Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-13
LOOKING FOR WATER.

Nearly IL, 5,OOO, 900 bushels Of Coal Await
ing q Rise-Ten Weeks Since the Last
Shipment Was Made-R1vermen Chary
Of Giving News.
The undercurrent of excitement prevail
Ing at present among the river coal men
resembles the extreme calmness OF
summer day before storm. That they are
anxious for arise is evident from the manner
In which the latest up river reports were
eagerly scanned by them all day yesterday.
1t IS now about 10 weeks since the last
shipment of coal left this port for down
1ver points, the supply is gradually being
reduced, and in short time will
De reduced to almost nothing,
a tour OF the offices along the wharf was
made yesterday in order to find out just how
much coal is ready for shipment. Very lit
tie information could be obtained from the
firms interested as to how much coal they
had ready, but it is estimated that there is
from 1000, 900 to IL, ,00O, 900 bushels of C al
now loaded and awaiting shipment, the
major portion of it being in the harbor and
No. pool. ALI the landings are filled to
the utmost capacity. One well known
riverman was asked why the exact
amount each firm had at their
landings is not given when asked for, as
they keep record of the movements of
their craft similar to records of cars on the
railroads, and they certainly know within
a reasonable figure without any guessing
at it.
He said there are several reasons, but the
main one is this: When the river has been
low for longer period than usual
the stock in the lower markets
naturally becomes low, and in conse-
quence the prices go up. That is
what the coal men like to see,
but some enterprising newspaper pub
fishes an item to the effect that there
is large supply of coal awaiting shipment
just as soon as the river rises, the lower
river papers copy the item, and consumers
consequently only make small purchases,
thinking that there will be a rise shortly
and the market be stocked, and thus save
the money. Another cry is that there is
danger of coal famine, and that it is re-
failing at 20 cents per bushel in Cincinnati.
That is not correct, the present price on the
river is 10 cents"
One subject that is attracting consider
able attention among river men is the ship
ping of coal to Cuba and Brazil. An IN
vestigation by well-known firm has con-
vinced them that coal can be sent to points
in South America and along the gulf and
be disposed of at large profits. An investi-
cation of the various methods OF transp0r-
tation has developed the fact that the whale
back type of vessel furnishes the best facili-
ties. The ordinary whaleback will carry
about 1000 tons of coal, which will have to
be transported to New Orleans in the old
way, and there transferred by the modern
appliances at cost not exceeding 10 or II
cents. A curious thing about the investiga-
tion was that it developed the fact that the
ship building firm of Hollingsworth Bros,
Of Wilmington, hold letters patent issued
ten years ago to their father on vessel the
exact counterpart of the McDougall whale
back, and as there is a possibility of litiga-
tion as to the ownership nothing will be
done for the present.