The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-17

VIII positively appear at each entertainment
with his inexhaustible fund of wittcisms.
We would advise ali lovers Of the circus to
see this show-fcr, "all work and no play
makes Jack dull boy" etc. "a
The Coal Trade.
The anthracite coal trade las undergone
little, if any, change during the past week.
The general outlook of the trade is reported
by individual and corporate operators and
by the transporting companies as decidedly
better, There are not only more orders for
coal coming on the market but the consum-
ers seem generally to have come to The
conclusion that the producers of coal are
fixed in their dissemination not to put coal
into the market at less than cost prices.
Hence there is now no reason for withhold
ing orders. Those who want coal can buy it
as cheaply to-day as or any day in the
future during the present year. Those
furnishing coal to the market feel that
the fate of not only the present years trade
depends upon the maintenance Of current
prices, but the trade of next year also de.
pends much how the trade of this year ends.
1t is now very sure that prices will not de
cline in the remainder of The year 1880 and
it is quite possible that there may be very
decided advance before the end Of Novem-
ber. We sometimes hear it said that higher
prices of coal have been threatened during
nearly all of the curreit year, but the fact
has not been realized. That the supply of
coal has been kept up so near the curreAt de-
Inand has for some weeks been an anomaly,
but it is now very generally explained in
the conceded fact that the amount of coal
carried over from 1879 to 1880 was much
larger than was expected or believed at the
time. The prediction of coal up to date is
nearly 100000 tons less than at the came
time last year. 1t is, therefore, useless, in
the face of the small demand, and with one
Of the greatest patrons of the trade-the fur.
races-comparatvely idle, to proceed with
the intention Of running the production up
to the enormous figures attained last year.
The coal trade, like a great deal else that is
associated with it, has been run at loose
ends,or all one-sided until there is but little
left in it except to those who handle the
Greights and the commissions. 1t is con-
tended by old operators that the price Of
coal at this time is fair enough, if work at
ruling figures could be lad all the yeal
round and the trade was managed with suf
ficient ability to establish confidence among
purchasers. They would then buy the ar.
ticle as fast as needed, and not dillydally in
the hope of a grand crash that will de
morali2e the market and unsettle prices
The amount Of anthracite coal produced fol
the year ending July was 10 1880, "a tons
There will be about 200 900 tons produced
this month under the restrictive policy
Assuming that restriction will not be re
, sorted to after this month. and that the pro
duction during the remaining months ofth,
year will be some $500 900 tons per month
which is a high estihate-the yield for tn,
: year WILDE s9olled to 24,OsO, "a tons. Hos
much OF this production would have to b.
taken over to next year is an importan
question in the consideration Of this subject
The continued depression of the iron inte
rest, it is believed, is pretty well over, an,
signs of revival are thought to be even nov
: visible, and Il is Anticipated will be verI
+ marked little later in the eeason, so tha
: the coal producers have every reason to lool
forward 70 their harvest during the las
three months of the year. Prices are wei
, maintained for all that is sold, and if Their
is not the rushing business of last year ther
is at least the satisfaction of knowing tina
the material is not being sacrificed, but, oil
the contrary, fair profit is made on all tn
coal disposed Of An exchange printed il
the anthracite coal region speaks OF tn
three days ceek Working being unsatsiac
tory to the miners. The Record, of Maha
noy City, may be taken as the representa-
tive of the labor side of the coal trade.
says; "The three days a week system is OF
of the greatest humbugs that has been go
: up with the pretenton of regulating tn
coal trade. 1t is the best thing that eve
was conceived rs far as the operators ar
concerned, and they care little how long
continues. How long will it be iii the mar
kets are depleted with the present amour
, of coal shipped Since last Christina
this system has prevailed, and yet the mar
kets are in that condition that the cry
' that there must be suspension of two iul
weeks the beginning Of July. How is this
Any fool knows, that has eyes to see, how
:. is. The breakers are being worked on tn
three working days per week to their utmos
capability. to send away all the coal the
can. Miners are going to work on the day
the breakers arc idle and filling their breast
/ with coal, which is rushed out the othe
three days, and thus nearly the same amour
3 of coal is shipped to mGrket as If the ful
. time at the breakers was worked. This pay
well enough for the operator, who ships tn
coal, but what about the laboring men wh
do extra work, at short pay, to accompls
this object? The miner that can fill up hi
breast with coal and get it out must be dc
. ing pretty good himself, but those who can
not do that, how about them? There is some
4 thing wrong in this three days a week sy'
tenn, and it is time the workmen were be
=. beginning to examine into it, The miner
0 Of Luzsrne, at a meeting held at Pittstor
,he other day, had the question up The
, see the evil, for this thing has been going o
in some parts Of Luzerne county for monthi
and they are seeking to remedy it, and it
Q time that il should be done. Let the thre
days a week system be stopped, and if it b
n necessary to suspend, let the suspension b
S altogether, every colliery idle, not a car ,
coal shipped from any of them for two, thre
! or six weeks, if necessary, but no more
this pretended three days week suspension
r which is but a delusion and a mockery
i Or, what would be better than any othc
thing, l-t the eight hour system be iuaugu
II rated. ."-Leiqer, Monday.
p Race Horse lsuined.