the value of ex- ports of prime movers other than electrical :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. All prime movers £ £ £ £ (except electrical)... 417,313 ...265,335...3,018,406...2,838,114 Rail locomotives ......... 251,574 ... 53,753... 1,345,488... 954,740 Pumping ................... 44,596 ... 14,257... 318,213... 181,828 Winding .................... 3,200 ... 220... 13,401... 14,183 THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 17. The position of the London coal trade during the past week has not improved. Supplies are still very much below the average, and the demand is exceedingly strong. So many applications have been personally made for emergency coal at the Controller’s department at the Hol- born Viaduct Hotel that a new regulation has been issued that all enquiries under this head m future must be made in writing. An experimental room has been established for coal and fuel saving devices in the Coal Controller’s Department. Patent fuel makers are very busy. A dis- covery has been made that many householders have ren- dered false declarations as to the stock of coal in their cellars, and it is widely reported on the Coal Exchange that prosecutions are pending. There is a growing demand for ail classes of steam coal, and since the gas coke regula- tions have been in force there has been a marked scarcity of coke in the market. Merchants find great difficulty in meeting the requirements of householders. House coals have come forward in better supply, but deliveries are still considerably in arrears, and the colder weather has strongly influenced the pressing demand. By the retire- ment of Mr. E. P. Sells from the old-established firm of Charrington, Sells, Dale and Company, the long line of the “ Sells ” family has been broken, in the London coal trade, for it has been announced that since the year 1738 one of the members of this family has been connected with the trade in London. The seaborne market continues very much the same as heretofore. Supplies are limited, and nothing is offering on the open market. The attendance has been good, and 19 vessels were reported as arriving- in the River Thames for Monday’s market and 11 for Wed- nesday, but all were loaded with contract cargoes, prin- cipally gas coals. Up to the present time the pinch of the winter’s weather has not been felt, and every house- holder has had a sufficiency in the cellar to meet all needs ; but the London district is face to face with a very acute problem for the winter. Stocks of all qualities of fuel are far less than a year ago, and this also applies to such huge buyers as railways, gas works, and factories. The calling-up of so many thousands of colliers early in the year has also to be taken into account. Happily, the great “ economy ” campaign was actively put into force during the early summer time, so that a considerable saving has been made of every kind of fuel. This will undoubtedly be a useful asset for the pressure in the coming winter months. The rationing order has now been in force in the metropolitan area for the past twelve months, but from all reports this has not applied to the whole of the country. An important reminder of this has been shown in the report that it has been found necessary by the coal over- seer at Hull to commandeer 100 wagon loads of coal originally intended for shipment, and to divert them for domestic use in the neighbourhood early this month (October). The “ emergency ” coal held by the Coal Con- troller has been repeatedly pressed for, but it is clearly demonstrated these can only be utilised in cases of extreme necessity. At some of the London depots complaints have been made that the yards are at times absolutely without coal. The return of many of the men from the Army and the lessening of absenteeism is a very favourable point just now. The “ convoy system ” and the increased supply of vessels at the various shipping points has also been a source of great encouragement. .. We understand that the meeting referred to in our London Coal Trade report last week was of the London Coal Merchants’ Society, and not of the National Council of Coal Traders, and that it is the last-named body whose temporary headquarters are at St. Pancras Hotel. It is expected that the two associations," although independent, will co-operate on all matters of vital importance to coal traders. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, October 11.—The seaborne house coal market was quiet to-day, but a fair enquiry was noticeable. No sales reported. Arrivals, 14. Monday, October 14.—There was by no means a large arrival of colliers, but the supply had already been fully arranged for. No cargoes available for sale. Cargoes, 19. Wednesday, October 16.—The seaborne house coal market was without alteration, there being no cargoes on offer. Arrivals, 11. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 17. Dublin. The situation continues to be acute, supplies being- insufficient to satisfy all demands. Last week the follow- ing prices were fixed by the Corporation Coal Prices Com- mittee : Best quality, 57s. 6d. per ton; second quality, 56s. 6d. ; standard coal, 53s. 6d. for cash. In cases of book orders an addition of Is. per ton is allowed. The price to be charged by bellmen for standard coal is 3s. lOd. per bag of li cwt. in the city. A central office has been opened in the city in connection with the distri- bution of coal under the direction of the Midland Area of Ireland Coal Control Committee. Questions regarding insufficient supplies or excessive rates will be considered by this body, which includes some of the coal merchants and others as well as a representative of the Coal Con- troller, of whose department the offices are a branch. The public are notified that they are not entitled to any specific quantity of coal, but the Committee state that the supplies available will be equitably distributed. The Coal Controller has written to Athlone Trades Council that the fixing of a standard price for turf is engaging his special attention. It costs at present 26s. per load, having risen about 300 per cent, compared with pre-war prices, Belfast. So far from there being any improvement in the situa- tion, stocks are lower than ever, and some of the mer- chants have no coal at all. Supplies have been still further curtailed by severe gales at sea. Current quota- tions for household coal are : Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton ; Scotch house, 49s. 6d. per ton; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d. per ton; all less Is. per ton for cash; standard coal. 48s. 6d. per ton net cash. At the last meeting of the Portrush Urban Council a letter from the Director of Cross-Channel Transportation and Coal Controller’s De- partment was read in reference to the Craigahulliar Coal- field. The letter stated that an unofficial examination was made by the representative of a London firm of the lignite and iron ore deposits at Craigahulliar and Knockta- ton. He was satisfied that the quantity of mineral would last at the rate of 500 tons a day for many years, and that the reserves in sight were sufficient to justify laying down plant for an output of 300 tons per week.