The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-19
OUR COUNTRY: First, Last and Forever.
The State OF Trade.

The State OF Trade.
From Stewards Coal journal.
Some of the Anthracite people are
disposed to see an Improvement in
trade. This is no doubt due to the
idea suggested that not over 3,OOO,OOO |
tons be the production for August |
and that then the three following |
months would show an improvement |
in trade and that prices might be
brought up to the list We fancy |
that there will not at any time be
very much above this price obtained, |
and that altogether the net result so
far as prices are concerned may not
be so good as that of 1897, for the
business done in the first half of this
wear surely did not realize an equal
price with that of last year. Unless
there is any very large quantity of
this years production yet remaining
in first hands, directly or Indirectly,
we ought TO be able to market 10000,
600 tons in the fall months.
With tonnage of Anthracite for
July at 3, 76s, 900 tons and estimating
August at not over 3,95O,OOO tons, we
get II total for the eight months this
year of %, 3,2O9, 721. This compares
with "a, 1862, 1896 for last year and 90
59S, 900 tons in 1896 and 2S, 1919, 600 tons
1000, 600 tons per month and one at
5000, 600 tons we shall run the year
out with something like $4,000, 600
tons. or II decrease from last year or
any other recent year Surely with
this ahead OF the producers they
ought to make every effort to hold
prices at the list and not let them
drift away therrfrom at any time dur
ing the remainder Of the year 1898.
Neither the Anthracite Association
or the A. G. O. A. has yet developed
anything which will tend to the bene-
fit of this important industry, the in
terests of which they are supposed to
have at heart. The first is fighting
under the old idea that some good
can come to this business from the
interstate commerce act, while the
latter is only interested so far as
fighting for II greater percentage of
the tide-water price is concerned.
The Anthracite industry must grow
at places short of tide, where the
present rates obtained are seemingly
high rs compared with other com.
modities. If the financial interests
will look into this matter they will
readily see II market for more coal
and that at places on lines where they
are also interested rs common car
riers. On some of these lines the
trade is insignificant because the
rates of freight are more than "th'
traffic will bear"
At Chicago, Anthracite is looking
up a little. There is some reason TO
rejoicing in the fact that inquire
have improved quite material!
within the past few days. They d,
not amount to II general desire to bu!
coal, but they ut least Indicate tina
every one has not yet bought all h,
needs and that some trade remain
for the fall a large tonnage, bu
prices not much higher, seems to b
the outlook for BituminOus coal il
this market. Concerning the larg
tonnage there can be little doubt
Evidences of increased prosperity ar
too numerous and decided to b
ignored. Other lines of industry ar
experiencing the same conditions tina
prevail in coal, namely IA large ton
mage but very close prices.
Seaboard soft coal trade continue
to be reported as in quiet condition
particularly 50 far as the New Eng
land branch is concerned and pricei
are low even for good quality coal. Il
is expected that with the release o
many of the auxiliary fleet which ha
= been-s.l,ole government service, the!
will once more get into commercial
lines and that there will be an in
creased business done in this direC
ton. This will call for the consumT
has teen the case for this purpos
during the past four months.
For some reason or other the pre-
ducers Of Bituminous coal ina certai
district of West Virginia deny tina
they are filling contracts for the II
count of the Pittsburg operators an
the latter seem to acquiesce in I'll
statement. Iu any event, there
considerable coal that is produced I
mines along the lines of the thrt
roads in West Virginia, and on I'll
Kanawha river, that is going beyon
the state to fill trade which was Ina
last year, and something new that Ia
been gained this year.
The strike in the Welsh collieri