The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-17

coal is at present FAR above she price which an
ordinary degree OF scarcity In the ar'iclr might
warrant, we think no one win deny, and the
ruling causes are subjects which are just at this
time of the r. Attest inquiry and solicitation. We
are all aware that the wages of the miners were
ipcreased during the early part Of the season
from twenty five 20 thirty one cents per ton for
mining, which wOald Increase she value Of coal
IN las: years prices about one per cent Freigbts,
we admit have also advanced, from three to FIVE
per cent and these are the great bugbears from
which coal dealers manufacture their arguments
20 sustain them in demanding an advance on
their coal Of forty per cent.
There is no scarcity of coat the = Yards arc all
full to repletion, and if there IL not even more
coming, it is because Pennsylvania dealers arr
carrying out their speculative determination
to withhold shipments for the purpose OF sus-
tanning the trade abroad )" and it must there
,ieus value, brought about by a speculative and
mono polishing movement on the part Of those
who have as little sympathy with the wants and
necessities Of the poor, rs those whOe0mc years
since unfeelingly sought q monopo Of the
-four trade. But the oppressive influences
Of this speculative movement, we thiok,
can be In measure averted by following
cut system which has been heretofore
rec mmcnded to consumers, to wit, to forego
laying in the usual winter stock. Seventy-fve
thousand families in this city and Brooklyn,
every fall purchase an average of five tons
each, which is regularly calculated upon by
Dealers and their November payments are. the
iruits Of sales .f three hundred and seventy five
thousand tons of coal made In Septeubc and
October. Reduce these sales to one-fifth the
amount, which the consumers have it in their
power to do, and an appeal is made to the
pockets Of the dealers, which it viii be some
what difficult for them to turn aside from.
There are other causes which we think will
contribute to bring down the price of coal to
that great number Of heavy consumers in the
Eastern States, taking advantage Of the new re-
ciprocity treaty, have engaged the Pictou coal,
in consequence OF their being able to procure it
at a cheaper rate than the Pennsylvania an
tbracite is at present furnished. We also learn
that great many manufactures in this city
and a large number Of steamboats,, are substi
tutipg the Lackawana for the anthracite, which
latter they have heretofore used. One steam
boat company in this city, which alone con
sumes upwards Of twenty-six thousand tons
annually, are now laying in their winter stock
of bituminous as a substitute for the ordinary
stone coal, which they have usually consumed
Tbrca hn al
with the aggregate amount used, but they will
nevertheless have their influence upon the mar
ket and tend to check in some degree the ram
pant spirit Of speculation which now actuates
our coal dealers; and when the fact becomes
more generally understood and acted upon,
that the coal Of the British provinces is admit.
ted into the United States free of duty, we
should not be surprised If a panic should seize
the stubborn dealers before the winter is over,
and fear prompt them to permit the price Of
coal to recede to its proper level.
We have received the following conIn1nica-
tion from coal dealer in this city, who, it will
be seen, takes somewhat different view of the
effect which will be likely to be produced ~
consumers holding of their winter supplies =
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HGRALD.
you willing to repair public injury which you
concerning the coal trade which you have Dc ,Dred to
wrong opinion and cauiionins the people 81 New YORK
against buying their coal in the te and thereby
tie he closing Of the canals and ,iSsrs
the buying and receiving Of their co,l which must be
dsre sometime end Of course the less timo there for
doing It, the independent the captains Of schooners
AND balges will be about the amount of freight thoy
choose to charge.
the duty foreign cal and the scarcity OF borera in
the conhTies In England little foreign coal has
N rrss sr
hen imported 10 an enormous extent TO the States but
which has TO be produced in the States and Of
win consume in Its prodncti,na large quantity Of thu
Goa from coeries; and would venture to say
that the quantity Of coal consumed In pro< ucipg iron
supply thu eastern factories the largo number Of
coespg and foreign steamships, il four times
last yc ar and at least third OF tho total
amount Of coal produced in the home colcries, and
wbch Is the main Of the high price OF coal this
season, and which makes miners careless whether they
reci orders from New York, they have orders from
nlots The valley Of tho schuyk to take all the coal
hey are producing and which has been fully proven
d iu yos snoe
ausniity shipped to New York has diminished Mt least
one tebih O. liz usual supply 81 this time Of the year. and
ye the wcei shipments been incl oaspg and
asir without sending anything like the usual gu ny
to New York but which later must and per
haps at time when the canals viii DO oosod and when
tho empty conc by the railroad to Philadelphia and
thence by Schooner to New York. probably at twice the
rate a freight is at present The rate OF freight from
hsS<lphis to New York at present. il 81 20 per ton,
while IN the winter it Ii donbse that rate high
last winter rs 81 ~ Ter ton.
further proof Of the inability Of the miner 70 supply
The demand Is that the Laola Coal Company within
The Last ten days. turnsd of twelve or fourteen steam
beats vhck they had boon supplying and obliged them
get Lehgh o. other sos1 at . higher price.
The reason sny you have committed public injury
9, that by your advice the public Of New York have
nsat universally ceased buying Il cir coal, and, OF
curse prevents the coal dealers from laying In anything
he supply for the winter oil the yards IN New
FORK (Which are about one hundred, on svsrage,)
houIi b 6ed and omptied about avo uaaes In season
o supply the city.
That you may better understand how your advice has
ys-ated on the public, vii give ou the weekly sslas
ere yard during the months Of Jul, AuSsss, 6cpem
ey and ostob.r: 1885, 1884
7bAa Tons
uly recond week .......... a3 51f
Ihfrd ......,.. 80 l20 l
Fourth .......... &c ,3a