The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-10-05
THE COAL SITUATION.
fHn SCARCITY or CARS HAS
pEpLKrEp srock oF son.
nERa AND pENLERs.

trade. reviewing western market cen.
siltions, today says
"Tha reaction IN the western coal
trade has evidently occurred, and the
situation n taking on fifmnoss an
10 prices which has not prevailed be-
fore IN a number OF months. Nearly
livery description Of bituminous coal
Is slated for an advance on October
firnt. these advances ranging from ten
20 flfteen cents ton. they are based
on the increased demand which IL alb.
sorbing ell the coal that can be pro.
duced Nearly every important cpcr-
ator in the western mining circles has
changed from bearish TO bullish, and
the sentiment indicates that the prices
named for October first will look
cheap as compared with those which
may prevail later in the season.
Car shortage continues TO be the
predominant factor in all the leading
coal markets OF the west. A general
survey OF 1.-THE situation today indi-
Gates thatlthe production OF West Vir.
ginia, Ohio, indiana and Illinois is not
over twenty-five per cent OF the normal
capacity Of these great coal fields.
This estimate is based on figures care.
fully obtained from operating and
railroad interests. They are as ac-
curate as any in existence.
II only twenty-five per cent OF the
normal capacity Of these fields is be-
ing produced at this time, 1t means
that consumption at the present mo-
ment Is considerably in excess OF the
tonnage of coal that Is being taken out
OF the ground. There has been an OBJ.
sorption of nearly the tonnage pro
duced during the summer. probably
within fifteen or ten per cent o. Ine
total output Of the western fields.
Present Production 10 Light.
steam consumption alone would
more than absorb all the coal that can
be mined at present, but on top OF
this domestic demand Is commencing.
dealers are stocking coal, the strike
scare next spring is beginning to show
It's head, AMI manufacturers who re-
ouire large tonnage for daily con-
sumption are beginning TO lay plans
TO stock Home surplus product, with
the result that the outlook is the most
encouraging at any time since 1902.
Following the severe winter and the
strike OF that year, prices began TO
decline, and up to the first OF Septem-
Der this year practically has declined
ever since. with the advent OF Sep.
TENDER the reaction to a higher basis
commenced and prices since then have
been gradually going the other way.
That al gradual advancement In prices
will occur for the next sixty days
seems assured. and there may DO q
gradually higher tendency throughout
tho winter, providing there Is severe
weathed and plenty OF agitation over
wage conditions for the new mining
year.
In detail summary OF the car stu
alton shows that II is worse this week
than last. II Is now estimated ny
New River and rocahontas shippers In
West Virginia that their car allotment
for September win provide lem Wi...
about q sufficient number for eight full
working days. A full quota OF cars
has been obtained about one day a
week, and the remainder OF Inc time
producers have been piecing out. work.
ing part OF day until the supply was
exhausted. The conditions applying
to the smokeless fields also obtain In
the Kanawha splint district Of West
Virginia
How Car Supply 10 Depicted.
AS Indicating the conditions existing
in the Hooking field OF Ohio, there
were 307 cars available one day this
week, against a normal requirement OF
1,400 cars. This is about twenty-five
per cent OF the capacity tits not ex'
pected that the supply will show any
Improvement over these figures under
existing conditions, while It may be-
come much worse as the movement OF
other freight increases.
In Indiana. from the Sullivan and
Greene county fields, reports vary
somewhat. Some operations have
Two Iull WOThinb hhyDg WAAAN DSh~A~
have had only one. The remainder OF
the time the car supply has run from
twenty-five to thirty-fye per cent OF
the requirements. The conditions IN
the Carteryille district Of Illinois are
practically the same as In Indiana.
In other Illinois fields, except tae
northern part OF the state, production
has not averaged over nifty per cent,
while in extreme southern fields II has
been as low as dfteen per cent at some
Of the operations.
With such restriction existing as
applied TO production. II naturally toll
lows that the demand for coal Is run
ming slightly In excess Of the spot sup
ply. The last week OF the month
there Is not the same buying activity
as can be found the early part OF the
month, owing to the necessity OF meet.
ing financial obligations 50 soon II II
were not for this fact, in all probabll-
i,y the situation woaId have had the
s5pearance Of being stronger than II
is but with the advent Of the new