The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-04
PROSPECT OF Good TINES
Coal Trade Is Now in q Most Pros
perCus Condition.
1T PROMISES TO CONTINUE so
to Mine as Much Coal rs II Could
Market on Account of tho
Scarcity OF Cars.

There is every indication that the
present prosperous condition of the
coal business will continue for at least
six months and possibly longer. The
rush that is now on Is in no wise the
result OF buyers stocking up In cheap
market. as was the case in some former
coal booms. for coal Is now anything
but cheap. 1t is solely due to Il scare
ity vergirg on a famine Of coal in the
hands of the dealers.
During the summer, when coal was
being sold in HOboken as cheap as
it was being delivered to customers
here, the buyers believed that there
was a glut in the market and that the
very bottom would drop out OF coal
prices. Relying on this belief they held
off until the last moment and when de-
mands for coal began to come In they
found themselves without 1t and with
out a place to get it. Now they are
paying whatever the companies see fit
any terms.
Neither the Delaware, Lackawanna
and western nor Delaware and Hud-
son have any coal stored up at their
termini and very few of their connect
ing roads have as yet secured their
support for the winter. AS a conse-
quence coal Is being turned into ashes,
1t might be said, as soon as 1t leaves
the cOllieries. Only one connecting
road Of the Delaware and Hudson has
anything like supply of coal on hand.
Road That Was In Luck.
This road, which serves two Of the
New England states. was persuaded by
Delaware and Hudson coal agent to
take a large shipment of coal during
the summer, the agent, by way of as
surance, promising to make good the
difference II coal could be bought on
Oct. 15 cheaper than at that time. This
particular railroad Is now calling down
benedictions on the head of the san
guine coal agent. They have coal to
burn while their competitors cannot
begin to get their orders filled.
The Delaware. Lackawanna and
Western is getting by far the best of
the boom. as the Delaware and Hudson
is doubly handicapped: first, by the
drying up of their canal, and secondly
by the scarcity of cars. Even though
the boats were able to run the company
would still be handicapped, as they are
pursuing the fair policy Of giving all
their widely scattered customers n
share Of their output instead of selfish
ly selling to the handiest market.
In addition to this their connecting
roads are making use of the Delaware
and Hudson cars. willingly paying the
rent and per diem penalty, while the
Delaware and Hudson road Is so situ-
ated that they do not get a chance to
! borrow, or. more emphatically speak
ing steal other companies cars. II
Is not to be understood that the Della
ware and Hudson does not own a sufIi-
Client number of cars to do their busi-
ness, for this Is by no means true. The
company has a full equipment Of roll
ing stock, but for the reason above
stated cannot enjoy the full use of 1t.
VIII Continue Until Next June.
J. George Eisele, OF the Delaware and
Hudson shipping department. one OF
the shrewdest and most far-sighted
coal men of the region. Is authority for
the prophecy that the present boom will
until at least June /. During the early
summer Mr. Eisele prophesied the pres
ent rush so his forecast should bear
weight with the miners.
The continuance Of the boom In the
coal trade will be good thing for bust.
ness throughout this valley. Already
trade is beginning to feel the impetus
due to the increased amount OF money
being disbursed by the large mining
companies for the work done during
| October.
But for the scarcity OF pig iron, the
steel mills of the city would be work
Ing steadily day and night AS 1t Is
much time Is lost because the
Lackawanna Iron and Steel company Is
unable to secure an adequate supply OF
pig iron Of grade to suit its purposes