The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-30
FUEL SITUATION NOT
BURNING QUESTION.
Prospect Of Freezing This Win
ter, However, is Interesting.
PRICES, SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
PRICES, SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Summary of Conditions at This Time
from Which Future May Be Read.
No Anthracite, Ample Splint,
Abundant Steam Coal.

The fuel situation in Richmond to-
day is readily summed up as follows:
Plenty OF steam coal here, and Sell
ing at $3.50 a ton.
st least an ample supply OF spint
coal here selling at $3.50 ard ~
Possibly several hundred tons OF an
thracite here, not actually soid, oeiiiS
offered at s1o, but as many dealers
have none at all, the Coal Dealers
81 Association is not quoting tie com
modify at all.
t.lthracite coal Will not begin 20
come in for several weeks yet. mere
is little demand for it at present.
There is little demand for spllnt
cnai. and what Is purchased is gotten
In. small quantities TO supply the 1ni-#
mediate needs Of the consumer, the
cririon prevailing that the price VIII
b. lower in a short while
The supply of steam coal IS apuhd-1
S ant at ss.5J. This class of coal is USED
h. the factories and various nlanutac-s
turing plants.
nst=e operators in the anthracite sec
II tion refuse vet to take orders from
Richmond for immediate shipment.
Some of the mines are not in condition
to be worked at present, and 1t VIII
be. some weeks before the supply VIII
e,,al the demand from New York,
Tliladelphia and the West.
The strike IN the Pocahontas Dis
7rict. where soft coal of various vari
eties is mined. is over. Not much
more thaa a third of the men in the
Kew River and 1Nanawi1a Districts
are. at "a work and they hope now.
with the financial support of the min
,rs of Pennsylvania, to prolong the
strike until they, too. win. But the
common belief, is that this strike VIII
soon die out.
CITY QUITS WORRYING.
The fuel situation in Richmond can
hardly be said to be disturbing the pub
lie mind. and yet some of its features are
The scramble for steam coal. SO evident
and worrying a short time ago. is past
The factories and various plants which
use this grade of coal are being sbun-
dainty supplied with fuel at s6.'D a ton or
cheaper, as they buy itin large guam
titles This has brought about rcvolu-
ton iii the feelings of the community.
a little while ago very conservative and
rational people We're fearing that some OF
the largest plants of the city and such
useful Institutions as the Ggas-houses and
pur<r plants would have to suspend bus
iness until coal could be secured. The
of circumstances. The crisis
was passed safely, and the gorge Of un-
toward conditions was broken. 1t has
not formed since and the city has gone
on.
4 The coal dealers are very "chirpy now
on the subject of steam coal.
NONE TO SPEAK OF.
They are feeling pretty good z also
demand for splint is not heavy yet, and
will not be until really chilly weather.
comes. say, such as may be expected one
month from now The actual amount of
spiint being purchased is very small, not
a pound more than is needed. all con-
sumers feeling that it will be cheaper
and that will, therefore. be the
best time to buy.
II is when anthracite is suggested tssat
the dealers hold their fingers to ashen
lips in an appeal for silence They have
none to speak of. Most of them have
not enough dust left in their yards to
make a black mark The Dealers Asso-.
ciation are not quoting it. They have
none. end what's the use of setting a
price on something they haven't got. The
last price they named was So Two or
three dealers here have some anthracite
isit tleS are asking 81, but are not
finding ready buyers since there is yet
no occasion for the use of anthracite
If tie cold spell continues the churches
may have TO be heated next Sunday, but
most of them have a small supply on
hand.
MAKING FUTILE ATTEMPTS.
Attempts by Richmond dealers TO place
orders with "Pennsy'' operators for the
delivery Of anthracite have
proven of no avail. Such shiVering
places as New York and Philadelphia
CONTINUED on Second Page.)