Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-13
SOFT COAL SUPPLY
IN CAPITAL LARGE
Dealers Caught by Sudden
Ending of Strike-Anthra-
cite Prices to Be Same.

The sudden termination Of the an
thracite coal strike has left Washing
ton dealers with large supplies of
der order. and one local merchant has
been caught with a shipload of Welsh
anthracite at sea and two others be-
ing loaded for early sailings. The
telephone and telegraph wires from
Washington to the West Virginia
fields We're kept busy all day yester-
day with cancellation orders, but deal
ers are dubious whether these cancel
lations will be accepted.
According TO both the retail mer-
chants and representatives of the min
ing companies in Washington. at least
a month will elapse before any appre-
ciabTe quantities Of anthracite coal
will begin coming into the National
Capital. Scattered car loads may ar
rive within two weeks, it is said, but
capacity production probably will not
| be reached before the middle of
March. No advance i'll the prices that
prevailed in September is anticipated
by the mining company representa-
tives, however.
Work to Start Wednesday.
The most reliable information
reaching Washington is that the
miners will enter the workings again
| next Wednesday morning. Because
! of the extreme duration of the strike,
reports are that most of the mines
are in bad condition, that numerous
caye-inS have blocked entrances and
that machinery Will need a complete
oyerhauling. Even after these re-
suits of the strike have been over
come, there will remain the necessity
of getting enough cars away from the
bituminous fields and back into the
anthracite fields to handle normal
production.
Wholesale dealers pointed out today
that ordinarily prices set for coal on
September l continue through March.
1t Is not believed there will be any
execution to this rule this year, de-
spite the strike. Last September. an
thracite stove coal brought $3.50 q
net ton at the mines, nut, 1896 and
pea, S6.25. This would indicate retail
prices of about $11 to $3.50 a ton
for anthracite coal in Washington,
provided the mining companies adhere
to their statements that wholesale
prices will be maintained as or Sep
tember !.
Dealers Face Problem.
In the meantime, Washington re-
tailers declared they face the dilemma
of getting rid Of their large stores OF
bituminous coal for practically the
same price. Although it will be pos
sible to definitely cancel soft coal
orders that were not ready for ship
ment, the best the retailers hope Tor
is that the operators will agree to &C
cept market quotations at the time OF
delivery for orders which could not be
Cancelled. A tremendous drop in the
wholesale price of bituminous coal is
exnected within the next "a hours.
Ward w. Griffith, president of the
Griffith Coal Corporation. said he had
ordered three shiploads Of Welsh
anthracite some time ago, and that
one of these ships had already sailed,
carving $500 tons of the fuel. He
was cabIed to see If he can reduce the
quantity of the subsequent shipments,
hut has as yet received no reply. Mr..
Griffith said he would be obliged to
sell this Welsh coal for $3.50 a ton
to make a profit. He expects the coal
about March /.
Coke Buyers Caught.
As to coke, Washington dealers
said they We're caught without a
chance Of escape. In giving orders
for coke, the merchants declared they
were obliged to promise acceptance at
a, stated price. 1t will be impossible
to cancel such orders or even obtain
a reduced price, although the whole
sale price Of coke, it was predicted
will be down to half its present leve