The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-12-16
The Anthracite Coal Trade.

Lue AuLATaClto DVhl AIhuo'
Philadelphia Leiqer, llth inst; The
main feature of interest in the anthracite
coal trade is the general reduction Of work
at the colleries, which goes into effect to-
day, to threc.quarters time. A full weeks
work is fifty eight hours, and this has been
reduced to forty three and one-half hours
thus putting in to effect the rule that will
probably be maintained throughout the
winter, though the Christmas holidays will
more or less interfere with all work at tho
miues. II, as generally expected, we are
going to have hard winter-and 1t has
begun in that way already-the cold wealth
er will greatly interfere with work at the
colleries and also with the shipment Of Goa
especially if tho Delaware river should bS
obstructed by ice. This cause will also tend
to maintain the demand at this port fol
coal which continues brisk for oil sizes ex-
ceptng broken aud pea. In fact, the cold
weather has given an impetus to the line
and city trade as well as to the demand for
the Eastward, and there are great com
plants of the scarcity Of vessels and the
high freights, which rule at Sl.9O@2 10 to
Boston. The opening Of winter, in this as
in other ways, repeats the old story. Delays
are dangerous in shipping coal to Boston as
the year grows old, for il costs nearly twice
as much now as it did month or two ago
as the schooner shippers are not willing To
run the risk of December storms and cold
and ice and snow, with consequent disasters
unless they are paid for it. The character
ol the present demand for coal also renews
the experience we have often pointed out
in the review of the coal trade. The Phila.
dclphia companies having the better coal
are generally finding market for all their
output, while the New York companies
under the influence of their over-supply, ARE
still talking Oi weeks suspension at the
mines to reduce their stocks. The situation
| here is such, with the brisk local demand
that the season is closing without much nc.
emulation at the tidewater shipping points
The Philadelphia companies close their sea
son with November 80, and they all show
an increased production over 1881 ,--.and, :r
! fact, aggregate the heaviest annual Goa
tonnage they have ever reported, willis
| thev have been able to market it all at gen.
orally remuneratiye prices, the harmonious
! action of the coal combination having pre-
vented any break in rates They have also
sent largely increased amodnt OF anthra-
cite to the West, and, in fact, all the com.
panies are diligently seeking new Western
outlets, where they fiud an almost limitless
field for enterprise in opening up new mar
keti for coal. The New York coal compan.
les close their accounts with the calendar
year. but their officials are all in good spiriif
! about the results of 1852.
While the Delaware Lackawanna and
Western Railroad has recently reduced its
circular prices for coal in New York, nc
change has been made in the circular prices
for coal in Philadelphia by the Reading
Coal and Iron Company or the Lehigh
Navigation Company, nor is any reduction
intended. The officials Of these companies
report ample orders and good demand fol
coal. The rate cutting that is going on i;
confined to the poorer grades of coal al
New York and mainly to pea and broken
sizes, which are not in much demand at this
! season.
The total tonnage of anthracite coal from
all the regions for the week ending Dec. 2
as reported by the several carrying cornpan
les, amounted to 52t ,S95 tons, against $50,
976 tons in the corresponding week las
year, decrease of l0,OSl tons. The tota
amount Of anthracite mined for the year il
26,SO3 ,532 tons, against 2j;S26, ,l20 tons fol
the same period last year, increase of VIZ
4l2 tons.
For the sdays ending on the 9th instant
l73 go tons OF coal was transported owe
the L. V. RR., aud showing a decrease of
22,GI4 as compared with same time las
year.
For the days ending December s ther,
were 99,s3l tons Of coal shipped over thu
L. q s. RR., making a total to date of 4,
S20,s7l tons, an increase as compared Il
same time last year Of 1908 tons.