The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-08

The April letter of the Anthracite
Coal Operators association says:
The anthracite market during the past
month has shown slight improvement
in prices, though more in the nature of
tirmness than of any advance. The ton
mage taken by the market has been light
at all points, and stocks have, therefore,
increased.
With the beginning of April the feeling
of uncertainty among buyers as regards
the future movement of values, has been
accentuated by the stronger prices and
determined efforts of the companies to
maintain the production within the mar
kct's requirements. Purchasers are still
undecided whether the companies wild
maintain their position throughout the
year or, as in the past, permit a break
to occur in the early summer months.
They recognize that If prices are to con-
tinuc moving upward, it will be profitable
to contract for, and lay in, a fair supply
of coal during the spring and carry it
over for the advance, but i'm the absence
of any knowledge az to even what course
is proposed, and especially in view of the
element of uncertainty which lies in he
failure of the transporters to arrange
definitely for the tonnage of the indi-
Vidual operators, the market is, generally
speaking, at sea as to which course to
follow.
1t is exceedingly desirable that some de-
cided step should be taken early in April
in order that the spring trade may not be
injured. Indeed. the prosperity of the
industry for the entire year is at stake.
| for unwise or dilatory action during his
and the next two months would have an
injurious effect upon prices for fail and
winter business.
INDICATE A FAVORABLE YEAR.
The conditions which exist in the an
thracite coal market today indicate an
exceptionally favorable years business if
a wise course is followed by the mining
and selling companies. There are the
best of reasons for hoping, and indeed
expo citing, that the tonnage which will be
taken by the market will be largely in
excess of the amount shipped last year
and this, at Il price materially above that
| now prevailing and one which will net the
operators a fair return for their product
Necessarily, everything will depend
upon a strict compliance with the law of
supply and demand. If, in any month
the shipments are so much In excess of
The consumption that there remains a
surplus which will be moved at lower
prices then all hope for an improvement
may be set aside, but otherwise, if the
selling companies have profited by their
expensive experience of past years and
admit is the OILY proper course, then the
! bettcrment will come. The critical
months will be May June and July, es-
pecially the latter two. If, in these, the
tonnage is kept within the consumers $
needs and prices are firmly maintained,
the fall months will require the usual
tonnage and, most important, will show
a normal increase in prices.
Success or failure depends, as it las in
t1,. gn11, toe,
Everything is in their favor to carry the
years business to a profitable issue, Tie
market. while taking but little coal at the
present moment. has light stocks to draw
upon. In the New England states there
is already beginning purchasing move
ment which, if carefully fostered can he
made to increase to an average of spring
sales. Interior points in the Middle states
are carrying light stocks and waiting an
assurance of higher fall prices before lay
ing in a larger supply, while in the west,
the stocks are practically depleted, and
would have been entirely so but for the
large increase in shipments of all-rail
coal
THEY ARE UNCERTAIN.
Purchasers are everywhere uncertain
as to which is the safe course to follow.
Their experience last year and in those
which preceded it. was that stocks laid
in at spring prices deprecated in value
when the fall months approached.
on the other hand. they realize that
| with conditions SO favorable for steady
! and permanent advance as they are now,
| II Is almost incredible that the selling
| companies should not take such golden
| opportunity to regain their position, and
/ in strengthening the market, to reimburse
! themselves for the many and serious
| losses of past years.