The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-19
INDUSTRIAL.

Philadelphia Stockholder: Although an
attempt has been made to create the i'm
preston that the anthracite coal trade
shows Improvement. unbiased opinion Is
that matters are unsatisfactory now as
and possibly more SO than-at any recent
period. When the presidents Of the pro-
ducing companies got together in New
York last week 1t was thought that an
agreement had been reached to mine only
three days out of the seven. The Delaware
and Hudson. which took an Independent
stand, furnished a loop-hole for others to
work out Of the agreement, and as the
meter stands today, the IIackawanna and
the Pennsylvania railroads are the only
companies mining but three days a week.
AS to the Jersey Central, the Reading, the
Lehgh Valley, the Erie and the Penn
sylvania Coal companies. they are un-
derstood to be willing to restrict provided
the action is unanimous. They charge the
Delaware and Hudson with being the un-
settling factor, and 30 on mining ad lib.
With the trade In its present condition
1t seems, however, as If an agreement on
the part of all the producing companies
must be speedily reached to cut the out
put. Even with mining three days out Of
the seven, there would be production in
normal winter weather of 35OOO0OO tons
trade could absorb this tonnage, but not
more. The nominal circular is now 81, or
say, 80 cents a ton above actual prices.
-::-
New York, Dec. 1S.-It can be stated
on the authority of the presidents of all
the larger anthracite coal railroads that
the matter of restricting the production
three days a week has not been definitely
acted upon. President ]. Rogers Max
well, of the New Jersey Central, reiter-
ated the statement made by other repre-
sentative officials on this point. The more
conservative companies, in default of an
agreement, will confine their sales to fig
ures that at least will insure their getting
back new dollar for an old one. The
financial community was disposed to ac-
cept the first announcement of the consid-
GRAFTON to restrict the tonnage to three
working day ys-weekly basis. AS a matter
of fact the three-days-a-week plan has
rarely been lived up to, even when agreed
upon, and the companies have demon
strated their ability to mine, by unremit-
ting work in the three days. as much coal
as would be put out in five days under Or
dinay conditions. Meantime. most of
the companies show a disposition to get
together and an effective understanding
as to restriction might readily be reached.
The publication of the Reading reorgan-
ization plan may exert some influence on
the situation. Good stove coal Is now sell
ing wholesale at $3.50 per tone. free on
board, and other sizes in proportion. This
is G5 cents below the circular.
--:lI:-
scheme to ship 100000 tons of an
thracite coal to Germany has been pro-
mulgated by Herman Barring, Of Wilkes
Barre, and he feels confident of success.
A few months ago Mr.. Barring made a
tour Of Europe. While at Leipsic. Ger
many, he found that the people of that
city were badly In need of fuel. During
the long winter nights the most of them
are compelled to do without fire. The price
Of wood, which is very scarce is enor-
nous, and the poor are forced to build
fires out Of a peat similar to that used
in Ireland. The English ship bituminous
coal to Germany, which retails at Leipsic
for sS.25 a ton, making 1t an impossible
luxury for the poor. The wealthy classes
who can afford to burn 1t say that 1t Is
ill-smelling and dirty. much more so
than the article mined in Germany. A
number of, capitalists spoke to Mr.. Bar
ring concerning the feasibility of ship
ping the Pennsylvania anthracite to the
German empire Mr.. Barring had a con-
ference with a number of prominent coal
operators, and he says that If he can have
the freights sufficiently reduced to enable
him to sell anthracite coal in Leipsic as
low as the English bituminous, there Is no
reason whatever why he should not ship
10, 900, 900 tons annually to that country.
-:ll:-
Wilkes-Barre Leader: Mr.. Mitchell,
Superintendent of the Lehigh Valley rail-
road Wyoming. division, said yesterday
that freight traffic on that road had in
creased to the point of record breaking
within the past few weeks. This Is due
largely. to the Christmas trade, which
makes 1t lively for the railroads always.
Passenger traffic is also good. A little
later Mr.. Vandlng, general freight agent
for the Delaware and Hudson railroad,
was seen at his office and he had the
same cheering piece Of news. YES" he
said, 1--WE are doing better now than ever.
Traffic was never better. We are ham
ding an immense amount of freight and
additional trains are needed" The OFF,
cials of the New Jersey Central railroad
report and increased carriage Of freight
over that road. having about doubled the
amount of freight business over thst of
two months ago. The holiday goods are
being rushed over the road as fast as they
can be handled.
-:lI:-
/. The output OF the Connellsville region
showed an advance Of 1900 tons for last
week over the previous one. An investiga-,
ton Of the short weights so frequently
occurring and sometimes reaching as high
as 300 pounds on consignment, reveals
she fact that the railroads were to blame
for carelessness in weighing. Henceforth
the railroad weights will not be accepted
until verified. e$ H
81 ~ -:li:- ~ ~.
The Readings coal tonnage for the week
ended Dec IA, amounded to 800, S53 tons, an
increase over the same week last year OF
35,325 tons. For the fiscal year to date
shipments have aggregated 57S,S39 tons.
an increase over the corresponding period
last year of GA. 1921 tons.
H- -:I:-
At present there Is more or less shading
of prices for anthracite coal at New York
harbor, but the prices to the local line and
city trades are being pretty we'll main
tanned and the only cutting of conse-
quence reported Is being done by the I'm
dividual operators.
tilt
The coal shipments over the Hunting
don and Broad Top railroad last week
were 57,142 tons. an increase of S.O97 tons
oves the same week last year. For the
year to date the shipments are 2,3O2, 33;4
tons, an increase of 2SS, ,394 tons.
--S
Chicago Live Stock.
Union Stock Yards, Dec. 1S-Cattle-Re-
ceipts,, 1900 head; market steady; COM
mon to extra steers. S3.1Oa5.5 so; stockers
and feeders, $2.40a3.65; COWS and bulls,
80 rh.u gA. 0.Sox Sn Yn.s q ~