The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
ATrHRAc1rE oUTLooK 8RroHr
statistics Tor the Paut eiu Months 1ndicate n
Improybment 70 Gene.

Improvement 70 Couae.
The statistics of tho anthracite coal produc-
| tion for Juno and for tho six months Of 1897
ending with Juno 30, with the deductions that
may DO drawn from them, nre extremely en-
souraging FOR the great coal companies and coal.
carrying railroads. Tho output for juno was
1920, 900 tons, n decrease of 394, 100 tons rs
compared with the somc month in 1885,, and n
decrease or S57,6 GA tons as compared with
juno. 1906. The total shipments for the six
months to Juno 80 aggregated 10, loo,o 900 tons,
as against 1898, 5i9 tons for tho correspond
ing period last year, a decrease Of 2,79s, 54S
tons.
1t is fair to assume that the small shipments
Of the last six months arc not duo to any equiva-
lent falling off In the matter Of consumption
but only to curtailments Of purchase which have
been brought about by greater concert in the
action of the companies, and as u consequence
the balance Of tho year must sec an enormous
amount of coal mined and shipped to bring the
iio,al amount will be no one can predict VIII
anything like accuracy, for the figures of tho
Ten years ago the country was using more
than 10000, 900. tons of anthracite coal each
year and the tendency then seemed TO DO toward
an increase at the rate Of 10 per cent. q year.
II such n ratio had boon kept up the amount
now in demand would be more than &c. DOC, 900
tons. Instead of this the amount mined in
1920 was 46,ooc,o 600 tons and in 1896 10000
/ The business was on an unsound basis, and
the effort of overy operator to take advantage
of every chance for u sale kept prices down, and
although there was an Improvement in this re-
spect in 1896 over 1898 to an extent of perhaps
40 cents. n ton, such big coal roads as the Cen
trail Railroad of New Jersey and the Delaware
dends. Jersey Central's dividends fell from 8
per cent. To per cent, and Delaware and Hud-
1t seems certain. however, that the total hard
coal consumption cannot fall below the figures
Of last year, and IL this proves true, there are
shipped before Dec. 81. This would DO l,5O0,-
600 tons a month to be distributed in an even
roads. II With this coming business there was
also to he expected a lowering OF prices or n
failure to uphold a t fair prize prize; then IT. the ., outlook
But this seems to he far from the case. Prices
arc ruling stronger and nearer TO the card rates
coal has been sold recently at ~ 10 u ton not,
and the companies declare that In August they
expect to receive the full July circular rate
One OF the causes which have led to the small
shipments OF coal in the last few months is the
used TO extend to dealers. 1t had been tho rulo
TO let these dealers MI their yards with coal
found themselves hard pressed to carry ali Of
these accounts last year and they have put In
operation a dissemination ma at which they ar mr.,
effect OF this is that now when the heavy fall
sales are about to begin there Is little coal III
blBht. htIp II iioIU ~ Wv biiito ~ IN Nv
big coal pockets, and the Anthracite Operators
Association found after examining nearly 100
coal yards in this city that they contained only
40, 600 tons. or ls per cent. of their half million
tons capacity. THIS is believed to be II fair in,
diuation of the yards along the whole sCaboard.
When the demand for fall begins. 1t will then.
apparently, set all the miners at work and tax
the resources OF railroads and shipping dock.
Many strong dealers, are sad to he following
their old tactics and holding of from placing
their orders on the hope Of breaking the price,
us they have done many times before, but the
operators declare that this can hardly happen
this year, because Of tho circumstances just de
scribed. 1t is confidently believed that IN
average rate can he obtained for the coal yet ia
come TO market of 90 cents u ton higher than
il was last year.
II this proves true the result will be of vas,
benefit 10 both operators and the coal roads
Under their agreements the railroads and OPP
orators share the price of the coal in proper
tions Of 10 per cent. to the railroads and 40 pei
cent. to the operators. An advance OF 80 cents
n ton therefore means n clear gain OF :0 cents
to the railroads for every ton hauled. and where
the railroads are also tho mine owners. as is the
case with many OF them, the whole increase in
price Is their gain.