The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-11-22
COAL FAMINE MUST
CONTINUE ALL WINTER
No Prospect of Adequate
Supply, Say Dealers.
FEAR OF FIRST COLD SNAP
Will Exhaust Even Bituminous and
Make Suffering CeTtaiL-Many
Yards Without a Pound.

There is every indication that Wash
ington will De subjected TO a continue
tion OF the coal famine for some months
10 come. Several OF the most prominent
dealers say that it is almost an impos-
sibility for the coal supply TO become
normal this winter and that a great
amount of suffering is likely TO ensue
Dealers are able at the present time
with the mild weather barely TO keep
their own customers supplied and with
the first touch of cold weather. it is said
that even the small amount of soft coal
on hand will be exhausted
Up TO the present time practically
none OF the smaller dealers has been
able to secure a pound of coal for his
customers. Nearly all Of them secure
their supplies from the dumps on North
Capitol Street. controlled by Albright &
Barker, the former agents Of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Railroad. When
that locality was visited this morning BY
& Times reporter. teams were found
waiting in line that had been there for
over thirty-six hours. The receipts o.
coal are uncertain. but afford the only
available supply for them.
For the past fortnight each night has
found line OF carts and wagons at this
dump waiting FOR the possibility Of Sc
curing load OF coal in he morning.
The cost OF keeping the teams on the
street with men to care for them is be-
coming serious factor in ;hc expenses
Of the small dealer.
Difficulties in the Way.
These conditions prevail, it is de-
ciared, despite strenuous efforts on the
part Of all. from the mine operators to
the small distributors. The anthracite
region is extremely limited in area and
Is reached by only a few Of the railroads
in northern Pennsylvania The normal
yearly consumption in the United States
is about 100000 tons. but owing to
the unusual prosperity OF the country
this year il is estimated that il would
have been about $4,000 900 tons. To SUD-
ply this demand would require about
S,0o0 carloads Of coal a day. or nearly
S0e trains Of loaded cars loading and
leaving the mines each working day of
the wear
During The months of idleness the en-
tire supplies in the northern cities were
exhausted, and with the 1st OF December
rapidly approaching, when navigation on
the lakes must be suspended the rail
ways are making every effort 10 supply
the Northwest before they are shut Oh
for the winter. Washington is looked
upon as a Southern city by the operators
and shippers Even now there ara unapy
towns and cities within a hundred miles
Of the coal fields that have not as vet
received single pound OF coal since
operations were resumed.
Mines Filled With Water.
Fully 20 per cent Of the mines are
filled with water, and il viii be January
at the earliest before operations can
oegin in them. Normally. with all OF
the mines in operation. and many Of the
largest consumers supplied IN the sum-
meTtime. IL is necessary TO draw on the
coal mined in the summer 10 supply che
trade
Another serious feature Of the sftua-
uon will be developed wiki the first cold
snap IN this city Even should there be
sufficient supply OF coal in the yards.
the orders that will pour in upon The
dealers at that time viii completely
swamp them and make il impossible for
them TO secure carts 10 move the orders.
Most Of the hospitals and institutions
where women and children are housed
are kept supplied. but even the District
Jail has nearly exhausted its supply.
Small Coal in New York.
Much comment was caused this morn
ing by the dispatches from New York
stating that many OF the dealers have
been caught with large supply OF soft
coal or their hands and that they are
all refusing 10 handle anthracite coal of
the buckwheat and rice sizes until they
have unloaded the soft coal on hand. The
dispatch stated that there are 1. 794 tons
OF buckwheat anthracite, such as is used
for steaming purposes. Several of tie
local dealers. on hearing OF the dis
patches. wired their offers for the entire
lot. but have received 20 reply. The
price at which this coal was offered. and
at which no market for il could be found.
according 10 the dispatches. was 81 .
with soft coal selling az S5.75.
The Foremost Gentlemen Jcci-eys
OF this country and Canada viii ride At the