The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-09
COAL SITUATION ABROAD
Consul Skinner Writes From Mar
settles of Recent Changes.
Weakness in Freight Rates Due TO
the large Consignment From
American Galleries Interesting
Facts and Figures Presented.


Facts and Figures Presented.
The state Department has received a
report from Consul Skinner. at Marseilles,
on the charges that the European coal
situation has undergone. Consul Skin
ner says:
The recent severe weakness OF coal at
Cardiff confirms my apprehension. ex-
pressed On April 3 last, concerning the
disadvantages under which American coal
would labor in this market under normal
general conditions The present situation
is fully set forth in the following facts
furnished me:
In reply to your letter OF the ID, We
beg to say that South Wales Goals were
sold here during the month of January at
$5.49 per ton. New River american Goals
were delivered with a reduction Of Is
cents q ton. The present price at Cardiff
today Is about $A3S to S462 per ton, &C
CCrding to qualities. Freights for the last
fortnight have ruled at Sl-55 to S1-73 per
ton, and the last charter, on Friday last
was Sl.5i- Prices from the list instant at
most of the Mediterranean depOts have
been reduced q to Is cents per ton, and
we expect Narseines win follow:
There is no doubt in my mind that the
rapid fall of prices at Cardiff. followed
10y a sympathetic weakness in freight
rates. Is due 10 the large quantities of
American coaI which have been pouring
into European ports ever since the recent
condition became understood in the Unit
ed States. Fearing the loss of long-es-
tablished trade. the British exports have
not hesitated to cut their exorbitant
prices, and to such an extent that another
l~,FV~ IN
when the British scare subsidies.
When the Marseilles selling syndicate.
which comprises practically all the firms
engaged in the trade in this city. fixed
the price Of navigation coal in October
for the year 1891. SS.51 was agreed upon,
the assumption being that slightly lower
but still higher prices would prevail
throughout the present year How com
pIeteIy this expectation has failed of re
aIization Is reelected by the speedy break
Of the combination price to S7.Z9 which is
not being actually maintained, the local
prices for Cardiff Coal fluctuating round
about $S-Sg- Notwithstanding the change,
II Will be noted that American coal IS still
being quoted az something under British
prices, but cannot. OF course, support q
much further decline.
AT my request, the firm Of Worms &
Co, who were the first to handle AmeTi-
can coal IN large quantities in Europe and
who have disposed OF II not only IN Mar
prepared Z resume Of their views on the
subject.
Then followed the statement OF Worms
K Co from which following important
graphs are taken:
BY reason Of the phenomenal rise in
price which took place during the past
year in English Goals, the American pro-
ducts were able TO take somewhat I'M
portant place in our market, we ourselves
transacted business Of Importance with
the Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean Rail
ses Messageries MaritimeS in addition 10
which we have tried these Goals on the
large English and japanese lines Of our
clientele The quality of the coal has
drawback is that IL Is not screened at the
mines, as IS the case with the Cardiff coal.
consequently arriving here with much
larger proportion OF small coal and dust
than IS found in the latter coal
In the second half OF last year. signs
OF weakness were evident in the English
markets, these growing daily more mark
ed, and We are at present confronted by
definite lowering. which. according to
some, threatens TO become a yeritable
crash
To this element of the cost OF the pro
duct is also to added d serious fail IN the
cost of freight from England to the Med
1erranean, ali OF which makes possible
The quotation OF prices for deliveries of
English coal at MarseilieS. not greatly
differing from those obtaining IN 1893.
These circumstances Will naturally deal
importers TO maintain for the American
product the place they desire on the Mar
seilies market As far as we are concern
ed. We continue TO receive II and shall re-
ceiye 1t for the remainder of the year,
having already made contracts for pur-
chase and freight in the course Of last
year. which We are today obliged 10 carry
out We do not wish to conceal. however.
that these contracts have been made on
erOuS for US by reaSon-Of the improve
ment OF the situation in Wales. which we
We will add Th9T 2
quence of this Improvement, and in the
improbability of further rise occurring
IN England We consider that the days Of
American coal IN the basin OF the Medl-
terranean are numbered In addition to
what We have negotiated ourselves for
delivery at Aarseiiies during the current
year. we are aware Of other transactions
effected at Trieste and probably at Genoa
which are being executed. but il may be
said that these are but the sequel Of q
situation originated in the past year. and /
we cannot see how this can continue to
exist beyond the contracts made for the /
current year, unless the American eX-
porters 50 organize as to offer them !
selves. taking all responsibility and ex-
penses, conditions Of transport totally Diff |
ferent from those which the European
importers have hitherto been able TO meet
with on the market
We are aware that there is question in
the United States Of the creation Of 4 /
transport enterprise intended 10 place coal
from that country iE Europe in consider !
able quantities. but We allow ourselves /
some doubts as 10 its success.
-AH that We have said above concerns !
ST cam coal destined for navigation and /
industrial purposes. but il may be applied I
to gas coal We believe that the (
gas works of Marseilles in the summer or 1
autumn Of the past year contracted for !
10. coo tons Of gas coal from America to be /
during the first half Of the cur /
rent year: but, judging from the present !
price. which is very unfaYOTa bic to the {
company, we are inclined to believe that /
It viii be some time before it renews any
such undertaken IS.
Consul SIIinue: concludes his report by !
saying. The total receipts Of coal dug /
ing the year 1900, as reported to me- By /
the comma ndant OF the port, more than 1
sustain my prediction made last spring /