The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-17
DEALERS REPORT
SHORTAGE OF WOOD
But the Supply of Both Hard
and Soft Coal Is Abundant.

There will be no coal famine in st.
Paul this year.
The supply of anthracite is ample
and soft coal is being brought into the
city in large quantities and may become
drug on the market before winter is
over. The shortage Of wood is the
problem that the dealers are facing
this year. Good wood is scarce and
the prices have gone to a top notch
figure.
I'VE have to fight off the solicitors,
not the customers, this year," said
a prominent coal dealer yesterday.
"All the companies seem to have plenty
OF coal to sell and the supply in st.
Paul, in fact all over the country this
winter, think will be large enough to
meet all demands.
The conditions this year are much
different than in former years. The
coal famine last year made people eau
tious and they began buying their coal
early. We did the work this year in
May, June and April that we have
generally done in other years in Au-
gust, September and October. Nearly
every one feared another famine and
got in supply early. Of course there
are good many who did not, and con-
sequently the cold spell has made coal
business very brisk the last few days.
Mining Companies Delivered Early.
1.-THE early deliveries gave the min
ing companies an opportunity to get
their docks on Lake Superior, where
all the anthracite is delivered, cleared
early in the fall of the coal received
during the summer, and new supply
for the winter trade could be brought
in. I
"Bituminous coal is abundant. Peo-
pie are beginning to find out that all
good coal does not have to come by the
way of the lakes, and we are now re-
ceiving a great deal of western coal
from Illinois, Indiana and other states.
The dealers have generally been con-
sentative in their purchases and al
though as much soft coal as was ex-
pected early in the season will not be
used, I don't think it will become a
drug on the market. 1t is true, though,
that some dealers who made large pur-
chaSeS on the statements of their GUS
toners that they would stick to soft
coal after having had to use it last
winter, will be somewhat disappointed,
for generally people are returning to
anthracite. Soft coal requires a great
deal of attention and it is dirty to
burn it."
Anthracite coal is now selling at 1915
ton and the price is likely to remain
at that figure during the winter. The
price opened at 1925 and has in
creased 10 cents a month until the
1st of November. when the present
price was reached.
Wood Scarce and Price High.
1.-THE wood problem is the serious
one this year." said F. 3. Doran yes
terday. Wood is very hard to get.
The problem is a peculiar one. We
cannot tell whether people are holding
back their wood because they think the
coal supply will not last, or whether
the supply is really inadequate.
THE supply last year was thorough
ly exhausted and we also had to draw
on the green wood supply. This used
up the wood which would be on track
this year and ready for consumption.
1.-The rains this fall are also partly
responsible for the inadequate supply.
The farmers had to stay with their
farm work and get their crops in so
while under other conditions they
would have generally let part of that
work rest while they got into the
woods and cut out a supply.
Maple now brings IS a cord and
birch is worth $3.50 Oak and white
birch cannot be had for less than 81.
II do not want to see wood get any
higher" said Mr.. Doran, for 1t will
mean the extinction of the wood trade.
II the price should go higher people
would soon begin to realize that coal
was the much cheaper fuel and wood
would be given up
1t was estimated yesterday that it
will take 100000 tons of anthracite to
supply the st. Paul demand during the
winter. The supply of bituninous will
be many times that amount because Of
the large quantities used by the big
manufacturing plants. stores, hotels
and other large establishments.
Our Safety Deepest. Vaults are the best.