Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-05
May Opens With Strong Demand
In Anthracite Product
GOOD CON1RACTSCLOSED PAST WEEK
Shows Advance in Prices over Year
Ago-Little Change Noted in chica-
go Spot Coal Market-Enormous
Demands Delay Orders.

Chicago H.. May 2.-The Black Diamond,
reviewing the western coal trade for the
current week, says
May will make its advent this year will
one of the most active demands in the
anthracite trade ever experienced mt this
season and with a large number of untitled
orders remaining on the books of the diff
fercnt selling agents at all Important dis,
tributing points. Although the lake re-
ceiptss of anthracite at Chicago are nearly
100 per cent in excess of normal, and pro.
portionatcly large at other western and
northwestern lake ports, 1t Is probable that
more than double this tonnage could have
been moved out to western retail dealers
the past month IL 1t had been available.
in the April trade the strike Of the, fire,
men and oilers on the great lakes proved
more or less of n disturbing factor and de-
layed shipments to Il very considerable
extent After this was ended there waa
considerable difficulty in getting coal from
the anthracite collieries to Buffalo and
other loading ports in Lake Eric, owing TIC
a shortage of cars. These conditions have
both interfered with getting as large a tom
mage as was expected to western points
and the direct consequence is that many
retailers who placed their orders for April
delivery have been unable TO get coal OF
have received only from 40 to 30 per cent
of the quantity they ordered
Good Contracts Closed.
In the western btumnous trade interest
continues to center largely in the contract
situation. More substantial progress waf
made the latter half of April in closing ut
contracts than during the first half. thiG
being especially true with reference te
such western Goals as those mined in Hi.
nois and Indiana. Some very good cons
tracts have been closed up the past week,
and generally 1t can be said that operators
who have accepted this business have done
so at the new scale of prices adopted April,
]. which We're an advance of from 80 to 40
cents over contract prices year ago. I'M
diana seems to have led in the matter OF
accepting new business, especially as to BIZ
luminous Goals. The Black Diamond hears
of several contracts closed for large tone
mage on the basis of S1.75 at the mine fof
screened lump for the coming year. In
some instances, w'here rescreened lump has
been contracted for to be sold through job.
bers to the dealer trade, the price paid
has been even higher for the best quality
of Indiana coal. Illinois railroad contracts
have been somewhat draggy, owing to 4
difference of opinion between operating in,
terests and railroads as to the price to BIC
paid. Along tie Illinois Central railroad il
Is reported that this difference amounts ia.
from 20 to % cents a ton, Operators, how.
cyer,are holding firm and in some instances
are intimatimg they will close down theif
plants rathea. than sell at figures lower
tuah lnoSe. NHlcn .tHey nave named.
Spot Coal Market.
In the Chicago spot coal market there
has been flittle, change during the week.
With the first of the month there was an
| advance iof 10 cents n ton in anthracite
coal at fhis and all other leading marketa
in the country. AS this advance was antic.
ipated, ft will excite no particular atten,
ton, except among such dealers as failed
to receive all the coal they ordered during
April. 1T is only fair to say in connection
with this matter, however, that neither
the anthracite companies nor their selling
agents are to blame. They have used theiE
best endeavofs to supply the trade with
| coal as promptly and at the lowest possi,
BILE prices, but owing to conditions, oyet
viii h they had no control, have been very
badN handicapped Then, too, the enors
| moIs demand which has occurred early IL
| the season has made 1t impossible to fill
all the orders and some have had to go
| over for the month.