Daily inter mountain., 1899-04-03
COAL PRICE
IS BETTER
Both Hard and Soft Products
Are Advancing.
AN INCREASED DEMAND
Is Responsible For the Rise Which
Will Continue For Some Time
1.-The Lake Steamers
AN INCREASED DEMAND

New York April 3-Dscussirg the
coal trade situation and outlook, Freder-
lck f. Seward, editor of the Coal Trade
journal and veteran authority on all
thlngs pertaining to the coal industry
says:
There is an improvement in the
anthracite trade due to cold weather
ana a revival of prosperity that has en-
abled people to buy more. Generally, the
condition of both the anthracite and BIZ
luminous business is good. In the case
OF anthracite this is attributed to the
reasons already mentioned, while the
satisfactory condition of the bituminous
trade results from a greater prevailing
activity in manufacturing consequent
upon the return Of prosperity The coal
outlook for the year is excellent in every
department. More coal is required by
our manufacturers and better conditions
in the railroad are making it necessary
for the railroads to supply their locomo-
tives with more coal also.
Railroads are the large users of BIZ
luminous coal and when they are haul
ing plenty of freight it means so much
better for the producer of bituminous
coal. They are buying their supply of
coal this year on a basis of SO cents ton
al the mines in the western part of
Pennsylvania. With the low cost of the
fuel and the large business likely to
accrue on account of the Improvement
in general trade, their earnings ought to
show UP much better than they did last
year Opening of navigation on the lakes
will be of benefit to the trade because
the cold weather in the west has reduced
the stocks on hand much below the usual
quantity al this time of the year, Great
ing an immediate demand for about $780,
900 tons of anthracite more than is usual
ly carried at this season. AT the in
creased demand for bituminous coal from
all sources will also, to large extent,
be filled by means of lake vessels.
The combination of the Ohio coal
roads participating in the Hooking Val
ley business and the purchase of the
Simpson and Watkins collier and one or
two others by persons affiliated with the
anthracite coal carrying roads, indicate
largely increased earnings for the lat
ter, both in the hard and soft coal bust
ness. There will be a large addition to
the tonnage, as wei as an increase. in the
freight rates. The soft coal roads have
advanced the rate of freight to the sea-
board 10 cents per ton and abolished all
rebates. The anthracite roads which
operate generally on the basis of 60 per
cent of the selling price as the frelght
charge, will gain through the increased
price at tidewater, by which the sum re-
ceived by them for freight under the
percentage basis will be augmented IN
due rate.
There is an upward tendency in the
price of coal, dating back in the case OF
hard coal to the time of the storm.
Manufacturing demand grows better ana
is causing an upward turn in the price
of bituminous coal. At the same time
the returns for the first quarter OF TINS
year for anthracite are not quite as Sooo
as for the first quarter of last year. 1or
it must be remembered that there was a
restriction of tonnage at that time Whlcn
held the price to good level. AFTER tha'
tho nrices were reduced because of pro-
duction being considered excessive untll
about November and since then they
have been on the up grade, but have noi
unite reached the level of year ago.