coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

GOAL TRADE BULLETIN
Vol. XXX PITTSBURGH, JANUARY 15, 1914 No. 4
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN;
PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.
Copyrighted, 1914, by THE COAL TRADE COMPANY.
A. It. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
II. J. STRAUB, Managing Editor.
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1 Entered at the Post onice at Pittsburgh as
Second (.'lass .Mail Matter.]
QUIETNESS .MAULS THE COAL MARKET AT THIN TIME
and because of this mining is far from being near
capacity figures. Several reasons are advanced
for this, among them being the opening of the
year and manufacturers being engaged in the an­
nual yearly cleanup and adjustment, the mild
weather that prevailed up to within a few days
ago, the apathy in tbe iron and steel trade, and
the accumulated stocks at some distributing cen­
ters and in some mining* fields.
All these have had their effect. They have not
been offset by the cold wave that came out of the
west a few days since, nor the approaching miners'
convention with its subsequent wage scale con­
ference during this and next month. The stag­
nant tone that has characterized the market gen­
erally throughout the fortnight, however, seems to
be passing, and there are whispers of more active
conditions in the very near future. In the mean­
time the operating concerns are not working their
mines to such a degree as to produce a surplus
of coal, and this has had much to do with the
maintaining of prices.
The car supply, at this time, unlike so many
former years, is all that can be desired, and there
is no complaint in regard to it unless it is that
the smaller cars suitable for the small retail deal­
er's orders, are not in loo plentiful supply at some
one particular point.
The labor situation is one that is giving little
bother now, due to the curtailed operations of
the mines. This curtailment has for once, joined
hands with the holiday season and the result is
that the mines have all the men needed, and all
the men who want to work have employment.
This may seem anomalous, but tlie difference be­
tween the Gregorian and Julian calendars has
made it possible, and the operators, for once, aie
not lamenting the different church holidays.
In the Pittsburgh district conditions are much
the same as they are in other districts, with this
distinction. The period of stagnation seems to
have passed its lowest point and the pendulum
i.-, swinging on the upward curve once more. This
is the encouraging sign for the trade in the dis­
trict. Wirh this, and with the cold weather that
hit the district at the opening of the present week
there is a little brighter outlook to the trade.
The mines have not been working to near ca­
pacity, but by switching around, have managed
to keep the demand supplied, and thus have aided
materially in maintaining prices for coal of all
grades. There have been rumors of concessions,
but no one can pin them down to earth, while
there is no trouble of ascertaining the fact pro­
ducers are holding out for list figures when in­
quiry is made for tonnage. The trade, in the
Pittsburgh district, as elsewhere, is turning its
eyes toward Indianapolis, where, in less than a
week, the Mine Workers will assemble in conven­
tion. One of the important functions of this con­
vention will be the formulation of a wage scale for
the next two years. For this reason it assumes
a leading place in the tiade at this time. With
the cold weather, the upward turn in business that
seems here, and with the labor outlook Pitts­
burgh producers are determined in their mainte­
nance of card rates which are: $1.30 to $1.40 for
run-of-mine coal; $1.40 to $1.50 lor three-quarter
coal; $1.50 to $1.60 for inch and one-quarter coal,
and 90 cents to $1 for slack.