The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-03
Tho Coal T'radc.

Philadelphia Ledger, 2sth ult The an
thracite coal trade continues in the msin
unchanged. There 10 an active demand for
almost all Sizes, and special sizes are quite
short Of demand. Among the peculiar fen-
lures oi the trade there is no cavil as 10
prices Of coal or ns 10 freight rates. The
chief inquiry is as to quick delivery, which
just now is delayed by reason Of searcity OF
vessels and still limited supply of water,
though in this latter feePebL much rain has
recently fallen; but still not enough to ans
wer the nehtls at some Of the mines The
demand fer coal is incessant and large. There
is no increase in the stock of coal nor in the
current production at the mines. While this
is The gehetsl situation of each day the out
look for those short Of coal does not improve
much. We can but renew our caution to
coal consumers to lbok we'll and promptly
to their coal supplies, there being rarely
time that the coal trade is not subjected to
some eSigefitYj sometimes against consum-
ers and at others against coal operators.
This year the outlook is generally thought
To be altogether in favor Of the coal opera.
tors. Tie Miners Journal says the nabil-
ity to ill orders promptly as fast as they
come in occasions some unensiness ON the
part of those who are short 5f coal, and the
fear is expressed that the close Of navga-
tioh MAY 6nd them still without an ade-
quate supply for the winter: This is the re.
suit of the policy pursued by many dealers,
of dslerring until the last moment to lay in
supplies in the hope of some complication
occurring that may bring about decline in
price. This practice answered very well
under the old system OF mining, when the
colleries worked full time and the excess of
coal not reqtiited by the trade was stored
but last year, under the policy of mining
only the quantity of coal fequired, num-
Der Of those who deferred their orders until
late in the season were left without sup
ply, and this year promises to find them in
the same prediciment An open winter may
relieve them from actual want, but it is
risky, and ought to give them serviccable
hint Tor the future. The good condition Of
the iron trade affords a ready sale for the
lump and steam6oat sizes for use at the
blast lurfiaees, and broken is in fair request.
Tie excess Of production oyer last year, is
abous s,0U0,J0O tons, is still kept up and
Will be maintained. with some increase,
during the remainder of the season. The
supply OF motive power will also be denim
ished by the effects of cold weather on loco
motive machinery so that the present COM
plants OF its inadequacy will be barely ca
pable of repetition throughout the winter
In fact, and considering all the circum-
stances, there is just as much likelihood of
an accumulation Of orders toward spring,
awaiting the opening of navigation for sup
ply, as of over production, if not more for
an unusually large number of repairs have
been necesstated by the severity of last
winter and the drouth of last summer
Some of the best informed men say that
over production would never be complained
oi again if they could get all the railroad
facilities they wanted to the RAPIDLY grow
ing regions Of the northwest, and they an. q.
lieipate the prospective connection of the
Reading with the Lake Shore with anything
but feelings OF dismny. Along the lie OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad anthracite is
bringing Sl3 ton easily, with nothing like
ss large volume of trade n il as cnuld be
inslered ih a short time. There is some
hard coal found iE Colorado which is called
anthracite by the natives, for no better rea-
son than that IT is much harder than the
soll Ignite stuff they have in larger qpan-
tltIesi but there is nothing in the West as
hard as Sehuylsill coal, aud nothing that
could compete with it in the market from
which the bonanza kings of the mining aud
wheat regions get their supplies, If ii could
be shipped 10 them at less than prohibitory
freight rates. If next year should still fur
ther swell the figures of the increase, and
there is no reason to expect any other re-
suit, the facilities for getting the coal to
market will have 10 be greatly increased il
the supply is Ia. keep pace with the growth
!
high and SchuYlkill Coai Exchanges met on
Saturday at the Office of the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company and resolved to
make no change in line aud city and harbor
prices during the month Of December. The
general sales agent Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron CompsHyj Thomas
Nj. Richards, has ulso determined TO make
no change in Eastern prices.
The total tonnage of anthracite coal from
all the regions for the week endiog Nov. IS, ,
as reported by the several carrying compan.
les, amounted To 69l .l9g TONS, against 64g.
7s5 tnns IN the corresponding week last
year, an increase of IL Ala tons The total
amount oi anthracite mined inr tho wear a
25'l2S,22s tnns, against 20.9s2, ,I76 tons. for
I the "a me period last year, an iueresse Of a.
IA 1858 tons.