New-York tribune., 1902-10-15
NO IMMEDIATE REDUCTION
PRICES NOT Likely To FALL FOR SEv-
ERAI WEEKS.

C,o.1. onerators and prominent coal dealers in
the citv were asked yesterday FOR information
as 10 the effect which immediate resumption
of work at the anthracite mines would have on
the coal supply and upon prices They were
unanimous in saying that il would take several
weeks 10 provide supplies Of anthracite that
would affect prices and relieve the present
stringency Even if the strike were settled this
week and the miners all went back to work,
they said the deficiency in the hard coal supply
could not he made up FOR a long time.
You have 10 consid - said one dealer Who
is interested i'm "A coIliery, that New-York IS
practically without adequate storage supply all
The time. Land IS too valuable here 70 per-
nit its use for the storage OF coal in quantities
proportonate 10 the city's demands. Ordinarily
the City's supplies of coal are in the barges
used I'm conveying the coal from the shipping
Dorts 10 the wharves. These barges in ordinary
times are bing loaded and unloaded constantly
The city's supply suffered. therefore as soon
as the strike began and the barges could not
be reloaded at the shipping ports. During the
summer additional supplies were obtained from
many places within fifty or hundred miles
OF the city, but all those places were denuded
~ hard coal long ago They now are feeling the
coal famine as badly as the city does AS soon
as work at the mines is resumed all these places
must he considered Not all the coal that is
mined can be sent TO this city. Practically
the whole country is short Of coal. and the city
can have only a part Of what is produced when
mining operations are resumed. You will see,
therefore. that IL viii take considerable time 10
make the great deficiency in anthracite
Il think IL Is probable" said another dealer.
that the bulk OF the coal that Is produced when
the anthracite mines are reopened will be sent
20 this city 70 relieve the present stringency,
but II probably viii be two weeks. at least be-
fore any of the coal can BE- sent here Ordi-
narily II takes about ten DAYS for coal that has
been mined I'm the anthracite region 10 reach
the retail coal dealer in the city. After the coal
has been taken out of the mine 70 IS through
the breakers and graded for shipment II takes
three or four DAYS for the coal trains 10 carry
the coal from the mines 10 shipping ports. Then
the barges have 10 be loaded at the
shipping ports and be towed 10 the
wharves before the coal can be delivered 10 the
dealers believe there will be additional delay
when the mines are reopened. because many OF
the mines are not I'm condition 10 be worked 10
their fullest capacity right away. Mitchell took
care 10 cripple some of the mines by calling out
the men who operated the pumps. ant hoodinss
have made those mines unworkable immedi-
ately II is To be expected. therefore, that the
first supplies OF coal from the anthracite region
will be mere driblets. wholly inadequate to re-
duce the strlngency in the city or cut down
prices believe IL viii be- several weeks before
the supplies OF coal viii make an impression on
coal prices in the city
Unless the coal roads have supplies IN re-
serve that can be forwarded 20 the city prompt
ly." said another dealer. II do NOT see that the
coal strinEency in the city can be relieved Tor
several weeks. There have been reports that
the coal roads have been holding back supplies
OF coal until the strike is declared off. but do
not believe that those supplies are large enough
10 affect prices when they are released The
coal operators have been drawing ON the avail
able supplies 10 prevent the situation from De-
coming intolerable particularly in the recent
deliveries ~ coal for the poor. believe the
anthracite supply is almost exhausted ana that
when the mines TeOpened 10 viii take weeks
To mine enough coal 10 make an impression on
the deficiency. Probably anthracite coai VIII
command high prize all winter. Not that u
will continue To sell az $50 a ton. That would
be unreasonable do not expect however. 10
see anthracite coal in domestic sizes selling IN
the city much below $40 ton this winter
While coal dealers i'm the city were
hopeful for a speedy settlement of the strike
and the resumption Of work at the anthracite
mines in a few days the prices OF coal we're
not changed yesterday Anthracite was selling
at $50 and difiicult to obtain at that price and
soft coal was selling at 50 ton.