Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-03-10
There was meeting last week at Phia.

There was a meeting last week at Phila-
delphia of the Seaboard Steam Coal Associa-
ton the coming seasons business was dis
cussed. The opinion prevailed that this year
there would he a reduction of from - to 20
cents III last years contracting figures The
tariff question seems to have gwen some con-
sumerS the idea that there will he very chpap
coal this year and they will not be satisfied
without some sort of reduction. The trade
itself to certain extent is demoralized, but
owing to the small margin of profit at present
prices there can be little or no cutting.
The contracts in the market so far call for
Observation-Disclosures prices The trade
claims that this is against its interests as it
brings INTO 1t acertain amount of speculation
in treights, unless the contract is covered by
charters made for the amount of coal called
for, and accordingly producers try 10 avoid
making such an agreement
There was a plentiful supply of vessels in
the market up to a few days, but now the
smaller vessels are scarce and orders limited
to a small tonnage are not easily shipped.
Large vessels are i'll good supply.
AIl-rail business Is duller than il has been
for the past few weeks. The local trade to
the various shipping ports is in fair condi-
ton. There are still large supplies of coal on
the way from the mines to the shipping ports,
but they do not interfere with transportation
to any serious extent. Shipments are made
at loading ports with fair Dispatch The car
supply is good.-Engineeriug and Mining
J0mJUai
al has ,t,t, l., -
cost il many States, owing to reductions in
wages for mining. If there is any virtue at
all in the oft-heard cry that low prices will
bring trade, 1t is to be hoped that those who
are 50 vitality interested in this matter will
have largely increased trade during 1894
The shippers to the seaboard have agreed to
| a reduction in the schedule of f. o. b. prices
in advance Of any competition from outside
! Goals; this is due no doubt to the reduction
IN cost as noted above, and the competition
of one district with another. The uncertainty
as to Il proper duty ON foreign coal continues
and the probabilities now are that there will
be at least 80 cents per ton protection given
to the producers of bituminous coal in the
United States. In the East there is a token
of the condition Of things in the lower prices
on small contract recently let in Boston
In the starting up Of mills and factories
which are reported from day to day in the
papers of the country there is the sign of
| activity for the miner, carrier and dealer in
coal. On the basis of cost of fuel, there is no
country on the globe where the manufacturer
should be in better condition than in the
United States. The effort of certain of the
unemployed miners in the Pittsburgh district
to bring about Il national or universal strike
will come to naught there is so vast a guam
tity of fuel of equal character and value, ana
if one body of men will not dig it for a given
| price so that the owners can supply the
market Others can he found who will do 50,
and the owners thereof will reap the benefits
accruing.-Coal Trade Jouiwm