Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-04
ANTHRACITE FAMINE.
The Present Scarcity Of Hard Coal
and some of the Reasons
Thereof

Thefe0I.
The present scarcity of hard coal is a
subject of general discussion, and the
natural inquiry arising therefrom is
What Is the reason of this Scarcity
Said Mr. E. G. Frazer last evening when
Intercepted by an ARGUS reporter on the
subject:
The cause is not d deficiency In the
supply of hard ccal Not at all There
is abundance of anthracite east, but the
question is how to get it to Rock Island
and the western market. The difficulty
lies in securing cars. The rate on coal is
lower than other shipping commodities,
and hence the railroads are apt to give
preference TO better freight and let the
coal come along Just as it may
The prices of coal at present are high,
but are no higher than they were last
year at this time in the season, and at
present have no apprehension of greater
advance, though We cannot tell of course.
what may result if the scarcity of cars
continues. This is where the whole
trouble lies and the shortage in the sup
ply of hard coal in local markets can be
attributed to this alone
An exchange. however, describes the
famine in these words;
Perhaps one of the main reasons, aud
certainly among the most natural causes,
may be cited the fact that the stagnation
of business of 1886 and consequent hard
times has prevented most people from
laying in their winter supply of coal at an
early date-say previous to the middle of
October. Prior to that time the transpor
taiion of pershable merchandise, and 9th
er merchandise than coal, is comparative
ly meagre. and coal orders are filled
promptly and at closer transportation
prices. But if the bulk of the coal con-
Sumed in the west must be shipped
through Chicago and other western mar
kets after Nov. /, the result is that the
commodity comes in direct competition
with other merchandise-som of which
is of a perishable nature and can not be
delayed, and all of which pay higher
transportation prices to the roads than
does coal. Hence the delay in supplying
the western markets at the present time,
and hence the scarcity OF coal. That
prices should advance under such circum.
stances is inevitable. With less coal on
hand at the beginning Of the year; with
no coal producers to compete with syndie
cate prices, and lastly. with the incOnve-
nience of shipping the bulk of the coal
during season when other goods are
largely being transported, it is no wonder
that the coal market is impoverished and
that prices are high. The Chicago mar
kets were short 1850 S9 tons for ship.
ments TO be made Nov. |. Compared
with last years demands for November
and December, it will require 322 90 tons
to be shipped by Dec. 81, to meet all de-
mands; which, it is estimated, will be
PAS, 900 tons above the assets of the Chi
cago coal market To get this amount
within this month and enough more for
the spring demands the great question
1t is hardly possible 50 late in the season,
and consequently a large portion of this
years business must lap into next years
Hence it is highly improbable that prices
will decrease.
The estimate made by the coal syudi,
cate as to the number of tons to be mined
this year is IS. 900. 900. of this $4,000. 600
has already found its way to the consum
er, and there is only 5000 600 tons left
for the next five months-the coal wear
ending March /, 1887.