The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-10
.GERMANY'S COAL FAMINE
The Empires Iron and Steel In
dustrieS JeOpardized.
Toe Great Scarcity of Fuel Adapted
to COkinE for Blast Furnaces Re-
stricting the Output for the Cur
rent Ycar-A Splendid Opportunity
Presented for American Dealers.

Frank II. 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 1889 increased
to T.4cJ.l7I metric tons, as compared with
6.74O.379 tons for the corresponding period
OF 1895
in the coal districts Of the Saar and Up
per SiIesia. where the supply Of good COX
ing Goals is aiw, Us limited. attempts are
now being made TO utilize Goals Of inferior
coking qualities oy previously stamping,
with special machinery. the coke-oven
charges. While this process does not pro
duce good blast-furnace coke II does pro-
duce a 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 $ls.27 per ton; lathe shaw
ings, S1S.0S per ton. and old rails S25.46
20 S26-G5 per ton. All mills which manu-
facture hoop iron. girders, boiler and ship
Vlates, 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 u
CC3l-espgCially anthracite and gas Goals
in Great Britain, which has Tor the mo-
ment practically cut of what has been
hitherto an important source Of supply for
Germany.
These circumstances combine 20 form
new and important opportunity for
the coal exporters Of the United States
Letters are received or this consulate from
importers of English anthracite and gas
Goals, complaining OF the meaEre supply
and high prices, and asking 70 be put into
communication with American exporters
OF those grades
IF. in addition TO the enormous quanJi-
~ Of coal now being consumed in the
United States. there remains any coEsid-
cradle surplus for export. and the cCudi-
tions Of freight are not prOhlbitoTy. the
present season offers a rare ami fertile
opportunity 10 establish in IN, O.. iman
market the standard grades of American
anthracite and gas Goals.
Germany imported during the first
eleven months Of 1899, 500. or tons OF
anthracite and bituminous Goals OF which
4 ,524 4G5 tons came from Great Britain,
the remainder. from Belgium t547.I32
tonsD. France G.7i2 tonsl. Holland IO7.-
627 JousD, and Austria-H Hungary iJ56. 0s3
tons). For reasons which are obvious and
likely q he rnDra or less na~rn1uaur
large import from Great Britain Is now
seriously restricted. and the degree and
duration Of this restriction viii form the
measure Of the opportunity which is nov
offered to the coal exporters Of the United
States"