The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-28
MINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.

MINE, MILL AND hAlLhVAD'
1t was officially announced on Mon
day that the steel rail pool has been or
ganized for 1895. The meeting at which
this was accomplished was held on
Wednesday and Thursday of last week
and was attended by every manufac-
turer of rails in the country. 1t was
decided to fix the price of steel rails
for 1895 at $22, reduction of 81 from
the present price. All rails weighing
above forty-five pounds to the yard are
to be considered standard sections,
whereas the limit this year is fifty
pounds. Street girder rails will be sold
at $24 Those who were present at the
meeting declare that the feeling In
favor of harmonious cooperation In the
trade next year was more pronounced
than at any meeting held in recent
years. 1t was the universal judgment,
says the Philadelphia Inquirer, that the
orders for rails next year will be con-
siderably larger than this. The meet
ing developed one point and that is that
the steel manufacturers of the country
will not see their business sacrificed the
coming year. Prices are already down
TO bed rock and might have gone lower
but for the determination of the steel
pool to hold rigidly to the new prices.
Inasmuch as the prices of several forms
of steel products are based upon the
price of steel rails, the agreement Will
be far reaching in its effects.
The anthracite coal trade, says the
Philadelphia Stakeholder, is in wait
ing condition, as the trade will make
no extensive purchases until there is
some definite direction as to prices out
lined. AS 1t is now, there is no telling
whether the course will be upward,
downward or steady on the present
basis. This doubt must be removed be-
fore any permanent Improvement in the
market occurs, and 1t remains for
cold spell to create activity in the trade,
or some emphatic favorable action by
the shippers themselves. 1t is we'll
known fact that they have grown
weary losing money in such useless
contention as has been waged, andit can
be stated authoritatiyely that they all
long for satisfactory readjustment of
existing differences. Exactly on what
basis the effort will be made to accom-
plish this Is not known to a certainty,
but il Is believed another trial will be
given to the restrictive policy which
has been so long in force. As an indi-
cation that this step will be taken, the
announcement Is made that the Read
ing collieries will be closed tonight and
will not resume operations before next
Monday, if then. 1t is usual when
holiday comes late in the week to sus-
pend operations until the following
Monday; but in the present condition
of the trade the shutdown is signiti-
cant, foreshadowing revival of the
old policy. 1t is understood that the
other producing companies will also sus-
pend operations for the same period.
Speaking of a probable contest for
control and a demand for the stock lists
of the Lehigh Valley Railroad company,
an official says that the stock list has
not yet been prepared, and will not be
for some time, as the transfer books
only closed Nov. Is. So far as he can
Judge, he thinks the number of share
holders is about the same as last year
about S,00O The bulk of the stock Is
held in Philadelphia and New York,
and the foreign holdings amount to less
than 10000 shares. No large blocks of
the stock have changed hands of late,
and he does not believe that any organ
lied opposition to the Wilbur manage
ment will develop.
At the meeting of the stockholders of
the New York, Lake Erie and Western
Railroad company in New York yester-
day the old board of directors was
reelected. e. H. Hartman, represent
ing the Erie protective committee, crit
icised the annual report. He was re-
fused any explanation by the receivers.
New York, Nov. 27.-The anthracite
coal sales agents today voted to make
the December allotment 2,500,000 tons.
Tidewater prices were advanced to
1915 for stove, $500 for egg and chest
nut and $3.50 for crate. The agents,
up to a late hour, were still in session
considering prices.
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NOTES:
The agreement entered into between
the Trunk lines and the Central Traffic
associations for the dispensing of COM
missions will take effect Dec Is
All the companies are shipping all the
coal they possibly can and the Lacka-
wanna will continue to rush coal to the
West until the close of navigation.
Navigation on the Delaware and Hud-
son canal between Honesdale and Rond-
out will close for the season this week.
The last boats were loaded at the Homes
dale docks on Saturday.
The transfer books of the Lehigh Val
ley railroad closed Nov. Is, and the work
of preparing for the annual election has
commenced. The number of stockhold-
than fifty shares. This stock being al
ways held for investments it is widely
distributed.
The anthracite coal interests in Phila-
delphia, says the Times. are very much
inclined to believe that the situation has
bcttered since the railroad presidents
held their meeting last week. They
claim that the moral influence which
will be the result of such a gathering
willprevent further Generalization and
may bring about correction of exist.
ing abuses.
The Reading railroad reports It's coal
tonnage for the week ending Nov. II al
1850 tons, an increase of $4,000 tons
over the corresponding week last year
Total tonnage for the year to Nov. Il
was 11,S79,0S6 tons, decrease of S43, As;
tons from last year. The total ship
ments of anthracite for the week end
ing Nov. II We're 1,04S,41S tons, an In
crease Of 220,SS5 tons or 26,6 per cent
over the corresponding week last year