The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-03-09
The COnl Trnde.

The anthracite coal trade, under the new
ly formed coal combination, seems to be
working most satisfactorily. All the parties
to the arrangement have given full. adhesion
to it, and are using their best endeavors,
through harmonious and united action, to
reach the desired end of rcsuscitating the
trade. The coal production is restricted to
about half time in each and all of the sever
al regions. The very mild weather all win
ter, and continued thus far into the spring,
has 50 limited the demand for sizes of coal
used for domestic purposes that the stock of
coal on hand lessons more slowly than could
be desired, and thus weighs more heavily on
prices than otherwise would be probable.
The principal trouble in this regard, how
ever, comes from the coal afoat at New York
and farther eastward, coal factors and vessel
masters in some instances yielding a little
under circular prices for quick despatch.
With some few exceptions Of this kind the
agreed-upon prices are maintained, and those
in the trade generally are sanguine that the
object of combination will be attained dur
ing the year The auction sale of coal ut
New York lastweok though it included only
fifty thousand tons, was fully attended. The
coal, which went off brislily in small lots
The prices realized were barely steady, in
comparison with the results of January's
sale, Five thousand tons of steamboat
brought SO 10 to 50 l2!, averaging the same
as last month; 1000 tons of CRATE, SO 07l, a
decline Of cents per ton; GO00 tons of egg,
S3 10 to SO l74 an advance of cents per
ton; $4,000 tons of stove, So So, decline of
p cents per ton; 1000 tons of chestnut, So
decline of III cents, and 5000 tons of pea
at 81 l2l. The Reading Coal and Iron
Company, under acircular of the lst instant,
announced the following as the prices of coal
delivered on board of vessels at Port Rich
mond until further notice, subject TO the
company's printed condition of sale: Hard
and free burning white ash lump steamboat,
broken and egg at 50 2j per ton, stove at
SO 50,chcstnut No. at $3 do. No. . at SO Is,
and pea at 81 %. Schuylkill red ash egg
and stove at 50 j0,and chestnut No. / at So.
Other choice qualities of coal % to so cents
per ton higher. Until further notice the
Reading Railroad Company will allow ON
all shipments of anthracite coal from Port
Richmond during the month of March con-
signed TO points east of New Brunswick,
drawback of 10 cents per ton on stove coal
and 20 cents per ton on all other sizes Presi-
utlG DlChSoll, VI tue DtldWuIe ana HUDSON
Canal Company, in his annual report re.
viewing the trade of 1877, mentions a par
tial compensation for the losses of the-year
the economies which the depressed condition
Of the trade has enabled those in the bust
ness to introduce, aid which, promising to
become permanent, must tell iavorably ON
the future of coal production. II may also
be stated that coal property generally has
been thoroughly cared for, and was never in
better condition. "While speculation as to
the probable results of the business of 1878
may be of little value, the fact that the sui
cdal policy ofiorcing large quantities of coal
upon Overstockcd markets has been arrested
10y an arrangement Of the producers to limit
the supply TO the demand, augurs well for
the future. The experience ofthc last eigh-
teen months has impressed both managers
and mine owners with the fact that the laws
Of supply and demand will not allow the
one to be pressed beyond the limits of the
other, but require the two 10 be harmonizcd."
The sentiments here expressed prevail gem
orally with the coal trade, and warrant the
conclusion hoped ior,that the year 1878 will,
to large extent, re-establish operators and
do much to put the carrying companies in
crcdit,-Lcdgcr, Monday,
The folio wing table shows tho quantity OF coal
slipUeG over the LehigE Valley Railroad IOr the
week enNing MAJ. "a, 1878 and for the year as
Compared the same tluls laHt year.