i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

sumers evidently foresee trouble of this character
and are making unusual demand for prompt delivery.
Conditions are strong and improving in the
Atlantic seaboard bituminous trade. Producers
generally give the impression that they have all
the orders they desire, at least for the present,
while the car supply is inadequate. The consensus
of opinion intimates higher prices. In the
far East there is a good demand and the movement
suggests that consumers are now buying
who early in the year, when prices and freights
were lower, did not feel inclined to take advantage
of the market conditions. Along the Sound
trade shows an increase and shipments to all
shoal-water ports are what are known as last cargoes
before ice makes. An improvement is noted
in New York harbor, although this is the slowest
consuming market on the roll. All-rail trade is
extensive and the demand is so urgent that producers
are obliged to curtail their tidewater shipments.
The car supply is especially poor on the
Virginia roads, greatly inconveniencing shippers.
Fortunately, transportation facilities are excellent,
which to an extent relieves the aggravating posi­
tion of the car shortage. In the coastwise market
large vessels are in good supply and rates from
Philadelphia are: To Boston, Salem and Portland,
60c; Portsmouth, 65c; Lynn and Newburyport,
75c; the Sound, 50c. New York harbor
freights continue at 60c around the Cape.
The anthracite market shows no new features.
It continues practically a weather market, and, as
frosty weather persistently holds off, there is
nothing to change the even tenor which prevails.
The weather still continues very moderate and
everybody is confidently predicting an open winter,
and is consequently delaying the purchase of
coal. This, of course, has its effect on the wholesale
trade in the prepared sizes. In steam sizes
business continues moderate, but is, if anything,
a little better than it has heen.
In Chicago and other Western territory conditions
are almost the same. Shipments of anthracite
to Buffalo and to the Western all-rail points
have been delayed by shortage of cars, and this
condition promises to last for a time. In the lake
trade the last cargoes are now being rushed up
by boats, trying to make one or two more trips
before the insurance period expires; after that
time only a few scattering cargoes of hard coal
can he expected, although there is no sign yet of
ice making, even at the Sault.
Prices continue unchanged in prepared sizes.
There is no special alteration in steam sizes, although
they are, if anything, a little firmer.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. .",7
Hull, Blyth & Co., of London and Cardiff, report
prices unchanged. Smalls are a shade easier.
Quotations are: Best Welsh steam coal. $3.54; seconds,
$3.36; thirds, $3.12; dry coals, $3.24; best
Monmouthshire. $3.06; seconds, $3; best small
steam coal, $2.04; seconds, $1.80; other sorts, $T.68.
WATER SHORTAGE SERIOUSLY
AFFECTS COKE OPERATIONS.
Unless the water shortage is soon remedied in
the Connellsville coke region several plants will
be compelled to shut down. Demand for coke is
strong and is pushing prices upward. It is reported
that offers for immediate delivery of from
$1.90 to $2.10 have been made. Operations are
delayed by the irregular return of empty cars.
The addition of ovens to the active list may result
in a car shortage.
The last weekly summary of the Connellsville
coke region shows a total of 23.137 ovens, of which
16.457 are in operation and 6.6S0 idle. Production
for the week was 195,132 tons, an increase of 699
tons over the week previous. The shipments aggregated
9,322 cars, or a total of'210,245 tons, an
increase of 658 tons. The Masontown shipments
amounted to 1,834 cars, estimated at 51.352 tons, a
gain over the previous week of 1,680 tons.
A New Text Book On Coal Mining.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN is in receipt of "Coal
Mining." a new text book from the press of the
N. W. Henley Publishing Co.. of New York, by
T. H. Cockin, of the institution of Mining Engineers
and lecturer on coal mining at Sheffield University
College. The work is an elementary class
book designed to give the student a practical grasp
of the principles of coal mining. It also provides
an insight into several allied subjects including
chemistry, mechanics, electricity and steam. It
contains a map of the British coal fields and over
200 illustrations prepared specially for the work.
While the author is an Englishman, trained under
British mining systems, his work is characterized
by an absence of that local bias that is frequently
observable in books of the kind produced by foreigners.
Every practical, modern system and
method of coal mining is well presented and while
there is no lack of text books of the same character,
Mr. Cockin's work has in addition to other
special merits that of being up-to-date in every
way. It is designed especially for the use of students
and those preparing to qualify for mine superintendents'
certificates.
Clint Hellar has purchased the coal business
of Howe & Allen at Wichita, Kan.