New-York tribune., 1878-10-01
COAL TRADE REVIEW.
From The EnOinsriHO and MfnO Journal SEPT 20. 1873


The EAQtnecFng ana MftnO journal SEPT 20, 10
.-.---a-ssts-SANTHRACIlE
+ On Wednesday, the 25th inst, the Della
ware LaoEawanna and Western Railroad Company sold
at public anoon $4,000 tons Of coal The attendance
was not large and nearly all OF the coal taken by
Wholesale DEALERS The bidding did not strictly
healthy appearance. The only object OF these
sseA appears 10 be 10 form basis upon which 70 sell
the unWaTY The more important buyers have been
able better after the sales than before them. and
therefore find their EdyRutage 30 withhold bids
that the price NAV rule as low as possible.
The question whether the combination VIII survive
beyond January or not is stu much discussed is
b. no means settled the affirmative. There TO
be steadily growing conviction or appreciation OF the
and advance prices has resulted In positive and perma
nent injury the industry, aud that t IL not only tenn
pOrariY reducing the consumption OF anthracite, bat
that NJ IL surely sappng the very foundations upon
which the future development and prosperity OF tho
ouupIry now greatly exceeds and win continue TO
ceed our home consumption. II Is therefore, quite eyl-
dent TO any practical Intelligence that unless We export
the suTpIus Of these manufactures, homo market
must steadily suffer under the unremunerauye prices
aud unsatisfactory CONDITIONS whch lnyaraDiy
result from OYer-supply. 10 send this ms.
chievOis surplus out Of the country, and
make possible development OF their Industries, our
manufacturers must compete. at best, on equal terms
sometimes with freghts against them, and without
the bonus OF protection the markets o. the world To
90 ths successfully they must have cheap coal-one
Of the most important elements In the cost OF manae
turing and transportation Ihe c0nciason seems hs
natural inevitable II the industries of the country
arc 20 developed. II the consumption OF coal II 70 DO
increased and the trade 10 assume the Immense proper
tons which tho richness and position OF our anthracite
proes must constantly remain 30 low as to enable our
manufacturers compete with goods made with cheap
foreign Goals The whole country Is interested In the
rational solution OF this problem.
There another and more restricted view OF tho
case. . The great companies which now monopo-
lie the anthracite trade enormously burdeDed with
debit they hive Dmerse sums invested In uudeyeoped
coal lands and they attain 10 condition OF
substantial prosperity bnt by enormous increase IN
the use OF anthracite True, the fostering OF the
otons which are necessary TO bring about this great
lhoFeA IN the consumption OF coal may not seem
70 Ohcf q1te - large Immediate profits toe ton OF
coal as would the exercise OF power high
prices ftom those 8ho FOR the moment, cannot do
without tie IneL No dOuOt there Is also some sup
porting pUweF m the btrDW which drowning men
pIOyerbiay said 10 clutch at. Our great eSai conDa-
mes might take lesson. They iTancally clutch
ing A. and are going down WITH the straw Of oombIna
Observation-Disclosures which Is totally inodeonat 10
float them, while II they boldly strke ont with tne re-
served force OF economy and honesty and the ayOring
tide which low prices would bring 70 them some of them
at Ieast may get safely ashore but they continue
ingng 20 the straw which rapidly losing its orid
nal buOyancy. they must inevitably Enk together
only dfop the deceptive float when exhausted and
nulnbed as 10 be incapable OF real effort
There considerable opposition 20 a propositions 10
make further advances. while there who think
that the present prices too high and great injury
10 the trade by CurtlinR the markets aud Offering the
btumihOus and coke trades nn opportunity % secure
offer to doiver IN tbis market duty pad 10000 tons OF
Newcastle steam coal at - ton. Ths low price Is OF
course due 90 the large number OF vessels coming 10 TINS
country IN ballast 90 carry back American products
TBe quantity Of coal that could be sent here 81 no
freight, merely nominal one. would OF course DO
limited but nevertheless 10 could have very disturb
ing effect upon our markets
The pfOduGtiOn OF anthracite coal last week 352
O5O TONS against All 677 tons the previous week aud
34l57 tons the corresponding week OF 1877 The total
production from January 70 September 81 IL 499,
period % last year. allowing falling OF this year Of
202690e tons.