The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-10
ANTHRACITE COAL.

The current number of the Engineering
and Mining journal says of the anthracite
coal trade: THE weather during the
greater part of the weeks has been alto
gether too sultry to tempt buyers along
the Atlantic soaboard to rush i'm orders.
They realize that with a production of
over 100000 tons last month-it is said
that the September output was about
250OOO-and a contemplated output of
close on to 4500, 90 this month, any talk OF
higher prices by producers is largely blum.
In fact, sales agents generally are dis
posed to admit that they will be salts
fed to dispose of their coal at circular
quotations. Still yards at seaboard points
are low, and a sudden cold wave might
bring higher prices for immediate de-
livery. At New York it is estimated that
179 yards, with II capacity of 52S,O0O tons.
in September contain on an average hut
about $4,000 tons, or Is per cent. of their
capacity. At Boston prices are badly out
of shape and dealers are buying only for
immediate needs, while at Philadelphia
trade is still light for this season of the
year. Prospects are much brighter in the
west, a season OF prosperity allows many
people to think of luXuries this fail.
Among these is better fuel The low
prices made on anthracite in July slim
ulated this feeling, and. as result
great many more people will burn anthra-
cite this winter than last. 1t is estimated
that over 100000 tons are on the docks At
the head of the lakes. At Chicago prices
are little nearer circular figures than
week ago, and the trade awaits cold
weather Taking the trade as whole, 1t
is evident that the market is still in good
shape for healthy business this winter
provided that some road does not get inn
patient or try to make a tonnage show
ing at the expense of Its rivals. IL a
break comes prices may go down to al
most any point, At New York there is
talk of cuts, and conditions have favored
buyers. Prices for free-burning white
ASH free on board range from $3.7O TO S4
but it is stated but little coal has been
sold by the large companies for less than
$3.50, their prices rar ging from this to The
circular figures. Other prepared sizes are
in propoTtion. The steam sizes are get
ting cheaper II Is tated on good author
ity that the hest of pea can now be had
for S22j, but We quote: Pea, s2aS2..O;
huckwheat, $l.6Oal90; rice, $.3OaljO."
on the West Side, in New York city,
there are seVenty-one yards, with a ca
pacity of 10000 tons During September,
these yards contained only $4,000 tons of
coal, or ~ per cent. of their capacity. On
| the East Side, including the Harlem rive'
| front there are lpS yards with a capacity
! If 2IS,0l0 IONS. These yards contained g.
| "1 tons last month. or Il per cent. of their
| capacity. This makes a general average
| Of Is per cent. OF the capacity, whereas
! the nol NAL should reach 90 per cent. The
| average workman can mine three tons of
| coal per day; that is, If he is given the
| opportunity to do so. To fill the capacity
! of New Yorks coal yards would afford
work to one miner for 1861 900 days, or OOO
men for 1866 days. This means winter :
| employment for "A fairly sood-siZed min
| ing community, merely to fill that citys
| coal yards when the cold weather sets IN
l. The most conclusive argument for the
use of anthracite coal on steamships IS
| furnished by the constantly recurring
| cases OF spontaneous combustion arising
| from the use of bitumnous coal. The
| latest instance of this is that OF the
| United States transport Obdam, which
! left Santiago with sick soldiers on Oct. /
| but was obliged TO put back 10 that port
/ on Oct. with the coal in her bunkers on
Are. The experience of the OLDHAM is not
an unusual one. The announcement that
In addition to her human freight the OBJ
dam carried large amount OF ammuni'
tion shows what a great risk was run
and what great peril was averted. AC.
| cording TO the tenor of the telegraph;
| dispatch the fire had not been brouSnt
| under ccntrol when the steamer reached
| Santiago .-phila delphia Record