Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-24
MAY HURT THE TRADE
Is a Result Anticipated From an In.
sufficient Supply of Coke by
DECREASING THE OUTPUT OF PIG.
How Furnacemen Suffer Double Loss on
This Account, and Forfeit
THE CONFIDENCE OF THEIR BANKERS

A leading coke broker received telegram
yesterday from a furnaceman, begging him
to use every exertion he could to send him
shipment Of coke to keep him going. else
he would be o ged to bank his furnaces.
He was not receiving anything like an
adequate supply from his regular shippers,
and as last resort he had applied to the
broker for relief
This opens up a new feature, and posi-
bilities of far-reaching effect, from the con-
tinued car shortage. If furnacemen do not
get enough coke for their requirements they
must necessarily bank up. This would
have two-fold effect; in further curtailing
the output 6f pig iron, and in throwing a
large force of men out Of employment. In
addition to this, the furnaceman would
suffer loss estimated at from S10,0 900 to
$4,000 through the chilling of the furnace.
A reduction in the output of pig would
tend to send prices up, with consequent
effect on the market generally. and result
of disquietude regarding the future. The
consumption of pig during the month of
August exceeded the production. If any
falling off from the causes stated above
occurs something very akin to uneasiness in
the iron market might be expected to follow.
AT THE ROADS MERCY.
That any such results as are here alluded
to may ensue is matter entirely problemat-
ical. Furnacemen would make every effort
to keep going, and would pay enhanced
prices for coke. rather than cease operations.
But. unfortunately for them. they are entirely
Of n nnarQtnrq
able to produce all the stuff they require, but
the difficulty arises when the coke is placed in
the cars for shipment. The cause is stated to
be. not an insufficiency of cars but lack Of
hauIage power on the part of the roads. In
other words. ir IS asserted that the railroads
have not enough locomotives to transport their
freight.
La relation to this latter phase of the ques-
tion it is asserted that railroad managers un-
dertake too much in trying to rush heavy
trains with double-headers or double-enders.
1t is held by old time railroaders that more
freight could be transferred, with the aid of
modern systems of blocking, in light trains
hauled by single locomotive than by the
heavy freights at present in vogue Another
matter. concurrent with this view, is the prac-
tice of making up heavy trains of cars for two
or three widely divergent points. Cars. say
loaded in the East for the Mahoning and She
mango Valleys and Southwestern points, on
arriving here are required to be drilled and
made up into fresh trains for the various des-
tinations. For this purpose large crews of men
are employed in the shifting yards and much
valuable time and locomotive power is e1-
pended in the work. 1t is urged that were rail-
road managers to run light loads, made up once
and for all at the point of departure, right
through to the terminal, that more cars could
be brought into service, the traffic OF the roads
would be handled with more facility, and
deal of motive power now locked up in the
shifting yards could be turned into requisition.
But while railroad managers are devising
means to expedite traffic furnacemen are un-
able to sleep at nights in fear lest the morrow
should see them completely out of coke, and
with ne prospects for continued supply.
THE BANKS IN IT.
Not the least important phase of this ques-
tion of an insufficient coke supply to the fur
naces is the injury caused to the business of
the furnaceman by his restricted output Not
alone does he lose the value of the business
which he has to forego, but he suffers in more
serious way. The prospective yield of fur
mace is regarded by bank as good collateral
security, and on the assumption that the out
put will be so much in given time the furnace
A furnace producing 100 tons a day would yield
iron to the value of about $45, 600 in a month.
On the assumption of such a yield
"a fair one under normal conditions
the furnaceman could borrow probably $4,000.
and the bank would have every confidence in
his ability to pay it. But when circumstances
such as the present arise, and the production
of tine furnace falls off by 20 or 80 or so per
cent, the furnaceman has overborrowed on his
output, and his bankers are not SO ready in the
future to accommodate him in the same way.
The question of a car shortage is one of
greater moment than would appear on the sur
around this section. is growing greatly, and the
rapid transit Of freight is problem which
must engage the attention of railroad managers
before deadlock sets in.