Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-03
GOOD DEMAND FOR COKE.
The Scarcity Of Cars still the OnlT Serious
Drawback 20 Prosperous Trade-ship-
merits Somewhat Increased.

The Scarcity Of Cars It'll the Onlr Serious
Drawback to Prosperous Trade-ship-
merits Somewhat Increased.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.l
ScoTTDALE, September 2-The car famine
which has been seriously disturbing the coke
trade for some weeks past remains unremedied,
and prediction is not ventured as when trade
will assume its natural condition. repetition
of experience Is feared in the scarcity of cars,
as last week the deficiency was of larger pro-
portion than has been previously reported The
cars furnished met about half the demands, and
the assistance of individual cars again drew
the producers from a large-sized hole. The de-
mand for coke is of enormous proportions, ana
the productive capacity OF me .-1--s is amply
able To meet it were even moderate means OF
transportation offered. Railroad companies
are said to have evinced determination to
guard against these destructive car famlnes,
which have been too frequently visiting the
c.ke region, by equipping cars especially
aJ'pted for the coke service, but II they have
done so it has been behind the curtains. At
present, were cars at hand. shipments would be
$40 and ], 6OO cars more IN the week.
Trade rests under the most auspicious con-
ditions for the future as far as the demand is
concerned The iron trade, on which the sue
cess of the coke trade depends. is quite
to. be thoroughly acquainted with the
surroundings it is likely to maintain
its present gait. Furnaces are still In DALI
gerous condition from the failures OF orders TO
reach them. An official OF the Hostetter Coke
Company stated last week that two OF their
furnace customers would be forced TO suspend
operations if thew did not secure cars 70 ger
the coke to them. Furnaces East and West
have the supply in their stock houses. which
we're filled during the summer season, almost
exhausted. The Illinois Rolling Mill Com
pany is compelled draw about 90 cars per day
from their stock piles. Their daily consump-
tion is oyer 2O0 cars. Railroad officials take
hopeful Survey ofIthe situation. They contend
that the car famine is now at its worst, and an
improvement is sure 10 follow. as cars Will soon
be coming in that were utilized in shipping
grain, etc.
Coke at several of the yards of the plants has
been stocked to such an extent that prompt
removal only will avert suspension. Despite
all the difficulties SO far experienced with
transportation facilities. this is going to be a
most prosperous year for the coke trade. All
indications point to that end. The five day
operations for works as a a general rule has
given away TO the six day rule. All the com-
panes are running six days save couple inde-
pendent companies, who are still observing the
one day per week shutdown. Nothing has
been heard further of the rumor mentioned
last week in connection with slight advance
in prices. 1t is generally denied. The idle
list of ovens is still about S0O Preparations are
being made to resume the Leisenering No. l
plant of 500 ovens, which has been out for some
time. The Charlotte plant of ~ ovens here
will resume with the Charlotte furnace Two
hundred and nfty new ovens nave peen CON-
pleted at Leisenering Shipments last week
averaged Ills cars per day, against ,095 cars
of the week before. The increase was 20 cars.
The following was the distribution: To points
west of Pittsburg, 4, lbs cars: to Pitrsburg and
river points, l,560; To points east of Pittsburg,
l. l25 cars; total, 68l0 cars. The following was
she preceding weeks record: To points west of
Pittsburg. 1890 cars; to PIttsburg and river
l,O5O cars; total, 6, $40 cars. For prices former
quotations are given. They are as follows:
Furnace coke, 81 Is; foundry, 81 45; crushed,
s. 65