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GOAL TRADE BULLETIN
Vol. XXX PITTSBURGH, MAY 15, 1914 No. 12
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN:
PUBLISHED SBMI-MONTHLY.
Copyrighted, 1914, by THE COAL TBADB COMPANY.
A. R. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
H. J. STKADB, Managing Editor.
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THE COAL TUADE BULLETIN,
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Second Class Mall Matter.]
GRADUAL SETTLEMENTS or- WAGE QUESTION'S are
helping the coal trade to the extent that the pro­
ducing companies in the districts where such set­
tlements have been made know what their coal
will cost them, and therefore the market is stimu­
lated to that extent that producers in those dis­
tricts now are ready to talk contracts whenever
inquiry conies along. The trade, however, is still
in the doldrums, and there is little movement
that that may be characterized as real activity.
There has been some little resumption of mining
in a few of the districts where, for the past month
idleness was the rule, but these resumptions are
not in sufficient number to make much of a mark
in the general trade conditions.
But with all the stagnation, and with some of
the districts still haggling" over the wage question,
there is an undernote of firmness in the market
that needs but a little encouragement to come to
the front and make itself the dominating feature
of the trade. Thei e are rumors of betterments
in the iron and steel trade, just hints it is true,
but they are likely to become more than hints in
the immediate future, and naturally they have
their reflex action on the coal trade, and tend to
help the optimistic side of the trade.
There is some coal going forward to upper lake
ports, but the quantity is comparatively small,
and there is not likely to be much of a rush until
the latter part of the month at least, and mayhap
not until June arrives.
As has already been mentioned, the labor situa­
tion is clarifying to a certain degree, and there
are more districts that have arrived at an adjust­
ment of the wage situation. This, of course,
means that, insofar as those particular districts
are concerned, the labor question now is simply
one of supply and demand, and that it will depend
much on the condition of the markets.
In the Pittsburgh district the trade shows but
little improvement, and coal is being produced
only to the extent of meeting demands, with but
a small amount going forward for lake shipments.
Mines are not working more than 50 per cent, and
there is but little change from the situation as
it was at" the opening of the month. Of course,
during the next week or two something may turn
up that will put an entirely new face on things
and result in a picking up of the market, but if
such is the case it will be a pleasant surprise for
the trade. There have been river shipments dur­
ing the fortnight, and with empty craft in the har­
bor this may stimulate production in those mines
which depend on the all-water route to dispose of
their product. With conditions as they are, prices
are held nominally at list figures, which are:
$1.30 to $1.40 for run-of-mine coal; $1.10 to $1.50
for three-quarter coal; $1.50 to $1.60 for inch and
one-quarter coal, and 80 to 90 cents for slack.
Coke production has continued to drop, in line
with the other branches of the trade, and the re­
ported tonnage for tbe last week for which figures
are available, show that the three hundred thou­
sand ton mark will hardly be reached in tbe next
report. This is in line with the policy of pro­
ducers to keep production in line with demand
and not have a lot of coke accumulate in the yards
and then have to throw it on the market later.
If the rumors of betterments in the iron trade de­
velop into real betterments, then there will be a
picking up in the coke trade just as there has