Washington sentinel., 1900-03-24
TRADE HINTS FROM OUR
cONSULS ABROAD.

AMERIC CAN GOAL FOX NIERMANH.
In a recent report from this con-
sulate, says Consul Mason, at Ber-
lin, It was stated that there now
prevails throughout Europe, and
notably in Germany, a serious de
fcit in the supply OF both anthra-
cite and bituminous coal; that the
ordinary large import from Great
Britain into Germany IS for the
moment practically suspended, by
reason Of short supply and high
prices; and that the present is
therefore a favorable opportunity
Tor the introduction OF American
Goals into the German market.
Each succeeding day during the
past fortnight has increased the
general deficit OF fuel. and the sit
uation has become critical and
omInous for the manufactures and
export trade Of Germany. Mum
erous important glass, porcelain,
and machine factories in Sllesia
and Saxony have been obliged to
shut down tor want of fuel; there
are a dozen electric lighting and
power plants in this country which
have less than a fortnIght's coal
provision on hand and no source
from which to obtain further sup
plies. Wood, brown coal, and
other unusual forms OF fuel are
being used wherever possible as
substitutes Tor coal, and the ad-
ministration Of Prussian State rail-
ways is said to have closed It's con-
tract for an immense coal supply
at an advance Of AZ per cent over
the high price hitherto paid.
In Russia the situation is equally
urgent and critical Even the
Russian Government railways are
said TO be short of coal, and an
agent has been this week in Berlin
vainly seeking to place an order
for several hundred thousand tons
Tor that purpose The principal
wholesale agency in Berlin for
Sllesian soft coal--oi the qualities
used for steam and general manu-
featuring purposes is now selling
its scanty stock at S. per ton.
delivered at Berlin, and there is a
general pani,: among coal dealers,
who are unable to provide coal for
their customers at any price, and
can see no encouraging prospe:t
of obtaining their next seasons s
supply. Offers are made OF S4 o4
to S4,z for bituminous lump coal
in lots oil 10, 900 to 900 tons,
free on board at Hamburg, and
this consulate is beset with inquir-
les as to the prospect tor a new
supply from the United States.
II, therefore, there is now avail
able any important surplus coal in
the United States, this would ap
pear 10 be an ideal opportunity Tor
American exporters to open direct
relations with leading importers in
this country and, by establishing
their qualities OF both anthracite
and OIlumInous Goals among con-
sumers IN Germany and other Eu-
Iopean countries, grasp the begin
nlngs OF a trade which, il properly
managed, should grow into vast
and permanent importance. II
such available surplus is not on
hand, 1t is because the export coal
trade of the United States-like
certain other branches OF our for
eign commerce-has yet to be
properly organized and developed.
No one familiar with the facts
can doubt that American coal OF
all kInds-anthracite, camel, bi u
mlnous block and lump, and the
high grade gas and cokIng Goals
Of Pennsylvania and West Virginia
are among the best in the world.
But for all this, and notwithstand-
ing coal at the pits mouth in West
Virginia has sold during the past
year at 80 cents per toni notwith-
standing the cheap rates and large
facilities for transporting minerals
from the principal mining districts
70 the seaboard-the United States.
which leads the world in this pro-
duct and last year mined 2I8,555,-
600 tons of coal, exported only a
5agatelle OF 5,osI,933 tons, OF
which 5,53I,76G tons were merely
carried over the frontier into Brit
ish North America, and the rest
went nearly all to Mexico and the
West Indies. countries which lie
at our very doors.
On the other hand, Great Britain,
with her deep and cifficult mines
and waning deposits, the extent OF
which IS limited and definitely
known, exported 36.546,Isa tons
Of coal in 1898, valued at about
$50 900. 900, besides the vast
amount supplied to steamers en-
gagged in the foreign trade. The
coaling stations in South America,
Africa, the Mediterranean, and, to
a great extent, in ASIA, are sup
piled with British coal, and at each
one Of these points will now be
ielt the pressure resulting from
high prices in the United King.
dom and the temporary absorption |
Of large part Of British tonnage
in transportation growing out OF
the war in South Africa.
II IS not creditable to Ameri can
enterprise that a country with such
deposits Of superior
coal as the United States, where it