The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-05-14

The Coat Trade.
The anthracite coal trade, says Mondays
Philadelphia Ledger, holds fairly up. The
half time working at the mines has brought
supply and demand so nearly together that
prices are quite satisfactory as between sell
ers and buyers. The demand during the
past week was quite active, and the supply
is full, without being plethoric, for all sizes
but egg coal, which is selling moderately,
but hardly to the extent Of production.
This, however, is the season of the year
that this particular size Of coal is in adj
vance of the demand. The agreed-upon
half working for some weeks to come 1t is
believed will fully adjust the differences
noted as now existing. Egg coal is mostly
used for domestic purposes, for which the
demand will commence in early summer to
be slowed away for next winter. There is
some little dissatisfaction that half time
working does not reduce the average full
time anthracite production one-half. The
intimation that this discrepancy results
from the want of good faith on the part of
some Of the companies it is said is not en-
tirely correct, that in the main all the COM
ranies maintain good faith one with an
other. The differences noticed are tracea-
BILE mainly 10 individual operators, some of
whom are furnished with more cars than
others. Tho orders for coal are about equal
to the supply on hand, hence there are no
changes in prices The Miner's Journal,
of Pottsville, saysi "The New York and
Eastern trade has been rather weak since
our last review, but the Philadelphia trade
has been good for all sizes except egg. The
stock on hand is very light, notwlthstand-
ing the daily shipments from the mines
have been large. The programme for May
commenced last week, has had beneficial
effect, from the fact that it treasures the
doubters of the perfect harmony existing
among the leading producing interests, and
makes it apparent that last years plan Of
operations is to be continued. This assur-
ance, taken in connection with the an
nouncement Of no advance in prices for
May, has given a stimulus to purchasers,
which, in the Philadelphia market at least,
has absorbed pretty much all the coal sent
forward" For the seven days ending April
80 last, $4,000 cars were moved over the
Lehigh and Susquehanna division of that
coal route; the number of cars named carry
ing 1894 tons of coal, the largest tonnage
in any one week in the history of the road
The Engineering and Mining Journal, of
Saturday last, says: "The effort TO bring
about curtailment production this week
was unsuccessful, but it resulted in plan
to work but half time during the remaining
three weeks Of this month. Some compa-
nles, from having a more desirable class of
coal, and others, probably, from having
given buyers some special advantages, have
been able to book a sufficient number of
orders to per nit them to run full time dur
ing the month. This, however, is the ex-
ception to the rule. The weakness appears
to be in the free-burning Goals, which are in
liberal supply compared to the market de-
mands. Wall street seems to have forgot
ten the impending ruin that was prophe-
sled few weeks ago, and all the informa-
ton distributed there now is of character
to inspire confidence in the belief that the
companies will find difficulties in meeting
the demands for coal, ard that much high
er prices will be realized. The bulls little
think Whist realization of such prophecies
means. II the mines were driven to their
full capacity for the next three years at this
rate, they would fully yield 10000 200
tons Of coal, and, even at the present prices
for coal, would earn fabulous profits. 1t Il
clear TO every observer, however, that, if the
companies mine coal during three -fourthi
of all of the working days OF the year, they
will produce all, and most probably more
than the country will take at current rates
There are dull and active seasons, and
neither should have undue influence or
buyers and miners Of coal, or dealers in the
securities of the companies. An average
must be taken, and nothing but the aggre
SdLts Oh prOGucIlOn ana income 10 De Teacn
ed at the end of the year should be taken
into consideration. There is at the presen
time very fair business doing for this sea
son of the year, but it is far from "boom.
Prices are remarkably we'll maintained, bu
still there are concessions made in many
quarters. There is a strong desire shown IL
all quarters to prevent disruption Of thu
combination, and the triyial shortcoming
of some are permitted to pass. by with bu
casual notice rather than have the trade up
set by the appearance of discord. A very
important feature to the anthracite trade il
the low price of btuminous coal, and ii
likelihood to absorb largely the steam Goa
orders"
The total tonnage of anthracite conl from
all the regions for the week ending Apri
80, as reported by the several carrying com
panies, amounted to 723,OS4 tons, agains
4O7,56S tons in the corresponding week las
year, an increase of Sl5,47I tons. The to
tai amount of fanthraete mined for the yea
is s,OSl $3.50 tons, against 7,s75,9l6 tons 70
the same period last year, an increase o
! ,l55,4 Ala tons.
Barn and Ice Houses Asurned.
~ Between four and FIVE o'clock Tuesday