The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-20
COAL PRICES WILL GO UP.
IT WILL BE ADVANCED IN PRETTY
SHORT ORDER, TOO.

Is There Combine?-One Dealer Says
There Is Not, Another Says There Is,
but He Doesn't Belong to It.
A rumor leaked out after the last meet
ing of the New York coal dealers to the
effect that strong opinion prevailed
that the coal market would soon take a
tumble; that lower prices were apt to
rule after the first of December, especi-
ally IL an effort was made to raise the
circular" too soon.
Enquiry among the prominent coal
merchants of Jersey City by no means
confirmed the correctness of any such
rumor. Whether allowance is to be made
for the fact that coal dealers. as a rule,
being thoroughly posted in every COM
mercial phase of the black diamond mar
kct, are unwilling to let such hint get
abroad and thus induce consumers TO put
OFF laying in their winter supply is con-
sideration to which some weight should
be given
Nearly everyone who talked to me on
the subject agreed that the prices would
be raised twenty-five cents per ton within
a few days, and would probably reach a
higher figure before the winter closed.
No COAL TRUST HERE.
Manager James Dodd, of the Lehigh
Valley Coal Company, whose Office and
yards are located at the foot of Hudson
street. said he had heard of no such
rumor
Goal was selling this time last year for
S5.25 per ton" he said. "We are yet sell
ing for IS, but anticipate orders to raise
the figures to 5.25 in a few days"
Mr.. Dodd said there was no such thing
as a coal trust in Jersey City. "The local
coal dealers regulate their prices by those
fixed upon by the New York agents."
Mcbride, the First street coal dealer,
said:-"The price of coal must necessarily
go up. For some reason the companies
are holding back at the mines. They
give as a reason that they cannot get cars
enough, as most of the rolling stock is
engaged in hauling coal to the West. A
great amount is going westward. / have
ordered 100 carloads altogether. Out of
sixty in one order have received but ten,
and the complaint Is general; Let me
prove it to you" Mr.. Mcbride went to
the phone and asked of a. H. Pardee &
Co, through whom he had ordered his
coal, when he would receive the balance
OF his order. The answer came back
'The trouble is at the other end"
This" said Mr.. Mcbride, doesn't
look as though there would be tumble
in the price of coal.''
A RAISE CERTAIN.
"Then, see here" as he exhibited his
freight bills, you see the difference in
the winter and summer freight bills.
Here is one for July; here is another for
January. Here is a raise of ten cents per
ton in the matter of freight Here is an
other for March, showing raise of
twenty cents. We are looking for the
winter raise. You may be sure that
prices will go up and not down"
At the Jersey City Coal Company's
office / was also told there would be no
fall IN the price. From coal dealers
periodical, which was handed in by let
ter carrier while was talking to the
manager, / clipped the following edi-
torial extract:-
The producers Of hard coal must show that
they intend to restrict, and the market will re-
spond. It is the easiest thing to make or break
the hard coal market. The interests involved
are so few they need only carry out the agree
ment to restrict in or11er to make values ad-
vance. The tonnage account for the past week
shows that there is an effort being made in this
direction. That is we'll The produc-
ing interest must take care of the retailer, and
this can best be done by permitting demand and
supply to regulate the quantity produced.
AT the office of the Hoboken Coal Com
pany, on Fifth street, l was told there
was coal combination in Jersey City.
1--WE do not belong to it, said the gen.
tleman in charge. "But that makes no
difference. Coal will go up in few
days, and it will be some time before the
prices will be lowered"