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^GOALJTRADE BULLETIN
Vol. XXV PITTSBURGH, JULY 15, 1911 No. 4
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN:
PUBLISHED SBMI-MOKTHLI.
Copyrighted, 1911, by THE COAL THADB COMPANY.
A. R. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
H. J. STRAUB, Managing Editor.
TWO DOLLARS A YEAR
FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY
Correspondence and communications upon all matteri
relating to coal or coal production are Invited.
All communications and remittances to
THE COAL TRADE COMPANY,
926-930 PARK BUILDING, PITTSBURGH.
Long Distance Telephone 250 Grant.
[Entered at the Post Office at Pittsburgh as
Second Class Mail Matter.]
BETTER THINGS ARE COMING TO THE COAL TRAOE
these days, practically every branch of the indus­
try making a better showing during the first half
of the month than was the case for some time.
This statement must not be taken to mean that
miraculous things have happened, but rather is to
be understood that the trade is progressing instead
of retrogressing as was the case during a large
portion of the second quarter of the year. The
bituminous situation shows continued improve­
ment, the coke trade showed an advance in tonnage
for three successive weeks but slumped a little a
few days since, and there are reports that there is
little probability of the anthracite collieries closing
down for any length of time. These features of
the trade cannot but lend stability and activity to
the industry as a whole.
Reports to operating companies' that the coal
loading machinery at lower lake ports have gone
one twenty-four hours duty in response to orders
from the home offices to rush shipments is the
cheering news that comes to the lake trade. More
bottoms are available and are seeking cargoes—
this fact applying alike to big and little vessels—
than at any time since the lake season opened.
The net result is that shipments from the lower
docks are at record breaking figures just now.
There is expected to be a lull, however, in a short
time, but it will be brief and of small import is
the consensus of opinion. All rail shipments,
toward the west and northwest, also are good,
and this means better things in store. Tidewater
shipments from the different fields are showing
considerable improvement and, at some ports, new
records of dumping coal over the piers are being
made.
The labor situation shows some signs of "sun
spots," particularly in Indiana, while the differ­
ences in the Canadian northwest are as far from
settlement, apparently, as ever. Otherwise things
are moving along nicely.
In the Pittsburgh district things are fairly active,
each succeeding week showing some betterments.
All rail shipments to lower lake ports are being
made in goodly quantities, the only hindrance
being the embargoes placed every now and then
by some particular road whose docks are con­
gested. The tonnage of the mines is showing
satisfactory increases and, what is more to the
point, prices are held strong at card figures. The
river shipping concerns are hampered by a con­
tinued low stage of water and to-day there is tied
up in the harbor one of the largest tonnages for
a long time. Until there is a substantial rise in
the upper rivers this coal will remain tied up,
thereby hampering operations to the extent of a
lessened number of empty craft to load. Labor
and car supply are good and all indications point
to still further betterments in the trade. Because
of the increased demand, there is, for once, no
rumor of shading to get business and card quota­
tions are easily obtained, and are: Run-of-mine
coal, $1.25 to $1.35; three-quarter coal, $1.35 to
$1.45; inch and one-quarter coal, $1.45 to $1.55;
slack, 85 to 95 cents.
After an increase in tonnage for three consecu­
tive weeks, including the first of the present
month, coke production took a slump about the
middle of the present fortnight and tonnages that
had been creeping upward once more show figures