COAL - Clpdigital.org

46 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
A novel proposition has been made to the Read­
ing railway with the view of inducing it to take
up the project of driving a tunnel through Broad
mountain, near Pottsville, Pa. The great cost
of the work, which would be fully $5.0(10,000, has
heretofore prevented the company from taking up
the work, but representatives of several towns
interested in pushing the work have declared to
the company that vast eoal measures would be
encountered in the tunnel, the marketing of which
would reduce the cost of the project by one-half.
The June output of coal from the New River
district of West Virginia shows a falling off of
over 43.000 tons compared with the may output
which was below the average. The coke loaded
amounted to 702 cars, a decrease of 100 cars compared
with the previous month. July promises an
increased output of both coal and coke.
Attorney General Ellis of Ohio, in an opinion
rendered to State Mine Inspector Harrison says
automatic doors in mines need no attendant.
"From my observation," says he, "I am of the
opinion that the automatic doors are so hung that
they are safe and provide perfect ventilation."
It is announced at the government coaling station
at Bradford, near Newport. R. I., that the
cruiser Pennsylvania established a record while
coaling there for her four-day's sea trip. She
loaded S48 tons of coal from four barges in six
hours and 20 minutes.
The highest price ever paid for coal, exclusive
of the surface, in Fayette county. Pa., was involved
in a deal at Uniontown on July 5, when
John R. Carothers bought from William L. Coff­
man of German township a tract for $l.SO0 an
acre.
The annual report of the Central Coal & Coke
Co. of Kansas for the fiscal year ended June 1 last
shows tne following financial results: Net income,
$984,353, a decrease of $551,742; surplus,
$493,265, a decrease of $493,SOS.
The Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Co., of Cleveland,
has increased its capital stock from $300,000
to $1,500,000.
The United Mine Workers of Tennessee will hold
their annual convention at Knoxville on August 1.
GERMAN FEAR OF PUBLICITY.
The freedom with which publicity is courted and
trade information is given in this country by the
government, the daily press and by those engaged
in business forms a strong contrast to the meth­
ods in vogue in Germany. The chamber of com­
merce of Sorau, Prussia, recently addressed a
communication to the manufacturers and selling
agents of that district in which it warns them
against giving information of the condition of the
markets and of manufacturing interests in their
reports to the press, etc. The circular letter says
in part:
"The reports in our technical and trade papers
are most assiduously studied abroad, and by rep­
resentatives of our foreign competitors residing in
Germany, especially by the consuls of the United
States. The articles published in our journals
and trade papers should not state selling prices
of our manufactured articles, how their cost com­
pares with that of similar goods produced in com­
peting countries, of what ingredients the articles
are composed, wuat the tariff rates are, etc. Such
detailed descriptions, which often expose even
the secrets of manufacturing, form an excellent
weapon in the hands of our competitors and serve
to injure German business interests. All public
reports should refrain from giving details. The
chamber is careful not to mention such in its
annual reports. No complaints about bad busi­
ness should be published, as this is hurtful to our
export trade.
"We therefore beg of you to promote German
business interests by (1) Spreading this warning;
(2) abstaining from giving publicity to any de­
tails which should only be confidentially communi­
cated to the proper authorities; (3) uring this upon
your employes who may have intercourse with
newspapers, and (4) keeping your factories shut
to foreigners or strangers."
How do these German chambers of commerce.
which represent the manufacturing and commer­
cial elements of their country, reconcile this illiberal
spirit with the fact that Germany sends indi­
viduals, official delegates and even ministers of
state to the United States to inspect our factories,
trade schools, public institutions, etc., for the purpose
of obtaining knowledge and benefiting German
interests?
An explosion on July 5 in the mine of the Tidewater
Coal & Coke Co., near Bluefields, W. Va..
caused the death of five miners.