The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-22
PRICES Mill FALL
N RICHMOND !:
Local Dealers Think They Will
Soon Go Down.
THE SUPPLY HERE SMALL
Enough Bituminous CoaIfor Immediate
Use, but Very Little Anthracite.
New Scale of Prices
Probable.


merchant Of Richmond there will be,
within very short while a drop OF
about IS per ton in the price of anthracite
coal and decided decrease In soft and
spIint coal as we'll. Wood, he thought.
would remain as at present for some
time yet to come
While the unusually cheerful view of
the situation taken by this dealer does
not in every instance altogether CORE
spond with those OF his associates. there
are strong reasons for the belief that he
is right or very nearly right. His con-
illusions are based upon careful observa-s
tons Of the conditions and no less care
full reasoning frc.. these observations.
REASONS FOR THE DROP.
The anthracite strike at an end, the
Northern anu Western merchants. who
have been bulling the market on soft
coal, will now leave the bituminous fields
and return to anthracite coal, which
they much prefer to the other. 1t is
they who have been keeping the figures
up on soft COAL and when they so these
figures Will come down. Richmond deal
ers wul be able to get in hand. and
will bring all here that is needed. 1t Is
true there IS a strike on in the New
River section, from which Richmond gets
her coal, but it appears that this strike
also is in a fair way to be speedily
settled.
The drop in soft COAL however, cannot
and will not come at once. Richmond
dealers have laid in a supply at the high
prices, and while many of them will lose
money on it, they will make an effort to
III, - ~ ~ Il g ENN. {htS
reason. if for no other. prices will re-
main up for little while yet. In about
two weeks, however. the slump will be-.
gin. and soft coal, now bringing 50 per
ton, will begin to sell at something like
IS or 81.
With regard to anthracite the situation
Is somewhat different. Though the min
ers have returned to wrok Richmond Will
at first feel none OF the effects of the
settlement. so far as the hard coal Is
concerned. The large Eastern and West
ern markets being nearer at hand and
suffering more for need Of fuel. will first
be supplied. while the South will be al
lowed to wait A stray car or cargo
may come in every now and then. but
Christmas will have come and gone be-
fore any large lots are received
These small receipts however. will not
be without effect. Tire operators are
certain to make movement toward re-
coupling themselves for the large amounts
Of money lost in the strike and with
this end in view they will make a per-
manent increase in the price of antnra-
cite This Increase. however. will rot
be more than so cents per ton. which
on the 50 Geo cotton annual; output of the
+ mines would net the operators no in
considerable return. Hence. as soon as
the coal begins to come out again the
o&%v.- sxr-,J = e., AZ.
higher price, but only slightly Dealers
can buy it at the new rate. and make
good profit by retailing it at So per ton
The present price here is $14, and this
would mean a drop of IS.
Wood is scarce. and can hardly be ex-
pected to come down for some time, If
at all. Seasoned wood would have been
half-sea soned wood will come in about the
first OF the year. and this may serve to
lower the prices somewhat.
DOES NOT AGREE.
The above view of the present coal
situation, so far as it affects Richmond,
is taken by several welEknown local
dealers. There are others. however. who
are not 50 sangune. Mr.. A. D. Lander
kin. president of the Coal Dealers As
ISOLATION was asked about the matter
yesterday afternoon. AMI protested that
he could see no relief in sight just yet.
! In his opinion. the strike in the New
River district will serve to keep the price
of soft coal up for some time to come,
and as for anthracite, h. har,siv thinks
there will ne any materi1, change during
the entire winter.
THE SUPPLY HERE.
| The supply of coal in Richmond to-dav
is about what it was week ago. Soft
coal is here in fairly good quantity. but
there is practically no anthracite The
latter cannot be bought just now for love
or money.
The prices prevailing at this time are
as follows: Anthracite. s14 per ton: soft
coal, 50 per ton; splint, 81 per ton; oak
wood, IS per cord; pine wood. 81 per. cord.
The Coal Dealers Association OF Rich
moro; will probably meet next week to
take a look at the situation BY that
time they expect to have received cir
cular from the operators Announcing the
new price on anthracite. These circulars
are sent out by the operators regularly
every month. though during the strike
none have been received here.