The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-04-21
The Coal Trade.

The lack Of faith III an effective combina ton
is as general now as it was fortnight ago that
such a combination would bo successfully ar
ranged. The test point in the business is the
fixing upon "a penalty for violating the com.
pact" as verbally agreed upon. Like the party
who said he was "in favor Of the Maine Liquor
Law,his only objection was to its enforcement"
so the parties to the proposed coal combination
are all in favor of restricting coal production
but they have Insuperabe objection to enforc-
ing it. From all that we sec and hear on the
coal combination proposition Its cOnsummation
Is as far of as ever. The committee to which
had been referred the matter Of adjusting PEN
alties proper TO the enforcement OF the proposed
agreement, and to make report at the last meet.
ing, adjourned without a word on the subject
Indeed, we are informed that the committee
had no meeting from the time of their appoint
ment until the daY fixed for the meeting, and no
attempt ut the formation OF report was made
by any OF them beyond a somewhat informal
conversation on the morning OF the day of meet.
ing. The entire movement rs connected with
this attempt to form a combination looks as
though the party engaged IN II pretty well un.
derstand that 10 combination Will be formed
this year. Some advantage may result to the
trade Oy verbally agreeing that the amount Of
coal shipped TO competing points for the year
1877 shall be S,00JO0J TONS instead OF the OUO0,-
0OO which would be the result of the ra of dc.
livery since the Dreaklng up OF the old cOmbi.
nation. This is a sort OF chalk line to which The
parties will direct attention, and to the extent
that they willingly adhere to 1t Will tine market
for coal be strengthened. Tne policy OF short
ened production cOnTemplutes higher prices,
advance the temptation To inc eased production
increases with it,and without any affixed penal
" that can be enforced the chalk line limit Will
at once be brushed out and each and every pro
ducer VIII send to markeJ rs much coal as ne
can ind buyers for, and at any pTlce that Will
pay; indeed, after the coal Is produced there
Will as usual be found many who will De forced
to sell at loss, which, buyers prompt to take
advantage oil, will soon SINS the marx ct to low
and generally losing prices such lis the out
look Of the anthracite coal trade to-day and the
only help for it, IN the eyes of men most lntelll-
gent IN the trade, Is hearty cooperation IN
efficient penalties Tor owe production. 1t is
known that ali the difficulty is not confined to
the good faith of the companies There are Cir
cumstanceS that might ARISE under which one
or two OF them cOuld not keep ialth, however
strong their desire to do 30. According to the
proposed schemeeach company hence TO the LIST
OF June Is at 4ueIty TO sell as much coal as pos.
siDle at such prices can Ue obtained. the total
for The year not to exceed the percentage as
affixed TO each company under the aggi ega to
OF s,0JOOb OF tons. lhe New York auction
sales are to be continued monthly Mr.. sloan,
OF the Delaware LaCkawanna and Western, AN
nounciug the next sale Dy that company on The
| last Wednesday of this month"; when the LIST
of June is reached and an advance Of tifty cents
| per ION IL promised, the question OF a cOmOlna
/ uOn will stl be i'll reality an open one, with,
! possibly, an entirely new set OF circumstances
| TO be considered. The critical point la any ar
| rangement, OF COul sc, is whether II can be pn-
| forced. Al the present moment the coal trade
/ Is nearly at stand as is natural when the next
| step IN the future Is unknown. Public LEDGER
Monday.
The following table shows the quantity OF coal
| shipped over the Lehigh Valley railroad for the
! week ending April l4th 1877, and for the year as
| an4n a1s4uk AZ 4 Ia ma ma nm la