The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-02
Ths coal Trade.

The following circular was Issued on Sat-
urday afternoon
PHILADTLPnrA, Sept. 25, lssO.-To the
Coal Operators Of schuylkill County; Gen.
tlemen The anthracite coal interests have
agreed to the Suspension OF coal mining dur
ing the first Eve Working days IN October
that is to say, stop work on the 1st, I'd 4th,
sth and 9th To fully carry out the spirit
Of the agreement il is essential that the
mining, hoistiug, preparation, aud loading
Of coal daring those days be entirely di5cun-
tinued, aud it is earnestly hoped that the
above agreenent for suspension will be car
ritd out by every one IN the most perfect
good faith. Respectfully
Williams II. Johns, John Mines,
John T. Graelf, r. c. Thomas,
Committee Schuylkill Coal Exchange.
The anthracite coal trade continues very
much in the same condition as indicated by
our last weeks report The scarcity Of YES
sells then alluded 10 has continued to such
an extent as to cause a large accumulation
of coal at tllal points and to restrict pro-
duction in consequence of the loss Of service
Of many thousand Of loaded cars now stand
ing at whorves awaiting vessels. This has
resulted especially in the Lehigh and Wyo-
ming regions in compelling collieries to
work but quarter or half time for several
days during the last week. III order to
afford some relief from this blockade it has
been agreed 10y all the coal companies to
suspend the production of coal for the first
five working days OF October, namely, the
lst, %, 4th, 5th and 9Th, and this union Of
action may, we think, SAFELY be accepted by
the trade as a pretty certain indication that
II is not the intention Of the managers to
permit any blockade Of coal, no matter from
what cause, to reduce or affect prices or be
used to break the market. By notice herein
given the great producing coal companies
announce that they will make short halt
in production until the colleries can, by
freer supply of coal transportation, be rid of
the present stock of coal. This mode Of
shortening the oversupply Of coal, rather
than have resort to a reduction in the prices
of focal, will tend to lend wholesome tone
to the market. Hencelorth to the end of the
coal year it may be taken as conclusive that
the prices of coal will not be lower than
they are now. The policy of postponing the
laying in Of coal with the probability ofJuy
ing it lower later in the season may be at
once discarded. Such contingency is not
likely to happen. The present advance in
lreights and prices are such as to steadily
stihcn coal prices to the end of the year,and
will give the trade of 1881 such start off
that will make the business for the year the
best that we have had for several years
The complaint Of the present slight block
| in the trade that has induced the present
short stoppage for FIVE or six days comes
mainly from New York. That portion Of
the trade that centres in this city would
much prefer to work OF under the present
pressure of coal stock on hand. They how
ever, show more accommodating DISPOSE
| ton to their New York brethren than was
last year there shown to the trade at this
end of the line. The Eastern trade is liter
ally filled up, and the prospect is that they
Will hold off now that the new circular rates
have gone into effect aud that the fresh busi
ness at shipping points for this month will
be very light. But the retail trade, which
has lately taken a start aud is now active
will doubtless be large, and sooner or later,
before the close of the shipping season, the
stocks of dealers will have to be repleuishcd
to considerable extent. Independent OF
the evidently short demand of supplies OF
coal for domestic uses there is also a grow.
ing demand for railroad iron, which con-
tnues to equal the supply of the mills. 1t
is reported that all the mills are crowded
with orders that will take to the end of the
year to fill, and that some have orders that
will carry them over well into the coming
year. In view of the increasing demand for
rails, both iron and steel, and, IN, fact, for all
kinds ofrailwav goods,sOme manufacturers
and furnace men are anxious TO advance
! prices from three TO five dollars per ton.
! Those most desrous of an advance IN prices
profess to believe that the market will adj
mt of an advance of this amount without
incurring the risk of bringing foreign iron
again in active competition. The more con
| srrvatiye of the manufacturers are opposed
10 an increase in prices for the reason that
there is a large amount Of foreign iron now
here and under hypothecation for advances
that aggregate more than the metal would
cover if sold at the present ruling rates. and
because there is an immense supply now
held in Great Britain awaiting shipment
the moment prices advance here TO point
that will yield profit on its sale. A most
ccnsderate contemporary is of opinion that
'an iron boom at this time would he a
most njudicious movements as in the end it
would DO apt to result much in the SAME
way as the too rapid advance of last year
| did - Ledqer Monday