Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-26
GREAT DEMAND FOR COKE.
Scarcity of Cars suIl the Most Serious
Disturbing Element-Prospect of New
Works-Ta1k of Advancing Prices Early.


Disturbing Element-Prospect of New
works-TaIk of Advancing Prices EarIy.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.
SCoTTDALE. September 25-No important
change is visible in the coke market and its
surroundings, The supply of cars rose apoint
or two on the Baltimore and Ohio and Penn
sylvania railways last week. The Improvement
reported. although small, materially assisted in
the fastening of coke to points of consumption
Several furnaces which would have been COM
PEELED to bank down were saved from so doing
by this assistance. One furnace in the
Shenango Valley was obliged to suspend opera
tions by reason of no fuel. The demand for
coke is something phenomenal, and
in all probability could be met were
Three soldid coke trains were sent out
one day this week to furnaces in Cleveland and
other Ohio points which were on the verge of
suspension. 1t is believed by shipping agents
that the transportation facilities will be grad
ualy improved and the famine wiped out. The
works in the Conuellsville region are also af-
fected by the lack of transportation. Coke is
being dumped on the yards, and the stock is of
such proportions that some of the works will
have to shut down If cars do not come to the
rescue. An operator well versed in the trade
defined his position as follows to-day: "The
pig iron trade is active and, of course, the
orders for coke are large. We could fill all
the orders, but the cars to bear them to desti-
nation are not at hand Were it not for the
coke that some of the big consumers secured
when cars were in plentiful supply,I think they
would have to close their plants ere this. But
then the car famine won't last always"
1t is quietly whispered around that the coke
prices will be advanced a notch or so next
month or the month following. What is behind
the scenes cannot be learned, as the operators
are quite reticent on the matter. Some of
them deny the report. The works are opera
ting six days per week as a general rule
Some of the works are still making five days.
while others: operate alternately five and six
days. Eastern capitalists who recently pur-
chased 1000 acres of land in Somerset county
have opened up couple of pits on the pur-
chase, and found the coal to be of the coking
order. There about l,SO0 idle ovens in the
region. The Leisenering No. plant of 500
ovens is being fired. The Charlotte plant OF 81
ovens is still idle. Work on the new plants in
course of erection is progressing Shipments last
week averaged l, 095 cars per day. as against
l,C72 cars of the previous week. The total IN
crease was l40 cars. Shipments were consigned
to points of consumption as follows: To points
west of Pittsburg, $500 cars; to Pittsburg and
river points. 1870 cars; TO points east of Pitts
burg l,050 cars; total, $40 cars. The record of
the preceding week was as follows. To points
west of Pittsburg $3.50 cars: to Pittsburg and
river points. 900 cars; to points east of Pitts
burg l, lS0 cars; total. 6.4S0 cars. Prices for
coke are quoted as follows: Furnace coke,
S2 10; foundry, So 40; crusted, So IS. Freight
rates from the coke region are.