The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-19
NINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.

The Reading company's recent ex-
pertinent in washing its culm banks
seems, according to the Shamokin Dis
patch, to have proved a success as the
washeries already erected are working
steadily, turning out large quantities of
excellent coal while new plants are be-
ginning to bob up with surprising
quickness in places where the company
owns culm banks which were hereto
fore thought to be wholly useless. 1t is,
therefore, safe to say that it will not be
long until the culm washery takes a
prominent place among the industries
of the country, for a time at least.
Much advance has been made in the
transportation of perishable articles by
rail, but in no respect more than IN
shipments of fruits and vegetables in
winter weather. Shippers and agents
concur in the statement that danger In
transportation by freezing has been
practically eliminated in the shipment
of produce by modern methods. The
lined car now sutiices in the cool
weather Of spring and fall and usually
during the winter, while in extreme
weather the Eastman heater car Is
brought into use. 1t is stated that
carload Of potatoes or apples will WITH
stand q lower temperature when the
car is in motion than when at rest.
Saws Saward: "Viewed from the
standpoint of the producer there is
tone Of better trade conditions SO far
as the anthracite coal business IS CON
cerned. The restriction OF the output
is tending toward Strengthening OF
the price list recently agreed upon FOR
oil fnfC L.
therefore, that the very wise conclusion
come to in regard to keeping the sup
ply within the demand is the proper
basis upon which to regulate this I'M
portant trade. 1t apears that all are
acting in unison upon this matter, ana
the returns prove conclusively that the
producers are once more the masters
of the situation. With the ability 10
do so, 1t sometimes appears strange
that it is not always so maintained,
but there are times when the desire TO
make tonnage record for some purpose
or other outweighs the possibility OF
securing a price for the commodity
that is in keeping with its intrinsic
value. Perchance this was the case
during the months Of June and July,
and one may readily see from the aver
age price realized whether it was wise
course to adopt.
"In the northwest there is change
for the better in trade conditions; an
thracite is moving in that territory
with something of its old-time vim.
Local deliveries are maintained in good
volume, and decidedly active demand
Is in progress from the country. On
the Chicago market also there is
steadier tone as the season approaches
its close. Such, indeed, is the situation
in anthracite after fourteen days test
of the market since the advance, ana II
will be the fault Of the producers
agents themselves If they do not hold
prices steady on all new business. On
the New York market there is firmer
feeling to the anthracite trade, but II
cannot be said to have any of that
October snap to it which is usually the
case at this season Of the year. There
Is a good amount of coal on orders out
side of the city, but 1t is evident that
the retailers have supplies which they
must get rid of before there Is any
great demand upon the wholesalers
some of the special Goals are scarce
such as red ash and egg and smaller
steam sizes. The market is one de-
pendent upon climatic changes, and the
cooler tlnge is making the Philadelphia
trade slightly more active than 1t was
prices are firmer for all sizes of anthra-
cite for the line and city trade, al
though not yet up to the list price"
Watson Moore, who Is in charge Of q
lokie at the Yorktown colliery, has NJ
equal as an ingenious mechanic on tht
South Side, says the Hazleton Standard
and the position he holds is far be
meath his qualifications. Mr.. Moore
takes special delight in constructing
miniature engines, of which he has 9
half dozen at his home. His most per
feet achievement in this line is a half
horse power stationary engine with z
boiler and all modern appliances at
tached. The engine is run by steam anC
performs the work for which 1t was
designed, that of propelling a small
lathe, in a satisfactory manner. 1t is
chiefly constructed of brass and every
piece of machinery is Of such a delicate
finish and so ingeniously contrived tha
Il person would consider it almost i'm
possible for any man to complete under
the circumstances.
Mr. Eastwick, of the firm of Eastwicl
e. Harrison, of Shamokin, was the en-
gineer on the locomotive North STAR
which pulled the first train of cars anC
passengers into Sunbury in the earl!
part Of June, 1S3S-nearly sixty years
ago. The locomotive was built il
philadelphia by Mr.. Eastwick anC
Shipped to Sunbury by canal. At Sun
bury 1t was unloaded, put together ant
hauled to Shamokin by horsepower
where 1t was fitted up for running. TIL,
day the trial trip was to be made was {
great day for Shamokin, and, in fact
for all the people along the entire rout
TO Sunbury. The town was thronget
with folks from all parts anxious t,
get look at the wonderful machine.
Representatives of the Trunk line ant
Western Passenger association hav
made some progress in the direction o
settlement Of existing differences, an,
committee has been appointed to con
slider the question and make an adjust
ment. For the present, the bushes
connected with the two association
will be conducted as formerly, and n
new difficulties are expected to develop
The existing troubles may be stated a
follows: The Trunk line association oh
jected to the encr6achmentso the West
ern Passenger association in the mat
ter of immigrant business and claime
that the Western people demanded NOR
than they were entitled to. The wester
roads have also been selling ticket
direct to immigrants, under whc
the Trunk line received no credit TO
that part of the business over thei
lines. Another conference will be hel
two weeks hence, when all difference
will doubtless be settled The manager
fully realize the necessity of obtainin
full schedulerates wherever possible, an
as operating expenses have been reduce
about as low as possible, an earnes
effort will be made to increase incom
by bringing about an advance in rate
wherever possible. The passenger bus
iness is of secondary constellation, a
the principal revenue Is derived fror
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