The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-09
100000
TONS OF
COAL HERE
Largest Quantity Of Fuel Ever
Known TO Be In Harbor at Any
One Time Awaiting Discharge

est quantity ever known TO be In this mar
bor at any one time. is awaiting discharg-
ing in this port today. and the chances
are that there will be other arrivals be-
fore this amount is much reduced
or course more than a half OF this coal
is consigned TO the Consolidated road ana
is TO be discharged at the Wilkesoarre
Pier and harbor Junction Pier but II Is
possible that considerable coal that has
been sent here to order, will be disposed
OF and turned over 10 the Consolidated
road TO handle.
During the "a hours ending at noon Sat
urday 1s $50 tons OF coal arrived, ana pc
tween Saturday noon and last evening
q 1888 tins OF coal came In. This morning
single cargo of 200 tons arrived, the
whole making a total of 42,[ez tons Oh
coal for a period OF 72 hours.
IL will be seen that the coal, as was the
belief of many of the best informed men
In the coal trade, would be poured into
Providence, which IL, by the way, one OF
the greatest receiving ports for coal In
New England and tho new arrivals only
add TO the congestion that already exist
ed.
The congestion will have It's effects In
way on the price Of coal. The vessels are
allowed a certain number OF days, In ac-
cordance with the size OF the cargoes 10
discharge, and after the allowed period
has elapsed the consignee must pay de-
murrage on the vessel for any longer Pc
rlod OF time. The smaller the vessel the
shorter the time and so when small
craft is held for several weeks the cost
of the coal increases rapidly.
In the arrivals yesterday were i've
schooners, bringing 44l6 tons OF coal ana
70 barges that brought 1871 tons OF coal,
the total being "a cargoes OF a total ton
mage of q, 1888 OF this amount 243i tons
were consigned 10 the Consolidated road,
and the remainder was consigned TO local
dealers and interior shipments. Some
Of the cargoes were sent here 10 order,
the sale and delivery TO be arranged after
the arrival
OF the "a shipments six were In lots
of 1900 tons or more and the remaining
Is cargoes ranged from $50 tons TO SOS
tons The small cargoes footed up
total of 1884 tons of coal and the large
cargoes $3.50 tons. There was, in addi-
ton, cargo OF 500 tons for Pawtucket
that was not considered in the arrivals
for this port.
The constant arrivals has increased the
congestion at the piers of the Consoli-
dated road and while this will only affect
interior shipments, II is fair TO assume
a good deal of the coal that has arrived
will cost goodly sum before 1t is
finally disposed Of
There was brisk business in anthra-
cite coal this morning, better than for
several days, and II is stated that some
of the dealers had but little stove coal
on hand at close of business Saturday
night While that may be a fact II 10
also q fact that there was not great
demand for the smaller and larger sizes
OF coal today.
One of the dealers reported there was
but little demand for anthracite compared
with the demand for soft coal. All OF the
soft coal that could be produced met
with ready sale but the people did not
appear to be greatly worried about the
prospect for hard coal These two views
came from two OF the largest firms doing
business I'm the city.
There has been a good wholesale bust
ness out OF town by the local wholesalers,
and the demand Is largely for anthracite,
for the interior has not been so well
supplied as has the local market But
the demand has been for small quantities
as o whole.
The local dealers have n decided ad
vantage at present. They are close up TO
their deliveries and people who order coal
today can have their orders filled to-
morrow. This be'ns fact II wouli seem
TO rn cate there Is no great stress on
thr part OF the domestic consumers, bat
the manufacturers In e no doubt hees
able 10 make arrangements to get coal
quickly though perhaps not all they want.
Soft coal is considered to be good prop
criy.
ThL coal piers Of the Con1ol dated road
arc being worked to their greatest aSac-
ity The men are working day and n, ,ht
and despite the best efforts OF these piers
which are probably the best equipped of
any I'm New England, the coal Is coming
In much faster than IL can be handled
and there Is not far from three weeks
work ahead. This will bring the work
up TO the first OF March II no other YES
sels arrive. But IL Is expected that every
order for coal that can be filled will be
hustled along by the coal operators and
this Will mean more coal and tho work
will be kept up TO the highest notch.
There has been no change Of prices.
For white ash coal. chestnut. stove and
egg 50 a ton IL charged and $40 n ton for
Lehigh. The freight rates differ. accord
ing to whom one talks with This morn
ing freights were quoted at 90 cents ton
from New York and others gave from ST
TO ti.l5 for the same service. The long
delays. caused by the congestion OF the
coal handling piers Is responsible for
the rates remaining where they now are.
Should there be cold weather for n few
days the coal market would no doubt he
doomed somewhat but should the pres
ont weather continue there may be
break iu prices. IL is but seven weeks
To- April J. and no dealer wants 20 have
a great deal of coal on hand seven weeks
from now. This desire 20 unload 10 the
lowest Limit will not help the prices any
at the last two or three weeks OF the sea-
son.
10 was expected the steamer Madeline.
from Cardiff. with about $500 tons Of
Welch cobblc coal, for John n. White
a Son would bc reported yesterday or
today. but this morning information was
received from the craft. which was at
Faval. Cape De Nerd Islands. Jan co
The ship had left Cardiff and soon after
leaving had encountered heavy weather.
losing two boats that were smashed on
the davits. and tho steam steering gear
was disabled. The ship put into Faval
for repairs Allowing the repairs would
take three or four days she did not get
away earlier than n week ago. and she
may be expected here In about 10 days.
II is assumed.
The appearance Of the harbor from
Point street bridge or from some high