Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-02
had to be cut out of his itinerary Just
closed. He does not intend to go back
to Oyster Bay this year.

| y
closed. He does not intend to go back
to Oyster Bay this year.
Washington, D. c., Oct. l.
The scarcity of fuel is coming to
be most keenly felt by the residents of
Washington principally as the result
| OF the prolongation of the anthracite
coal strike in Pennsylvania. At pres
ent there seems to be no indication of
Immediate relief. Some persons
have hopefully turned toward other
anthracite producing countries with
the expectation that they would send
large shipments of coal to this coun-
try to meet the demands OF the coal
consuming public. The United States
has, however, for number of years
been the chief coal exporter on the
globe, and it cannot be expected that
other countries which have been re-
ceiving part of their supply from this
country can turn about Immediately
and begin the shipment OF coal into
the United States.
The three great coal producing coun-
tries in the world are the United
States, Great Britain and Germany
The United States stands far in the
lead in coal production. Her output
in 1901 was 47,965.93S tons more than
Great Britain. which is the next largest
producer. This was the first year
that the United States had exceeded
the British output. The total coal
put on the market last year by the
United States was nearly 262, 900 900
tons, while that of Great Britain was
2l9.000,000 tons and that of Germany
1852 100000 tons. 1t can easily be
seen that when an abnormal condition
arises in the American coal industry,
such as the present cessation of out
put, foreign countries cannot be looked
to for immediate relief to any extent.
The course and custom of trade is
still all the other way. The United
States has been exporting and not
importing coal Foreign coal mer-
chants are not prepared to market
their coal i'll this country They have
not the ships in which to transport it.
Their trade is all in other channels,
and the checking in the American sup
ply abroad would naturally tend to
make all home markets better for
the resident producers. 1t is true.
however. that some American dealers
have been casting about in foreign
markets in an attempt to secure coal
with which to fill their orders. But it
is believed that all the coal which
may be brought in on account OF the
present crisis will be sought and
bought up at greatly advanced prices
by American dealers, and that conse-
quently no new markets will be perma-
nently established in this country by
foreign producers. The one lonely
ton of anthracite which was imported
last year is credited to Canada.
The price of coal in Washington to-
day is higher than it has been at any
time since the civil war. Hard coal
is selling for SIG ton, soft coal for
So, and, what will sound more aston
ishing in Iowa, wood is selling for $12
cord. In fact, wood is sold here by
the bushel. Despite all this the SER
iousness of the coal trouble is just
beginning to be realized. A few good
cold days, when coal is really needed
to keep the citizens comfortable in
their homes, will stir up the coal strike
agitation to degree that will make
the present idea look insignificant.
The one exception when coal was
higher in price in Washington was in
1864. The Confederates had blocked
the lower river and it was impossible
for ships to reach Washington. There
was an abundant supply in Philadel-
phia, but with the water route shut
off it was impossible to get it to Wash
ington. For time then coal sold for
$40 ton.
One alternative which is seriously
being considered by the man who is
rich enough to do SO is that of going
south for the winter This is what
large number of the weather. Wash
ington people are considering, and it
is likely that the southern exodus will
be far greater from the cities further
north. Advices from Jacksonville
Palm Beach. Charleston, Tampa, ST.
Augustine and other well known re-
sorts in the far south are to the effect
that the hotel proprietors and owners
of winter resorts will open the season
at least a month and in some cases
at least two months earlier than usual
A railroad man who gives much at
tention to the winter traffic south says
that the request for information re-
garding transportation and rates for
board is greater at the present time
than ordinarily at the busiest time in
southern winter traffic.
Harold Mahin.