Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-28
GENUINE COAL FAMINE
Confronts the People Of the
National Capital.
DEALERS CONCEDE IT
RAILROAD COMPANIES DISCR1M-
MATE AGAINST CITY.
Embargo Placed on Cars for Here
+ 3. Untold Suffering Must Neces-
sarily Result.
DEALERS CONCEDE IT

Washington is In the throes Of genuine
coal famine
1t would be foolish to longer try to Gre
ate an impression to the contrary. The re-
turn Of the miners to work in the anthra-
cite regions of Pennsylvania has been
scarcely of any benefit to the people of the
national capital, who at the first cold snap
incident to approaching winter find them
selves almost entirely unfortified.
The consumers alone are not the only
ones who realize what they are up against
The coal dealers who, as rule. have been
ircllned to take an optimistic view of con-
dtions now concede that they are practi-
cally helpless. They admit their inability
to mitigate the sufferings that must of ne
cessty follow the shortage of fuel that now
exists and bids fair to exist until such a
time as the railroads shall come to their
rescue.
These statements are not based upon the
opinion of any one dealer In coal, but are
a consensus of opinions. The dealers are
urable to get anthracite coal from other
than individual operators, and then in the
smallest quantities.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company usually supplies about one
| half Of the hard coal consumed in Washing
| ton. According to one Of the leading deal
| ers. who, with others, talked freely today
| of the situation. the Philadelphia and Read
| ing railroad has placed embargo which
| does not permit its cars coming TO Wash
| ington over the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
| road, as has been the custom in the past.
| The Pennsylvania railroad, the only other
| line from the north entering Washington,
| has refused to handle the Lehigh Valley
GOAL pS of IiNct Tyf .ti on,
| Pa, where the embargo becomes effective.
| Why these railroads desire to discriminate
| against the national capital Is probably
known by the Arrangements of the respec-
| tive companies, but the people Of Washing
| ton. those who suffer because of the dis
| elimination. are still in the dark.
The shipments of soft coal to Washington
are also insignificant to the amount that
| finds Its way here in normal times when
| the demand for the bituminous product Is
| much smaller than at present. This Is said
| to be due to the great congestion Of freight
| traffic on the main carrying lines. One
| dealer said today that he had fifty cars of
soft coal between here and the mines In
| the Cumberland district, but he had no
idea when they would reach the city.
| There Is use trying to conceal the
| real situation said this dealer. Surely
one-half, and most likely three-fourths. Of
| the people of Washington who use coal will
| be compelled to resort to substitutes during
| the coming winter"
| But do not the railroads give any idea
| when they will be able to recognize Wash
ington?'' was asked.
| None whatever"
Earnest Demands.
| AS the weather becomes colder the people
| are becoming alarmed. Many Of them are
unreasonable. demanding Of their dealers
what the latter cannot produce. The de-
mand today for hard coal, in fact, for soft
COAL for anything that may be used for
fuel, was greater than at any time within
year. ifsiU
| Those dealers who have been so fortunate
as to secure few tons doled this out in the
| smallest quantities. usually in an eighth or
| a quarter of ton. And this In many in
| stances went to families that are afflicted
| with sickness.
The dealers are offering big premiums for
| coal, but extra inducements seem to be of
| no avail. The amount of coal that has
| reached Washington since the work in the
| mines was resumed is as a drop in the
| bucket compared to the demand for actual
| needs.
| An example of the situation Is attested
| by the experience of dealer who a few
days ago tried to purchase three tons for
his own customers. He went to six differ
| ent dealers and offered as much as $40 a
ton for three tons. In each instance he
! was refused each dealer declaring that he
| did not have the coal. One of the dealers
| asked said that he would not sell three tons
| for $50 q ton, even if he had the coal.
What They Say.
1T is something awful was the way an
other coal merchant described the situation
today. I've been beseged by scores of
| persons who were anxious to get coal, and
some Of their stories were heartrending In
some families there was sickness and suf-
fering and while l would like to have filled
| their orders l was unable to do 80.
| What little coal l sold today was only in
| filling orders that had received from my
llDr f0r xxrpi oh T or
| $40 a ton. Coal would have brought almost
any price today. People were suffering, and
some of them would readily have paid any
| price for fuel.
The Reading Railroad Company" he
| explained, demands of the dealers that
| they sign an agreement that they will
| charge but 81 and 1925 for coal. At the
| same time the price of coal to the dealer Is
advanced 81. In order to keep such an
/ agreement dealers will have to make slaves
| of themselves for small profit"
At one office the price of anthracite coal
| was given as 1928, but, when a Star re-
ported tried to place an order he was
| promptly told that he could not get an
| ounce of coal unless he were regular Gus
toner. Another big dealer said he would
| deliver ton of furnace coal for $40, or he
| would deliver egg or stove coal In lots not
| to exceep a quarter ton at the rate Of $12
| ton. The same quantity of pea coal he
| would sell for $2.75 or at the rate of Sill a
| ton.
| interesting correspondence.
The correspondence between citizen of
| Washington and the management Of the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, regarding the supply of hard
coal In this city, may be Of interest. even
If no light Is shed on the real condition.
The citizen, whose name is withheld, wrote:
WASHINGTON, November 81, 1902
| Geo. F. Baer, President Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, Phila-
| delphia, Pa:
| Dear sir: Enclosed please find clippings
| which you will discover are not in harmony
| with the interviews given out by you at the
| close of the strike. In which you stated that
the price Of coal would be advanced only
80 cents per ton over old rate, and also
| suggested a central distributing agency in
the interest OF consumers.
| The dealers claim that to get orders
| filled promptly they must pay q premium,
hence the increase Of price to consumers.
| IF you care to make any statement in
| reference to above. wiu IL you desire 1t,
hand 1t to you for publication. Very re-
| spectfuly.
To this letter came the following reply:
THE Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
| Iron Company.
| 'Off1Ce of the General MANAGER