The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-03-24
The Coal Trade,

at the present price OF coal this country can
compete in the principal markets OF the world
with Great Britain, and the export trade Is now
receiving the attention Of the carrying compan,
les, The true and sensible remedy for the pres
ent depression Of the coal trade is an enlarge
ment of the consumption Of coal. The benefit
of cheap fuel 10 all manufacturing Industries in
this country cannot be overestimated. The
present Indications are that the proposed reduc-
ton of wages Will be quietly acceded to by the
miners and luborers. and the carrying cOmpan.
les will probably also come down in their
charges but The important inquiry follows un-
solved, "wlll the great superaDuudance OF coal
force prices below paying point" If this shall
be settled in the Affirmative the trouble and
failures as the consequence cannot be long de-
ferred. There Is hope for a wider market and
an increased demand for coal invited by a low
cost OF production. NOtwith standing the re-
duced wages made OY operators we see IL stated
that the miners still receive mNch better pay
thad before the war. The pay of q skilled MN.
er Iurlhg the latter part of 1851 and the first six
IN nuns Ul i6G2, ding to the books OF one of
th large coal companies, averaged 80 1.5 cents
ton. In May, 1868, the average rate was 81 s
cents, when the average price Of coal ut tide
waite was a 81. The price during the past win.
ter has been 56H cents ton TO the skilled min
en-, ana the price OF coal has been about SO ton.
Ine chhnge which went into operation on the
10Th, in the Wyoming region, was reduction
OF lO cents q ton, the present pay thus being re.
nuced TO 461S cents Coal is already selling be-
low auction prices, whenever sales can be Ell
fected, and present prices, it is stated are guar
enteed for the summer where contracts are
made. The immense amounts of coal offered
WITHIN few daysa at auction are variously inter-
preted II may be intended to spoil the whole
spring market, and as punishment on COM
panles which will not Join combination but in.
slst ON the coal trade lighting iIselft in natur-
al way; or 1t may be that the Pennsylvauin
company is simply exercising without ordinary
business foresight that is. that the managers Of
the company know that with production sIimu.
lated TO its full capacity the market will become
glutted and prices will fall, and therefore, that
IL ls best 10 sell as much as possible before the
heaviest decline comes. Or it may even be pos.
sible that when the day Of sale comes some good
reason will be given for reducing the amount OF
the SALE and that the offer to sell now is simply
Drag AS to combination" that, for the pre-.
sent, is lost sight of, and for the rest few days
VIII determine. AS yet trade Is dull wholesale
and retail and is likely to continue 81 until con.
sumers feel that bottom prices have been touch.
ed.-Ledger, Monday.
- The Reading Times March 10, says The
heaulng railroad company Is about entering up
on an active coal campaign, aud the sigu of a
SnnIp competition between the Schuylkill,
Lenlgn ana Luzerne regions are plainly mani
lest. President GOwen will complete the work
OF resumption in the Schuylkill coal fields to-
uly at all the suspended COlleries of the Phila-
uelpha coal and IRON company. This corpora
Ion can deliver coal ut as lOwlf not lower rate
than any of its competitors.
The following table shows the quantity OF coal
shipped over the Lehigh Valley ftallroad for the
week ending Mar. l7th, 1871 and for the wear as |
compared W tn the same time last year: