The daily Republican., 1902-12-30
COAL SCARCER
THANEVER BEFORE
Not One Half Of the City's U.s.
ual Daily Supply Com
ing In.
MORE IS EXPECTED SOON.
Belief That Little Reading
Coal Has Come to the
City the Past Few
Weeks.

Not since the darkest days of !he
strike has there been less anthra-
cite In Wilmington than there ls to-
day and sthis condition Is likely to
continue for many days.
Instead Of the 500 tons OF an
thracite which the city consumes
daily, not cue hundred tons are be.
log distributed, A representativ of
the George W. Bush & SoHs Com
pany said this morning that the
local daily receipts will not average
200 tons. and that the shortage is
being made up by bitumluous coal
and wood. the former selling atsS
ton. He could not say positively
when the city's receipts of anthra-
cite would equal the demand. but
he had hopes that large receipts
would be the order next week.
The Philadelphia and Reading
Coal ard Iron Company has been
making light shipments from the
mines the past few days on account
OF the Christmas holidays. One
dealer said he did not believe that
any Reading coal came into vii.
mlngton yesterday and that he has
not received any from the company
Tor several days. I'VE cannot sell
Reading coal at its prices Of 81
ton when the company does not send
us any, said the dealer. "In an
effort to keep our regular customers
supplied we must buy coal from in.
dependent operators, and it costs
us from 81 to s. to- get it here. l
would be glad to sell coal at 81 a
ton If the Reading company would
only send ii to me-.
One Of the smaller dealers sa id
that he had been compelled to pay
rs ton for bituminous coal by
the carload.
Owing to the continued stringency
IN the anthracite supply compare
lively little Is heard concerning cir
cular prices to be put into effect by
The Reading and the other big an
lhracite mining companies. When
distribution was resumed following
the return of the miners to work.
President Baer in announcing the
circular put out under date of Octo-
,er 24th, stated that those prices
would continue until January 1sl,
0O3
Considerable anxiety is felt by |
'ealers and consumers alike as 10 the
probable action of the company IN
lew OF the fact that the independ-
mt operators are Securing from so
o 70 percent. more for their coal
han called for by the Reading cir.
'ular.
Officials of the company have
title or nothing to say. and one of
hem when asked about it, said:
Dent discuss it or agitate it, 1t
an be said, however, on pretty good
uthority, that January 1st will
asS without the issuing of a new
ircular, and that the present prices
Ill be continued indefinitely.
The sales agents of the Pennsyl-
ania Railroads anthracite COM
anies will meet to-day to discuss
he question of prices.
The great shortage of anthracite
also likely to bring abouta change
the Readings method of dealing
nth large consumers. Heretofore !
le company has been making year
contracts. These contracts were
lade for ayear, subject tointerrup-
ons from strikes, car shortage or
ther matters over which the COM
any could exercise no control.
Many OF these contracts are about
ipiring, and, while the officials
C silent On the subject Of renew
S, 1t is known that the company
rs refused to renew somc out.of-
WI contracts, and il the views OF
me OF the company's sales agents
e reg garded bv the officials there
III be no contracts made for the
ming year.
The argument of those opposed to
c renewal of these contracts is that
ere will be no difficulty in dispos-
of every pound Of anthracite
ned during the year, and that
cry consumer should be required
purchase his coal in the open
lrket II contracts are made thev {
i probably be for periods less than
ear.