Frostburg mining journal., 1883-06-23
City Vie,cs of the Coal Trade.

all the regions and districts. 1t il
not especially depressed so far as pro
duet is concerned, but the prices al
which it is sold are very low in view
of former seasons. The railway com
panes are carrying the ccal to all
points on reduced schedule Of tolls
AMI charges, and thus the price de-
livered at any particular point is a
low one. Whether it be Chicago,
Buffalo, New York or Boston, it is
the same market-coal going into
| consumption largely at reduced rates
due to competition for its car rage by
transporting companies. Varieties
are met with in markets heretofore
supposed to be closed against them,
by reason of the distance traversed.
1t is extremely difficult to grade sof
coal, and the individual intsrests are
so numerous that pooling is hardly to
be thought of. Railways can see tc
it. however, that certain districts arr
geographically entitled to certain
markets. The local market has been
dull the past week, aud but 8 few
transient orders have been recorded
Tonnage and trade reports and the
general news items show the move
ments of this particular coal.
We notice a reduction tolls on the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal Of ten
cents per ton, in order to permit
Cumberland" coal being laid down
as chsaply at Georgetown as at Balti
more, by all rail. Why not enlaig
the canal and the boats thereon, 30
that the water route could dictate to
the railroad instead ofplaying second ?
By tho way, the Pennsylvania rail-
road might as we'll secure tho Georges
and Cumberland road. Worked by
that line and its bonds guaranteed,
it would be likely to do a much larg-
er business.-Coal Trade Journal.
We cannot report any improve
ment, nor any signs Of growing activ-
ity in the bituminous coal trade
prices still ranging low.
PHIDAELPHIA.-A slight improve.
msnt has been developed in the btu
minous coal trade. Negotiations
have been going en- between the Cum
berland operators and the railroad oi
fcials, resulting in slight concessions
which will, in their opinion, equalize
them with Clearfsld. A few fair.sized
contracts have been secured by Clear
field operators, and there is a strong
sr probability for heavy business this
week than there has been for month.
Manufacturing requirements are pre-.
sented and consumers have more con
fdence in the presnt and prospsc.
tive condition of the trade. There is
less shading of prices in soft coal.
CHIoAGo.-Bi.uminous coal is in
fair demand, and buslness shows nc
signs of falling off. The iron and
steel millsin Chicago and vicinity are
mostly running full-time, and con-
suming the usual amount of fuel
Nearly all the machinery and othe,
manufacturing establishments are
working full-time. The manufactur.
ing interest has largely increased in
Chicago during the last few years
and continues to do 80 at a rapid rate
also the same may be said for the
West and Northwest.
As an indication of the rapid in,
crease of the soft GOAL trade, hav,
only to refer your readers to the
monthly statement for May, publish.
ed in these columns, where it will b,
seen that the receipts of soft coal /.
this city for the month show an in
crease over the corresponding month
last year of 59,S59 tons. the receipts
being over 250, 900 tons for the month
of May, being an increase of over 81
per centabove that Of the correspond
ing period last year. AS soft coal il
only taken from the mines as wan to-
for Use, it will be seen that Chicago
business is in a healthy state.
Prices of bituminous have reached
so low point that there is no roou
for emitting, and profits are now sc
small that, beyond the natural desi,e 9
to hold responsible and good-payinf
customers, dealerd take but little iu.
terest in the business not
enough to work for new trade. We
note reduction in price this of Ba
timore & Ohio and also Of Hockinl
Valley cosls. There is but littl,
danger Of any further decline in