coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

•J 2 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
and that, ere the midyear is passed, the Con­
nellsville region may be running close to capacity.
Meanwhile prices are maintained without any
difficulty and are: $2.50 to $2.75 for furnace coke
and $3.50 to $3.75 for foundry coke.
The anthracite trade enters April with the an­
nounced reduction of fifty cents per ton in prices
as the feature of that branch of the industry.
Rumors had been abroad that no reduction would
be made this year, but announcements have been
made officially by the producing companies that
there will be a reduction as in former years,
and it is in effect this date. Mines have been
working a little more steadily during the last half
of March, but output is not likely to break any
record during the month just closing. Rumors
of a recurrence of the button strikes that caused
so much annoyance last year are being heard,
but it is likely that the officials of the miners'
organization will put their foot down hard on
any such moves, and will do all in their power
to prevent them. This branch of the trade prob­
ably is in better shape than either of the others
as the contractual year opens.
* * *
GOVERNMENT ONCE MOKE IS ENDEAVORING TO PROVE
the existence of an anthracite trust, and has en­
tered suit against anthracite carrying roads and
individuals. The government contention is that
the edict of the supreme court simply has been
evaded and not compiled with and that, there­
fore, the alleged offenders should be made to
comply with the mandate of the law in every
way. It is probable that the case will drag to
weary lengths ere any conclusion is arrived at,
and it is a question whether the desired result
will be arrived at even when the case is con­
cluded.
* * *
AMERICAN COAL IS CROWDING out European coal
is the statement credited to the head of a large
Welsh coal syndicate, who is in this countiy foi
the purpose of arranging for the development of
some new properties in the Canadian northwest.
Incidentally he says that to insure himself of
supplies of fuel for the future, to meet the de­
mands of his trade, it will lie necessary for him
lo acquire American eoal lands and operate them.
Hence, no matter what reports may come or go,
it is safe to say that his trips of inspection here
are likely to bi ar fruit in future ownership.
ANTHRACITE DIST IS NOT EXPLOSIVE is the gist
of a preliminary report made by the Federal
Bureau of Mines, a few days ago. following a
series of tests in Pittsburgh, the final ones of
which were witnessed by the head of the state
department of mines and other officials of the
state, operating companies and of the bureau.
in view of the fact that absolutely opposite re­
ports have been made of bituminous dust and of
Welsh anthracite dust, this newest statement is
interesting, to say the least, and if further ex­
periments show that it is as much of a deterrent
as it now seems, at least one source of danger
will be removed from the anthracite mines.
* * *
MUCH OK INTEREST is to be found in the report
of the director of the Federal Bureau of Mines,
Dr. J. A. Holmes, a condensed form of which appears
in this issue of THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
The head of the bureau presents facts and figures
that are of more than passing interest to the coal
trade, and some of which call for careful and
detailed consideration on the part of every per­
son interested in the industry in this country.
He covers every phase of the trade and especially
does he outline the needs of his bureau if it is
to give the trade the maximum of sevrice and
the maximum of results. It should appeal to
every coal min.
Decision of the operators to vote down the min­
ers' final proposition at Chicago carried promise
of a month or two suspension—that is in the opera­
tors' meeting. They can get this now by- busting
their district meetings or just closing the mines.
Will they?
• * «
It's just one durn thing after another. Here's
Easter at hand, and the coal man hasn't time to
think whether he will wear one of the new bon­
nets with a little feather in it or whether it's the
"old lid" for him.
• • *
Do you know the joint interstate movement
salute? It is bestowing the marble mit. Charley
Maurer and Billy Green of Ohio do it best, but
there are others no slouches at it.
* * *
Government hasn't gotten all the trust busting
germs out of its system yet, and the coal trade
accordingly has to suffer.
* * *
And now the thrifty buyer will lay in his supply
of anthracite for the winter that is yet more
than six months away.