Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
RICHMOND ON VERGE
OF SHORTAGE IN COAL
Supply of Anthracito In Stock VIII
Not Lust Longer Than
November.
SOFT COAL SITUATION EASIER
Local Dealers Paying Old Contract
Rate OF S3.26-Do Not Daro Claim
Rate Fixed by Government for
Fear Coal May Not BE Furnished.

Richmond is on tho verge OF q coal
shortage. 1t all depends upon the
weather man. If no is kind and con.
tinues to hand out warm weather. the
local dealers will be able to build up
their reserves TO normal On the other
hand. " he gets u crouch and sends a
city may be compelled to break up
boxes. barrels or anything that can be
burned. to produce heat.
Tho trouble is the local coal dealers
simply have not the coal in stock. Z.
Z. Murphy * Sons. Inc, have just
enough anthracite on hand to keep
their customers going until November,
provided the weather holds warm; s..
II. Halves a. CO. have only 5000 tons
In their yards, against normal re-
serve at this time OF tho year Of 49,
600 tons. The other dealers are in a
similar fix. But despite these condi-
lions. the price OF anthracite has not
yet been raised locally. still holding at
$3.50 the ton. Those householders In
Richmond who have been beguilcd by
the announcement sent out from WASH
tngton through the Council Of National
Defense that the price OF coal would be
lowered by September l would do we'll
TO forget that such statement was
ever made. and rush their orders in for
their winter supply now. and at the pre-
vailinG price-apd then trust to luck
that their dealers will be able to- de-
liver II to them. for the lack of car
riers is causing the shippers into Rich
mond TO run weeks behind their orders.
SOUTHERN ROADS STRIPPED
OF CARS TO SUPPLY NORTHWEST.
When Judge LoyetT took charge Of
the committee on priority shipments
In Washington, there was a cry OF coal
famine from the Northwest. The South
ern railroads we're stripped OF all pos
sible cars to rush the coal thither Nat
urally, this affected the supply OF coal
coming into Richmond, and when the
local dealers complained. tho mine oper-
ators told them TO go to-Washington.
Immediately the acateness OF the sit
uation was relieved N the Northwest,
New England sent oht an "S. O. S." for
anthracite coal. Now In New Eng
land there arc city or town ordinances
Ia all tho large manufacturing CEN
tiers which forbid the use Of soft coal
under penalty Of heavy fines. For the
supply OF our allies on tho continent
for the equipment of our own and our
overseas troops. It is essential that the
munition factories and tho various
mills be kept running ~ top speed.
To do this they must have coal
Now IT is. and for years has been,
physical impossibility for the railroads
to transport sufficient coal for tho use
OF New England manufacturers
Schooners. oarGcs and other coast&ise
ships have been called upon to make
UP tho deficiency.
Al present. on account OF tho scarcity
of bottoms. more than third. OF
this coestw!se shipping has been d.
verified TO foreign trade chiefly to
South America.
AS n result of these conditions Judge
Lovett Is now devotihg his attention to
shipping anthracite coal into New Eng
n 4
land had consumed 100000 tons Of
anthracite. To this date this year she
has been able to obtain oniy $4,000
tons.
In order to try to stimulate greater
production OF anthracite at the mines
the Council of National Defense has
raised the prices al the mines for pea
coal from $40 to 81 the ton
SOFT COAL SITUATION
IS LESS ALARMING
The soft coal situation. however, is
less alarming. The prepared Ends are
selling Tor $3.50 the ton. Runtof- mine
brings $3.50. with $3.50 for contract
Z The cost Of the $3.50 run Of mine coal
TO the local dealers is ss.25 Z. O. b. the
mines. the contracts with the opera
tors having been made on April /, OF
this year
Since then the Council of National
Defense has announced that the price
tHe SnOulQ Cn2rSo AT tho
mines for New River and Pocahontas
coal is S2.15 the ton
None of the local dealers has dared
70 claim this price, however. They
fear that II they bring suit to obtain
the coal at the price fixed by the council
the operators will refuse to supply them
with any coal at all. claiming that tho
dealers have violated their. contracts
by demanding price iower than that
agreed upon on April /. The effect Of
sucn refusal on the part Of tho opera
tors would be that the local dealers
could not supply the factories, hotels
and other large customers in Rich
mond.
Fortunately, however. tho supply of
soft coal is adequate for the needs of
factories and other consumers In Rich,
mond. Yet the situation is not satisfac-'
tory. because yesterday there were
rumors among the local dealers that
the coal supply Of many OF the NUM-.
ton works in France had passed the
danger mark. and that only the most
heroic efforts to rush soft coal across
the ocean could prevent these fac
tories from either being put upon part
time or shutting down entirely until
coal could be obtained