The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-17
Market Price Shows Down
ward Tendency-Anthra-
cite Obtainable at $40 Per
Ton-lncrease in Receipts.
No Further Meeting of Sen
ator SteWart's Investigate
ing Committee TO Be Held
Until Tuesday.

For the first time in two months the
/ price Of coal in Washington is showing
a downward tendency. Anthracite coal
from the independent operators was OBJ
taina5le in several instances today at
as low price as so a ton, while there
+ has been a material increase. in the
amount of Reading coal available for the
public. There was also something OF a
decline apparent in the price of soft
coal, which could be obtained at from
$3.50 to IS in several Of The large yards.
I This change in the condition Of the
market is said 70 be attributed to a COM
/ bination of causes in which the inf1u-
| ence Of the Investigation being eonductz
! ed by Senator Stewart and the members
Of the subcommittee on the District OF
| Columbia is no unimportant factor.
/ Wherever the responsibility has rested
! for running up prices during the past
month it is evident that a tendency has
I developed ali along the line TO ease the
market and accept lower prices.
/ In connection with this change in the
market. it is said. the altered conditions
that prevail must not be lost sight Of
! During the first week of the month
/ Washington. and all cities on the East
erR seaboard. were affected by the scar
city Of coal. on account Of the holiday
celebrations Of the miners These men
have always been disincIined to work in
! the Christmas holidays. and il was with
the utmost difficulty that TIE mines we're
kept going to oRe-hsIf their capacity.
/ With the holidays past. they resumed op-
erations TO the full capacity Of the mines.
and this week the coal has been coming
in rapidly. The receipts Of coal during
the present week have probably exceed
/ ed those of any similar period in the his
tory Of the city.
Weather Helps Conditions.
Another element that has had an i'm
! porta9t bearing upon the local situa-
ton has been The weather The pass
ing OF the cold wave has left q spring
Ike -bal1rtEes2 that has enabled house
holders and others to economic IN the
use OF coal and secure a little in excess
of their Immediate needs.
In connection with the tables that
we're furnished By General Agent Craw-
ford, of the Pennsylvania lines. some
DAYS ago the figures furnished the Dis
trict Committee by J. T. Legge. terminal
agent Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. are interesting. Mr. Legge went
into the receipt and distribution of coal
over his line in detail, but a summary
shows the following receipts in tons:
DeceTnbes 1901 1872
Anthracite .--------.----..-...-.l9 1879 3I.772
BitumlnoUs .----------.---------- 9.ssf 1o,aJs
Noreua-es
Bituni0nu5 .---.....-.......--.-. ., 9gS 5,5E
\ number of witnesses was examined
yesterday by Senator Stewart, but little
OF general interest was developed The
only one OF the operators OF iobbers
who declined the invitation of the com
mittee 10 appear before tAem was W
E. Mason, a Philadelphia coal shipper.
who wired that his busines~ engage
ments were such that he coulJ not
come.
The Price of Coal.
But little was developed from the
testimony of those who did appear ex-
cept that they we're. and had been,
charging the local dealers from 81 to
$50 for hard coal at the mines. and
from SO to SIS for soft coal on the rails
in Washington. Among those who testi-
fed were Charles D. Norton, of Charles
D. Norton q Co, Philadelphia " Beau
mount. representing the firm of Whitney
& Kemmerer, OF Philadelphia: Charles
L. Hall, of Hail Bros. & Co. Baltimore:
and Benjamin H. Read. OF Baltimore.
Mr. Legge. of the Baltimore and Ohio,
specifically denied that Washington was
being Disseminated against in the ship
ment OF coal. so far as his road was con-
cerned. He said one of the serious diffi-
culties in the movement Of coal and
other freight was the shortage Of ears.
and the greater scarcity OF locomotives.
The Pennsylvania Railroad, it was ex-
planned. had paid certain manufacturers
thousands of dollars, that their orders
for locomotives and cars might be given
preference
AInong the other witnesses who ap-
peared before the committee yesterday
were William E. Barker Of Albright 4
Barker and President George Dunlop, of
the Capital Traction Company. Mr.. Dun
lop said his road was being supplied
with coal, without difficulty, on a cor
tract entered into last april. before the
strike occurred.
W Hamilton Smith, Of the J. Maury
Dove Company. said they would be glad
% place its books at the disposal Of
the committee should it desire 20 as
certain what disposition had been made
OF the coal they secured from the Read
ing company.
Another meeting OF the committee VIII
not be held until Tuesday next, when
number OF independent operators and
others will be examined. Senator Stew
art is especially anxious 10 find the rea-
son for soft coal being held at so high
figure in this city, when Baltimore
dealers are advertising il at $3.50 a ton.