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GOALJRADE BULLETIN
Vol. XXV PITTSBURGH, JUNE 1, 1911 No. 1
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN:
POBL1SHED SBMI-MONTHLT.
Copyrighted, 1911, by THE COAL TRADE COMPANY.
A. R. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
H. J. STBAUB, 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 PAKE BUILDING, PITTSBUBQH.
Long Distance Telephone 250 Grant.
[Entered at the Post Office at Pittsburgh as
Second Class Mail Matter.]
FORECASTS FOR BETTER THINGS and the establish­
ing of an equilibrium in the coke branch seem
to be the only bright spots in the coal trade at
the present time. Mining does not show an ap­
preciable increase, neither does it seem to be
falling off to a great extent; in this respect main­
taining a position of marking time. What with
large mining capacity, slow absorption of pro­
duct and embargoes of more or less length, con­
ditions are not all the trade would desire, but
expressions of an upward turn are heard on
every hand, with some well informed source.-;
contending that this turn for the better is due
at once. But it is questionable if the upturn
will be sudden and swift or slow and measured.
But it is certain this recovery must come soon
if the larger interests are to be in a position to
fill demands that are sure to be made on them
later in the. year.
Especially is this true of the lake trade, which
up to this time has been anything but lively.
Embargoes, lack of bottoms and other things have
tended to keep the trade back and now come
whispers that the stocks of coal on hand at upper
lake docks are not as large as the owners would
like to see them and because of this and the
fact that ore must begin to arrive shortly in large
quantities to keep pace with furnace demands
the forecasts for better conditions are made.
Embargoes that have been placed on lower lake
docks largely are at points where the larger pro­
ducers do not have their own loading facilities
and in consequence it seems to be the producer
who least can stand the embargo that it hits the
hardest. Some dissatisfaction is expressed over
the 30 cent rate to Michigan ports, but nothing
serious is in view. Already reports are at hand
of boats getting in readiness to go into "ordi­
nary," but these are mostly the boats belonging
to others than the leading interests. It is ex­
pected that, from now on. there will be more
activity in shipping product.
In the Pittsburgh district it is putting it rather
strongly to say that production is on a more
generous scale than 40 per cent, of mining ca­
pacity. The mines of the companies with specific
contracts to fill each month may be exceeding
this mark, but others are falling below it, with
an average at about that figure. This district
has felt embargoes as heavily if not more heavily
than any other shipping lakeward. The result
is manifest in the less than half time average.
Some coal is going forward on the basis of hope,
with strong incentive to dispose of it at a re­
duction rather than to allow mines to remain
idle. But with all the drawbacks, prices are
held at $1.25 to $1.35 for run-of-mlne coal; $1.35
to $1.45 for three-quarter inch coal; $1.45 to $1.55
for inch and one-quarter coal and 85 to 90 cents
for slack.
305782
Coke producers seem to have reached a nicely
balanced equilibrium in the way of supply and
demand. Ovens in blast have suffered heavy
curtailment, until, for the last week in which
figures aie available, the tonnage produced was
less than the demand by a couple of thousand
tons, and in consequence, just that much stock
coke was taken away from yards and plants. It
is said further curtailment of production is not
contemplated, but that increases will mark the