The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-24
The COnIT Trnde.

Ahg COAAA
The most important fact id connection
With the anthracite coal ttade which I've
have to communicate this week is that the
several coal companies have agreed TO sus-
pend mining during the last three days Of
this week and The next-that is, on the 22d,
2Sd, oath, 29th and SOth days of April, and
the first day Of May, resuming work on the
Sd of May. The purpose of this action is
more important than any direct result on
the trade expected from the act itself 1t is
intended to assure all interested in the trade,
either as producers, dealers or consumers,
that operators are determined not to put
their coal into the market and sell it at
prices lower than the cost of production.
That is losing policy that has been conclu-
sive in its teachings in the recent past, the
folly of which will not be repeated. All
that is requisite to the end of obtaining re-
munerative prices, or that has been requi.
site to that end, is action upon an agrc, d.
upon line of policy, based upon reasonable
and equitable terms and conditions. That
such an understanding has been come TO by
the trade is now full assured. There is be-
lieved to be no excess on hand, except. per-
haps, of one or two sizes of domestic Goals !;
and OF those not Of any such amount as need
interrupt trade by general suspension for
however short time. But there is feeling
abroad as to coal carried over from last year,
that probably the present mutual agreement
among the several controlling companies
may not hold throughout the entire year,
and hence dealers and consumers withhold
their orders. This we have endeavorel to
show from the present condition of the
trade, compared With the trade last year to
the same time and the trade OF the previous
years, is scarcely possible. all comparison
and all rational reasoning upon the subject
point to the conclusion that the anthracite
productions with full work, will scarcely
equal The demand that will exist for coal
The companies, now, in addition, give their
assurances that prices of coal will be no
lower this year than those now ruling. 1t j.
contended that they are now no more than
fairly remunerative, and sooner than en-
danger them by increasing the stock of coal
on the market, they have resolved on the
temporary stoppages, and, unitedly; do no
hesitate to avow their purpose again and
again to stop as often as the occasion shall
seem to require. This action, long con.
tinued,w will lead to this one inevitable result
"a shorter working season, with heavy de
mand, at higher prices, for coal late in the
year. The increase in the near demand for
the larger sizes of coal for manufacturing
purposes thus far this year shows that the
aggregate coal production will be large, and
the increased skill in handling coal at the
mines teach economies that will prevent
any excess of the domestic sizes to bear on
the market. To fully carry out the spirit Of
the agreement TO suspend, as announced,
the Reading Railroad Company says by cir
cular that it is essential that the mining,
hosting and preparation ofcoal during those
days be entirely discontinued. This ndi-
Gates a determination to fulfill all the cond-
tons of the contract to suspend. and proves
the perfect understanding on which the par
ties are acting. Even if no special arrange
ments for restricting production were made
reasonably careful avoidance of excessive
over. production should prevent repetition
of sales at runous rates. With the apparent
ease with which the trade on an annual ton.
mage Of tweutY five millions may be made
profitable, it is not likely that coal pric, s
will be allowed TO fall when they may be SO
readily maintained. The least sangune in
the probable future Of this years buslnes;
expect an average for coal of $3.50 and ,aitel
lull allowance is made for any probable ia
crease Of wages and operating expenses, tn,
great anthracite mining and transportin.
companies have good margin for profit
Prices are now some fifty per cent higher
than those of last year, and give a very en-
couragrg tone to the trade and all engaged
in it, There is comparatively little eompcti-
ton in the market or disposition to cut
prices, and the indications all point con
sumers to the wisdom Of laying in coal ear.
ly.-Lcaget, Monday.