The New York herald., 1876-08-03
THE COAL QUESTION.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PRoDUcrIoN-PRIcN
OF ''BLACK DIAMoNDs"-rHR PROSPECT TO
CONsUMERs NOT RNcorRAcrSo

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PRoDucrIoN-PR1cH
OF "BLACK DrAMoNDs"-THR PROSPECT TO
CONSUMERS NOT ENCOURAGING
Yesterday HERALD reporter visited a number Of
gentlemen prominently with the coal trade
to learn II possible, the amount Of coal OF domestic
sizes hand in this port, the probability of tho re-
price and any other facts interesting to coal
consumers The first gentleman called upon-a large
shipper and miner OF hracite the Lchgh region
stated that 1t very difficult matter even to esti
mate the amount OF coal AZ the various receivni
points, and especially or the domestic sizes-egg
stove and chestnut-in New York yards and at th,
wharves; bu. one thing he could say, however Their
WAS decided gut in this market and, owing to the
Board OF Control of the coal combination advsncnl
the rate fifteen cents per ION on the LIST prox hs
thought there very little prospect Of the
diminishing until cold weather forced consumers
purchasing their supplies or course the stoppage
of two weeks during this month Of shipments by the
Lehigh Valley Railroad. already announced in the
HERALD would help the producers somewhat
but one thing consumers should understand now-viz,
that the price of would certainly be advanced by
the combination again, pnd those who could do
would be wise to lay in their supplies. The public
holding or and only buying as they needed for use
was very well in this weather but II the experience
OF all who knew anything about tho coal trade that the
moment cold snap comes people rush TO buy and
consequently then the price s advanced often hfty
cents 81 ton.
In reference to the coal combination and the rum
in tho ana among stock spectators IN Wall street
that there was such division among those composing
1t that it certain to go to pieces, he said that he
thought the opinion erroneous; the combination
again safe basis and would certainly hold this
year. The Lehigh Valley Railroad, a transporter
owes no allegiance TO the combination and Judge
Packer Its President is believed, has always opposed
It, yielding however to tho large operators who ship
the road, and 10 the Lehigh Valley Coal Com
pany. which holds the relation to the railroad
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company holds to the Reading Railroad. In
agreeing to suspend operations for two weeks they
met necessity OF the trade Tho overproduction
this line probably amounts TO 150, 900 tons,
which by the suspension will be cqualizcd. OF the
total production during the three weeks ending July %
the colierics on the line produced over
per cont while last week they figured to the extent OF
forty per cent OF the weeks shipments though It was
nominaIly one OF ''total suspension" comparison
OF the production the lines Of tho different carrying
companies from January l, 1875 to July 22, and TOR
the same time during 1875 may be OF interest Lehgh
Jersey, 125 per cent; Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road, 80 per cent. The following companies show
Hudson Canal Company, As per cent Delaware. Lack.
awana and Western Railroad, SO per cent; and the
Pennsylvania Coal Company, 33 per cent
The average weekly production during the last halt
OF 1875 amounted to $50 900 tons, while the
weekly output during the first half OF this year but
265 900 tons that after allowing literally for the
usually increased business of tho autumn months Il
seems highly probable that our production ri anthra-
cite during remainder of this year will be at least
100000 tons week less than 1t in 1875; or in
other words, that the production OF anthracite will
this wear DO about 600 600 tons less than It was lass
year less than in 1873 These figures
certainly suggestive II not alarming, whom
slider that the production bituminous coal through
the country has steadily increased during the
period and its consumption In the chief markets for
anthracite has been maintained during tho past year
and increased the figures Of 1873 1t is the
depressed condition of the trade has borne
heavily the anthracite than the bitumnous tradc
but the usual for coafs have also
tailed a large extent the panic, and thorc Is
good reason believe the decline in the consumption
of anthracite in inconsiderabe degree owing 70
the substitution Of bitumnous coal.
The following are the
WHOLESALE PRICES ANTHRACITE
for July at The tide water shipping ports, per ton Of
2, 240 lbs, domestic sizes