Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-28
pUDDLERs WERE UNABLE TO WORK
Preparations Made for the Benefit of Pri-
yate Consumers.
WHAT THE COAL MEN NOW HAVE TO SAY

thrown off during the day and could not
get any gas until supper time. One
of these is the Moorhead- McCleane
Company's, on Second avenue, and
it will try a new scheme rather
than 90 back to the use of coal. The main
objection to the latter is on account OF the
furnaces being made so that coal cannot be
burned When the company first intro
duced the gas into its furnaces it had reason
to suppose that it could use gas for years
without any danger of being compelled to
90 back to the use Of coal. In view of this,
the furnaces were remodeled to allow better
usage of the gas, and coal cannot be substi-
tuted without loss of time and at consider
able expense.
COKE EXPERIMENTS TO BE MADE.
The company is now fixing up one fur
mace to experiment with gas run from their
coke ovens on the river bank. 1t is thought
the coke gas can be utilized if it can be run
into the furnace in sufficient quantities. An
experiment with the gas at the ovens shows it
is very heavy and while burning does not throw
off an intense heat However it is thought
that with little mixture it can be made boil
iron.
be piped very far. The pipes are now being
laid to a 'pair" furnace in the sheet mill. and
if it works successfully in this furnace 1t is
claimed that it will do so in others. A retort
will have to be built at the ovens in which to
gather the gas.
The pudding department has been shut down
during the day for about week on account OF
no gas. The men quit work in the morning
about o'clock. when the pressure begins to de-
crease in order to allow enough gas in other
departments of the mill. There is much dis
an1 inn in fr0r
the men who are losing considerable time. If
the coke gas scheme works. the firm will be so
much ahead of other companies that do not
own any coke ovens The gas goes to waste
now, and if it can be used, it will cost the COM
pany very little.
The Philadelphia Company's gas was also
shut off in the Southside mills yesterday morn
ing. In consequence the puddlers did not go
to work until the night turn. The gas will be
turned on at night, and hereafter the night
turn will only make four heats What ar
rangements will be made in the future are not
definitely settled on, but it is possible that coal
will be used in the daytime and gas at night.
EXPECT TO RAISE THE PRICE.
Following in the wake of the announcement
that pudding furnaces will be cut Off from their
gas supply comes the statement-long ago an
ticipated in THE DISPATCH-that the price of
gas to private consumers will be raised so per
cent. On investigation 1t has been learned that
though neither the Philadelphia Company nor
the Allegheny Heating Company have yet
taken definite action to raise the price, such is
the general sentiment of the men composing
the companies, and the announcement is sure
to follow at an early date.
Mr.. James McCutcheon, of the Board of Di-
rectors of the Allegheny Heating Company,
and stockh older, more or less. IN the different
gas companies, vas interviewed at his home
last evening. He said that the Allegheny
Heating Company has not taken direct action
yet to increase the price of gas to consumers,
nor could it do so until the Philadelphia Com
action. The Philadephia Company. as well as
the Allegheny Heating Company, has for some
time been considering the move, but it has
passed beyond that point :
He was shown the announcement that the
increase in price had already been decided
upon. and said that. though it was not true it
is in all probability, but anticipated. 1t has
been decided that the price is too low, and that
15-cent per 1000 feet rate would not then
make gas more than on par with coal. In
Buffalo 20 cents is charged. and in many places
the people do not object TO higher rate.
WON'T GO BACK TO COAL.
The members of the company have reasoned
that if natural gas were made even little
higher than the price of coal consumers will
not go back to the latter. Ashes and many
other points make gas preferable at the same
or little higher price than coal. Some poor
people may go back to coal, but it is argued
that their places on the company's list will he
taken by other consumers. Just when definite
Ii.
the increase made, is not known. 1t is probable
that 80 days notice will be given.
Mr.. McCutcheon was questioned relative to
the statement made that the Allegheny Heat
ing Company had loaned the Philadelphia
Company 25,000 it being said that the loan
was necessary for the Philadelphia Company
could not pay off its regular dividends. He said
that there was no cause for such talk. The
Philadelphia Company supplies the Allegheny
Heating Company with gas and the $4,000
referred to was but a payment for gas pur-
chased Payments are made to the Philadel-
phia Company at regular intervals. 1t has
several times happened that the payments
we're made little before the stated time, if the
Heating Company preferred to do so. The
payment referred to was not an exception, or
in any way loan.
COAL MEN LOOKING FOR TRADE.
Among the retail coal men the sentiments
expressed show that they arelooking for very
heavy trade during the winter. The manager
of Fred Greiner's yard corner of Fourth ave-
n,,e and Try street, stated that they already
had more business than they could attend to.
The retail price is cents per bushel. the same
as last year at the same date, and their only
trouble is to get enough fuel to supply the de-
mand. They are receiving new orders daily,
and find that many families, particularly
among people in moderate circumstances, are
returning 10 coal. Under the circumstances
they look for moderate advance in price. as
the railroads cannot fully supply their orders.
McElhaney Steen, and other retailers whose
coal comes from, the railroad mines, report the
same general condltlons.
Among the retailers who get their supply
from the river mines. including Lee & Hamil-
Ton of Allegheny; jackson and others, the re-
morris are about the same. The first named
Arm has as much business hand as can
nossibly be attended to, and the orders from
priyate consumers who are going back to coal
are constantly on the increase. Their ex-
perience they say, is true of all the principal
firms in their line.
COAL KINGS NOT IN 1T.
According to well posted rivermen the great
coal kings of the Monongahela will not be af-
fected one way or the other by partial return
to coal in this city. The coal shipped here in
fats has been limited in quantities since the
gas came in, but even if the mills abandon the
use of gas in pudding departments the in
crease will be very small in comparison 30 the
barCe shipments to Cincinnati, Louisville New
Orleans and other Southern points. Walton &
Ca. IS shipments down the river last year beat
ali records in the history of this field. This
fall large stage of water has existed almost
uniformly since early in September. In conse-
and nrices below have been cut considerably
This is taken as an indication that consumers
here will not suffer from high prices for the
great product.
Bows, Extra Heavy Wool Hose, in Black,
And knickerbocker mixture, at SOC pair;
sizes to g.