The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-03
The Coal Trade.

The COnI Trade.
The past week has presented nothing new
in the Anthracite coal trade. The fify-frst
week Of the year is ever broken one at best
and tiis year it is rendered duller than
usual by reason of the fact that efforts are
making by a considerable portion of the
trade ID lessen production, so that, taking
the two chuses together, we ttay say that
the trade has been extra duh. As 10 prices
Of coal there Is difference ofopinion. Those
who are really forced to sell their coal from
financial Necessities come down as much DIS
| fifty cents per ton from circular prices
Those who DIRE not so riecessitated for money
means hold their coal and avail themselves
Of the opportunity afforded to riiake brepa-
ratiohs for greater production next year.
The total tUhnage for 1879, it is now pretty
well ascertainedj is in excsss of %, ,OOO, 900 Of
tons. There is every reason TO believe that
this large am6hnt Will be Increased by the
demand for coal in 1880. 1t is pretty gene
rally conceded that the chief stimulant for
the current years large production of an
thracite coal was In the direct connection
with the demand for iron. That industry
has within the present year been lifted from
the low depression of SIS per ton 10 $S3i per
ton on tery large production, On what are
admitted TO be literally remunerative prices
Not only is this most veritable and demon
strated fact as to the past, but all the udica-
tions point to steadily increasing det1atid
Tor iron in the near future. There ls hot, as
far as we know or learn, more than two or
three idle furnaces in this State Nearly
every furnace in condition and every dlap-
idated SStiterh that could be extemporized
into working order is at work, and on full
time. These iron furnaces ara the great
consumers of coal, and if they can be kept
employed the iron demand for lighter man
ufacturing purposes and for domestic uses
will not only keep up of themselves, but
will naturally increase. The iron trade in
all its branches within the last few weeks
seems TO have taken fresti Gutind forward,
not only in this market but Throughout the
country. Evidences of the fact are seen
on every side. The Pittsburgh and Phila-
delphia rolling mills have orders running
into the middle Of next summer, while at
other important points farther West the ac-
tivity is described asaltogether phenomenal
The present prices of coal are, therefore; Of
comparatively little account. The demand
for coal and iron in 1880 will equal the en-
tire capacity of prediction, without let Or
stoppage. Railroad building and repairing
will require an imncnse deal of iron. We
have seen it estimated that 5000 miles ofnew
track will be built during the year, and
equal to 5000 more will be required for old
roads, adding to these two sources of de-
mand, and necessary 10 their use in con-
structon, iron for bars, bolts, spikes, &C., say
100 tons per mile, and we have an increase
of 100000 tons, and, with reasonable esti-
mates Of cars likely to be built and old cars
repaired, we have a total of 100000 tons
Of iron to be required for the railway in
terest alone, taking no account for the other
uses to which iron is put. In 1879 there
were about 275 furnaces in blast. 1t is now
estimated that there will be 700 in blast in
the year 1880. We repeat our caution of
last week to coal consumers, that those of
them who are holding out of the coal mar
ket now in the expectation of controlling
next years coal prices to lower figures, to
take care that they are not found counting
without their host. The safer policy for
those who want cool for any description of
manufacture for future market is to bdy at
present prices rather than 10 halt in their
production. There may be here and there
| instances of fluctuations in coal prices that
seem to offer advantages by waiting for lower
prices, but the PARTY who keeps steadily on
his works, paying the current market rates
for his fuel, will be most cure to realize the
larger profits Of the year as against those
who are found higgling for lower prices,
which generally results in little other than
the tnsettling of the market, to the ultimate
disadvantage ofall. Nothing so much helps
business as to permit all participating in il
to have liberal share of the profits. The
anthracite production of 1880 is put down
by some of the more sanguine at 2S ,OOO, 900
of tons. Without fully accepting these large
figures we feel safe in saying that the de-
mand will be more closely up to all that can
be produced in the last several years. That
is to say, the utmost production ofanthracite
possible will little, fany, exceed the de-
mand.-Ledger, Monday.