Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-11-25
COUNTY NEWS.



Shipments of coal from the miues of
the Georges Creek coal region were
in long toua-
For week ending Nov II, 1898. 3..... SI.27S
Increase compared with last year,. 2sl.33i
The latest news from the ma, k, Is is
CLEANED "s follows:
The soft coal trade continues dull Orders
are quite scarce both ON contracts and other
wise. The dulne>S has reached such a point
that Il meeting of prominent btuminous men,
comprising he members of tie old Seaboard
Soft Coal Association, has been called for
early next week, for the purpose of furmulat-
ing plans for the improvement of the trade,
or 10 adopt plans leading to this end which
have already been formulated Prices are so
low and the net profit ON soft coal so Small
that producers have been forced to take this
step in Order to- amclioratc their condition
A representative of one of the biggest pro-
dlcerS stated i'll AN interview: The net cost
and the net price of soft coal are too close to
each other to permit producers to continue
to mine coal This is borne out by The num-
ber of producers who have either shut clown
their miI.eS or reduced their shipments
There has been no change in miners wages
the main line railroads are still maintaining
the regular tariffs named at the beginning of
the season. Their stand OH the matter is
such that it looks us if these rates will be
continued until the beginning Of next wear
This leaves any reduction in price to com
solely from the pockets of the producers
The only bright spot in the soft coal trade
is the al-rail business. Shipments in this
line are very good, and the prices are better
than those winch obtain at the Seab"arl
Vessels have been scarce, but they are
beginning to be i'll better supply again. The
hi III prevailing rates have had the effect Of
driving some business ont of the market tenn
porarily, as was foretold in this column some
time ago. On account of the prevailing hard
times every cent counts, for consumers are
Nous to pay as little as possible for then
fuel.
Cars are in good supply. The vessels are
giving 90 Ior the purpose "f securing quick
loading aili ,Iisrharglng. The transportation
from and TO tide is very good, as well as to
all rail points Engineering and Mining
Jonir,"2
In connection with the probable
ra'in@ Of coal as - free raw material
the Baltimore SIM says:
But a capital reason why foreign lumber
ami coal would not dlspIace our own is that
In, bnr Il IA
compete successfully with ours. They have
prjnc cost aud freight charges against them.
At any distance inland their cost would be so
increased by freight charges that their use
would i'e i'm. racticablc 1t might he added
that the industries of the South would he
further developed by the greater exports f
manutactur,s when raw materials are freed
from taxes, but enough has been said to show
that Il low tariff Cor even free trade which S
not possible) has no terrors for Southern
industry.
And the Philadelphia Recom says:
The Canadians bought last year S3l 0l6
tons of ST f. coal mined IN the United States,
and they sold in the United States 6sO3S
tons mined in Canada Both countries, in
foolish disregard of the public interest have
imposed duties on imports IF coal and both
countries would profit ahout equally bv re
pea of the duties. The natural market for
the coal nj ned in Eastern Canada is in the
New England States. The soft coal mined in
Ohio and e !nSylyaria, because OF its sll-
perior accessibility, forms the best source of
supply for that part of Canada which can he
reached by lake transportation. No doubt
the repeal OF the coal duty by the United
States would be tol!owe by reciprocal action
LlLL. iIi llr ..Lli:lL