Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-03-28

at the same or even higher price
than anthracite. is very significant,
both as to the future of anthracite as
a steam fuel here in the East, and as
to the low prices it must reach to
hold this important market. Cum
berland and Clearfield Goals can be
mined at say 60 cents q ton, as against
about $1.35 ton, fair average cost
of anthracite at the mines, not includ-
ing royalty. The actual cost of
transportating anthracite from the
bituminous mines to tide-water may
be put at $1.25, while the actual aver
age cost of transporting anthracite
from the Reading mines to Philadel-
phia may be put at 80 cents a ton.
From the other anthracite districts
the transportation would be greater,
so that the actual cost Of bituminous
and anthracite Goals at tide water
markets will be nearly equal; and
as a steam fuel it is certain that btu
minous coal will be preferred by many
consumers, and anthracite manufac-
turing sizes can never at the best
command a higher price than say
Cumberland and Clearfeld Goals.
Our anthracite combinations Of the
future will therefore have the Difficult
ties experienced in the past in regu-
lating prices increased by having to
keep the soft Goals in line also. 1t
is true, the cost of mining anthracite
offers greater possibility of diminu-
ton than that of bituminous coal;
but the prospect for very large profits
are not encouraging; but that the
trade will become altogether unprofit-
able is also out of the question.
Even the pool prices moderate, as
they are shaded in many cases. 1t is
said that the Portland & Rochester
Railroad contract for from $4,000 to
10000 tons has been taken by the
Consolidation coal company, at less
thar $3.45, while the New Central
and Atlantic companies are said to
have shaded the prices at Providence.
The Lehigh Valley coal company
Hehigh Valley railroad) takes pos
session of the Snow-Shoe bitumlnous
mines on the LIST Of May, and this
will give another source of supply
outside of the pool.
observation-disclosures are meet
ing the Pennsylvania railroad COM
pany in its fight against an anti-dfs
elimination bill that will prevent or
control discrimination. Great inter-
est is felt in this movement. The
Pennsylvania people secured post
ponement of the hearing before the
committee until April 18th, in order
that their lawyers and freight agents
might dig out come driyeling techni-
cality that would enable thom to cir
cunrent the provisions Of the consti-
tuition of the State Of Pennsylvania
adopted by the people in 1874. The
coal operators all over the State were
never more thoroughly aroused, and
mean, if possible, to compel the Penn
sylvanla railroad company to recog~
nize that it 10 not above the constitu-
ton and people, but subseryient to
both. A strong delegation represen-
ting the bituminous interests will go
before the committee to meet and re-
flute the evasive and untenable argu-
ments Of the Pennsylvania railroad
officials.
Boston.-There is not much doing
in bituminous coal. One would think
that $3.50 was sufficiently low to
attract trade, when the figures for
1882 were S.; 1883, $4.75; and 1884
81, and when it can easily be shown
that this gradual decline has brought
coal down to hard-pan. No other
article iii the whole range of markets
is cheaper than bituminous coal at
$3.50, and at that figure there is alb
solutely no money in it to the pro-
ducers; while if they can not arrange
the extremely low freights Of $1.25
from Baltimore and silly from Phila-
delphia, there is Il loss to be provided
for. Still there is Il disposition to
hold off in many quarters. This
course is perhaps not nnwisc where
no coal is wanted for some time, lis no
advance is looked for. But on the
other hand, there is no chance for a
decline, and parties needing coal can
desire no advantage from delaying.
The only recent contract of note
has been from 10000 to 25.OO0 tons
Cumberland for the Pacific Mills.
The figure is said to be the pool price
Of $3.50, aud must he Ill that vicinity.
Some OF the anthracite companies
made All effort for this contract, which
was lost by them last year, and this
second failure to obtain it is quoted
as an argument against anthracite
for steam coal in competition with
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Mi
pinO y,3IrjJ91