The evening times., 1900-03-10
GERMANY'S COAL FAMINE
The Empires Iron and Steel In
dustries JeOpardized.
The Great Scarcity of Fuel Adapted
to Coking for Blast Furnaces Re-
strictiDg the Output for the Cur
rent Ycar-A Splendid Opportunity
Presented for American Dealers.

Frank H. Mason, Consul General to Ber-
lin, has written the Department of State
respecting the coal famine in Germany as
follows:
1T is now recognized that the prosperity
of the iron and steel Industries in Germa-
ny has become seriously jeopardized by the
scarcity of coal especially the qualities
adapted to coking for blast-furnace fuel.
This will inevitably restrict the pig iron
output of the current year, which during
the final eleven months of 1899 increased
to Z, ACC, III metric tons, as compared with
6740,379 tons for the corresponding period
OF 1895
"In the coal districts of the Saar and Up
per Silesia where the supply of good cox
ing Goals is always limited, attempts are
now being made to utilize Goals of inferior
coking qualities by previously stamping,
with special machinery, the coke-oveI
charges While this process does not pro-
duce good blast furnace coke, it does pro-
duce fuel that can be fairly well used for
other metallurgical purposes, and thus re-
duce the demand for the precious coke Of
high quality
In consequence of the shortening sup
ply of pig iron, all other cognate materials
have advanced in price, so that old iron
now commands $l927 per ton; lathe shaw
ings. s1S.OS per ton. and old rails. S25. 46
TO s2665 per ton. All mills which manu-
facture hoop iron, girders, boiler, and ship
plates, and all kinds Of structural iron are
filled with orders and begging for more
time for deliveries.
The situation has been aggravated by
the extreme scarcity and high prices Of
coal-especially anthracite and gas Goals
in Great Britain, which has for the mo-
ment practically cut of what has been
hitherto an important source OF supply for
Germany.
These circumstances combine to form
a new and important opportunity for
the coal exporters of the United States.
Letters are received at this consulate from
importers of English anthracite and gas
Goals. complaining OF the meagre supply
and high prices, and asking TO be put into
communication with American exporters
of those grades
If in addition TO the enormous Quanti-
" of coal now being consumed in the
United States. there remains any consid-
cradle surplus for export. and the condi-
tions of freight are not prohlbitOry. the
present season OieTS d rare am leTtlie
opportunity to establish in tho German
market the standard grades OF American
anthracite and gas Goals
Germany imported during the first
eleven months Of 1899, 5.760,0l7 tons Of
anthracite and bituminous Goals, of which
4,524. 4S5 tons came from Great Britain;
the remainder, from Belgium t547. 1872
tons). France G.712 tonsl. Holland G07,
627 tons), and Austria Hungary C566,093
tons). For reasons which are obvious and
likely to be more or less permanent, this
large import from Great Britain is now
seriously restricted; and the degree and
duration Of this restriction will form the
measure of the opportunity which is now
offered TO the coal exporters OF the United
States"