The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-01-25

We have no special change to report in
the anthracite coal trade during the past
week. The outlook generally is good for the
season, and, indeed, is much better than was
hoped for a month ago. The feeling of par.
ties in the trade is more harmonious. There
is less disposition among them to throw
bricks" one at another. Each seems dis
posed TO advance his own interests as di-
rectly and as largely as possible, without
any special effort to injure his neighbor.
This is good deal gained, as nothing so
much furthers legitimate business as close
and undivided attention, and each in the
coal trade giving all his time to his own
affairs will be more sure to prosper than if
he abstracts portion of it to the prejudice
Of competitors. The severe weather within
the last fortnight has quickened the demand
for coal and tended very materially to re-
duce the stock of coal Oh hand for which
there is a continued good demand at salts
factory prices. The retail dealers are pretty
well employed in the delivery of old stocks
the snow obstruction to transportation on
the railroads aiding them in this regard.
Notwithstanding this temporary interfer-
enoo the movement of coal from the mines
to the larger markets for consumation is
unusually large for the season; indeed, we
are informed that the Lehigh Navigation
Company and its connections are doing a
larger business than at any corresponding
time in the past We have a like report
from the Reading Railroad and its connec-
tioms, which are doing very large winter
tonnage. The new business which this COM
pany now has, of sending Sohuylkil coal
by the Bound Brook route to Port johnson
and the Eastern market, opens auspiGiously,
and will add materially to the usual aggre-
gate Schuylkill tonnage in winter. Some
two or three of ihe more northern transpor-
tation companies being interlered with by
snow and ice makes it better for the schuyl-
kill and Lehgh Navigation Companies
Nearly all the producers Of coal report full
orders and firm prices, thus lessening appre-
hensiOn of a dull market at very low prices
at the opening of the spring trade. At pre-
sent there is no disposition on the part of
operators ta oYerproducc, and thus to break
the marEut. The estimate is that at least q
mil lions Of tons Of coal may be marketed at
rcmunerative prices this current year, which
will give to all the leading interests in the
trade about as much as they will care to do.
There are reports in the Schuylkill region of
strikes of some five or six colliories, and, as
alleged, for delayed payment of back pay.
These statements, we are informed, appear
much more formidable in the reading than
in practical effect on the trade. The alleged
reason for the strike, we hear stated, is not
the true one, but the proprietors OF the mines
which are stopped do not care to expose the
truth of the matter as it really stands. The
whole amount Of back pay involved was but
800, 900, and was at the time Of the strike in
actual cuorse OF payment. About onc-half
of this amount has already been paid, and
the balance will be as soon as the "pay carr
can reach the several points where the pay
is due, arriving, probably, at the striking
collieres last, at which work may not be i'm
mediately resumed, thus tending to prevent
an oYer-produotion in the early spring.
Thus the strikes are really nothing at any
of the coal regions, but where attempted,
will prove hcalthiul revulsions injuring
only the strikers.-LedyGr Monday.
The folio wing table shows tne quanrry OF Goa
snipued over the Lehiph Valley Rnlrrad for the
week enGmg Jan. s. 1873 and for the year ne
compared the same time ln"t year,