The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-31
CHEAP COAL.
RumOr That a New Line of Steam
Golfers Is to Be Established.
Statement Made That John Rosenfeld Sons
and John W. Mackay Are to Supply the
Market Views of Coal Merchants

Market-Views Of Coal Merchants.
There is a rumor Is that John Rosenteld's
Sons. the great handlers of coal in
this city. have entered into a combine with
John w. Mackay. and that number OF
swift and powerful steamers will be built
on the Atlantic side and brought around to
this port, whence they will run to the
shipping point of the coal mines In British
Columbia.
Nothing is known as to the arrangements
for the upward freight, but it is said the
new steamers will bring to this port a
supply of Wellington coal equal to 800 tons
a day.
Every coal merchant interviewed on the
subject poohpoohed the idea, but certain
significant facts seem to show that these
gentlemen do protest too much" 1t is
admitted that if coal could be had in San
Francisco as cheaply as in Eastern manu-
featuring cities, host of industries could
be Immediately and profitably established
on this Coast. Further than this, San Fran
cisco is the natural distributing point for
the Pacific Coast, even down to Valparaiso,
and if the coal can be brought here cheaply
and mined cheaply, an immense impulse
would be given to San FTancisco's manu-
featuring industries and mercantile marine.
1t is not stated why the new steamers are
not TO be built here, but this is a secondary
Issue.
THAT NEW CoAL-BUNKER.
A fact which seems to lend emphasis to
the rumor is that the plans and specifica-
tons fog Mission Pier for tho purpose of
receiving a coal-bunker have been adopted
by the Harbor Commissioners, and bids are
N aAr aH for no q
new wharf will be built of creOsOted piles
and the bunker to be built will have a
capacity of 1000 tons of coal. 1t Is
to be built for the use Of John Rosen-
fields Sons as a dscharging point for
their vessels. Tie arrangements con-
template the construction of an elevated
road for transferring the coal from the dock
10 the Immense yard which the Rosenteids
own on the west side of East street directly
opposite the dock. The firm has arranged
TO eXpend $4,000 in the work.
PLENTY OF DENIALs
Henry Resented of the firm of John
Rosenield's Sons was seen yesterday by
CALL reporter and promptly denied the
rumor. He said in effect that the firm
charters from time 10 time what steamers 1t
large steamers in cargOes of 1000 tons and
upward at a time. 1t is bituninous coal.
There is no truth In the story for II any
thing Of the kind had been contemplated
we should certainly have known it. 1t Is
true that we are trying all the time to re-
duce the cost of coal by plentiful shipments
and lately we have been charterng an in
creased number of steamers. Perhaps that
is what has given rise to the report.
We are getting more steamers all the
coal to be cheaper. The Cumberland is
only a semi bituminous coal and cnmes
around the Horn from Baltimore. 1t is
only used for smithing purposes. The sgd
ney coal is used for steam and gas, and there
is some Scotch coal imported. besides the
EugllSh coal that comes out on the wheat
ships. But we could not distribute or place
any more coal than we are harding now 4;
certainly not quantity like 1900 tons day.
IT Is ALL GAUZE.
j. W. Harrison was very much amused
when told the story of the proposed steam
ers. He said There IS nothing in 1t.
There is, in the first place, the absolute cost
of building the steamers and bringing them
here, knowing that the freight will be en-
tirelY one way; that is 10 say that nothing
is in sight on the upward trip. The profit
for the double trip has to be made on one.
1t is all gauZe, all air; nothing in 1t while
| freight can be transported at 81 a ton. 1t
would be absurd to try to run line Of
steamers on such basis. Why, bless my
soul, dc you suppose for one moment ships
that convey 1,C00,000 tons OF wheat from
England are going to come here IN ballast?
Coal has been brought here from Liverpool
as low as los ton. 1t can always lie brought
here from Liverpool at as low price as
from NanGtmo, "a long As wheat shipments
are assured"
Inquiry at the Office of Wilson & Sons
elected a similar expression of opinion,
that as long as California produces
aud exports wheat, coal shipments from
Europe by way of the Horn will be
made as low as from any Pacific Coast
point, and that this, with The high rate of
seamen'S wages On this Coast, will be a
barrier to the establishment OF any new
coast steamship line to the British Columbia
coal ports.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Charles r. Allen having had the
"pros" and ICONS" submitted to him
by a reporter, said: Il don't agree
with what these gentlemen have said.
They may have reasons OF their own for
concealing facts of which they cannot be
ignorant. To begin with there is that new
wharf and the heavy outlay which the
Rosenfeld are going to incur in connection
with it. Then it is an open secret that one
OF the Rnseufelds is in the East at this very
time arranging something OF the kind. l
think the scheme perfectly feasible as a bust
ness proposition.
THE Rosenfelds have splendid mines
and the present output could be easily
doub ed. The competition by way of
the Horn will continue of course, but
the only result of 1t will lie cheap coal.
4
Francisco and the Coast generally. You
may depend upon it if the Rosenfelds 10
into this thing they can command the means
to carry il out, and If they want to get into
the Central and South American markets
they can do so just as soon as they can re-
duce the price.
There is a long line of coast to supply,
and, in short the proposition is CONNER
cially sound. | am not SURPRISED that the
gentlemen interviewed have expressed I'M
belief in the matter, because their interests
lie the other way"
DEALERS OVERSTOCKED.
There is no actual coal trust or combina-
ton in this city. AS one merchant re-
marked: 1T is every man for himself and
the devil for us all. We plunge the knife
in up 10 the hilt every time" At the same
time prices are well known to be kept up to
certain standard, even when the dealers
are overStocked, as they profess to be at the
present time. A circular issued by repre-
sentative merchant says that the arrivals
from the northern colieres during the week
ending December oath were 80, $50 tons, from
foreign ports 1880 tons
Low prices still prevail, as every dealer
in the business Is overloaded and strained
for yard room, hence they are unablsto
make any purchases, although they are
cognizant of the fact that present values are
fully 20 per cent less than the same cargoes
can be loaded to-day.
When it is known that quotations this
month are fully 81 per ton less than last
December. and our consumption is over
1000 tons per day, it can be readily CON-
puted how consumers are being benefited by
the present low values
The importations this year are largely in
excess of all previous years, being fully 4O0,-
600 tonss 1t Is contended by the dealers
that their interests would be greatly SUBJ
served by restricting the output of northern
collieries for two or three months, the best
argument, probably, yet adduced for the