Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 12 September 1902

The Hull Coal Trade.

Serious Decline of Traffic.

The official return dealing with the coal trade at Hull from Yorkshire and several Derbyshire collieries shows a marked decline in business.

This, of course, would be accounted for by the stoppage of the large Denaby and Main and other collieries, but it is noteworthy that almost without exception the collieries show a reduced trade. The tonnage of last month reached 241,104 tons, against 371,664 tons, a decline of over 130.000 tons, which, however, does not prove a true reflection on the state of trade.

The traffic in August a year ago was exceptionally heavy, and proved to be the largest of the past year, and there is also the fact that until the close of last month the business of the present year exceeded that done during the first eight months of last year.

The total tonnage received at Hull during the present year is 2,046,060 tons, and decrease of some 53,030 tons, which is more last than explained by the remarkable figures of month. The exports last month which totalled 126,213 tons, were nearly 46,000 tons short of the quantity shipped in August, 1901, but on the eight months trading the reduced business is not so considerable.

So far as the individual collieries are concerned, the fact that the Denaby and Cadeby Main firm, which play so important a part in the traffic at Hull, although having been set down during the month, should still be to land sufficient coal as to maintain their position at the head of the list is the most remarkable. Though 18,752 tons stand to their credit, for the past month, it is a mere figment of their average tonnage and compares badly with the exceptional figures for August of last year, when over 70,000 tons were sent. The deficiency of about 42,000 tons represents two-fifths of total decrease for the month. It is peculiar to find that nearly all the chief collieries in South Yorkshire show decreased business when contrasted with the traffic in August, 1901.

Hickleton Main last month forwarded 16,768 tons, but this quantity fell something like 9,000 tons less than a year ago. Aldwarke Main, too, shows a heavy decline, the total for last month, which was close upon 16,000 tons being over 6,000 tons short of the total for the corresponding period.

The only other firm to send over 10,000 tons is Manvers Main, which firm shows an improvement of over 2,930 tons.

Kilnhurst and Thrybergh also show a heavier reverse, a total of 9368 tons, nearly 8000 tons less.

Wombwell Main, too, sent 7500 tons less than last month, and, generally speaking, all the firms have done less business than in August a year ago.