New-York tribune., 1900-09-25
STRIKE PLNCHES GAS MEN
COAL ADVANCES WHILE THEIR PRICE
is FIXED BY HAYWOOD POS
SIBLE AS A FUEL.

Should the coal strike continue for a long time
the indications are that there will be big de-
mand for gas stoves according to the dealers in
them An official of the Consolidated Gas Com
pany who was by Tribune reporter yester-
day said that the company would be unable to
tell what effect the coal strike would have on it's
business until the next months returns came in.
The use of gas fuel was constantly increasing.
Not an apartment house is erected without gas
ranges in the kitchens, instead of those burning
coal or other fuel The modern tenement houses
are prepared for the of gas as fuel but in
the old ones it would be impossible.
Secretary Besson of the Mutual Gas Company
said
Gas is certainly as cheap a fuel for the house
no ashes or dirt, and kindling wood is necessary.
1t can be shut off in moment and started as
cost cost OF coal and gas as fuel That would be the
mitted.
sumo gas in stove when two would answer, their
gas bills are larger than necessary. Where proper
best and cheapest fuel that can be used
When asked If he thought that if the coal strike
lasted for several months the use OF gas as fuel
would be increased, Secretary Besson said that he
supposed 1t would. It apparent. however.
that the prospect OF greatly increased business did
not fill him with Joy. and the cause of this, he
planned. follows:
The price of gas in this city everybody knows.
Is fixed by law. We selling gas 81 O5,
& to 81 We use anthracite m to make gas. but the
For the matera Of Which we make pay ga any Bu Pr1Se wee
must sell gas at fixed price.
of coal but they all contain the strike clause and
when the contractors refuse to give any
make new contracts. | have always held that it
was not fair to fix price for gas by law when the
G.v Of which nc gsS is made ma 1t don't seem quite right
whether increased business would help the gas COM
panies or not should the strike continue.
The reports that the farmers of Long Island and
other places cutting cord wood because of the
high price of coal is causing much comment. and
many people in the larger cities are anxious to
know If they cannot substitute some fuel for coal
and thereby become as independent of the coal
companies as the agriCulturists
Tribune reporter visited several of the large
dealers in wood in this city yesterday and learned
that the entire population could be supplied with
wood If necessary, and at prices that would make
it almost cheap as coal
A member of the firm of Clark & wilkins who
have extensive wood yards at EIeventh-ave and
Twenty -fourth-st., said they could supply any
quantity of wood the people desired The wood
consists of hickory, oak and pine. and most of it
Clared that there enough wood in that State
alone to supply this city for 100 years. The wood
business result of the miners strike and he
could not tell whether they would not. Should
the strike last for several months and coal reach
$40 $l2 ton, there would probably be a call for
in their stoves and would burn wood in preference
to coal This in itself would make largely in
creased demand for wood as a fuel.
AS long the weather continues moderately
warm, the dealers declare that wood would be the
The advantage in burning wood is that after The
necessary cooking has been done the fire be sr
The price of wood ranges from s13 to SIG
cord. Oak and pine are worth SS and hickory $l6
1t is delivered to any part of the city and cut
any length desired