Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-26
CONDITION or THE san fkASCisCO
COAL MARKET.
rs. +. Chronicle.

Coal IS an interesting suoJect LII this
oity, mainly because it Is an expensive
object, for the article which cost East
ara families from IS to " ton IL here
worth $I2 to $l3 to the consumer. San
Francisco is one of the few parts OF the
United States which depend largely up.
ON foreign countries tor u supply Oh
final. a circumstances which, as Ii gen
srally known, has made our port at
times the Eden of all GOAL laden Eng
lish and American vessels, tor here
they are generally sure OF return
cargo of wheat. Sometimes, when out
ward freight rates are so hiRh that
cargo of wheat has earned the value OF
the ship IN ono trip, these coal iaoeh
vessels nave NOT stood upon the manner
OF their coming, but have taken coal as
ballast and SGT sail for our CITY, certain
To make the outwara-gOing wheat pay
the freight on the incoming coal. but
II does not follow that the farmer 3
wheat has paid for the city's oc,.i. IL Is
true that very few times the prlce
of coal has come within reason
able limits, but generally comsina-
tion has been ready to take advantage
Of the low state of the market, ana thus
by means OF wholesale and retaii COZ
ners and rings the consumers nave not
been allowed to experience the pocuiIar
sensation of warming themselves at a
Are burning cheap coal. But great
vhaat CROP nevertheless means an
abundant supply of coal, ON which ac-
count it is first of all necessary 10 take
a pl nee at the situation of the wheat
and shipping markets III order 10 arrive
at a proJer understanding OF the pres
ent situation of the GOAL market.l
EFFECT OF THE WHEAT MARKET.
Briefly stated, the condition of the
wheat exuort trade is as follows: The
export surplus of the present season Is
Estimated at from 100000 to l,OOO.OOO
tons. of which aO0,uOO tons have been
already shipped, and of the remainder
2OO. 600 tons are of 80 poor quality that
/, onpht never to he exported. Then as
to freights-that is, ships to carry this
wheat away-there il in port, engaged
and disengaged, tonnage capable OF car
ryinp 26O, 600 tons of wheat, and vessels
aoprogating 100000 tons carrying capac-
ity are ON tne way to this port. Taking
the higher or the lower estimate OF the
available wheat export surplus, 1t will
be seen at once that there il an abund-
and that consequently there are no in
ducements to cause additional coal yes
sels to set sail for San Francisco unless
high enough coal freight rate Ii Of
fered to compensate them for low out
ward wheat charters. Accordingly, they
now ask 2Os. III Glasgow. los. IN Liver
pool aud los. in Newcastle, N. >. W., to
bring ton of coal to San Francisco,
when two wears ago they were satisfied
10 take it az ballast, content to realize
the cost price and the expense OF han
ding. But while it may be true that
We need not look for further supply
Of foreign coal, except such as IL on the
way, there is still no great danger OF an
immediate scarcity Of the combusti6le,
although dealers, importers and the Ia
ciio coast coal mine owners would most
gladly See such an. impression get
abroad. Undoubtedly the situation is
favorable to their side of the case, and
30 are this years prices. as the follow
ing comparison of spot rates Will show !;