Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-20
COAL AT ANY PRICE
Is the Cry Now Going Up by Cincin-
natians and Their Neighbors.
NO SUPPLY TO BE HAD BY RIVER.
lmpOssibility of the Existence Of Coal
Pool in the Queen City.
TOO LITTLE PROFIT IN THE BUSINESS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.l
CINCINNATI, Nov. 19-The limited sup
ply of coal on hand, and the impossibility
of getting supply by river, is attracting
much attention here and eliciting great
deal of discussion. ''The coal business in
this city has not been favorable at all for
few years past" said X D. Hurd, Secre-
tary of the Consolidated Coal and Mining
Company, to-day. He continued:
The warm weather which has prevailed
throughout several winters has reduced
local consumption, and the market has been
affected by supplies in excess of the de-
mand. In the year 1Sss-S9, there were the
largest receipts of Kanawba coal in the his
tory of the trade, while in 1ss9-9O the Pitts
burg receipts were the heaviest ever known.
The demand from the Southern States and
even from Canada, has improved, larger
quantities having been shipped from this
city both North and South. The demand
for coal from Chicago has increased; 9l6 per
cent of all the coal received here comes by
river.
There is really no coal pool in existence
here. When one is formed it does not last
many elevators. There arc T. when, under
n pool arrangement, three could do all the
work in season.
Too Many in the Business.
There are too many persons in the coal
business, and prices are consequently cut to
an alarming extent. The supply of coal
here is limited. The weather indications
are against rain and higher river, SO that
coal is likely to go up.
There is plenty of coal awaiting shipment,
but it is now q question when it will get
down. Everybody holds back on sales. and
so the market Is not very active. We do
not seek BUSINESS, but it comes to US. Cold
weather, OF course, creates bigger de-
mand, and short supply means better
market prices. We do not sell to small deal
es. A great deal of talk about extortion is
unfounded. The small dealers as q general
thing take out a living, and that is all When
coal gets up to 20 or 30 cents bushel it is
hard on the poor people but the small deal
er5 do not get all the profit. In 1884, be-
lieve it was, coal was up to 32 cents a bushel,
and heard of no fortunes being made that
year.
Helped by the Gas Going Out.
There is one thing about the coal business
that is of interest. 1t is recovering in Ohio
and Indiana from the effects of the natural
gas supply. The coal business dropped off
wonderfully in Findlny and many other
points in the State some years ago. The
coal trade at indianapolis and many Indi-
ana towns, too. was seriously affected. The
decline Of natural gas in any place means
the improvement of the coal business there.
Pittsburg coal is held to-day at Il cents
afloat and none for sale.
James NJ. West, of Pittsburg, one of
the largest coal handlers of that city, was at
the Grand this morning. In speaking of the
prospects for coal here he said:
1t is hard to tell when rise will come.
but we are following the scriptural in
junction, and watching and praying"
fear of famine in Cincinnati, nor ought
the prices be so very high. With the rail-
road facilities now centering at Cincinnati,
coal ought to beset down here at IL cents a
bushel, or about So ton. Now that is not
SO very high, and think the larger dealers
in this city will bear me out in the state
ment that coal can be brought here by rail
and set down at u little more than IL cents
buShel.