The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-07-15

Anthracite for Steaming Purposes.
Under the above title the Scranton
Mines and Minerals says il has been
evident for the past few years that
anthracite is losing its hold and that
the output has been either stationary
or decreasing, while the bitumiuous
trade shows a constant and steadyiu-
crease. In pointing out several very
apparent reasons for this state of
affairs, the paper above quoted says /:
New bituminous fields are con
stantly being opened up, thus iucreas-
ing the competition and decreasing
the prices obtained, while on the
other hand 10y the adoption Of min
lug machines which are not applica-
BILE to anthracite mining the cost of
mining bitmuiuous coal is steadily de
creasiug. On the other hand with in
creasiug depth the cost of mining an
thracite grows steadily greater as
we'll rs the cost of its preparation due
to the more rigid requirements of the
buyers. The use of gas in all Of our
cities is another important factor as
it attacks the very heart of the an
thracitr domestic trade.
"While there will always be IL Ger
tain fixed demand for domestic an
thracite there seems little probability
that its market will be widened to any
a]ppreciable extent in the future, un-
less it be through an increased use of
the small sizes for steam purposes. \
~cOmmittee from the Anthracite Coal
Operators Association has recently
presented II report looking towards
the better control and marketing OF
these small sizes as Al element enter
ing very largely into the commercial
side of anthracite mining. \ report
from this committee, which appeared
in the May letter of the Association,
gave the following statistics aud sug-
gestions In 1890 these sizes amounted
to but 1918 per cent. of the total
shipments, but in the last six years
there has been an increase Of almost
80 per cent; in other words, in 1890
the washeries and mines shipped
300 41 of buckwheat aud less, and
in 1896, 1880, $50 tous Of the same
sizes.
'"This increase was brought about
through the decreased demand for
the large sizes necessitatiug their
breaking up, thus producing more of
the smaller sizes, also by the increased
appliances for the washing of coal
and the greater care taken in its
preparation.
''rhe output, or rather the ship
ments Of these small sizes, varies in
versely with the demand for the
domestic sizes, hence large quantities
are marketed during the fall season
and only small amounts during the
spring aud summer, when the cars
are needed for the more profitable
sizes. The amount required for con
sumption in steaIuing purposes is,
however, comparatively constant,
hence this irregular supply neces-
sarily interferes with the use of these
smaller sizes, rs they come in direct
competition with the bituminous
coal, of which the supply is constant
and unlimited, A regular supply can
only be obtained through II new
method of allotting the car supply t.
the breakers, ty which the II r used
for shipping small sizes shall not
count against the allotment which
the operator needs for domestic sizes
as no operator will willingly shil
sizes which only bring from 10 to 81
cents when he can store them anC
\ use the car for shipping sizes which
pring over $500.
1.-The committee OF the Anthracit,
~C1al Operators Association hay.
kfeGommended to the transportation
&pmpRnies that they make such al
&{A8tnce in the allotment Of car,
W<ttaage yards be established 70
th. s1&Qrary excuses in shipment
the L 1Msr freight rate be charge
that al Sss sizes can compete wit
so that tia. and they further recon
bituminous pss engaged in prCdu,
that tn, anthracite give the.
ing and selling 4 Drcenent and enac
support to the emf, rdinances in ii
ment of smoke {