The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
WESTERN COAL TRAFFIC
ANTHRACITE PRICES STEADY, BUT
HOOKING SOFT COAL is HIGHER.
Lake Shippers Have Lost Part OF the
Season-The Making of Season Con-
tracts Continues Very Slow.
CHICAGO. April 1.-THE Black Diamond,

CHICAGO, April 1.-THE Black Diamond,
reviewing the Western coal trade, says:
ain the anthracite branch Of the coal in
dustry trouble seems to occur with alarm
ing frequency. No sooner was the strike
difficulty in the anthracite region arbi-
trated than there were other sources Of an
noyance. In the Western trade business is
almost at a standstill this week owing to
the strike Of the flremen and oilers en-
ployed by the vessels In the great lakes
trade. Every preparation had been made
for an early start In the movement of coal
westward by water. and 1t was predicted
two weeks ago that the tonnage moving
by this time would assume considerable
Importance. On the LIST Of the month the
oilers and firemen went on strike. and the
situation has been deadlocked ever since.
There are constant rumors at the lake
ports that the strike will soon be settled
and that movement for the year will COM
mence in earnest, but these apparently
have no foundation, and until the vessel
owners association and the unions can
get closer together than they are at pres
ent 1t is probable that no tonnage Of any
consequence will be moved.
Goal operators are not involved in this
struggle except that they suffer by reason
Of it. Coal is carried by vessel owners
most instances and the owners Of these
vessels are united in an association which
has decided to fight the matter to the end.
This being the case. the coal road COM
cannot bring about a settlement even
though they are disposed to do SO.
Already ten days have elapsed during
which no coal has been moved. 1t is true
that one or two cargoes have left Erie
ports, but the tonnage represented has been
SO inconsiderable as compared with that
which 1t was expected would be moved
that 1t constitutes no factor in the situa-
ton.
with wharves bare of anthracite at all
important lake ports and with this coal tied
UP at loading points the longer the strike
continues the greater will be the curtail-
ment in the tonnage moved westward and
the more influence 1t will have on the
situation next fall.
prices on anthracite hold steady without
change from the circular basis announced
last week. The principal selling agents at
their continued helplessness and feel that
they are losing precious time which could
be used to advantage. Retailers are also
more or less disappointed as result Of
this unexpected delay. In many instances
they had taken orders much earlier than
usual and had planned to fill them during
the spring months when business was slack
and prices were the lowest.
"In the bituminous trade the most i'm
portant feature of the trade has been the
announcement Of new Hooking coal prices
In the all-rdll ITdQe Win the April dis
count deducted, which amounts to 80 cents
ton for the payment Of bills on or before
the 18th of the following month, the cir
cular basis is as follows: Lump f. o. b.
at the mine, $40; steam lump at the mine,
81; mine run at the mine, $1.S5; domestic
nut at the mine, s1.S5; steam nut at the
mine, SIS; pea at the mine. N.S5; nut pea
and slack at the mine. $1.6O: coarse slack
at the mine, s1.35: fine slack at the mine,
80 cents: washed stove at the mine, $40;
washed chestnut at the mine. $21O.
This is an advance over the opening
prices year ago. Freight rates have also
advanced from the mines to the distribute
ing point. For instance. the rate year
ago from the Hooking field to Chicago was
$3.50 per ton, and this year it will be 81 sc
per ton. Rates to other points have ad-
vanced in proportion.
Contract making In Western territory
is slow and very few large contracts have
been closed UP since last week Large
| operators are restricted In their views as 10
the tonnage they want to contract as COM
pared with last year, and continue very
| firm in their views, while buyers are ap-
parently still reluctant to meet the prices
| asked by the leading operating interests"