The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

tit gotourbribge 065erber.
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1874.

THE FALL IN THE PRICE OF COAL.

In one important respoct 11374 has come upon
us under more favourable conditions than its
predecessor. The first week of its existence
was characterised by a fall of four shillings per
ton, in the London coal market, and the weight
to be attached to this fact is obvious at a glance.
In the first place this tall does not occur in
the days of spring, in the warm time of sum-
mer, or in the cooler period of H111:111. But it
happens when the days are at their shortest,
and aecording to the seasons in the very depth
of winter, when the demand for coal is heavy,
sod when all who can possibly have fire cm,
min!), do so. There are attendant circumstances
connected with this redaction which see worthy
of notioe. It frequently happens that the move-
ments in the metropolitan coal market are af-
fected by accidents of weather, and that the
price is sent up through the inability of a fleet
of wind-bound colliers to approach the Thames.
Sill this cause does not operate to the extent
which it formerly did. In the great frost of
1814, when the Thames was ice-bound for 13
weeks, and no coal laden vessel could come
higher up than Gravesend, this necessary of
life ran up to a veritable famine figure. Then
there were DO railways; now the various liues
from the north of England bring into London
immense quantities of coal, from the districts in
which it is produced. Yet the carrijge by water
way is no inconsiderable element in regulating
the fluctuations in the coal market. In the pre-
sent instance, however, tho decline in price is
not the result of any such accidental circum-
stances as the arrival of a fleet of colliers in
the busy London river. It corresponds with a
neutral fall of nearly equal amount :in the dif-
ferent manufacturing districts, and competent
authorities tell us that we may yet look for an
even more marked diminution. For this several
reasons of more or less consequence are given.
With the advance of spring the demand for home
coal will grow less, stocks will thus acentnulat, ,
and the buyer will bo place at a niateral advan-
tage. It should also be borne in mind that with-
, in the past two years a vast !lumberer appliances
for economising the use of coal have been tested
and as these come to be more generally adopted
the effect cannot fail to he perceptible. Again,
the prices lately charged for coal have led to a
great many geological researches for tho dis-
covery of that invaluable article in the bowels of
the earth, and in some cases this enterpriss lia
been followed by success, an increased supply
will be experienced simultaneously with is dim-
inished demand. New collieries will vie with
the old ones in briugiug to the earth's surface
an augmented "output,' and the more the
sources of supply are multiplied, the less will
people lie depeudeil npou the producing power
of any rarticular Ideality. The maetifacturieg
districts are already fall of hope as the almoat
total removal. and at a comparative') early 11,..Z0,
if one of the principal obstacles to profit. Steam
is now applied to such It large number of import.
aut industries that every fall in the price of
coal will tend to give these industries new life.
With good prospects for agriculture, owing to
an exceptionally favourable time for autumn
sowing, aud with renewed activity in busy cen-
tres of population, the new year opens cheer-
fully enough, and let us hope that its progress
will not belie the promises which it now pre!.
seats.