The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-08-13

Philadelphia Ledger, Aug sh: The an
thr.cite coal trade remains much the same
as at the date Of our last weekly report. All
coal companies report trade active, although
the market lie shnde weaker upon the an
nouncement Of no advance in prices on Au
gust l. A restriction in coal production is
being discussed, but as the necessity for re-
stricton is traceable mainly to lack Of
transportation facilities, II is hardly deemed
probable that all the companies can be
brought to unite on a suspensionj long or
short, one or more. There is a diversity Of
opinion on this point, but, so far as we can
learn, no disposition to break from the un-
ity of action that has heretofore in all the
current year controlled in this matter. And
so long as this rule shall prevail the an
thracite coal trade will hold its exception
able frmuess. The orders for coal are now
in excess Of the supply. Some of the large
operators have refused to receive more or
ders, those already in hand being in excess
Of their ability to fill hence until the first of
November next. Much OF this excess ia de-
mand is from ports where the water is COM
paratively shallow, and cannot be readily
met for the reason that vessels Of less than a
thousand tons burthen are very scarce; and
the rates now paid to Boston and to Provi-
dence are high and firm. To the former point
the quotation is $l.75, au increase of 25 cents
per ton, and to Providence 81 so per ton.
The average rates at the two points named
for July and August last year were 81 10.
The Boston advertiser of the ret instant
said "To day is the day for the advance in
coal, But there is no such news, aud, as
we surmised, there is nc advance. So far so
good. One Of the companies, the Pennsyl-
vania Coal Company, has already issued
circular announcing similar prices, and the
other companies will do likewise, no doubt.
| From New York there is a report of some
cutting of rates, even by operators outside
the companies, which certainly does not
look like an advance. Freights, however,
continue high, aud vessels are scarce at
| ST. 35 from New York, 81 55 from Philadel
phia, and 81 rs from Baltimore. Dealers
who are bringing on coal at this time report
that, whereas few weeks ago stove coal
was scrace, 1t is now broken that is in short
supply vessels having to wait two or three
days before obtaining a cargo, The trade
are loud in complaining OF the great expense
of dscharging coal at this point since the
advance of cents ton was made to the
striking coal shovelers, who had been pre-
viously getting Is cents a ton. With II cents
a ton for hosting, the expense Of dscharg-
ing coal is now 80 cents ton, against 10
cents in New York, 20 cents in Portland
and Providence, and IL cents in Baltimore.
The production of anthracite coal has con-
tinued large, amounting for the week to
66l 1886 tons, against 6s5,532 tons the pre-
vious week and 400 ,OO7 tons for the cores
pending week in 1880. Since the first of the
year the production has been l4,328, 80
tons, against | 500 ,2SO same time last year,
or an increase OF 2,Sl6,S5O tons. The de
mand for coal is light, regardless Of the re-
cent strong talk ofan advance" The Miners
journal Of last Saturday speaking of the an
thracite coal trade in the same cheerful tone
as Tor the past two or three weeks, says: ::
The brisk movement in anthracite previous
ly reported continues, and the colleries are
kept busy turning out the coal to Fl the or
ders on hand and constantly accumuating.
The judicious action of the leading interests
in maintaining prices at about the same
rate as last month has acted as further
stimulant TO the purchasing element in the
trade, and there is now an anxiety to get
supplies before September, when it is ex-
pected an advance will be made IN prices of
all sorts. The delivery of the coal to the
East and South was Facilitated last week by
a larger supply of vessels, former scarcity
greatly impeding the trade in this direction.
If no drawbacks are encountered, and it. is
not anticipated that there will be any, the
trade will run along regularly until the end
Of the year, the producers having about all
they can do To meet the demand. AT the
West the demand for coal is steadily greater.
The Chicago journal Of Commerce of August
Sd says: "As the season advances the mar
ket grows friner. A meeting of the Coal
Exchange was held Saturday. 1t was decid-
ed tn retain the old prices for hard COAL 81
and 81 so per ton. A report showed that
the receipts of coal had recently been un-
usually large, and that shipments out had
been equal Lake ireights continue firm. 1t
is probable that in August coal will increase
tn SIS per ton, provided lake lreghts con
tinue firm. Freights from Buffalo are now
5 firm at 81 20 and from Cleveland at 81 4O
per ton. The regular line propellers have
commenced carrying coal. The steamer
8 Starucca is on her way ur with full cargo
3 and several others have chartered, includ
d ing propeller tow barges, of course. The de.
nand for anthracite is not so active at this
: season, on account of the restriction of Ger.
!, tain works, but that for soft coal continues
active, with a trade rapidly extending. II
consequence the supplies are scarcely more
! than up To the requirements of the coun
e Try" The Goal Trade journal says: ut il
!, very agreeable surprise to many of th'
- ! W iHh ihdb AhSS udNt
q been enabled to run through the month o
July with such satisfactory results Will
the sum total of anthracite output for tn,
o month kept down to about two million ton
is there is all the better outlook for the mex
n three months To the end of July, 1880
n there had been II .94S,9l6 IONS, as agains
a l4,29l $50 TONS in 1879. Now every on,
e expects that we are going to do rs well thi
d year in point Of tonnage as in 1879, and wit!
two millions fnr the month of July we shal
n lie just about even with 1879. That leave
I, about 1000, 900 tons to be done in the flv
n months remaining for 1881. Surely no on
v need complain Of the condition of the an
Is thracite coal trade. There has been NOR
activity within few days past as there is
D, growing feeling OF security in the intention
p of the managers of the anthracite interest
ss to keep business IN a profitable basis"
The tntal ton mage of anthracite coal from
B. oil the reoinDs fhr the week ending July 9C