The Washington times., 1902-12-05
Railroad Company Finds
Such Action Necessary IN
Order That FreigRf Traf-
fIc Might Nof Be Hailed.
Local DeaLe1s StT0ng IN
EuerY Way 10 ReiIeUe
Present Situation, EUeH at
a Loss 10 Themselves.
Likely Thai Investigating
Committee WH WIFI
d1aW-AHfhracIfe CondT-
hOHS Are hnlproUmg.

The condscation Of coal on the rail-
road sidings Of this city has become a
reality. To kos5 -Ha locomotives OF the
Pennsylvania road moving. five car loads
of the bltuminous product consigned to
the Allegheny Coal Company, has been
dumped into the tenders OF the engines,
and Manager VI. J. Burrell. OF that con-
pany notified. Further levies upon the
shipments 10 this and other companies
are anticipated. and cars that otherwise
would have been placed in the city for
unloading are being held in the Benning
yards.
That the local dealers are striving in
every way TO relieve the situation, even
at loss to themselves. has been recog-
nized by the members Of the committee
investigating the situation. and there is
a strong inclination to recommend the
withdrawal OF the committee from the
field.
The dealers, because Of their expert
ence and business connections, are bet
ter able to handle the situation than
outsiders. Il is said their work may be
publicly acknowledged in a commuuics-
tion from the coal committee to the
members OF the Coal Exchange In this
letter the plan is to ask If there is any
way the committee can cooperate with
the dealers. and II there is not, 10 con-
clude It's business and adjourn
To Meet Saturday
The subcommittee. Of which Thomas
w smith and John Joy Edson are chair
men. met this afternoon shortly after
o'clock. to formulate The eports they
viii submit to the main committee to-
morrow The meeting OF the entirs
committee will be called for Saturday. IN
the rooms Of the Board OF Trade
The snowstorm that greeted the peo-
pie OF the city on arising this morning
occasioned much uneasiness among deal
ers. The slippery pavements and cold
blasts were most disheartening coming
on the verge OF the time when it was
believed the coal situation would be ma
terially relieved. The dealers kept their
teams moving as best they could. Their
liability to deliver coal, however, was less
ened by the snow. The reports from the
different Offices indicate that the ability
Of the dealers to deliver coal was re-
duced from third to a half by the con-
dition OF the pavements. There was a
| further rush on th5 s.fiees TO place or
ders. but the increased demand was not
as great as might have been expected.
There was little change in the prices
asked All OF the Reading coal. so far
as could be asceTtained, was being hand
led at the scheduled price OF s. for fur
mace size and $7.25 for stove coal The
Irate on coal from the mines Of the Penn
| sylvania company costs p cents more a
ton to the local dealers, but the charge
/ is that q material advance in price has
/ been made TO the consumer for this coal
/ The price Of premiam cOai-thaJ is. coal
/ bought from the Independent operators
/ in open competition with the markets
OF The country-is practically without
limit Several sales were made at as
/ high a figure as S15 ton, but the ruling
price was in the neighborhood Of 81,
Cost of Delivery.
One Of the large dealers. in discussing
! the cost Of handling and delivering coal
/ in this city. said today that after care
fully keeping account OF the teams ne
had employed during the past two weeks
to assist his own in the delivery OF coal
he found that the average cost OF de-
. liveriug with teams at s. a day was be-
| tween $40 and S1.45 a ton. To be added
/ TO this charge the cost Of unloading in
the yards. the interest on the investment
in Offices. telephones. terminal property.
1 etc. Is quite an item. TO say nothing OF
the large sums spent in travelling over
the anthracite deld i'm search OF sddi-
uonal supplies. Taking all Of these
items into consideration the profit on .
ton Of Reading coal is inhnitesimal.
The seizure OF soft coal by the Penn
sylvania is looked upon with deep con-
icern by he local dealers. The difficulty
lthcy have in getting he shipments or
IiEinauy is indicated by The inability Of
1.-The Pennsylvania corporation to secure
enough coal 90 keep its traffic moving
The growing scarcity OF this grade has
led TO the fear that the supply OF hard
coal may be levied uDon in the near
future. as was ntimated would be done.
over ftty carloads Of coal. consigned
30 local dealers, have been detained in
the Benning yards for several DAYS past
as the officials OF the Pennsylvania an
\ ueipatcd a difficulty in supplying their
engines and were compelled 10 take the
best step possible 10 keep trains moving.
One Of the officials o. the line stated
this morning that so far as he was ad
vispd the situation Of tho railroad with