i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

INDUSTRIAL EFFECT OF THE
COAL STRIKE IN BELGIUM.
James C. McNally, United States consul at
Liege, Belgium, makes the following report on
the effect of the German and Belgian coal strikes
on general industrial conditions in Belgium:
"This market has suffered considerably on account
of the coal strikes in the Ruhr district, Germany,
as well as in Belgium. It is thought that
the end of the local strikes is in sight, which
fortunate event will mark an increase in the activity
of the markets in this country. The time
of year is at hand when the government invites
bids for furnishing fuel to its state railways. The
accepted bid usually regulates the price of coal
throughout the kingdom. It is therefore confidently
expected that last year's price will prevail.
One encouraging feature of the prospective activity
is the present flourishing condition of the various
industries, which seem to be taxed to the limit
of their capacity, having on hand ample orders to
insure a continuance of this condition.
"The present prices of coal at the mine per ton
are as follows: For slack of a poor quality, 9
francs ($1.74); for mixed small coal, containing
one quarter bituminous, 10 francs ($1.93) ; and for
mixed coal of all sizes containing one-half bituminous,
12 francs ($2.32). The fleunus, which
is a coal special to Belgium, commands at the
mine about 10 francs ($1.93), slack, 12 francs
($2.32) for a mixed small coal, and 14 francs
($2.70) for a mixed grade containing both large
and small. The demand for domestic coal is poor.
The strikes have not materially reduced the stock
at the mines, and, as the season is far advanced,
business in this direction is not encouraging. The
coke market is in a highly flourishing condition,
and the products of the syndicate's ovens are
controlled up to June 30 next. The price per
ton of ordinary coke is 17 francs ($3.28) and for
the half washed, such as is in demand by blast
furnaces, 20 francs ($3.87). On March 1, the administration
of marine signed a contract for the
purchase of from 12,000 to 18,000 tons of coal
briquettes. The metallic branch of Belgian industries
has suffered little on account of the coal
strikes, and is in good condition with prices satisfactory.
In cast iron, refined iron and steel
the prices are uniformly maintained. The prices
of rolled products are steadily increasing. Rails,
bars, beams, sheet iron and rods have a ready sale
at good prices."
Sunday in Wheeling.
Leave Pittsburgh in the morning; return in the
evening, over Pennsylvania Lines. 8.20 a. m. train
Central time from Pittsburgh Union Station has
parlor car. Returning parlor car train leaves
Wheeling 2.55 p. m., arrives Pittsburgh 5.05 p. m.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 35
Coal Trade Stagnation in England.
The Commercial Bristol, of Bristol, England,
points out the fact that the stagnation in the
coal trade is as general in England as in some
parts of .the United States. In a recent issue it
says the local coal trade has not been flourishing
during the last twelve months. The general depression
in all branches of trade has lessened the
demand for manufacturing coal, while the warm
summer and mild winter have seriously affected
the house coal market, and in many other instances
the general comment is that trade has
MR. M. GREENWOOD.
Mr, (ireenwood ia very well known in the coal trade, especially
in the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia,
as the representative of the Laidlaw-Dunn-llordon Co. and other
interests of the International Steam Pump Co. He has met a deserved
success in his work.
been very dull and money scarce. The diminished
output arising from bad trade has resulted
in a shortage of small coal, the price of which is
firm ,with an upward tendency.
It has been decided that the interstate commerce
law covers car loads of coal shipped from one
state into another. Such shipments remain subjects
of interstate commerce until delivered by
the consignee. They are, therefore, beyond the
control of a state railroad commission. A suit
to enjoin a state board there enforcing an order
with reference to such shipments is not properly
brought into state court, since the matter is within
the jurisdiction of the federal court.