The Washington times., 1902-09-23
COAL SUBSTITUTES
IN GREAT DEMAND
Rush to Secure Wood, Oil
and Gas Heaters.
TROUBLES OF GAS COMPANY
Making Strenuous Efforts to Meet Ex-
traordinary Requirements-Soft Coal
to Be the Salvation of Many House
holders.

people of Washington are being taxed to
devise ways and means of preventing
positive hardship as consequence of the
coal strike. The matter of fuel is not
one that harnesses only the poorer class
| es, but the most opulent and the usually
care-free are exercised over the situa-
| tion. Facing the inexorable approach OF
winter and the almost equally certain
visitation of a coal famine, the city
dwellers of every station find themselves
in state of uncertainty, yet dealing
with certainties.
| Washington people are warming up
| to the work of mitigating the heavy blow
| by the use of substitutes for coal. The
! first thing to occur to many is the gas
stove; then oil stoves are thought Of.
| Soft coal and coke figure in the calcula
| tions to some extent, and the advisable
| ity of arranging for wood fires appeals
! to many A round in the business dis
trict yesterday revealed at all the places
| where stoves of any sort are kept for
sale, crowd of anxious seekers wanting
to know what to do and how to proceed.
Gas Stoves in Demand.
One of the leading stove houses in the
city was entirely out of gas stoves at
one time yesterday, but before night a
lot came in. They had been telegraphed
for few days ago. These were going
rapidly until the stores closed. At all
the stores handling the gas burners
there was a big trade. and every place
there was at least one man doing the
bureau of information act. stove capa-
BILE of giving out heat enough for bed
room in reasonably cold weather can be
bought for less than 81. The kind most
in demand range from $3.50 to $3.50
Most of the dealers are exhorting their
customers to come early and avoid the
rush. and do not express great conf
dence that the supply will continue ade-
Quate.
1t is generally conceded that for the
heating of an ordinary dwelling. gas is
as cheap as anthracite coal at $5.75,
which is considered normal price. The
rates on gas are stationary, having been
fixed by law, and the householder who
owns stove may feel comparatively
easy If he succeeds in starting business
with the gas company. There are sew
eral advantages to be enumerated for
gas heating. One Is that there is no
waste OF fuel. When 1t is desired to
only moment is required to set the
stove going again. The troubles of stor-
age and handling are obviated, and it is
not necessary to consult barometer or
weather report to get an idea when to
build a fire.
pany said yesterday that his company
could not undertake to heat the city.
He said orders were coming in rapidly
for gas-heating appliances, and that the
company and all the stove dealers were
selling ell the stoves they could get
hold Of The company is having trou-
bles of its own on the coal question, and
one of the power stations Is now running
with very short supply of the coal
necessary in the making of the richer
grades of gas. Every effort will be made
by the company to supply all demands
for gas, and busy season has already
commenced.
Wood Burners to Be Largely Used.
A hardware man who deals extensive
ly in wood burners. says that he has
done large business lately in stoves.
He and some of the other dealers are
selling a new sort Of stove which seems
to be the thing for the occasion. 1t is
wood burner, and will hold a fire for at
least two days and night. Few wood
stoves have ever been known to keep a |
fire overnight. 1t is said this stove, |
properly loaded with wood, will actually |
require less firing than a large anthra-
cite coal burner. This dealer has also |
sold many of the smaller, ordinary kind
of stoves. and anticipates selling all he
can get. The price of the ordinary heat !
ers ranges from S1.50 to $40. The new
burner will cost about Sc. He finds
great Improvement in the grade and
lasting revival.
The price of wood enters into the prob
lem. 1t is claimed that the wood mag
mates of the Virginia and Maryland hills
down the river are following the coal
situation, and are holding for higher
prices. The river trade is slower than
il has been for several years at this
season. The local market is seldom
flush on wood, and an aDpreciable in
crease in demand will probably cause a
scarcity in the yards. However. wood
heating is going to be the main reliance
of a great many people. and the question
Is thereby materially affected.
Oil stoves are in demand. There is
some prejudice against oil on account of
danger. Oil men have been
active lately, and they claim that with
proper handling of stoves oil is no more
dangerous than gas 1t is hard to get "A
definite idea uf the cost of oil as heat
ng material as compared to coal, but 1t
Is claimed to be cheaper The thick
rude petroleum, known as Beaumont oil,
will likely come upon the market in com
petition with the orthodox goods of the
Oil Company. Oil stoves are
heap. and easy to handle, and it is said
hat the poorer people, on whom the coal
anime falls with special force, will
ind oil their only hope for the winter
\ dealer in oil stoves says that an ordi- ,
.ary oil stove will be sufficient for an or
linary room until the season of real cold
yeather-Ja which time he ,
lopes and believes the coal strike will |
,e over and the market normal again. :
Salvation in Soft Coal. 5
Soft coal saves the larger concerns and
he school authorities the greatest
mount of worry. The problem of heat ,
n the apartment houses is one of de- ,
ided interest. In most cases the tenant {