Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-03-13
GENERAL ITEMS.
Eastern Vieacs of the Coal Trade.

NcW Neutrality-suspicious. are on
foot in the Clearfield and Mary
land regions for ten cents per ton
advance and operators, 1t is thought,
are likely to meet miners half way.
Large contracts have been placed
and others are on the point Of being
closed. Freights are about Sl.4O
per ton for Eastern shipment and 81
per ton for local demand. Btu
minous operators under the COM
bination anticipate very great in
crease in demand from New England.
The market quotations are $50 to
1926, but sales have been reported
down to $3.50. At Boston present
sales are said to be based on $40 or
1915 at Baltimore. Several con-
tracts have already been placed.
Tonnage to New England, both by
rail or water, is likely to be a large
one; prices delivered are said to be
something like $40 per ton
Mining Record.
The possibility of a suspension Of
the output made the eastern demand
for soft coal somewhat more active
last week. The orders already taken
at low prices are said to be very large,
and this will cause loss to the sellers,
if any advance be granted, and be
largest with the Clearlield and Nlr-
ginia shippers many dealers have
been doing little the past fortnight
waiting for the outcome Of this de-
mand. There is really nothing in
the conditions Of trade to warrant
any advance in the prices of coal or
rates Of wages. We have not heard of
many contracts yet for the genuine
Georges Greek coal, and it does seem
probable that those concerns who
have not loaded themselves up with
con tracts, will be the gamers for their
patience. The receipts and output
of coal are not large at the present
time, and on all sides it seems to be
waiting game. a large business is
expected for the year, but a basis has
not yet been reached.-Coal Trade
JOuY3l0l
A year ago, anthracite, broken
and egg Goa! was selling at about
$3.45 alongside in this city, while no
attempt was made to secure more
than 1926 a ton for hituminous coal.
At present broken and egg can be
purchased in guam ity at $3.50 or
even less, showing II decline Of quite
G5 cents ton. Last year, there was
but little If any profit to the btu
minous operators. If they are to
continue to meet the competition Of
low anthracite and at the same time
pay higher wages, they may as we'll
close their mines at once. The large
Eastern contracts made show how
utterly impossible it will be for the
companies to increase their cost Of
production this year.
BoSt0N.-There is an active move
ment in bituminous coal. An eX
ceptionally large amount OF coal has
been sold in the few weeks past, and
that without any stir. The endeavor
to sell more coal f. o. b. than hereto
fore is not meeting with much sue
cess. Manufacturers and railroad
men have seen the advantage Of de-
liyered prices too often to take the
risk Of f. o. b. prices themselves.
All signs point to a heavier tonnage
to New England ports this year than
ever before; but the extreme low
prices at which orders are taken will
! prevent shippers from making the
handsome thing out Of this that they
could otherwise do so. Now and then,
another concern takes bituminous in
I place Of anthracite coal, but nearly
every manufacturer is using soft coal
already where he can dc. AS for
prices s, there is no standard. Open
Ing nomnnaily at thy basis Of S2.25
at Baltimore and Si22,35 at phiia
del phjp, Newport News and Norfolk,
they have declined TO 52.l5 at Balti-
u,ore and So 25, at other ports. Of
Irr& TO sell al 1910 at Baltimore are
u;ade this week, ana one firm is re-
| ported rs selling its coal lit s.. but
whether true or not We caG NOT say.
| / II" "eitF"feu prices continue 10
range ubout So 50, and there seems
! TO be no alternative but that lower
figures were made only after some
private understanding with The rail
roads
Recent large contracts that have
conl" 10 the sltt;!g" Hc.ut;@ the }os
ion ":3! Maine r,iiruud iov 100000
tens t9iycn 10 tive or three shlppers),
The annual consumption of this road
(D all OF It's divisions is 100000 tons
( but it is SAX! to have considerable
coHi left over from last seasons con
tracts, and may bay $4,000 tons
later. The New YORK and New
Haven people have bought 100000
tons !; Merrimach mills. $4,000 tons
Concord rairo;td, 100000 tons;
Amos neag mi!s, $4,000 toms. Only
q few contracts can be traced, but it
is evident that larg. buyers consider
it It good time TO buy. 1t is estimated
hat troml 80 TO SO per- rpH(. Of the
whole seasons business has been con-
tractvd for. and no real attention has
been paid to the spool" in it nIl.-En-