National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-01-16
The Coal Trade.

The increase in the coal trade for the
year 1878, says the Pottsville Miners
Journal, will be in the neighborhood
OF 900, 900 tons of anthracite, and about
900, 900 tons in the supply Of bituminous
coal moved toward the seaboard, max.
ing the increase for the year, in round
numbers, about 1900, 900 tons. Con.
sidering the tightness in the money
market that prevailed during the whole
year, followed by the crash, the increase
is larger than we anticipated as the
season progressed, but not SO large as
we supposed it would be at the begin
ming Of the year, before the depressed
state of the financial affairs had been
fully indicated. Had the business of
the country continued as active as it
was at the close of 1872, the market
would have taken at least 1000, 900
tons increase in anthracite alone.
The coal trade, we believe, was the
only branch of business of any magni-
tude that continued to increase weekly
during the panic, and the prices were
not only maintained but advanced 90
cents per ton after the panic had COM
menced. And we may also state that
so far as the miners and laborers EN-
ployed at the collieries are concerned,
it has been one of the most prosperous,
as they received good wages Oh the
basis adopted, and they had more regu-
lar work throughout the year than in
former years. The operators complain
that their profits are not sufficient to pay
fair percentage on the capital invested
in the business, in other words the
prices paid for contract work are too
high in the arrangement of the basis,
and that too much goes to the employees
without sufficient profit to the operator.
The employees on the other hand seem
disposed to resist any reduction of the
basis of 1873, and are willing to con-
tinue it for 1874.
But, taking all in all, the coal trade
was rescued from and made profitable
in defiance of the panic by the thorough
organization that existed between the
associated companies and the basis of
prices arranged. which were to govern
the trade for the year, and which were
strictly adhered to throughout the year,
the companies having only dropped an
advance of 10 cents for the month Of
October, which they proposed making,
but did not after the panic commenced.
The trade also increased during the
panic, and the heaviest weekly increase
was made during that period; and even
for the last week the trade shows an in
crease of no less than 115, 264 tons over
the corresponding week of last year.
Notwithstanding the advance in the
price of coal of 10 cents per month,
amounting to 70 cents during the season,
from the opening prices of last spring,
made an average advance of 35 cents
per ton, the retail price. of coal is as low
to-day in the cities as it was last year at
this season, and in some instances
lower. This is caused mainly by les
sening the expenses in handling and
selling the coal in the cities. So we'll
las the organization worked in keeping
;he trade regular, while at the same
lime they maintained regular prices to
The consumers generally, and the better
he arrangement becomes understood
~ the people the more popular will it
become among the retail dealers in coal
md to the consumers, and particularly
% large manufacturers, who will know
What prices they will be compelled to
'ay for their fuel during the year, and
AN make their contracts accordingly.