Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-02-10
Thc Coal Trade.

Shipments of coal from the mines of
the Georges Creek coal region were
in long tons
For week ending Feb. 3, 1894. .,..... 4495S
g year to same date. $50 $40
Decrease compared with last year,. %, 17S
The latest news from the markets is
CLEANED as follows:
The large stocks of consumers last fall and
i'll the latter months of 1893 are still very far
from being used up and this circumstance
keeps the market in the condition in which
it has been all this year-dead.
There are very few of last years contracts
which are still untitled this leaves the mar
ket dependent almost altogether upon the
transient trade, of which large proportion
consists Of orders given by jobbers at lower
ocean freight than the market, the jobber
taking this difference in the freight
a change i'll the soft coal market is not
looked for until stocks in consumers hands
are all worked off. and at the present rate of
consumption the outlook for an early i'm
proyement in the trade is not very promising.
The local trade at the various shipping ports
seems to maintain itself quite we'll, and
though it does not amount to much with any
single shipper, it forms in these hard times a
fair proportion of the total Shipments The
all-rail is also well maintained, and it is
somewhat surprising how this branch of
the trade keeps up in comparison with
ocean shipments. New York harbor trade
Il l,t,1D
main line roads are still blocked with loaded
cars, but the transportation superintendent
are learning how to keep this standing coal
out of the way enough to prevent serious
blockades. The car supply remains suf-
fcIent for all demands made upon it.
Soft coal at Boston is also very quiet and
without feature. Prices quoted there on cars
are
Cumberland. .75MS3. so
New River and Pocahontas. 80
Clearheld. ............ .......... $40
Engineering and Mining Jouinal.
The soft coal business does not open in very
good shape; at present the lower districts
supplying the seaboard trade seem to be
putting out the tonnage until it is equal to, if
not a little in excess of the business done by
them in the same space of time a year ago
There is somewhat Of falling off in the
tonnage of the Pennsylvania districts and one
hears many rumors as to the efforts they are
putting forth to get business. As has been
noticed heretofore there is little reason to
doubt that tonnage will be as large this year
as heretofore; there will be a fight for position
this year such as has not been the case in
some time. There is said to be plenty of coal
in New England, so that it is not to be
wondered at that trade is not active in that
section; there is also the disposition on the
part OF the consumer to use this fact land the
uncertainty of the future as he is pleased to
call it against the producer of coal We
may expect to hear of many wild stories as
to the intention to use this coal or the other,
IN order to break the prices which may be
made. The average consumer of coal is apt
to regard with special favor the possibility of
saving few cents Il ton on his fuel supply,
without regard to the question of value of one
coal as against the other in the matter of
quality and ultimate result in steam raising
Coal Trade you,ual