The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-04-23
Ths CoaITrado.

r'he Coal Trade.
The anthracite coal trade, says Mondays
Phila. Ledger, wears a moro cheerful aspect
than for some weeks past. There Is mark
ed Improvement In the demand for coal, the
supply OF which is much lighter than at this
time last year. The stock Of coal on hand at
tide water shipping points, March 81, 1881,
was b6s, ,Oes tons; on February 2s, 1881, 3o5, 2so
tons; increase, 1eT,i77 tons. 1t is announced
that all the interests IN the anthracite coal
trade have agreed to a suspension Of three
days this week and full work the week fol-
lowing. The Schuylkill operators upon the
request Of the New York interests, have
agreed to q suspension OF work three days
next week, provided they can work full time
the week following. The outlook OF the
trade is steadily brighter from week to week,
and is confirmed in the fact that there 10 a
more perfect accord In action now than ever
before. Some OF the companies prefer work
hall time and others desire working all the
time. While this is so there is no possibility
ol rupture In the trade. Whatever course
10 concluded upon by the companies will
command the assent ofall- There will be no
rivalry or underwriting. The advantages
from any line Of policy resulting to any party
will be enjoyed by all. Thus Is harmony in
vited anu general success TO the trade rem
dered most profitable. There has been some
little debate among parties whether there
shall be another three days suspension at
Jne ulueS lnlb week OF WneJntr eucn euspen-
sion shall be deferred until next week The
differences arise from two causes; q larger al
legged amount OF orders received by some
companies than others Is one cause why some
companies desire to work steadily on. An
other complaint Of half time working is that
some of the parties, as their weekly returns
exhibit, do not show as much reduction as
working he same length Of time show at
other mines Of like capacity. This fact indi-
Gates that there is some shenanegan"
somewhere that results to the advantage Of
some and to the prejudice of others. Not
withstAndinY these points have given rise to
debate, IT has in no Instance worked a break
In cordial cooperation. All continue to work
together, and will probably SO continue un.
til the end Of the year. The Pottsville Mi
nets' Journal makes this reference to the
buying part of the coal trade: 'Buyers who
are not compelled 10 stock up earl In the
spring naturally hold off from purchasing
as long as possible, with the purpose OF ioro
ing prices down to the lowest notch. This is
their game, and they have right to play It..
The producers, on their part, know exactly
the price at which they can afford to sell
coal to make n ia air business profit. They
made n reduction from winter rates OF twen-
ty cents ton, and felt that was all the con-
cession they could make. Bnt the buyers
were not satisfied; they wanted still lower
prices. The operators refused, and put their
mon on half time, letting II be known that this
was the programme agreed upon Tor the year.
| This has the required effect. The buyers
lowest point Of compromise, find 1t just as
convenient to buy now as later in the season,
and there Is a fair prospect Of a regular trade
during the whole OF the year, instead OF par
| tial suspension now and over-work during the
latter portion of the year."