Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-04
THE STRIKE MUST END
West Virginia Coke Making Great In
roads in Chicago.
OLD CUSTOMERS EXPERIMENTING
With the Inferior Article on Account Of
the Long Famine.
FACTS FOR OPERATORS TO DIGEST
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE p1srATcHi

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPArcHi
CHICAGO, April 2-There is an urgent
necessity that the Connellsville coke mas
ters should come to a prompt settlement
with their men, for here In the center OF the
Western market, their West Virginia rivals
are doing their very utmost to take their
trade away from them. 1t seems to be
universally conceded among manufactur-
ing people everywhere that there is no such
coal as Pennsylvania, and no such coke as
that from the Connellsville region. Con-
sequently as long as the supply is good and
fairly regular both take first place In the
Market and usually command perhaps 10
per cent higher prices than any other. But
West Virginia coke, though 1t is
little fuller of sulphur and other undeslr-
able ingredients than Pittsburg coke, is
pretty good article after all. and for some
purposes is fully as good. Besides, it is
furnished at about 80 cents less per ton than
Connellsville coke, and many large manu-
facturers have come to use 1t pretty fully,
buying about equal quantities of Connells-
vile and West Virginia coke and mixing
them.
Old Customers May Be Lost.
Up to this time the Pennsylvania coke
men have scarcely felt the rivalry of the
men down the Ohio. The demand for coke
has been so steady and active that all alike
have been kept busy. Then the pre-
emInence that has been enjoyed by the
Pittsburg people from being first in the
field and having well-established
trade has served them WELL. But now that
the strike of their men prevents the Pitts
burg people from supplying their customers,
there is a probability that many who
would not otherwise use anything but Con-
nellsville coke will now be forced to resort
to the West Virginia coke. and having tried
it and successfully used it they may become
permanent customers of the West Virginia
firms in spite of the acknowledged superior
ity of the Pennsylvania article.
Up to this time the coke strike has not
very seriously affected anybody in Chicago.
1t is true that Fairmont and New River
coke, which may, perhaps, be con-
sidered standard grades Of West
Virginia, have been selling at
81 30 per ton, whereas before the strike they
could be had for from 81 90 to 81 20. 1t is
also true that Connellsville coke-what
there is in Chicago-is now selling for from
S. 30 to S. 75, whereas it can ordinarily be
had for S5 o. but, at the same time, nobody
has been forced to shut down his works
because of the scarcity. Or, If anybody has
been obliged to suspend, the stoppage has
not been important enough to attract much
attention.
Were Prepared for the Strike.
The reason is that when the strike came
nearly everyb body was prepared for it. Local
dealers had been notified far in advance and
they bought large stocks. They, in turn,
notified their customers, and the latter filled
their yards as full as they could. The Illi-
nois Steel Company had an enormous stock
of coke when the. ..Connellsville men went
out, and many, indeed most. other manu-
featuring concerns were similarly provided
for. Then, when the strike began, the demand
for pig iron being rather slow, many fur
naces were blown out for repairs, and that
served greatly to decrease the demand.
But just now the situation is different.
There is now no Frick coke in Chicago, and
manufacturing establishments which can
use no other grade are in rather awkward
predicament. One Of them this morning
paid Weaver & Gets S5 80 per ton for sim
gle carload which that firm had ''lost' at
South Chicago from one of their patrons,
and had found in the nick OF time. The
Calumet Furnace Company is ready to light
its fires in all respects but coke. The Illi-
nois Steel Company is in the same position.
And so is the new Iroquois Furnace Com
rany.
All these people and scores of lesser con-
Germs in Chicago must have a steady supply
of coke contracted for, and that very soon;
and, if the Connellsville people are not
ready to do business with them, they must
perforce turn to somebody else who is ready.
why the Strike Should End.
II Pittsburg cannot do the work they will
deal with Wheeling. And thus it happens
that it is quite important to the great pro-
dueers of the Connellsville district that the
strike should be ended at once and an ar
rangement made, by sliding scale or other
wise, for avoiding strikes in future, as far
ahead as possible.
1t would be very interesting if one could
find out to what extent the Pennsylvania
coke men have suffered and the West Vir-
ginia coke men have profted by the present
difficulty in the Connellsville district. But
there are no figures obtainable. The West
Virginia field is SO large and in SO many
hands that its exports of coke to the Chi
cago market cannot be stated in figures, nor
can an estimate be made in figures OF the
loss suffered by the Pennsylvania
men, but from what is said by
manufacturers and dealers alike, it seems
very evident that the loss to the latter
through the stoppage of business has been
considerable, and that it may lead to greater
losses in the near future.
Many well informed about the coal and
coke business say that it is only a question
of time when West Virginia competition
shall make itself seriously felt, L. M. A.