New-York tribune., 1902-05-17
COAL PRICES RISE HERE.
DEALERS SAY THE SUPPLY is SHORT IN
THIS CITY.

The question of the supply of anthracite on
hand in New-York and vicinity seriously
considered by both the wholesale and retail coal
dealers yesterday. For once the city was caught
mapping, and the strike of the anthracite coal
miners finds it, according to some Of the coal
dealers who yesterday, with only a
few weeks supply Of anthracite on hand. one
dealer said the supply amounted to about three
hundred thousand tons. which, with careful
handling, he thought might last two weeks.
When the strike declared the coal car
rying companies decided to seize all the an
thracite in transit, and not In coal pockets and
yesterday the retail coal dealers advanced the
price of anthracite from 81 81 to ST - a ton.
with the prospect of higher advance soon. in
response to circular letter sent to each Of them
headed Special Strike Circular" The sending
Of this circular was decided on at a meeting OF
retail coal dealers held two or three days ago.
AT this meeting resolution was carried to ad-
vance the price of anthracite 81 ton as soon
as the decision OF the miners TO strike was
known. The circular called on all the dealers 10
make the advance, giving the reasons for so
doing. The price Of coal was also advanced 81
a ton by most Of the retailers in Jersey City and
other towns in Hudson County. y J.
The independent coal operators who are prac-
toally at the mercy of the coal carrying com
day or take any fresh orders A representative
of the firm Of Stickney & Co. who are among
the largest Of the Independent operators was
seen at his Office in the Washington Building
in lower Broadway He said that the coal car
ryng companies were within the law in shut
ting down on shipments Of anthracite
We are few in number we independent opcr-
ators," he continued "and as the coal CARRYING
companies have acquired practically all the
coal lands we must cooperate with them. Il il
possible that they may seize all the anthracite
in sight, as there IS no reserve and very little
coal on hand. We are looking after hose OF
our customers who have steam plants and
Others of our regular customers first. II may
be that the coal companies may release some
of the coal after looking over the situation"
he said that the strike bound to come
anyway 1t was better than waiting until
;he fall, as in the IN lean time all business would
be disturbed. The railroads. he said, would
quire most OF the coal on the tracks ana the
anthracite was being seized by the companies
both at the mines and in transit.
Several other independent operators who were
seen confirmed these statements. They, lis well
as the wholesale ana retail dealers, willing
to take orders, to he delivered after the .trike
at the prices then ruling. one of the Oldest coal
dealers in the city said:
1t is hard to predict what the situation will
be from one day to another. The coal carrying
companies at present control the situation.
do not think it likely that. with big fight
their hands at the mines they viii want TO risk
a greater fight with the public and the press
just now by arbitrarily raising prices. There
would be an instant howl about another trust"
William Farrell. coal dealer. at No 14S
Broad-st. said that the situation looked dark.
He did not want to sell even TO his regular
toners. If man wanted five tons Of coal he
gave him one ton grudgngy.
Samuel SmoOt. dealer in SiXth-aVc.. between
Thirty seventh and Thirty eighth SITS. said that
a boatload Of anthracite had been offered him
at So 40 ton. or 50 cents ton higher than
yesterdays retail price This would if he aC-
Cepted the offer. force the raising Of the retail
price TO So ton. He added:
Il believe the operators thought they would
have to have il out with the miners sooner or
later. estimate the supply Of anthracite in
New York three hundred thousand tons
This. if well guarded might last two weeks. In
month the factories. mills and railroads and
all steam plants would have to burn soft coal.
II the bituminOus miners strike in sympathy il
would mean in New York the demoral!zati of
all steam plants and the shutting down OF the
restaurants and the restaurant departments in
hotels the stopping OF all the trolley cars and
a state of affairs that could hardly he imagined"
As to coal for domestic use. most Of the deal
inclined to dismiss the subject lightly
They said that except on washing day most Of
the househoders used gas and oil stoves during
the summer They all believed that the strike
would be a long one. the miners after ex-
hausting every means to gain concessions with
out strike, would make it the fight Of their
lives on account of the enormous consumption
of anthracite in New York this city would be
months. The next city 70 feel the strain would
he Philadelphia. where large quantities Of an
thraCite used.