Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-08-30
Eastern T1e.vs 81 the Coal Trade.

New York.-The bituminous trade
has been a little more active, opera
tors filling contracts that had been
made at low prices at the low freights
now ruling, Low prices still prevail
in this variety Of coal.-Mining
Record.
Soft coal has no special feature,
and no improvement in the matter of
price is looked for this year. We
hear of low quotations both t. o. b.
at the several shipping ports. and
also delivered. Low freigh,s are
helping out some of the parties who
had made contracts at low figures
delivered-even if the railroad conf
panics had not already sufficiently
backed them. These cheap freights
have also induced shippers to ven
ture cargoes on the open msrket, and
there is the usual rssult-an over.
supply. Many of the outside Goals
which have tried to compete for
trade, have withdrawn, but the two
principal districts on which the sea-
board consumer depends for a sup
ply are producing their quota, and
as about sixty per cent. Of this ton
mage enters competitive points, it
will be seen that We have quite
enough to stagger under, and prices
as a rule are low. Apart from the
Hooking district in Ohio, there are
no special labor troubles on hand, al
though some uneasiness exists in
Clearfield where the labor supply is
beyond the requirements. While
the facilities are 30 great for reaching
competitive points by SO many rail
road routes, and the carrying COM
panies anxious for tonnage, it appears
that distance no longer enters into
the calculation. 1t is q matter of
fact that coal travelling three hun
dred miles by rail can be and is sold
at the same price at competitive
points, as is coal that has traversed
two hundred miles and less. For
tunate indeed is the carrying COM
pany along whose line there is 9
local trade.-Coal Trade Journal.
Those of the Cumberland compan-
les whose shipments have been ham,
pered by the recent food are getting
into shape. The market continues
demoralized, with little prospect of
an early rise in prices, favored as
they are by prevailing low freights.
Philadelphia.-Several new open
ings will be made this fall, in view
of the possibilities of better trade
next spring. A great deal Of val
liable bituminous territory is pen
etrated by railroad facilities. There
is nothing of particular moment in
the bituminous trade, apart from the
heavy deliveries.
Boston.-The bituminous coal
trade has lately come as near to be-
ing surprised as this sensation can
now be realized in that circle by the
announcement of low contract figures.
This was in the case of the Boston
Water Board contract for $500 tons
Cumberland to be delivered on cars
at Mystic wharf in September,
November and April. The contract
was taken at 1888 @ by the West
Virginia Central & Pittsburg railroad
and coal company, mining Elk Gar
den coal. We append the other
bids: New Central coal company 81
ton; Darrow, Mann & Co., $4.O5;
J. E. Lockman, $500; Gay & Park
er, $500; Maryland coal company,
1915 O. D. Witherell, 1913; G. A.
Campbell, 100 at $3.75, and 800
tons at $3.50; r. H. Chapman, 900
tons at $3.50, 800 tons ut 1896 and
800 tons at $4.15. 1: will thus be
seen that the successful bid was Is
cents below the next lowest. Does
this indicate the kind Of market we
are coming to, or is it a piece Of in.
dividual speculation? There is very
little cargo business in business in
bituminous coal to report. Nominal
figures for delivered coal continue
6o(g$3. TO- Engineering and Min
ing Journal.