New-York tribune., 1901-11-24
THE COAL INDUSTRY.
IN GOOD SHAPE HERE, WITH EXPORTS
TO EUROPE INCREASING.

The coal industry in this country is in the best
possible shape; the fact that transportation facili
ties are not UP to requirements is a phase OF the
situation which only accentuates what has been
said before-the demand is beyond the immediate
possibility of prompt supply: this tends to keep
prices where they at the highest figures for
the season Large tonnage and nigh prices mean
prosperity for this important industry. The anthr
cite people are in coed shape and their short lines
TO tide give the opportunity for quick trips with
the cars; the soft coal lines that have longer hauls
all complaining of short supply OF cars. and
therefore, with plenty Of demand for coal all over
the country. owing to the industrial activity cars
scarce with many OF the lines: the Pennsylvania
Railroad is buying new cars all the time in the ef-
fort to catch up with the growing trade along its
lines. At the close of the fiscal the company
had 10000 Since that time order for 1900
has been placed, on top of which comes order
for 12000 more. The latter to have carrying
capacity of 100000 pounds. being of the largest type
of steel cars Even with this equipment the lines
not able to take of the business originating
in the Pennsylvania territory The most Of the
cars are now doing service on the Pittsburs divis-
ion. in the heavy coal and coke trains OF that
district
This activity shows that there is money to be
made IN coal lands. and the fortunes Of English
coal propretors will be duplicated in this country:
in all directions hears OF transactions; land is
cheaper to-day than it will be five ten years
hence, as is shown by recent transaction where
Is OG0 of coal land in Hancock County w. Va,
and in Green Township. Beaver County. Penn,
sold to the United States Steel Corporation
by Allen Mcdonald for s25 acre. This block
includes all the territory bounded the east by
Mill Creek, in PennSy ylvana. and on the west. in
West Virginia, by the Ohio River. 1t has 'front.'
age OF four miles the Ohio River a six foot
vein of coal extends through the whole block
Indiana capitalists said to have bought 5000
acres Waidens Ridge. Tenn, at s25 an acre. The
Missouri, Kansas and Texas Coal Company acquires
the coal property and mine of the Watson Coal
Company for consideration of $4,000. and other
land changes bring all of these two companies
properties together in one tract. thus making the
largest two coal fields In body in the State The
deal opens up the right of way for coal railway
TO connect with the Burlington line at Bevier. Even
out in Montana the thing is heard OF. and
persons said to be in the interest of the Great
Northern have been for the last three weeks
deavoring to purchase all the small coal mines at
Sand Coulee. well as about 800 acres OF land in
that vicinity, which is known to be underlad with
coal and there is to believe that the
negotiations will be successful
After the land is bought. railways come into
play. and there is so much money in coal carrying
that one naturally hears OF new concerns or of the
combination of short lines into trunk lines every
day; the latest project is the buying of the Little
kanawha Railroad by the Could -EIkins syndicate.
1t is the purpose to continue the Little Kanawha
from It's present eastern terminus. at Elizabeth, TO
Travellers Repose, on the crest of the Alieghanes
6ss S me wv es 9e reea WYE laf
and the route extended to the seaboard- At the
get an outlet to the West 70 the Great Lakes by
way OF the lsnesvile and Ohio road and further
by the Wabash and Missouri Pacific
And what Is causing all this extraordinary con-
diton in coal? The better condition OF industrials
at home and the increasing exports of both hard
been in this country several prominent dealers from
Germany; Gustav Schulze, OF Berlin Dresden and
f ia tons Of CT m samp et
The increased demand for American anthracite is
light exports OF grain from this country 1t Is posi-
bic TO ship coal from 81 IS 81 50 Cargoes
Rotterdam. Vessel freights are in our favor, and
there a considerable tonnage done last month.
TOR distribution from BaIt5ore SHOWS woe Varid, &
leads with s537 tons followed by Brazil. with !Ss:
TONS French West Indies 4s2s tons Japan. % 2so
Hayt go tons Norway. $50 tons: Jamaica, 100 tons;
Belgium 376 tons. This for one port alone and at
ity At the wharves OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Company in Newport News the month OF October
total Of rails tons being dumped at the piers
ing the month. This amount Is lso" tons IN excess
At Newport News there is TO be new coal snip
ping wharf put up for the export trade IN soIt coal
ab6 n9nSs c5ke company. owning and operating mines
Al Loup Greek. W. Va, and c j. Wittenherg or
and otler Northern capitalists. together with Eng
Iish ship owners. have secured an option on the
Whitehead Tucker. tract, fronting 500 feet on
tust below the Chesa peake and ohio terminal prop
erty. This will add much TO the tonnage OF me
American Consul at Marseilles states: The husi-
ness fexportinS American coal 70 the Medterranean)
and the discussion OF terms and conditions Is no
longer necessary. In face OF the very notable de,
bss succeeded not only in holding its own. but in
increasing local importance thus tenGinS 70 as
only during the prevalence OF abnormal conditions
in Great Britain.