The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-26

al Hayre, has submitted an exhaustive
report TO the State Department on the
condition of the French coal market He
says many letters have been received at
his consulate from American coal dealers
asking if there is a possibility, at the
present time OF finding an outlet in
France for the sale of American coal
Replying, the United States Consul says:
Owing to the decided fail which has
taken place IN the prices of British coal
during the past four months and the low
freights now prevailing between British
ports and those Of France. the conditions
are not favorable fer the American coal
exporter. The lowest price I have heard
quoted for American steam coal, run of
the mines, alongside OF the wharf at
Havre Is S5-S3 per ton.
The wholesale prices of British coal,
/ O b. shipping ports per ton OF 2,240
pounds. which were ruling February L
last and have not materially changed
since were as follows:
Large coIHery screened-Best Cardiff.
s4-3S; best Newport. S+0l; best Northum-
brian, $2-92, best Scotch. 800.
Run OF mines-Bcst Cardiff Sz9S: best
Newport S2-I9: best NORTHUMBERLAND. SIP:
best Scotch. $25l-
The above prices are subject to a dis
count of ~ per cent for payment within
thirty days, with the exception Of those
for Scotch Goals. which are net.
The average freight rates from Brit
ish shipping ports to Hayre and Mar
settles are as follows: From Cardiff and
Newport to Havre. 81 cents; TO Mar
settles, S1.54. From Newcastle to Havre
81 cents; 70 MarseIles. s1S2 From
Scotch ports TO Hayre. $1G5; to Mar
seill=s. SlS2-
These rates are subject to discount
Of > per cent Tor cash
The bulk of the American steam coal
which has been received in France was
unscreened, as 1t came from the mines
This quality Of coal would therefore have
to be sold in competition with best Car
diff coal (unscreened)- run of the mines
which At present can be delivered along
side Of the wharf at Havre for 1895 per
ton II this price be compared with that
Of the American Goals. S3-there would
be a difference Of SIS in favor Of the
British coal If the Comparison were made
with the prices OF English and Scotch
coal, the difference would be still greater.
Under these conditions. it would be diff
cult at this time TO place orders for
American coal in the northern part OF
France
France during the year 1890 imported
i 555, 40 metric tons C2.Z04.6 pounds OF
coal. Of which S.G01, 40 tons were supplied
by Great Britain The French customs
statistics do not specify the number of
tons imported from the United States:
but, according TO the United States
Treasury statistics, during the first ten
months OF 1000, 1880 tons OF American
coal were exported to France. an in
crease of 1fS-93S tons as compared with
the corresponding period Of 1893
Tgr Sara
can only be found in those districts of
France which are now being supplied
With British coal, as the high cost Of rail
road transportation from the receiving
ports would prevent either the British or
American coal entering into competition
with German, Belgian, and native coal in
regions in which the latter combustibIes
are being used.
The question arises. whether the coal
exporters OF the United States can solve
the problem OF delivering their coal IN
European ports as cheaply as their
British competitors, and thus share
IN a lucrative and permanent trade,
which in France alone amounts
yearly to over $4,000 tons 1t
is a recognized fact that with the i'm
proved methods Of mining. handling, and
loading coal now being used in the Unit
ed States, and the cheap railroad rates
from the mines TO the seaboard, Ameri-
can coal can be delivered on boards YES
sels at the various shipping ports much
more chcapIy than the British coal ex-
porters can load their coal This adVan-
taSe II favor OF the American exporter is
more than Couuterbalanced by the in
creased ocean freight rates he has TO pay
in delivering his product IN European
waters. His greatest handicap. Therefore,
Is the high cost OF ocean transportation
under conditions as they now exist
There viii be little TO fear about the
quality Of our coal There may be some
trouble at first in overcoming the Euro
pean prejudice against the large percent
age OF hne cOEi IN American caTgOeS, but
this can be removed Recently one OF the
French railway companies, which r al i'm
ported American coal for use in its loco
natives, complained that there was SO
much dust IN the coal Ihat sufficient
pressure OF steam could not be raised in
the boilers 10 run their trains. The Ed
ropeGn agents OF the American company
which had supplied the coal sent one OF
their practical men TO Investigate He
found that the French engineers, being
unfamiliar with American coal, were not
using II properly He showed them how
70 handle the coal. and, much 10 the de-
light OF the FTenChmen. they succeeded in
getting more steam from 1t than they had
ever been able to 90 with the coal 10
which they had been accustomed.
zone OF the foreign representatives Of
an important American coal company
engaged IN the export trade Informed me
recently that he went 10 the United
our coal mines 70 Investigate whether he
could get good steam coal which would
satisfy the demands Of his trade FOR large
pieces After seeing fifteen mines he
found one in West Virginia which he said
would produce good EitumiuDus coal
which he would guarantee could be land
ed N European ports in car20eS which
would yum ~ least = per cent large
pieces, II ordinary care were taken in
handling It
During the past eight months. four
c@fEyes o. American coal. amounting 10
1900 tons we're received in the port OF
HaEFe- This quantity was all thu United
States contributed 10 q total importation
Of bl5-6lE tons, the balance having been
sent from Great Britain. The American
coal was imported for the use Of the
y eStern Railway Of France. and for an
Important French navigation company
no tEarEcurS keuniS Although the car
goes did not average over % per cent
large pieces. al the reports I have re-
csiEca in reference TO the efficiency Of tho
coIi were satisfactory
Even II the obstacle Of high cost Of
oce4n transportation be suruouEted The
American exporters must realize that
theE nllSt be well .eDreseat ID abroad
4EeE VIII come In direct CyTaU-LiIigu with
the British coal exporters. whose export
trade oTEa nizatiou is almost perfect. The
Lauer made contracts In London Tor SUB
plying coal IL all parts OF the world
Their TcIreSs natives. who may be found
IN an COZ consuming countries. are keen
. take advantage OF any open sales I'm
their districts. they keep their head Offices
POSTED - T. any large contracts which
The lowest prices % dealers and coHs7Im-
without having 10