The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-15

The anthracite coal trade shows little, u
any change within the past week, no,with-
standing several somewhat sensational r,-
ports have found circulation in the newspu-
pers. The trade, as regards prices, is gool
deal depressed, and all that has been tried
t, better them has failed The demand Or
coal is reported fairly good, and but for the
fact that prices rule every weak throughout
almost the entire market we might natur-
ally conclude that the trade would ultiln.
ately recuperate as the season advances by
the simple process.of operators asking high.
er prices. But prices do not advance. AMI
the general estimate is that the two public
sales Of coal announced at New york, of l0O..
900 tons by the Delaware Lackawanua aud
Western Railroad Company and 10000 tons
by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Compa-
ny, will bring down prices from Eve 10 ten
cents per ton more, that being about the de-
cline submitted to at the last monthly sale.
We are assured that no united effort s now
being made TO protect the market through
revival Of the last years combination, OF
any arrangement to effect the same result by
individual agreement through stoppage IL
production for a fixed period of time. Mr..
Gowen, Of the Reading Railroad Company,
has been in New York the past week, as hsa
also Mr. Clark, Of the Lehigh Navigation
Company, but nothing has been effected, or
was attempted to be effected, in that regard
though such reports of that kind bave found
circulation. The trade is, therefore, swing
ing around loose, unguided by helm or
compass, and gradually sagging to lower
| prices Threats by the miners in two or
three coal regions have bsen made to strike
by the first of April, and such result has
often happened when the surroundings
pointed less certainly to that end than now.
A strike is the most likely medium by W hich
to shorten the supply of coal, with the con.
sequent desirable results of higher wages for
! the miners and what is claimed as remunera-
tive prices forcoul The Lehigh Valley Rail-
road Company has already ,os we noticed la,t
week, reduced its toll charges much low
than at any time before for severa! years,
and it is now probable that still further
reduction will be made. This shows ten
dency to lower figures for coal, and dispo-
sition on the part of that company to join
with its shippers in meeting the competi-
ton from the other coal regions. The coal
season SO far shows an unusually large pro.
duction, and though the orders are large
compared with corresponding time last year
they hardly warrant the belief that the de-
mand will keep up with the supply Of COAL
and maintain prices at remunerative figures,
which they hardly are now. The prices Of
coal for February, just ascertained by tho
Schuylkill Coal Exchange, average 81 II
and would justify a rate of wages for that
month "a per cent. below the basis, but the
rate will not go below 20 per cent. Tho
Reading Railroad Company gives notice
that, until further advised, anthracite coal
shipped through the Chesa peake aud Del
aware Canal will be entitled to the same
drawbacks as if shipped through the Cupes
Of the Delaware. Ledger, Monday.