New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-05
OrR TIyTFFS FUEL.

As the cola season approaches the question Of the
probable price of coal during the winter months
becomes an interesting TO every householder.
Fortunately there is no prospect OF any considerable
advance in the present rates. The great mining
and transportation companies which control most OF
tine p:oduct OF the anthracite region have been
working Of late upon policy Of steady prices with
but little variation between summer ana winter
figures The present rates are amply remuncratve,
aud an advance could hardly be defended upon any
g1ouuG of trade necessity. Higher prices could no
doubt bo maintained by the coniedcrated com
psnios for the community must have anthracite
and is ol liged to 20 10 them for It's supply The
limited product of the scmi-authraciie fields of
MARYLAND. which to n very moderate extent com
petes with anthracite. is but a drop in the bucket
of the needs of all the Eastern cities and the btu
nlinous coal of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern
and Southern Ohio. which is abundant aud prac-
ucally incxhaustiblc. is so little known in our
markets and We may add so little liked by people
accustomed 10 the haId clean anthracite. that 1t
would not be much rcsortg0 TO as a relief from the
high rates OF n single season. Tic best safeguard
against "a heavy winter advance in anthracite IS the
apparent conviction Of the mining and tr1usporta-
ton companies that it would Dee poor business
policy TO make such an advance poor policy be
cause it would stimulate oyer-prolucton. diminish
consumption. encourage strikes for higher wages,
and lead in the end to the breaking Of the present
advantageous compact by some company eager 20
market it, accommodating stock
The prudent householder VII not, however, neg
cct 90 iay IN his store OF winter fuel brcnU3" OF the
probability OF steady prices during the cold season.
The great coal companies have shown in recent
years that they are not Away, governed by saga
cious business motives Al times they fall out and
attempt TO cut each others Threats by putting their
prices down below the cost of pr iuction and
hauling To market; az other times they try 70
rcroup themselves for their losses by combination
10 sustain uureaspnably high rates. Tho price of
a product controlled by leY corporations IS OF
necessity unsteady for tie composition l. not great
enough to put il upon the purely business basl, of
supply and demand and cost of production and
delivery. So small is the OF the anthracite
6cldsand 50 few are the avenues transit connecting
thcm with tho scaboard cities. that the elements oi
monopoly aud of occasional excessive rivalry will
ALWAYS be liable to come INTO play IN determining
prices II will he gratifying, however. TO the great
multitude of small purchasers who buy their
fuel by the single ton or by fractions OF tons, and
whc have no money to I'll their bins with a stock 20
last till spring, to learn that the dealers do not
think that the January rates will be much II any
higher than those tor October and November.
Considering the low figures at which bituminons
coal Is sold IN IlltSpuIg ana II''cliHl' an" tuc
fact that it is the almost exclusive fuel of the cities
west Of the Allcghanlcs it is n little singular that
40 small a quantity is consumed in the East. Gus
tom has something &c do with this matter well rs
the cost Of transportation. People who have never
burned bituminous coal would hardly take it as
Gift yet the best grades such the block coal of
the Mahoning and Scioto valleys, which burns in
CRATES with a bright, clear flame and does not
cInmble and fuse into smoky mass, make far
more cheerful nrc than anthracite Still better is the
camel coal of West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky,
which is as clean a. slate aud burns like paraihne
candle This admirable fuel for open fires ought to
have become much cheaper since the opening of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad through the region
where 1t is found, but it still commands from $40
to 80 n ton in New lork,-a rate only little
Lower than is asked for the English canueIs, which
or, hrouoht across three thousand miles Of sea-