The Saint Paul globe., 1902-09-23

The st. Paul Chamber Of Commerc,
| yesterday reported the result of it's in
| Yestigation into the coal situation IL
this city. Railroad officials admit tina
| it states the situation correctly. The
shortage Of anthracite has increased
me the demand for bituminous, and thu
Ch1cago-St Paul lines, carrying tht
output Of the Illinois and indiana
| mines, are pressed for cars. The East
ern roads carrying the output of tht
Pennsylvania mines own boats on tht
great lakes used to forward the Goa
to Lake Michigan and Superior points
which indicates that the lake route
| may be used till navigation closes
The roads will carry coal shipment:
after Jan. l at a special rate below
the tariff schedule because of the ligh
traffic at that time Of the year.
Following is the statement of the
coal situation in ST. Paul:
The consumption of hard coal In st
Paul for heating and domestic pur-
poses for the season has been about
100000 tons. The present season
there has been laid in by the fore
handed about 80 per cent of this
amount,
Should the mines be operated by
October Is there will be time enough te
receive enough for immediate use be-
fore navigation closes.
"When shipments begin at the mines
the lake route will be favored:
First-For the reason that there is
shortage of cars to haul coal in 9TH
er directions.
"Second-There are plenty of vessels
awaiting coal TONNAGE.
"Third-The mine operator is inter-
ested to supply the Northwestern de-
mand as far as possible before naviga-
tion closes.
Fourth Every shipper and distrib-
uting agent is making strenuous ef-
forts to secure early consignments tC
supply his established trade, as al
present he is a heavy loser on account
of his fixed expense.
Should the hard coal shipments be
resumed after Oct. Is the full 70 pei
cent of the tonnage now required will
not be needed, as the consumer will
have supplied himself partially or al
together with other fuel
I'm any event there will, no doubt
be shortage at the head of the lakes
Of both hard and soft COAL
'"This has been true for several sea-
sons and all-rail shipments have sup
piled the deficit.
Navigation usually closes Dec. /
although for several seasons the date
has been ten to fifteen days later. Last
year it was nearly Jan. 1.
Freight Will Determine Price.
Should hard coal be received at the
docks by Nov. l 1t is the opinion OF
many that the operators and large
dealers will hold the price at the cir
cular price of $S.25 in this market anG
If all-rail shipments obtain at present
tariff schedule the price would be $3.50
having added the difference in the
freight rate between Duluth and Chi.
cago.
ITO secure volume Of westbount
tonnage after Jan. 1 has usually re.
| suited In a special rate below tariff.
'"The citizens of st. Paul need have
| no apprehension as to a supply o:
some kind of fuel.
"The country west of us is accus-
| toned to use all sorts of fuel anG
much more soft coal than hard. North.
ern Minnesota and Dakota can keeI
warm with the Dakota Ignite, while
| Southern Minnesota has the Iowa ant
Illinois coal fields to draw upon.
1.-The city uses about 100000 tons o.
| soft coal Independent of railroad con.
| sumption) and there is at the presen
| time a shortage 100000 tons at tht
| head Of the lakes, even though the re-
ceipts to date are in excess Of the to.
! been a large increased demand fol
| industrial purposes and larger stock:
+ required because of the fear that there
would be no hard coal.
"The soft coal mines are well abl,
| to meet the increased demand, tht
trouble at present being a lack Of rail
road motive power.
| Should the supply of both hard an(
soft coal be cut off the Illinois Goa
fields are capable of supplying thi'
market.
"The prices Of soft coal and wooc
have advanced because the demand Ii
larger than the normal supply.
Get Temporary Supplies.
If householders would arrange fo
a temporary supply Of such fuel a.
Is obtainable at the present time an(
adapt themselves to the situation in
stead of insisting that dealers furnish
them a winters supply at once 1
would not only tend not to depriv,
someone else, but keep prices from 60
| ing unnecessarily high.
1t is to be deplored that the news
paper report that hard coal is selling
in New York, Chicago and Minneapo
| lis for 500 per ton creates wrons
| impression and causes undue appre
hension Where many want an ar
ticle and few have the price the small
dealer who has a supply is bound t.
take advantage and thus give foun
dation for the story that coal is sell
ing in this city or that at $40 pc
ton.
"To those Of our citizens who hav,
only the feeding, base-burnin,
4 stoves and as yet no supply of fue
for them it will be necessary to ar
range for other stoves adapted to burr
soft coal or wood.
'"The alright stoves for wood cos
1926 and $2.75.
"Stoves for soft coal are obtainabl
at from $40 to $40.
cit is expedient for everyone to max
some arrangement for a temporar.
supply of fuel, for when cold weathe
sets in 1t will be physical impossi
bility for the dealers to supply the alb
normal demand at that time. Respect
fully submitted,
benjamin F. Beardsley,
Secretary"
L