New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-11
COAL AT HIGHEST PRICES
LACK OF FACILITIES FOR BRINGING 1T
TO MARKET THE APPARENT CAUSE. I

TO MARKET THE APPARENT CAUSE.
II ia n fortunate thing for New-Yorkers that the
month Of November has started In 20 mildly. for
otherwise there might be considerable discomfort
on account OF a scarcity OF coal. There was some
talk just before the outbreak OF actual hostiities
In the Transvaal Of probable shortage In the
supply Of diamonds. but there IS as yet no par
ticular indication that anybody has had to go
around crying for that particular Kind or CARBON
While few people were specializing upon that
possibility, q condition rather more troublesome
was arising A scarcity Of diamonds would hardly
occasion any extreme suffering but with cold
weather at hand It seems as II the coal question
were a really serious one. The supply OF soft coal
In the market Is far short Of the demand. Those
who have any on hand are in position 10 ask
whatever price they please for It. and, what Is
more to the point. they are apt 20 get just what
they ask. That is what the leading coal men say
and they are certainly In position to know The
price OF bituminous coal, which two months ago
was sold at 49, has gone up as high as 70 y, ana
In some cases more than that has been asked ana
pad This applies to coal sold ALONGSIDE IN
other words. at the piers ready Tor unioaoins'
The high price according to the men III the ra'e'
f. explained by the unusual demand ana 'he iach
% adequate transportation facilities Inc great
activity In mills and factories has made an I'M
usual drain on the coal supply and there Is no
means Of getting enough coal to the market IN
time to meet and counteract the demand III inc
railroads had eight tracks instead or four' sa'o
n coal merchant Yesterday land twice the num-
Der Of cars the problem would be easily so'eo'
There IL plenty of coal In the mines anu plenty
Is being taken out. The difficulty Is 10 get IL. All
the cars that are available n use. and the
railroads are doing what they can. but the snort
age still continues. and as far as can see' the
situation s not going to improve UP 10 the pres
emf time the mild weather has kept down the oe-
mand from householders. Those persons VINO are
in the habit OF putting in good supply IN ao-
vance have been satisfied 10 take enough io'
immediate use. and the great mass OF peopie VIM
need coal have been supplied with the ittie they
reed. H. however. there should be SUDDEN sp.'
Of prolonged cold weather the thihs 10 oP' ~ ~
annoying all round"
The shortage is not confined to soft coal There
Is not much hard coal in the market el'her anu
merchants who make a specially OF that variety
yesterday reiterated the statements OF their oro'i
ers In the soft coal business. In fact the uni
versal answer to the question ITO" a"o"' w
price of coa7" "prcemWe the Ssy fe asx VIII
Mr. Herbert, Of H. L. Herbert & CO. NO, 10
Church-s said There Is p hsr1 End and do
not think the market is by any ,cnre II is I'M
possible to say whether there will be any further
advance in price In the near future; no,au,ors
and THUG Hudson Coal Company said that the pres
ent price OF stove coal might be mentloneu is
but that men who ha smos stp ANY ssure they
chose to ask He attributed the shortage 10 the
railroad congestion: a 70 M
Broadway was said that coal t pow h SrnSine
sold two months Th ago Sg q oce was @as to
the unusual demand incident to improved CONNER
cial conditions. which has act FACTORIES ana MUS a
getting her fun share S of the s, suPpy ns ae
tity to meet the Increased demand