The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-23
The Coal Trade.

The anthracite coal trade rules nearly
steady, says the Philadelphia Ledger, Oft the
18th, on a fair amount of business for this
season of the year. The managers of the sew
eral companies are still discussing the situa.
ton and outlook of the trade, but as yet have
come to no conclusion that they have made
public as 10 what their policy will be hence
10 the end of the year. Looking to the week
ly reports of coal production and the pros
pects to the end of the year the outlook is
decidedly good for the trade. Some little
shortening of production may be decided
upon for the last of this month, but beyond
that any further suspension this year is not
probable. The feeling In the coal regions is
good, and all the indications now argue bar
monions working tu the end of the year.
This will make heavy annual production,
and if prices are maintained, which it now
seems probable they will be, 1881 will prove
one of the very best coal seasons in several
years past. A large production at fairly re-
muneratlte prices will put tine trade in n
position 10 live through any probable trouble
that might otherwise he feared Another
favorable outlook that tends to assure the
future 10 the knowledge Of the fact as to how
this favorable sittatiou was brought about
namely, by simply adhering to the policy
of not placing more coal in the market than
there are buyers to take it cut at prices that
will cover the cost Of production. 1t is the
worst of folly to take the coal out of the
mines before it Is wanted. 1t not only wastes
when on the surface but il deteriorates in
value. Besides this, coal is carried most
cheaply in the mines; every dollar that is
put upon ton Of coal in advance of its de-
nand adds TO its cost, which the consumer
must pay. All that the coal costs to pile il
on the wharves carries interest and must be
paid by consumers. 1t is, therefore, wise
that as little as possible of this cost shall come
from interest by long carrying while wait
ing for purchasers aud a market. True econ,
omy in the coal trade is best cultivated bj
keeping production and consumption at
nearly together as possible. This truth, Is i.
believed, has been more practically demon.
strated this current year than ever before
The tendency to monopoly and excessive
prices that some fear from combination and
control Of the market is probably true ia
the abstract, bat does not apply with any
force to the coal trade, which is very
heavy business, requiring large amount o
capital and great deal Of time to put II
operation. Coal is ever afforded lowest I,
consumers when operators have the mos
liberal profits and are best able TO carry oil
business on the most advantageous terms
As we remarked in our last weekly review
of the coal market, no pursuit is ever thof,
advantageously carried on than when all tn
) parties tO il shares equltably of the profits
} as, in the anthracite coal trade, the owner
Of the mines, the operators, the miners, tn,
shippers, the transporters and consumers
when all these several parties are fairly re
warded for the interest they have in tn,
= production the trade Is best cared for and III,
! public well and economically served. II i
well know fact in the coal business that
season Of failures among operators take
three of four years TO recover from, and il
. the end the productive capacity Of the mine
is materially lessened and the prices of coa
increased.
The total tonnage of anthracite coal from
. all the regions for the week ending July 9
S as reported by the several carrying compan
les, amounted to 36l $50 tons, against 1858,
Os4 tons 10 the corresponding week last yea
decrease Of 81 ,l95 tons. The total amour
5 of anthracite mined for the year is 3 .O5s,
/ ATS tons, against lO,776,S92 tons for tn
same period last year, an increase Of 2,2s2,
063 tons.