The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-20
THE COAL TRADE

CHICAGO, Feb. 17.-With- all the lead
ing railroads from the principal bitumi-
nous coal fields, as well as those leading
from Chicago and other dock-points to
consuming territory, thoroughly tied up as
result Of the severe storms and cold
weather the past week, transportation
mas become such factor in the Western
coal trade that 1t dominates all the prin-
clpa! markets in the West. Many of the
mines in Indiana have not worked for
the past three or four days, owing to the
congestion of loaded coal cars on the
prlncipal road reaching from those fields
TO Chicago, while throughout Illinois there
has been serious interruption to coal
production due to the severity of the
weather and because rail lines were con-
gested and could not move the product
or their efficiency was materially reduced
owing to the severe weather. In the
movement from Chicago Milwaukee and
practically all of the dock points there
has been serious interruption extending
over several days with the result that
conditions border on those of a coal fam
Inc at many of the smaller cities through
out the West
= In the Western anthracite trade ship
pers OF all-rail coal have been sufferers
from the mines to Western distributing
points are badly congested and their eff
cheney has been severely impaired as a re-
suit or the severely cold weather. Doubt
less part or the interruption is due to the
Ice in the Detroit river. which has Sc
riously interfered with ferry navigation
over one of the leading East and West
trunk lines. Heavy SHOWS and low tenn
perature have contributed to the stalIing
OF locomotives and have not only seriously
lmpeded traffic but have greatly inter
rupted II. For several days nearly all
freight traffic west of Buffalo was at a
standstfll. owing to the storm on Satur-
day Sunday and Monday. which was more
severe east of Lake Michigan than in
western territory. AS result of these
conditions the shortage of chestnut and
egg an-rail anthracite has increased.
shipping agents at Chicago Milwaukee
and other important distributing centers
their current orders. Many dealers We're
unprepared for the weather conditions en-
countered and as a consequence the heavy
demands for coal the latter part of last
week exhausted their stocks. AS result
tney sent in telephone and telegraphic or
ders on Monday and Tuesday demanding
that they be given Immediate attention.
In addition to the interruption to move
ment owing to inability to switch coal.
that which was in transit has been delay
ed and has made little progress in reach
ing destination during the past week and
a half- 1t Is asserted by anthracite ship
ping agents that the Rock Island railroad
mas authorized them to route by other
lines, owing to its inability to move any
more tonnage than that on its rails. At
Milwaukee IL Is asserted that the North
western railroad has made slow progress
In forwarding coal freight, and many cars
loaded at docks the latter part of last
week have not as yet left that CITY, The
Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul is said to
have had number OF locomotives stalled
on its Chicago-Twin City division. as a re-
suit OF which orders Were issued early in
the week to move only passenger traffic
and perishable freight. Coal movement
was at standstill Thursday and probably
little will be done toward getting coal
through on any of these roads before the
early part of the week, much, of course,
depending upon the weather. From this
rather brief summary it can be seen that
the freight tieup in the West the past
seven days has been the most severe in
the history of this part of the country in
recent years. The rail lines referred to
which We're in bad shape were among the
best in the West in the efficiency of their
service Lesser roads have been In far
worse shape and in many instances We're
not able to operate their passenger trains
on Monday and Tuesday. all through
trains arriving at destination anywhere
from two to twenty-four hours late.
These conditions practically put a stop to
the movement OF anthracite or any other
coal, and although shipping agents have
endeavored to get coal to their most. needy
customers. they have not always been able
to do it.-Black Diamond.