The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-12
INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.

B. Frank Hunter, who has been act
ing assistant treasurer of the Pennsyl
vania railroad, has been elected assist
ant treasurer of that company.
The Carnegie Steel company has been
asked by the Swedish government to
bid for the construction Of armor plate
for the new battleship, which Sweden
is about to construct.
President Wilbur, of the Lehigh Val
ley, has replied to the request of the
Evans X. Dick company for representa-
| ton on the board of directors. AS was
anticipated the request was refused.
The Baldwin Locomotive works of
Philadelphia have shipped two locomo-
tives to the Trans-Caucasian State
Railway. The works have orders on
their books for locomotives for South
America, as well as for number of
railroads in this country.
Coke production for the closing week
of 1894 in the Connellsvile region reach
ed 15l. .462 tons, the highest output of
the year. The previous week it passed
the 100000 mark for the first time in
the year. The total production of the
| region for 1894 was greater than that of
1898.
Anthracite coal interests in Philadel-
phia characterize rumors of coal sell
ing agency designed to handle the an
| thracite products of the country, as
absurd. They say it would require cap
ital of some $4,000, 600 or $50, 900, 900 to
work the scheme. Moreover, leading
interests would refuse to surrender
their identity. The greatest obstacle,
however, would be Legislative Opposi-
a 10,
listing laws.
James Nj. Swank, general manager of
the American Iron and Steel associa-
ton, and a high authority on the iron
and steel trades says in recent issue
of the Bulletin of the Association: For
the iron trade there is today the hope
full view that the demand for iron and
steel, except for steel rails, Is much
larger than it was a few months ago,
and that prices have fallen so low that
they can scarcely fall any lower. Taken
together, these two conditions give sup
port to the theory that prices must
soon advance, and when prices begin to
| advance consumption will increase, re-
versing the usual rule. Our own judg-
ment Is that the business situation
must from this time forth gradually
improve. We look for more industrial
activity in 1895 than in 1893 or 1894"
The statement of shipments of an
thracite coal (approXimateD for the
week ended Jan. 3 shows that the COM
panies up to that time had closely OBJ
| served the restrictive agreement Ship
ments for the week were 545, GA tons, a
decrease compared with the same week
| last year of 49, 1914 tons. The average,
| on a basis of seven days a week, was
| 77,95S tons daily, and If not increased
the months output agreed upon-about
| 2,3OO0OO tons-will reach only 2,416,54S
tons. There is no doubt that the COM
panies are now using some of their sur
plus stocks. The Philadelphia Stock
| holder Is informed by wholly reliable
source that more coal, since the first
| Cf the year. is being sold than mined.
| Trade is still waiting, however, proba-
| bly, on the report of the subcommittee
| appointed at the recent meeting of the
sales agents.
S. B. Bennett, Of West Pittston, tells
| the Wilkes-Barre Record that among
| the plans discussed by the Anthracite
| Individual operators at Philadelphia
Wednesday was one for mutual in
surance among the individual opera
| tors. They complain that the rates of
the old line companies are far too high
| for such extensive insurance as coal
companies must carry and plans for a
mutual insurance scheme were placed
in the hands of a committee of which
w. II. Smith, of Scranton, is chair
| man. This committee has been going
about the mines and getting together
the insurance statistics of the compa-
MES in order to report a plan at flu
ture meeting. 1t is thought that rates
according to this cooperative plan will
be considerably cheapened. AS to the
| condition of the coal trade no action
was taken for the reason that no re-
port was received from the presidents
of the railroads who are trying to
evolve some plan for putting it upon a
better basis. There We're present at the
meeting from this region S. l.. Brown,
Charles Parrish and Morgan b. Will
Jams. Of Wilkes-Barre; S. b. Bennett
and ]. l.. Cake, of West Pittston; w. II.
Hollister, Of Avoca; o. w. Bump, of
Corning, n. Y; Joseph and George
Jermyn, C. ID. Simpson, Thomas II.
Watkins, o. IL. Johnson and w. T..
Smith, of Scranton.