The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-19
Anthracite prosnect Abrond.

A contributor to the Wilkesbarre
Times frankly scouts the possibility
of doing much in the way of selling
hard coal to the peoples of Europe.
Says he:
''In the first place the demand for
anthracite is very limited, it being
exported only from Great Britain to
Germany, Holland, Belgium and
France in small cargoes, and amounts
to about 1,s0O, 900 tons per annum. 1t
sused largely for mailing purposes or
where quiet, dry heat is required in
a special kind of heater. For house
hold purposes it is not in demand and
would be worthless unless the Ameri-
can stove was also introduced, and
that means revolutionizing social con
ditions; while for steam purpose,
stationary engines, locomotive en-
gines and for marine purposes it
would require radical change of fire
bars and alteration in the system OF
draught
'The coal for the steam purposes
named, in Germany, Holland and the
Belgian ports, is largely drawn from
the Durham and Northumberland
coal fields with a very short sea trip.
1t is only little inferior to the Welsh
steam, and it is sold at los. Cd. to 12s.
Cd. f. o. b. and the freight is from IS.
4d to 5s per ton. 1t is shipped by
small steamers from 400 to 1,200 tons
burden with ample opportunities for
return cargoes. Taking the price at
6s. Cd. delivered, or $500, how is il
possible for us to compete
"Then when it comes to the Welsh
steam coal, admittedly the finest Goa
in the world when doubled screened
as can be seen from the reports OF
our own naval men lately published
we have much the same conditions tC
buck up against. This coal is de
livered to Havre, Oherbourg and the
Western French ports, Nantes, Roch
ellie, Rochefort, Bordeaux and Bay
Onne, by steamers from 900 to 1,00C
tons at about 19s. delivered, or $4.46
The small quantities being very con
venient and some of the smaller
steamers running away up the French
rivers. There is a lot of flouI
and other produce shipped bacH
while the bulk of the steamers re
turn cargoes of iron are from the
Spanish ports in the South Wales
steel works and also the Scotch anC
North of England Iron Works is an
important consideration. A feature
that is not generally known, and
which must not be overlooked, is thai
a great many of these steamers are
owned by French and German com
panies with their own shippers anC
buyers resident in Great Britain.
$50 far, therefore, as our anthracit'
coal competing, that is out of the
question, for the demand is not larg,
enough and never will be, but tn,
best grade OF our bituminous coal
such as Pocahontas, might possibl.
compete for the Mediterranean trade
Here again American freighter
would have to overcome the want o
return cargoes, whereas the Englisl
boats generally contract to take
cargo out and return with grain from
the Danube, Odessa and other Blacl
Sea ports, and currants, etc, from
Greece The English tramp steamer
being Of handy size, work aroun'
the world, starting with a cargo o
coal say TO India or Canada, and re
turning finally from America with I
cargo of grain. In estimating thu
profits based upon present prices, /
must be expected that the momen
we begin TO compete, down will g
both the prices of coal and the cos
OF freight on the other side"
The periodical trips taken by tn,