Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-15
ORDERING LESS COAL.
Maine Mills Cut Orders Because of
Dull Business.

Hh0Inc rtiAlS GuV OTueTs btCausc VI
Dull Business.
According to the Portland Press, two
hundred fewer trains, or 5000 fewer car
loads than usual of coal will be hauled by
the Maine Central railroad this summer
and fall. because there lie no prospect that
the mills and factories OF the State will
have business enough next winter to call
for the customary supply. The Press
says:
Portland is the principal port Of entry
for coal used in the mills OF Maine,
whether cotton, paper or wooden products
are turned out. Into the harbor Of Port
land the big schooners come with their
coal cargoes to be shipped over the line
OF the Maine Central to the various cities
and towns where the mills are located.
Just at present, many Of these big schoon-
ers, the most magnificent coastwise feet
in the world, are swingiy idly at their
anchors in Portland harbor. For weeks
they have been there, because no freights
have been offered them. The rate is the
lowest in years, and yet no one is taking
advantage Of the opportunity to ship coal
from the great distributing points into
Maine.
In the spring, under ordinary condi-
tions, orders for the mill coal are received
by the agents in Portland. By the first OF
June and always by the first OF July, the
amount OF coal to be used during a COM
ing year may be determined, for the orders
are then all placed and the transportation
of the fuel from the western shipping
points to Portland begins.
Maine mills use an immense amount OF
soft coal. Even in an of year, the total
bituminous fuel used in the State by the
big manufacturing plants will aggregate
500, 600 tons, while the amount sometimes
goes as high rs 10000. The conservative
estimate Of the amount consumed by the
mills may be placed ct half million tons.
From the orders that have been received
up to the present time it is GER
tain that the amount Of coal to be used in
Maine mills the coming year will be less
by so per cent. than the conservative
amount annually used. In other words,
there will be $4,000 tons less OF soft coal
received in Portland for distribution over
the Maine railroads to the mills of the
State than is usually received even in dull
years.
A falling-off of so per cent. in one bust
ness alone, and especially in the coal BUSH
ness, is unusual. Such a decrease in the
amount of soft coal handled in Portland
for use of the Maine mills has not been
noted in years. Even during the so-called
panic of 1907 there was not the semblance
Of such a decrease. Only in the times OF
great strikes at the mines has there been
such falling of.
A quarter OF .niliion tons OF coal would
require fifty of the biggest schooners on
the coast to transport. 1t ~ouid give to
the owners of the vessels even with dollar
freights, gross receipts Of ESQ, 900. To
transport the coal from Portland to the
various places about the State would re-
quire 5000 of the most modern steel cars.
In other words, il this coal were coming
trains OF twenty-five cars each would be
needed to take it from Portland.
The agents of the mills that use this
coal, regardless of their political beliefs,
are unanimous in their views as to the
cause Of the decrease in the amount OF coal
needed. Agents OF the big coal-carrying
companies have asked the agents Of the
mills the cause Of the trouble. awe are
taking no chances" has been the reply.
1.-THE outlook for business is the most dis
couraging in years. We can see abso-
lutely no prospect of running our mills
at their capacity. Some OF them will not
be run at ALL"
On top OF this, the agents of some of the
big paper mills in Maine and New Hamp-
shire have declared that they are going to
shut down their plants altogether and
have their work done in Canada. 1--WE
can get cheaper labor there and do the
work cheaper" is the way they have ex-
pressed it. sThe removal OF the duty on
paper Of all kinds has helped us, for we
can make the paper cheaper in Canada
than in the United States, and ship it to
this country and make more money. OF
course, we have to throw our men in
America out Of employment and shut
down our plants"
Even aside from the amount OF work
done in the mills, it can be reasoned very
easily what effect the withdrawal of Q
quarter of a million tons of soft coal from
the business of the State means. Not only
have the big schooners, the railroads and
the mills themselves suffered, but sailors,
trainmen and mill hands have been de-
prived of work which even in "poor"
years, they have had.
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