The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-15
COAL FAMINE FEARED
IN NEW YORK CITY.
ONE BAD FEATURE OF THE STRIKE
OF COAL MINERS.
Prices of Anthracite Have Been
Twice Advanced and the Price
Will Go Higher, Say Consumers-
No New Developments in Situation

NEW YORK. Sept 1.-THE Herald
says:
New York city is face 10 face with a
coal famine. period OF distress which
may recall TO the old Inhabitants the coal
strike OF ISIS. when anthracite cost the
consumer s12 and s14 a ton.
This city. OF all others. viii bear the
brunt Of any coal famine which the labor
trouble may develop. The amount Of coal
now In the hands Of the dealers, on the
way 20 the city and in the hands OF the
coal companies, above ground. is estimat-
ed at only forty-five days supply. which
means about i.I25.Oo0 tons The represen-
tative Of a mining and commission house
which uses 100000 10 100000 tons year.
besides handling coal for the railroad
companies. has advanced prices twice in
four days.
"on Monday" said he, I'VE shall raise
our prices 81 ton, and l presume that
there win be a general rise Of at least
that amount"
Dealers are busy in completing arrange
ments for getting in stocks OF coal. but
the big railroad companies are proving
how thoroughly they appreciate the situa-
tion by shutting down on the dealers. All
but the Philadelphia G. Reading have re-
fused to take further orders for coal. and
the Philadelphia G. Reading Is taking
orders only against stocks on hand. and
with the understanding that these orders
are 10 be Cancelled in event OF a strike.
The dealers have only been awake 10
the threatening situation for about a week.
but in that time they have been scrambling
furiously TO buy and water freight rates
and Wholesale rates for coal have already
risen sharply. This advance simply pres
ages much larger one.
THE Dealers" said Mr.. Wells. OF Stick
ney. Conyneham & Co. have Allied every
boat in the harhor with their coal pur-
chases. Not only is II the case that prac-
tically an available boats have been taken
for coal carriers, hut hundreds Of them
have been tied up to coal docks. and used
for storage purposes because OF lack of
room on shore. Coal yards are so crowded
that big dealers are paying 50 to IS a day
for the use OF each OF these boats. one man
alone having sixty OF them at hand That
dealers are willing to pay these heavy
charges shows what they think of the
prospective market"
Rates Jump Up.
Rates have risen to circular prices
that Is to say. week ago ths prices
named In the circulars we're being shaded
Is to q cents a ton. and since then they
have stiffened up to the full nominal
rates. Good anthracite coal. egg, stove or
chestnut. costs the jobber ss.o5 free on
board at South Amhoy. or $40 free on
board at weehawken or IIohoken The
water freight rate from South Amboy Is
nominally % cents and from wcehawken
Is cents a ton. so that the price OF the
staple to the tohber Is s425 alongside a
dock in this harbor. Ten days ago coal
was being sold 25 cents cheaper at South
Amboy than Is now the case. and freight
rates have since risen TO as high as 25
cents a ton in view OF the extraordinary
demand for coal boats. And all this four
days in advance OF the day set for the
formal institution Of the strike.
A fair estimate of the coal now IN the
hands of New York dealers and afioat.
ana, consigned 10 them. Is thirty days
supply. This would mean 10000 tons.
New York takes. according 20 the esti-
mate OF T.. Seward. total Of about I2.-
coo. 900 tons year. Coal men agree that
Il r. safe TO say that we consume at least
1000 90 tons Of anthracite here. Some
bituminous coal Is used. In spite OF the
health board.
Big railroad companies. the Delaware.