The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-04
BULLETIN ABOUT
THE COAL TRADE
Issued from the Headquarters Of the
Anthracite Association.
WORD AS TO MARKET CONDITIONS
Danger from Competition with Btu.
minOus Coal aud Gas Is No Idle
BugabOO hut a Real Condition That
Must BE Seriously Considered.
Production During October Was in
Excess of Demand.

Below is given bulletin issued by
the Anthracite Coal Operators assoc
citation from the New York headQuar-
ters OF the association. II is as follows:
The meeting of the association, held
october l4th, was made interesting
both by the number of members pres
ent and the two valuable papers read.
These We're ordered printed and are
sent To the members herewith. AT
tention is also called to the commune
cation from Mr.. John &. Haddock rela-
tive to the effect on the market of the
large amount of small coal produced at
the WaSheries. This is a matter of
considerable Importance. and with
view to possibly taking .some action
upon 1t, the members are asked to dis
cuss it in these letters.
This publication of the association
furnishes an excellent means for any
member to bring to the attention of
other operators matters which they
may feel should he discussed or acted
upon for the benefit of the anthracite
trade.
The market conditions are such
now that 1t is a question of only a
snort time before it will become i'm
perative to take, either with the aid
ana cooperation of the railroad; sales
agents or by the association alone. some
decisive steps to strengthen the posi-
tloh Of anthracite. particularly the
small steam sizes. The time is rapidly
nearing an end when anthracite can he
regarded as necessity and unless rad
ical changes are instituted it may. be-
fore long. take the position that Welsh
anthacite holds in England-a luxury.
III is choice between this or bringing
the consumers cost nearer to the oper-
atOrS' returns
AS already stated i'm these letters. II
would be an easy matter to prove that
the greatest and. i'm fact, nearly all the
profits which may have been made i'm
the anthracite trade have gone to the
carrying railroads and the mddemen.
The operator. who risks everything in
his Investments in lands, buildings and
machinery: in developing and operat-
ing. often under the most adverse con-
dltlonS and al great risks through un-
forSeen natural causes; has difficulties
requiring the highest skill and intelli-
gence to overcome, and is blamed for
every disturbance in the trade: has
been fortunate if, during the good
times he has made the interest on his
investment. There is too great a diff
ference between the price he received
and that the consumer pays. and the
association can do no greater good for
the anthracite interests than by sug-
geStlng some way in which the Stua-
tiOn can he bcttered.
THE danger from competition with
hituminous coal and gas is no idle
bugahoo.' hut very real condition that
IT menace To every producer and own
er of anthracite coal.
During the past month the produce
tion has again been in excess of the de-
mand and consequently there has been
the same farce of fixed circular
price and an elastic selling price. The
two are far apart. and so long as the
salcS-agentS continue in their belief
that the consumer must take all the
coal they choose to send there will he
no change for the better.
why are certain of the sales-agents
persistently increasing the already ex-
cessive shipments over their lines, i'm
violation of every law of supply and
demand. to say nothing of equity
while others have endeavOred to keen
within the needs of consumption: II
Is senseless reasoning which finds an
excuse in the past errors of others. Evil
IDENTIFY the efforts made i'm July have
been q failure"