The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1903-05-22

The coal man is beginning to fill
bins for the winter Of 1904. He
is taking advantage of the lesson
taught by last winters famine, and
is coaxing consumers to- order their
supplies earlier than usual. He Is
successful in this, Notwithstanding
that coal is higher that it was year
ago, and is carrying on his business
with more confidence, because of a.
feeling that people generally regard,
him as being more of a necessity
than formerly. There Is also less
urgency in tie demand for the filling
of orders, since the long drilling in
patienve that consumers received
during the weary months in which
the dealers were delivering coal
spasmodically and in small parcels.
There IRE few of the changes in
the coal business that can be noted
alta glance. There are other changes,
or prospective changes, beneath the
surface, and these are Of Importance
to the men who control the anthra-
cite trade. Recently the Black
Diamond, a coal publication, sent
out series of requests for informa-
ton as to how early dealers expected
to get in the bulk of their business
in anthracite of all sizes; how prices
are regarded by consumers; whether
there will be a falling off on the de-
mand as compared with previous
seasons; whether the substitution of
bituminous or foreign Goals will re-
duce the demand for anthracite;
and whether any other influences or
conditions will be inimical to the
anthracite trade during the winter
of 1904. The replies corroborate
the observation that consumers are
inclined to fill their bins earlier than
usual; and that they are fairly we'll
satisfied with the increased price
because Of recent experiences with
much higher figure during the
famine.
The replies concerning the pros
pective demand are more interest
ing, as this is the deeper and more
important doubt in the minds of the
coal barons. About 20 per cent. of
the agents interrogated-the agents
in large centers of population-re-
port that there will be an increase
in population and the compulsory
influence of anti-smoke law. About
Is per cent. es innate the prospective
demand as normal one, and IS per
cent. report that there will be fall
ing off because of the substitution of
other fuels. The estimated decline
ranges from ''slight' to 80 1-3 per
cent, the heavier estimates coming
from the states in which the con-
sumption Of anthracite is normally
the least. A slight falling of is pre-
dicted for New England, but not on
account of the importation of foreign
coal, as that factor has had no bear
ing on the market; the New
Englanders are reverting to the use
of wood.
There will undoubtedly be- much
larger percentage of soft coal con-
sumed than formerly, if the coal
barons keep up the price of their
product in harmony with the views
of Dictator Baer. Consumers. have
had the discomforts incident to
learning how to use soft coal, and
they will be inclined to reap the
benefits Of the sooty schooling if
hard coal is pushed too high for their
views. At any rate, the feeling in
favor of soft coal as q means of
escape from the exactions OF the
coal trust will be strong enough to
make itself felt in a lessening de-
lnand for hard coal whenever the
price of coal is arbitrarily raised
Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.
Philadelphia Press: The outlines
of Mexico's method of giving fixed