The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-20


proVement Which Must Come as
Soon as Surplus Stocks Are Ex-
hausted-other Facts and Fancies
Relating to industrial Subjects Care
fully Condensed.
zone good point about the present
restriction to which the anthracite op-
Grating companies aud individuals nre
cheerfully submitting, said promi-
nent authority on industrial subjects
yesterday, lis thu indirect benefit 20
the miners. At frat 1t might appear
that working but part of the time was
loss and that full time would hs bot
ter; but this superficial view.
Nothing is surer than that full time
would mean an oyerstocksd market
with cut in prices which might re-
duce the operators resources one half.
No matter whether agreed so or not. it
is inevitable that low prices would
mean low wages. The result might
easily be that for working full
time the miners would get only the
same wages AS now working but
few days each week. A month or
so OF the present restriction will bring
in sight the end Of the coal in stock,
so that gradually Il better output may
be expected at regular wages; on the
contrary. If prices and wages fall it
would be difficult to get them up again.
Present curtailments of output and
work means that the trade will be in Il
position to take advantage of the bet
ter demand when it comes
In its review of the iron trade for the
week ended Saturday, the Philadelphia
Record says that while there have been
no important developments during the
week the market iS gradually assuming
more Satisfactory condition. There
is more active inquiry for material,
and in few instances orders have
been placed for foundry iron for de.
livery during the remainder of the year.
As rule, however. buyers continue
to exhibit cautiousness in anticipating
Tor the future requirements, relying
on the competition among the various
furnaces and mills to keep prices from
taking any sudden move upward. Pro.
duction Of pig iron shows no tendency
to increase, and stocks of unsold
iron at the furnaces are of moderate
proportions and huctuate from
month to mouth in very narrow
limits. At the toundries the supply
Of pig iron has never been smaller,
so that any expansion OF the
buying movement is likely to have II
beneficial effect on prices. which con-
tinus low and unsatisfactory, notwith-
standing that the cost of production
has been correspondingly reduced by
cheaper ores and fuel There is bet
ter feeling among the manufacturers
Of finished iron and steel on account of
the increasing inquiry and the pros
poets OF large amount of Dusi-
ness within the next few months. Or
ders are more numerous, although not
calling for any large lots Of material,
and the mills are able to run more
continuously than for many months.
Prices, however, show no signs OF im
provement The steel rail market is
dull, with $24 as the quotation for
standard sections at eastern mills
Billets are quieter. aud shade lower
than week ago
Coke Bros. x Co. $ new trackage con-
tract with the L9nigh Valley people
goes into effect on July |, and is for
fifteen years BY it tho Coxes guaran-
tee that the amount of coal that shall
20 over the Valleys lines to New York
tidewater shall be at least one third OF
their total output to all markets. Ia
addition to thsir assured tonnage. they
are also in the field as competitors for
the haul OF the general output, and
their share OF this will be quite consi
1srable. Behind this contract there
is thought by many to be evidence
OF far shrewler move on the part of
the Valley management, by which they
etfectnally prevent the extension Of
rival lines into the HaZeton or Beaver
Meadow territory for period OF at
least fifteen years, or il they do not ac-
tually prevent it they reduce the
chances Of the extension OF a rival
road into this immediate territory to 4
very small minimum The Wilkes
Barre and Eastern not long since
threatened TO build into the territory
where the Coke Brothers output is
mined. and 1t is said they had strong
inducemens from tue latter to do 80 at
the time.
The following statement of ship
msnts of anthracite coal for month of
January, 1894 compared with the cor
responding period last year compiled
from the returns furnished by the
mine operators by William M Ruley:
Jan. Jan.
Regions. 1894. 1888 Dec
Wyoming ], ,IG,0?5lS ls15,U9i0I 47S0GS o.
schayiKill. 60O.58ii9 7SO,J6Iij '5,SS70l
Total .u,.s@a Nso3 oojg,51OO 4O.75lOO
Increase
The stock Of coal ou hand at tide.
water shidping points Jan 81, 1894,
wAs SSl. $50 ton Ga Dec 81. 1893, 72S
57S tons. Increase, 10? 6i9 tons.
The Lebigh Valley shops in Hazlston
are on full time again. Zen hours u
day is being worked and there 10 plenty
OF work ahead for some time. The
road is In need OF motive power, and as
the Hazlston shops turn out the best
locomotives Of any on the system. or.
derS for new ones to DO constructed are
received everyday Hereafter nearly
all the boiler work will be done there.
The Weatherly branch Of this business
is to DO removed to Hpzleton soon.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation
company is getting ready to open its
canal In March and Is finishing up the
work of rep ,irs which has been carried
on during the winter
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NoTEs
Phil Armour pays t7,OOOOOO II year in
wages,
Richmond, Va, makes 600, 600, 900 cigar
cites year
NJ .,.lo, a.,.,. a. nnn nnn -. a.