The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-06

The CoRt Grade.
Phila. Lalgcr let inst;-The anthracite
coal trade it Is believed las reached mors
healthful position than ut any time before
within the last thgcc or four years. It is Of
little account in the present whether the
production and consumption Of coal is moro
or less or whether the prices uf it arc higher
or lower The impression has gone abroad
that those in the trade mean 50 far to regu-.
late the supply Of coal in the market as to-
/ protect themselves from loss in its sale. II
is not now, nor has it been any time with
/ in the past two years otherwise than entire
! " within the control Of operators to do Just
this thing, and to do it, too, without mov-
/ ing pound Of coal more or less. II has at
no time beep more than necessary to say we.
will not sell our coal at less than fairly re-
munerative prices, and under no circum-
stances will we sell it at loss. The con-
sumers Of coal, seeing this stand made and
seeing it adhered 70, being reasonable men,.
would expect nothing else, diligently carry
ing that forward, rather than which the.
manner of business of their competitors with
view to its censure, and TO the undersel-
ling of each others circulars. Ruinous.
prices of coal add very few tons to the ag-
gregate annual consumption over and above.
the amount that would be consumed were
prices dollar per ton higher, and yet, in
the face Of the fact, coal operators have per-
sstently in the past two years refused to SEQ
that this one dollar per ton makes a differ
enee on the years production of some twen-
ty millions ofdollars, an amount that could
not fail to make the coal market easy and
satisfactory to all concerned in IL. The order
Tor three days per week suspension of mir
ing has gone forth with such heartiness
as to have enforced confidence with all.
Those wao need coal in their business have
no fear of its being in good supply and of its
being sold at lower prices, hence they buy
now; and those who expect to sell coal all
the year are easy in the assurance that any
change of prices that may follow will bo
probably at higher figures. We are glad to
learn that the present arrangement towards
an easy and effective control of the market
comes mainly from the young blood in the
control of a part of the coal region that has
in the past been accredited with a hesitency
in cordial action with majority of the pro-
ducers and carriers.
This, if tr,reTungurs well for the future
and places the anthracite coal trade on the
substantial basis so long desired. Twice
within month prices of coal have been ad-
vanced, not merely on paper, as too often
the case in the recent past, but actually, as
we are informed, in prices demanded and
fully paid. These advances upon each oc-
casion were small, but enough in their effect
to give a wholesome impetus to the coal
trade. 1t is not so important what prices
operators may agree upon as that they shall
agree and rigidly adhere upon their agree
ment The current circular prices for the
month Of March for Lehgh coal at Mauch
Chunk are: Lump, SO steamboat, $2,75
egg and chestnut No. |, $3.50 stove and
small stove, $2,6O O,and. chestnut No. 2, 81 so.
The Schuylkill prices for the same time at
Schuylkill Haven are: Lump, broken and
steamboat, $2,75; egg and chestnut, 50 80; /;
stove, s., 60, and pea, 81 so. The last ad-
vance applies especially to the furnace trade.
The following circular has been issued to
the Schuylkill Coal Exchange: "To the
operators in the Schuykll region-To prop
erly carry out the purpose of the suspension
of mining it has been agreed that no coal
shall pass the weigh scales after twelve o.
clock on Wednesday night, and that no coal
be drawn from the schues after the days
work of that day is finished until the follow
ing Mondi y morning. 1t is earnestly hoped
that this arrangement will be rigidly ad-
hered to by all coal operators in the Schuyl-
kill region, and that an absolute cessation of
mining, hosting and preparing coal be car
ried into effect during the days prescribed
for suspension" 1t is not expected by the
most careful operators that the wholesale
price of coal will be advanced more than
fifty cents during the next half year.
The managers of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad Company have Just elected
Mr. Eckley B. Coke, one of their number to
fill the vacancy caused by the recent death
of Hon. Adolph Borie, for many years a
member of the Board. President Gowen and
the officers of his company may be congrat-
ulated in their success in securing so con-
petent director. Mr.. Coke is in the prime
of life, of robust health, and at the very head
of engineering experts in this State, or in
deed in the country. lie resides at Driiton,
in the heart of the coal region, and has de-
voted the most of his life since his arrival
at maturity to the anthracite coal business.
In one other respect his election keeps up
the traditions oGthe Reading Railroad Board
Of Direction he is q son of the late Judge
Charles Coke, from whom he is reputed TO
have inherited two millions of dollars. The
curious in such matters estimate the Read
ing Board of Directors, though it numbers
but five persons, as worth twenty millions
of dollars As at present constituted it
stands thus: Pratt Mckeen, l. V. William
son, j. r. Lippincott, Henry Lewis and
Eekley B, Coke. President Gowen, thus
surrounded, is as well fortified in material
aid as any railroad president in the coun-
try.
MARRIED.