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46 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN
THE COAL TRADE PROSPECTS.
Now that the national election is out of the way
there is reason to believe that the coal industry
will come into its own and that business will in
a measure make up by increased activity for the
dullness which prevailed from April 1 to November
1. While the result of the national election
would indicate that from the early part of the
campaign there was no uncertainty as to who
would be the next president of the United States,
nevertheless there was more or less timidity in
commercial and industrial circles until the vote
had been counted. Industries which a year ago
purchased a large tonnage of coal during the summer
months because it could be purchased cheaper
and transportation conditions were more certain,
refrained from doing so the past six or eight
months, stock in consumers' bins at all times
being kept to low proportions. As a consequence
the volume of business up to the first of the present
month was much less than it was in the corresponding
period in 1903, and if there is a revival
of industrial activity following the election, as
is said to be expected, the demand for the remainder
of the year and during the winter will
be correspondingly increased over what it was
during the winter of 1903-1904. There is every
reason to believe that many lines of manufacture
which have been operating on half time during the
past six or eight months will now resume on full
time or better, and that their fuel requirements
will be increased in proportion. Activity in the
iron and steel trade is well under way, and if it
can be taken as an index to industrial conditions
in other industries, and it is believed that it can,
they must shortly follow this lead. With the
increase in commercial activity there should be
a larger increase in the consumption of coal than
in that of any other commodity.
Coal producers not only supply fuel to operate
the factories, but supply the agency which moves
the transportation lines, and with any increase in
the volume of freight or passenger traffic over the
latter more coal is required. In this way it must
be evident a resumption of business or Increased
business is a direct benefit to all coal producing
companies. They benefit by the increased demand
from industries requiring fuel and also increase
the tonnage sold to the railroads.
There is only one feature of the situation which
may work to the injury of the coal producing
interests of the country. This is found in the
unpreparedness and inability of the railroads to
move all the freight delivered to them for transportation.
The situation in this respect is not
any more encouraging than it was three or four
weeks ago. As a matter of fact, in the Eastern
states it has grown worse instead of better.
COAL PROPERTIES EXCHANGED.
Through an interchange of coal properties completed
last week the Pittsburgh Coal Co. has become
the owner of two new mines in the Pittsburgh
district, and the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. has
become the possessor of a good-sized acreage of
coal formerly held by the Pittsburgh Coal Co. and
adjacent to other mines of the independent company.
In addition to the coal lands, which the
Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. secures, it also becomes a
stockholder in the Pittsburgh Coal Co. and renews
its contract for the sale of its lake coal to the
Pittsburgh Coal Co. for a term of three years.
The transfer gives to the Pittsburgh Coal Co.
the Blanch and Rachel mines of the independent
company. They are both on the Wheeling division
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The Pittsburgh
Coal Co. gives the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. coal
lands adjacent and continuous with the properties
about the Bertha mine of that company. The
Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. will remove its forces and
equipment from the mines it has sold to the
Bertha mine and start enlarged operations there
at once. It is expected to bring the mine capacity
to at least 2,000 tons daily within a short time.
It will be further increased later.
New Mine Being Opened In Tennessee.
The Tennessee Coal. Iron & Railroad Co. is
opening up new mines in the Northern part of
Jefferson county, in the Henry Ellen district. The
mines will be the best equipped coal mines in the
state, it is said, the plans calling for an electric
plant to provide power for the hauling of coal.
The daily output will be about 1,000 tons, but it
will be several months before mines can be operated
steadily. The Central of Georgia, Southern
Railway & Seaboard Air Line will build spur
tracks to the new mines.
Home-Seekers' Excursions.
West, Northwest and Southwest via
Pennsylvania Lines.
Excursion tickets will be sold via Pennsylvania
Lines to points West, Northwest and Southwest,
account Home-Seekers' Excursions, during December,
January, February, March and April. For
full particulars regarding fares, routes, etc., call
on J. K. Dillon. District Passenger Agent, 515 Park
Building, Pittsburgh, Pa.
A new syndicate of coal operators is being
formed in Pittsburgh to engage in the lake trade.
Several of the largest independent producers in
the district are supposed to be promoting the new
project.