The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-15
COAL DEALERS STOCKING Up.
WON'T TAKE CHANCES on AN
y ANTHRACITE STRIKE.
Independents Generally Boost Prices for
All Sizes TO Equal Those Charged
by the Carrying Companies Best
Informed In Trade Look for Trouble.

The members OF the Retail Coal Dealers
Association and the retail coal dealers
generally are stocking up anthracite go az
10 he IN readiness for a strike. Some Of
them began stocking up over a week ago
and will, tefore April /, have all their yards
filed. Henry BreunIoh, president OF the
association, said last evening:
sI and other members Of the association
have been stocking up 30 as to be ready for
emergencies. 1t is impossible for us to cay
whether there will be a strike or not, but we
prefer to take chances on paying 80 cents
more a ton for the coal now, even II there is
no st rike and the Gust omary reduction
takes place on April 1, in preference to the
chances Of paying much higher prices il
there is a strike"
The members Of the Coal Merchants As
sociation, composed principally OF whole
sale coal dealers, which is a newer organl-
cation than the Retail Coal Dealers
Association, it was learned yesterday, have
notified their customers and patrons by
circular and otherwise that they cannot
make any predictions az to whether there
will be a strike or not. One Of the circulars
says In part:
The best informed in the trade antici-
pate trouble; at the same time it may not
come. II there should be a strike prices
will probably be higher; if there should
be no strike prices will probably be lower,
beginning April l..
we do not feel that we should take the
responsibility of advising you what to do.
In case a strikes declared we do not an
ticipate a cessation Of receipts OF coal before
April /, and orders received by US in time
to enable us to make delivery before that
80,
date will be filed"
The prices for anthra cite among the
independent operators we're raised gen.
orally to the level Of those of the coal carry
ing companies yesterday. A representa-
tive Of Heilner Il Son, coal brokers at 1
Broadway, said that there was a great
demand for such small steam sizes as pea,
rice and ~buckwheat Nos. l, 2 and 8. The
washery coal had been furthest below the
circular price OF the coal carrying COM
panies.
A representative OF Madeira, Hill r. Co,
independent operators, with offices at 14S
Liberty street, said that at present he be-
lieved all the independents were selling
coal at the circular prices OF the companies.
There were occasions in normal lines
when it was found necessary for the indie
pendent operators to sell lower than the
company's circular rate.
THE companies have the advantage over
us of being able to wait until they can dis
pose of particular sizes OF coal If they are
not in demand he said. The independ-
ent operators, however, have to depend
on the companies to carry their coal to
tidewater. 1t may be that an independent
operator may want to send a quantity to
some port where he believes there will be a
demand for it and find that he is mistaken.
He cannot wait very long, as he has no
places to store it in like the companies
and will be charged demurrage il he holds
il after a given time. 1t is a question then
Of paying demurrage for possibly a long
time or reducing the price of the coal,
which is the alternative he generally
adopts"
A report that the companies had notified
their sales agents to take no new orders
for anthracite at present prices was denied
by the sales agents yesterday.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa. March ~14.-Before
the question of whether the anthracite
mine workers shall strike or accept the
terms Of the operators ia finally decided,
a special convention OF thu anthracite
delegates will be held. President Mitchell
speaking on this matter, to-day said. in a
long distance telephone interview with the
Erening Leader of this city: Il caunot say
when it will be held or where, but one is
contemplated; and the time and place will
be selected by the anthracite delegation,
when it arrives at Indianapolis. The ma
tional convention may decide the best
course to pursue. and it may refer the
entire matter to the anthracite delegation
for final adjustment. These things must
be determined by the delegates
What do you think Of the situation?"
Il would like to tell you, but to give
anyrthinn nttf nnU would ha nrAm n tlTa
and might not be the same ae the delegates
decide. But you can say" he continued.
that the miners will try in every reasonable
way to secure peace in the conference to be
will not be asked to intervene until all
hopes of a settlemen have been given up"
INDIANAPOLIS, March 14,-Delegates to
the special convention OF the United Mine
Workers began to arrive to-day and when
the late trains came this evening all the dele
cations were on hand. The number OF
bituminous delegates is smaller and the
number Of anthracite delegates larger than
In the last convention.
Though the anthracite fields are fully
represented, there is no intention on the
part of President Mitchell to consider that
situation ut this convention. In his adj
dress, which will be delivered tomorrow,
he will ignore everything but the bit,ml-
nous situation,
il is believed Mitchell will make some
sacrifice to reach an agreement with the
bituminous operators and then call a sus-
pension in the anthrac cite fields.
CHICAGO, March 14.-If a coal strike
takes place this summer nearly all Chicago
industries will be crippled. This Was the
statement of Harry \. Taylor, president
of the Wilmington Coal Company. to-day.
soft coal to last sixty days and declared
he did not now where supplies could be
gotten when this store shall run out. Coal
dealers throughout the city are sending
out cards to their patrons advising them
10 lay in their supplies now.
DEsMoINRs. Ia, March h.-Dealers adj
vanced the price Of soft coal from 81 to $3.50
q ton to-day. Factories and railroads have
accumulated such a large surplus that the
local supply has been cut short.