The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
SUPPLY OF COAL IN CITY
WOULD LAST ONLY AFEW
WEEKS IF A STRIKE IS ON
Shippers, While Small Supply Is
Available, Depend Upon Ship
ments at the Mines.
CONSUMERS UNAFFECTED
Small Rise in Price of Commodity
Is Said to Be Due to Nat
ural Causes.

Should a strike be declared by the United
Mine Workers of America the local coal
supply may be sufficient to satisfy demands
for from four TO six weeks. This was the
opinion Of a majority OF the large coal deal
ers in Indianapolis last night. An opd-
mistic view was taken of the situation by
most of the coal dealers, but some inclined
to the belief that a coal famine was inevita-
BILE and that the commodity would rise to
an exorbitant price.
There need be no fears OF a coal famine
at ALL" said A. M. Ogle. president of the
Island Coal Company, last night 1.-THE
worst calamity think that happen in
this particular will be what the people will
bring upon themselves by unnecessary
talk. There is an abundance Of coal at the
mines and enough to supply the demands
for a long time yet. 1t is nearing the time
of the year when the miners reducing
their force and closing down some of the
mines anyway. l think there need be no
fears of a famine or exorbitant prices
Charles II. Buddenbaum, of the firm of
Buddenbaum & Heller. believed that the
price of coal would. as a natural conse-
quence, be raised, but thought that a fam
inc would not necessarily follow. Il do
not see why there should be famine,
be raised exorbtantly. 1t is the time of
the year when the demand will not be
heavy and most Of the dealers have kept
and have now good supply OF coal on
hands. Moreover do not believe the strike
will be of long duration as l believe the
operators and miners will soon get togeth-
tons of coal here and 800 tons ordered and
on the road
CONSUMERS ARE FAVORED.
Charles Bake, of Bake & Krauss, was
not so optimistic and held that a coal
famine might result from the strike should
one occur. He thought. however, that the
price of coal would not greatly exceed the
prices Of coal during the anthracite strike.
There could not help but be a hardship
caused" he thought, should a strike oc-
cur. This season favors the consumers, ex-
| cepting the manufacturers. With them the
price Of coal would necessarily rise" His
/ firm has 1000 tons of coal on hand and
! 500 tons ordered.
81 don't see why there should necessarily
be a famine" said Albert Cooper, secre-
| tary of the Consolidated Coal and Lime
Company. THE prices will rise some, but
| not enough to brighten the people. l would
| judge" he continued, that we have about
1,4o0 tons of coal on hand and about 500
! tons ordered"
Frank A. Fauvre, of the Fauvre Coal
| Company. and Mr.. Garstang. of the Gar
stang Fuel Company, also believed that the
| strike would not De as severe as most peO-
| pie thought and that the price Of coal
would not, in the course OF reason, be-
come excessive. The Fauvre Coal Company
| does not keep a yard, but fills most of its
! orders from cars. The Garstang Coal Com
| pany has 1900 tons of coal in the yards and
/ $50 tons ordered.
| NO DISASTER AHEAD.
The Island Coal Company supplies most
| of its coal from its own mines but has in
/ it's yards 5000 tons. The Dynes Lumber and
/ Coal Company has approximately 300 tons
/ of coal and has ordered $50 tons. The
Eclipse Coal Company has about 1,5O0 tons
and 1850 tons ordered.
| S. r. Greer, of the Greer Wilkinson Com
! pany, said that should there be a strike
he was not Of opinion that it would result
disastrously. 1t would, he thought raise
/ the price TO an extent, but not beyond
reason His company had on hands In In
i dianapolis 1000 tons, with about 900 tons
| ordered.
The greatest calamity that could result
from the strike would be in working hard
| ships to manufacturers. For domestic use
no great alarm, IL was thought, need be
! feared as the supply was sufficient for q
| reasonable length Of time.