The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-14
BRISK MOVEMENTS
IN The COAL TRADE
Big Orders Were Placed Local
ly Yesterday
100000 TONS FOR A. G. L
Five Hundred Car Loads Are to Be
Sent West - Export Shipments
From District Better Than
Ever Before

Western coal orders which. came in
flocks during the strike in that terri
tory are being renewed here, although
the strike has been settled. Five hun
bred cars were contracted for yesterday
and the Pratt Consolidated, which COM
pany received the order will begin ship
ment at once.
In addition to this tonnage it was re-
ported that the Dow Coal company of
Dallas, Texas, had entered the market
acting for the Katy railroad and pur-
chased a large tonnage, shipments to
begin at once and continue until the
complete order had been delivered
The absence of large supply of rail-
road equipment for handling coal car
goes westward bound has accounted for
the delay of these orders being placed
locally.
In connection with the strike out west
il was stated yesterday that coal inter-
ests here were engaged in preliminary
bouts with western coal operators to
bring to Birmingham large orders on
normal contracts which can be supplied
here thus depriving western operators of
large tonnage.
Among those in touch with the situa-
ton 1t Is said that never before has
Birmingham been SO prominently before
the big coal consumers as Just now. 1t
Is believed that the strike out west has
opened up a new field for Birmingham
trade that has not been grasped in the
past.
nt naSt lima entered the
coal market yesterday and signed con-
tracts for 100000 tons of coal for rail-
road consumption, shipments beginning
at once. The order was divided among
several companies, the Pratt CONSOLE
dated 100000 tons and other companies
taking the remainder. The firm of Lanier
and Weller acted last year for the At
lantic Coast Line, and purchased this
order for them but the officers of that
firm declined yesterday to state whether
the remaining 10000 tons was handled
by their firm or not. However, IL is
generally understood that 1t was.
The portion of the Pratt Consolidated
will begin to move within few weeks,
according to the contracts.
A gratifying feature of this order is
the fact that 1t was increased $4,000 tons
over the same order last year. The At
lantic Coast Line usually purchased its
coal in the C1inchfield region but of late
has been dealing extensively here. The
coal trade takes this as an indication
that the short haul from Clinchfield is
not sufficient compensation for orders
placed over this district when compari-
sons of quality and quick shipping are
taken into consideration.
Export coal shipments to New Orleans
were never better than at the present
time steamer, the "Oaxaco,' was
loaded yesterday in New Orleans with
$500 tons of Pratt Consolidated coal for
shipment to South America This cargo
displaced orders usually received by
Pfttsburg interests. In addition to this
order the Pratt Consolidated is now ship
ping a greater tonnage of coal to New
Orleans for export and bunker uses than
ever before The coal is handled by the
New Orleans Coal company of which
Captain Billy Bisso is president.
I'VE hope to have the New Orleans
coal business up to the half million mark
this year," said Ellis Mccormack, vice
president and general manager of the
Pratt Consolidated yesterday.
I'm addition to the business that 1t
gives our company, the Birmingham dis
trict Is forging to the coal front in New
Orleans as never before. Pratt coal has
displaced the Pittsburg product in New
Orleans for bunkering purposes and We
hone to serve this consuming source en-
tirely within a short time Coal business
is very good indeed, and we look for yet
further improvement"