The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-01-29
The coal Trade.

The Coal Trndes
The anthracite coal trade is in healthy
and satisfactory condition. The demand
for nearly all sizes is good, aud the supply of
coal is so nearly full that prices vary little
from the ruling at any time within the past
month or six weeks. 1t was, however, gene
rally understood among coal operators on
Saturday that the subject matter Of resum-
ing full work on the lst proximo was being
agitated, to continue through the month Of
February. This is in accordance with the
arrangement entered into about the middle
of December last, TO work hall time through
to the end Of january, and continue through
to the end of February half weekly suspen-
sions, unless the exigency of the situation
should make different policy more advis-
able. Such exgency, it is believed, has
come round. We have had one Of the Sc
verest winters, since the incoming Of the
present, known in many years one that
has done more to limit the production Of
coal and more to necessitate the supply of
fuel. These two opposite causes fully justify
the trade in consideration as to the propriety
of resuming full work at the mines, and
this, too, without rendering themselve IL
able to charges of vacillation. 1t is impor.
tant that the coal operators should be care
ful in their outgivings as to the amount and
the manner of the production Of coal that all
the interests dependent on the use and
supply of coal may fully rely upon their
outgiviugs The supply of coal cannot now
be called Shorthand yet the demand is at least
equal to the current supply. The orders for
coal come in as fully as does the required
amount OF coal TO meet them, and to this
Just relation should the market be held.
The stopping of coal at the mines for the
simple pdrpose of making it scarce, that the
prices may be unduly advanced, would be
wrong amounting to outrage The large cor
porations engaged in moving so essential an
article as fuel are wise and exercise no more
than a proper control oftheir business when
they keep production within those limits
that put it all the time most economically
on the market. This may be most eflectu-
ally accomplished by keeping the supply all
the time about equal TO the demand. lii
operating to this end it is important to have
the coal saason as long as possible. The
annual tonnage of anthracite coal is now
from twenty-six to thirty millions of tons.
To move this huge heap of coal from the
mines to the bins of consumers covers an
immense amount OF labor, but not so much
but that it may be properly estimated and
fully ascertained at about how much per
monthly cost. The coal moved during the
| spring and summer months is handled much
more cheaply than in the fall and winter.
The experience of the past year or two has
! furnished much information for both pro-
ducers and consumers of coal. The trade is
never advantaged by driving producers Of
coal into bankruptcy and ruin, nor are con
sumers ultimately profited by procuring
their coal at less than the cost of production
Fair prices and moderate profits are thejust
means that should be aimed al. To open
and work an anthracite coal mine requires q
large amount of capital comparatively few
people, therefore, are able to enter into The
business. Those who have kept run o
the trade tor the past twenty years know
how uncertain have been its profits and how
frequently those engaged in it have beer
carried TO ruin. 1t is with satisfaction that
we now announce much better prospect
for the trade than for the last few years. The
year 1881 is opening with favorable show.
ing for all interests in the coal trade; rot
the least satisfactory part of it is an evident
disposition to act unitedly. Ledger, Mon
day.