Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-17
NO COAL SHORTAGE |||
4 LOCAL CONDITIONS DUE TO RAIL-
ROADS AND DEALERS.
FORMER LACK EQUIPMENT 60 II 4 {: n
Are called Upon to Handle Twelve
Month. supply in sir-HiEh Prices
c.u.cd by Competition Among
Duyer. An1ion. to Recoup Storage
Places.
,er. Anxious to Recoup Storage

There is no scarcity of soft coal on this
market While the price or splint and
steam is much higher than normal plenty
cf coal may be had at the stiff prices.
and there is no danger Of any manufac-
TURNS concerns closing down for want
ST fuel. The prices of bituminous coal
n Richmond are from 81 to $50 lower
thar. other nearby markets. and coal is
cheaper mere than In almost any other
place In the entire East. One reason for
this is that the wholesale dealers are
protecting the retail men in this city.
and the other cause lies in the fact that
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. which
practically supplies this market, has a
large number Of cars that cannot be used
iE the Tidewater trade. because they are
not suitable for dumping over the piers.
and these cars must be disposed of inland
or about Richmond.
BID AGAINST EACH OTHER.
Strange as it may seem. the direct
cause for the advance and prevailing high
price OF coal, II is stated Is due-not ia
the mercenary tendencies altogether of
the mine operators and wholesale men
but to the consumers themselves.
Throughout the West and North coal
ceiling concerns have men in the mining
districts bidding up the price against
each other in the effort to obtain coal,
and as the coal operators lost heavily
during the five months strike. they are
not avcrse, It is said, to taking what is
offered them.
At the presen, time more coal is being
mined than the railroads can take care
of. 1t is true that in West Virginia.
Giong the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
the strike has not been officially called
off, but. nevertheless. coal is now accu-
fnulating at the mines and along the side
tracks because the railroads cannot take
care of II. Along the Norfolk and West
ern the condition is even worse, 1t is
snid. Last August there was mined along
that road about 100000 tons, but the tom
mage fell Off to 10000 tons in December
because of the congestion due to lack of
motive power and to the volume Of mer-
chandise and perishable freight that it
was necessary TO handle.
CONDITION IN A. NUT SHELL
The condition in a nut shell is said to
be this: During the strike in the summer
the anthracite mine opera tors got behind
in their output about e. 001 900 tons. Much
of tins coal. under ordinary conditions
would have filled the cellars of consumers
8 c1Tly In the iat1, ana SO projected them
in the winter. This vast amount of coal
was not mined. and therefore the storage
places in The country are short Just this
mich. Under the normal conditions. the
railroads Of the country had all they
could do TO handle this coal traffic. but
instead Of having twelve months In the
. year to do this, the public expects them
20 handle it in the winter season alone.
and they have fallen do m on the job
> ILL., l..
somewhat distorted. AS a rule. this coal
is being accumulated and stored all year
to be drawn on in the cold season.
Owing to the strike. non, was stored
ard as New York in winter burns more
zeal than can be mined for that city in
winter the city is left short. AS to coal
oeing accumulated In Jersey. this is read
lily explained through the shortage OF
wster transportation facilities to handle
tic vast amount of coal needed in the
CITY.
Tie conditions are extra ordinary. and
the railroads of the country cannot meet
these conditions in a way satisfactory
to the general public.
COAL AT WHOLESALE.
As to the statements that soft coal at
the mines costs IS and Sc a ton. 1t is
only necessary to say that domestic lump
coal. including the freight rate OF sl.Sa.
may be had. delivered in this city. at a
price near S. ton wholesale. and that
steam coal may be had in any reasonable
quantities at from So to 81 at the mines,
pr from s4.6o to $3.50 delivered in this
city As far as the Passenger and Power
Company is concerned, a prominent
wholesale coal man said last night that
the company. il II would pay the market
price here, which is lower than in Wash
ington or at Tidewater. could buy any
quantity OF fuel even to ten times as
much as they could possibly burn under
any circumstances
Owing to the stiff demand for all grades
Of coal IN the North and West. the local
market is kept high There is little pros
pect that the coal will advance except
Under extraordinary conditions, but there
S some prospect that the price will de-
cline in March or about the LIST OF April.
REMARKABLE SUCCESS