Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-22
THE SUPPLY OF COAL
Only About 5000 Tons Now
in the City.
PRICES GOING HIGHER
SERIOUS SITUATION WHEN
SMALL SUPPLY is EXHAUSTED.
The Use of Soft Coal Possible in Fur
naces if Proper Care is
Exercised.
PRICES GOING HIGHER

Exercised.
WASHINGTON IS another day nearar fam
Inc in anthracite coal. In quantities of
single ION comparatively few loads were
sold today by those dealers who have been
fortunate in their holdings. and SIG was re-
-ceIved for each ton delivered. Even at this
almost unheard-of price there were many
persons who were anxious to provide them
selves with a supply and VINO would have
paid willingly higher price for assurances
Of enough to last throughout the coming
cold weather.
No longer Is It a question of price; it is
a question of quantity, and a serious ques-
ton, too. There is no limit to the specula-
ton that may be INDUCED in. y continu-
ance of the present mild weather is the
only contingency that can tide things over
y conservative approximate estimate If
anthracite coal in the District of Columbia
is 5000 tons, and dealers who are known
to be conservative place the tonnage 1T
even less than that figure. Many dealers
are entirely without hard coal, having de-
livered to their regular customers in
homeopathic doses until their supplies were
exhausted.
Question of the Poor.
Instances came to the attention of an
Evening Star reporter today of cases where
(which ~ tue iptItl tl'tSStS " no nave bttI
dependent on doing washing for Il livel-
hood having to give up their regular work
because Of inability to get fuel at a price
that would warrant them to do the work.
In a city of the magnitude of Washington
winter always finds certain ratio of pop
ulation who are dependent to greater or
lesser extent on charity. Fuel is always an
important factor in relieving distress With
hard coal at SIG ton. and every prospect
of its going higher unless the labor differ
DncpS IN Pennsylvania shall be settled soon.
the work of the charitable institutions of
there is the belief that many of the poor
of the city VIII actually suffer.
Considering Substitutes.
Dealers who have striven to maintain The
price that obtained before the strike shut
off the delivery of anthracite coal in this
city from the mines are now seriously en-
gagged in providing substitutes for their
customers. Soft coal is being delivered 20
considerable extent, and wood is also
being used. Both of these commodities
have gone up in price. and the indications
are that prices viii be still higher The
demand for oil stoves Is greater than 1T
any time since they became a factor DIS
heat producers. 1t is not unlikely that
Washington will soon have an opportunity
of testing oil from the Beaumont (Texas)
field.
This is a thick, crude petroleum which is
said to be excellent for heating purposes
W
age and at price that is not considered ex-
Orbitant.
The question of coal from Wales has
awakened much interest in the last few
days. The fact that the Welch product
has been brought to New York. and that
some Baltimore dealers have ordered a sup
ply. has attracted attention. Consumers
argue that If other cities can bring coal
from Wales at q reasonable figure the
same can be done by Washington. From
Baltimore comes the information that
WEIGH coal can be sold in that city at So
ton. The cost of reloading 10 smaller
craft and transportation to this city would
be approximately 81 a ton more. This is
due TO the fact that oceaa-going vessels
such as would be used in Transporting coal
across the Atlantic cannot enter this port.
Local dealers who have exhausted their
supplies are doing everything within their
power 10 get substitute fuel. Mr.. J. Maury
Dove and Mr. W. Hamilton Smith went to
New York today in the interest of getting
supply Of coal if possible. Several Wash
ington dealers have wired their agents to
look after supply in Wales in case of an
emergency; that Is, If the strike is not set
tied forthwith.
Soft Coal.
The opening Of the public schools means
that the demand for coal will be greatly
augmented. Should the strike be settled to-
day there Is little reason to believe that
coal would go back to the old summer
prices. y number of dealers seen this at
ternoon reluctantly admitted that they
would likely be compelled TO pay premium
for quick delivery. This, of course must
be paid by the consumer.
Soft coal can be used in the ordinary hot
air or steam heating furnaces if care is
maintained Soft coal burns with a longer
flame than anthracite, and to obtain the
best results the fuel must be put on in
small quantities.
The ordinary CRATE will hold soft coal
fire II little care is used in building the
fresh fire and in raking it afterward There
viii be only little more smoke arising from
the chimney than from anthracite if one
puts small quantities of fuel on the fire at
time.
This coal should be allowed to cake as
nucn as possible near the furnace door
and then 1t should be pushed evenly over
the names; at the same time placing more
coal at the furnace door, which will cake
from the heat of the burning cake that has
just been pushed into the furnace.
As the fire is so much hotter than that of
anthracite coal spread over the same sur
face. this process need not be repeated as
frequently as IL would at first seem to be
required. Then. too, one must not fire too
rapidly or the flames VIII burn up the fur
mace.
The same conditions apply, with some
notifications, 10 steam boilers for heating
houses. Greater should be used in
regulating the intensity OF the fire, as tho
ordinary anthracite fire CRATE is built much
nearer the boiler tubes than those in which
sole coal is used.
Too hot fire will. in a very short time
burn out the fiues and an explosion might
result. The danger from this source is
practically eliminated, however by the
care that should be used In firing
Cafes and restaurants so far as could be
ascertained this afternoon. have not ad-
vanced prices Of foods. but will do so with
IN lew days II there is not a change for
the better in the coal situation.
Soft coal IS coming from the Cumberland
eistrlct, but the canal boats are not bring
ing the usual loads This is said to be
que TO the fact that the operators are anx-
1ous 10 restrict the supply in the civ hon
ing thereby TO get higher prices later on