Haulage Opportunities
Page 43
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Improved Outlook in Iron and Steel. Cotton Industry Brighter. Widespread Building Activity Reflected in Pottery Trade
FURTHER confirmation of our view that the position in the steel industry is much improved was embodied in a statement in the House of Commons the other day when the average monthly output of one Sheffield firm was given as 17,252 tons in 1931 and 34,349 tons in 1934.
Encouraging news still continues to come from those Nits of the country which are dependent upon the heavy industries. So far as iron and steel are concerned, a strong movement towards improvement in the export trade, together with a continuation of the prosperity of the home trade, is to be noted. Business continues to improve in the shipyards on the Clyde, the Mersey and the North-east coast.
Cotton and Wool.
The reports from Manchester and other centres of the cotton industry are better to-day than they have been for some years. Not only is the home trade increasing, but the export trade; too, is active, particularly to India. In the woollen districts business is still quiet but the outlook is good because it is anticipated that the present quietude is a prelude to the inauguration of a period of more satisfactory conditions in the market.
Beets and Shoes: Leather.
In the boot and shoe trade, although manufacturers are not altogether satisfied, the position as regards the roadhaulage industry is good, inasmuch as the bulk of the orders are for urgent delivery of small consignments.
A similar comment applies in the case of the leather trade. Manufacturers of leather goods in the Midlands. makers of handbags, suitcases and similar articles, are busier than they have been for some time past.
Timber and Building. , The building trade maintains the activity to which we have frequently referred of late and the demand for timber from the docks is now at its height. The following figures relate to large works which are contemplated: Houses to the number of 318 are to be built in Birmingham at a cost of £112,487; hospital extensions are to be made at Dartford, to cast £30,370; £70,000 is being spent on bridge widening at Guard Bridge and £78,000 on hospital extensions at Hillingdon. Leeds is spending £63,297 on roads and sewers, and Wakefield £32,538 on road work. Stockton is to erect 114 houses and other buildings at a cost of £84,140; Torquay power station is to be extended at a cost of £130,000. A town hall is to be built at Wembley, at a cost of £114,000.
Attual contracts placed include the following major items :-Jacques and Greeves, Ltd., Springwell Lane, Balby, Doncaster, is to erect 48 houses on Highfield Road, Old Melton, for Melton U.D.C. (£13,872). G. Towers, Union Street, Blyth, Northumberland, is to build 82 houses on the Little Mill site for Bedlington U.D.C. (about g20,000). Public baths are to be erected adjoining Cowpen Lane, Billing. ham (16,295); Kitching and Co., 21, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, is to carry out the work. Messrs. Ford and Weston are to erect a police building, etc., for Derby T.C. (£48,995).
A. E. Jones (Hull), Ltd., is to erect Ainthorpe Grove School for Hull E. C. (R28,996), and Messrs. A. and B. Hanson, 44, Featherstone Road, Walsall, have secured the contract for the erection of a senior boys school at Greenford (£18,005), a senior girls school at Northolt (g16,520) and a junior school at Woodend (£11,680), for Ealing E.C.
Willesden Maternity Hospital is to be extended at a cost of £17,525, and the tender of Harris (Contractors), Ltd., has been accepted. R. G. Tarran, Ryde Avenue, hull, is to erect 176 houses and 44 flats on the Huntingdon Road Estate for York T.C. (£57,795).
The contract for supplies to Hoyland Nether U.D.C. went to the following :-Newton Chambers, Ltd., Thorncliffe, 2i-in. tarred slag, ns, per ton, 1-in. tarred slag, 13s. 6d. per ton ; Stockbridge Slag Co., 1-in. tarred limestone, 19s. per ton ; B. Bennet, Junr., Parkgate, fin, slag chippings, 7s. per ton, i-in. crushed gravel, 7s. 11d, per ton ; Finningley Gravel Co., 14-in.
gravel, 7s. per ton, gravel, 8s. 43d. per ton ; D. R. HazIewood, Rotherham, sand, 4s. 7d. per ton.
In connection with the Galloway Water Power Company's hydro-electric scheme, a contract for the construction of Kendoon reservoir has been placed with Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons, Glasgow. The contract is valued at £150,000, comprising a concrete arch and gravity dam across the Water of Ken ; concrete intake works on the Black Water burn; a canal between the intake and Ken Dam; the excavation and deepening of the reservoit, and the construction of the necessary access roads.
Aberdeen C.C. is to build a new school at New Pitsligo, to cost £7,900; a school at Italian Wells, to cost £4,050; to reconstruct Newmachar school at a cost of £5,150; and to extend and reconstruct a school at Inver. uric at a cost of £3,450. Falkirk T.C. is to build a new children's clinic at a cost of £4,000.
A large contract for aeroplane hangars has been placed by the Air Minis try with Redpath, Brown and Co., Ltd., involving 7,000 tons of Scottish steel. There are to be 13 hangars in all, seven for Iraq, one for Egypt and five in Great Britain, and the structural steel work will be fabricated in Scotland and in Manchester.
Mirrlees Watson and Co., Glasgow, has obtained a contract worth between £65,000 and £70,000 for the supply of sugar machinery in Jamaica.
Drapery and Clothing.
The continued good weather is helping the drapery and clothing trade. At the time of writing there is a keen demand for job lines for sales, and these are providing plenty of opportunities for haulage.
Hardware.
Business in edge tools continues to be the outstanding feature of the hardware industry in Birmingham, although that industry as a whole continues in a strong position. In Sheffield and district it is reported that concerns specialising in stainless plating have more orders than they can cope with. That the razor-blade situation is good now almost goes without saying.
Pottery.
Manufacturers in the pottery industry are particularly optimistic. There appears to be a prospect of steady trade for some years, particularly in the manufacture of glazed wall and hearth tiles. Factories are being remodelled and extensive additions made. The principal centre of this class of work is Tunstall.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from June 23-30 inclusive :
Docxs :King George V, 6. Royal Albert, 9. Royal Victoria, 9. Surrey Commercial, 8. West India, 1. East India, 5. South-west India, 2. Tilbury, 5. Tilbury Stage, 3. Milwall, 3. London, 9. WHARVES :-Hays, 7. Middleton's, 1. Mark Brown's, 1. Tilbury Jetty, 2.