The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-12
REVERE.
The Coal Trade.

Ahe tOAA IFhues
The anthracite coal trade continues in
the same anomalous condition as for the
last six weeks, the demand for coal being
quoted good, while the prices are gradually
and all the time quoted lower. During the
past week the Reading Railroad Company
has issued three circulars, Nos. l2, lS and u,
by the first Of which it is announced that
season contracts for pea coal shipped from
Port Richmond to points within the Cspes
Of Delaware, for delivery through 1879, may
be filed at the Office of the company prior to
April 3Oth, inclusive, upon which contracts
such drawback will be paid as will reduce
the freight and tolls from mines to Port
Richmond to 70 per cent. Of the net price at
which the coal is sold free on board at Port
Richmond; providing the net rates Of freight
and tolls shall not be less than $l.25 per ton.
So far as the last weeks rumors, put in cir
culation at New York, Of another attempt at
combination for the current year, the thing
seems not at all probable. The movement
noted looks more like one on the part of the
Reading Railroad to carry the trade through
on its avowed line Of unlimited production,
and the ability of the Schuylkill region to
produce coal and,the Reading Railroad Com
pany to put it into the market in COMPETE
ton with any other anthracite region in the
trade. SO far this year both the Reading
and the Lehigh Navigation make a favor
able show as compared with their business
last year to the same time. But the indi-
vidual operators in all the several coal re-
gions, and such of the principal companies
as are not as favorably situated for economic
production as others, may already, at this
early date in the year, read the handwriting
on the wall. The fact of steadily declining
prices with fair supply Of orders for coal is
now measureably accounted for. When the
weak in the business are crowded to the wall
and out of competition, as they are now
threatened, those remaining in the trade will
command remunerative prices but where
then will the trade be? The end is already
being hurried. Another auction sale at
New York Of big block of $4,000 tons Of
coal is named for Wednesday of this week,
when a further fall in prices is probable.
An additional trouble is threatened at the
other end of the trade, AS though a steady
reduction Of prices is not felt to be sufficient
ly disastrous enough its effects, a strike is
now threatened at the mines in the Lehigh
Valley region indeed, at two or three points
the strike had already begun on Saturday
morning, and delegate meeting Of miners
was to be held at Hazleton on that day at
noon. Of course it is hardly probable, in the
present condition of the trade, that there can
be any advance Of wages. Stoppagc must
be the consequence, and the only hope from
this will be shortening of the supply of
coal, to be followed with fairly remunerative
prices by so many in the trade as can keep
in operation. Reports are current that there
is extensive cutting of prices in the trade,
and these being assumed to be true, they
beget the very evil upon which they feed and
widen with each new report. These reports
are proOaOly often untrue indeed, we are
informed that they have been followed up
to source, and the falsehood fairly fastened
upon Its circulator, who kept it in circula-
ton for the purpose of breaking prices, to
his own profit as a buyer. This is not only
wicked, but the very essence of meanness.
The leading members in the coal trade have
the business fairly in their hands, and little
discretion and fairness may turn it fairly to
the profit of all owners, producers and con-
sumers.-Lcdgcr, Monday.