The evening times., 1895-08-07
'6IIIT9 bHIIRs | ton
So. r>
Coal 0peiatnE@ lnuralizst and
Goat Takes a Big Drop.
OPERATORS CANNOT AGREE
A Bitter War Be. Individual
Operators aud the Transportation
Companies May Greatly Benefit Com
sumers-one l,iiiion Bushels ON the
Market At Two DolIars Ton.

Philadelphia, Aug. 7.-Itwin rot greatly
distress the people at large. who are con-
sumers OF coal. to know that TIE disfensions
of individual operators in the anthracite
region may result in materially reducing
the price OF coal. An overstocked market.
unccasing production, and the apparent
impOssibility of an understanding be-
tween operators. arc the reasons.
1t is asserted that Tiers is not single
interest that is making money at the
present prices, however, and 1t is not
question OF how much money the COM
panies are making, but how much money
they are losing.
TWO DOLLARS A TON.
The individual oper. tors, realizing the
gravity of the situation, aud having con-
sidered the refusal OF tie coal-carrying
roads to limit the supply of anthracite
coal. have decided, it is said, to place
/ 900 900 tons OF coal on the market at
a valuation OF So ton, in order TO force
the carriers to place some restrictions
upon the excessive output. The local coal
operators, however, hud that the carriers
could not be influenced by any such move
on the part of tie individual operators,
and say 1t Is rot bkely that such a plan
would be adopted.
AN OPERATORS OPINION.
In speaking OF the condition of the ,oal
trade, . local operator said that the bust
ness would be eventually ruined unless the
coal-carrying companies entered into an
agreement TO limit the output. which. at
the present time, is much greater than
ever before He stated that the excess in
production had brought about the present
condition OF affairs in the anthracite coal
trade, and as long as ;he production ex-
ceeds the deniacd, tns rficcs i.iGst seek
lower level. The railroads, he con-
tended, wei . 4artly to b,ame for the mat
ter. aud un.,ss the trade difficulties are
speedily adjusted, the degeueracy of the
coal business must follow
~ ..- IMMENSE OUTPUT.
The combined output of the coIlieries.
be said, was about 5000 900 tons of an
thracfte per month, which is equal to CO.,
100000 tons for the year. All that is
needed for consumption is about 5000 600
tomper;nontb, whiehsho wsthat thecountry
could get along ON q yearly output OF from
36. 900 900 10 40, ,6G0, 900 tons. The coal
sales agents. hesaid, were also to taIne for
the existing trade difficulties, as few of
them cared to abide by their agreements.
and did ifot nesflst3 tdviols4e.the ~ 9tt,sGis.
made with one anothet -
EVERYBODY LOSING.
There is not a single Interest that is
making money by tiic operation" he Con-
unued, but ON, the Other hand, the COM
panies are sinking money every day.
From uow until the trade is rehabil-
itated it will be a question of how much
money can b, lost Several OF the oper-
ators have realized this and some Of the
.oiiieriss have been closed DOWN AS long
as the agitation continues buyers will
hold off with the hope Of getting cheaper
coal. their argument being that prices will
90 stu 10 wer il the differences are not ad-
a,steds ,FeAv OF the companies are taking
orders for deliveries beyond September /.
1T ciirfaut prices.
"IMsy1reenutioT Is being taken Tor the
reason that no one cares to lay in a big
supply OF coal only To see the prices go slid
ing off again, as this would mean no end OF
financial loss. There seems to be Ro fixed
price. and all orders are being shipped on
terms subject to carceliation at any time"
Another individual operator said he
thought efforts would be made to rehabili-
tate the coal trade, as matters could not con-
tinue in the same condition much longer.
He said that all interests realize that
something must be done to save the trade
from Inevitable bankruptcy.