Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-21
WAITING FOR WATER,
Local Rivermen Calling in Their
Down-Rirer Boats Preparatory
to a Coal Barge Rise.
GROWTH DURING GAS REIGN.
pittsburg's Mills and Factories Now Need
Three Times as Much Fuel as
Was Used Before.
1T MAKES THE HOME DEALERS HAPPY
All the Pennsylvania Roads Cars Couldn't Raul the
Present Supply.

The announcement Yesterday by the
Weather Bureau, that indications point to
rain, was indeed gratifying information to
the river coal men. The demand for coal in
the Southern markets is becoming active,
and the desire to get the coal there promptly
is almost consuming the dealers.
There are at present loaded and afloat in
the locks above Pittsburg some IL 100000
bushels, an unusually large amount
for this season of the year To trans
port that number of bushels by rail
TO any market it would require about 30, 900
cars, or more than the entire freight equip
ment of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In
some OF the Southern markets Pittsbu e
coal is selling for from 10 cents to Is cents
per bushel, and so long as the river is low
and the operators are unable to send out
their product this vast sum of money must
remain moored between Pittsburg and New
Geneva.
Coal Men Preparing.for . Rise.
The operators were more cheerful yester
dsv than they have been for weeks They
are confident that falling weather will fol-
low the late cold snap, and they are
hopeful that sufficient water will
fall to raise the river to boating
stage. Those who had boats in the lower riv-
ers when the water fell below the shipping
stage have ordered them home as promptly
as possible As vet, however, those boats
cannot reach Pittsbarg, but many of them
have approached up stream as far as Wheel
ing. Others have gotten within easy reach
of their owners, and can reach homa within
day when the expected rise comes.
'Of course We are anxious to get our coal
out" Captain Louis Brown said at the
Union station last night. But" he went
on. "there is not much competition among
the Pittsburg operators. We have our
regular ports and our regular agents
throughout the South and our efforts are
always to supply these. They do the re-
failing. While the demand for coal in. the
lower market is decidedly active there is no
foundation for the reports that the people
down there are suffering or that the price of
coal is beyond-the reach of the poor.
No Desire TO Hold Back Black Diamonds.
Coal is little, if any, higher than it has
been for three months, and, in fact, we are
The ones who are suffering. We have our
money tied up and we are just as anxious
to get coal to the South as the South is to
have us get it there.
at looks brighter for us now, though"
the Captain said, as he looked with salts
faction at the colored sky. 'Tt feels to me
like rain, and if we get falling weather
now we are pretty certain to get rain
enough to send out all our coal Our
anxiety Just now is materiallE- increased by
the presence of winter. While we have
not vet had winter weather the
season is fairly upon us, and we
have no guarantee that navigation
will not be closed by freezing weather be-
fore it is opened by rain. That's the posi-
1ion we are in" the Captain concluded, as
nc hurried off to look after carload of
horses he was shipping to Mobile.
''This is great wear for US, said Will
Black. a local coal dealer, yesterday. "For
three or four wears, or since natural gas has
been reigning almost supreme in and about
Pittsburg, we have been occupying seats
far back in the business congregation, but
we are away up front now"
Advances During the Reign of Gas.
''The introduction and use of natural gas
stimulated enterprise, and business energies
reached out and factories and workshops
sprung up with wonderful rapidity until
the draft upon the gas is too heavy, and the
demand is greater than the supply To
guarantee suIncleuJ supply Ol gas 10 pri-
vate consumers the gas has been withdrawn
from many of the mills and factories, and
today the demand for coal is three times
larger than ii was the wear before natural
gas was introduced. That is why we are
happy now.
How is the general supply of coal?"
was asked Mr. Black.
There is plenty of coal in Pittsburg.
All the dealers have sufficient to supply
their cI.ssomers and their customers are be-
coming more numerous every day. 1t is |
not likely that anybody will suffer from the
wane of coal in Pittsburg this winter unless |
it he the poor who have no money"
"Will there be any increase in the price |
cf coal on account of the great demand?'
was asked.
NO. We did not reduce the price of |
coal when we were practically crowded out |
Of the market. and it is not likely that we |
will inrreasethe price when we are rein
stated in our own legitimate business"
T.FRNHaRnT is he hes. dressed 1