The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-12
PRICE OF HARD COAL
TOO CHEAP IN The
NORTHWEST
Local Dealer Gives Reason
for Famine, and Says That
All Rail Coal Fails to
Reach Twin Cities Owing
to Low Prices-Soft Coal
50 Per Ton Too High.

The coal famine throughout the
country, the causes leading up to it,
and especially the shortage of coal in
this section of the Northwest, was dis
cussed in an impartial way last even
ing by a local coal dealer.
In an average year from 100000
to 100000 tons of anthracite coal
is mined and consumed" said the coal
dealer ''or an average monthly prOduc-
ton of about 100000 tons. This
coal is sent to the various storage
plants throughout the country during
the summer season, and, together With
the regular monthly production dur
ing the winter is distributed by the
wholesaler to the retailer, and then to
the consumer. This immense machin-
cry, requiring many millions of capt.
tai and large number of men, was
completely thrown out of gear. by the
five and half months idlenesS at the
mines.
''The strike was inaugurated at the
season when the public was not inter
ested, and received the sanction and
support of many people who are now
recognizing the extent of damage, Suf-
fering and expense it has cost the coun-
try at large. The trade and the ex-
penSe has been made up to a large eX-
tent by an additional profit asked for
other grades of fuel used in place of
anthracite. The natural result is that
the consuming public, who gave aid
and sympathy to the strikers, are now
paying very dearly and a double con-
tributiOn.
More Famine Next Winter.
This drain will not end with this win
ter. All the coal in storage on May
u, 1902, was distributed sparingly
between that date and Nov. l, and the
country went into this winter with only
a prospect of the regular monthly ca
pacity from Nov. 1 to May 1, 1903, in
sight. This cannot be increased to
exceed an average of 100000 tons,
while the actual requirements will
reach nearly $4,000, 900 tons.
After May, 1908, these storage plants
must be stocked completely for the
season of 1903 and 1904. The demand
for summer delivery will be so great
to avoid the inconvenience of waiting
until coal is actually needed that a
large amount will be taken up as pro-
duced, thus the public will go into
another winter with no surplus stock,
for the buy when wanted" class that
compose rs per cent of the trade. This
will have an effect upon the prices,
of both anthracite and bituminOuS coal.
The annual increase in prices is not
likely to recede to a normal basis for
some years to come. The past twenty
years have seen some very low prices
duction and distribution has been so
thoroughly revolutionized that a steady
market price will be obtained in the
future.
Cause of Shortage.
To illustrate the cause of the short
age in the Northwest out of the $780,
100000 tons mined in a normal year
As per cent goes to the New England
states; 80 per cent to the Eastern; 20
per cent to the Central and Southern
and per cent to the Western and
Northwestern states; viz: all territory
drawing its supply from Chicago, Lake
Michigan and Lake Superior. To an
alyze, about $4,000 tons goes to the
Twin Cities and the country, and
1,65O,0O0 tons to Chicago, Milwaukee
and points tributary.
Since the strike ended 10000, 900 tons
have been produced; so per cent of this
equals 100000 tons which would be-