New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-08
NOT A COLD WAVE IN SIGHT
COAL DEALERS SAY COLD SNAP WOt LID
CAUSE TERRIBLE PANIC.

~
II was a little cooler last night than it had
been for few preceding nights. but there was
nothing to indicate that cold wave was on the
way. The temperature fell to Is degrees, Whieh
is degrees higher than the lowest temperature
reported vhis season. The forecast for to-day
and tomorrow is for fair weather. with rising
temperature Tomorrow This will ease the
mind of those who read yesterday that cold
wave was coming. 10 find them without coal 10
meet it.
There is practically no coal TO sell" said
Samuel ]. Smoot of the Retail Coal Dealers
Association. yesterday. IF the temperature
should drop go degrees in NewYOrk to-day. II
would reveal the worst coal famine that has
been heard Of and would result IN a ter
rble panic. 7 was in the office of large sales
agent yesterday. and it was filled with dealers
begging for coal. I can see relief for us until
navigation closes
In estimating the coal shortage. a prominent
wholesaler said there are mined and sold by this
time in normal year something like 25.OOOOGO
tons more of coal than have been mined up TO
date this year.
1T is this reserve stock that tides us over the
winter" he said. Without the usual reserve in
the cellars in this city the tonnage of the
anthracite roads will not supply the demand.
You must remember that the demand will be far
greater this winter just because the cellars are
all empty 1 dare not let myself think of what
would result in case of heavy snowstorm at
any time this winter for at the best the city will
be virtually dependent every day on the coal de-
livefed each day. There will be stocking Of
the cellars"
Reports from different parts Of the city
that many of the retailers have discarded the
| price of Sc 80 ton and are charging anywhere
from So TO $40 for domestic sizes of anthracite.
According to a number Of coal dealers the
/ statement issued by President Baer Of the Phila
| delphia and Reading Railroad, which has had
the effect of limiting the price at which the
dealers may sell COAL is not the first instance Of
dictation to the retailers by representatives of
| the anthracite roads.
I'VE it TO ourselves and 70 the public 20
| tell many things regarding the coal situation
| here and the attitude of the Coal Trust toward
| the retailers, but with many Of us to talk for
| publication would mean that we should soon
have to go out of business-at least. that we
might have to-" said prominent dealer.
IF any official body seeking for evidence Of
| the existence of coal trust should call the re-
tailers of this city before it and put them under
| OATH some very pertinent facts might be
brought out Sales agents of several. not all, of
| the anthracite roads have during the last year
virtually dictated to the retailers regarding the
| territory and the class Of trade TO which they
/ must limit themselves
| 1t has been done In this way. A dealer finds
that another Is encroaching on his territory and
| his trade He goes to the sales agent OF the
road from which he buys his coal and lays the
/ facts before him. Presently the dealer who is
| doing the encroaching receives notice from the
] sales agent OF the road from which he buys to
! stop It, In several instances where the dealer
I has persisted he has received a second notice
| that unless he needed the warning at once he
| would not be able to buy any coal from
| that road. These warnings have always been
| Needed
1T is bad enough 10 tell the dealer the price
at which he must sell coal under any cOndi-
| tions." said prominent wholesaler. but when
/ the sales agents do limit the retailers price il
| becomes their duty to supply the retailer with
all the coal he wants at a price that will enable
\ him TO sell at a profit That is Just what the
| agents are not doing. They hold threat over
| the dealer that frightens him out OF selling for
over So 30 a ton for anthracite, and they are
| able to give him only about tenth of the coal
| he needs. know dealer who TO supply Gus
| toners in absolute need. bought seven hundred
| tons of coal for 50 ton one day this week and
| sold II for ST 30 ton. The sales agents had
| put him in fear both of them and Of the public
| II he charged more than So 30 his customers
would think he was robbing them
President Baer was in the city yesterday. He
arrived in the morning, and was in his office
only for short time during the day. II was said
there that no meeting of the Temple Iron Com
pany was held, but the object OF his visit was
not disclosed. In the afternoon Mr. Baer Presi-
dent Truesdale of the Lackawanna and H Nick
wanna, were In conference with partners OF J.
r Morgan at Mr.. Morgan'S Office.