The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-01-18

The outlook Of the anthracite coal trade
has not developed much since our last re-
port. The week has been a good one for
the coal trade. The weather has been very
cold for the greater part Of the past tort.
night, thus materially increasing the de-
mand for fuel and stiifening It's price It
has, however, been bad for transportation,
the roadways in many places being blocked
by snow and ice. Orders for coal are ac-
knowledged in good supply, and if the pre-
sent weather holds an active movement for
the commodity is near at hand. The long
mooted question of a combination in the
trade for 1879 is considered settled in the
negative. There is no probability in the
present that there will be one, and this be-
ing generally assumed as a fact, the affect of
free trade in the coal traffic for the year is
coming to be accepted as less disastrous than
was feared lost month IL would be. The year
1873 opened with an estimated stock ofthree
millions of tons on hand This year of 1879
opens with an unusually bare market, 80
that if it is admitted that DO more coal
should be required during the present year
than there was last it still follows that a
much larger amount of coal will haye to be
handled and marketed. Intelligent parties
in the coal trade estimate that some three
millions to four millions tons more of COT |
will be reported marketed this year than
were last year. This amount, added to the
eighteen millions Of tons reported through
the combination in 1878, will give pretty full
employment to all the several companies,
and full employment will encourage the
trn1 In hpll 60 f,tr E., ~
market, which of course includes a good
paying business to the coal carrying com
panies. Some two or three of these com
panies at New York, which had threatened
in advance unrelenting war on the other
companies in the trade, we now hear think
better Of it, and will probably accept the
situation and determine to make the best of
1t. The outlook has certainly improved, and
the present compared with corresponding
time last year is really encouraging. Be-
sides the greater amount of coal to be mined
and used this year, there is the resulting ad-
vantage of last years combination, remune-
rative prices Consumers have been edu-
Gated up to a knowledge of the fact that coal
in the market is worth some twenty to
twenty-five per cent more per ton than it
was in l37G-77 sold for to consumers, to the
bankruptcy of even greater percentage of
the trade at that time. Ifthe trade will now
move cautiously and prudently each party
during the year may find a market for
nearly or quite as much coal as it can fur
nish, and at prices fairly remunerative. The
present bare market, under good supply of
orders, fairly invites the preparations made
and making for an early and more than
usually active movement in coal at this
season of the yer. The Reading Railroad
Company already gives notice that from and
after this date the opening of new route
from its mines through by way of Philadel-
phia, the North Pennsylvania Railroad the
Bound Brook Road and the Central Of New
Jersey TO Port johnson, thus giving to the
Schuylkill region an all-rail winter outlet
for coal to the Eastern markets. 1t expects
from this route a handsome addition to its
output of coal. By the low yet paying rates
of freight and toll which it has established
the New York carrying companies are in
advance advised that if a trade struggle is
contemplated the Reading Railroad is in
position to meet it. The charges on the
laterals will be the same as those on coal to
Port Richmond for shipment. On all coal
shipped from Port johnson the net rate of
freight and tolls from the mines to Port
johnson, exclusive of shipping expenses,
will be one-half of the price at which the
coal is sold free on board at Port johnson.
OF the scrip for wages issued by the company,
up to Friday last, Sl72 900 had been return
ed to the company and been cancelled. This
is more than one-siXth of the whole amount
issued, and has worked most satisfactorily
for the men, their creditors and for the con-
venience of the companY.-Ledger Mon
day.
The folio wing table showstne quantity OF coal
shipped over the Lehigh Valley RalrJ ad for the