New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-30
THE FAMINE PRICE GROW s
ORDERS FOR 25NoO TONS OF WELSH
ANTHRACITE Placed

With bounds and leaps the price of anthracite
coal yesterday reached the panic price Of S20
and $21 ton and the limit is not in sight
Price has become Of little consequence. Hard
coal cannot be- had for iove ~ aacnesr -s5s-
thracite dealers give only despairing replies
about the present condition and the possible
price tomorrow, next week or next month.
Anthracite has become so scarce in this city
that what little is left can be bought only at
prohibitive prices. Some retailers yesterday sold
1t at SO and SIC ton. but in a few cases as
much as S21 was obtained. AS no coal is being
received by the dealers many are absolutely un-
able to supply even the most modest orders.
Import ation of Welsh anthracite and French
bftunlinous can in no way relieve the situation.
for the few cargoes that have been landed are
but drop in the bucket in view Of the enor-
nous shortage. When asked how much Welsh
coal could be expected within the next week or
So a prominent wholesaler said:
owing to our expectations. two three
weeks ago that the strike would end. we have
all been reluctant about importing Welsh an
thracite Although it is selling for less than ~
a ton there Is - cents to add for freight and
81 cents for entry duty. Everything taken into
consideration il would be landed here at S6oo
or 81 A ton There are only about 5000 tons Of
this coal now on the way. but orders have been
placed this week for over 23.ooo tons, which
denotes more than anything else that the trade
does NOT believe in an early ending OF the
strike"
Another prominent dealer said that IT "ouid
take at least a month to fill orders for welsh
coal which would mean that very little couIu
be imported during October. owing 10 the late-
ness of the orders for Swansea anthracite Inc
cost Of importing Welsh coal under normal con-
b,1ttb no here
would probably force the price to 50 a ton at
oroa with a higher price every day, as the de-
mand grew more urgent
strong feeling Is beginning TO De shown by
nany of the retail coal dealers over what, they
regard as the settled policy of the operators to
drive them out Of business. One OF the prohl-
nent retailers yesterday said
I'VE are at the mercy of the operators ana
To get myself quoted would be to invite destruc-
ton. I am convinced that the operators are
working out plan to do away with the nlioole
mon The managers of the Coal Trust are IN
toxicated with power. They do nor want 'he
strike 10 end yet They could mine coal II tiles
wished to but they do not wish to They VIII
not be satisfied TO Kill the orsdlli1a 'io" =. s'
miners merely. but they mean to XIII OH 'he
retailers, too"
Several Of the prominent dealers declared that
nose on the part of the operators. However one
of these admitted that fifteen years ago theFe
were III more retail dealers in Manhattan ana
The Bronx than there are to-day
.eWvhether this is the result. of the tendency
of the times" he added, or of dehnite plan
on the part of the operators 1 cannot say one
thing is sure-there has been growing uispo-
sition on the part of the operators TO contFoi
more and more the disposition of their coal out
put" I'm
L believe that the end of this strike VIII see
fewer retailers in business said another dealer
The officers and representatives OF the great
coal railroads and companies declare that the
statements given out by the retailers are laise.
There is no foundation for the Story, saiu
President Fowler of the orA' oi'd,io
and Western. Such plan never entered tne
mind of an operator, so far as kno" 'he ope'
atorsr
Il am not sorry for the dealers saiu an
other official of the same road Ihey nave
bought coal at the circular price ana sod II iof
so. S12 and S15 ton. ,,,,, p
John Markle of the firm of G. B. Markie q