Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-10-13
GERMAN COAL TRUST
CAUSES A FAMINE
Production Is Restricted and
Prices Are Increased.
REFUSING ALL ORDERS

SyAuAcdI0 WALL MIAMI No NEW OOA'
tracts-Consumers Are Unable TO Sc.
cure the Product Either In England
OF America-MarlKet Very Strong.
BALTIMORE, Oct lathe coal famine
in Germany and the means for relieving
it, matters of particular interest at pres
ent to American coal producers, still oc
oupy large part Of public attention in
Germany. The circumstances are al
present far from ordinary. Discussing
them, the Berlin correspondent of Thu
Manufacturers Record says:
1.-The high price Of coal in England
excludes the hope Of any great increase
Of shipments from that country. In
deed. German consumers of coal have
been trying to place contracts in Silesia,
owing to the difficulties Of getting coal
in England at reasonable prices As
for the United States, 1t was hoped thai
there would be a great influx of coal
from there, but the great strike, to.
gether with the resultant rise in prices
In the United States, has blasted that
hope. Here in Germany, too, the ten.
dency of prices is still upward. 1t is re.
ported that the coal syndicate will in.
crease prices for gas and household coal
for delivery after April by 36 cents per
ton; prices of coal for factory use will
remain unchanged.
One Point Under Discussion.
1.-The coal syndicate has just held a
meeting at which the situation was fully
discussed. One fact, which has excited
some rather sharp remarks on the part
of consumers, is that the expectation OF
German coal this year, notwithstand.
the great need at home, has been heav.
Ter than usual. At this syndicate meet
ing it was admitted that the exports
during the first seven months of the
year amounted to 1,025.000 tons more
than for the corresponding months 81
1899. The returns of Germany's for
eign trade for August, too, tell'a similar
tale, since they show further increase
of n, 812 tons in coal exports. Imports
for August also show q large increase,
being 100, 948 tons above the imports of
August, 1899. In defense of the syndi-
cate 1t may be stated that it is refusing
all new orders for coal from abroad.
ders at all beyond April 1, not even do
nestle orders, which is a most signif1.
cant indication of the strength Of the
market.
"The permanent increase of Ger
many's domestic coal supply is neces
sity for the continued development Of
German manufactures and German COM
merce. The subject has occupied much
attention of late, and here the syndi-
cate and other owners of coal fields come
in for much blame, since it is shown
that up to quite recent period the syn
dictate restricted production. The open
ing of new mines too, has been unneces-
sarily delayed Much territory has been
declared coal fields under due form Of
law, but the owners have pursued the
policy Of reserving much of such prop
erty for the FIXTURE. Nevertheless, there
are now 70 new mines in course of de-
velopment. Next year, it is estimated
that new mines will add 2,500. 900 tons
to the coal supply of the country; and
in five years 1t is expected that the addl-
ton will amount to 100000 tons. :"
Situation In the Iron Trade.
The situation in the German iron
trade shows more pronounced weakness
in September than before.
The pig iron situation still remains
strong The production of pig iron
keeps up remarkably we'll In contrast
with the shrinkage of the American
output, Germany can report It's record
output for August. The months pro-
duction amounted to 722, 244 tons against
681. 651 tons in August, 1899. The Au-
gust production was $4,000 tons above
that of the previous month. To the end
of August the German production for
the year amounted to 5,469,014 tons
against 6.867 800 tons last year.