The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-14
NEWS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.
Trades and Particularly to the Trade
in Iron, Steel and Anthracite Goal.

Plttston Gazette: At tine Stevens
coHiery. in Exeter borough. the fire in
the culm banl. has been burning 50
flcrcely as 10 destroy the conveyors
by watch the culm was taken to the
bank, and q wooden trestle has been
buiit across the wagon road on the
upper side of the breaker. the culm now
belng dumped on the east side of the
wagon road, The burning culm Is be-
ing banked with earth, in an attempt
To prevent the further spread of the
fire The Stevens company has plans
prepared for Il large new boiler house
of stone and brick, which viii be lalilt
| on the fiat ground ON the upper side
of the breaker, between the office and
the railroad. Thc'present boiler house
Is built on the hill near the top Of the
breaker. There are fire tubular boilers
and five cylinder boilers. The old
tubular hcilers will be removed to the
new building, and two new tubular
boilers added. The plant win be COM
pletc and modern in every respect. In
connection with the boiler house will
be two cisterns-One for Spring Brook
water, and one for mine water which
1t Is necessary at times to use in the
boilers.
The Philadelphia StockhoitSer stated
some weeks ago. on the authority of a
Reading manager, that betterment
of the anthrG cite coal trade would de-
velop early in September. The state
ment was also made that the public
would not he taken into the confidence
of those in authority as to the manner
in which the change was brought
about. II now says the only evidence
that change had occurred would he,
ii was stated, an advance in anthra-
cite coal prices and greater stability
In maintaining them than heretofore
noticeable. The quiet in the trade the
last few weeks has heen in contra st
with the greater activity previously,
with cutting Of prices 4 marked char
acteristic. IN Improvement otherwise
has been remarked, and, as an instance
Of this, it may be mentioned that a
company which has all the time eY-
acted fun prices for its coal, was re-
Gucsted to name a figure for n con-
siGnmcnt the other day, the intending
buyer being one who is noted for eX-
tremely close dealing. The company in
question named what ii considered q
good price, and was much surprised
TO find it accepted without q murnur.
This Is very good evidence that some
OF the roads which had been supplying
the market with cheap coal are not
doing so any longer. But the an
requirement. yesterday that the Read
ing and the Lehigh Valley had made
| an advance Of from ; to - cents per
ton on all sizes of coal at the mines
eycept pea emphasizes are change for
the better in the trade. The prcsump-
tion Is that similar action win be taken
by the Pennsylvania and the Lchigh
y u los -
Reading and the Lehigh Valley. The
new prices which apply to city and
line trade only, are as follows: Broken,
Sl,S5; egg. 80 stove, s2.25: nut, s1.S5.
Although an advance on those ruling
for the last three months, these prices
are from % to 80 cents below those
cuir5Nt al this time last year. Com
pared with prices at which some of the
companies haV" been selling the pres
ent advance is, however. in some in
stances as high as % cents a ton. An
the companies, especially the Reading.
are understood to have large orders
on hand, ard the expectation is that
the demand will increase from this out.
those having delayed buying up to this
time being likely to make contracts
now for delivery through apprehension
that the rise in coal may develop char
actoristics similar to those present in
the iron and steel trades. The promise
Of better things for all the anthracite
coal-producing and carrying companies
Is at any rate more hopeful now than
at any other time for months. and our
belief is that the earnings of the COM
panics are likely to materially incrca SO
this fall and the coming.spring, with n
coincidental advance in their sccuri-
ties.