The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-17
ON A FIRM FOOTING.
The Anthracite Coal Operators AssocIa-
tion Secs Bright Prospects.

The market situation during the month
past and at the present time shows increasing
firmness, though as yet without any material
advance in price The tonnage mined thus
far in the year has been within the market
requirements, showing that the companies
recognize and are endeavoring to conform to
the law of supply and demand Hitherto
the failure to comply with this law has
brought about heavy losses for which there
was no reasonable excuse.
The actions of the transporting interests
and their evident wish to place the market
on substantial footing is in accordance with
the often expressed argument of the in
diyidual operators relative to the tidewater
purchase contracts When these were made,
it was the intent of the buyers to maintain
the selling price at a figure which would al
| low the operators u fair return for their
product But in the five years since that
time, prices have, through the actions of the
selling interests, been permitted to decline to
such low figures that, while the letter of the
contracts has been carried out, the under
lying intent has not and it has been evident
that radical change was essential, either in
the nature and percentage of any future
contract, or in the maintenance of prices in
the various markets.
This is of as great Importance to the trans
porters as to the operators They have at
various times during the past three years
made sincere efforts to establish the market
on firm footing, but each time there has
arisen one or another obstacle which has
defeated their purpose. This year the founda-
ton for a renewal of similar efforts is far
more substantial, and there appears to be ex-
cellent reason for hoping and indeed ex-
pecting that there will result, through
gradual development, permanent improve
ment which will benefit both the operators
and carrying companies.
The past month has, like that which pre-
ceded it, been filed with rumOrs of i'm
possible consultations and agreements whose
absurdity was the clearest proof of their
) falsity. 1t is safe to assert that whatever
changes may take place in system or policy,
they will be in the nature of the introduction
of rational business methods which will be
developed by time and necessity.
The groundwork upon which many rumors
have been based has been the consolidation
into one company, by Simpson and Watkins
of their various anthracite coal interests and
the purchase of some additional and desirable
eollieres. In order to accomplish this. the
properties have been sold to a stock company
the Temple Iron Company, of which Mr.
Watkins will be President, and through this
central company the various interests
formerly owned by them, will be managed
> The companies brought together have beer
: the Babylon Coal Company, Mt Lookou
Coal Company Forty Fort Coal Company
Edgerton Coal Company Northwest Goa
Company, and the lately purchased Sterricl
Creek Coal Company, and Lackswanna Goa
Company. The combined output of thes
collieries in 1898 was 1900, 900 tons and thei
producing capacity is rated at something owe
2,OOO,O 900 tons. 1t has been generally under
stood that options have been secured oil
several other properties but nothing defnit
can be ascertained as to whether or not pur
chases will follow.