The Washington herald., 1921-09-13
ANTHRACITE TRADE.
AWAITS ARRIVAL
OF COOL WEATHER
Buying Squirt Followed
By Usual Summer
Dullness.
BITUMINOUS STEADY
De m a nd Somewhat Better,
But Deliveries Arelt
Slow. * i

II Is surmised that most Of such
buying OF domestic sizes of an
thracite as was done recently was
in anticipation of the September ad-
vance in prices at the mines as bus
mess has been quiet this week.
Labor Day holidays caused a little
shortagf at the piers. but this was
only temporary
The trade is awaiting cooler
weather to stimulate a demand.
Opinion varies as to what kind OF
fall business may be expected.
Some authorities believe, a large
proportion of the requirements of
large consumers of prepared sizes
of anthracite already has. been
filled, while other selling interests
say many users who in the past
three or four years have bought
early have this season held off in
the vain hope that coal would be
cheaper.
The largest retail interest In Phil
adelphia has announced II will ad-
vance prices September Is. It Is
presumed the advance will amount
to ABOUT rs cents.
Price Agreement Fails.
Individual" operators are not
sticking altogether to their new
circular" prices. On stove coal, the
size most in demand. they may get
full prices when that size Is sold
alone, but in combination with other
sizes shading of prices is still going
on.
Their prices are likely 10 be in
fluenced directly by the character
of the demand from now on. as they
claim they should be getting consid-
erably more than the large com
panles. An early fall and weather
that win cause starting of heaters
would bring into the market the
small consumer who purchases only
as he needs che coal. This would
help such sizes as chestnut and pea.
Bituminous coal prices have not
yet improved, though it is less dif-
ficult to interest buyers than ii was
short time ago. Tonnage move
ment 10 at about the level Il has
held for several weeks. Contract
customers are not eager for de-
liveries and have to be coaxed to
take in their coal.
At prices at which New River
and Pocahontas coal is being sold
alongside in Boston. Providence and
Portland. and other New England
coast cities. Pennsylvania opera
tors, to compete successfully, would
have to be content with 81 n net
ton at the mines for their coal, 1t
Is declared To accept such re-
turns. it is asserted, would be out
of the question. The Southern op-
orator is favored not only with
cheap water rates. but also with
lower wages. Hitherto the Penn
sylvania operator. shipping all rail.
has retained firm hold on the busi-
ness in interior New England cities.
but now il is reported that South
ern coal Is entering those markets
to an extent not known for a dozen
years, being forwarded by rail
from such tidewater points as Bos-
ton and New Haven to Worcester.
Springfield and other cities.
Wages Generally Down.
Efforts by Central Pennsylvania
bituminous operators to get United
Mine Workers to confer on reduc-
tion of present wage scale were
rebufred. and IL is regarded as
probable that no further concerted
moves in this direction will be
made. The wage agreement termi-
mates. next April, but non-union
mines in Pennsylvania and the
Middle West have for some tim.
been on a reduced wage basis that
gave them an advantage in min
ing costs over mines paying the
union scale of at least as cents a
ton.
New River coal Is reported -
have sold recently at Virginia piers
as low as $5.l5 gross ton, which
would mean less than $3.50 at the
mines. This was probably what is
termed distressed coal, but opera
tors are understood to be regularly
selling their coal around s2.6u
basis.
The railroads are sitting back
and accepting such offers of coal
as they care to and in this way
can get their fuel cheaper than If
they went to the coal people and
sought bids. So long as the car
riers can get all the fuel they need.
as they need it. this method is n
oood ono for than from a financial