Evening star., 1924-04-06
SEES WAITING GAME
DRAG ON COAL MARKET
Stagnation Noted by Coal Age
Journal as Due to Caution Of
Consumers.

Coal Age, New York, reports the
coal market as follows:
The coal consumers little game of
wait and see" is being carried TO
such lengths that stagnation prevails
in the coal markets of the country.
Every one continues to hold back to
see what will happen, but nothing
happens Even the closing of con-
tracts, which ought to be in evidence
at this time, is censpicuously back
ward, and that despite the low levels
that prices have reached. Running
time at commercial mines has drop
ped to three days a week or less in
most fields, southern Ohio working
at less than 20 per cent of capacity.
In the Standard field and in eastern
Kentucky many mines have closed
down and many others are soon to
FOLLOW suit, as a strike is expected
In the latter field soon. An indefi-
mite suspension is looked for also in
the southwest pending the negotia-
ton OF a wage agreement. Central
Pennsylvania and northern West Vir-
ginia have ironed out their differ
enees, the existing agreement having
been reafirmed in each case, with
minor notifications An open n-shop
between the union and the Kentucky
Tennessee Operators Association.
Preparations for the opening of the
naEiga ton season on the lakes lack
the usual hopeful anticipation. With
about 100000 tons of coal on the
docks at the head of the lakes
March 10, compared with SOC, 900 tons
At that lime a year ago, there is
!tkely to be an oversupply when nav
isaton opens. AS consequence a
3 y q 90 iyYc n&F tn, ~, L..
traffio as compared with last year is
more than probable.
A slight flrming up OF steam Goals
Is the only feature that has tended
TO relieve, in a measure the deadly
dullRess that has settled over mid
western markets.
Kentucky markets have developsd
further weakness. due to mild wealth
er and lack of orders from retailers
and more wage cutting is reported in
the non-union districts OF eastern
Kentucky. Eight thousand idle empty
coal cars on sidings in the Cinein-
natl district bear eloquent testimony
of the duilness of the market there
abouts. There was squirt of activity
in the southeastern district, featured
by heavy buying on the part of rail-
roads and industries, due to the ex-
pected shutdown during the wage
parley. The Colorado market was rea-
sopably active. thanks to some cold
weather, but the reverse is true of
Utah, where the mines are working
less than two days week on an
average.
Siuggishness characterizes the trade
in Ohio, and there is net evidence of
preparations for rush of early car
goes up the lakes such as was the
case last year, when the docks were
cleaned up. Pittsburgh is finding it
difficult to meet competition from
some of the West Virginia and Ken
lucky fields. which are able to quote
lower prices due to wage cuts. Trade
in New England and on the Atlantic
seaboard remains dormant
Production of hituminous coal dur
ing the week ended March %,
! amounted to S,38s,60e tons, according
to the report of the geological sur
vey, which was $4,000 tons less than
was produced during the previous
week. Output of anthracite totaled
/, ,804 900 tons, decline of $4,000 tons
compared with the preceding week,
when 1,S41 900 tons was mined.