Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-03-14

Then again, the shippers from
Georgetown are looked to as likely
to sell coal at less than pool rates.
After time we may expect that all
this ebullition will settle down, and
the price made, which is not high
one, will represent the selling price
for this grade of coal.-Coal Trade
Journal.
There is very little new to note in
this article. The pool is still preach
ing pool prices and practicing pool
ethics. To those who believe in the
maintenance of these prices, there is
no inducement to buy, because they
can get the same rates when they
want the coal, while unbellevers
think they can do better by waiting.
The Chesapeake g. Ohio Canal will
open the 18th, or soon after, and that
will give Cumberland sellers chance
to make contracts unrestricted by
pool agreements. The Norfolk &
Western and Chesapeake & Ohio coal
are actively pushed, and have taken
q number of contracts. Beech Creek
(Vanderbilt) has also taken its full
share of the trade.
Philadelphia.-The bituminous
trade is in a lethargic condition, ex-
cept for those who enjoy special rates.
Nothing is likely to be accomplish
ed of a satisfactory nature in the leg
islative department of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad at Harrisburg, or,
strictly speaking, its annex. The
merchants and manufacturers have
gone before committees there, with
long tables offigures and facts demon
strating the extent Of the wrong done
directly and indirectly, by discrimi-
nation; but the crying evil is not
abated. The pool rates, $2.70 for
Baltimore, $3.50 for Philadelphia,
1925 for New York, and $3.50 for
Boston, allow about so cents a. ton
when freight charges are taken out
according to the terms entered into,
provided coal is sold at certain ''made'
prices. Out of 80 cents, come 40
cents to the miner, from 10 to Is
cents royalty, loss from depreciation.
In short, the pool rates are made like
the cup of Tantalus. No honest
business can be conducted on an 80
cent margin. No legitimate bltumin-
GUS contracts are made, but large
private contracts by favored parties,
1t is believed, have been made, which
will be announced later on-at the
right time, The Clearfield operators
have become accustomed to hanging
by their eyelids. The usual amount
Of coal is mined and shipped.
In the Clearfeld region there are
mines opened at large expense, and
which could be made to run from
500 to 1000 tons day, which are
idle. There are many operators run
ming to prevent deterioration Of plant,
to held on to miners, and to take
their chances of better days.
The impossibility of obtaining uni
form rates will, it is to be hoped, not
be one of this years coal trade evils,
although it is believed that coal has
been sold in large blocks below pool
figures. The coal commissioner will
have it in his power to prevent the
doing of injustice to the smaller and
individual operators.
Boston.-There has been less activ-
ity among the bituminous dealers
this week. Nearly all contracts that
are come early have been cared for
by this time. 1t reported that the
Maine Central has bought 10000 tons
of Clearfeld coal. The railroads are
now about out Of the market. just
how the Boston and Maine contract
is placed is not definitely known. 1t
is said that $4,000 tons have been
taken by the Chesapeake and Ohio
people for Portland delivery; but as
for the remainder and the share that
the Norfolk and Western people have
in it, we cannot say.
The sugar retineries are not buying,
but are holding off, and only few
paper manufacturers have bought.
The Merrimack manufacturing COM
pany has bought 10000 tons Of Clear
field, as last year. AS for the pool,
there are no new developments. 1t
has restraining influence on some,
and particularly on some of the ship
pers over the Baltimore and Ohio.
Some of these latter have sold hardly
any coal this season who had con-
tracted for from $4,000 TO 100000
up to March LIST last year. They
have lost the business because bids
from FIVE to fifteen cents below their
lowest figures were made. Some OF
the Clearfield shippers are apparent
ly in the same box. There is still a
large tonnage to be placed in small
lots of from 1000 to 5000 tons.
Buyers who do not need coal are Of
fering 1925 delivered, but it is
doubtful whether that figure will be
granted them.