The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-07-26
Tie ConI Trnde.

fhlladelphla LCdgeTi 1lst TINS 10 the
dull period Of the anthracite coal trade, and, /,
compared with that Of the past few months,
the business Of the past week has been dull
and unsettled. Production 10 off little
compared with that Of last week and the
week before, but is very well up compared
with that Of corresponding time last year
and the year before. In the aggregate for
the first six months Of the yea the amount
Of coal put into the market is far ahead Of
that marketed in the first half Of last year.
Notwithstanding the fact, there Is compare
lively little Of piled coal in the market, and
prices of coal hold up very well, though they
are too low, and have been all the year, 10
give operators that reward and strength Of
means that they should have. The dullness
therefore, common to the month Of July,
is but natural, begets feeling of apprehen-
sion as to the future of the trade. SO far,
on the whole, however, the coal trade of 1879
is better, much better, than it promised at the
beginning Of the year, and there is no just
cause to apprehend an unfavorable change
now TO the end Of the year. The policy Of the
coal business this year has been upon the
wholesome one of keeping production SO far
within the limit Of the market demand as
to enable operators to slightly advance cir
cular prices as the year wore on. The ad-
vance for the current month Of July was
small, and the figures perhaps have not
been as universally lived up to as could
have been desired. The near future Of the
trade is naturally becoming interesting to
both producers and consumers. The former
are looking for further small advance of
prices for the month of August, while the
latter are holding out Of the market as much
as possible in order that the amount of coal
on hand may become so large as to head off
the advance contemplated by the operators
As having some bearing on the future OF
this issue, the next auction sale of Scranton
coal at New York is looked forward to with
some interest. Just at the present time
labor in the coal regions is tolerably quiet,
but in such ieverish condition that very
small matter may unsettle it; and gene
raj suspension, as a consequence, in either
of the larger coal regions, would have the
almost inevitable effect of advancing the
prices of coal, and probably also of advanc-
ing tolls and all transportation charges.
These several contingencies would provoke
a universal demand for more wages at the
mines. If this demand should be resisted
further strikes would follow, thus making
coal so scarce that prices would have to ad-
vance, and if not resisted, but freely con-
ceded and paid, then the cost of production
would be such as to require an advance to
cover its cost. Thus the next auction sale OF
coal has much of interest in it. If con
summers fail to be buyers upon that occasion,
holding out of the market with the view OF
| depressing coal prices, they take the risk OF
letting others buy the coal sold at low prices
and of being compelled to buy at higher
figures later in the season. If they deter
mine to buy according to their wants, at the
market price, whatever it may be, or at
whatever the operators may force them to
pay for bidding up at the sale, then will ope-
rators advance coal almost Immediately
and the transportation companies in all
probability advance tolls. With coal prices
advanced and tolls higher the demand fol
higher wages it is not likely can long be re-
sisted. Any and every aspect of the situa'
ton points to higher prices for coal. What
ever may be the result as to prices for the
month of August, those supposed to be best
informed as to the movements of and de-
mand for coal during the remainder Of the
year believe that it will be large and 50 neal
the full transportation capacity as to pre-
vent any decline on present prices Of coal
There does not seem the slightest proba'
bllity Of their going lower. The policy
however, of any one coal company attempt
ing to find market for the current produc-
ton of any other coal company, and that q
competing company producing inferiorcoal
as is said to be the case, we think unwise
if not suicidal, for the carrying company
But, with all this, the outlook for the Goa
year 1879 is encouraging in the fact that il
will show a marked improvement on the
trade of the year 1878.
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