New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
STRIKE SCARE DIES DOWN
Anxiety to Buy Next Winters
Hard Coal at Present Price Gone.
MORE SOFT COAL CONSUMED
Hotels, Big Buildings and Rail
roads Seem To Be Well Sup
piled with Fuel.

The anthracite strike scare died down
somewhat Yesterday. according to the re-
ports of operators and dealers Many VINO
had been irving to get enough coal to MI
their cellars for next winter at the present
price of S6 80 a ton were inclined TO take
a chance that the coming suspension OF
mining would last not more than five or six
weeks. and that means would be found TO
bring both sides together and end the
trouble in time for them to get at least the
May or June discount.
As TO bituminous coal operators and
dealers said prices rose and fell with the
reports of a prospect of the strike in Eng
land being speedily settled. The agent oil
the Morrisdale Coal Company said the soft
coal situation was confused
Pending the coming conference between
the committees Of soft coal miners ana
operator he continued, "the miners are
not producing as much coal as they can.
II is not probable, whether there IS a hitu-
minous strike or not, that there VIII he
large quantities Of soft coal for export ~
must be borne in mind that there Is the
danger of spontaneous combustion In large
accumulatons Of soft coal sometimes IN
four or six weeks. II must he frequently
moved to prevent this. which requires large
areas of ground. There is no such danger
with anthracite
A representative OF the pocahontas and
New River Coal Company and the victoria
Coal Mining Company. combining hard ana
soft coal interests, said the foreign dehndn'
had decreased somewhat. As to domestic
anthracite the present mild weather ana
the impression that had been gaming
ground that the suspension would not last
long had made people less anxious to buy
coal now at its highest circular price. con-
sumers Of steam coal. which is used all the
wear round, however were bidding high
for II.
He said word had reached him that the
mine workers organization was not In
funds for long strike. The union has had
a number of strikes, affecting many thou-
sands Of persons, which had depleted ltS
treasury.
The representative OF another company
said that though the coal carrying com
panies had not raised prices large dealers
to supply their customers had to go into
the market and pay high prices They
were not getting all the coal they wanted
from the companies.
Operators said there was more soft coal
used in New York than generally sup
posed Many buildings were equipped with
smoke consuming plants. and the anti
smoke ordinance was not against soft coal.
but against smoke. 1t was said the retail
coal trade OF New York nearly equalled
that of Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.
From 100000 TO 100000 tons OF anthra-
cite we're mined yearly, and the entire
CITY Of New York used for all purposes
10 600 0oo of anthracite and sl50.ocO tons Of
soft coal.
The railroads have a fair supply Of coal.
An official OF the Third Avenue Railroad
said enough coal was on hand to serve II
three months. and at the offices OF the
New York Railroad Company II was said
il had ten days supply and good deal
on barges. and did not consider the situa-
ton serious.
At Bellevue Hospital II was said that
bids for a nine months contract for coal
for the hospital were advertised. the award
10 he made this week. How the hospital
will be circumstanced as to "A future sup
ply would he known then.
The hotels and other large buildings have
contracts for coal. and most Of them have
A large coal storage capacity At the Hotel
Astor It was said tho hotel had storage for
a three months supply.