The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-07 00:00:00

THE IRON AND COAL TRADES.
(FromMmiTirries)

The anomalous condition of the iron trade of South
Staffordshire becomes more -forcibly illustrated from
week to week. Complaints are rife of the depresEed
state of the demand, and proof that these complaints
are well founded is afforded by the fact that many
id the mills and forges are only in partial operation.
Notwithstanding this, however, prices are as firm as
when the demand exceeded the available means of
supply, and the prospect of a reduction seems as remote
as ever. There can be no doubt that the prevailing
standard of quotations is altogether fictitious and un-
reasonable, but it is supported by causes over a hich
the ironmsaters have no direct control. The inflated
cost if labour, both skilled and unskilled, has largely
contributed to the prevailing dead lock in business,
and the workpeople, regarding the attainment of so
high a wages scale as a triumph to be preserved at all
hazards, are willing to submit to any curtailment of
labour rather than listen to a proposal for reduced rates
iif remuneration. Another great difficulty is the sur-
prising firmness which, in the abeence of a household de-
mand, continues to characterise the fuel market. Some
slight concesaione have in curtain cases been made to
large buyers, but, generidly spealcing, iluotations are un-
changed, the yield of the collieries being reduced in pro-
poi tion to the restriction in demand . Hoops
on American account and Canada plates command
a restricted inquiry. This, however, is not to be
' wondered at if the statement is to be relied upon
that American made iron is about being imported
into this country, and even delivered into the South
Staffordshire district at a lower rate than it can be
produced for on the spot, The statement in question
has attracted much attention in South Stafford-hire,
to which district hitherto the United States hoe been a
large customer, and it is being remarked that while
America possesses almost unlimited stores of iron ore
arid fuel, its works are constructed on the most ap•
proved scientific principles. Mechanical puddling, for
example, had been thoroughly introduced into the
American iron mills before the invention had been gene-
rally madeknown in this country; and in other matters
Transatlantic enterprise and ingenuity have done much
to compensate for the higher value of labour hitherto
prevailing in America A 9 compared with this country.
Now that English wages have been so nearly ap-
proximated to the American standard, our rivals have
gained a sudden and substantial advantage which they
will not fail to turn to good account. In connection
with the subject of the coat of iron production in South
Staffordshire attention is being directed to the reckless
waste of fuel, owing to its imperfect consumption,
evidence of which is afforded by the dense clouds of
black smoke which overspread the district. Several
new mining enterprises are in progress in and around
South Staff, rdshire, which give promise of a consider-
ably augmented yield both of fuel and ironstone. The
Fairoak sinking, which struck the coal measore at a
deoth of 97 yards, has now reached a total depth of
120 yards, and evidences of the immediate proximity
of the coal itself are very encouraging. Thie sinking is
at the most northerly point of the South St...ft dilshire
field, and it will afford the most valuable evidence as
to the extension of the coal measure,' in that direction.
At Leacroft, south of Cannock Chasse, a valuable 4 ft.
seam of coal has been discovered, and at Newtown, in
the se.uoe neighbourhood, coal of go id quality and in
abundant supply has been met with at a depth of 80
yards. The new oinking of the Cannock and liugelley
Colliery Company, at Hednesiord, has virtually com-
pleted the proof of the existence of Gabbin ironstone
in that district, fora distance ,f five or six miles.