The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-17

Under the caption "The State of the
Trade" Saward's Coal Trade Journal
issued Wednesday says:
THE severe and widespread storm
and It's effects upon stocks of coal
should silence for time those critics
who are continually inveighing against
the fact that there is usually a consid-
cradle amount of coal in dealers yards
and at central distributing points. The
trade and the public had become 80
accustomed to buying as necessity COM
PEELED, to sail close to the wind as the
saying is, that the cold snap and the
storm which followed found nearly all
of them insufficiently supplied with
coal. The spectacle of rich corpora
tions i'll the chief city of the country
being unable to buy coal to keep their
buildings warm shows that the possi-
bility of a coal famine is an ever pres
ent danger during the winter months
and one which should be guarded
against by the carrying of an ample
reserve supply of fuel.
Those dealers, too, who have had TO
fore9O the fulfillment of their con-
tracts are in an unenviable situation
1t VIII be strange if they are able to
sell the same consumers again, and no
doubt they are thoroughly impressed
with the advisability of always carry
ing a good supply of coal. If so, the
experience will not be wholly without
result, and an indirect benefit to the
trade.
JANUARY SHIPMENTS.
1--WE are told that the January ship
nf tp "a
tons. which was about 900, 900 tons more
than the quantity sent out during the
same month last year. This quantity
kept the market fairly supplied and
We have no doubt it all came into use,
and was distributed to meet require
ments. Were the same quantity sent
forward during February, it would be
taken. for there has been continuous
coal burning weather throughout the
portion Of country where anthracite is
the chief fuel. 1t is doubtful if so much
can be sent away from the mines, for
the same zero weather which has eX-
listed where coal is burned has pre-
vailed in the mining regions, and we
must expect that the output was some
what retarded.
This. with blockaded roads leading
from the mines. will make fuel scarce
in some portions of the States. particu-
larly where it is the custom to depend
on arrivals of coal every few days At
those places which are SO situated that
provision for the winter season is made
in advance. there is no scarcity as yet,
but naturally we may look for an ear
lier and more universal demand. In any
event the trade at large is to be con-
graduated upon the fact that we shall
go into the usual buying season with
stocks at minimum. 1t is many
years since this was the condition of
affairs and it means much for this inn
portant industry that it is so.
"One may read every day of plans and
arrangements. in dozens of forms, hav-
ing been made for the betterment Of
the anthracite trade. and yet when
these are run down they are found to
he baseless and so devoid of fact that
the persons who really have an inter-
est i'm the anthracite properties can
not but be annoyed that tl.ey are sup
posed to be such simpletons as many of
the reports would make them.
BETTER THINGS IN STORE.
with the demand that is likely to
bN'uI uuillS lht current year lutIe is
in store for these anthracite interests
better things than was possible in the
last year or two. Tonnage will no doubt
be larger and the average returns are
not likely to be any less, as no one eX-
poets that there will be a repetition
of the "job-lot" style of doing things
which existed in some markets last
year"
The following is from the New York
Daily Stakeholder of yesterday:
The advances in tidewater anthra-
cite coal prices are made necessary,
according TO the large mining and
carrying companies, by the interruption
to the transportation of greatly needed
supplies through snow blockades and
ice bound rivers and harbors. West OF
the mines coal cannot be forwarded
rapidly enough to keep dealers supplied
and prices are temporarily not mat
ter Of consideration.
owing to the anthracite statistical
situation in the West no apprehension is
felt of any noteworthy recession in
prices in that section for an indefinite
period The outside prices, just made
at tideWater. may be shaded slightly
after the existing emergency is over
but it will be the fault of the producers
themselves if the concessions are ser
iOus, bcause Of the improving prospects
Of the industry. The new outside price
for stove cOal--$375 f. o. b.--compares
with sales short time ago at $3.35.