Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-04
WILL THERE BE A COAL FAMINE
views Of the Dealers In this City.

| THE AGENT OF THE READING COMPANY HERE AND
SOME OF THE LARGER DEALERS THINK THERE Is NO
CAUSE FOR ALARM-rHEy EXPECT AN EARLY END OF
THE sTRIKE-orHER DEALERS NOT 30 sASGUTNE.
In view OF the troubles In the Pennsylvania
coal mining region there is some alarm In Phila-
delphia and other cities which draw their supply,
in whole or in part, from that section and as the
matter is an important one to housekeepers here
and elsewhere on the Atlantic coast, representa-
| tives OF THE STAR this morning called upon sew
prominent dealers in Iuel for expression Of
their opinions as TO the probability Of scarcity
OF coal in this city. The result is given below.
Summed up. they seem to warrant the hope that
unless the Reading strike is a ong-continued one
which is not apprehended, Washington will
weather the storm without coal famine.
MR.. SHERIFF SAYS HALF THE SUPPLY HERE COMES
FROM THE AFFECTED REGION.
Mr.. George L. Sheriff says: .If the strike OF the
railway employees continues for any considerable
length OF time the question OF the coal supply Of
Washington will become a very serious matter, as
at present at least One-half OF the city supply
comes from that source. In fact the effects are al
ready being felt"
Mr.. GIVEN SAYS THE PROSPECT IL NOT BRIGHT ONE.
Mr.. JnO. T. Given said that the coal prospect Is
not bright one. The market was never so bare
nor the means OF transportation so poor and un-
certain. The late complications at the mines are
liable TO increase the difficulty and there is a
chance OF famine Coal that he ordered early
last month has just arrived, and although he
ordered at comparatively low rate, the Pennsyl-
vana people have charged the increased prices
and the winter freights so that he has had TO ad-
vance his prices in proportion. The dealers, he
added are at the mercy OF the coal combinations
at the mines, whose prices expressed In monthly
bulletins are unvariaole as the old laws of the
MedeS and the Persians. There is no certainty
whatever about the supply.
WHAT AGENT BARKER OF THE READING COMPANY
SAYS.
The agency Of the Reading Coal Co. is in the st.
Cloud building under the charge OF Mr.. VIM. Z.
Barker. He thinks that there is no cause for
alarm among either dealers or consumers although
he has had no direct Information from the mines.
There Is Sufficient supply in the city, he says, to
tide over the trouble, unless the strike should con-
tinue for Ave or six weeks, when, OF course, the
effects would be felt here. Philadelphia Will
suffer worse than Washington, he says. The
transportation facilities, said Mr.. Barker. are
fully equal to the demand for coal, and the con-
tinuance of the strike is the only thing that can
affect The market.
WHAT J. MAURY DOVE SAYS.
Mr. J. Maury Dove said 'If the suspension of
coal shipments by the Reading road continues any
length OF time the effect on the District cannot
fail TO be disastrous. The Reading company sup
plies the market with about one-half or the
anthracite production. The amount of coal on
suspension lasts there will be coal famine in the
District OF Columbia inside Of forty days"
HOPEFUL VIEWS OF Nh L. KURTZ JOHNSON.
Mr.. E. kurtz johnson, Of the firm of johnson
Brothers, said TO STAR reporter: "We have not
felt the effect OF this Reading strike yet But Of
course II it continues, and II the Pennsylvania
Co.'S miners join in, then coal famine may be
expected. The market here Is short OF coal, and
has been for ayear, but still the supplyis SUFFICIENT
for the demand and there has been no advance in
prices The effect OF advance is always felt by the
poor people, for they are the ones who are unable
To lay ia supply OF coal as their richer neghbOrs
do, and so, OF course all changes in the scale Of
prices bear upon them most heavily. / believe,
however, that the strike will not continue. and
that the check in the coal supply will soon cease"
MIR. ii. A. Clarke, OF Clarke & Son, said: "There
has been no advance in prices here on account OF
the strike. All the yards are well supplied, and
the mild weather we haze had and are now having
has been great blessing In preventing the
same as they were last year. and there is no need
for alarm for the present, at least long as the
mild weather continues. have no idea that the
strike will continue. The effects OF 1t come harder
on the poor people than on the RICH"