Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1902-12-25
COAL PRICES
WILL BE HIGH.

The present high prices of anthra-
cite will rule throughout the year
1908, so the operators have decided.
and the consumers will pay the bill of
the coal strike, for the 50 cents ton
added to he list rates in October will.
Nif continued during the coming year
add at least $SS, 900, 900 to the profits
*of the coal companies.
# When the strike ended it was the
intention, as stated in the Public
q Ledger on October II, to continue the
rate of &c. rs ton for prepared sizes
I for year from that time. The plan
OF the operators now, it is said. is not
3 ito take off the so cents until Janu-
ary 1, 1904.
Reading officials yesterday declined
to discuss the question as to whether
the advance made in October would
hold good during 1908, but they ad-
mitted that it would certainly rule
beyond January 1, 1908, the date fixed
by President Baer for reduction to
the old rate. An operator who at
tended the meeting of the operators
i'm New York last Tuesday informs
the Public Ledger that the so cents is
to stay for year at least
The output in normal years ranges
! from SO, 200, 900 to 55, 900, 600 tons, and
is estimated that to meet the in
Il creased demand the anthracite roads
will turn out in 1908 at least 56, 900,
900 tons, andprobably 60, 600, 600 tons
Half dollar ton increase, it is said,
would more than recoup the operators
for their losses sustained by the strike
The Reading would get 5000, 900
more for its coal output than it does
lin ordinary years, for it mines 81 per
cent. of the total anthracite output of
the country.
The Reading has arranged to spend
So, 900, 900 in opening new mines and
building breakers, and President Baer
has determined to develop the COM
pany's properties to their fullest Ca
pacity. Mr.. Baer, it is said, consid-
ers the Readings coal lands the most
valuable asset owned by any railroad
company in the country, and intends
to use them to place the Reading S
stocks on a dividend paying basis
There was no let-up yesterday in
the rush to railroad offices and coal
offices to get supply of COAL The
office of City Sales Agent Coughlin,
of the Reading, was thronged all day
with anxious applicants, and letters
by the hundreds came in. The COM
pany is still confning most of it's
efforts towards relieving the famine
in it's own territory, but sends coal
outside whenever it has a ton to
spare.
A story came from New York that
the Lehigh Valley had agreed to send
coal to this city if the Pennsylvania
would agree to return it's cars. Penn
sylvania officials said that the story
was all news to them, and that they
Aaooh AOoOANOu thuy ouOh PhOPooAoAoh'
The situation in West Philadelphia
and South Philadelphia is unchanged.
Nine dollars is still the ruling rate in
\ these sections and the supply is scant
at that
General Manager Henderson, of the
Reading Coal and Iron Company, said
yesterday:
"We are doing all we can to help
West Philadelphia and South Phila-
delphia, and are giving them coal
which we really cannot spare. We
are sending 80 cars day to Washing
ton and the same to Baltimore.
Things will not reach their normal
condition for year, but the situation
will not grow any worse unless we
have accidents at the oollieries or
long spell of heavy weather.
The Reading Company loaded and
Brought down the Schuylkill Valley
on Monday 1869 cars of coal. About
800 cars were shipped by individual
operators, making Mondays ship
ments about 40, 900 tons. Nearly half
of this coal will come to this city.