The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-25
The Coal Trnds.

The anthracite trade continues very ac-
tive. We learn that ordersj especially for
the harder kinds ofanthracite, ale greatly
in excess of the production, and the difficult
ty Of supplying demand is further nggra-
waited by the scarcity of vessels at all ship
ing points and the high prices Of eastward
freights. Freights to New England are fully
60 cents per ton higher than they were two
months ago, and this advance, which may
be increased as the season progresses, added
to the increased price of coal, will probably
add nearly dollar to the cost Of the fuel to
such dealers and consumers as failed to act
upon the advice Of the Ledger and lay in
their stocks when the prices were low. The
capacity of the anthracite companies is fully
equal to the demand ifsteady work is had
during the eight or nine months of open
navigation but, if the purchasing public
hold back orders and compel the producing
companies to work half time for nine
months Of the year, they cannot expect 10
get very low priced coal in the midst of the
scramble to get orders filled during the re-
naming three months Of active work Cor
porations are supposed to be without souls,
but no one can blame the coal companies for
taking advantage of the present condition Of
the trade to make up some Of the losses in.
CURED in consequence of the refusal Of the
public to send in their orders during the
eu,n,nnr Tho ,,rasa,,t ra1at ;o,, at ttraan Ct, ~
ply and demand for the entire season will
undoubtedly give from eight to nine months
fair work and from three to four months OF
half or une-third time, and with the trade 50
regulated, all the companies could earn
money without any very violent fluctuations
in price--but ifthere is to he nine months OF
half time, nobody can tell how high the price
| Of coal will be during the rush of the re
naming three months. We notice para
graph originating in New York and going
the rounds of the papers, and which, mad
ton, found place in these columns on Sat
urday, that the present production Of over
6OO,OAO tons week, being at the rate o.
33,000,0O0 tons per year, will nectssita {
either restriction of production or decrease
Of price, But eight months Of the year are
already gone, the total production of which
was only 13,s44,43 tons. If it was possible
to keep up weekly tonnage of 900 900 tou'
for the remainder of the year the total pro
duc:ion would be $500 900 tons, making
"a 044 ,43l tonsor over two millions less thar
last years tonnage of &c, JAP $50 tons. Tn,
total production Of September, October, No
vember and December Of last years struggle
for large tonnage was only 9,5l9,40l tons
aud we doubt whether,in view Of the scarci
ty of vessels, any greater tonnage can be
brought forward for the same four months O
this year. II 50, then the aggregate tonnag
of $50 will be 23,363 ,S32 tons a reduc
tiou of 2,77S,857 below the product of 1879
From two to four millions is variously es
timuted as the product of 1879 carried owe
and consumed in 1880, Notwithstanding th
mild winter of l879-sO. Taking it at 1000,
600 would make the actual consumption Q
1880 about twenty-five and half million
of tons Allowing . per cent as the natura
rate of annual increase of consumption, am
the fact that there are not likely to be a
large stocks on hand at the end of 1880 a
p there were at the end of 1879, it would fol
low that 26,0OO,OOO will be required in 1888
, If there are no great changes in business an
! manufacturing interests; but if the mex
, winter should be cold one and add, ga
100000 to the domestic consumption of tn
/ country, nearly $4,000 900 of tons may b
! wanted in 1880. With the prospect of sue
business before them, 1t will require br
/ ordinary prudence on the part of she mans
/ gers Of the coal companies during the CON
ing winter to prevent an over stock an
place the trade by the first of April next i
position in which, for the first time fC
$ ten years, the absolute control of prices wi
be held by the producers and not by Ii
: consumer.-Ledger, Monday.