The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-02-14
Tho Coal Trade.

The anthracite coal trade continues ex-
tremely dull, and the production slightly
increases from week to week. During the
month of January this year the anthracite
and bitumnous Goals together have increas-
cd something over 20 per cent. on what
they were in corresponding month last year.
With such weight as this on the market,
there seems but one way of relief and that
is to lessen the production of coal. The
next best thing to this, if operators will per-
sist IN going on with their work, is to hold
their coal firmly at circular prices. The
general belief is still maintained that all
the anthracite coal mined in 1880 will be a
dollar per ton more or less. For manulac-
turing purposes the difference of dollar
per ton in fuel, when distributed and di-
vldcd in the cost of the manufactured mater.
ial, is scarcely appreciable. The market
for coal, therefore, in great degree depends
with the operators themselves. If they de-
termine to have remurefative prices for coal
they have but to fix them at the proper
point and alhere to their circular rates.
When the trade and business of the country
require more manufactures of iron the re-
quirement will be duly met, and cannot be
without the free use of coal. Those, there
fore, who may determine to proceed with
| coal mining have only to settle with them
selves the cost of carrying the coal piled. If
this point eannot be satisfactorily recon
ciled with themselves let them call halt in
production until the current market demand
catches up with the supply. There need be
no serious difficulty with the coal operators
if they win but consent to act in concert
and in harmony. The new year of $50
started off most encouragingly, and there
is no reason to doubt would have continued
active and good but for the very unseason-
able weather that interposed with the in
coming of winter. Already there are indi-
cations Of demand for manufacturing sizes
of coal, The chief if not only, choke in
the coal market now is in the sizes for do
mestic uses, stove coal, pea coal, ETC., and
this is directly attributable to the unusually
mild weather that has ruled the greater
part of the time Of the winter chat has pass
ed. The outlook for coal for the rest of the
year, rightlully considered, is not necessar-
lily dseouragihg. Tire Miners Jonual, in
its review Of the coal trade, joins us in this
conclusion, and says, at is evident now
that the production of the winter months is
quite sufficient for the needs of 50 warm q
| season, but no lasting i'll effects are antiti-
pated, ana it is question whether all; and
more than all, this surplus coal will not be
called for at good prices before the year is
six months old" If we should have q
month OF. six weeks of seasOnable weather
hence to the beginning of late spring we
will find every ton of coal used for house
hold purposes swept out of the market and
all kinds of coal in good demand at satisfac-
tory figures.-Ledger, Monday.
For the week ending on the 9th inst,
there were 25,54G tons of coal transported
over the L, & S. railroad, making a total for
the season of 3l9,73S tons, an increase ol
52,SsS tons gs compared with same time last
year
--6769l tons of coal were transported
over the Lehigh Valley railroad for the
week ending on the 7th inst, q total of 772;-
3l4 tons for the Season to date, an increase
of POI ,444 tons as compared with same time
last year,