The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-15

Minneapolis ........... 234
Minneapolis, November 11.-With
17S,247 tons more coal shipped into
Minneapolis from January l, 1912,
to October 81, 1912, than was ship
ped to the city during the CORES.
ponding period of 1911, and with
only 234 tons more shipped to the
trade territory than last year, Civic
and Commercial association officers
still maintained yesterday that coal
shortage impends.
Members of the committee of the
Civic and Commerce association who
have been investigating warnings OF
an impending coal shortage declare
it is the car shortage that will cause
a coal famine. With the largest
receipts of coal in Minneapolis that
have been received for years, they
say in a general way that the short
age is becoming very serious.
Figures at Transfer.
Figures compiled at the Minnesota
Transfer railway show that for the
month of October, 1911, there were
only 1869 tons Of coal received,
while for the month just passed
there were 162,169 tons, an increase
of 81 $40 tons in favor of October
receipts of this year.
Traffic receipt figures conflict with
assertions of fuel men and investi-
gators.
Coal dealers and experts say there
has been increased consumption of
coal by new industries. The stand
ard increase in the consumption OF
coal from year to year is given as
10 per cent Add 10" per cent to
the amount of coal received last
year and it will not come anywhere
near the receipts of. coal in Mime
apolis since Jan. II, 1912.
Story From the East
Philadelphia, November 13.-The
reports sent out from this city pre-
dieting a coal famine this winter
are denied by many of the large
coal companies of this state, which
supply fuel to a great portion of the
United States. While it is admitted
that there is not on over supply Of
hard coal, there are sufficient guam
titles of other grades to meet de-
mands.
Sections Taken Care of.
The anthracite needs of a num-
Der of sections to which the coal
supply is shipped partly by water
are being taken care of by the OPP
orators at present because of the fear
that the ports of shipment and en-
try may soon be obstructed by ice.
Higher price offerings by dealers in
certain cities also induced some of
the independent operators to take
Ton Of tha cit nd
act premiums for ready shipments.
The interstate commerce commits
sion has issued a statement bearing
on the freight car shortage. Because
of the commissions reference to
one railroad as being short of coal
cars, the report has alarmed New
York, causing "coal famine" talk.
Shortage of Cars.
The commissions statement does
not even hint at a coal famine,
though one of the commissioners is
reported to have said that if imme-
date remedy for the car shortage
is not found, people in all parts of
this country will be freezing to death
because of their inability to get
coal" Dealers here declare this re-
mark ridiculous.
The Local Situation.
The coal situation in Mankato, al
though not serious at present, is
causing some worry on the part of
the dealers and consumers. Because
of the strikes in the east the coal
mines were shut down during April
and May, and ever since that time
they have not been worked by as
large crews of men as usual. This
accounts for the present shortage in
hard coal.
The Mankato dealers have plenty
of coal for the present but unless
they can secure shipments soon the
supply will not last long. One deal
er said that he would not be cramp-
ed for hard coal before thirty days
another said that he had enough to
carry him over until January; and
others say that they have enough
for few weeks. All of the deal
ers have orders in which have been
in with the dock companies for
weeks, but at present are receiving
only about fifty per cent of the
amount of their orders.
How Orders Are Received.
All orders that are being sent to
the dock companies for coal now
are being received only with the
condition that the coal will be sup
piled when previous orders are filled.
The Lampert Lumber company has
received one-half of the coal which
it ordered in the spring, and have
at present about one-third of the
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