Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-26
A DECLINE IN COKE.
Shipments Decrease to the Amount of $50
CarIoads-The Car Famine is Still Un-
broken-several Operators Running on
Short Time Throughout the Region.

broken-Several Operators Running on
Short Time Throughout the Region.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.i
SCoTTDALE, Dec. 25.-The coke market has
not yet rallied, and another decline was notice
able last week. 1t is drowsy and irregular.
The volu me of coke shipped from the region
last week bears an ungratifying contrast with
to hold tie key to the situation. although the
legitimate demand has suffered material
diminution. Furnace men are still gauging
the orders to imperative wants. while other
causes. such as the blowing out of furnaces on
account of the quietness of the iron market,
are also embarrassing the trade. The car famine
and Ohio road has been cleared and tn 9
ladened coke trains are gotten to des-
tination with as much rapidity as ever on that
line. While the Baltimore and Ohio
decidedly better than they have been. The
Pennsylvania Company is still furnishing q
fair supply Of cars, but the Lake Erie Com
pany, although getting large slice OF the coke,
is unable to meet the requirements of the pro-
ducing companies. The Cambria Iron Company,
operators of four large plants in the region,
have been considerably inconvenienced by the
want of ample transportation. and have Just
had 100 individual cars completed, many of
which are already in service. The individual
cars of other companies have been of material
assistance during the car troubles.
Since the banking of % per cent OF the whole
number of ovens in the region, the amount OF
production stocked on the yards has been less
<sened. The mountains of coke which have thus
accumulated are rapidly disappearing. As
previously stated, many of the Schoonmaker
and Frick plants laid off last week IN order to
ship this overplus coke to market. A leading
operator was seen to-day and said: "Ihe un-
favorable conditions which surround the iron
market have had much to do with the unsct-
tied state of the coke market In my opinion,
though, trade will brighten up again just as
as the dissatisfaction over prices is allayed,
yvi1 ha I
in the car famine. and are reliably informed
the region is short about 250 cars per day. The
car supply will likely get better. too, as the
wants are not quite SO extensive. On account
of the existing coke rates many con-
sumers are purchasing the inferior produc-
ton OF competing regions at greatly reduced
prices. am prone to believe that everything
Will come around all right, though, and the
region enjoy q prosperous winter trade"
The Valley furnace men are still clamor-
ing for reduced prices, and their de-
lea ding companies, that will make reply
tomorrow. If reduction is not conceded, Is
furnaces may be banked, which would have
another deteriorating effect on the coke mar
their consumptivc requirements. Efforts are
being made to prevent the intended movement:
even one of the furnace mems organs is en-
deavoring to checkmate 1t. Should the operators
refuse their considerations. perhaps hundreds
of ovens will have to be banked.
The operators hereabouts are unit in the
There pare over 1910 ovens cold in the region
and about 1900 in blast. The Union
Works laid OF one day the past
week, account of the snow storm.
Rainy ran days; Mcclure days; Cochran
and Hecla days, and Hostettor days. The
Dexter plants here also lost a day on account
of the blizzard. Some of the Frick works ran
schoonamaker plants laid off day. Ship
ments last week decreased $50 cars, and only
averaged S67 cars per day as against .0l0 cars
of the previous week.
points west of Pittsburg. 3475 cars: to Pitts
burg and river tipples, 1G50 cars; to points east
of Pittsburg, 1,075 cars; total, $500 cars.
To points west of Pittsburg, 34l0 cars; to Pitts
burg and river tippes, l. 500 cars; to points east
of Pittsburg, $50 cars; total, 6o6O. Coke prices
as follows: Furnace coke, 81 10; foundry,
So 40; crushed. 81 s.: all f. o. b. cars at ovens
per ton OF 2, 900 pounds. Freight rates are as
follows: