I Chicago—The favorable condition
of the bituminous coal trade, noted
in this correi pondenco some weeks
past, continues. Toe demand tor
I j both eastern and western soft coals is
r i good, and, especially for the standard
( | grades, prices rule fairly firm aad
I steady. The constantly increasing
1 area cf the western bituminous coal
! fields is met by largely iucreas.d pop
. | illation ; manufacture*, and number
lea new railroid lines to take the in
creased | reduction of the -mines.
I Nw mines are opening every dav in
i Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Missouri and
other Western Suites, and so large
has been the it ci cased output of the
western mines that, were it not for th*
iucteased need of the western coun
tiy, there would have been before this
\ a glut in the market,and man; mines
would have shut down. No change
is to be noted in the situation as re
gards Cumberland aud Piedmont. The
demand toi the latter grade is good,
ami prices film under a light supply.
Philadelphia. —The bituminous
trade is very good, considering the
continued trouble to get cats in suffi
cient number, which tlie trade has
now experienced for nearly two
months. T bi;i difficulty is tbecbfouio ;
complaint cf bituminous men, and i
will most like y continue to be for;
amity years to c 'me.
