Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-10-26


The Coat Trade. -Concerning the
trade in market the Engineering and
Mining J0unal says:
Soft coal retains the same prevailing char
acteristics that we have noted for some weeks
past. Cars are not any more plentiful
The most interesting topic of the trade is
the meeting of the Sea Board Association,
which is to be held at Philadelphia next
Tuesday. We presume that the commissions
er and board of governors appointed in the
early part OF the year for the regulation of
the trade and the correction of its abuses will
render report of their work and Incl
dentally show how faithfully the terms of
the compact have been adhered to. At any
rate, report of some kind will be looked for,
and altogether the meeting if largely attend
ed, promises to be unusually interesting and
lively. Its stated object is said to be the re-
vival of the association for next years trade,
but producers very naturally ask, ''if the
same elements are to be combined in the
same manner under the same management,
what guarantee have we that the result next
year will be any more satisfactory than it
mas been during the year 1882
The demand for coal continues active, the
scarcity of cars being the only hampering
feature
We continue to quote as follows $3.50 f. o.
b. Philadelphia and Baltimore, and $1,000
S3.25 f. o. b. New York
The same papers Boston correspon-
dent says:
The bituminOuS movement is notable for
the amount of small pccing out orders in
the market. A good many manufacturers
seem to have bought less coal at the opening
of the season than they required Cumber-
land coal Is in good demand at $3.50 f. o. b.
and current freghtS, and there is none too
much of 1t at those terms. 1t is to be hoped
that the b. Il o. road will not have another
year the trouble in shipping which has exist
ed for some weeks past Some of the best
kinds of Clarified coal are in excellent call
on small lots at S2.50MS2.GO f. o. b. The
rush to ship is not yet over. In another
month contracts will bt well out ofthe way,
i'll most cases. BitumlnOus shippers who
are caught on delivered contracts are bring
ing coal along at a loss of p to 35 cents per
ton, but we hear of no one going back on
their contracts. Retail trade is very good
Dealers are having a good business and are
making fair profit. The combination seems
likely to hole. for an indefinite time--until
something happens. The skies are clear
now apparently and coal is being sold at very
reasonable prices.
And the Mining Record of New York
states:
The continued short supply of cars for the
transportation of bituminous Goals to the
seaboard occasions remark among the soft
coal dealers. 1t is said, among Others by the
Philadelphia RccO,d that the Pennsylvania
railroad company have given their shippers
only Is per cent of the rolling stock called
for, and has explained the scarcity by the
statement that their ears are scattered all
over the country far and wide. But for this
scarcity of transportation facilities, soft coal
would be in the fullest supply and prices low
Naturally enough it is reported that soft
coal shippers have decided to provide their
own coal cars, and so be independent of the
railroad companies; but the fact is, the
raiload companies are always ut liberty to
take all the cars they can get hold Of
and pay for the use of them. If this be So
what good could be accomplished with ind-
vidual ears? There is talk among some of
the dealers of getting the Scaboad Steam Coal
Association into shape for another year.