The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-15
.SOUT H.ERlN Goa |
OF FINE QUALIFY
Expert. Discusses Possibilities O.
Our Trade in Fuel.
LOOK. FOR new. ERA OF THINGS
Newpor. News and Norfolk viii Be Taxed to
the Utmost Of Their Shipping Faelli-
tiles, Predicts Mr.. saward,
Of New York.

fspec,al Dispatch to Til. 1ines.)

Especial Dispatch to The Tines.)
BALTIMORE, Feb. 14.-In a special ar
ticle in this weeks issue of the Manutac-
turers' Record MIR. L. Il. Saward, OF New
York. authority on the coal trade, dls-s
cusses he decided influence Of the con-
centration OF the ownership of coal prop
q ties for an enlargement Of our forelgn
trade in coal. lie says:
The district of our country which will
be OF the utmost importance in this re-
spect is the Southern States, for herein
is found the quality best adapted for COM
petition with the Goals of Britain. l was
informed py a German visitor. who has
made most exhaustive tour of our coal
and iron districts. that he found some
Alabama block Goals the ideal fuel, but
that vessels could not readily be had at
a fair rate of freight; that next after
these were the Pittsburg scam Goals, in
West Virginia, to be shipped from Bal
timore. He was most enthusiastic on the
subject and spoke of taking up the SNIP
ment early this year; being practlcal
man in coal 1and iron.t his verdict Is OF
more than passing value and scope.
Germany is a good market for many
of our products. Does any one suppose
that FRINGE Henry is only coming here
for a frolic? There are many reasons
that he should take an interest In the
matter Of our mineral resources. Only
within the past few days there Is news
Of the formation of a company to operate
coalng stations along the Meuiterranean-
Red Sea route to the eastward, in oppo-
sition to the English. AS our West Viz
sinia coal is being used by the Germalt
cruisers in the Caribbean, why is it
stretch Of the Imagination uhat we should
have the trade of this new company!
WILL TAX FACILITIES.
Mr. Saward sketched the concentration
of interests now under way in the South,
points to their effect upon business at
seaboard terminals, and says:
evidently the Virginia and West Vir-
ginia properties are being put into shape
for an entirely new era of things. New
port News and Norfolk will be taxed to
the utmost Of their shipping facilities be-
fore many months and the big pier at
Curtis Bay will prove to be the wisest In
yestInent that the Baltimore and ONO
mana cement ever made.
He shows that between 1899 and 1901 the
exports of American coal to Europe in
creased from $4,000 tons to nearly $4,000
tons, and says:
'W;hen one considers the facts, this is
not bad beginning, and all Europe owes
us a debt of gratitude, for it was largely
due to the proven possibilities of Ameri-
can shipments that the. Britisher was
forced to q reduction in mis- prices. Even
this will not avail if there be proper
handling of the trade by those most di-
rectly concerned. There never was, nor
is there now, any obstacle to the owner
snip of British vessels by Americans II
is logical conclusion that the seller shall
deliver his goods to the buyer, and while
we are now paying foreign vessel owners
for carrying this coat, the time should not
be far distant when the American owner
Of a vessel will be able to effect a through
iii Of 1ol 10 HillrODe,
This can only be possible, however. by
the establishment of lines of steamers
Which will lay the coal down in Europe
with utmost economy OF time between
the mine pit and the European coal dock.
The lower the freight rates between TINS
country and Europe are. the better chance
American coal will have in the European
market
TRADE GROWING.
He mentions the strong probability OF
owners of French built steamers being
shortly in q position to transport Aneri.
can coal to France and other countries
at low rates, and says:
'.French capitalists are studying the
question whether American coal, carried
on subsidized French steamers, could not
| be delivered in France and other Euro.
| nean countries at such prices as would
enable it to enter into successful compe-
titiou with British and other COAL II IS
not alone in the -the-Atantic trade
that our coal exports have grown with
| in the past two years, but to the West
| Indies. South America and Central Amer
| lea, while the bunker trade has increased
! enormously all the way from New Or
| leans, where they take on Alabama coal
| to Baltimore, where they get West Vir-
| ginia coal. It is growing, growing, and
| I contend that the recent concentrations,
| such as are noted above, are all IN the
! line OF even better things than have yet
! been witnessed. This outside business is
not the only factor in the future develop
| ment Of the mineral wealth OF the South
| N MMww-