Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-19
A GRADUAL DECLINE
Visible In the Coke Trade, Despite Small
Spurt-Operators Endeavoring to Limit
Production-Over 1000 Ovens Are Now
Idle in the Region.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH1
SCoTTDALE. Dec 11.--It is becoming more
obvious that the coke market is undergoing a
decline. 1t has not yet however, assumed the
appearance of a lull, and if q few of the bar
riers could be removed it would, no doubt,
glide along in old time form. Every effort is
being made by the producers to limit produc-
ton to the demand. Despite the many draw
backs, business in the region toned up some
what toward the latter part of the
week under review, and a creditable showing
was the result. The demand is fairly active
from the western and Pittsburg districts al
though it has been materially lessened by the
idleness Of several large furnaces. The East
ern demand has been falling off for several
weeks, due mainly to the actions of furnace
men, who had become dissatisfied with the coke
prices. The car famine is still perplex1ng the
to promise batter things in this line. Several
plants were forced to lay off couple of days
this week on account of inadequate transpor-
tation, notably, the big Morewood plant.
works up the Sewickley branch were
similarly affected. Speaking on the con-
ditlon of the coke trade. an operator gave the
following version of it to-day: There is no de-
nying the fact that there has been percent.
ible falling off in the demand. though, in nv
opinion, to the prevailing Car shortage can be
attributed the unsatisfactory condition of af-
fairs. Furnace men have been compelled to
econdanize too much on receipts. ana too much
coke has been stocked Oh the yards throughout
the region. Many operators are now endeavor-
ing to rid themselves of surplus coke bv layjnp
their works idle one and two days each week
If there has been in improvement in the car
supply we have failed to receive any benefit
therefrom."
It has been frequently reported that there
has also been lack of motive power as feeder
to the scant car supply, but railroad people
state there is nothing of 1t. Five of the Schoon-
maker Com pany works were idle one day this
m Of n 0Vnrnlus ka lvb
nine of the Frick Company's plants will he idle
four days for the same cause. The lay-off days
will be utilized in the shipping of this produc-
tiOn to market.
The Hecla Company,s works will also be idle
one day because Of surplus coke. Works on the
Sewickley have been very unlucky in the mat
pany, Mcclure and W. ]. Rainey will
operate in full. while most of the small opera
tors will lay off one and two days. The Nc
Clure Company have shut down % per cent os
their plants by reason of depression in trade
and deficiency in the car supply. There are
over 1000 idle ovens in this region and about
120u0 actives. The MahoninC works of the
Is being lighted again. The Eagle and Tiptop
plants. of 10 and 12l ovens. respectively. have
been blown out entirely. The Alice plant of 25l
ovens Is also cold. The Ridgeview works, near
Lltrobe recently purchased by ]. D. Boyle of
Pittsburg, have not yet been fired. and will not
be started until trade hrightens up. Work is
being pushed as rapidly as the weather will
permit on the new Red Bank plant. About 25
ovens are already in completion.
The valley furnacemen are still having a
great light over the coke prices among Them
selves; the coke operators are not lin it," They
are renewing the lugubrious utteTances about
shutting down If the prices are not reduced.
Said acoke man: ~, for one, am opposed to
making any reduction and would rather. close
our ovens than assent TO it. While the utter
ances Of these furnacemen NAV or may not be
& bluff. 1t matters not. i he contracts with
their customers expire on January i. and there
will likely be renewal of them. OF course
the condition Of the pig iron market may not
be wholly satisfactory. but the coke operators
Shipments last week took q squirt. upward
and averaged l,Ul0 cars per day as against s7s