The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-08-04
The Coal Trade.

n
The coal trade is very much unsettled Just
now, but we hope and think we see brighter
future for it, as well as for all most all otner
trafflc. This paper has steadily, week by week
for the past month, conGended that the prices Of
coal in tue market were lower than the actual
cysi OF production, and that, consequently no
mistake could be made in at once laying in the
supply necessary fer domestic uses next winter.
This suggestion has been followed 70 some con.
siderable extent by consumers as the excess Of
production this year over that OF last year ls a
good deal larger than any estimated am cunt of
coal stocked at any and all OF the coal centres;
the natural inference, therefore Is that the IN.
creased production has gone into consumption,
The lmpalicy of delaying the storage of coal tor
future use applies as well TO those using coal
for manufacturing and marine purposes rs to
those using the smaller sizes in more limited
amounts about the household. Our suggestion
still IS. Lay IN your coai, for the early future
indlcates higher prices, The consumer. by de-
lay assumes all the vicissitudes, dangers and
uncertainties that attend the Lrade, Z Strikes at
the mines, strikes on the transportation cOmpa.
nies, accidents and every description of hind
rance 50 common to the precarious traffic. are
all to be taken as against the consumer. 1here
Is no probable change that can advantage him,
This paper has held this same caution MP tpils
readers during all the past season OF eXtraOrdl-
neitiy low prices, and before anv OF the existing
ObstructlOns were put IN operation. What has
already taken place threatens reduction OF the
supply Of coal IN the market. This obstruction
may be Of short Or long duhation-we hope and
believe short, but whatever length of time Its
effect will De TO advance coal prices, which will
be wholly to the consumers cost The supply
| OF coal from the region OF the Lehigh Val ey,
| and; to some extent, from the more northern
coal fields has been largely shortened by the
etoppage Of transportation on the Lehlgh Val
| ley Railroad, and more or less by obstruction to
that on the Lehgh Navigation, the Central and
| all the other coal roads across New jersey. The
| check to. the current coal supply, more than
| One.half Of which passes over the lines men
tiuned as obsuructed, will naturally quicken the
prices of the lesseued suppleS reaching the
| market. The amount of coal stocked III not
| large at any OF the shipping points. The Reading
Railroad Company mas Of coal on hand at all
points about 300, 600 tons, and at Perth Amboy,
| the depot Of the Lehgn Valley Railroad there
are some 1900, tons. These, the largest
the bucket compared with the, current supply
Of coal The SChuylkill Valley Is now the only
| coal field having entirely uDOhstgucted lnter-
course with tho seaboard and tho larger mark.
cts OF the country. 1t ls true that even there
active precsutiOn is Kept up to shut OF any in.
| terruptiOn tnat may, be attempted. Small
squads of the Coal and Iron police force have
been dropped at various points throushout the
by military he'd 10 reserve fne Readins Rail
load Company in the meantime Is sending for
ward all the coal DOsgl DIE. Prices OF coal are
firmly maintained all around, and. should Q
hOped.tor advance be realized the company win
have the hrst advantage, and, though at be no
more than atty cents ton, Will foot hand
some aggregate. which, for The convenience and
credit Of that company, could scarcely be better
timed. But all the coal con nLpanies must, sCOn-
or OF later. benefit from the same common cause
"a check, though IL 0e but temporary, in the
production. AT the close OF the past week the
general market for coal was decidedly firmer.
Operators, as well as coal companies declined
contracts for the future delivery of coal at
the prlce current for June ana July. Indeed
the latest Information from New York is that
prices there had been on Friday advanced fifty
cents per ton. Even that comparatively small
advance added TO the remainder Of the years
production hence 10 the end OF the season. some
fiiteen weeks, estimating production Of $50, ,00C
tons per week, gives an aggregate OF six and
thIee-Quarter millions Of TOMS on which the
half dollar per ton increase In plice increases
the amount to coal producers and CARR eTs 50,
3s5 LOO, Halt of TINS very large sum would &c
1 lar to relieve many parties and interests now
Crlppteo in the trade The policy OF the Read
ing nailrOad Company is to crowd as much Of
its coal in 20 market as possible ana fast as pos
siOle. We see IL stated that the New YorH
agent of the company gives 200OO0 tons as the
sales made by the company last week, and tina
If there should be a general resuption OF coo
operations at once The prices still. IN his OPP L
ION; would advance, mud If inter- upton shoul
continue would go much higher than a6 preLen
contemplated The present advance II nust
, however, be remembered, is 10 some exten
specula tive, though there is good reason to DI
lleve that most Of it will hoid.--Ledger, MOI
, | day.
! Ire following table shows the quantity OF col
r | shipped over the Lehigh valley Railroad for th
! week ending uly 2Sth, 1877 and for the year
= compared W tn the same time last year