The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-26

While there is little hard coal to be had
at present-enough only for the bare ne
cessitfes of life-anthracite will in all
probability disappear here with the close
Of navigation on the lakes. It is only a
question of a few weeks before the lakes
will be ice-loclSed, and the means Of
transportation on which the northwest
relies mostly for its coal will then be cut
off,. .E.f 49,
Though there have been almost daily
arrivals of coal at the head Of the lakes,
the supply has been barely enough for i'm
mediate consumption. There has been
no opportunity to accumulate surplus In
Duluth and Superior to tide the northwest
over the winter, and consumers must
now look to the railroads for relief. .
Local dealers who thoroughly appre
ciate the gravity of the situation, admit
that immediate relief from that source
can only be expected when the lakes can
no longer be depended upon, owing to the
car shortage Small coal Is now coming
aH-rail from the east, but it will be diff
cult for the roads to begin to meet the
demand unless they sidetrack other bust
ness. Even then, with unparalleled &C
tivity on all lines, coal carrying. will tax
their resources to the utmost, and the
extra cost of hauling must be met by the
consumer
The continued use of soft coal in large
quantities throughout the winter will be
unavoidable. From present indica lions
there will be no time in the winter when
consumer. can order coal as he pleases.
-. Efforts Of Shippers.
! Advices from Duluth say that according
to reports from lower lake coal shipping
points. eastern, hard coal wholesalers are
frantically trying to fill the northwestern
demand for anthracite before the season
OF navigation passes. The situation at
Duluth and at other coal distributing
points In the northwest does not indicate
that they are meeting with any glittering
success. .'-:.
Those who understand the recent his.
tory of the coal trade are at a loss to know
what will occur later in the winter In thu
northwestern part of the United States
that part supplied normally from ports
along the upper lakes. So far this sea
son of lake navigation there is shortage
Of about 600, 600 tons of anthracite coal al
distributing points on Lake Superior alone
and the slight increase in the amount Of
b1tuminous received can by no means
overcome that shortage. Indeed the in
crease in receipts of bituminous coal fol
the year is no more than the growth OF
business using that grade Of coal demands
leaving practically none for easing ar
anthracite shc<tage.
Other Resources
The northwest will be thrown this win.
ter on Its own resources in the matter OF
fuel supply, and, from fear Of this fact
eastern deal ers: have been fighting to gel
coal up the lakes as rapidly as possible
1t will undoubtedly drive customers tt
other markets, with which they will be.
come acquainted, and which they ma,
favor in the future to the greater or less
exclusion Of anthracite. All through the
Dakotas people are burning Missouri Ignite
to such extent the mines previously opened
have proved utterly unable to cope with
the demand. New mines are beins
opened very rapidly and shipments of lig.
mite are fairly jumping. On the Other
hand eastern bituminous coal and coke
made from 1t will make very appreciable
1nroad. Coal is now coming into thu
northwest. all rail from the Illinois ant
| Iowa fields and this will have an effect I
is from coke from these bituminous coal.
that the great change in fuels will come
throughout the northwest. Activity in the
erection of ovens and the burning of coke
Is sure to follow.
There have been received in all Lake
Superior ports this year 100000 tons O.
coal. of which less than 100000 tons are
anthracite: TO the close of navigation
| last year the receipts were about the same
and Of the whole 100000 tons were anthra
| cite. -;