The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-16

A great deal of coal has been received
here since the resumption of work by
the miners, Oct. q. but as there was
effort by nearly every person TO secure
fuel the coal received has been widely
distributed and the total amount Is but
q small part Of the total tonnage TO meet
the demands Of Providence and vicinity.
Today the coal operators are offering
but little, If any. coal In New York
the Independent operators are Offering
anthracite at sll and sl2 ton. The local
price has ranged from $3.50 to $3.50. and
when II is considered that IL will cost
shout s. a ton on top OF the New York
price this would place what little coal
has been offered at something like slb a
ton I'm this city, or about double the local
price
The independent operators handle not
moro than 30 per cent OF the total out
put OF anthracite coal. and IN. the facs
of the present demand they can get any
price they can. At the prices offered
today none OF the Providence dealers
have rnade purchases. The variance be-
tween the prices OF the local market and
the prices which would be entailed by
coal at the New York prices would be
more than the people would pay and they
would assume they were being robbed.
There is a deal OF uncertainty as to the
future. The severe weather OF the past
ten days had greatly delayed the ship
ping and coal that was expected on GER
tain DAYS has been delayed anywhere
from three or four days TO two weeks.
The local dealers are practically selling
no coal John r. White Son have
closed their business office and on the
l.. xxhl .fat hA
pany Is not taking any more orders. II
has coal enough on hand TO I'll It's orders
and the orders are being delivered as
quickly as the condition OF the streets
will permit.
The Park Coal company has a notice
at Its ofice that It has no coal for sale
and that no orders wifi be taken.
The Eastern Coal company has a notice
on Its office door to the effect the COM
pany has no coal for sale and Is not
taking orders OF any kind.
The Providence Coal company has but
little coal on hand and what coal In be-
ing handled Is but small part OF Its
regular business
The smaller dealers have found them
solves even In worse straits than the
larger dealers. Demands OF all kinds
are brought to bear on the Dealers and
the dealers are between the devil and the
deep sea In view OF the demands OF Gus
toners and the difficulty OF getting coal.
GOVERNOR KIMBALLs INQUIRIES.
Governor Kimball made some Inquiries
ss to the purchase of coal elsewhere and
he learned from one dealer that this deal
er could buy coal ut Sl2 ton in New
York. The governor asked ~ Il were not
a fact that the coal could be bought and
brought here and the dealer admitted that
Al was a fact. The governor asked ~ Il
were not a fact the dealers feared to pur-
chase the coal and retail II nc the price
which would be necesxitated, and the
dealer said he would not reply In the af-
nrmatfve 10 the question. but he did say
he did not want the name OF selling coal
at the price that would be entailed.
Governor Kimbalrs point was that the
price Of GOAL was so high that the deal
ers did not dare 20 purohas and bring II
20 Providence. because OF the reputation
which might obtain because or such
prices. the people not having full knowl-
edge OF the facts, while Il was a fact a
COED many people would purchase coal
81 offered at excessive prices, because OF
necessity.
kind 20 be had: The large companies
~ssiher has Gna msae the dsiiSar.s Ra ssd s0% 5se
s. s.f. q sssd sas t%' ,ss sss 1 two % hrs
Il not for the fact the orders have been
iim4tsd the companies would have been
over their head. so far as the delivery Is
me coal that has been ordered abroad
by John r. White Son consIsts OF
two steamer loads, each OF about 600
tons. and Il was because OF the strln-
gsncy az the market that the company
sought fuel abroad. The FIRST steamer
VII leave IN week and the other viii
follow about n month later
Ono OF the coal dealers today believed
Ss@ blow A. sbs ?, eosi sne bus;nssu So Se Hs | b.
Heved that people would economize IN the
future, and tbet effort would be made TO
perfect and adapt the burning of other
forms OF fuel.
: 50 oar as the future II concerned the
nDeern Cel company and John r.