The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-08-14

The COnI Trade.
The Anthracite coal trade holds out the
same favorable aspect that we have noticed
for two months or more past. The trade I;
steadily more active and prices ore firmly
maintained. The orders for coal are very
full all the several sources Of supply .eel
short Of coal and take orders for future de-
livery with great caution, lest they should
go beyond their ability to fulfil their con-
tracts. Any difficulty in the future that
would tend to restrict production could
scarcely fail to cause great inconvenience in
the future supply Of anthracite coal, which
is now short. This paper has been almost
unceasing in its caution to consumers not
to run so late into the coal season as to meet
with barren markets, but TO lay in their
winters supply while coal sto be had. Any
little obstruction to the coal trade, either in
production or in transportation, would natu-
rally put up prices. Coal is not now dear,
and the trade cannot be charged as selfish
in zealously soliciting purchasers at present
prices Coal II is not at all probable will
sell lover in 1880 than the prices now cur.
rent Indeed, the only new thing talked of
last week in the trade was proposition to
advance unitedly the circular prices of coal
25 cents per ton for the month ofSeptember.
to be united with full working at the mines
for the rest of the coal year. The leading
and most influential interests favor this
proposition, and at present the indications
are that it wiltbe put fully in operation.
There isNin it nothing at all like forcing a
market, for the reason that the proposed
advance is accompanied with the proposed
removal of all restriction upon production.
II there is plenty OF coal for The mdrket con-
sumers will have the benefit of it in unre
strained production, and all may be enabled
to provide now against short coal during
the rigors of winter, when coal is dear and
scarce and the INDECENT are unable and un-
equal to the situation. A meeting of ope-
rators we understand will probably be held
during the current week, when the fact OF
what may be determined upon will he at
once made known, that all interested may
have the most time possible in which to de
eide as TO what is best to be done in the pre-
misses. II the proposition is adopted in full,
as suggested, it will place the anthracite
coal trade on more stable footing than it
has held for years past, and will open the
throughout the entire year. The coal tom
mage Of 1880 is now estimated as at least two
millions Of tons short Of the amount that
might have been put into the market with
steady wurking,and more than two millions
short OF what was estimated one year ago
as the probable d5rnand for 1850. The
Miners journal of Saturday last, in alludng
to this subject, says: "lIarmonious action
is essential to regulate the trade, and it is
well that temperate counsels have prevailed
even at the sacrifice OF individual interests
for, bad as the method OF restriction is, it
has reduced production over two million
tons, when, by the method Of last years
working, we would have had that quantity
and Il million or more tons upon the top OF
1t to contend with, and the trade in conse-
queuce hopelessiy delhorallzed. Instead
we are on the eve of another revival, with a
limited stock in first hands and the stock OF
the country nearly worked up. lfthe signs
which usually assist the judgment in form
ing au estimate are not working 10y contra
rIes now we will have place To put all the
coal that can be mined during the last ioul
months of the year and begin the new year
fairly with an empty market. This condi-
trun could have been brought about just as
well in August or September had the re-
strc'lun been more general, and then all
the companies aud individuals would have
derived AN equal proportion OF the benefit,
As it is, oar SchuylkIll operators will have
been kept on half II loaf Tor six months, and
the men suffered all the deprivalions ofhult
wages, while others have reaped the profit.
right along. But Schuylkil operators aud
miners are law abiding and long suffering
and when the good time comes we hol G
their reward will be in proportion to theiI
merits - Ledger, Monday;