The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-02-12
TIae COnI Trade,

TlAe COnl Trade,
The anthracite coal trade is quiet, with q
most encouraging outlook for the trade the
current year, At the mines during the past
Week the work has been nominally at full
tihie, but the production Of coal has been
really less than half the amount usual when
the work is not impeded by severe weather
and transportation is unobstructed by snow
aud ice. The impression has gone abroad
that there 10 to be coal famine and many
people are pressing for a supply of fuel and
the more anxious they are to get IL Tie more
it's delivery is delayed. The truth is, the
late fall Of snow and the snow drifts at the
mines in all the coal regions have SO shut in
the cars and locomotives that but little coal
cdn be moved to the points where 1t Is most
reeded. The consumers Of coal during the
last six months, though constantly urged to
lay in their winters supply of fuel, have
steadily acted on the idea that coal could be
had when wanted, and perhaps at lower
prices. 1t is now found that it cannot be
had when wanted nor con It be furnished at
the low prices it has been sellihg at nearly
all the past years hot is il entirely sure that
low prices will attend the early spring open
ing. It is quite probable that those who
have learned that coal cannot always be
commanded by the asking for will begin the
year by taking in their supply of coal as
their current wants shall require. This will
make 1881 a long coal year, and will keep
prices well up. There is now short supply
of anthracite coal, not only on the ines of
the several transportation companies here at
the East, but all through the West is there
steady supply of orders for more coal. An
other fact favoring good coal year in the
present-the iron business promises an early
boom. This, in connection with the other
causes mentioned, can scarcely fail to make
a most extraordinary business in both Of
Pennsylvana's chief staples coal and iron.
For the current month all the several COIN
panies will work very much on the principle
of the walkists-go as you please. Some
operators now have more orders than they
can fill, and others have more of certain
sizes of coal than they have orders for. While
this is so there is no break in the harmoni-
Gus relations subsisting in all the several In
terests of the trade during the past year, and
while this holds not only is tie trade safe
but the supply of coal will be abundant and
at moderate prices. Those governing in the
trade have discovered the means whereby it
may he protected from injury and loss to
these who are carrying it on. They will
work together and wholly eschew all spite
work. When there is too much coal on the
market the output will be checked, and as
the demand is more pressing the production
will be increased and price lessened. The
most favorable feature for the future of the
coal trade is the seeming conclusion to wprA
harmoniously under some general agree
ment. Up to the present time no plan has
been devised that can receive unanimou!
support. The Pottsville Miners Journal o
last Friday SAYS: "Meanwhile the operators
in the Schuylkill region, having orders fol
February sufficient to employ nearly th'
whole month, have concluded to work along
and put in all the time possible. This, being
by general consent, does not effect the rela
tions between the companies, and this re
gion will, therefore, derive the benefit of th'
extra work. The prices III January wer'
better than at any previous time since th'
same month in 1875, and the wages Of th,
men in this region for the first time since
that period advanced to rate above th,
basis price. AS this Is an ncldent of NOR
than ordinary interest to all connected will
the trade, brief reference to the record o
the intervening period may not be inappro
pirate. The 50 so basis was adopted by tn
operators in the Sehuylkill region Decembe
Slst, 1874. 1t was reduction upon the basi
of 1874, which latter was the same as 1879
The men demurred, and finally agreed no
TO accept. Then followed the long strike O
1875, which continued to the middle of Jim
of that year, during which there was tota
suspension of work in this region. The mel
then went to work on the 50 so minimum
basis, with one per cent on inside work t
be paid for every three cents advance in tn
price of coal at Port Carbon above 50 so, an,
one per cent to be deducted for every de
crease OF three cents below $2 so. The Ion
strike made coal scarce, even though tn
other regions were working during the peri
cd of suspension in this region, and the pric
Of coal justified and the men were paid 70
the month of June 3 per cent above tn
basis price; in July, per cent; August,
per cent September, per cent; October,
per cent; November 6 per cent, and Dc
cember, per cent all above the basis pric'
In 1876 the price paid for January was
per cent above basis, but in February th
price fell to per cent below. Then followe
March, per cent below April, per cent
May, per cent; June, per cent; July,
per cent; August, per cent September, ?
per cent; October, 81 per cent; November, 2
per cent, and December, % per cent-all be
low the 81 so basis.
President Gowen, ofthe Philadelphia an
Reading Railroad, now In Europe, it is no'
positively stated by those who profess to b
well informed on the subject, will be HON
on or before the day fixed for the annui
meeting of the stockholders, March IA, lSS.