Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-14
AN ENCOURAGING TURN.

The Coke Situation Somewhat Improved
A Little Better Car supply and Increased
Shipments-Brisk Demand From All
Points of Consumption.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH:
SCoTTDALE. November la-The car supply
was trifie better this week, with a correspond
ing increase in the amount of coke shipped
from the region. Operators and producers alike
are seemingly encouraged at the late turn OF
affairs, believing that some of the gloom which
has been hanging over the trade has been dis
PEELED. Transportation facilities, however, are
still insufficient though the signs for their res
toration 20 regular conditions have not been
better since this car famine seized the coke
trade. The market is still unsettled by these
conditions. Several consumers were made
happy this week by the timely arrival of coke,
while others were made unhappy for the oppo-
site reason.
The demand continues to be briskly active
from all consumptive points. and operators, as
has always been the case. made every endeavor
to supply it. Coke is still being stocked on the
yards because of no available means of trans
portation. All the coke companies report
more or less accumulation Of coke for these
causes The showing made in shipments this
week is encouraging. An operator said to-day:
"Of course, the Supply of cars does not meet
requirements, but IL Is much better now than
n
only continues in the same line of improvement
we will be well satisfied. There is telling,
though, and it may be as bad as ever next
week. We hope not. The orders are still
abundant for production and will be increased
with the resumption of some Western furnaces.
The pig iron market is In satisfactory condi-
ton"
The furnace men are still expostuating over
what they pleased to term 'eXhoTbitant"
prices for coke. 1t can be set down as cer-
tainty that operators will not make any reduc-
tion this year. In fact it Is ont of the question,
when the increased cost of labor is considered.
The region ran six days last week. in observance
of the rule, though the exceptions were many.
The FrickCompany LAID off one day number
of their plants, viz: Foundry, Trotter. White,
Olyphant, Kyle, White and two at the Stan
dard. The other companies ran full. The idle
list of ovens in the region by actual count is
close on to l.2C0. The Frick Coke Company has
bought the Anchor works of loo ovens. and E.
A. II umphrey has the mine opened for his new
coke plant al Red Bank. The Charlotte works
here still Out of blast. All is quiet in labor
circles. Any grievances of the workmen
adjusted with promptitude by the operators.
The new ovens are beng completed as rapidly
as weather permits.
Western shipments decreased some between
Pittsburg. and Eastern shipments increased
sufficiently to offset the dimiuuIion. The ship
ments averaged I. l42 cars per day, as compared
with ], l24 cars for the week before. The total
increase was ITO cars.
The following was the distribution: To points
west of PittsbUG, LOO cars; to Pittsburg and
river points $50 cars: To points east of Pitts
burg. !, go cars; total $3.50 cars. This was the
record OF the preceding week: To points west
of Pittsburg, 4,4l0 cars; to Pittsburg and river
points, ], ,lCO cars; TO points east of PittSburg,
200 cars; total, 740 cars Prices are still the
same the following being the quotations asked
Furnace coke 81 lt; foundry, 81 As; crushed,
81 Is; all I. O. b. cars at ovens per ton of 1000
pounds.
Freight rates from the coke region to various
If follows.