Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-04-14
SENII-LOCAL NEWS.
The Coal Trade.

Shipments of coal from the mines of
the Georges Greek coal region We're
in long tons
For week ending March a, ls94..... 5o,4l%
" year to same date. .613,6'b
Decrease compared with last YEAR.. li7, ,323
The latest news from the markets is
CLEANED as follows:
The bituminous coal market is in sluggish
condition A small business is doing by most
of the producers, but everybody is feeling the
severe competition which has entered into
this market, especially of late. During the
past few weeks consumers from east of the
Cape have commenced to take coal again;
had it not been for these orders the trade
would have been in very bad condition
All soft coal producers are reducing first
costs 20 a minimum and allied trades are
feeling the effects of these efforts to marked
extent.
The railroads have reduced their through
rates from 10 to 25c. and coast wise vessel
freights are going down and bid fair to reach
the lowest figures ever known. Loading and
dischargng charges, as well as commissions
to middlemen ale being very carefully looked
into, and it looks as if present prices were as
low as could be expected.
Contracts are coming into the market slowly
in New England and are being taken general
Iy at very low figures. 1t looks as if contract
season will drag along into May. Few, if
any, contracts have been taken for points this
side of the Cape.
An Impression seems to prevail that there
will be very little trade this year, owing to
which there has been a scramble for orders
without regard to prlce on the part of many
bituminous coal men. We do not see any
thing which justites such a belief. Business
in the coal market will be in 1894 very nearly
as large as usual, and all producers ought to
get their share of it,
There is considerable coal on the way from
the mines to tidewater, but the railroads are
handling it very we'll and no blockade has
resulted as yet, although there is a good deal
of coal standingat the shipping ports. There
is no delay i'll loading vessels. There is a
surplus of cars which may be had for the
asking. Prompt shippers continue to be the
most favored in this matter.
All rail business is in fair condition and
is holding its own. Local trade to the ship
ping ports is slow. New York harbor trade
is quiet.
The railroads rates on bituminous coal have
been reduced lOc. ton on shldments to
Philadelphia Baltimore and Newport News.
70 Jersey City and New York harbor the re-
duction is to affect only shipments to compct-
ing points Engineering and Mining Jo"tn"'.
Soft coal is quiet as yet and one hears of
some low prices; they are in the man where
the shipper is willing to take the risk of the
freight market In New England the mills
generally are running but not nearly to their
full capacity, in fact the railroads, mills and
every other class of consumers are using con-
siderably less coal than usual. Philadelphia
advices are that business is just moving and
despite the low prices at which coal is beng
sold, there is not as large quantities of it gong
into consumption as there was last year.
There is more competition this year between
the several districts than ever before; at New
York the prices are adhered to by the owners
of the better grades ofcoal, but on the inferior
qualities even the low prices made for this
season do not result in any great movement
thereof as vet-Coal Trade joutnui.