The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-18

Demand good, car supply poor"
briefly summarizes the present condi-
tion of things in the anthracite trade.
In spite of all the heavy buying early
3n the season, the market is very
strong and all the coal shipped from
the colierics Is taken readily. Tho car
shortage is most marked in the supply
OF box cars for Western shipments but
regular coal cars are also scarce nnd
shipments from the mines to tidcwatcr
points are restricted in consequence.
Demand in Lake superior and Chica-
70 territory has picked uD with tho ar
rival OF cold and stormy weather aud
is now quite brisk. The fear of Il short
supply on docks at the close of naNiSa-
tion has lead to q very heavy movn-
nent up the lakes during the past few
weeks and the arrivals To iatc con-
siderably exceed those for the cores
rondinE period last year. though be-
hind those for 1899. The docks at both
Duluth and Chicago will undoubtedly
be cleaned up before navigation opens
next spring. The movement Of coal
from the docks to inland points Is SER
iously hampered by the poor car sup
ply. Along the lower lake ports and in
Canadian territory retail demand is ac-
tive and trade is generally in excellent
shape. Along the Atlantic seaboard
demand has improved. Bad weather
and the poor supply of Vessels at NAW
York llarbor ports and Philadelphia,
has hampered the coastwise movc-
ment, but most yards ut points beyond
Cape Cod have now supplies for the
winter and the shoal water ports are
about out of the market. 'i'he line
trade shows an active demand. but
feels the car shortage, shipments being
embargoed 10 many points OFF the
main lines.
With domestic demand so good and
prices firmly maintained the large
companies are not seeking export busi-
ness. 1t is stated that the ihiladel-
phia and Reading company has been
negotiating with French parties for a
shipment abroad of 100000 tons. The
Reading, however, is reported to have
practically no coal in storage at Port
Richmond and hesita1es to contract for
the delivery of 100000 tons.
Labor troubles at the mines are now
Of slight Importance. with the en-
ployes of the Temple Iron company at
work again. and no serious difficulties
are expected before next spring. 1t is
quite likely that before April l the
operators and the United Mine Work.
erS will come to some sort of an infor-
NAL agreement and that there will be
no strike after all. AT the same time.
it is not likely that the anthracite
operators will consent to such an az
Tangement as now controls the rela-
tons of the operators and miners in
The Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana and
Illinois soft coal mines. That arrange
,nent has caused much complaint FROM
the operators in some fields, and there
is all even greater diversity OF conii-
tionS to be covered by n general agree
incnt in the anthracite than IN The BIZ
luminous fields. Al present the mines
are as busy as car supply will permit.
Yhc output for October is estimated
at 4.250,0O0 tons, and the total tonnage
to November was about 1,t00n00 tons
ahead of last year.
We quote for frce-burning white ash
coal. +. O. b. New York harhor shipping
ports: Broken. 81: egg, $i.2j: stove
and nut. Si.50.-EinSincering ana Min
ing Journal.