The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-03
The Coal Trade.

Tho anthracite coal trade is very little
changed from week to week. The arbitrary
shortening of production is to be continued
through the month of July, yet tho demand
for coal is not deemed sufficiently active to
warrant an advance in prices. We are glad,
however, to learn that the orders for coal are
on the Increase, and have been greater in
amount during the last week or ten days
than in double the length oftime next pre-
ceding What is most important in this
connection, we are assured by parties in the
trade that circular prices are fully main
tained. We hear 1t sometimes asserted,
however, thai the circulars are undersold by
parties here and there. Inquiry satisfies us
that all there is Of truth in this assertion is
that in an isolated case or two, where there
has been an excess made of some particular
size of COAL concession has been made on
l'the circular price in order to run it out OF
the way. But substantially the agreed upon
prices are almost universally maintained.
This firm adherence to prices is the only
thing that can save the trade from ruin this
year and probably similar fate next year.
The coal season is now 50 far gone that little
opportunity in the matter of time is afforded
for making anything great out of it. A
healthful tone Of the market may, how
ever, be maintained to carry into 1881, and
1t is important for the trade that it should
be. Prices have been brought to a paying
point for the production of coal, and if the
present policy of putting no more coal in
| the market than will readily sell for such
paying prices is continued the producers
cannot ultimately lose. There is nothing
| in the present situation of the trade to espe-
cially speak Of Business is drifting along
without any direct control from any quarter,
but tie tendency is manly in the right dlrec-
tion. 1t is scarcely possible, SO the best in
formed coal men say, to escape higher prices
of coal to consumers during the approaching
fall arising from the pressing demand from
the consequences of short supply. We re-
| peat our caution to consumers, to lay in their
supplies of coal early. A large amount of
coal was carried over last year into this, the
current use of which has enabled holders and
consumers to get along with less than the
usual amount ofthe current years production,
This overstock of 1879, ,howeyer,is being pretty
we'll used up, and recourse will necessarily be
had exclusively to the coal Of 1880 When this
| condition of affairs com es around empty yards
will be the rule and full ones the exception.
This transition Of plethorlc coal supplies to
bare yards is very quick under n general
demand far coal. To consumers who must
have coal, we say have care and venture
not too far. The agreement to keep at work
only three days a week in all July will pre-
vent any possible accumulation of coal, and
will work a further decrease in the produc.
tion Of about a million tons as compared
with last year. Unless there slroDld be
some very remarkable developments in the
coal trade at once &c is quite likely that the
tonnage for the year will be very consider
ably less than has been generally estimated.
The retail trade of Philadelphia is looking af-
ter ITSELF At a meeting OF the Lehigh Coal
Exchange, held during the past week, 1t was
decided to increase city and harbor prices OF
egg and pea coal 25 cents per ton, and to
make n similar advance In line prices oil
broken and egg. The Schuylkill interest
will take the same action in regard to line
and city prices, but Eastern rates will, it is
thought, remain unchanged. Freights con-
tinue about the same. The demand from
the West has started in with considerable
vigor, and there is market there for all the
goou coal that can be mined and forwarded at
circular prices. The Committee OF the Schuyl-
kill Coal Exchange ON Saturday issued the
following circular: "The anthracite coal in
terests have agreed to continue the suspen.
sion Of coal mining in July, as follows--Stop
work on the LIST, 2d and sd days of the month,
the 5tn, 9th and 10th, the 10Th, 10th and 18th,
the 22d, 23l ana 24th, and the last three days,
10Th, 3Oth and 3lst. To fully carry out the
spirit of the agreement it is essential that the
mining, hosting, preparation and loading Of
coal during those days be entirely dlscontin.
ued, and It is earnestly hoped that the absyo
agreement for suspension will be carried out
by every one in the most perfect good faith.
At Chicago anthracite coal is helI firm by
dealers, and prices remain the same as noted
last week. The arrivals are reported fair, but
consumers are holding of hoping for de-
cline. If the combination holds, cheap coal
this season can not be had. A correspondent
at kondout, under the date Of June rs, takes
this more hopeful outlook Of the coal trade;
buyers generally have been holding of,
waiting Tor the usual decline" said an officer
Of the Delaware and Hudson, "but this wait.
ing is all in vain, and those consumers with
demands not to be waived have been forced to
purchase at the rates prevailing. Morris there
any prospect of fall in price. The outlook
was never better for the coal companies than
at present, and we look forward with much
more than the usual interest TO the result Ol
this seasons business. For the ensuing two
months there is seldom In any year any great
demand Tor coal, but by Sci temOer purch'
asers will be forced to invest, be rates what
they may. II the companies can hold tOgeth her
Tor the next ten weeks we suall have prices
within our own making, and then, with what
ever alacTity We rush coal 20 market, rates
ANIlI moi lnlI nor IA ulnt be nnsslhla. ~ Ledner