The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-09
Fho CoalTrndo.


Of coal has commehGed and probably will be
carried through as proposed last week. 1t
is possible that the cu;tailnent will be con-
tinued at intervals by concert ofsctiou pret-
ty much all through the fall and winter
The scarcity Of vessels IS given as the cause
of the oVerstock Of coal. The seeming de-
fertilization Of The trade; however, not to
come down in prices under any circum-
stances, imparts a cheerful outlook tc the
trade. The Msueh Chunk Gazette of the I'd |
instant says the influences of the blocking of
the shipping ports has made itself felt in the |
New York city, nearby and line trade, in |
the canvassiug by drunlmers to find place
for coal to avoid the et6pping of cars; con.
sequently the line trade has been unusually |
active and yards are well stocked, as are also
the furnaces This active canvassing bids
fair to result in considerable shading in
prices, but, thanks to the common sense
which iS guiding tie trade, the suspension
Of five working days, already begun, has
stihehed prices, aud the demand is more
active. This action Is ah evidence of the
determination Of the coihpahies 10 do fair
business at fair rates, and should Do ample
notice TO consunisfs that the day of ruinous
prices is at an end II Is reported that thete
is already an understanding in regard to
eurtailment of production duting tho winter
months, if necessary, TO maintain present
prices. There never has been a question in
DUR minds, says the Gazette, as to the pro-
ptiety of winter curtailment for these rea-
sohs it is best for the operator, because he
can work cheaper during the summer sea
SOM aud to the dealer, because it enables
him to stock up His yard in the autumn
with well prepared coal without fear of low
er prices and heavy losses and to the con-
sumer, because he gets better coal and puts
it in, kb5wihs that prices will not be lower
and that he will not have to regret having
put in his stock early. The first stoppage
say the Gazette, should be from December
25th to February LIST, and then Work long
enough to give the market coal enough 10
carry it bier, and then stop until April Ist
This would steady the trade for the whole
year, 90 Do TO make it unnecessary to stop,
except, PERHAPS, for a few weeks in July.
The Miners Joisthui of last Saturday also
gives the cause Of the Stoppage Of production
to the scarcity of vessels, but thinks the
true reason is prolongation of the watfnre
between producer and consumers This is
a struggle which never ceases, except when
the SUPPLY Of coal is short and the demand
urgent. With the present facilities for iun-
ing there are few sxigencies that can occur
IN produce short supply. The problem
then is TO control the output to q quantity
as near that required to supply the market
as possible, or to sell the product at unre-
munerative prices. II there is d surplus
above the wants of the market then thefe
arises warfare against the producer to
make him sell at prices dictated by the pur-
chaser and this warfare nearly always ends
in favor of the latter. 1t is the knowledge
of their advantage in such contest that
stimulate the consumers and dealers in coal
to be always on the aggressive; aud that Is
the attitude they have assumed during the
whole of this year. Last year there was no
necessity for contest The policy then
wa: to NINE ali the coal possible and sell it
for what consumers would pay for it. Under
his policy 1t was easy to see that the trade
would take all the coal it could pay for and
store it away for future speculation. Over
5000, 900 tons were sent TO market when
5000 900 was about the probable amount
needed to supply the demandi The 8.O0O;.
600 tons in the hands of dealers and CON
sumers, with very mild winter, Involving
a saving in consumption of 100000 tons,
together aggregate 100000 tons, to be de-
Quoted from any estimate made of the re-
quirements for this year. The policy being
| changed this year to one of limited produc
ton and fair prices, the leading interests
begah early IL the spring to curtal the
product by working half time. and this con.
tinued until September lst. The demand
sprdhg up then in good earnest, and it was
thought that there would be no need of fur
ther suspension during the year. The cal
culHtion was erroneous; and the result is
another suspension. Meanwhile bflres are
maintained. The Reading Company has
issued its circular for October re -esta blishing
the September prices, as follows: Line and
city prices at Schuylkill Haven-Lump and
steamer at $3 broken, egg and stove, $50
25i chestnut No. l, So 75@2 IS; chest.
nut No. 2, 50 so, pea No. ], 81 75@$l s5j
pea No. 2j 81 60. The collieries will be idle
on the lstJ Cd, 4th, 5th and 9th of October.
Harbor prices for coal delivered free on board
vessels at Port Richmond will be as follows;
LumP,steamboat and brokeny$ so; egg and
stovej$4 60@$5j chestnut,S4 1904 5O,and
pea, S3 IS. These are the limit to which, it
is believed, price will go this year. They
are said 70 be fairly renunerative and no
mnrel
The SEVERAL interests are unanimous in
agreeing to the suspension as they are also
solid in maintaining prices, and whether
the product is curtailed to less than 90 ,OOO,-
900 tons this year or fises above that figure
will be determined by the actual require
msnts of the trade as they arise. That fea-
ture which is Hxed and certain is that there
will be no coal sacrificed. The prices will
be adhered to, and II dealers and consumers
do not require the coal it will be left in the
ground. We have reports of increased use
Fof bituminous coal, and information that in
cases where bituminous coal is substituted
for anthracite the parties are slow in coming
back to the use Of the hard Goals again. or
course this applies to Goals used in manufae-
turing and in the steam marine.-Ledger,
Monday.
To TTesPassers.