The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-09
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.MILLERS ON THE
ANXIOUS SEAT
------ ----
They See Trouble Ahead if the Coal
Situation Isn't Speedily
Relieved.
Winter Water Power Is Light and
There's Busy Season
Coming.
- 80.
At Present the Local Industrial Con-
sumption Is Far Exceeding
the Receipts.

The coal supply situation has reached q
stage where it looms up as black ap-
partition threatening the greatest industry
in the city. The -four mills must have coal
and they must get it sooner they will
have to close. To run the mills at the
present rate Of production, which just
now Is lighter than usual, about 200 tons OF
coal a day are required. To run the mills
when the capacity is being forced, and
the water power is at low ebb requires
from 400 to $50 tons day. The water pow
er will probably be light for the remainder
of the winter, and will not be back to
maximum before March i. Meanwhile
there is the prospect of heavy demand
for -four later. The thing is working in
inverse ratio, and as the outlook from day
to day suggests the need of large guam
titles Of coal later on, the outlook for obs
tanning it is lessening from day to day.
Millers We're complaining this morning
that they could get absolutely no salts
faction from the coal companies or from
the railroads. Three hundred tons OF soft
coal from the Illinois fields were due
Wednesday but they have not reached here
yet. The milling company to which they.
We're consigned is unable to locate them.
and there is a suspicion that the railroads
nave IN some way diverted them, or may
even have confiscated them for their own
use. ~
At the offices of the milling companies
have supplies Of coal for about ten DAYS.
put these stocks are being eaten into rap-f
idly. 1. Il
This Weeks Receipts
For several days the roads have been.
| rushing coal into Minneapolis; yet it cam
not be said that the general situation is
much relieved. In four days 5.sO7 tons
of coal came into Minneapolis.
At first sight this would appear to at
ford opportunity for general relief Butt
the bulk OF this is soft coal. Much of it
is North Dakota Ignite. The require
ments OF the manufacturing plants Of the
city are very large. Some part Of it
| never gets away from the railroads For
two days the Milwaukee road has not
brought a pound of coal into Minneapolis,
and to-day took out 127 tons. The 500
| road has hauled noScoal either in or out OF
the city tor several days. This morning
| there were in the yards of the Omaha 44s
1 tons just arrived. the ST. Louis had in $50
lions, the Wisconsin Central 154 tons The
I Bnrlingt on brought In s132 tons of Illinois
/ bitunlinons while the Great Western had
4 in only onescar of twenty. tons. The Rock
I Island brought 176 tons Of soft coal, while
4 the Great Northern brought in 100 tons OF
Ignite and the Northern Pacific $50 tons
a total of 1878 tons
| (, With yesterdays receipts Of 2,434 tons
this makes S,8O7 tons in two days Of coal
of all kinds, which came in and passed
! from sight leaving the situation un-
changed. Unless there is greater relief
within a fortnight all the industries in
/ the city will suffer stocks now on hand
are being drawn upon in a greater degree
than they are being. replenished. The
milling industry would naturally be hit
the hardest. -. .tf-..s
Can't Get Coal Already Bought.
1--WE have plenty Of coal bought said
the head Of one large company this morn
ing, but we are unable to get it. do
i not like to borrow trouble, but to me the
II situation looks very serious, almost alarm
ing. It is a long look ahead to spring.
:, Much coal will be needed and stocks are
extremely light. Neither at Duluth, Clad
stone nor other distributing points is there
an adequate supply of hard coal, while the
soft coal supply is very uncertain. II We
! could get the coal by paying more for it
we might try that and tack the price onto
the flour, although this would make it
harder for US to compete with outside
points. But nothing seems of any avail.
) The railroads simply say they are doing
the best they can and will not commit
themselves to any fixed figure that they
will agree to deliver at any specified time.
so that the situation is very uncertain. =