Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-29
HEAVY ORE OUTPUT.
During Last Season 100000 Tons
We're Mined in the Northwest.
ABOUT 100000 TONS CAME HERE.
The Pittsburg & Western Crowded With
Large Contract.
GOSSIP AMONG THE COAL OPERATORS

1t is not generally known, except by the
iron men, that the output of iron ore from
the Northwestern or Lake Superior region.
for the season just closed, was away above
the average for other years. The demand
for ore was brisk all sumSer, and even now
the mills are active in their operations,
many of them being forced into running
double turn.
But at the close of navigation last week
the output of ore from the Northwest for the
season was 1000, 900 tons, exceeding the
output of last season by 1000, 900 tons. This
amount beats the record and the ore pro-
ducers are feeling very proud of their work.
1t is estimated by careful manu-
facturers that about 100000 tons of
this ore reached Pittsburg markets.
The balance was distributed in the Mahon-
ing and Shenango Valleys and other places.
The Pittsburg and Western road had con-
tract to carry to Pittsburg from Cleveland
10000 tons, and this fact accounts for
their crowded and blockaded condition.
THE ROAD WORKED HARD.
The road did the best it could, but some
of the ore, it is stated, has not yet reached
its destination. The Baltimore and Ohio
and its connections had some heavy contracts
also.
The prospects of the iron trade, therefore,
at present are very bright, and the indica-
tions are that iron workmen will have
prosperous and cheerful winter. In times
past this lively condition of affairs meant
money in the pockets of the rail-
road coal men, but while their pros
poets are rather good. a coal man
ager said yesterday that they were
not the best
"Do you know" he continued, show
much coal is displaced by natural gas in
Pittsburg? Well, will tell you. 1t now
reaches 80, 200 tons per day or 365 times that
many tons in year. We have carefully
compiled statistics on the subject, and for
the past two years this rate of gas con-
sumption has been maintained. That it
iniures the coal business is apparent
without any further facts or arguments.
Some of the iron manufacturers who do not
own their own lines, are going back to coal,
and they help the coal operators little.
FORCING OUT THE MILLS.
''There seems to be. determined effort on
the part of gas companies to force up prices
on manufacturers to such an extent as to
compel them to resort to the use OF coal again.
The gas companies find it more profitable to
furnish fuel for domestic purposes.
There was good demand for coal last sum-
mer but miners and cars were so scalce that
we could not realize half what we should
have on our opportunity"
1t appears to be pretty well settled that
the river operators will sell out to the svndi-
cate. The attorney who is engaged in
drawing up the papers. and whose name
must be reserved for the present, said that
so far there had been no kicks. and
the syndicate people are busy examining the
various plants 1t is quite certain that the
svndicate will hold is of the leading opera-
tors along the river, and he thought it would
be good thing for all concerned, With one
head rather than 16, he believed that prices
could be better maintained, and the miners
would come in for their share of the reward.
For a time a strong effort was made to hoo
doc the railroad coal operators into syn
dicate composed of Americans, but coal
operator stated last night that all negotia-
tions were off.