The Washington herald., 1921-07-26
COAL TRADE SEES
BETTER BUSINESS !,
COMING QUICKLY
Expect Material Improve.
ment to Start Within
Month.
WILL RAISE PRICE
Bituminous Dealers Make
No Secret Of Coming
Boost. 4 ssz'.
WILL RAISE PRICE

Members Of the bituminous coal
trade OF New York assert that bet
ter times are coming in the very
near future. and this optimism is
based upon the renewal Of interest
by buyers IN fuel in the week Just
ended. Coal men concede that &c
may be a month before their hopes
are realized, but many are confident
that a material betterment Of trade
VIII take place IN = shorter period.
As a result of the renewal Of
purchasing agents interest and
willingness Go at least talk 20 coal
statesmen. spot prices during the
week held in a majority Of cases 20
the levels maintained for mine
shipments. The lack Of distress
coal. the small stocks OF tidevater
and the decrease in production have
also aided in keeping prices more
firm.
No CaneeIIstfons.
II is true, coal sellers find, that
in many instances there has been
no cancellation Of the buyers orders
to purchase only stocks for imme-
date consumption, but IL is likewise
true that these buyers have warned
their employers that they can save
considerable money by contracting
now. The advice of the coal men
to buy early is notoriously ignored.
but similar advice by government
leaders command consideration
There is just as much prospect
Of a bituminous shortage next fan
and winter, even IL the depression
continues. as there was in the
spring. when warnings were spread
broadcast
Many statesmen who were called
in a month or so ago will be sent
back on the road again today or on
the first of next month. IN con-
formity with the Frightening pros
poets.
VIII Raise Price.
Bituminous coal men make no Sc
cret Of their intention 70 boost
coal prices TO a level showing a fair
profit as soon as the demand war
rants such action. and they win JUS
tify the upward price trend ON
losses sustained in the last three or
four months. when faced by the
problem OF continuing production
at a loss or suspending and losing
their organization. they chose the
latter. the lesser OF the two evils
The export trade is very dull. and
is affected by the offer by England
Of coal which she bought in Amer
ica during her coal strike at lower
prices than the United States pro-
ducers can meet Shipments from
the Roads have slackened consider
ably. but on present day British
quotations on welsh coal it is pos
sible for the Americans TO underseli
the chief competitors abroad and In
South America
No one knows just what England
will be able to do. The strike set
tlement terms are seemingly as
much a puzzle to the Englishmen
as they are here. and only time will
bring an Interpretation. Local eT-
porters hear that many mines In
Wales are not producing because
of local disputes. breaking down OF
equipment and other causes. II II
the opinion in the New York market
that the continued subsidization %
the Uuited Kingdom mines will be
necessary IL England is to be a COM
petit0r of any worth.
Bunkering Goals show little busi-
ness. but prices are equal TO a mine
shipment basis.
Anthracite trading is dull ana
premiums on Independent" Goals
are disappearing.