The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

During the past month the market mas
become stronger as to prices, but sales
hae been slow At the commencement Of
the month, it was expected that ship
ments would be within the current de-
mand enough to permit moving some of
the coal to be stocked during the pre-
Nious months. This expectation has been
realized to some extent, but the effect
of the better balance between production
and consumption has, as vet, hardly be-
come apparent
There has been an advance in prices, in
asmuCh as some exceptionally low fig
ures named I'm the early part of the
month have been withdrawn. but no ma
terlal change has taken place in the cur
rent prices, nor is ii excepted until some
of the low sales already made have been
worked off.
1t is@apparent however. that the market
is in a much better position than could
have been anticipated month since. The
general tendency is toward higher price
irrespective of any circulars There are
no excessively large stocks being car
ried by the sellers, and, owing to the
uncertainties of the past few months
dealers have but small supplies on hand
Consequently, their purchases must be
comparatively steady, since they will
nearly all be for immediate consumption
There is an unusual scarcity of pea coal
and through this there will likely be an
increased demand for chestnut. though
this latter for the first time in several
years, has of itself been somewhat scarce.
The outlook for January seems to favor
continuance OF the present conditions
There Is little doubt but that the pro-
duction will not exceed 5000 900 tons, or
possibly not above $500 900 tons Just suf-
ncient to meet the demand and, while
no very radical change may be expected
this will undoubtedly result in increasing
hrmness in the market and a steady gain
in prices
YEAR WILL BE PROSPEROUS.
Viewing the anthracite industry either
in the light of its commercial condition
with reference TO the promising outlook
Of the general business of the country.
or from its statistical side. there seems
the best grounds for believing that the
coming year will prove a prosperous one.
1t may not be amiss to express the hope
that, during the coming year further
progress may be made in adding to the
small fund of specific information as 10
the indusary and its markets. 1t is
probable that more knowledge of these
matters would aid in solving some of the
NeNing questions which often arise, and
thus help to establish the trade on a
sounder basis. In the matter of the dis
tloutlon of the product as to quantity,
the only information available is an es-
INNATE based on the census report OF
1879 and incomplete returns since that
time. ana no estimate can be given OF
the distribution of the various sizes.
III Is known that there has been a
change In the market conditions, and
each selling interest knows what the eff.
rect has been to itself but the result on
the INDUSTRY at large is not known, nor
can II even be estimated with any degree
or accuracy. In this connection, one OF
the, important features of the trade fol
this year must be to provide a better
means of disposing of small sizes of an.
thracite and to do this intelligently. ans
profitably. further knowledge of theil
markets is essential.