The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-22

llappsaiaes OF Interest TO the staple
Trades and Particularly TO the Trade
in Iron. Steel aud Anthracite Coal.

The Engineering and Mining Journal
Is dissatisfied with the present method
OF collecting statistics concerning the
anthracite trade. 1t finds fault with the
weekly and monthly statements OF the
Bureau of Anthracite Statistics because
they are not detailed. 'The difference
between stove coal and the steam
Sizes" II remarks. "is almost as great
as between anthracite and bituminous.
and yet this trade Is content to go on
without knowing the production OF each
of the different sizes, stove. broken,
egg. chestnut. pea, buckwheat. rice,
etc, when such knowledge would rem
der practicable the solution of problems
the existance of which il partly respon-
sible for the present unsettled condi-
tion Of the market The sales agents
of the different companies meet monthly
and suggest what they think the de-
mand. in the gross. is likely to be dur
ing the following month. Stove and
chestnut being strictly competitive for
the domestic market, 1t follows that the
cOnsumptive demand for these sizes OF
all others should be known, and the
production regulated thereby. Stili.
statistics of production are Jumped, and
we know only that so many tons OF coal
were shipped during a certain period,
as If all sizes We're commercially OF the
same Importance. It's this fact which
renders fruitless the present manner or
restricting. The trade has no figure to
show where and in what quantities an
thracite Is sold. or how much Of domes-
tic or how much of the steam sizes Is
sold in each of the large cities, when
such figures would render feasible the
correction OF eXcesses. In many cases
unintemtional, from the result of which
producers are suffering today. Neither
are statistics of distribution available.
The anthracite market Is not all COM
pedi,ive. Each company has certain
amount of non-competitive line trade.
IT, therefore, the anthracite interests
knew how much domestic coal was re-
served by each for its local trade, the
competitive business to squable over
would be greatly reduced. There are
also places where only two or three
companies compete; by having accurate
statistics by sizes an am!cable under
standing among these few would be
comparatively easy. BY the ellmina-
tion from the vexed problem Of per-
centages of allotment of this non-com-
petitive and semi-competitive tonnage,
which in the aggregate is very large.
we would find dihat instead of fighting
over the apportionment of, say. 45,O0o,-
900 tons annually. there need be consid-
cred but one-half that amount, and per-
haps even less"
Philadelphia Stakeholder: 1.-The Le-
high Valley Railroad company is today
tion than at any time since before the
lease to the Reading company. Not
wfthstanding the decentralization which
has so long existed In the anthracite
coal trade and the low freight rates on
and prices of coal, the company's earn
ings have steadily increased, and a
small surplus has been earned so far
this year. Whether or not the manage
ment will return to its stockholders be-
fore the end of the year depends largely
upon future conditions in the'coal trade.
There is no doubt that a dividend would
be paid were a settlement of existing
troubles promptly reached, but It would
be unwise for the company to pay such
dividend while present low prices and
rates continue. The recent bond sale
has materially strengthened the COM
pany's financial position. as it relieves
it of It's floating debt and provides am
pie means for improving and EXTEND
ing the property.