Railway News – Saturday 14 April 1883
The Railway Traffic from the Yorkshire Collieries to Hull
The quarterly return relating to the tonnage of coal transported by rail and water from the South and West Yorkshire collieries has just been issued. Overall the figures compare favourably with the previous year, which had been regarded as exceptionally good. Competition, however, is more limited than in earlier periods, as of the 113 collieries listed only about sixty-four sent coal during the past month, several of them contributing only small quantities.
There appears to be a growing inclination among some collieries to use the port of Goole, which offers easier access. For example, the Edmunds and Swaithe Main collieries are now forwarding about 400 tons per week by water to Goole. Previously the Edmunds colliery had sent only 440 tons and Swaithe Main 883 tons during the last quarter to Hull.
It was noted that considerable local opposition was developing against a proposed bill which, if passed, would seriously injure the coal interest. The quantity of coal sent by water during the month amounted to 48,976 tons, while rail transport accounted for 51,736 tons, producing a combined total of 100,712 tons. This compares with 100,846 tons in the corresponding period last year.
There was a slight decrease in tonnage during the past quarter overall. The total for the quarter stood at 277,684 tons compared with 279,246 tons in the same period the previous year. Exports showed a greater decline. Only 27,765 tons were shipped last month, compared with 35,381 tons in March 1882. For the quarter, exports amounted to 90,617 tons, compared with 113,989 tons the previous year.
There has been a significant fall in shipments to Sweden and Norway, with 14,725 tons sent compared with 21,627 tons previously. Exports to France also declined sharply to 4,470 tons from 10,308 tons. Denmark received 13,309 tons compared with 24,942 tons during the same period in 1882.
Considering the Yorkshire trade as a whole, many long-established collieries that once dominated the Hull market are now supplying only limited quantities. Meanwhile, several newly developed collieries—particularly those in the Midland district between Normanton and Sheffield—are doing substantial business. West Riding firms appear less prominently represented than in earlier years, having evidently discovered other and more profitable markets for their hard coal.
The leading position on the list continues to be held by Denaby Main Colliery, which sent 16,056 tons during the last month, of which 6,416 tons were forwarded by rail. This represented a considerable increase compared with the 12,104 tons sent in the same period the previous year. During the quarter Denaby dispatched 39,472 tons, compared with 34,592 tons in the first quarter of 1882.
Manvers Main, the next colliery in the list, supplied 11,216 tons during the quarter, compared with 19,712 tons previously. Corton Wood, a newer colliery, sent 3,308 tons compared with 2,080 tons last year. Elsecar managed 11,960 tons during the quarter compared with 14,836 tons previously. Darfield Main, an older mine, supplied 1,472 tons compared with 2,288 tons the year before.
Lundhill recorded 4,320 tons compared with 3,756 tons in 1882. Mitchell Main, recently purchased by Mr. Josse, sent 5,440 tons compared with 2,057 tons previously. Monkton Main supplied 1,948 tons compared with 3,019 tons the previous year. Monk Bretton increased its tonnage from 6,196 tons in 1882 to 6,520 tons during the latest quarter.
Wharncliffe Silkstone supplied 1,884 tons compared with 10,922 tons previously. Wombwell Main recorded 4,384 tons compared with 1,964 tons in 1882. Among the South Yorkshire collieries developing new trade were Hemsworth, credited with 2,156 tons compared with only 492 tons previously, and West Melton, which sent 336 tons whereas none had been forwarded in the previous year.
Rockingham, Dodworth, and Silkstone also supplied fair quantities of coal during the quarter, whereas none had been sent in 1882. The West Riding pits, however, appeared to be declining somewhat. The West Riding and Silkstone Collieries, usually second on the list of Yorkshire competitors, supplied only 8,004 tons compared with 15,651 tons previously.
Fryston supplied 12,144 tons compared with 11,118 tons in 1882. Glass Houghton Collieries, near Pontefract, sent 3,528 tons compared with 4,460 tons the previous year.
On the opposite side of Sheffield and in Derbyshire, collieries seemed to be contributing little to the supply. Although Renishaw, Sheepridge, Staveley, and Hucknall Torkard appeared on the list, they sent no coal during the month. Shirebrook, however, contributed 14,904 tons during the quarter compared with 12,168 tons the year before, while Kiveton Park supplied 4,320 tons compared with 3,756 tons during the first three months of 1882.