The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-20
THE COAL TRADE

CHICAGO. March 1S.-Mild weather in
the western states throughout the past
week, together with the accumula ton at
terminal points of coal that was DELAYED
In transit during the cold weather the
middle OF last month. have resulted in
principal markets. The present easier
tendency OF prices is somewhat accentu-
ated by the fact that the trade is not buy
ing as much coal at present as usual This
iack or buying demand originates in the
TACT that both consumers and dealers have
been led all along to think there would be
niue cnange from last year In prices with
year This being the case. there is no
reason why any OF the large factors in the
trade should stock up at this time. There
Is none OF the uncertainty of labor negotia-
tons which has generally prevailed at this
season of the year. In addition dealers are
reluctant to take in stocks Of coal just
before the first OF April. but the tendency
during the last thirty days has been to re-
duce stocks in order that the taxable
property found by the assessor on the
first of next month will be as small i'm VOL
ume as possible. In addition to these rea-
sons. the lack of consumption of coal due
10 the mild weather, to which reference
has already been made, has been a
potential factor during the last ten DAYS
in giving all western coal markets a slug
gish tone. The temperature has been un-
usually mild for this season of the year
and consumption has been lower than
normal ever since March /.
The western anthracite trade is in a
waiting position with scarcely any fea-
lures of prominence. There is very little
immediate business doing. orders during
the past week having been unusually light
from all sources. The shipping companies
have not yet made an official statement to
the effect that the discounts from the cir
cular for April will be the same as a year
ago, making the net prices to the trade
the same. but IL Is quite generally under
stood that these discounts and net prices
will prevail. AS consequence statesmen
employed by the anthracite shipping COM
panies in the west are taking orders with
the understanding they viii be filed as
instances II is reported that the orders ac-
cepted by shipping companies for April
delivery are heavier than they were year
possibly go over into May for delivery,
owing to inability of the producing COM
panies to get out the coal and the trans
portation lines to move IT.
The new business that is developing
shows some interesting features. In the
territory east of Chicago, including Ohio
Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, there is
that this business is considerably in ex-
cess OF a year ago. which probably is due
to the fact that dealers have sold up
stocks accumulated for the winter trade
and. anticipating there may be labor trou-
bles year hence, are preparing to take
in much larger supply this spring and
summer than ever before, SO that they
may have stock on hand next spring II
the emergency arises. In the far west,
however, including some parts OF Iowa.
there are fewer orders thus far In March
than there were for the corresponding pc
Rod year ago. Dealers in that territory
evidently are preparing to wait until hear
er the consuming season before taking in
supplies. Possibly, in some instances
small stocks have been left over from the
present winter, as the season was not as
rigorous as usual and consumption has
possibly fallen off. In general the west
is expected to take as much anthracite
during April as the colliery companies
can produce and forward to this territory.
Black Diamond.