Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-24
HARD-COAL MEN SEE
BIG APRIL TRADE.
Bituminous Dealers Mark Time
Pending General Industrial
Improvement
UTILITIES CHIEF BUYERS

Anthracite dealers anticipate brisk
buying season soon. hence more interest
is noticeable this week in this branch OF
the industry than for some time. Btu
minous dealers have seen no improve
ment in the market since week ago
and have no definite idea when buying
will begin except when general business
condition improves and factories are re
opened. Philadelphia dealers say the.
spot market is dead and what buying
is done is Of hand to mouth nature.
Public utilities and the railroads are the
only chief buyers. while few manufac-
turers are giving small orders.
In regard to the anthracite situation,
one important dealer predicts that 90
per cent of his usual April trade will
come this April. Another. W. L. Nc.
Turk. says: "lt is my belief that be-
tween 60 and 20 per cent OF those who
generally order in the spring realize
that the bottom has been reached and
will place orders az usual There is
plenty Of coal now. and there will be
enough mined to supply the market in
April. May and June. After that
anticipate transportation problems
which will interfere. -
advises Against Wait
The public has just passed through
very mild winter, and the idea seems
to exist that next winter will be the
same" /, was said at the Anthracite
Bureau of Information. The buyer
forgets the winter of 1917, and II he
holds Of until next fall before placing
his order he will undoubtedly be con-
fronted with delays in delivery and in
crcascs in price.
Prices are said TO be at the low point.
Anthracite dealers contend that mining
Is now carried on at a loss. and the gen.
eral belief is that an increase OF twenty
five or thirty cents will come before
fall.
Entire lack OF interest in the market
best describes the attitude OF the coal
man today. says Coal Age. The buyer
has not yet come to rcalizlng sense
of values aud while many are beginning
TO ask for quotations on next year
business, they arc holding their ideas
down 70 the level Of the spot market
and refuse TO talk business for the year
at figures the coal shipper thinks are
reasonable on contracts.
"Od Times Market Sag
II is reminder Of old times for the
snrinr spot market to sag so far below
contract prices. and IL is going TO take
a little more than the usual time fo'
buyers and sellers of coal to shake down
TO the new basis. AS April approaches
it is interesting 10 note that production
for the coal year just closing ~ csti-
mated by the Geological Survey as
523 900 900 net tons Of bituminous coal.
as compared with 4S6. .S9S 900 tons "A
year ago and 552.O41 900 tons in l9lS-
10. the previous best year. Production
Of bituminous coal in the week ended
March - was the lowest of any period
in the last four years. with the ex-
ception of the 1919 strike period.
The real difficulty now is that con &.
sumers are without knowledge as to how
much coal they are going to need during
the coming year. Over the country
approximately GO per cent of full time
operation is being lost because OF lack
OF orders. And while the soft coal
mines are down. the railroads are stor-
ing empty and idle cars on every avail
able siding.
Coal Trade journal says that do.
mestic anthracite is more plentiful than
il vas few weeks ago. but most com =
nanies are able TO move the entire out =
nut. All sizes are being taken. with
the accent very strongly on stove. Pea
and nut are tagging Mild weather has
interfcrcd with the demand. The vol
ume required for immediate consump-
ton has fallen off considerably.
The real cause for the great falling
of in demand is the price situation.
This uncertainty is holding buyers
back who are actually in need of coal.
Others are taking only such as may be
required from day 10 day to fill orders
on tho books.
The action Of number of New York
houses in making important price cuts
has changed the Philadelphia outlook
materially.
st. Paul. Mimi, March 23.--A uni =
form movement of coal during the COM
ing season will insure all localities an
adequate supply, says Daniel willard,
& 81. noItinnrn onJ Oh Ia